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LINDBERG’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 23, 2021
AT “THUNDERDOME”, UNIVERSITY OF S. FLORIDA
AIRED ON FOX BROADCAST NETWORK
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcers: Greg Hamilton
Quick Note: Apologies on the NXT Hits & Misses column not yet hitting PWTorch.com. I will hopefully be able to watch the show and get the column written this weekend!
(HOUR ONE)
-The show opened with a recap of last week’s Universal Title angle. They showed clips of Cesaro confronting Roman, Roman walking away before Cesaro could speak, all the way to the Uso vs. Cesaro match to close last week’s show.
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcomed everyone to the show as Cesaro stood midring to open the show. Before Cesaro could speak, Seth Rollin’s music hit and he made his way to the stage. Rollins called Cesaro the “man of the hour” and congratulated him on reaching for the proverbial “brass ring”. They said “your potential”, but you know it was a jab at the brass ring comments from years prior. Rollins said that the feud with him leading to his match at WrestleMania was what made him and he wanted thanks and adulation for what he did for Cesaro’s career. He was also almost offended that Cesaro moved on to the Universal championship and didn’t want to continue feuding with him. He blamed the WrestleMania rain delay on losing, it threw him off and said that on Cesaro’s best day, he couldn’t beat him on his worst.
Cesaro called Rollins out for a match right now, when Jey Uso’s music hit. He said to Cesaro that he can’t beat Roman and that he’s gonna beat him again. Rollins backed Uso off and started conspiring for an ambush. They circled the ring and surrounded Cesaro when Bryan’s music hit and Daniel Bryan came to save the day. He “Yes’d” his way to the ring, and stood tall next to the Swiss Superman. Rollins and Uso started retreating and Bryan mocked them for running. He said he came out to make sure that Rollins gets what he deserves and he respects Cesaro. He mocked Reigns, Uso and Rollins, saying that they’re going to cowardly jump them, three on two. Which prompted Roman Reigns to make his way to the stage.
Reigns mocked Bryan for beating him at WrestleMania and made fun of him for being on the “bottom” of the stack of he and Edge when Reigns pinned them. He called Cesaro and Bryan “Main Event Losers” and said that it wasn’t smart talking smack when surrounded by people who want to “whoop your ass”. They cut to commercial, insinuating a Rollins & Uso vs. Bryan & Cesaro tag team match.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: A bit of a busy opening to the show, but isn’t that always the way? Even so, the supposed tag match up should be great considering the talent involved. Cesaro was coming off looking like more of a star than ever.)
(1) SETH ROLLINS & JEY USO vs. DANIEL BRYAN & CESARO
-Back from the break, the four men were brawling in the ring with the ref, Charles Robinson, trying to break them up to start the, now official, match. After a few moments, he was successful and rang the bell.
Daniel Bryan exploded with offense on Uso with a suplex and quick cover for two. Tagged Cesaro in who double teamed Uso with an arm drag, Cesaro covered for another two. Cesaro landed a stalling vertical suplex, holding Uso for nearly 10 seconds before falling to the mat. Uso managed to tag Rollins in, Cesaro and Rollins traded offense for a moment before Rollins landed a Slingblade to get the upper hand. Seth mounted and punched Cesaro in the face, then brought him to his feet and to the corner. He tagged Uso in, and the two double teamed Cesaro for a moment.
Uso hit a series of strikes and punches on Cesaro before tagging Rollins in again. Rollins gave Cesaro a knee to the face before locking in a sleeper. Cesaro rallied and reversed into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Cesaro hit the hot tag on Bryan, who ran across the ring to knock Uso off the apron before delivering the Yes Kicks to Rollins. Rollins reversed with a Pele kick, but Rollins caught it into an Ankle Lock. Rollins got a ropebreak, and tagged Uso. Rollins with a bucklebomb followed by Uso with a splash for a near fall, broken up by Cesaro before cutting to commercial.
-A commercial for the Roddy Piper episode of Biography on A&E aired.
-Back from commercial, Bryan was being pummeled on the apron by Rollins and Uso. Rollins kicked Bryan in the head and then covered him for two. Rollins and Cesaro stared each other down, as Cesaro was helpless to help his partner desperate to make a tag. Rollins tagged Uso in again, who kicked Bryan in the kidneys. Uso continued his assault on Bryan and stomped on Bryan as he was sitting in the corner.
