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WWE SmackDown Live comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 24, 2018) from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, featuring the go home show to the upcoming Greatest Royal Rumble event scheduled for this Friday in Saudi Arabia.
Advertised for tonight: The Miz returns to host Miz TV with special guest Daniel Bryan, Asuka teams with Becky Lynch to take on The IIconics, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR APRIL 24
All the visions shown before you, all the kingdoms and the thrones, all are yours if you bow before me and adore me-- all this you can own. There are those that will go to heaven, there are those that will never win. No one knows what will happen. There are those that turn to sin, but me, I’m just here to liveblog this show for you, folks.
The show opens with the memorial graphic for Bruno Sammartino once again.
Live in the arena, we’re jumping right into MizTV!
Miz makes his entrance and gives the crowd a minute to be quiet before raising his hand and insisting. He launches into his introductory spiel and says that SmackDown is the A Show now that he’s back and bringing the ratings. But something is missing, and that something is a title. A title that was relinquished three years ago by his guest tonight, a title that he’ll win for a record ninth time at the Greatest Royal Rumble when he beats Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and Samoa Joe.
He’s talking about the Intercontinental Championship, of course. He introduces his guest as a man who threatened to punch him in the face, and a man who demanded that he come to SmackDown to confront him and quite frankly he’s surprised. Just under a month ago he welcomed his daughter Monroe Sky into existence and when she opened her eyes the first time and he was her first impression of this cruel world... he can’t even explain it.
He knew he had to be a better man, and from that moment, all the anger and bitterness he felt towards Daniel Bryan melted away. He’s shocked Bryan didn’t feel the same after Birdie Joe was born, and he says they have a lot in common, they both have reality shows, they’re both masterful in-ring technicians, but the difference is when Miz became a father, he knew he had to change and be better.
So if Bryan wants to punch him in the face, he wants him to come on down and punch him in the face. Moments pass... and no Daniel Bryan. But instead, Big Cass! Cass takes his sweet time, putting a jacket on to finish his suit and making sure he’s all set up straight and proper before making his way to the ring. He wants to be interviewed in lieu of Daniel Bryan and Miz is hesitant.
Cass says nobody cares about Daniel Bryan. He had a career-threatening injury sure but Big was on the shelf for seven months working 24/7 to come back, and the day he’s cleared, who else is cleared? Daniel Bryan. Nobody was talking about Big Cass, and he’s living in the shadow of that ordinary little man. Miz says he appreciates that but if Cass is out here to help, he doesn’t need his help.
Big says not everything is about Miz and the A-Lister drops the “who do you think you are” AND the “do you know who I am” before running his accolades down and asking Big what he’s done lately besides hobble around on a bum knee. Cass offers to shut him up for good, and Miz begs off saying it’s not about them, but about the Daniel Bryans of the world.
Big agrees, suggesting people like Bryan should be picking up his garbage every day instead of spewing trash at the crowd, but they crowd are never achieving their dreams. And he knows what it was like to be Daniel Bryan because he was small until he was 16 and guess what, it sucks. He got bullied and pushed around until he grew and grew and grew to be seven feet tall.
When he got to be seven feet tall he went back and beat the hell out of them, and they deserved that beating the same way he deserved his beatings, and Bryan reminds him of himself when he was a little guy and he despises him for it. Here he is in WWE and he didn’t have to work the indies or Japan and why? Because he’s tall, he’s educated, and he’s damn good looking.
That makes him valuable, it makes him a star, and it makes him money, but still he lives in the shadow of the American Dragon. Not for long, though, because he’s gonna send Bryan back to where he belongs, on the shelf beaten, battered, bruised, and retired. And he’ll never cast a shadow over Cass or anyone else ever again. Big mocks the “YES!” chants before dropping the mic and walking off, leaving an impressed Miz in his wake.
Commentary hypes up a contract signing for Backlash between Carmella and Charlotte Flair.
