KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 4/17: Superstar Shake-up concludes, tracking which Raw wrestlers will be added to Smackdown roster

KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 17, 2018
PROVIDENCE, R.I.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK

Announcers: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

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Check out Wade Keller and guest cohost Jason Solomon of “Solomonster Sounds Off” for the LIVE post-Smackdown call-in show. Call (347) 215-8558 to talk with Wade & Jason after the show or stream the show live (and on demand later) HERE. You can also download it on podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts and Stitcher, also.

You can also email questions and comments about Smackdown for tonight’s Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show: wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com.

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[HOUR ONE]

-A video package aired on Shinsuke Nakamura’s first heel promo last week with Renee Young and then his attack on A.J. Styles and Daniel Bryan.

-Styles made his way to the ring as the announcers introduced the show. Styles said you can learn a lot about a man through his failures, and last week they learned a lot about Nakamura. A dueling chant broke out of “A.J. Styles / Nakamura.” Styles seemed a little surprised. Styles said he wanted retribution last week for what Nakamura did to him at WrestleMania, but he was presented an opportunity at “a real dream match” against Daniel Bryan. “Yes!” chants broke out. He said he’s not leaving the ring this week until Nakamura comes out. Instead, Aiden English led Rusev onto the stage. English sang that he knows it isn’t them he wanted. He took a dig at Providence to get some jeers. Fans chanted “Rusev Day!” Styles said, “Since it is Rusev Day and Shinsuke doesn’t have a spine, let’s fight right now.”

(1) A.J. STYLES vs. RUSEV (w/Aiden English)

Styles applied a Calf Crusher almost immediately, so English ran in and stomped away at Styles. Daniel Bryan ran out for the save.

WINNER: Styles via DQ in under 1:00.

-Shane McMahon welcomed Paige as Ms. G.M. Shane said it’s great to see Bryan back in the mix and a permanent member of Team Blue. Paige said she has a great idea now. She imitated Teddy Long and said there’s going to be a tag team match – A.J. Styles & Daniel Bryan vs. Aiden English & Rusev. Shane said The Miz will now be returning to Smackdown, per Bryan’s request. Paige said she can’t wait for Shane to find out who else she negotiated to bring to Smackdown. “Holla!” she said, Teddy Long style. They stayed with Shane as he imitated Teddy a little.

-The announcers hyped the ‘Mellabration with Carmella later, celebrating her newly won Smackdown Women’s Title. [c]

-WWE Fact: 78,133 people sold out the SuperDome coming from all 50 states and 67 different countries.

-Shelton Benjamin came out as a singles wrestler with new gear and a new logo. They showed that Shelton wished Chad Gable luck on Raw on Twitter. Shelton said his Twitter account was hacked because he would never wish Gable luck. He said he never needed Gable. “Chad Gable needed me,” he said. Boos. He said what he needs now is the respect he deserves and the championship opportunities that he is owed. He said he needs to remind everyone he’s one of the biggest threats on Smackdown. He said he chatted with Paige and asked for some competition – “and I mean, big competition.” He set the mic down and extended his arms and waited. Randy Orton’s music played.

As Orton walked out, suddenly Jeff Hardy’s music played. Phillips announced that he has been added to Smackdown.

(Keller’s Analysis: Curious if that means Finn Balor and Seth Rollins stay on Raw after all? With Orton, Bryan, and Styles on Smackdown, and now Hardy, Smackdown isn’t in desperate need of another top tier babyface.)

(2) JEFF HARDY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Hardy walked past Orton. Phillips said Orton looked “beside himself” at the appearance of Hardy. Graves said Hardy just became a Grand Slam Champion in WWE with his U.S. Title win last night. Shelton threw a charging Hardy out of the ring seconds into the match and they cut to a break. [c]

They stayed with the action on split screen. Shelton grounded Hardy during the break with a leglock. Shelton controlled and scored a near fall a couple minutes later. Hardy then came back and hit a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb for the win. The announcers really talked up the Swanton. (He still barely clears that these days and it looks like if it goes wrong, it’ll go really wrong for him. I guess that’s the built-in drama?)

WINNER: Hardy in 8:00 to retain the U.S. Title.

(Keller’s Analysis: Shelton is going to be a utility mid-card heel, it appears.)

-The Miz did a selfie promo and asked Providence if they want to see Bryan punch him in his face. They cheered. He said too bad because he’s in Los Angeles with their baby. He showed off his new baby, in the arms of Maryse. He said next week will be the premiere of Miz on Smackdown Live. He said if Bryan ever trolls him on Twitter, he will kick his ass. Maryse asked Miz to watch his language in front of the baby.

