WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
April 14, 2023
Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE SmackDown kicks off with the Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn walking down to the ring. The fans chant “Sami” as he thanks them. He says it has only been two weeks since one of the most historic nights of all time. He says for the first time ever, the tag team titles were the main event of WrestleMania. And they closed the show as champions. Zayn says they haven’t had time to process or think about it because of everything that is happening with The Bloodline.
Owens says it is exciting, every one loves the draft. But he knows for a fact that regardless of where they end up, they are the undisputed tag team champions. And as far as they have worked to win them, they will defend them with everything they have. Raw or SmackDown. And speaking of defending them, he knows for sure that sooner rather than later, The Usos are coming for a rematch.
Out come The Usos and Solo Sikoa to the ring. They tell them that they have been champion for 2 weeks but they were champion for two years. And they know nothing about pressure. Zayn says that is true, they are the one’s who have to report back every week to their daddy Roman Reigns without the titles. Jimmy tells Zayn that The Bloodline is more dangerous than ever. They are more stronger than ever. The Usos levelled up. They don’t want Solo too. Jimmy tells them that The Usos will be nine time WWE Tag Team champions.
Jey says there are no cracks in The Bloodline. Just like when they take back those titles, Zayn and Owens will do what they always do. Fold under pressure, turn on each other. Jey tells Owens that it will be Zayn back stabbing “his brother” just like he back stabbed his entire family.
Zayn says he wishes he was as good at anything as good as Jey is to lying to himself. He says if he wants to act like Roman is cool about them not being champions, about no cracks in The Bloodline, about Solo being ready to drop him last week, he is fine with that. It doesn’t matter what he has to say because The Usos did not come out here just to talk. The Usos drop the microphones and surround the ring.
Matt Riddle jumps over the barricade and attacks Solo Sikoa as both teams fight over the barricade. Solo goes for the spike but Riddle ducks and hits him with the knees to the face. Riddle climbs the top rope as The Usos drag him to the outside of the ring. Zayn and Owens enter the ring and raise the title belts.
-Commercial Break-
LA Knight vs. Xavier Woods
The bell rings and we are under way. A shoulder tackle by LA Knight takes Woods down. LA Knight runs to the ropes but a drop kick by Woods. Right hands by Woods followed by a head lock take down.
He keeps the head lock on as LA Knight sends him to the ropes but Woods spins and catches him with a Russian leg sweep. LA Knight rolls to the outside of the ring and Woods with a senton over the top rope. He throws LA Knight back into the ring and he climbs the top rope. LA Knight gets to his feet and rolls to the outside. Woods jumps throws the second rope but LA Knight moves out of the way and he throws Woods into the ring post.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, LA Knight with a swinging neck breaker back in the ring. He goes for the cover but Woods kicks out. LA Knight throws Woods to the ropes but Woods with a side kick to the face. Woods with right hands and a chop to the chest. Woods runs to the ropes and a forearm to the face. He goes for the cover but LA Knight kicks out. Woods goes for a kick but LA Knight moves out of the way and hits him with a DDT. He goes for the cover but Woods kicks out. LA Knight with right hands and kicks. LA Knight goes for a suplex but Woods reverses it as he lifts LA Knight up and hangs him on the top rope. Woods climbs the top rope and he jumps onto LA Knight’s neck. Woods with a leg drop off the top rope. He goes for the cover but LA Knight puts his hand on the rope. Woods runs to the ropes but LA Knight with a slam. LA Knight runs to the ropes and hits him with a big elbow. LA Knight with a waist lock as he rolls Woods up with the tights but the referee sees it and doesn’t make the count. That distracts LA Knight as he rolls LA Knight, rolls the tights and gets the pin.
Winner: Xavier Woods
-Commercial Break-
Imperium are backstage as Gunther is speaking to Vinci and Kaiser in German. In comes Woods playing the trombone. Kaiser tells him that Imperium are working as he keeps playing. Gunther stops Kaiser as he turns to Woods. Gunther tells Woods if he wants his attention, he should approach him in a respectful manner. But Woods is a goof and he doesn’t like goofs. And he can beat the respect into him on the mat.
