By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Episode 1,234)
Lincoln, Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Aired live April 14, 2023 on Fox
[Hour One] The Smackdown opening aired. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett were on commentary. Cole labeled Smackdown “the most exciting show on television.” Samantha Irvin was the ring announcer…
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn made their entrance. The broadcast team recapped last week’s developments involving Owens, Zayn, The Bloodline, and Matt Riddle. There crowd cheered loudly once the duo was in the ring and a “Sami” chant broke out.
Zayn noted that they were in the first tag team title match to headline WrestleMania. Zayn noted that they closed out the show as champions. He said they haven’t had much time to really process it because of everything that was happening with The Bloodline and the upcoming draft. Zayn said it was an exciting time, yet also a time of uncertainty.
Owens agreed, but he said regardless of where they end up in the draft, they are the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions and they will defend the belts with everything they have. Owens said the Usos would be coming for a rematch eventually.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso made their entrance along with Solo Sikoa. The Usos spoke about their historic title reign and said that Owens and Zayn know nothing about pressure. Zayn said they don’t have to got back to their daddy Roman Reigns. Jimmy mocked that line and said The Bloodline is stronger than ever.
Jimmy said the Usos would be nine-time tag team champions “again.” Um, okay. Jey said Owens and Zayn would do what they always do by folding under the pressure and turning on one another. Jey predicted that Zayn would turn on Owens, just as he turned on The Bloodline.
Zayn said he wished he was as good at anything as Jey is at lying to himself. Zayn said they could act like there were no cracks in The Bloodline or that Sikoa wasn’t ready to drop Jey last week, but he assumed they weren’t there to talk. The Usos and Sikoa hopped onto the ring apron.
Matt Riddle showed up at ringside and fought with Sikoa while Owens and Zayn fought with the Usos. Owens and Zayn tossed the Usos into the timekeepers area. In the ring, Riddle dropped Sikoa with a knee to the face. Riddle went up top, but the Usos returned and dragged Sikoa to ringside…
A WWE Backlash ad aired… [C]
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable opening. There were no real storyline developments, but they reestablished that Riddle is aligned with Owens and Zayn in their battle with The Bloodline.
Backstage, Adam Pearce told a referee to find Riddle and Sikoa and tell them that they would meet in the show’s main event…
A video package recapped the social media sparring between LA Knight and Xavier Woods to promote their match. Entrances for the match took place. Barrett recalled Knight trashing Woods’ video game controller and said there will be problems whenever a man touches another man’s joystick. Funny…
1. LA Knight vs. Xavier Woods. The match spilled over to ringside where Knight slammed Woods a back first into the apron. Knight followed up by slamming the head of Woods against the ring post. [C]
An ad for Raw touted Brock Lesnar’s appearance and added U.S. Champion Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley in a non-title match, and Trish Stratus addressing why she attacked Becky Lynch.
Late in the match, Woods had Knight over the ropes when he hit him with a double stomp. Woods went for the pin, but Knight grabbed the bottom rope to break it. Moments later, the referee caught Knight holding the the tights of Woods while pinning him. Woods returned the favor by holding the tights, but he got away with it and got the three count…
Xavier Woods defeated LA Knight in 11:45.
The broadcast team hyped a recap video package on the history between Matt Riddle and Solo Sikoa… [C]
Powell’s POV: An entertaining match with yet another loss for Knight. I sure hope they have a plan for Knight that will make fans forget these losses.
An ad for the WWE Draft listed it as starting two weeks from tonight on Smackdown and concluding the next Monday on Raw…
Gunther was shown talking with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci when he was interrupted by Xavier Woods playing his trombone. Kaiser scolded Woods, who apologized, but then played it again. Gunther told Woods doesn’t know what respect is. Gunther he would beat respect into Woods in the ring. Woods said he’s never had a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Woods called himself the hottest free agent heading into the draft and said he was more than ready to take the title from Gunther…
Powell’s POV: Oh, the things I would enjoy watching Gunther do to that damn trombone.
