WWE Smackdown 4/26/2024

WWE Smackdown 4/26/2024

Last weeks show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/04/wwe-smackdown-4192024.html

We see Cody Rhodes signing autographs and we see AJ Styles arrive. We see Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair arrive.

They talk about the rules for the WWE Draft. We see the Raw and Smackdown war rooms.

Paul Heyman is interviewed. He said Roman Reigns has withdrawn from eligibility from the draft. Paul says it's not a negative and is a positive. He said Roman built Smackdown and is the biggest start in the industry. He asked why he would take the spotlight when he is not going to be around for a while. Paul says the pressure is now on Nick Aldis. He said the first two draft picks make history in a new era.

We go to the NXT Performance Center with Jackie Redmond and all of the NXT stars. They talk about Waller waiting to be called up and asks who is next.

Corey Graves is in the ring for the WWE Title Match contract signing. AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes come out. AJ says we have two Georgia boys mixing it up for the first time for the biggest prize in the game. He said he doesn't respect LA Knight and LA got under his skin. He said that's why he lost at Mania. He said he got his composure back and realized he is phenomenal. He said he beat LA to get here. AJ said Dusty advised both on how to stand on their own two feet.

He said he respects Dusty. He said the weight of the title isn't the leather and gold and he said we will see if Cody can carry it at Backlash. Aj signs the contract. He said AJ is the modern day excellence of execution. He said his respect for him goes by the wayside at Backlash.

Cody said it's not about winning the title, it's about keeping it. He said this isn't a dream match, it's a must win for him. AJ said it was a good story seeing him win the title but it's a shame his title reign will end at Backlash. AJ then leaves.

I don't like that AJ is now not a full on heel now after just turning heel and is back to being a tweener. You do this stuff too many times and it hurts you. Cody/AJ hasn't been built up much and this didn't do it any favors.

Triple H comes out and shakes Cody's hand.

Triple H and Cody go on the podium and the draft picks are in. Triple H said it's about protecting your roster yet finding new people you want at the same time. Triple H asks Cody to help him with the draft picks.

Smackdown picks Bianca Belair with the first pick. Raw picks Jey Uso with the second pick. Smackdown picks Carmelo Hayes with the second pick. Raw picks Seth Rollins with their second pick.

Carmelo Hayes comes out. The crowd chants "whoop that Trick" and he said he already did. Melo says Cody talks about how you best not miss if you come for the king. Melo says when he shoots, he doesn't miss. Melo said he can't think of a better way to shoot his shot here at SD then against him.

Cody said he doesn't know and said the folks don't want to see him in action. Cody said what if he forgot his gear. Cody said he didn't forget and said he's on.

Well, that's a nice way to put Melo over here. He was picked way too high though in this draft for it to be believable.

Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs Angel and Berto

Man, this feud just won't go away. Berto flips Lee with a lariat then chops him. Lee flying hurricanrana's him then tope con hilos on him outside. Lee springboard crossbodies him then guillotine chokes him. Angel lifts the rope and Lee falls out.

We go to break and return. Rey flying headscissors Angel then hits a top rope la silla. Rey code red's him for 2. Rey headscissors Berto out. Rey 619's Angel. Lee hits desinto on Angel and wins it.

It was a short one and it wasn't too much before the  quick finish. This buried Angel and Berto some.

Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez come out. He said he's many things but is not a liar. He said he didn't attack Dragon Lee. Santos said Elektra found the footage and it shows Carlito attacking Dragon Lee. Carlito then pushes Lee into Rey and backcrackers Lee. Carlito then runs for it.

The announcers said they are asking the question why and I have to concur. This didn't come across well and made Carlito look bad.

Bron Breakker vs Cedric Alexander

Ced chops him. Ced handsprings right into a spear from Bron. Bron then gets the win in a quick squash.

Tiffany Stratton talks to Nick Aldis in the back. She asks if he saw what she did last week. She asks where her title match is. Nick said his time is not set for Tiffy Time. He said Tiffy goes 1v1 with Naomi again and the winner faces Bayley for the title. Tiff asks whose stupid idea was this and Bayley comes in, saying it was hers. Tiff said Bayley should get a front row seat to watch what she couldn't do and what she can do.

Michelle McCool has SD's draft picks and Tori Wilson has Raw's draft picks.

They then come out with the draft picks. Smackdown picks Randy Orton and Raw selects Bron Breakker. Smackdown selects Nia Jax and Raw selects Liv Morgan.

