WWE SmackDown
April 4, 2017
Orlando, Florida
Commentary: JBL, David Otunga and Tom Phillips
Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
The show opens with a video package highlighting WrestleMania 33 on Sunday night focusing on the Smackdown Live matches, closing with Randy Orton becoming WWE Champion.
We go live to Orlando where a huge display of pyro goes off. Tom Phillips is the first to welcome us to the show as we conclude the WrestleMania season tonight.
Phillips is joined by JBL and David Otunga. No mention of Mauro Ranallo again. Phillips mentions this is the first ever live Smackdown following a WrestleMania.
WWE Champion Randy Orton kicks off the show
New WWE Champion Randy Orton is out first to kick off the show. Very mixed reaction for Orton tonight. Orton grabs a mic getting an even louder mixed reaction. He smiles taking a look around at the crowd tonight. Orton does a spin holding up the WWE Championship. He says he left an important part out of saying if you can’t beat’em join’em, turn on them when they least expect it and then beat them at WrestleMania. Orton tells Wyatt he is his master and you will “never, ever forget my name.” Orton holds up the WWE Championship.
Bray Wyatt interrupts on the screen. Wyatt says Orton isn’t the master of anything. He says the Era of Wyatt has only begun and he is going to get back what his rightfully his. Wyatt reminds us he has his rematch coming, but first he has something very special planned. He wants a fight, but a special kind of fight that will push your body and mind. Wyatt challenges Orton to a House of Horrors match. He stares down Orton on the screen. Orton says he doesn’t know what a House of Horrors match is, but he accepts the challenge. He suggests Wyatt come down to the ring since he is here and “whip his ass one more time.”
Wyatt disappears off the screen. The lights go black. When they return, Wyatt is standing behind Orton and says he is here. Wyatt attacks Orton with rights. Orton with rights back. Orton catches Wyatt with a snap powerslam off the ropes. Orton gets tripped up and dragged out under the bottom rope. Erick Rowan has returned and attacks Orton at ringside. Rowan tosses Orton back inside. Rowan and Wyatt beat down Orton.
Here comes Luke Harper. Harper levels Wyatt with a big boot inside the ring. He takes a look at Harper and welcomes him inside the ring. Rowan backs off. Orton is back in and stands next to Harper as they stare down both Wyatt and Rowan.
Backstage, Renee Young is with The Miz and Maryse. Maryse thinks Nikki Bella should thank them for backing John Cena so far into a corner that he was forced to propose. Miz announces they are calling out Cena and Nikki tonight because it is the last time they might be able to do this with the roster shake up next week.
Naomi defends the Smackdown Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss next.
-Commercial Break-
Randy Orton and Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan is set for later tonight.
WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship
Naomi (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
We get ring introductions for the challenger Alexa Bliss and champion Naomi.
Bliss with kicks and forearms to Naomi early. Naomi with a bulldog to Bliss in the corner. Bliss rolls out, Naomi follows and catches Bliss with a quick side kick.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Bliss is working over the left leg of Naomi. During the break, we see a replay of Bliss working over the bad knee of Naomi. Bliss kicks away at the leg of Noami in the corner and then tosses her to the next corner doing the same. Bliss goes back to work on Naomi’s knee and screams, “Give up!” Naomi with a back suplex and then catches Bliss with a kick to the head. Bliss with a quick DDT on Naomi. Bliss pulls Naomi down by her hair. Naomi catches Bliss with the Rear View as Bliss came off the ropes. Naomi catches Bliss with a flush kick pushing off the corner. Naomi kicks away at Bliss and then Bliss trips her up off the corner. Bliss tries to use the ropes for a pinfall. The referee sees this and Bliss is forced to let go. Naomi then quickly flips Bliss over and locks her in a submission. Bliss taps.
Winner & still Smackdown Women’s Champion: Naomi
Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin in a street fight is set for later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
We are back live and Curt Hawkins is already inside the ring. Hawkins says all he keeps hearing about is this “superstar shake up” because all he should be hearing about his him. He announces he is issuing an open challenge and giving it to the count of 10.
Here comes NXT star Tye Dillinger to answer the challenge!
Curt Hawkins vs. Tye Dillinger
Dillinger with a quick takedown, flips away and flashes the 10 at Hawkins. Hawkins with shots to Dillinger including kicks in the corner. Hawkins with a quick back suplex. Dillinger with chops, cross body and clothesline combo on Hawkins. Orlando is chanting “10” with each offense Dillinger connects with on Hawkins. Dillinger with right hands to Hawkins in the corner. Dillinger with his Tye Breaker on Hawkins over his knee for the win.
Winner: Tye Dillinger
After the match, Tye Dillinger leads a 10 chant. JBL hopes they don’t lose Dillinger in the superstar shake up next week since he just arrived.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Mojo Rawley is interviewed about winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Rawley says WrestleMania was a dream come true. He talks about celebrating with Gronk and how Andre the Giant could drink a barrel of beer. Rawley says this is only the beginning, the bar has been raised and now it’s time to put some weight on.
Footage of Vince McMahon announcing a “superstar shake up” between RAW and Smackdown Live last night is shown. It will go down this Monday night on RAW.
Shane McMahon will address the superstar shake up tonight.
The Miz and Maryse are heading to the ring next to call out John Cena and Nikki Bella.
-Commercial Break-
The Miz and Maryse call out John Cena and Nikki Bella
John Cena’s music hits. Out comes John…The Miz dressed as John Cena. Maryse is out next dressed up as Nikki Bella. Orlando is just starting to figure it out. Miz Cena says the first house rule tonight: you can’t chant “CENA SUCKS” in this arena tonight. He wants to get romantic for a second. Miz Cena tells Nikki Maryse he loves her. Maryse is wearing a giant ring on her finger. Miz continues his robot Cena impression on the mic. He announces that Cena and Nikki will be leaving WWE for good. They go to leave when a violin player appears at the top.