We cut backstage to Asuka and Becky Lynch walking along when they run into Daniel Bryan, on the floor in pain and being checked on by 5-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce and referee Jason Ayers. They call for a medic and we go to break.
Back from commercial, commentary gives us an update on Daniel Bryan, saying he’s been taken to the trainer’s room for evaluation.
The Iconics are in the ring with microphones.
Billie Kay starts off talking about how good they look before saying Becky Lynch stuck her nose where it doesn’t belong, and that’s an avenue for Peyton Royce to mockingly impersonate Becky. Kay continues onto that “nosy Nancy” Asuka, and Peyton questions the idea that she’s the Empress of Tomorrow, which leads to some math whereby they prove that they’re better than Asuka through the transitive property.
They call her the Empress of Yesterday and themselves the future, which leads to Lynch making her entrance.
Asuka and Becky Lynch make their entrance for the match, but we go to break before the bell rings.
Back from commercial and the match is in progress.
Asuka & Becky Lynch vs. the Iconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce)
Asuka is in control on Royce, making the tag to Lynch. Peyton with a forearm and a mat slam, Becky bridges out into a cover, only two, kick to the midsection, whip reversed, drop down, leapfrog, flying forearm from the Lasskicker! To the corner, jockeying for position, springboard kick and right into the exploder suplex but Royce tags Kay in!
Drop toehold, drawing her up, arm wringer from Billie, choking her in the ropes, a cover comes up empty, tag back to Peyton and they double-team Lynch. Arm wrench, elbow to the bicep, quick tag back, axe kick to the arm and Kay puts boots to her in the corner. Armbar, she can’t quite take Becky all the way down and has to settle for a short whip into the corner.
Taunting Asuka, gives Lynch enough time to get a boot up, double clothesline and both women are down and out... TAGS MADE! Asuka in hot, duck a lariat, clear the apron, pass to the side, big dropkick, she runs into an elbow but catches a kick into the ankle lock! Billie tries to stop her, Becky intervenes, leg-trap German suplex right into the running hip attack, tag to Lynch!
Double whip, double hip toss, sliding knee and a turning leg drop, Asuka runs Kay off but Peyton rams Becky into Asuka and has her isolated. Lynch throwing forearms, hard whip, back body drop up and over to the apron, fighting them two on one, into the post, feet on the post...
The Iconics win by pinfall with a schoolboy pin and feet on the ropes from Peyton Royce on Becky Lynch.
Asuka checks on Becky as the Iconics celebrate like they just won the title.
Renee Young is standing outside Shane McMahon’s office promising updates on Daniel Bryan when AJ Styles comes out.
He’s happy because it’s just three days away from getting his hands on Shinsuke Nakamura, but tonight he has the opportunity to soften him up a little. Shinsuke’s a con artist and brought Rusev Day along as his partners, but AJ isn’t fighting alone and he’s got a six-man tag set up in which his partners are Too Sweet.
Commentary hypes up the Greatest Royal Rumble as a way to shill for the WWE Network before reminding us about our contract signing and sending us to break.
Back from commercial we get a vignette to familiarize ourselfs with Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega, coming soon to SmackDown.
The Usos are chatting in the locker room when Naomi rolls up to talk with Jimmy. He wants her to promise she’s not gonna come down last week, but she’s not having it. She trusts him, he says they’re alright and goes for a kiss but she continues and says she loves him with all her heart but when she looked Harper and Rowan in the eyes last week she saw nothing and she has a bad feeling about this tonight.
He makes light of it telling her she looks good when she’s worked up, but gets serious at her insistence, saying they’re gonna get their tag titles back on Friday but tonight he’s taking care of Rowan. They share a moment and he leaves but she’s clearly still concerned.
Bludgeon Brothers make their entrance but we go to break before the match can begin.
Back from commercial we get some hype for World Wish Day and cut to the front row where a child who had his wish granted to meet the Usos today is seated.
