WWE SmackDown Results
April 28, 2023
Corpus Christi, Texas (American Bank Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The 2023 WWE Draft begins now!
We go live into the American Bank Center. Tonight, we’ll have a WrestleMania main event rematch with Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defending the titles against former champions The Usos.
WWE Hall of Famer Triple H makes his way to the stage. Michael Cole says it only makes sense that the guy who runs the place makes the first appearance. Triple H welcomes the crowd in Corpus Christi to Friday Night SmackDown and the 2023 WWE Draft. Before we get started, he wants to lay down some ground rules. Every Superstar is eligible to be drafted. 50% of the roster will be drafted tonight. The other 50% will be drafted on Monday Night Raw.
The WWE Draft Pool for tonight is shown.
Select NXT Superstars will be drafted as well. The rosters will go into effect on Monday, May 8 after Backlash. Triple H has the 1st Round’s four picks in his hand. Are you ready? Triple H asks again, and Corpus Christi is. Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns are drafted 1st and go to SmackDown. The Bloodline remains on SmackDown!
Triple H says this means that the new World Heavyweight Champion will be exclusive to Monday Night Raw. Raw’s first pick tonight is “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes.
Triple H gets the crowd to sing the “WHOA” part of Rhodes’s theme song since it was cut off. SmackDown’s next pick is Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
The next pick goes to Raw. It is “The Man” Becky Lynch.
That concludes the first round. While the second round is being deliberated in the back. Triple H introduces what he feels is the greatest tag team ever who will challenge for the titles tonight, The Usos.
Jimmy and Jey Uso come out to the stage. Jey Uso says, “The Bloodline is now in your city!” Jimmy Uso congratulates “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns on being the #1 Draft Pick in 2023. The crowd boos. Jey says he knows Reigns is at home watching. Tonight, they’ll bring back gold to The Bloodline. Jimmy says they know Reigns has not been happy with them. They haven’t heard from him since WrestleMania. They’ll be dedicating tonight’s victory to Roman Reigns as they become 9-time Tag Team Champs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are the 2’s and they are the 1’s.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn come out to the stage and stand near their opponents for tonight. A “Sami” chant picks up. Zayn says he’s not here to talk some sense into them or talk them into anything. Zayn just wants to say one last thing. How come The Usos don’t think it’s strange that since they beat The Usos in the main event of WrestleMania and Roman Reigns hasn’t talked to them since? They’re dedicating tonight’s match to Reigns, but didn’t they see what they just saw? Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa were drafted to SmackDown, but not The Usos. No Bloodline. Zayn says they’ll be walking out with the titles, but Jey cuts him off and says they won’t be walking out with anything. Jimmy says once they win the titles, Owens will turn his back on Zayn. Owens says he’s so sick of hearing all this crap. All Owens cares about is getting The Usos in the ring, beating the hell out of them, and keeping their titles!
To recap, here are the first three picks:
— SmackDown: Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa
— Raw: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
— SmackDown: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair
— Raw: Becky Lynch
Sheamus and Butch make their way to the ring. Butch will battle LA Knight next.
-Commercial Break-
The doors of Raw and SmackDown are shown with executives behind both determining who will go where in the WWE Draft.
Last week on the SmackDown Post-Show, LA Knight poked fun that the Brawling Brutes might be broken up in the WWE Draft.
Butch w/ Sheamus vs. LA Knight
Knight quickly kicks Butch and applies a side headlock. Butch whips him off, drops down, and leapfrogs him before hitting a clothesline. Butch takes Knight down and bends the fingers. Butch is doing some joint manipulation. Butch twists the arm and stomps it. Knight goes to the corner and elbows him back. Knight sends Butch to the apron and charges, but Butch turns him around and hits about 20 Beats of the Bodhran. Butch comes off the top rope, but Knight moves. Butch lands on his feet and wraps himself around Knight. Knight pulls Butch into the ropes and snaps him off them. Knight then hits a back suplex on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Knight knee Butch back. Butch rocks him with a forearm to the face followed by a running enzuigiri. Butch stomps on the hands and kicks him in the back of the head for a near fall. Knight rolls out of the ring to recover. Butch catches him with a moonsault block off the apron and gets him in the ring. Butch goes to the top rope, but Knight cuts him off with a punch. Knight sets up for a superplex, but Butch snaps the fingers. Knight quickly comes back by popping up to the top rope and hitting a beautiful superplex for a near fall!
Knight gets Butch in a torture rack, but Butch lands on his feet. Knight quickly boots him in the face for a two-count. Butch soon comes back and takes Knight down, but Knight gets to the bottom rope. Knight gets out of the ring and drives Butch shoulder-first into the ring post. Knight connects with Blunt Force Trauma for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: LA Knight
The Usos are getting fired up with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa standing behind them. Heyman says everyone thinks that The Usos are getting drafted to Raw, but they’re really being drafted to The Island or Relevancy or the Ocean of Obscurity. Tonight, they’ll be rid of the failure at WrestleMania. The Tribal Chief wants them to know that one way or the other, tonight is the night. Solo Sikoa gets his tape out for his thumb.
