{"id":3597,"date":"2018-04-17T19:00:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T01:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?p=3597"},"modified":"2018-04-20T20:58:34","modified_gmt":"2018-04-21T02:58:34","slug":"smackdown-live-recap-review-episode-974","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/smackdown-live-recap-review-episode-974\/","title":{"rendered":"SmackDown Live Recap &#038; Review &#8211; Episode 974"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>WWE SmackDown Live<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Episode 974<\/strong><br \/>\n#SDLive<\/p>\n<p><strong>Original Air Date: April 17, 2018<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Event Date: April 17, 2018<\/strong> (aired live)<\/p>\n<p><strong>City: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=providence-ri\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Providence<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=rhode-island\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RI<\/span><\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Venue: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=dunkin-donuts-center\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Dunkin Donuts Center<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nLast week, Shinsuke Nakamura gave a fake apology for attacking Styles at Wrestlemania. Later that night, Nakamura attacked Styles again.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAJ Styles heads to the ring. Styles says we all found out who Nakamura really is after his loss at Wrestlemania. He says Nakamura is a con artist. Styles says he isn&#8217;t leaving the ring tonight until Nakamura comes down to face him.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of Nakamura, Rusev and Aiden English come out to the stage. English sings that Nakamura isn&#8217;t here, and he raps about Rusev Day. Styles wants a fight, so he invites Rusev down to the ring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 1<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>AJ Styles<\/strong> (WWE Champ) <strong>vs Rusev<\/strong> w\/ Aiden English<br \/>\n(referee: Ryan Tran)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead2ede','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead2ede\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead2ede\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: AJ Styles wins via DQ when Aiden English attacks<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 0:28<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nThis wasn&#8217;t really a match, it was just a half-minute setup for tonight&#8217;s main event.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAs Rusev and English attack Styles, Daniel Bryan runs to the ring to help Styles fight them off.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nPaige informs Shane McMahon that she has an idea for tonight&#8217;s main event based on what just happened in the ring.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nShelton Benjamin heads to the ring. Chad Gable is headed to RAW, and Shelton isn&#8217;t sad. He says he never needed Gable, but what he does need is to remind everyone that he&#8217;s one of the biggest threats on SmackDown Live. With that in mind, he went to Paige to ask for some big competition. Randy Orton heads toward the ring, but his music stops. Instead, the new US Champ Jef Hardy runs down to the ring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 2<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Shelton Benjamin vs Jeff Hardy<\/strong> (US Champ)<br \/>\n(referee: Jason Ayers)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead2fdb','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead2fdb\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead2fdb\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Jeff Hardy wins via pinfall after a Swanton Bomb<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 8:20<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nGood match. Benjamin dominated a lot of the early part of the match which led to Hardy fighting back towards the end. I think this was a good first match on SmackDown for Jeff, and I hope this turns into a decent first solo match for Benjamin.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nThe Miz isn&#8217;t in Providence tonight, he&#8217;s at his home in L.A. with Maryse and their daughter. Next week though, SmackDown will be awesome.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 3<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Jey Uso<\/strong> w\/ Jimmy Uso <strong>vs Harper<\/strong> (SD Tag Champ) w\/ Rowan (SD Tag Champ)<br \/>\n(referee: Mike Chioda)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead3014','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead3014\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead3014\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Harper wins via pinfall after a discus clothesline<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 0:52<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nThis wasn&#8217;t really much of a match. Rowan caused a distraction and Harper dominated among the chaos.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, the Bludgeon Brothers continue to attack The Usos. Rowan picks up a hammer and closes in on Jimmy Uso, but Naomi runs down to the ring to save her husband. Harper and Rowan slowly back away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 4<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Sin Cara vs Samoa Joe<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Danilo Anfibio)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead3048','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead3048\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead3048\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Samoa Joe wins via submission with the Coquina Clutch<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 1:33<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nThis was another match that was barely a match. Joe destroyed Sin Cara in a little over a minute and a half.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, Samoa Joe thinks everyone has had it easy on SmackDown. &#8220;The Land of Opportunity&#8221; has really been &#8220;The Land of Handouts.&#8221; The SD superstars have been coddled, but that changes now. Samoa Joe is going to take all of the opportunities presented to him, such as destroying Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. Joe also promises to put the big dog out to pasture after the Greatest Royal Rumble.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nSuperstars lip sync about co-branded PPVs.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nChaos arrives on SmackDown Live soon.<\/p>\n<p><i><u>Backstage<\/u><\/i><br \/>\nRenee Young asks Daniel Bryan why he helped Styles earlier tonight. Bryan says he did it because he respects Styles. He is proud to fight beside Styles tonight, and he can&#8217;t wait to fight Styles one on one again in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Big Cass walks up behind Bryan. Big Cass is not impressed with Daniel Bryan.