NXT star Shinsuke Nakamura is in the house to make his WWE TV debut! A loud “NAKAMURA” chant breaks out in Orlando as he stands in the middle of the ring.
Nakamura gives a salute to the audience as his theme music hits again. Tom Phillips says the King of Strong Style has officially arrived on Smackdown Live.
-Commercial Break-
Street Fight Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin
Ambrose’s Intercontinental Championship is not on the line tonight.
The bell rings and Corbin lifts Ambrose to the corner immediately. Corbin kicks away at Ambrose. He tosses Ambrose to another corner and throws more kicks. Corbin plants Ambrose down over the mat catching him with a choke and tossing him down. Corbin has a steel chair. Ambrose with a dropkick through the ropes and then catches Corbin with a suicide dive sending Corbin over the announce table at ringside. Ambrose catches Corbin with a jumping elbow off the announce table sending Corbin into the crowd. Ambrose is up on the barricade and drops an elbow over his head into the crowd as we head to a break.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, a table is propped up in the corner. Corbin lifts up Ambrose and crashes him through the table in the corner crashing it in half! Corbin recovers and grabs a leather strap on the outside. Corbin is smiling and cracks the strap over the back of Ambrose. Corbin props a steel chair up between the top and middle turnbuckles. Ambrose counters and sends Corbin face first into the steel chair. Corbin avoids Dirty Deeds. Ambrose with big elbows. Ambrose with a knee and jumping clothesline combo. Ambrose grabs the leather strap and starts destroying Corbin with it. Ambrose clotheslines Corbin to the outside. Ambrose is up on the top turnbuckle and catches Corbin with a flying elbow. Another table is setup nearby. Ambrose puts Corbin on the table, goes back up to the top turnbuckle, jumps and connects with a flying elbow over Corbin crashing through the table! Back inside, Corbin catches Ambrose with a shot to the face using a steel chair as Ambrose was up on the top turnbuckle. Corbin then hits End of Days on Ambrose. Corbin gets the pinfall.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Shane McMahon will address the “superstar shake up” next.
-Commercial Break-
Shane McMahon addresses the “Superstar Shake Up”
Big reaction for the Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon tonight in Orlando.
Shane gets on the mic and thanks the audience. He talks about his father announcing a “superstar shake up” next week on RAW. Shane says this means excitement for all the fans and new challenges for Daniel Bryan and himself. He thinks anyone on the RAW roster should be praying they end up on Smackdown Live. Shane says they have all created the land of opportunity. AJ Styles is out next to interrupt Shane.
Styles has a black eye following his match with Shane at WrestleMania. He gets on the mic and makes it known that he doesn’t want to go anywhere when it comes this “superstar shake up” next week. Styles says Smackdown Live is the house AJ Styles built. He’ll be damned if someone from RAW is going to come over and take that away from him. Styles says he feels like he owes something to Shane after WrestleMania. He extends his hand. Shane and Styles shake hands. Styles walks off and teases hitting Shane. Shane is ready for it and Styles starts smiling. Shane smiles back as Styles leaves.
Randy Orton and Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan is up next.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Austin Aries plugs he’s in a fatal four way match on 205 Live tonight to determine who will become No. 1 contender for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Bray Wyatt and the returning Erick Rowan head to the ring.
Luke Harper is out next and is followed by new WWE Champion Randy Orton.
Randy Orton & Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt & Erick Rowan
We start with Randy Orton and Erick Rowan. Rowan avoids an early RKO attempt and then catches Orton with a kick as he bounced off the ropes. Orton rolls out.
-Commercial Break-
We return live as Orton gets a hot tag to Harper with Wyatt now in. Harper with a shot to Wyatt from the corner on the ring apron. Harper flips in over the top rope over Wyatt, takes out Rowan and then tosses Wyatt out. Harper with a suicide dive sending Rowan over the announce table. Wyatt catches Harper with a clothesline on the outside. Tag to Rowan. Wyatt with a senton and Rowan follows up with a splash for a two count. Rowan with chops to Harper in the corner. Rowan sends Harper chest first to the corner. Harper with a kick to the face of Rowan. Rowan counters dropping Harper over the mat. Tag to Wyatt who throws repeated elbows at Harper. Tag to Rowan who kicks Harper in the face. Rowan sends Harper face first into the corner and then props him over the top. Rowan throws forearms. Rowan splashes Harper and follows with a big dropkick. Wyatt gets the tag and Harper catches him with a sidewalk slam. Hot tag to Orton. Tag to Rowan. Orton with a snap powerslam on Rowan. Orton goes for his DDT and Wyatt breaks it up. Orton elbows Wyatt to the ring apron and then pulls him back in hitting his DDT. Orton is ready for an RKO. The lights go out. When they return, Wyatt is out of the ring and on the ramp. Rowan is behind Orton. Harper with a superkick on Rowan. Orton with an RKO on Rowan to get the pinfall.
Winners: Randy Orton & Luke Harper
After the match, we see a shot of Bray Wyatt laughing and smiling on the ramp. We see a replay of the finish. Back live, Orton and Harper celebrate the win as the show closes.
Thanks for joining us tonight and on Twitter via @wrestleview!
Quick Match Results:
* Naomi def. Alexa Bliss to retain the Smackdown Women’s Title
* Tye Dillinger def. Curt Hawkins
* Baron Corbin def. Dean Ambrose in a street fight match
* Randy Orton & Luke Harper def. Bray Wyatt & Erick Rowan