Bryan finally made the hot tag to Cesaro, who exploded with offense and uppercuts on Uso. He hit Uso with a lariat and then looked for the Swing. Uso crawled away, got to his feet and was swiftly met with another uppercut from Cesaro for another two count. Cesaro hit another uppercut and looked to have the pin when Rollins broke it up at the last second. Bryan swiftly took Rollins out, and they started fighting out of the ring. Cesaro went to the top rope, but was met with a superkick by Uso as they cut to another commercial.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: Wow, this is a long match for WWE TV! I’m not complaining either, as this is one of the better Tag Team matches I’ve watched in awhile. They are telling a great story, essentially painting Cesaro as an underdog who has the chance to win if his partner can hang in there. That’s the best way I can quickly summarize it, but it’s working. Cesaro is coming off in a way that I didn’t think we’d ever see for him in the company.)
-Back from commercial, Rollins and Cesaro were going back and forth with strikes in the center of the ring. Cesaro went for the Swing, but couldn’t lock it in so he settled for a sharpshooter instead. Uso broke it up, and Rollins managed to tag him in. Rollins started walking up the ramp saying “I don’t need this! I’m Seth Freaking Rollins!” and left Uso all of a sudden. Cesaro and Bryan double teamed and Bryan pinned Uso for the win.
Winners: Cesaro & Bryan in 19:16
(Lindberg’s Analysis: Curious as to why Rollins just walked away. It made sense in terms of Rollins usually being self serving, but it seemed to come out of the blue unless I missed something. After how great the match was, the finish felt a little flat. The babyfaces got their butts whooped and really only won because it became a handicapped match? How does that build stars?)
-Bryan grabbed a mic. “Roman! Ohhhh Roooooman!” He said that he thought that they were going to get whooped, was Reigns coming out to take care of that? Uso attacked from behind and was immediately swung around at least a dozen or more times with Bryan hilariously narrating the entire thing. Bryan said that he doesn’t think Roman is coming and that he’s scared. Cesaro grabbed a mic and they both started saying “We’re waiting!”. The fact that he wouldn’t come out to save Uso means he isn’t a family man. Bryan told Cesaro to swing Uso again and if he was really a family man, Reigns would finally come to save him.
Reigns was nowhere to be found as Uso was spun “60” times according to Pat McAfee. Bryan said that Roman must be afraid to face he and Cesaro without any help. He knows that he can’t beat he and Cesaro. Afraid that if he and Cesaro went one on one for the Universal Championship that we’d have a new champion. Bryan’s music hit as he “yes’d” to end the segment.
-Adam Pierce and Sonya Deville were backstage discussing what happened during the first 45 minutes of the show. Apollo and Aziz entered the room, angry that he had to defend again tonight after defending against Big E. Pierce said that Big E will get another shot, but he needs to beat his opponent tonight first to retain his title: Kevin Owens.
-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler made their way to the ramp and then signaled to the back. Reginald made his return to TV and accompanied the two to the ring.
-Kayla Braxton came up to Jey Uso and asked how he felt about Roman not helping him. Uso said he was about to throw up. He said he was done with the disrespect from Cesaro toward the Head of the Table, and angrily walked off.
-Cole and McAfee brought us back to WrestleMania for the Womens Tag match and recapped the highlights for Tamina.
(2) NIA JAX (w/ Shayna Baszler and Reginald) vs. Tamina (w/ Natalya)
-Jax immediately picked Tamina up and backed her to the corner. She whipped her into the opposite corner and splashed Tamina. The two women jawed off at one another before Tamina nailed Jax with a few forearms, a Lou Thesz press, and more clotheslines. Baszler tried to intervene, annoying Tamina. The fight spilled outside the ring, and Tamina threw Jax into the barricade over and over again. She threw Jax back into the ring and Reggie and Baszler tried to distract, but ultimately it backfired and Tamina hit a superkick and rolled Jax up for the win.
Winner: Tamina in 2:40
(Lindberg’s Analysis: Can we be done with Reginald please? He does nothing for the women’s division and comes across as far less than comedic. The match itself was on the higher side of “meh”, and continued to paint the veteran Tamina in a bright light. I do feel a little dirty watching her use her father’s iconic taunts and finisher after the murder allegations, however I can’t punish her for her father’s doings, I guess. It is nice to see a veteran like Tamina get her chance to shine after years of putting others over, however.
