Hello and welcome to WWE Smackdown Results!
This should be an interesting episode mainly to gauge how much change we’ll see thanks to Vince McMahon. After the debacle that was Monday Night Raw, fans have shared their displeasure with the creative direction.
It’s been reported that McMahon only made minor changes remotely to tonight’s show, so we’ll see how it works out.
Let’s get to the action!
The show opened with a quick memorial to Bushwhacker Butch who passed away earlier this week and it was followed by a recap of WrestleMania 39.
The show started with a slight change as Triple H’s expect opening was moved, and it feels more like a Triple H show to start.
The Brawling Brutes (Butch, Ridge Holland, Sheamus) vs. Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
Butch and Vinci started it off, and after a back and forth Holland tagged in and ate a crossbody, and Kaiser tagged in.
After Holland caught him with a right, Butch tagged in and started to work on Kaiser’s left arm, but he tagged Vinci in and Butch turned his attention to Vince’s left arm.
Sheamus and GUNTHER distracted the ref on the apron, and Kaiser helped Vince to his a suplex on Butch for a near pinfall.
NOT THE FINGERS!!! 🫣
The Brawling Brutes are RUTHLESS! Can #Imperium ride the momentum from #WrestleMania or will The Brutes get their much needed W tonight? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/gAynIQlkUH
— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2023
GUNTHER worked over Butch, but Butch focused on GUNTHER’s finger and forced him to break and tag out.
GUNTHER dropped Holland with a boot, then knocked Sheamus off the apron with another boot. He then his Holland with a powerbomb for a pin attempt Butch broke up, and then GUNTHER locked in a Boston Crab.
Holland made it to the corner and tagged Sheamus in and they traded blows before Sheamus hit a clothesline, a running powerslam, and ten beats.
GUNTHER got some shots in and went for a pwoerbomb, but Sheamus fought free and hit a White Noise for a near pinfall.
Chaos ensued as everyone went at it, and Sheamus caught Vinci with a knee off the ropes and the a Brogue Kick for the win.
Heyman’s duplicitousness
In an interview backstage, Kayla Braxton asked Paul Heyman why Brock Lesnar attacked Cody Rhodes, and he changed it to Roman Reigns and the Bloodline for main eventing both nights of WrestleMania.
"He solves the @SamiZayn problem tonight, or YOU solve our problems tonight."@HeymanHustle expects things to be handled a certain way tonight, whether Jey @WWEUsos can get it done or not… 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/3J26BtVpK4
— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2023
As Heyman was praising Reigns, Jey Uso came in and asked is anyone saw Jimmy, and Heyman said Reigns wanted Jimmy to stay home so Jey can solve the Sami Zayn problem all on his own.
After Jey left, Heyman told Solo Sikoa that either Jey solves their Zayn problem, or Solo solves their problems tonight.
Ricochet vs. Ivar w/Valhalla
DID HE JUST LIFT ONE OF THE VIKING RAIDERS?! 🤯
With their Tag Team partners banned from ringside, @KingRicochet and @Ivar_WWE have to pull out all the stops if they want to get the win tonight!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/f7rT6QTJQm
— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2023
Ricochet went after Ivar right off the bat, and he gained the early advantage with a hurricanrana and a dropkick to sent Ivar to the floor.
Ivar caught his dive attempt and slammed Ricochet into the ring apron and followed it with a running crossbody into the apron.
Back in the ring, Ivar hammered away with elbows.
Ricochet fired back with a series of strikes, but Ivar caught him with a spinning heel kick for a near pinfall. Ricochet caught him on the top ropes and hit a hurricanrana, then headed to the top rope to hit a Shooting Star Press for the win.
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