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nThe new SmackDown Women&#8217;s Champ Carmella heads to the ring. Carmella celebrates her recent ascent to the top of the women&#8217;s division and gloats about beating Charlotte Flair. She says her win will go down as one of the biggest moments in wrestling history. She then introduces a video showing Carmella&#8217;s Money in the Bank win and her journey to the title.<\/p>\n<p>Carmella reveals that she named her briefcase Frankie. The SD Women&#8217;s Title has been named Cleopatra. She continues to talk when Charlotte interrupts and comes out to the stage.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte says Carmella&#8217;s video left some things out. Namely, it left out James Ellsworth helping her win the MitB and The Iconic Duo beating up Charlotte before Carmella cashed in. Charlotte tells Carmella that it&#8217;s more difficult to stay at the top than it is to get there. The Iconic Duo, now named The Iiconics, come out to the stage.<\/p>\n<p>Peyton Royce makes fun of Charlotte, calling her a whiny baby. Royce and Kay say they created magic last week, and Charlotte&#8217;s loss will go down in history. Charlotte pauses for a second, thinking about who to attack. She decides to attack The Iiconics, but she is quickly overwhelmed. Becky Lynch runs down to ringside to help Charlotte as the show cuts for a commercial break.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 5<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Charlotte Flair<\/strong> w\/ Becky Lynch <strong>vs Billie Kay<\/strong> w\/ Peyton Royce<br \/>\n(referee: Ryan Tran; at ringside: Carmella)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead3078','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead3078\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead3078\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Charlotte wins via submission with a Figure Eight<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 7:55<\/strong> (joined in progress)<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nPretty good match. I liked that Billie Kay was the first of The Iiconics to get a match. It gives them room to grow since Peyton Royce was really the only one who saw action in NXT towards the end of their time there. This match was fine, thought Charlotte did outdo Kay.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nCarmella attacks Charlotte after the match. Becky tries to help Charlotte, but Carmella and The Iiconics are too much to handle. After a few seconds, Asuka emerges as the newest member of the SmackDown roster. Asuka runs to the ring and helps Charlotte and Becky fight back.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nLuke Gallows and Karl Anderson are headed to SmackDown.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nThe Bar set the standard in the RAW tag division, and now they will do the same on SmackDown Live.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nNew Day encounters R-Truth backstage. Tye Dillinger walks up and stares at Truth for a few seconds before they do a bizarre handshake. R-Truth is happy to be here on RAW. Oh, wait&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Video<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAndrade Cien Almas and Zelina Vega are headed to SmackDown Live.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 6<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>AJ Styles<\/strong> (WWE Champ) <strong>&amp; Daniel Bryan vs Rusev &amp; Aiden English<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Mike Chioda)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e751ead30a7','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e751ead30a7\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e751ead30a7\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles win via DQ when Big Cass attacks Bryan<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 9:00<\/strong> (1 break)<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nPretty good match. I liked it, but in the end it was a long excuse to have Nakamura attack again and to re-introduce Big Cass.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nRenee Young comes out to the stage and asks Nakamura why he attacked Styles again. Nakamura again says &#8220;no speak English&#8221; and walks away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Show Impressions<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nAn okay show, but not as exciting as RAW. I think RAW did a better job of making the most of some of their new acquisitions while SmackDown relied on a lot of videos for many of their debuts. I don&#8217;t think Big Cass is the most exciting person to appear on SmackDown tonight, but he is who they chose to spotlight at the end of the main event. I would&#8217;ve gone with Joe or Almas.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match of the Night<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Shelton Benjamin vs Jeff Hardy<\/strong><br \/>\nThis one had a clean finish and solid action. I liked it. The main event was fun, but the finish made it not something I&#8217;d ever watch again. The women&#8217;s match was fine, but they&#8217;ll both probably have better matches.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Official Results:?<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wwe.com\/shows\/smackdown\/2018-04-17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">http:\/\/www.wwe.com\/shows\/smackdown\/2018-04-17<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The second day of the Superstar Shakeup shapes an impressive SmackDown Live roster and already begins to deliver some intriguing match-ups.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[297,10,622],"tags":[476,234,556,633,832,494,749,1690,438,537,495,527,535,272,546,1921,484,536,1930,516,111,446,445,151,483,102,515,460,517,358,682,1919,310,136,451,1920,632,693,170,142,183,96,614,332,563,898,1198,1825,564,444,570,672,7,482],"class_list":["post-3597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-show-results","category-smackdown","category-wwe","tag-aiden-english","tag-aj-styles","tag-asuka","tag-becky-lynch","tag-big-cass","tag-big-e","tag-billie-kay","tag-bludgeon-brothers","tag-byron-saxton","tag-carmella","tag-cesaro","tag-charlotte","tag-corey-graves","tag-daniel-bryan","tag-danilo-anfibio","tag-dunkin-donuts-center","tag-erick-rowan","tag-greg-hamilton","tag-iiconics","tag-jason-ayers","tag-jeff-hardy","tag-jey-uso","tag-jimmy-uso","tag-kofi-kingston","tag-luke-harper","tag-maryse","tag-mike-chioda","tag-naomi","tag-new-day","tag-paige","tag-peyton-royce","tag-providence-ri","tag-r-truth","tag-randy-orton","tag-renee-young","tag-rhode-island","tag-rusev","tag-ryan-tran","tag-samoa-joe","tag-shane-mcmahon","tag-sheamus","tag-shelton-benjamin","tag-shinsuke-nakamura","tag-sin-cara","tag-smackdown","tag-smackdown-live","tag-superstar-shakeup","tag-the-bar","tag-the-miz","tag-the-usos","tag-tom-phillips","tag-tye-dillinger","tag-wwe","tag-xavier-woods"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3597"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3600,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3597\/revisions\/3600"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}