Roman Reigns with The Bloodline and Paul Heyman for company head to the ring to reveal his future plans – WWE SmackDown results
The episodes of RAW and SmackDown after WrestleMania bring a few surprises and this week’s episode of the blue brand did have a few like in-ring debuts for Butch and Gunther along with Ronda Rousey proposing an “I quit” match with Charlotte Flair.
There was a lot to cover in the latest episode of WWE’s blue brand. Sasha Banks took on Liv Morgan before they team up with their respective tag partners next week on RAW as the Women’s Tag Team Championship will be on the line.
Ronda Rousey came out to set the ball rolling. She said her mother taught her that to be the best you need to beat somebody twice on their best day.
She challenged Charlotte Flair to a rematch but not in a regular match, she didn’t want Flair to get away with disqualification or count-out, she wanted an “I Quit” match at WrestleMania Backlash!
Charlotte appeared on the Tron and said she beat Rousey clean. Rousey came back saying that Charlotte won’t just say “I quit” but scream it when her arm is bent by Rousey.
Butch made his entrance first with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. Kofi and Woods came out on the stage area and mentioned how it was the season opener and how their previous record against Sheamus and co. are reset.
After the match began, Woods showed a little bit of offense but Butch took over soon. A flurry of punches and lethal kicks followed by his trademark joint manipulation rattled Woods. However, the 2021 King of the Ring fought out of the predicament as he busted Butch open but the former NXT Tag Team Champion got back control of the match with 10 Beats of the Bodhran. Butch was in total control but a roll-up by Woods gave him the win.
Butch was irate and Sheamus and Holland tried calming him down. The intense Butch began to throw a few punches to Holland and Sheamus until he perched on top of the ring apron to end the segment.
Result – Xavier Woods beat Butch
Grade – B
Sami Zayn said backstage to Adam Pierce that he should have stopped the Jackass cast from interfering in his match against Johnny Knoxville but the on-screen authority figure mentioned that it was Zayn who wanted an Anything Goes match.
Zayn said he will gain the respect of everyone back by beating whoever comes out of the men’s locker room next. To his shock, it was the former WWE champion, Drew McIntyre. Zayn wanted to back out but Pearce made the match official.
After Zayn exited, Pearce received a piece of paper from a crew member but not many details regarding the same were revealed.
On the RAW and SmackDown episodes after WrestleMania, we do see surprises and we saw a surprise when Gunther came out to make his SmackDown debut against Joe Alonzo in a crush match.
Marcel Barthel, renamed Ludwig Kaiser introduced Gunther.
Gunther with a submission hold on the ring apron and then a big boot. He delivered a few hard chops to turn Alonzo’s chest red. He followed it up with a power slam. A powerbomb and an easy victory for Gunther.
Result – Gunther beat Joe Alonzo
Grade – D
Raquel Gonzalez was interviewed backstage, renamed Raquel Rodriguez. She was stating how she was better than the other women on SmackDown.
Los Lotharios interrupted as they wanted to welcome her on SmackDown with a kiss. Rodriguez, however, said they had no chance. Lotharios left the scene as Rodriguez asked Kayla Braxton if the Lotharios are always like this to which the talented broadcaster nodded yes.
Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss came out for a Happy Talk segment with Moss looking elated after winning the Andre the Giant Battle Royal last week but Corbin wasn’t too thrilled as his undefeated streak was ended at WrestleMania thanks to Drew McIntyre.
Corbin said this should have been the happiest Happy Talk ever after a win versus McIntyre but that didn’t happen.
Corbin said that he talked to himself and found out only one person who cost him a win at WrestleMania. Moss apologized for getting up on the apron and distracting Corbin. Corbin told Moss to tell him a few jokes. Moss’ jokes didn’t impress Corbin.
Moss got a huge pop as his last joke on which “his job depended” was directed at Corbin and how he dressed up and blamed everyone else for his failures. Corbin attacked Moss from behind but the latter ended the segment on top stomping Corbin’s hat as the former United States Champion retreated.
Jinder Mahal and Shanky charged Pearce backstage for not keeping him on the Wrestlelamia card. Pearce said it was nothing personal. Mahal wanted a match for the Intercontinental Championship against Ricochet next week which was later made official. Rousey barged into the room and inquired if the “I quit” match was official but Pearce said she will get her answer tomorrow.
The match started as Zayn escaped out of the ring a couple of times until McIntyre went out to catch him. The Scottish Warrior sent the former Intercontinental champion against the barricade. He dropped Zayn on the barricade and then brought him back to the ring and then dumped him outside.
Zayn wanted nothing to do with McIntyre as he tried to escape but McIntyre got hold of him at the stage area and brought him back to the ring. Zayn, however, escaped into the crowd area and took a count-out loss.
Result – Drew McIntyre beat Sami Zayn via count-out
Grade – D
Lacey Evans cut an intense, heartfelt talking about her troubled childhood days and how she had to fight for everything in her life.
After the promo, Michael Cole said that the stories of Lacey Evans will continue next week.
Liv Morgan was interviewed backstage and she was asked about Rhea Ripley’s whereabouts and she said Ripley isn’t here this week on SmackDown but a win against Banks will give her and her team the momentum required to win their title match on RAW.
Morgan started off with a flurry of offensive maneuvers but the experienced Banks took control with a Backstabber sending her opponent outside the ring. Banks delivered the three amigos and followed it up with a frog splash.
Meanwhile, Natalya and Shayna Baszler were watching the match backstage. Various roll-ups from both women were followed by a knee to Banks from Liv. A few more kicks from Liv and a running knee.
The match ended when Banks delivered a superplex but Morgan turned it into a roll-up cover for the win.
Result – Liv Morgan beat Sasha Banks
Grade – B
Roman Reigns mentioned earlier this week on RAW that he will let the WWE Universe know about his road ahead on SmackDown. Everyone waited in anticipation to find out who his next opponent would be.
Roman said Heyman and him discussed something that he will let the WWE Universe know. Roman said he saw videos with him holding two titles but The Usos being two people shouldn’t be holding just two titles. The Tribal Chief stated that it’s time to unify the Tag Team Championships as well. He said to Jey that he promised to uplift him and that would be possible when the tag titles are unified.
Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted as he came out to the ring. Before he could say anything, Roman cut him off. He said that he knew how it is to lose a partner, referring to Rick Boogs, who got injured at ‘Mania. Reigns said he lost Jimmy Uso as he was out of action with a knee injury for a year.
The Head of the Table said he is compassionate and gave Nakamura a hug as the former Intercontinental was befuddled. It was all a plan as Jimmy and Jey delivered superkicks to Nakamura to take him out.
The Usos are coming for the RAW Tag Team Championship while it seems Shinsuke Nakamura will get a shot at Roman’s titles.
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