Woods says he has been champion for a long time and they never had a match. And with the draft coming up, he feels like he is more than ready to take his title.
We cut to Riddle, Zayn and Owens who are backstage. Zayn thanks him for what he has done and he tells him that Solo is dangerous and he feels horrible about when Solo had attacked him. Owens tells him to screw being careful. He wants revenge. He has to take Solo out, the way Solo took him out. Riddle tells them they are both right. But he is prepared for tonight.
We cut to Kayla who is backstage with Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley and Dominik. She says Zelina embarrassed Rhea last week as Rhea and Dominik get angry. Priest tells Kayla that Rey and the LWO should never have gotten involved in their things. Priest’s music hits as the Judgment Day head to the ring.
Priest says Backlash is in Puerto Rico and the host is his friend Bad Bunny. He tells Bunny if he wants to attend the show, to have fun. But if he puts his hands on his family again, we all know what can happen. Priest points to the titantron and we see Priest slamming Bad Bunny through the announce table.
Back in the ring, Rhea is laughing and the fans are booing. Priest says that was bad but he needs every one to watch that again and in slow motion. They show the replay again in slow motion and back in the ring, Rhea is still laughing. The LWO’s music hits and out comes Zelina Vega as Rhea leaves the ring. The LWO attack Priest and Dominik from behind and leave the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Santos Escobar with the LWO vs. Damian Priest with Judgment Day
Back from commercial and the match is already under way. Santos with a cross body off the top rope followed by a clothesline to the outside of the ring. Escobar on the ring apron as he goes for a double axe but Priest with a right hand. He throws Escobar back into the ring. Priest with an elbow in the corner followed by a suplex. HE goes for the cover but Escobar kicks out. He grabs Escobar and hits him with several kicks but Escobar with chops to the chest. Escobar runs to the ropes and hits Priest with a drop kick. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Escobar with right hands in the corner but Priest grabs Escobar and throws him down. A kick by Priest and Escobar to the outside of the ring. Priest jumps off the ring steps and hits him with a double axe.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Priest slams Escobar face first in the ring. He goes for the cover but Escobar kicks out. Escobar rolls to the ring apron and Priest climbs the top rope. Priest grabs Escobar but Escobar with right hands. Escobar climbs the top rope and hits Priest with a hurricanrana. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Both men to their feet and right hands by the both of them. Escobar with a knee to the face. He runs to the ropes and a flying forearm. Escobar with a hurricanrana and Priest is in the corner. Escobar on the ring apron and a kick to the side of the head. Escobar climbs the top rope and lands a moon sault. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Rhea gets on the ring apron and distracts the referee as Dominik grabs Priest when Santos was grabbing him. Priest with a clothesline onto Escobar. Priest to the outside and he attacks the LWO who were attacking Dominik. Escobar with a suicide dive onto Priest on the outside of the ring. He throws Priest back into other ring as Rhea grabs Escobar’s leg. Zelina throws Rhea face first into the barricade. Priest with the South of Heaven onto Santos. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Damian Priest
After the ring, Priest grabs Escobar on the outside of the ring as Rey’s music hits. Rey jumps Priest off the barricade. Dominik is in the ring and Rey gets in the ring and right hands by Rey. He trips Dominik up for the 619 but Priest and Rhea save Dominik.
The Bloodline are backstage. Heyman says he just got off the phone with Roman. He says that Riddle didn’t just embarrass Solo, he embarrasses their entire family. Heyman runs down the names of the family members as Solo puts his arm on Heyman. He tells Heyman to tell the Tribal Chief that he has this as Heyman walks away.
-Commercial Break-
The new WWE Women’s Tag Team champions Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan are in the ring. Pyro goes off on stage as Liv says they are happy and proud to be standing as the new Tag Team champions. Raquel says and they brought the hardware home to SmackDown but she would like to take this time to say thank you to Liv.
Raquel thanks Liv for sacrificing her body so that she can use her as her own personal weapon. Liv tells her she will always let her throw her onto people. Liv says incredible things happen when you least expect it and they are still getting to know each other.