Erick Rowan vs. Jimmy Uso
Rowan out the gates with a huge boot, clubbing blow, a headbutt and he chokes him against the ropes until referee Charles Robinson pulls him off. Cheap shot from Harper, Jey tries to dive on him but gets taken out! Jimmy back in, suicide dive for Erick but he gets caught! Float over, put him into the post, headed around, kick to the side of the head from the apron, up top, diving crossbody... NOT ENOUGH!
Superkick connects, up top again but ROWAN SHOVES HIM OFF SO HARD HE GOES FACE-FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE! Erick runs him over with a forearm and gets fired up! Taking Uso back inside, drawing him up and scooping him onto his shoulder but Naomi’s entrance hits and freezes Rowan in his tracks! Jey takes Harper out with a running superkick, Jimmy hits one on Rowan...
Jimmy Uso wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin.
Commentary hypes up our six-man tag main event and confirms that AJ Styles’ partners are his good brothers from the Bullet Club, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows.
We get a bit more hype for our contract signing and go to break.
Back from commercial, Renee Young is in the ring to kick our contract signing off.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella is the first one out and she yanks the mic away when Renee goes to introduce Charlotte Flair. She accuses her of being disrespectful before yelling at the crowd and complaining about being introduced first as champion. But before she comes out and makes everything about her, Carmella wants to address something.
That’s that she’s our champion, and we’ll never know what it’s like to be a champion like her. Last week she gave us a Mellabration, played a beautiful highlight reel of all her incredible accomplishments, but when it was over she didn’t get a standing ovation, and again she complains of disrespect. So since she kinda makes the rules around here, she’s gonna play the highlight reel again except this time when it’s over she expects the ovation she deserves.
She does not get her standing ovation after the video plays.
Carmella says that’s not good enough and says she’s going to play it again and this time for real, stand up and cheer. The video package plays again...
...and this time Charlotte Flair’s entrance interrupts it. She takes a seat as Carmella waves the title in her face and struts but remains unmoved. Renee repeatedly insists the champion be professional and take her seat and eventually, she does. A smile slowly dawns on Flair’s face as she turns and signs the contract before dropping a “Wooo!” and smashing Carmella’s face into the table!
She flips the table over on the champion and kicks some dust at her to boot!
Commentary then does another round of Greatest Royal Rumble hype.
We go backstage to Shinsuke Nakamura’s dressing room, where Aiden English answers an interview request by declining it.
Jeff Hardy is shown walking backstage, he’ll be in action after the break.
Back from commercial, commentary informs us that Carmella signed the contract during the break.
Shelton Benjamin is waiting in the ring and Jeff Hardy makes his entrance, only to get cut off by Randy Orton, who’s taking the match against Shelton in a reversal from last week.
Randy Orton vs. Shelton Benjamin
Collar and elbow, Benjamin backs Orton into the ropes and referee Jason Ayers has to force the break. Back to the lockup, Shelton picks the leg, again Randy’s in the corner and he’s forced to break. Side headlock, the Viper tries to pry the Gold Standard’s hands apart before shooting him off, shoulder block, drop down, leapfrog, catch the boot, returned, reverse roundhouse ducked, RKO blocked and we have a stalemate!
Benjamin with strikes in the corner, Orton fights back with uppercuts and Shelton slips to the floor. Setting up the rope-hung DDT, blocked and Benjamin wrenches his arm through the ropes! Club to the back, kicks to the midsection, all while Randy’s hung up in the ropes and he finishes with a knee trembler to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Benjamin is in control with a reverse chinlock, Orton fights out with elbows and a headbutt but takes the reverse roundhouse and gets laid out for a nearfall! Back suplex gets the Viper into it, duck a lariat, snap scoop powerslam, wristlock kicks in the ropes and the rope-hung DDT connects! Randy goes to that special place but Shelton leaves the ring!