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam will present the 2nd Round picks for Raw. WWE Hall of Famer Michael “PS” Hayes of The Freebirds will present for SmackDown.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam makes his way to the podium on stage. RVD gets the crowd to chant his initials. WWE Hall of Famer Michael “PS” Hayes then makes his way to the ring. NXT Superstars at the NXT Performance Center are shown watching.
The 1st pick of the 2nd Round sees SmackDown get Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits.
A LOUD “RVD” chant picks up. RVD says it’s fantastic to see the crowd. Raw’s 1st pick of the 2nd Round will see WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser head to the red brand.
Hayes announces SmackDown’s second pick for SmackDown: WWE Hall of Famer Edge.
The final pick of the 2nd Round sees Raw get Matt Riddle.
The Street Profits make their way to the ring. They’ll be participating in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match. They are decked out in blue. Montez Ford says he and Angelo Dawkins are back in the blue. They’re back on Friday Night SmackDown. Nothing has changed but the day they work on. They’ll still be living by these four words: We want the smoke!
Triple Threat Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Ricochet and Braun Strowman vs. Latino World Order (Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde)
It’ll be Braun Strowman, Montez Ford, and Joaquin Wilde starting the match. They go after Strowman, but Strowman easily overwhelms them before tossing them out of the ring. Strowman throws everyone else out and nearly throws his partner. Strowman then takes him and throws him over the top rope onto the other competitors at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Del Toro come off the top rope with a missile dropkick on Dawkins. Ricochet kicks and punches him. Del Toro twists around the ropes to avoid an avalanche from Ricochet. Del Toro jumps over Ricochet and hits a rolling step-up enzuigiri. Wilde tags in and wipes out The Street Profits with a somersault senton off the top rope to the floor!
Wilde gets on the apron and shoulders Ricochet. Wilde avoids a moonsault block from Ricochet and hits a hurricanrana with a cradle for a two-count. Ricochet manages to pull Wilde out of the ring. Del Toro tags in and attacks Ricochet before he can make the save. Del Toro hits a suplex. Strowman was nearly late making the save. Strowman wipes out Ford and Del Toro before starting the Strowman Express. Dawkins then crushes Strowman with a somersault senton! Ricochet then wipes out Dawkins with a plancha!
Ricochet gets Dawkins in the ring and goes for a 630, but he lands on his feet when Dawkins moves. Ford tags in. Dawkins hits Ricochet with a spinebuster, and Ford follows up with a Frog Splash for the victory.
Winners by Pinfall: The Street Profits
Bad Bunny will battle Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight at WWE Backlash.
Next week on SmackDown, Bad Bunny will appear live.
JBL will present the next picks for SmackDown. Former SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long will present for Raw.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield comes out to the podium with SmackDown’s 3rd Round Draft Picks. WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long then comes out with Raw’s picks.
JBL announces the 1st Pick of the 3rd Round of the WWE Draft to be “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley.
Raw’s next pick is Drew McIntyre.
SmackDown selects The O.C. consisting of AJ Styles, Michin, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson.
Finally, The Miz remains on Raw.
Sonya Deville w/ Chelsea Green vs. Zelina Vega
Deville immediately takes Vega down and taunts her. They lock up, and Deville takes her down again before taunting the crowd. Deville hits the ropes, but she misses a scissor kick. Vega takes her down and goes for Code Red, but Deville gets out. Deville puts her in the corner and punches away at her. Vega fights back and stretches Deville. Vega goes outside and gets in Green’s face. Deville boots Vega down and gets her in the ring for a two-count. Deville applies a chin lock, but Vega gets out with a jawbreaker. Vega hits the ropes, but Deville kicks her in the head for a two-count. Deville puts Vega in the corner and punches away at her. Deville goes for a suplex, but Vega gets out. Deville elbows her away and goes for a running knee, but Vega moves and rolls her up for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Zelina Vega
SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley immediately blindsides Vega before hitting Deville with a head-butt. A “Mami” chant picks up. Ripley goes for a Riptide, but Vega counters into a DDT! Vega quickly escapes the ring.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are shown preparing backstage.
-Commercial Break-
Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio are excited over what Zelina Vega just did to Rhea Ripley. Vega says she’s excited to perform in front of her family. Mysterio says no matter what everyone thinks of her champions, only she has to believe she can win. Mysterio fought with that mentality all the way to the Hall of Fame. She can get the SmackDown Women’s Championship to the lWo.
The O.C. make their way to the ring. AJ Styles is back and dressed to compete! Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and “Michin” Mia Yim accompany him to the ring. Styles has a microphone, but he’s cut off by The Viking Raiders. The Viking Raiders get in the ring with Valhalla. The O.C. quickly take them out. Styles says they have just started and hits Ivar with a Phenomenal Forearm.
Shawn Michaels will give the SmackDown picks. Road Dogg will give the Raw picks.