Paul Heyman is there to greet Solo Sikoa when he arrives. He says he is sorry and says he will get the door from him from now on. Solo asks if Bloodline got drafted and Paul says not yet. Solo says he wants all the details. Paul tells Solo that Roman withdrew from the draft. He said nobody knows what thye are getting when they draft Bloodline with new members being added and some being out. Tama Tonga comes in and Solo asks Paul to repeat it. Kevin Owens then nails Solo and Tama from behind.

Bianca Belair is interviewed in the entrance way. She said she hopes Jade is drafted to Smackdown and said she wants to finally end it with Damage Ctrl. She said Jade can help her do that. She said Damage Ctrl is falling apart piece by piece and the tag titles are the last piece. She said The Kabuki Warriors won't have a reason to be on SD then.

The Kabuki Warriors then come out. They argue with Bianca then Jade comes out. The two pairs then argue.

Kevin Owens and Tama Tonga then interrupt and fight. They get in the ring then Solo helps beat up Owens. Backstage agents try to break it up then Randy Orton comes out. Orton lariats Tama and Solo slides out on an RKO attempt. Orton goes after him outside.

Bubba Ray Dudley and D'Von Dudley have the picks for each brand. They head out and put their glasses on. Smackdown picks LA Knight. Raw picks Ricochet. Smackdown picks Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman. Raw picks Sheamus.

#1 Contenders Match - Tiffany Stratton vs Naomi

Naomi hits a thesz press and pounds on her. Naomi baseball slides her and bangs her head off the apron. Tiff running hip attacks her on the ropes. Naomi kind of does a piledriver over the middle rope onto the apron. Naomi then split dives her on the floor.

We go to break and return. Tiff spinebusters her. Naomi goes up and over in the corner and rolls her up for 2. Naomi slides out of a shot then handstand double kicks here. They both facebuster each other at the same time and go down. Naomi step up enzugiri's her then Naomi bulldogs her into the middle buckle.

Nia Jax attacks Bayley who is on commentary. Naomi is thrown into the post by Nia and the match is thrown out. Nia bodyblocks Bayley on the floor. Tiff then brings Bayley and Naomi in and hits a prettiest moonsault ever on both.

It's a shame it had no real finish as the two were working well together and I was enjoying it. 

The Street Profits and B-Fab are interviewed. They say it don't matter where they get drafted as The Profits will win the tag titles next week. Waller and Theory come in. They say you can't have SD with the greatest tag champs of all time. Bobby Lashley then gets behind them and pushes them away.

The Final Testament are jumping someone. Kross takes the camera and shows us what is happening. New Catch Republic are getting beaten by AOP. Kross says the violence will continue until they get what they want whether it's on Raw or SD.

Teddy Long and JBL come out to do draft picks. They play JBL's music so we don't get a true Teddy Long dance, just a little bit of one. Smackdown picks AJ Styles and Raw picks Alpha Academy. Smackdown picks Andrade. Raw picks Kiana James.

Kiana James is interviewed. She said it means the world to her. She said she is filled with gratitude. She said every decision she made is designed for this moment. She said she will show Raw why she is the 1%. Shawn Michaels shakes Kiana's hand.

I'm a big Kiana fan and I'm happy for her. She never really got her due on NXT though.

Nick Aldis says he feels good about SD's selection and said the future is bright. Nick announces for Backlash - Bayley vs Tiff vs Naomi for the women's title. Teddy Long then announces The Bloodline vs Kevin Owens and Randy Orton at Backlash as well.

Carmelo Hayes vs Cody Rhodes 

Cody throws him over out of the lock-up. Melo leapfrogs him then Cody drops down and punches him. Melo springboard lariats him then runs into a lariat.

We got to break and return. Cody is headscissored then Melo piefaces him. Cody hits forearms. Melo back elbows him the running kicks him. Melo hits chops in the corner then Cody back body drops him. Melo hits a la mistica drop then back springboard ddt's him.

Cody cradles Melo after Melo teases cross rhodes. Cody flips Melo with a disaster kick for 2. They trade on their knees then Cody running powerslams him for 2. Cody hits a cody cutter for 2. Melo codebreakers him. Cody superkicks him then both miss springboard moves. Cody holds his shoulder then he hits cross rhodes on Melo. Cody then picks up the win.

It was better than you would think with a lot of fast action and flying. I don't really love Melo losing here but he wasn't expected to win.

Cody hits him in the chest and back after and tries to make him feel better. AJ Styles comes in the ring. They stare down and the show ends.

Overall thoughts: There were only four matches here. Two were short and two got enough time. I don't want to comment too much on the WWE Draft stuff until we find out the full rosters. I wouldn't really recommend this one and is more of a special episode than a real episode of Smackdown.