-They hyped Luke Harper vs. Jey Uso in action next. [c]

-Graves revealed that Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose are headed to Smackdown.

(Keller’s Analysis: Interesting to see Paige’s former cohorts on Smackdown, which can play into storylines going forward.)

(3) LUKE HARPER (w/Erick Rowan) vs. JEY USO (w/Jimmy Uso)

The announcers discussed The Bludgeon Brothers defending against The Usos at the Greatest Royal Rumble next week. A distraction at ringside led to Jey diving at Rowan at ringside. Rowan threw Jey back onto the ring apron, where Luke surprised him with a discus clothesline for a fast win.

WINNER: Harper in under 1:00.

-After the match, The Bludgeon Brothers took out Jimmy at ringside, then dragged Jey to the floor. Jimmy hit the Bludgeon Brothers with a mallet, but they fired back by throwing him into the ringside steps. Naomi ran out and screamed for them to stop. The Bludgeon Brothers backed off as she checked on Jimmy, her husband.

(Keller’s Analysis: There’s something about the Bludgeon Brothers that still just feels too much a process of corporate character creation and not authentic at all.) [c]

(4) SIN CARA vs. SAMOA JOE

Sin Cara was waiting in the ring after the break. Joe walked out as a surprise acquisition for Smackdown, despite being booked against Roman Reigns at Backlash. Sin Cara springboarded off the middle rope and Joe knocked him out of mid-air with a forearm. Joe then gave him a knee lift and put Sin Cara in the Coquina Clutch for the win.

WINNER: Joe via submission in under 2:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Smackdown this week is looking to set the record for the shortest average match length, apparently. This opens up Joe in matches against Styles and Bryan, which will please many.)

-After the match, Joe addressed the audience. “Well, if it isn’t the Land of Opportunity,” he said. “To me, this place seems like the land of handouts.” He said everyone on Smackdown has had it easy. He said they’ve been catered to and everyone is convinced they are better than they are. He snarled and said that all changes because he’s there. “I get all the opportunities,” he said. He called out Bryan, Orton, and Styles. “I will emasculate and decimate A.J. Styles,” he said. He said for evidence, watch what he does in Saudi Arabia and at Backlash. He said, “Whatever is left of Reigns after Brock Lesnar beats his ass again, I will personally shred and put the Big Dog out to pasture for good.” Cheers. (Umm, dogs don’t go out to pasture.) He said if Reigns, by some miracle, is victorious in Saudi Arabia, he will bring the Universal Championship and Intercontinental Championship back with him. “Buh-lee, dat!” he said, mocking Reigns.

-They went to the announcers at ringside. Graves said Joe doesn’t make idle threats. Phillips threw to the WWE wrestlers singing about the newly co-branded PPVs going forward. The announcers then hyped the TV main event. [c]

-Renee Young interviewed Bryan backstage. She asked why he helped Styles. “Because I respect him,” he said. He said during his three years he was fighting to return to the ring, he made a list of wrestlers he wanted to face and Styles was at the top of the list because he’s the best. He said he wanted to prove he hadn’t lost a step, but Shinsuke ruined it. He said regardless he is proud to fight side-by-side with Styles tonight because one of these days they’ll have a chance to fight each other. In walked Big Cass, who stood over Bryan by more than a full head. “So you’re what all the fuss is about, little man?” he said. Then he walked away.

[HOUR TWO]

-Carmella was introduced as the new Smackdown Women’s Champion. She moon walked on the stage and held her title high. She bragged about beating Charlotte Flair. She laughed and gloated and went on and on obnoxiously. She said to be The Women you have to beat The Woman, and now she is The Woman. She said her win will go down as the biggest moment in all of Women’s history. She said it’s time for a tribute to her. A video recap aired showing Carmella’s MITB win and then the cash-in last week with her singing “It’s all about me!”

Eventually Charlotte interrupted her gloating. She said she only won the Money in the Bank briefcase was “because of that chinless freak.” She said she succeeded in her cash-in only because of the Iconics. She said she’s not upset because she’s the dirtiest player in the game, “and game respects game.” She said she capitalized on an opportunity, so she congratulated her. She called her sweetheart and told her she had some words of wisdom – it’s much harder to stay on top than to get to the top. She said she has something of hers.