Orton follows, smashing his face into the ring and going to throw him into Hardy at ringside before thinking better of it and hitting the back suplex into the announce table! Back inside, a man in a mask takes Jeff’s knee out from under him. The luchador sorpresa gets into the ring, Orton rips his mask off and it’s Sunil Singh! RKO! Randy turns around and Shelton is ready...
Shelton Benjamin wins by pinfall with Paydirt.
Shelton celebrates his victory while everyone else writhes in pain.
New Day are backstage celebrating the launch of The Book of Booty with pancakes and Booty-Os, as is time-honored tradition. Xavier Woods offers a toast when the Bar roll up. Sheamus says after tonight they won’t see them again, because they’re gonna win the Raw Tag Team Championship back on Friday and head back to Mondays. He says the competition on SmackDown just doesn’t stack up and New Day stop Cesaro from dropping the catchphrase...
...until they come back and drop it, blowing the candles out and walking off with handfuls of pancakes.
AJ Styles is in the locker room getting ready when a couple of Good Brothers show up for a reunion. They Too Sweet and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get another vignette for SAnitY.
In front of the trainer’s room, Renee Young interviews Daniel Bryan with a huge back of ice strapped to his shoulder. He says he’ll be good to go for Greatest Royal Rumble and he’s recovered from a lot worse. He says Big Cass attacked him, he’s talked to Paige and he’s got a match against him at Backlash, where he’s gonna show Cass that everyone’s the same size when they’re on the mat and tapping out.
Samoa Joe cuts a promo about how no one is safe when he has ladders at his disposal and he’s going to end Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and the Miz on Friday. The match is merely a formality, the title already his, and then he’s gonna sit back and watch Roman Reigns get massacred by Brock Lesnar. And if he somehow survives and wins, at Backlash, he’ll take that too... believe that.
The Club make their entrances but we’ll have to wait until after the break for the main event.
Back from commercial in time for Aiden English to sing his man in like always.
Rusev Day (Aiden English & Rusev) & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. the Club (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows)
Styles and Nakamura to start, keeping their distance... and Shinsuke tags out to English. AJ knocks him off the apron, slings Aiden back in, smashes him in the corner and tags Gallows in. Body blows fro, Big Hoot, tag to Anderson, tag to Styles, snapmare, sliding elbow into a kip-up and a quick tag back to Luke! Corner elbow, tag to Karl, bicycle kick connects, Rusev runs in and they run him off!
Too Sweets in the air and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Rusev in, tag to Styles, in with the strike rush, he clears the apron but Nakamura ducks. Plancha, stops himself short, Rusev takes advantage and hits the Machka Kick! Tag to English, he puts boots to the WWE Champion and grabs a reverse chinlock to grind him down. Nakamura in, kick to the chest, drawing him up by the arm and Rusev tags himself back in for a stomp.
Body slam, off the ropes with an elbow drop, only good for two. Tag to Aiden, he whips him into the corner and takes Styles’ leg out from under him for another two count and English goes back to the reverse chinlock. AJ breaks with elbows, Aiden off the ropes and he gets caught by a huge dropkick! Rusev tags in, gets hit with the Pele kick, Styles craws... tag to Luke!
In with lariats, nobody to clear fro the apron, Stinger splash, kick to the ribs, pumphandle slam and Big Hoot is fired up! Off the ropes, big splash, only good for two when Rusev breaks it up! Pass Anderson into the corner, tag made, English to the apron, superkicked off but Nakamura’s legal and kicks Gallows’ knee out from under him...
Rusev Day & Shinsuke Nakamura win by pinfall with Kinshasa from Nakamura on Luke Gallows.
AJ Styles attacks Nakamura immediately! Styles Rush... CUT OFF WITH A LOW BLOW! He lines the champion up but Anderson makes the save and takes the Kinshasa! Shinsuke drags Karl up and turns to face Styles, he heads to the corner and fires up... A SECOND KINSHASA AND THERE’S NOTHING AJ COULD DO ABOUT IT!
Shinsuke celebrates up the ramp.
That’s the show, folks.