-Commercial Break-
Shawn Michaels and Road Dogg come out to give the final picks of the evening.
— Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY) to SmackDown
— Shinsuke Nakamura to Raw
— NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn to SmackDown
— NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell to Raw
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Triple H introducing the new World Heavyweight Championship since Roman Reigns will remain on one brand with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
The WWE Draft picks are recapped. The Supplemental Draft continues on the SmackDown Low Down tomorrow morning.
The WWE Draft will continue on Monday Night Raw.
Next Friday on SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura will battle Karrion Kross. Gallows and Anderson will also battle The Viking Raiders. Finally, Bad Bunny will also appear on SmackDown.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (c’s) vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
The bell rings, and The Usos quickly get Owens and Zayn out of the ring. They bounce Zayn off the commentary table and get Owens in the ring. Owens blocks a superkick from Jey, but Jey still manages to hit it. Jimmy Uso tags in. The Usos hit stereo superkicks, and Jimmy picks up a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see The Usos double-teaming Owens. Jimmy slams Owens’s leg off the ring post and gets back in the ring. Zayn is dancing around on the apron, trying to will Owens on. Jimmy pulls Owens into the center of the ring and stomps him. Jey tags in and attacks Owens. Owens is dragged back to the corner. Jimmy tags in and slams Owens’s knee against the ring post again. Jimmy grabs both legs, but Owens desperately pulls him into the ring post.
Zayn and Jey tag in. Zayn hits a pair of clotheslines. Jey reverses a whip and hits a back elbow, but Zayn immediately pops up and clotheslines him down. Zayn clotheslines Jey over the top rope and sends Jimmy to the floor. Zayn gets fired up and hits the ropes for a somersault senton on The Usos! Zayn celebrates for a moment before going to the top rope. Jey quickly sweeps the feet and climbs the ropes. Zayn fights back with a punch and a head-butt. Zayn hits a sunset flip powerbomb on Jey for a near fall! Jey fights back and goes for the ropes, but Zayn pulls him back and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Zayn sets Jey up and goes to the top rope. Jey immediately pops up and superkicks Zayn off the top rope to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Zayn tag Owens in. Owens punches Jey off the apron and goes to the corner. Owens tells Jimmy to “suck it” and hits him with a cannonball. Owens goes to the top rope, but Jimmy cuts him off with a right hand. Jimmy climbs to the second rope and goes for a superplex. Owens counters back with a fisherman’s buster off the second rope! Owens hobbles around and goes to the top rope for a Swanton Bomb. Owens covers, but Jimmy barely just kicks out!
Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman are watching backstage. A shocked Heyman takes a phone call from Roman Reigns. Heyman then smiles and tells Sikoa he has given him the call. Tonight is Sikoa’s night. Sikoa walks off.
Back to live action, Owens superkicks Jimmy and goes for a Pop-up Powerbomb. Jimmy gets out of it, but Owens soon catches him with a Pop-up Powerbomb. Jey breaks up the pin. Zayn runs in and wildly punches away at Jey before throwing him out of the ring. Zayn goes for a plancha, but Jey superkicks him out of midair! Owens knocks Jey off the apron, and Jimmy rolls him up for a two-count. Owens quickly drops Jimmy with a Stunner for a near fall!
Soko Sikoa makes his slow walk to the ring to boos from the crowd. Matt Riddle blindsides him with punches and brawls with him to the back!
In the ring, Owens blocks a superkick, but Jimmy comes right back with a step-up enzuigiri. Jey tags in. Jimmy hits a superkick, followed by a superkick from Jey. The Usos then hit Owens with a double superkick! Jey covers, but Owens manages to kick out just in time. Jey talks strategy with Jimmy and tags him back in. They hit Owens with a double superkick. The Usos then hit Zayn with a double superkick. The Usos follow up with yet another double superkick on Owens, but Owens still kicks out! Jey tags back in. Jey crushes Owens with a superkick, but Owens kicks out and immediately gets to his feet. Owens fights on instinct before Jey floors him with a superkick. Jimmy tags in, and The Usos pose. Zayn pulls Jey out of the ring and sends him into the ring steps. Owens hits Jimmy with a Stunner and tags Zayn in. Zayn hits Jimmy with a Helluva Kick for the victory!
Winners by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Solo Sikoa emerges from the back and stares down at the ring. The Usos look very disappointed.
The WWE Draft continues Monday night on Raw.
Quick Match Results
— LA Knight def. Butch
— The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) def. Ricochet and Braun Strowman, and Latino World Order (Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match
— Zelina Vega def. Sonya Deville
— Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
WWE Draft Picks for Night 1
SmackDown
The Bloodline (WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa)
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)
Edge
Bobby Lashley
The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and “Michin” Mia Yim)
Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY)
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
Raw
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
“The Man” Becky Lynch
Imperium (WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci)
Matt Riddle
Drew McIntyre
The Miz
Shinsuke Nakamura
NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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