WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 1027
#SDLive
Original Air Date: April 23, 2019
Event Date: April 23, 2019
(aired live)
City: Lincoln, NE
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Ring Area
Shane McMahon heads to the ring. Shane would like to talk about what Roman Reigns did to Vince McMahon last week (Reigns punched Vince). Shane says punching Vince is like disgracing Mt. Rushmore and the American flag. There will be repercussions, and the matter will be settled in the ring. With that, Shane orders Roman Reigns to the ring.
Reins heads to the ring. Reigns has a mic, but he doesn’t say anything. Reigns drops his mic, and Shane does the same. Before the two men come together, Elias attacks Reigns from behind. Elias and Shane double team Reigns. Reigns is beaten up and left in the ring as Shane and Elias walk away together.
Backstage
Elias and Shane compliment each other on teaching Roman Reigns a lesson.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Kofi Kingston. Kofi says the love he feels from the fans is growing every single day. Xavier Woods walks up and helps Kofi feel the love. Kofi says Big E get better and be back soon, but for now, Kevin Owens will fill the void left by Big E. The Big O says he knows Kofi is going to win in his match tonight, because New Day rocks.
Backstage
Zelina Vega (with Andrade) says Finn Balor tired to escape from Andrade by moving to SmackDown, but there is no escape for Balor. Andrade says he will take the IC Title.
Match 1
Finn Balor (IC Champ) vs Andrade w/ Zelina Vega
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Finn Balor wins via pinfall after Coup De Grace
Time: 7:42
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Now they’re one and one, so I expect another match in the future. Probably a title match. I’m cool with that.
Backstage
Elias sings a challenge to Roman Reigns for a match at Money in the Bank. Shane McMahon loves the song and the idea, but he thinks they need to leave. Shane and Elias leave in Shane’s limo.
Backstage
Earlier today, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville told Paige not to come calling on them when her team of Kairi Sane and Asuka fails.
Match 2
Kairi Sane w/ Asuka, Paige vs Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay (Women’s Tag Champs)
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Kairi Sane wins via pinfall after the Insane Elbow
Time: 1:37
Match Thoughts
I think Peyton got zero offense in the match. It was a fun and dominant victory for Kairi, but I think the IIconics need to win occasionally.
Ring Area
After the match, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville come out to the stage. They look like they might head to the ring, but Jinder Mahal and the Singh brothers come out and pass them by on their way to the ring.
Backstage
Aleister Black sits down in a black room. Black says you might know his name, but you shouldn’t make any assumptions about his character. Give it time, and the world you grew up in will have Black condemned.
Ring Area
With Jinder Mahal and the SIngh Brothers in the ring, Chad Gable comes out for a match. As Gable nears ringside, Lars Sullivan attacks him from behind. Sullivan enters the ring. After a few seconds, Mahal decides to make a quick exit. Sullivan grabs the Singh brothers and slams both of them in turn.
R-Truth heads to the ring, and he looks angry. R-Truth brawls with Sullivan, but Sullivan grabs Truth and slams him to the mat. Sullivan picks up Truth and hits him with a running powerbomb.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Roman Reigns is he accepts Elias’s challenge. He does, and he says he will break Elias’s jaw.
Ring Area
Charlotte Flair heads to the ring. She talks about the main event of Wrestlemania, saying that Becky pinned Ronda Rousey. Therefore, Rousey lost Charlotte’s championship. Charlotte wants Becky to come to the ring and explain why she thinks she’s the rightful SmackDown champ when she didn’t beat the former champ.
Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky asks Charlotte if she understands what the rules of a winner take all match are. Becky says she beat Rousey, the woman Charlotte couldn’t beat. Becky has beaten Charlotte many times before anyway.
Charlotte thinks she’s in Becky’s head. Becky responds by saying Charlotte has been on the worst streak in a long time lately. Charlotte tells Becky that her days are numbered. Becky has everything to lose. Charlotte claims to be next in line after Lacey Evans, but Becky wants new challengers.
Bayley heads to the ring. Bayley says the Superstar Shakeup is supposed to be about fresh starts, but all she sees is a rerun. Bayley says Becky might have lost count how many times she beat Charlotte, but Becky has beaten Bayley zero times. Charlotte tells Bayley to get to the back of the line, but Bayley won’t budge.
Match 3
Charlotte Flair vs Bayley
(referee: Ryan Tran; stipulation: the winner will receive a future title opportunity)
Result: Charlotte Flair wins via pinfall after a spear
Time: 10:34
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I wanted the result to go the other way (and I really wasn’t too jazzed about the actual finish of the match), but the action leading up to the end was quite good. Bayley was fighting hard. It really seemed like she was desperate for a win tonight. Bayley was hitting Charlotte with some big moves and I really though Bayley was on her way to a victory. It looks like we’ll be getting another rerun in the short term though.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Becky Lynch why she’s accepting a second challenger in addition to Lacey Evans. Becky says two belts means she has to fight twice as much. Plus, Becky fully expects to tap out Evans in short order.
Backstage
The New New Day gets ready for Kofi’s match.
Video
Bray Wyatt presents the first episode of the Firefly Fun House (as previously seen on RAW).
Match 4
Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) w/ Xavier Woods, Kevin Owens vs Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rusev, Lana
(referee: Jason Ayers; guest commentary: Xavier Woods, Kevin Owens)
Result: Kofi Kingston wins via DQ when Rusev attacks him
Time: 9:23 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It would have been very good, but the non-finish took a little away from it. But besides the finish, I really liked the math. The fight was pretty even throughout, and both men were hitting some strong moves against each other. I feel like these two guys could have a great series of matches where they each keep coming up with new things to outdo their opponent.
Ring Area
After the match, Rusev continues to attack Kofi. Woods and Owens enter the ring and pull Rusev away. Woods and Owens throw Rusev and Nakamura out to the floor, then Owens elevates Woods over the ropes and down onto Rusev. Nakamura hits Woods with the Kinshasa on the floor, but Nakamura takes Trouble in Paradise when he enters the ring attack Kofi.
As Kofi lands after kicking Nakamura, Owens superkicks Kofi in the face. Owens rips off his New Day shirt and stomps Kofi. Owens continues to beat on Kofi at ringside, then he rolls Kofi back into the ring. Owens grabs the WWE Title, but Kofi begins to fight back. Owens quickly shuts down Kofi’s attack, but Woods stops Owens before he can powerbomb Kofi on the floor. Owens retaliates, powerbombing Woods onto the corner of the ring apron.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. I’m not super happy about Roman Reigns and Shane McMahon taking what seems to be one of the main story spots, but I suppose it’s better than Shane and The Miz having that spot like it’s been for the past few months.
Other than that, I liked most everything else I saw tonight. All the matches were entertaining in their own ways, and I’m looking forward to most of the feuds I see developing.
Match of the Night
Finn Balor vs Andrade
I think the Bayley/Charlotte match and the Kofi/Shinsuke match were both about on par with Balor/Andrade, but the finishes are what decided this for me tonight. I was happy with the Balor/Andrade finish while the other two left me wanting something a little different.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2019-04-23