Sonya Deville’s music hits and out she comes with Chelsea Green. Sonya says listening to them made her dumber by the minute. She tells the face when they grace them with their presence, they shut up. She asks them how they are tag team champions since they didn’t even beat the tag team champions. Sonya says Trish was involved in the match and not Lita. Sonya says maybe it was someone from upper management who overlooked it. Green says it must be Adam Pearce. But while they are there, she wants to discuss the way they have been used in this company. They have been overlooked for this mediocre tag team.
Green asks Sonya true or false, the only difference between Liv, Raquel and every one in the building are the titles. Sonya says that is true. They ask Liv and Raquel if they know who they are. Liv says but after they talk to Adam, she thinks they will be their next new challengers. Raquel and Liv attack Green and Sonya. Liv hits Sonya with the double knees. Chelsea grabs Sonya to the outside as Liv and Raquel celebrate in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his return to SmackDown as he comes down to the ring for his match. Madcap Moss is backstage with Emma. She tells him that Shinsuke Nakamura has nothing on him and he will get the win against him.
Madcap Moss with Emma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and we are under way. Madcap with right hands in the corner. He backs up and spears Nakamura in the corner. Madcap with a fall away slam. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. Madcap goes for a suplex but Nakamura lands on his feet and hits Madcap with a kick to the face.
Nakamura with kicks onto Madcap. He places Madcap on the second rope and hits him with a release German suplex. Nakamura on the second rope and he hits Madcap with a flying kick. Nakamura hits him with the Kinshasa as he goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura celebrates in the ring as Madcap gets back up. He goes to attack Nakamura but Nakamura gets him in an arm bar. Emma drags Madcap to the outside and Nakamura celebrates.
Scarlett is backstage with a deck of cards and one of them has Nakamura’s face on it. Karrion Kross says tik tok.
-Commercial Break-
Ricochet and Braun Strowman are walking backstage and they are attacked by the Viking Raiders. They hit Strowman with a piece of metal equipment and slam Ricochet through a table.
Matt Riddle with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa with The Usos and Paul Heyman
Before the match starts, Heyman gets on the microphone. He introduces himself and says he has a historic announcement to make. He just come off the phone with Roman Reigns and it is set. Two weeks from tonight, the biggest tag team match in the history of SmackDown when the WrestleMania Night One main event gets rematched. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defending and losing the Undisputed Tag Team Championships to The Usos. Heyman says it is a guarantee that they will lose the Championships because Roman is losing patience with them.
-Commercial Break-
The bell rings and we are under way. Riddle with right hands and kicks but Solo pushes him away. Riddle goes for an arm bar but Solo slams him onto the mat. Riddle gets back up and goes for the sleeper but Solo falls backwards onto the mat. Solo with a right hand onto Riddle. Solo with a chop to the chest. Jimmy distracts the referee as Jey trips Riddle in the ring. Owens and Zayn try and attack The Usos as the referee kicks both teams away from ringside. Riddle rolls Solo up but Solo kicks out. Solo up first and he hits Riddle up with a Samoan drop.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Solo with a right hand. He goes for a splash in the ring apron but Riddle moves out of the way. Riddle with chops and kicks to the chest. Riddle with a kick to the face followed by a forearm to the face. Riddle with a suplex. Riddle with the Floating Bro off the top rope. He goes for the cover but Solo kicks out.
We see The Usos walking through the fans and jumping the barricade. Owens and Zayn make their way down to the ring. Both teams fight on the outside of the ring. In the ring, Riddle with a kick to the head. Riddle on the ring apron and he jumps off the second rope onto The Usos on the outside. Riddle climbs the top rope, he jumps but Solo with a super kick. Solo with the Samoan Spike. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Solo Sikoa
Riddle rolls to the outside of the ring. Solo grabs him and slams him onto the table but it doesn’t break. Solo flips the table over Riddle. The Bloodline stand in the ring as Owens and Zayn check up on Riddle on the outside.