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WWE Friday Night SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 28, 2023) with a live show emanating from American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Backlash event scheduled for early next month in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Advertised for tonight: it’s night one of the WWE Draft! Triple promised that this draft will be a game-changer.
Tonight’s show also features a WrestleMania main event rematch when the Usos challenge Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the undisputed WWE tag team titles. There will also be a singles match between Zelina Vega and Sonya Deville.
Come right back here at 8 pm ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on FOX. It will be below this line here. (Note: Links to illegal streams are prohibited. Pics and GIFs are allowed.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR APRIL 28
You and I will stand as one. You and I will be transformed. This is the promise, this is the gift. We hold this truth, and I liveblog this here pro wrestling show for you folks.
The show opens with a hype reel for the WWE Draft.
Triple H makes his entrance to King of Kings and stands at a podium with a microphone.
He welcomes us to the draft and lays the ground rules down— every Superstar on Raw and SmackDown are subject to transfer. 50% of the roster will be drafted tonight, the other half this Monday on Raw. In addition to those rosters, select NXT stars are available to be drafted, and the post-draft rosters will officially go into effect Monday, May 8 after Backlash.
He begins the draft with SmackDown picking Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Roman Reigns drafted as a unit for the first pick, ensuring that the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship will stay on SmackDown and the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship will be exclusive to Raw.
And Raw’s first pick is Cody Rhodes. SmackDown picks WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. Back to Raw, they pick Becky Lynch to conclude our first round of draft picks.
Hunter introduces the Usos and they get on the mic.
They crow about Roman being drafted at number one and tell him that they’re bringing the tag titles back to the Bloodline. He hasn’t been talking to them so they know he’s feeling a way, but they’re gonna do like they told him last week, and they’re dedicating the win to him.
Enter Kevin Owens, microphone in hand, followed immediately by Sami Zayn.
Sami begins, saying he has one last thing to say and then they can do whatever they like. He asks if they think it’s strange that Roman hasn’t spoke to them since WrestleMania, not a single word, and they’re dedicating their match to him tonight? Plus Roman was drafted to SmackDown without them?
If that doesn’t say everything, he doesn’t know what to tell them, fine, but make no mistake, they’re walking out—
Jey Uso cuts him off to insist that they’re gonna win and take the titles back, and Jimmy again starts in about how Kevin will definitely turn on Sami, and Owens yells at him, saying the only thing he cares about is that they get in that ring and beat the hell out of the Usos and retain their tag titles.
Pete “Butch” Dunne makes his entrance with Sheamus at his side and we go to break.
Back from commercial we see a room full of NXT stars watching the draft.
Bianca Belair calls in from Ireland to talk about how excited she is to come to SmackDown.
LA Knight vs. Pete “Butch” Dunne
Knight with a flurry early, Dunne takes him down and wrenches his fingers, bending his arm to the mat and stomping the bicep! Bodyscissors double wristlock, LA gets the ropes and has to slingshot him throat-first into the top rope to cut him off and send us to break!
Back form commercial, trading forearms, gamengiri in the corner, knee drop across the arm and a stomp to the hands and Dunne is in control. Buzzsaw roundhouse kick, cover for two, moonsault off the apron, back inside and up top and LA cuts him off. Jockeying for position, a wishbone of the fingers sends Knight packing but he charges right back in for a superplex... NOPE!
Fireman’s carry, Butch lands on his feet and LA boots him down! Snapmare driver blocked, back and forth, LA gets it...
LA Knight wins by pinfall with the BFT.
Backstage, Paul Heyman gives the Usos a pep talk, telling them success is their only avenue tonight and they need to be drafted to the Island of Relevancy or be set adrift in the sea.
Rob Van Dam and Michael “PS” Hayes are seen walking with draft cards to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Rob Van Dam makes his entrance, followed shortly thereafter by Michael “PS” Hayes.
Hayes begins with SmackDown’s next pick, the Street Profits. RVD announces Raw’s next pick, Imperium, including Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER. Back to Michael, SmackDown drafts Edge. Rob announces that Raw picks Matt Riddle.
Street Profits make their entrance and get on the mic.
They talk about being back on SmackDown and wanting the smoke and so forth.
Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Latino World Order (Cruz del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Wilde and Ford teaming up to beat Strowman up, he throws them to the floor and then repeats the favor with his partners! He goes to throw Ricochet into the crush, the One and Only balks but Braun says he’s got him so Rick crosses himself and Strowman throws him over the ropes and into the crush!
Back from commercial, Ricochet with body blows to Dawkins, impromptu team up with Del Toro, whip reversed, back body drop to the apron, back elbow and a boot but Cruz takes Rick out and walks the ropes to dropkick Angelo! Solebutt from Ricochet, right hand,
Wilde in and he dives on both Street Profits! Back in the ring, Hurricanrana on the One and Only, Joaquin passed to the floor, Del Toro back in, twisting suplex for two! Braun starts clobbering everybody, he hits the floor and calls for the train! Dawkins dives on Strowman, Ricochet dives on Angelo, enzuigiri from the apron, up top... nobody home on the 450!
Dawkins off the ropes, blind tag, knee, spinebuster, Montez off the top...
Street Profits win by pinfall with the frog splash from Montez Ford on Ricochet.
We get a video package for Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest.
John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Teddy Long get the next round of draft picks and we go to break.