(HOUR TWO)
-Kayla Braxton welcomed Kevin Owens backstage and asked him about his IC title match tonight. Owens said he’s been waiting years for another opportunity for the IC title. He wasn’t expecting this tonight but he won’t turn it down. He’ll gladly be the one to knock Apollo off of his royal perch when Big E entered the picture. Big E called Owens a perpetual line jumper and said that this should be his match. KO said that he was probably right, he should be getting a rematch. But too bad, so sad. His his opportunity and it’s up next! The two laughed maniacally at one another before staring each other cold, and KO walked off.
(3) INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP – APOLLO CREWS (w/ Aziz) vs. KEVIN OWENS
-Kevin Owens was already in the ring when Apollo and Aziz made their entrance. Referee, Jessica Carr, held the title high overhead and rang the bell. Apollo and KO traded strikes before KO got the upper hand and locked in a side headlock. Kevin started screaming “He’s grabbing my trunks!” and you could see Apollo trying to wedgie KO. Apollo managed to get to his feet but KO flipped him back to the mat, still in the headlock.
A full minute went by before the headlock was actually broken, but KO immediately locked it in again. KO landed a dropkick and then chopped Apollo. He backed Apollo into the corner and chopped him a few times before Carr backed him off. Apollo locked in a headlock of his own, but KO fought out and landed a senton on a laying Apollo. Apollo got to his feet and retreated outside behind his Commander, Aziz. KO was distracted by Aziz, and allowed Apollo to sneakily get the upperhand.
Apollo beat KO into the corner, and then tossed him outside the ring towards the ramp. KO landed a superkick on Apollo and then threw him back inside. KO went to the top and hit a Swanton for two. Sami Zayn’s music hit, and the conspiracy theorist himself made his way ringside as they cut to commercial.
-Back from commercial, Zayn joined McAfee and Cole on commentary. Apollo and KO were fighting on top of the turnbuckle with Aziz looking on very closely. Apollo threw KO off of him after a few headbutts but KO made it to his feet before Apollo hit him. KO superkicked Apollo for a near fall. Crews got the upper hand and hit a lariat on KO for two.
Sami was talking about how the documentary is coming, with McAfee almost mockingly going along with Sami’s ramblings.
Apollo hit three consecutive German suplexes for another near fall. Apollo waited for KO to make it to his feet to attack, KO blocked and hit a German suplex of his own followed by two cannonballs for a two count. KO went for a stunner, but it was blocked. He did manage to hit a pop-up powerbomb for two. Zayn said that Jessica Carr’s count was too slow.
Aziz got up on the apron to distract KO, which worked. KO was rolled up and Apollo retained.
Winner: Apollo Crews in 12:28
After the match Aziz took KO out after KO stunned Apollo.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: It’s funny, if you told me a number of years ago that Uhaa Nation and Kevin Steen would be wrestling for the Intercontinental title on SmackDown, I would have completely lit up. When its Apollo Crews vs. Kevin Owens, it doesn’t quite seem as important. Or at least it didn’t before the match. Predictable finish aside, this was a great IC title match. The IC title has always been the “workhorse” title, at least historically. This was exactly that, two great talents who go out there week after week, putting on a great match. No, it wasn’t a 5 star classic, but an entertaining TV match nonetheless.)
-As KO was laying defeated in the ring, Sami Zayn entered the ring and mockingly danced to Apollo’s music around KO’s body.
-Kayla Braxton was backstage and welcomed Paul Heyman. She asked him if Reigns would accept the challenge tonight. Heyman said that he likes Cesaro and appreciates him. He loves the man, in a professional way. He said that he would give us a spoiler, that by the end of the night we’d get the answer directly from Reigns himself.
-Megan Morant was outside of Apollo Crew’s locker room, and he emerged. He said that Aziz was cleaning KO’s tears off of him. He said that his ancestors were jumping in celebration for his defense. Big E attacked Crews out of nowhere before being swiftly broken up by WWE officials.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: Who’s Megan Morant? Have we seen her before? I have absolutely no recollection of this woman.)
-Cole and McAfee introduced an Alistair Black vignette, which was put together very well. Black was sitting in the dark surrounded by candles. He said he wanted us to know the truth, and told us a story complete with NXT’s Tien Sha style animations. The story was about a child trying to defeat a dragon. Black condemned the audience as the monsters in the book.
