WWE Smackdown Live 04/30/19 results and full recap indicates that following a very lacklustre Raw, there was nowhere to go but up. And for the most part, Smackdown Live did that, though it was still lacking in the entertainment factor. One thing they did correct was naming the participants in the Money in the Bank ladder matches. They did so by parceling them throughout the episode, but by making it sound offhand they avoided the tropes of the confrontations that helped slow Raw to a crawl.
WWE SmackDown Live: Oh, well, on with the show, eh?
Michael Cole started things off by welcoming Kofi Kingston to the ring, where he was honored, and we were treated, to the road to his success at Wrestlemania and everything he had to overcome.
After seeing images of him celebrating his championship win with his family in the ring, Kingston gave us an awesome speech about overcoming long odds and never giving up. Seriously, how awesome is this: “We are the guys who proved the impossible was possible.”
The audience responded (and I’m sure some of us at home as well) with chants of “You deserve it.”
It was a heartwarming and inspirational moment that was just too ripe not to be plucked and bore into by a worm we know as Kevin Owens. Of course, Owens wasn’t the instigator this time as Michael Cole called up the replay of last week’s betrayal, of which Kingston took on all the blame for the “New Day believes everyone deserves a second chance if they want it,” and then challenged Owens to a title match at Money in the Bank.
Now, with the hard work done for him, Kevin Owens had to take an actual bite and stepped out onto the stage to respond, “Challenge accepted, Kofi.” But he wasn’t done, and went on explaining how Kingston wasn’t championship material, and subsequently breaking under the weight of the championship.
Xavier Woods, after being injured last week by Owens, attacked Owens from behind, but he was quickly dealt with via a Superkick that ignited Kingston to run to aid his friend and Owens to retreat.
WWE SmackDown Live: Becky Lynch beat Bayley by Submission.
Before the match started, we were informed that Bayley was the first selection from the Smackdown brand for the Money in the Bank ladder match. No surprise, really, and it’s safe to assume she may be the winner with the push she’s getting, and may even challenge the winner of Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair that night if things go her way.
While it was fun seeing these two in their first ever Smackdown match, it alternated between brawling and wrestling with Bayley controlling things through most of it, and it seemed each of them were trying to push the other as every hit appeared catastrophic for the short term. None was more apparent than Lynch seemingly injuring her left knee after sending Bayley into the ropes.
Still, Lynch’s feistiness eventually won out as she countered Bayley’s elbow off the top rope by raising her knees, which ended with a quick submission when Lynch slapped on her Dis-Arm-Her.
Standing with the victory tallied, Lynch was nailed by Charlotte Flair’s big boot. For good measure, Flair then threw Bayley through the ropes and into the turnbuckle, possibly injuring her shoulder/arm further.
How will their injuries play out in Money in the Bank? Guess we gotta wait and see.
WWE SmackDown Live: Aleister Black is back
We were treated to another dark, threatening promo from Aleister Black where he described using fear to paralyze his opponents. “Fear is a powerful and paralyzing tool. A truth that allows them to fade to black.” – Aleister Black
Okay, this is not only ominous but… it feels odd. Not sure why, but while it’s fun to watch him work this angle, he’s not as intimidating as say the Undertaker was, but here’s to hoping everything falls into line and he takes this to the next level. It’d be cool to have a persona like this around again.
WWE SmacDown Live Results: The Hardy Boyz aren’t so hardy.
The night started off with questions about the Hardy Boyz’s health, in particular, Jeff Hardy as he was on crutches in an early promo.
Matt had to help his brother as they made it to the ring, and after a montage of Lars Sullivan’s attacks on various superstars, Jeff revealed that he can’t walk on his own and needs surgery thanks to Sullivan’s attack on him. In a solemn moment citing they hadn’t even had a chance to defend their titles, the Hardy Boyz vacated the Smackdown tag team championship.
Sullivan came out, forcing Matt to face him to protect Jeff. After tossing Matt aside (twice), Jeff hopped around on one leg, ready to use his crutch as a weapon, but he never got the chance.
R-Truth appeared behind Sullivan with a steel chair and hit him. Sullivan, shifting his attention to the more interesting threat, seemed unfazed as he faced R-Truth. When R-Truth swung again, Sullivan punched the chair out of his hands and out of the ring. R-Truth then suffered another power bomb.