Back from commercial, John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Teddy Long make their entrances to announce the next round of picks.
JBL announces that SmackDown has picked Bobby Lashley. Teddy announces Drew McIntyre to Raw. Bradshaw’s next announcement for SmackDown is the OC of AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and “Michin” Mia Yim. Long closes the round out with Miz to Raw.
Sonya Deville vs. Zelina Vega
Collar and elbow, Deville shoves her to the mat, off the ropes, sidestep the boot, la casadora arm drag sets up a crucifix, no deal, Sonya smashes Vega into the turnbuckles and lights her up with body blows! Beating Zelina down on the floor while Chelsea Green cheers her on, back inside, cover for two.
Putting her into the corner, boots in the corner, jawbreaker for separation, off the ropes, duck a lariat but Deville cuts her off with a roundhouse kick for two! Punches in the corner, delayed vertical blocked, waistlock, broken with an elbow, Vega rolls her up...
Zelina Vega wins by pinfall with an overrotated schoolboy pin.
Post-match, Rhea Ripley attacks Vega from behind, pumphandle... RIPTIDE REVERSED INTO A DDT!
We see Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens getting ready backstage and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Santos Escobar is giving Zelina Vega a pep talk when Rey Mysterio rolls up to join in.
She talks about what it means to challenge for the title in front of her family, and Rey tells her no matter what anybody thinks about her chances, she’s the only one who needs to believe, and she needs to fight with her head and her heart to leave with the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
The OC make their entrance and AJ Styles is about to talk—
Enter Viking Raiders.
AJ says they must want a fight but the numbers are unfair so he’ll just scoot back to the turnbuckles and let the OC take care of business! Mia takes Valhalla out, the Good Brothers hit Magic Killer on Erik! On their way out, AJ hits a Phenomenal Forearm on Ivar, just in case we thought he was still hurt.
“Heartbreak Man” Shawn Michaels and “Road Dogg” Jesse James are entrusted with our next round of draft picks and we go to break.
Back from commercial, “Heartbreak Man” Shawn Michaels and “Road Dogg” Jesse James make their entrances to announce our next round of picks.
HBM announces Damage CTRL as SmackDown’s first pick in this round, and Dogg has Shinsuke Nakamura for Raw. Shawn announces NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn as being drafted to SmackDown. Road Dogg has more bad news for him because Raw picks Indi Hartwell next.
We cut to the Performance Center wherre Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are interviewed.
They’re stoked to be getting called up and Kayden Carter and Katana Chance roll up to challenge them to a title match on Tuesday.
Backstage at SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura is interviewed.
He’s excited to go to Raw but Karrion Kross attacks him from behind and throws him into a road case!
The Usos are fired up but sour when Paul Heyman tells them that the Tribal Chief wants Solo Sikoa to stay back so the spotlight is on them. They get hyped again and leave for their entrances.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get a recap of HHH announcing the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Commentary informs us that the remaining draft pool from tonight we be drafted out tomorrow on Peacock.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. the Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) (WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship)
Usos putting boots to them from the jump, smashing Zayn into the ringpost, beating Owens down against the announce table, back inside, superkick caught, superkick from Jey sends Kev crashing to the mat! Superkick Party gets a nearfall and we go to break!
Back from commercial, Usos working Owens over, quick tags, posting his knee repeatedly! The path is clear, Sami with the hot tag, lariats and he’s fired up! Clothesline sends Jey to the floor, pass Jimmy out after him, Zayn paces, off the ropes...TOPE CON GIRO!
Back in, up top, Jey jockeying for position with him, clubbing blows, sunset flip powerbomb... SO CLOSE! Blue Thunder Driver follows... STILL NO! Sami up top, Jey clobbers him with a kick to send us to break!
Back from commercial, Owens hits the cannonball in the corner, he goes up top... AVALANCHE FISHERMAN BUSTER! Following it up with a senton atomico... NOT ENOUGH! We see Paul Heyman watching backstage. He gets a call and says “yes sir” several times nodding and smiling before thanking his Tribal Chief and telling Solo Sikoa that tonight is his night.
KO blocks a superkick, off the ropes, pop-up powerbomb denied, Jimmy off the ropes and Kev catches him with it this time... JEY BREAKS IT UP! Sami unloads on Jey, slingshot to the floor... USO CUTS HIM OUT OF MIDAIR WITH A SUPERKICK! Jimmy with a schoolboy for two, KO hits the Stunner... JIMMY USO WON’T STAY DOWN!
Solo Sikoa makes his way down the ramp, but Matt Riddle is here to answer him! They brawl off into the wings! Owens lifts Jimmy up, block a kick, enzuigiri connects, tag to Jey! Superkicks on superkicks, cover... KO KICKS OUT! Tag back to Jimmy, superkicks, superkicks take Sami out, another set for Owens... STILL HE WON’T STAY DOWN!
Another one, another nearfall, KO fired up, big right hands, Jey shoves him away, another superkick, tag to Jimmy! Throwing the 1s up, Sami is recovered and he pulls Jey out of the ring and throws him into the steps! Owens hits the Stunner, tag made... HELLUVA KICK! IT’S OVER!
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn win by pinfall with a Helluva Kick from Sami on Jimmy Uso to retain the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship.
The Usos are dejected, Jey with a thousand-yard stare as everything Sami’s said to him sinks in in defeat.
That’s the show, folks.
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