Footage aired from a December edition of Raw that featured Sikoa taking out Riddle by wrapping a chair around his neck and then hitting it with a hip attack…
Backstage, Sami Zayn told Matt Riddle to be careful because he would feel awful if something bad happened to him. Kevin Owens told Riddle to forget being careful and pumped him up about getting revenge. Riddle spoke about the pain he would inflict on Sikoa for the 118 days he missed…
Kayla Braxton stood on a backstage set and introduced Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio for an interview. Priest said they know Santos Escobar can go, but he can’t pick good friends. Priest said he knew that Braxton wanted to know about Bad Bunny. Priest said he would address that in the ring. The trio left the set…
Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance. Priest spike about his “friend” Bad Bunny hosting WWE Backlash. He said that Bunny could sit in the front row and enjoy the show. “But if you put your hands on my family again, we all know what can happen,” Priest said before highlights aired of Priest putting Bunny through a table on Raw.
The “LWO” logo appeared on the big screen and then Zelina Vega walked onto the stage. Ripley exited the ring. Meanwhile, Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro hit Priest and Dom from behind and exited to ringside. Priest stood up slowly and glared at the LWO trio. [C]
2. Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) vs. Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro). The match was joined in progress. Escobar mounted Priest in the corner and threw punches while the fans counted along.
Priest cut it off and sent Escobar to ringside with a kick. Priest went to ringside and then leapt from the ring steps before knocking Escobar down. [C] Escobar pulled Priest from the ropes with a huracanrana. Escobar was slow to make the cover and still got a near fall.
[Hour Two] Escobar performed a moonsault onto a standing Priest, which took him off his feet and resulted in a near fall. Dom got involved and was attacked by Wilde and Del Toro. Priest grabbed Wilde and Del Toro by the throat and shoved them down. Escobar performed a suicide dive on Priest.
Back in the ring, Escobar was distracted by Ripley grabbing his foot. Vega performed a huracanrana that sent Ripley into the barricade. Priest caught Escobar with a kick and then hit the South of Heaven chokeslam for the win…
Damian Priest defeated Santos Escobar in 11:35 of television time.
After the match, Priest tossed Escobar to ringside and then cleared off the broadcast table. Rey Mysterio’s entrance music played. Rey dove from the barricade onto Priest. Rey joined Dom in the ring and they traded blows. Rey got the better of it by putting Dom in position for a 619, but Priest saved Dom from taking the move…
Powell’s POV: A strong television match that was really well received by the live crowd. It was logically booked with Priest getting the push heading into Backlash. I get a kick out of watching Escobar go from a playing a highly confident heel to now using the facial expressions of a babyface on the verge of an upset. He plays both roles really well.
Solo Sikoa taped up his thumb while Paul Heyman delivered a fiery speech that the Usos echoed. Sikoa remained expressionless and then stopped Heyman. “Tell the Tribal Chief… I got this,” Sikoa said…
Cole hyped the return of Shinsuke Nakamura for later in the show…
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez made their entrance for their celebration… [C] A sponsored video recapped Morgan and Rodriguez beating Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus to win the titles on Raw…
Morgan and Rodriguez stood inside the ring and were introduced by Samantha Irvin. Pyro shot off on the stage. Morgan said they were proud to be the new champions. Rodriguez said they were happy to bring the hardware back to Smackdown. Rodriguez thanked Morgan and spoke about using her as her own personal weapon. Morgan said sometimes incredible things happen when they are least expected.
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green made their entrance. Deville said they were sorry to interrupt, but the celebration made her feel dumber by the minute. Deville questioned how Morgan and Rodriguez could be tag team champions when they didn’t beat the actual champions. Deville and Green entered the ring and blamed “that peabrain Adam Pearce” for allowing the title change to stand.
Green asked where are their titles were and whether Morgan and Rodriguez knew who they were. Morgan said they know who Deville and Green are, and assumed they would be the next challengers once she and Rodriguez speak with Pearce. Morgan and Rodriguez attacked Green and Deville. Rodriguez cleared Green from the ring. Morgan hit a Codebreaker and Deville. Morgan went for Oblivion, but Green pulled Deville to ringside…
Cole hyped the return of Shinsuke Nakamura for after the break and said it would be electric… [C]
Powell’s POV: A decent segment. I felt bad for Morgan and Rodriguez having to stand in the ring during the commercial break before they were finally introduced and got their pyro. I’m happy to see Deville and Green being set up as the initial challengers. These titles have bounced around a lot lately, so they don’t need to go right to Ronda Rousey and Shanyna Baszler challenging for the titles.
Nebraska Cornhuskers imagery was shown. Members of the Nebraska football team were shown in the front row. New head coach Matt Rhule was shown. Cole said Rhule would turn things around (Rhule’s name was misspelled in the onscreen graphic)…
Powell’s POV: For the sake of Cornhuskers’ fans, here’s hoping Rhule is more successful in turning things around in Nebraska than he was with the Carolina Panthers.
Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance dressed in black. He came out to his instrumental entrance theme and had a really cool light and CGI entrance…
Backstage, Emma told Madcap Moss that the fans should be cheering for him. She said Nakamura never won the Andre the Giant battle royal and didn’t have Moss’s looks or strength. Emma told Moss to show everyone why he will be the first pick in the draft. Moss got fired up and then they made their entrance…
Powell’s POV: I don’t even think Al Davis during his final years as the Oakland Raiders owner would have been crazy enough to make Moss the first pick in the draft. Well, maybe he would have if Moss had the fastest 40-time at the WWE Scouting Combine.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Madcap Moss (w/Emma). Moss jumped Nakamura at the bell and speared him in the corner. Moss went for a fallaway slam that Nakamura took awkwardly. Moss covered Nakamura for a two count. Moss went for a suplex, but Nakamura hit him with a knee and broke free. Nakamura connected with a kick and then did his “come on” routine. Nakamura dominated the remained of the offense and hit a flying knee. Nakamura hit the Kinshasa and scored the pin…
Shinsuke Nakamura beat Madcap Moss in 1:30.
After the match, Moss went after Nakamura, who took him down and put him in an armbar. Emma pulled Moss to ringside and showed frustration over her man’s latest loss…
Powell’s POV: I’m not sure what Nakamura was thinking when he took that fallaway slam, but it was a good return otherwise.
Scarlett was flipping over tarot cards in a room. The last card had Shinsuke Nakamura’s image on it. Karrion Kross pounded the table with his fist and said tick tock…
Matt Riddle was shown warming up backstage while Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn chatted behind him… [C]
Cole hyped Trish Stratus explaining her turn on Becky Lynch for Monday’s Raw…
Braun Strowman and Ricochet were shown walking backstage. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar attacked the duo while Valhalla stood by. The Viking Raiders ran a steel piece into Strowman to knock him over, and then hit Ragnarok on Ricochet…
Matt Riddle made his entrance with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Solo Sikoa made his entrance with Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Paul Heyman.
Once both teams were in the ring, Heyman said he had a historic announcement to make. Heyman credited Roman Reigns with muscling through WWE management to set up the WrestleMania night one rematch.
Heyman said Owens and Zayn would defend the tag team titles against The Usos in two weeks in Corpus Christi. Heyman guaranteed that Owens and Zayn would lose the tag team championships “because the Tribal Chief is losing patience with the two of you.” Heyman pointed at Owens and Zayn, yet stared at an oblivious Jimmy Uso while delivering the last line… [C]
Cole hyped Owens and Zayn vs. The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles for Smackdown in two weeks. Barrett and Cole hyped Gunther vs. Xavier Woods for the Intercontinental Championship, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and The Viking Raiders vs. Braun Strowman and Ricochet for next week’s Smackdown…
4. Solo Sikoa (w/Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso) vs. Matt Riddle (w/Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn). Paul Heyman didn’t stick around for the match. A few minutes in, Jimmy distracted the referee while Jey tripped Riddle. Owens and Zayn confronted the Usos. The referee kept the teams separated at ringside and ended up ejecting both teams. In the ring, Sikoa put Riddle down with a Samoan Drop. [C]
Riddle took offensive control. The Usos returned to ringside. Owens and Zayn also returned and then the two teams fought on the floor. In the ring, Riddle put Sikoa down with a light kick to the head. Riddle performed a springboard flip onto the Usos. Riddle went to the ropes and leapt into a kick from Sikoa, who followed up with the Samoan Spike and scored the pin…
Solo Sikoa defeated Matt Riddle in 10:50.
After the match, Sikoa uranage slammed Riddle onto the broadcast table. Sikoa pushed the table on top of Riddle. Zayn and Owens pulled the table off of Riddle while the Usos joined Sikoa inside the ring…
Powell’s POV: A good win for Sikoa. Riddle received some protection, but I like the way Sikoa got the three count and left Riddle lying afterward. It’s a good move to put heat on The Bloodline after the Usos lost, and I like the way the broadcast team and others continue to play up that The Bloodline is more dangerous than ever.
Overall, this was a solid episode. I’m surprised they didn’t officially announce any matches for WWE Backlash, but at least we found out the WWE Draft dates. I will have more to say about Smackdown in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Ok, the rainbow rhinos were cool. Once