While R-Truth seems to be the only one willing to face Sullivan regularly, the fact his attacks have no effect aren’t really helping the storyline. It’s safe to assume they’ll have a match at Money in the Bank, but don’t bank on it yet. There may be more to this story to come. Hopefully.
WWE SmackDown Live Results: Money in the Bank men’s ladder match is set.
It was announced that Smackdown Live’s representative in the Money in the Bank ladder match are Ali, Finn Balor, Andrade, and Randy Orton without any pomp and circumstance. There would be a tag match later on, though. Stay tuned.
Asuka and Kairi Sane beat an unannounced team by pinfall.
This was they type of match that used to be held Saturday afternoons on Superstars of Wrestling where the big or up and coming names beat on some nobodies to enhance their image and work out any kinks. The most interesting part (this is how out of place this match was on prime time) was the Iiconics announcing the match at ringside.
Oh, Sane hit her Insane Elbow for the pin.
WWE SmackDown Live Results: Mandy Rose joins Money in the Bank
Another quick break in the action brought a brief exchange between Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, where Rose informed Deville of Shane McMahon wanting a former member of the Absolution to join the match. After calling out Rose for being insincere for saying she should take the spot, Deville told Rose she should take the spot and “finish the job” by winning it and the title.
WWE SmackDown Live Results: Roman Reigns beat the B-Team (and special guest enforcer referee Elias) by pinfall in a handicap match.
It all started with Reigns saying he wanted to make a lasting first impression on his first appearance on Smackdown, and that he hadn’t planned on hitting Vince McMahon, but it would’ve happened to someone.
Shane then came out and informed him that “You say you are the Big Dog in the yard, and that may be true, but I’m just out here to remind you the McMahon family owns the land.”
Shane then informed Reigns he would not only be competing in a handicap match against the B-Team, but Elias would also be the special guest enforcer referee.
Of course, Elias attacked Reigns outside the ring, he even pulled referee Mike Chioda out of the ring to prevent a Reigns pin. When Axel (son of WWE Legend Curt “MR. Perfect” Hennig. His partner, Bo Dallas, is Mike Rotundo’s son, making this a fun legacy tag team) pinned Reigns with a Perfect Plex, Elias tried to count Reigns out, but Reigns kicked out on two.
Reigns then evened the odds by knocking Elias out with a Superman Punch before spearing Axel for the win.
While this has the makings of a great rivalry between Elias and Reigns, Elias needs to be given some time to develop into something more than a hired gun by the McMahons. It can only enhance things and give us something special.
Finn Balor and Ali beat Randy Orton and Andrade by pinfall.
Following Raw’s blueprint, these four were paired off for a match to showcase their skills and give one a push.
After Andreda cut a promo on each, mainly how he didn’t respect them, he then turned to his partner, Orton, and said he’d teach Orton to respect him.
The match itself felt like they were going through the motions, but we did get to see a couple of finishers as Ali hit Andreda with his 450 splash for the pin as Orton surprised Balor with an RKO. Ali then chased Orton from the ring with a Superkick, setting up their rivalry and probably push (maybe Money in the Bank victory?) for Ali.
Women’s Money in the Bank team is finalized, finally.
Backstage, she-nom Ember Moon and Carmella’s selections for the final two spots become known. With the Smackdown’s women’s team completed, it should be an interesting pay-per-view as we get to see so many different styles and skill sets on display.
Kevin Owens Show with guest Xavier Woods
Well, kinda.
More like Xavier Woods and Big E toy figures, but Owens doesn’t hold back his thoughts and criticism, doubling down on Kofi Kingston not being worthy after he tossed the two toys aside. Owens was kind enough to share his plans to relieve Kingston of “the burden he’s been carrying around.”
In response, Kingston appeared and ran to the ring, intent on giving Owens everything he wanted. Despite taking several blows, Owens’ size and strength allowed him to shove Kingston back and land a few shots himself, but Kingston wouldn’t be denied. Their brawl eventually spilled onto the floor, where Kingston threw Owens onto and over the announcer’s table, then hit him with a chair, but Owens raked his eyes and ran into the crowd.
Kingston too to the ropes, standing high as he called out, “This is what you wanted!”
Though Owens continued to match Kingston’s stare down, there’s little doubt he awoke something in Kingston that will take this rivalry to the next level and possibly beyond.