-Kayla Braxton welcomed Smackdown Tag Champs Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode and asked them about the Mysterios vs. Alpha Academy tonight. The Street Profits made their way into the picture and said that they should have the next shot at the titles. Bayley showed up and said to cut the tension and shoo’d them off. “Ding Dong, Hello Kayla!” Bayley said she was there to talk about her Backlash opponent, Bianca Belair. She said she made Bianca earlier in the year during their feud and never got a thank you. She’s now going to take her title back because Bianca was so rude. Montez Ford wondered back on screen with his wife, Bianca on speakerphone. Bianca said she’d “be right there”.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: I really liked how they used Ford and the cell phone to get Bianca’s attention. If they are going to link Ford and Belair like they have, at least they feel mostly equal rather than “Bianca’s husband” or “Ford’s wife”. Plus, this was a logical way for Bianca to find out about what Bayley was saying about her.)
-Belair was standing with Bayley backstage and she dared Bayley to say what she said to Kayla to her face. Bayley backtracked and congratulated her rather than talked smack. She told her that she was really the EST of WWE. She said it would be an honor to wrestle her, and she walked off. Bayley came back, and laughed hysterically before wondering off again.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: I love Bayley. Just as I thought she was being a coward, nope. She swerves us.)
(4) REY & DOMINIK MYSTERIO vs. ALPHA ACADEMY
-Both teams got full entrances with the Mysterios out first and Otis & Gable second. Gable and Dominik kicked things off, but Otis tagged in before they even touched. Otis manhandled the young Mysterio but Dominik managed to move out of the way of a standing splash. Didn’t matter, he was clotheslined right back down by Otis. Otis picked him up and hit a fall away slam. Dominik retreated to the outside with Rey going to help his son. Otis attacked both of them as they cut to commercial.
Back from commercial, Gable and Dominik were trading blows with Dominik rolling Gable up for two. Gable hit a fisherman suplex and bridged for two. He tagged Otis in, and they double teamed Dominik. Otis shot Dominik off the ropes and double axe handled him, picked him up and then scoop slammed him. Otis tagged Gable back in, keeping Dominik in their corner. Gable locked in an armlock, looking for a submission win. Dominik made his way to his feet, but was taken down by three consecutive belly to belly suplexes. Gable went for a German suplex but Dominik reversed for the hot tag.
Rey Mysterio swiftly took Gable out and threw Gable into the corner post. He climbed to the top, but Gable blocked it. Mysterio reversed that block and hit a top rope hurricanrana for two. He tagged his son back in, and Dominik sent Gable outside the ring and then powerbombed him into the barricade. They got Gable back in the ring and set him up for the 619. Otis tried to interfere but Dominik took him out. Rey hit the 619 followed by a frog slash on Gable for the win.
Winners: Dominik & Rey Mysterio in 11:50
(Lindberg’s Analysis: While this was certainly not the opening tag match, it was still entertaining. I’d like to see Mysterio and Dominik move on from Alpha Academy at some point in the near future, it’s beginning to feel a bit stale. I love the father/son duo though. Dominik can do all the bumping while Mysterio can still look like he’s in his 20’s.)
-Cesaro’s music hit as he and Daniel Bryan made their way to the ring, passing Dominik and Rey on the ramp. They shared a few fist bumps and cut to commercial.
-Big E vs. Apollo for the IC title was announced for next week.
-Cesaro and Bryan were in the ring, waiting for Roman Reign’s answer to Cesaro’s Universal Title challenge. Cesaro called him out, but nothing happened. Cesaro said he could either come out and give us the answer, or he and Bryan would come back there to get it. After a few moments, Reigns music hit and the Universal Champion flanked by his two lackeys, Heyman and Jey Uso, made their way to the ring.
-Heyman handed Reigns a mic. Reigns questioned who Cesaro was and why he thinks he deserves to share the ring with the tribal chief. He said Cesaro would never be on his level. He said that he issues the challenges around here. And the challenge goes to Daniel Bryan. He said he doesn’t like Daniel Bryan, but will give him one more shot at the title next week on Smackdown.
-Cesaro told Bryan that he has to take it, as Bryan looked reluctant to take Cesaro’s “spot”. Reigns said that when Bryan loses, he never wants to see Bryan on Smackdown ever again. After a few moments of hesitation, Bryan accepted. Yes chants broke out as the two stared each other down. Reigns held the title up and said it was his. Reigns’ music hit and he, Uso and Heyman backed out of the ring.
(Lindberg’s Analysis: Daniel Bryan to RAW or NXT anyone? I doubt we’ll see Bryan win the title, and we know his contract isn’t up until later in the year. They specifically said that we wouldn’t see Bryan on Smackdown again if he lost, so that leaves the other two brands wide open.)
For the love of God why did they have Aleister Black wearing those pedophile glasses??? Why did he have to be wearing glasses at all???