April 5, 2024
Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
Meek Mill Mania Hype Package
Before the show began, Meek Mill narrated a hype video package for WrestleMania.
It's #WrestleMania Eve and we didn't think it was possible, but @MeekMill just got us EVEN MORE HYPED than we already were! 🔥🔥🔥
LET'S GO!!! 👏👏👏#SmackDown starts NOW! pic.twitter.com/6PC2gUnaqI
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Orton & Owens
“WrestleMania SmackDown” officially kicked off with Kevin Owens welcoming Randy Orton to The KO Show. Owens opened up by saying that he and Orton both hate Logan Paul. Paul immediately interrupted and was standing on the stage across the street at Lincoln Financial Field where WrestleMania will be taking place this weekend. Owens and Orton then ran through the crowd saying they were going to go get Paul. As they exited, Grayson Waller & Austin Theory emerged from under the ring looking confused and quickly chased after Orton and Owens as the show went to its first commercial break.
After the break, Kevin Owens had commandeered a golf cart and drove towards the stadium with Waller & Theory in a full sprint behind them. Later after the Andre, Paul was shown walking backstage at the Wells Fargo Center seemingly successfully outsmarting Owens and Orton.
THE GOLF CART! 💀
Nothing is stopping them from getting to you, @LoganPaul…
Especially not @_Theory1 and @GraysonWWE. 😂#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7Z7HSIUjEJ
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Andre “The Giant” Memorial Battle Royal
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was next with only Big Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and Omos (accompanied by MVP) getting entrances.
Notes from the match:
- Pretty Deadly attempted to attack Omos to start the match but eliminated Kit Wilson almost immediately. Elton Prince then eliminated himself.
NO BOY!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/adJTB0l9EY
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
- Angel Garza & Berto were eliminated by Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde
- The Creed Brothers eliminated Indus Sher
- Omos eliminated The Creeds but also eliminated himself in the process
- JD McDonagh eliminated Ricochet from outside the ring
- The final four were Bronson Reed, Ivar, Otis, and Tozawa
- Ivar eliminated Otis and then Tozawa who landed on his head in a scary spot where Otis failed to catch him outside the ring
🤯#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/I4lqEC6fRM
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
- Ivar missed a moonsault allowing Big Bronson Reed to hit a Rolling Thunder on Ivar, thus eliminating him to win the Andre
YOUR WINNER! @BRONSONISHERE!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/K5kgOxeVtG
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Final Testament Promo
A Final Testament video aired with Karrion Kross saying that their opportunities were taken away because of issues having nothing to do with them.
A message from The Final Testament ⏳#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NtHHgqoSdt
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Logan Paul Appears
Logan Paul came out in the Wells Fargo Center after sending Orton & Owens on a wild goose chase and said he was playing “4D Chess”. He said that his “associates” Waller & Theory were about to lay a beatdown on Owens & Orton at the stadium. He then threw to a live video with Waller & Theory standing on the stage having no idea where the faces were. Owens & Orton then appeared at ringside and the two laid out Paul hitting him with a Stunner and an RKO.
This didn't go as Logan Paul planned… 🤭
This is NOT looking good for the US Champ ahead of #WrestleMania
Who will leave as United States Champion when @LoganPaul battles @RandyOrton and @FightOwensFight in a Triple Threat Match at #WrestleMania? 👀🇺🇸#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/I40XZkg4b2
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
LWOh-No
Backstage, Carlito was standing over a fallen Dragon Lee as Carlito was claiming that it must have been Santos Escobar and saying “Who else could it be?” Meanwhile, LWO’s music hit and Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega said they had to go to the ring.
Someone attacked @dragonlee95 just a day before he was supposed to team with @reymysterio at #WrestleMania… 😒👎#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/yTw6d3HOvB
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
Zelina would be taking on Elektra Lopez who was accompanied to ringside by not only Santos Escobar, but Dominik Mysterio and Andrade as well.
Dirty Dom is out here COOKIN!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/oTtCThCQZb
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Zelina had Lopez pinned but Dominik distracted the referee allowing Elektra Lopez to hit “The Elektra Shock” for the win. After the match, Dominik started attacking Rey and both Santos and Dom pushed Andrade coaxing him to join in on the beatdown. This set Andrade off and he attacked the heels and aligned himself with the LWO, hugging Rey and Zelina.
.@AndradeElIdolo a lines with #LWO!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Md0eCTZO4r
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Later, it was revealed that Dragon Lee would not be cleared to partner with Rey at WrestleMania. Andrade offered to be Rey’s partner and Carlito walked in a moment too late to offer himself.
Faces Wear Cowboy Hats
Naomi and Bianca Belair came down to the ring and talked about how long they’ve been fighting against Damage CTRL. Bianca and Naomi then introduced Jade Cargill and she said that Damage CTRL was “now in the eye of the storm”. The three all then pointed to the WrestleMania sign ending a very short promo segment.
⚠️ WARNING for #DamageCTRL:
"You are now in the EYE of THE STORM."@Jade_Cargill, @TheTrinity_Fatu and @BiancaBelairWWE will battle @WWEAsuka, @KAIRI_official and @ImKingKota TOMORROW NIGHT at #WrestleMania #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/EolBl7IamF
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
New Catch Republic vs. Waller & Theory
Two teams that will be competing in the Six Pack Ladder Match for the Tag Team titles this weekend faced off next with Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne taking on Grayson Waller & Austin Theory. New Catch Republic won with the Birminghammer in about seven and a half minutes. Seconds after the bell rang, Judgment Day stormed the ring and attacked both teams, decimating all of them.
Judgment Day takes out the competition#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zkc4a6WSr0
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Bayley Promo Package
A promo package aired highlighting Bayley’s history with Damage CTRL.
LA Knight
LA Knight came out and cut a short promo saying that all AJ Styles has been doing since he came back was crying but he makes AJ Styles interesting.
WHOSE GAME WILL IT BE AT #WRESTLEMANIA? @RealLAKnight and @AJStylesOrg aren't going to hold back when they go one-on-one this weekend! YEAH! 👏👏👏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7q1qgqZuIJ
— WWE (@WWE) April 6, 2024
The Pride Video Package
A promo package aired featuring B-Fab, Bobby Lashley, and The Street Profits in response to the earlier promo from The Final Testament.
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
The main event of the evening saw Jey Uso taking on Solo Sikoa. The pair lasted six and a half minutes before Jimmy Uso appeared and attacked Jey. This brought out Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins to make the save for Jey Uso.
Rhodes and Rollins are here!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ecURuac7hD
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Cody Rhodes then attacked Jimmy and Solo with his weight belt with Jey finishing off Jimmy with an Uso splash. Cody then got on the mic and said that he would dethrone Roman Reigns on Sunday and that “when one good story ends, an even better one begins.”
PAIN!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fW8kQIQPXZ
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 6, 2024
Friday Night SmackDown Results:
- Big Bronson Reed Eliminated Ivar in 10:09
- Elektra Lopez over Zelina Vega in 2:37 (TV Time, match began in commercial)
- New Catch Republic over Grayson Waller & Austin Theory in 7:28
- Jey Uso over Solo Sikoa via DQ in 6:34