The Iconics, Billy Kaye and Peyton Royce, then came out. They made fun of Charlotte, doing baby-talk to mock her. They were very pleased with themselves as Carmella applauded. They said they are the future. Graves said you have to respect the impact they’ve made in a short period of time on Smackdown. Charlotte eventually heard enough and charged at them. They double-teamed her. Becky Lynch ran out for the save. They cut to a break mid-brawl. [c]

(5) CHARLOTTE (w/Becky Lynch) vs. BILLIE KAYE (w/Peyton Royce)

The match was joined in progress after the break. Shocking it wasn’t a tag match. Carmella was sitting ringside with her feet on the desk. Graves defended Carmella against criticism by Saxton, saying history is written by the victors. (Which was evident in the HBO “Andre” documentary, which was quite a piece of propaganda.) They cut to a break a few minutes in with Kaye in control. [c]

They stayed with the action on split screen. Kaye controlled the action with a brief tease of a comeback by Charlotte. Charlotte came back and won with the Figure-Eight.

WINNER: Charlotte in 10:00.

-Afterward Carmella attacked Charlotte. The Iconics beat up Becky meanwhile. Asuka ran out for the save, dishing out some of her signature offense against the Iconics including rapid-fire elbows and kicks. Charlotte, Asuka, and Becky stood tall together afterward. Charlotte seemed slightly leery of Asuka, but eventually seemed to accept her motivation was wholesome.

-The announcers reacted to the addition of Asuka to the Smackdown roster. Phillips said Hardy, Miz, Joe, and Asuka have been added. And then he threw to the latest addition – Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows.

(Keller’s Analysis: They’re keeping some of the biggest female stars away from Rousey at this point, which is smart as Rousey gets more established in the ring. Let’s hope Anderson & Gallows get new life on Smackdown.) [c]

-The announcers hyped Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal for the U.S. Title and Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Title on the Saudi Arabia show.

-A selfie video aired of The Bar, Cesaro & Sheamus, who touted their accomplishments on Raw. They said all along everyone kept asking how they’d do against the Smackdown tag team. They said they’re coming to Smackdown to not just set the bar, but be The Bar.

-Backstage The New Day had their Boot O’s and rode on the back of a guy in a suit. Then they cartoonishly reacted to seeing R-Truth. Big E called him “The Immortal One.” (Truth should be nicknamed “Forever 21” because eh never ages.) Then Tye Dillinger walked up to them and they acted like there was a tension, but then suddenly broke into a routine together ending with saying “What’s up!?” together. Truth said the best part of this is they’re all together on Monday Night Raw. Xavier Woods broke the news to Truth that they’re on Smackdown and it’s Tuesday. Truth said, “My bad. See ya’ all tomorrow.” Tye asked if he’ll be okay. New Day thought he wouldn’t be.

-The announcers reacted to the new additions and talked about the entire list of additions. It recapped the existing list and also added Sanity – Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, and Killian Dain (but no Nikki Cross). Phillips said they just received news that the newest Superstar coming to Smackdown is Andrade “Cien” Almas. A vignette aired with Zelina Vega introducing him. Vega spoke Spanish. The crowd popped for Sanity appearing on the screen and also Almas & Vega. Graves said they’ll change the game.

-Styles’s ring entrance took place. [c]

-The announcers talked about Rusev vs. Undertaker in a Casket Match in Saudi Arabia. Graves said it might be the final Rusev Day. Bryan made his ring entrance. He led the crowd in “Yes!” chants.

(6) DANIEL BRYAN & A.J. STYLES vs. RUSEV & AIDEN ENGLISH

They cut to a break a couple minutes in with Bryan and Styles in control. [c]

After the break English was in control against Styles. Eventually Styles made a comeback and hot-tagged Bryan with under five minutes left in the show. Bryan attacked Rusev with a flurry of fast-paced offense including a running dropkick into the corner. Rusev tried to counter, but Bryan dropped him into a Yes Lock. English broke it up right away. Bryan backdropped him to the floor, then dragon screwed Rusev to the mat after blocking his Machka Kick. Bryan hit Rusev with a barrage of Yes Kicks. Bryan led the crowd in “Yes!” chants and then hit a running knee. Shinsuke Nakamura suddenly showed up at ringside and gave Styles a low blow from behind. Then Big Cass appeared in the ring and gave Bryan a big boot. Graves said he’s reclaiming territory.

WINNERS: Styles & Bryan via DQ in 11:00.

-Cass stood over Bryan with his arm held high as Nakamura made odd gestures on the stage, watching from afar. Cass’s music played as Graves said he missed the better part of a year.