WWE SmackDown Results: Zayn & Owens Retain, Draft Results

April 28, 2023 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

WWE SmackDown Results
April 28, 2023
American Bank Center Arena – Corpus Christi, TX

By: John Kleinchester

Friday Night SmackDown began with Triple H or “the man who runs the place” as Michael Cole described him coming out to kick off Night 1 of the WWE Draft. HHH said, “50% of the roster will be drafted tonight and the other 50% would be drafted this Monday on Raw” and the “post-draft rosters” would go into effect the Monday after Backlash.

SmackDown First Round Picks:

  1. Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Roman Reigns (all three drafted as one)
  2. Bianca Belair (Raw Women’s Champion)

Raw First Round Picks:

  1. Cody Rhodes
  2. Becky Lynch

Triple H explained that Reigns being drafted to SmackDown meant the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship would officially be exclusive to Raw.

The Usos were then out and congratulated Roman for being the #1 draft pick and promised to bring back gold to The Bloodline later tonight. They also explained that Roman hadn’t responded to any of their messages. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn interrupted and asked them if they thought it was strange that Roman hasn’t said anything to them since WrestleMania yet they’re dedicating the match to him tonight. Sami then noted that The Usos weren’t drafted with Reigns, Sikoa, and Heyman. 

Butch (accompanied by Sheamus) vs. LA Knight was the first match-up of the evening. The crowd was squarely behind Knbight in this match, chanting his name. Knight won with the Blunt Force Trauma in eight minutes.

Backstage Paul Heyman was telling The Usos that the only option was to win tonight and that the only way they can return to The Bloodline. Heyman continued but turned his attention to Solo Sikoa without The Usos seeing and said, “One way or another, [Roman] will only accept the fact that tonight is the night”. 

Rob Van Dam and Michael Hayes were out next to announce the second round of draft picks. 

SmackDown Second Round Picks:

  1. The Street Profits
  2. Edge

Raw Second Round Picks:

  1. Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci (Imperium)
  2. Matt Riddle

The Street Profits who luckily were already dressed in blue were out for a triple threat tag team match against Braun Strowman & Ricochet and Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro of the LWO. During the match, Braun and Ricochet playfully referenced the botched throw from last week’s SmackDown, this time successfully executing it. The Street Profits won clean with the pin on Ricochet. 

JBL and Teddy Long came out to announce the Round 3 picks.

SmackDown Third Round Picks:

  1. Bobby Lashley
  2. The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin)

Raw Third Round Picks:

  1. Drew McIntyre
  2. The Miz

Zelina Vega was out next to face Sonya Deville. Vega won in just over 3 minutes. After the match, Rhea Ripley jumped Zelina and also took out Sonya Deville. Ripley went for the Riptide on Vega but Vega countered it into a DDT and escaped. After the break, Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar congratulated Zelina on her win and she said she would win at Backlash for her people and her family. 

The O.C. came out to the ring and AJ Styles was about to speak, The Viking Raiders and Valhalla interrupted. AJ backed off and allowed his three team members to brawl with the three Viking Raiders. AJ got back on the mic and said “SmackDown, we are just getting started” before hitting the Phenomenal Forearm on Ivar.

Shawn Michaels and Road Dogg were the final pair of legends to announce draft picks for the evening.

SmackDown Fourth Round Picks:

  1. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky)
  2. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions)

Raw Fourth Round Picks:

  1. Shinsuke Nakamura
  2. Indi Hartwell (NXT Women’s Champion)

Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre were interviewed but were interrupted by Katana Chance and Kayden Carter who challenged the pair for the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles this Tuesday on NXT.

Michael Cole noted the WWE Draft would continue tomorrow morning on SmackDown LowDown on Peacock.

Shinsuke Nakamura was interviewed and said he was excited about being drafted to Raw but was jumped by Karrion Kross and left laying. 

The main event was the “Wrestlemania Main Event Rematch” between champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens defending against The Usos. In the middle of the match, they cut to Paul Heyman receiving a phone call from Roman Reigns. Heyman told Solo “That was the call – tonight is your night”.

And with that, Solo Sijkoa left the locker room and went down to ringside. Matt Riddle intercepted Sikoa and fought him off into the backstage area.

Meanwhile, Owens hit a Stunner and Zayn hit the Helluva Kick for the win. Solo Sikoa reemerged and stared disapprovingly at The Usos to end the show.

 

Announced for SmackDown Next Week in San Juan, PR:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross
  • The O.C. vs. The Viking Raiders
  • Bad Bunny Appears

Friday Night SmackDown Results:

  • LA Knight over Butch in 8:01
  • The Street Profits over Strowman/Ricochet and the LWO in 7:37
  • Zelina Vega over Sonya Deville in 3:05
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens over The Usos in 17:40
About John Kleinchester 204 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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