Smackdown Results: Bloodline attacks Kevin Owens, Tiffany Stratton interferes with title match

April 19, 2024 Jack Wannan NEWS
Image Courtesy: WWE

After WWE’s Raw roster took a trip up North for TV on Monday, the promotion is back stateside at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the latest episode of Smackdown. Here’s what went down, including a #1 contender match for Cody Rhodes’ universal belt and a women’s title match.

AJ Styles earns shot against Cody Rhodes, avenges Wrestlemania 40 loss

The night kicked off with a #1 contender match between AJ Styles and LA Knight, with the winner going on to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Both wrestlers made it into this bout last week after winning triple-threat matches. This pairing was a rematch from Wrestlemania 40 when the two met in a non-title rivalry fight. They collided again just a few weeks later on this episode, this time with championship implications.

Knight took Styles outside of the ring early to smash his head into the commentary table. Styles tried to regain momentum as they returned to the ring, but found himself dumped back to the outside immediately after. Knight dove feet-first onto Styles through the ropes before the match went to a commercial break.

Knight earned a near fall with a superplex just a couple of minutes after the match came back. Styles earned a near fall of his own, landing a moonsault into an inverted DDT. He then tried for a Styles Clash, although Knight escaped the move. Knight got out of a roll-up pin, but then ate a Pele Kick. Styles came off the ropes, although Knight escaped a Phenomenal Forearm. Knight started to regain some momentum and tried to set up for a BFT. Styles narrowly avoided the BFT, rolling over to the ring apron. Styles hit Knight with an eye poke from the apron while the referee wasn’t looking, then scored with a Phenomenal Forearm for the win. Styles will meet Rhodes early next month at WWE Backlash for the promotion’s top singles title.

Smackdown introduces new tag titles, finds #1 contenders

After a recap of last week’s Bloodline drama, we are shown a shot outside of the arena. Solo Sikoa introduces Tama Tonga to Paul Heyman, saying he is the “newest member of the Bloodline.” Just before Heyman could say something to Sikoa, he was interrupted by Sikoa: “Is Kevin Owens here? Then take me to him.”

The show went to commercials as Sikoa followed Heyman into the venue.

Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis welcomed Paul Levesque into the ring for the next segment. As Levesque was heading to the ring, another cryptic flash of a QR code was shown on the screen. Shortly thereafter, Smackdown Tag Team Champions Austin Theory and Grayson Waller were brought out as well.

Levesque revealed the new titles, announcing that Theory and Waller would now be known as WWE Tag Team Champions. Levesque offered to shake their hands, but they instead shook each other’s hands to mock him. Aldis took the old belts of Theory and Waller, then announced a fatal four-way match to crown the #1 contenders for the belt.

The four-way tag match featured The Street Profits, New Catch Republic, Legado Del Fantasma & Authors of Pain.

The match broke into a brief fast-paced scramble after the commercial break. A big focus was put on the strength of AOP’s Akam and Rezar throughout the match. A superplex spot took place in the corner, with AOP throwing Dunne and the Street Profits down to the canvas. Berto, who tagged himself in, did a double-team slam onto Bate, tossing him onto everyone else in the ring. Angel hit a dropkick off the top into a slam from Berto onto Bate, although the pin attempt was broken up by Dunne.

New Catch Republic both put ankle locks in, although Berto escaped and was able to break up the one applied to Angel. While the match was upping its intensity and felt like it was nearing a finish, the broadcast then went to commercials.

In a moment that put over the strength of AOP once again, nearly everyone teamed up to take out the duo when the match came back from a break. All of the teams started to battle each other once AOP was out of the ring, with Berto ending the series of shots by scoring a kick to Dawkins’ head. A large amount of the crowd started putting on their phone flashlights during the match, similar to what you used to see during Bray Wyatt’s entrance.

Dawkins hit a pounce on Berto, then Ford scored with a blockbuster off the ropes for a two-count. The pin attempt was broken up, keeping the match going. Bate tagged into the match and took Legado Del Fantasma outside of the ring. Both Bate and Dunne did moonsaults off a turnbuckle, and Ford dove over a corner onto other wrestlers outside of the ring as well.

Bate put Berto in the ring and tried for the Tyler Driver, although Berto escaped. Berto scored a hard lariat after a roll-up attempt, then brought Angel into the ring for a double team. They landed a double-team kick onto Bate, and Angel hit a moonsault right after, but the pin was broken up by a frogsplash from Ford. Dawkins tagged into the match and hit a double-team Revelation with Ford, earning them a pinfall win. The Street Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under’s Theory and Waller.

Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga make statement

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed Bayley, who will be competing in the main event. Bayley said that seeing Rhea Ripley vacate her title on this week’s episode of Raw made her appreciate that she is still champion.

Paul Heyman was seen apologizing to a frustrated Solo Sikoa, mentioning that they couldn’t find Kevin Owens in the venue. Heyman pleaded with Sikoa, saying that he is making decisions that he isn’t allowed to make yet.

“Are you done yet?” Sikoa said, cutting him off. The comment from Sikoa stopped Heyman’s ramble. The duo then came out to the ring.

After a break, Heyman introduced himself to the crowd. “I don’t know if there’s a list of the best backstage maneuvering politicians in the history of the WWE,” he started with. “But if there were such a list, I would think that I would be in the top.”

Heyman then started to describe the “politics” of The Bloodline. Sikoa eventually snatched the microphone out of Heyman’s hands. While receiving a large amount of boos, Sikoa said: “Last week I had to lose a brother in order to find a new one.” He then introduced Tama Tonga.

Tonga didn’t enter the stage with any music, but instead with a bloodied Kevin Owens. He left Owens on the ring ramp and got into the ring.

Owens stumbled his way to the ring moments later and tried fighting Tonga and Sikoa. While numerous security guards came in to stop the fight, Sikoa was able to score with his Samoan Spike to drop Owens. Tonga also landed a series of headbutts to a grounded Owens. The brawl was only stopped when Nick Aldis came to the ring and got in the way of Tonga.

After a break, Aldis showed Heyman a crash between two cars in the parking lot. He explained that the two colliding cars belonged to Owens and Tonga. The Smackdown GM, who seemed irate, said he wouldn’t tolerate behavior like this, and told Heyman to get control of The Bloodline. “Losing isn’t the only thing that has consequences,” he told Heyman.

Santos Escobar scores win against Carlito

The latest chapter in the rivalry between Carlito and Santos Escobar took place in the next match. This was the fourth singles match since Carlito’s return to WWE, with two of the previous bouts also being against Escobar.

Velina Vega and Elektra Lopez fought outside the ring briefly during the match. This distracted the referee, allowing Escobar to score with a low blow. After running Carlito into the ropes, Escobar won the match with a Phantom Driver.

Damage CTRL were interviewed from box seats in the venue after the match. Dakota Kai reminded the crowd that Damage CTRL is still the most dominant force in WWE and that the Kabuki Warriors are still champions. Her promo was cut off by Jade Cargill’s music. Appearing in the box section right next to Damage CTRL were Cargill and Bianca Belair. What a coincidence! They’ll all side close to each other for the main event.

Tiffany Stratton interferes with main event

In the final segment of the night, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley put her title on the line against Naomi.

Naomi started to gain some steam in the match after a break, scoring a crossbody for a two-count. She tried for a move coming off the ropes but was caught and driven into a corner. Bayley then scored a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall of her own.

Bayley came off the top rope with an elbow drop, but Naomi blocked the move by putting up her knees. Naomi landed a facebuster, although Bayley kicked out at two.

Similar to a spot seen just a couple of minutes before, Bayley put her knees up to block a springboard moonsault. The move hurt one of Bayley’s knees, causing her to limp around the ring for a few moments after. Bayley came off the ropes with an elbow drop, but it wasn’t enough to put away Naomi.

Bayley ate a kick, causing Naomi to get back into the fight. Naomi tried for a submission on the ground after a pin attempt. Bayley escaped the submission by rolling into a pin. With both wrestlers on their feet, they decided to trade strikes.

Bayley was brought to the outside, and then Naomi landed on her with a crossbody. After they both got back to their feet, Bayley connected with a Bayley-To-Belly onto the commentary desk. The match then had a sudden end, as Tiffany Stratton interfered by attacking both wrestlers.

Stratton threw Bayley into steel stairs, then put Naomi into a corner. She dragged both wrestlers into the ring and then landed her Prettiest Moonsault Ever onto both of them before the show went off air.

Quick Results

  1. AJ Styles def. LA Knight (WWE Championship #1 Contender Match)
  2. Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) def. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate), Legado Del Fantasma (Angel & Berto) & Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) (Fatal Four-Way WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Match)
  3. Santos Escobar def. Carlito
  4. Bayley vs. Naomi (WWE Women’s Championship) (No Contest)
About Jack Wannan 467 Articles
Jack Wannan is a journalist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He writes and reports on professional wrestling, along with other topics like MMA, boxing, music, local news, and more. He graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He can be reached at [email protected]
Twitter