Welcome to Ringside News’ live coverage of SmackDown Live for April 23rd, 2019. This is a live results so keep refreshing throughout the show and we will be bringing you all the action as it happens. Everything starts at 8:00 PM so come back then.
We’re not sure exactly what WWE is going to be planning this week. They are just getting things sorted after the Superstar Shake-Up. Then they had to shake things up again to get Andrade back on the blue brand.
Charlotte Flair will be coming face-to-face with Becky Lynch tonight. We know that will happen so it appears that WWE isn’t going to keep them separated for long.
Kofi Kingston is slated to face Shinsuke Nakamura in a singles match. This will not be for the WWE Championship, but Big O will be at ringside along with Xavier Woods to support Kofi.
Another segment that has been announced involves Roman Reigns. WWE posed the idea that he could be fired for hitting Vince McMahon with a Superman Punch last week. That’s unlikely, but The Chairman can’t be too happy with The Big Dog right now.
All that and more is expected for SmackDown Live this week. So check back at 8:00 PM EST once everything gets going.
Opening Segment
Shane McMahon came out first because he could. He was rather cocky as he walked to the ring as well and then he did his little shuffle.
Shane said he’s not in the best mood and harassed Greg Hamilton again to introduce him while calling him the Best In The Wooooooooooooorld. Hamilton is great, but Mike Rome did it so much better TBH.
Shane quickly started talking about Roman Reigns and how he punched Vince McMahon last week. Then we watched the footage before Shane said it will make us sick to his stomach.
Shane asks the fans if Roman should be fined, suspended, or fired. The fans seemed to cheer equally for all of them. Then Shane said they are going to determine this in the ring. He said that Roman works for him and his family so it’s an order to “get your butt out here.” Roman got lukewarm cheers upon his entrance.
Roman came out and didn’t say anything. He tossed the microphone to the mat and so did Shane McMahon. Then they squared off. Elias jumped on the apron and distracted Roman. Shane jumped him and put the boots to him a little bit. Then Roman came back and backed McMahon into the corner. Before Roman could do much damage, Elias jumped in the ring and made the save to beat down Reigns while McMahon held him in place.
Elias hit a Drift Away on Roman Reigns and stood tall over The Big Dog before he and Shane McMahon left together while Elias’ music played and Reigns continued to sell the assault.
Elias and Shane were shown backstage and they were psyched about beating down Reigns. They said that there is more to come.
The New Day cut a promo backstage and everyone had a great time.
Finn Balor vs Andrade
Because of… reasons… Andrade is back on SmackDown Live so he can continue their feud as we reported would happen.
Andrade cut a promo backstage saying that he wants the IC Title.
Andrade grabbed Zelina Vega while Finn was dragging him across the ring and it pulled her in too. That distracted the referee so Andrade could hit Balor from behind, but Finn soon sent Andrade to the floor and they fought on the outside of the ring for a bit.
Andrade took control once they returned to the ring and slapped on an arm submission during the commercial break.
Balor mounted a comeback and hit a DDT after countering a powerbomb. Finn hit a double stomp and went to the apron. He knocked Andrade down and climbed up top, but Andrade stopped him and then they did a powerbomb that Finn turned into a roll-up. Andrade went outside and Balor hit a dive before they went back in.
Andrade countered a slingblade and hit that backelbow followed by a running double knees in the corner on Balor. 1-2- kickout.
Zelina got involved as she jumped on top, but she missed Balor and Andrade caught her. That didn’t work out for Andrade and then he ended up on the mat before Balor hit a Coup De Gras for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Elias was shown backstage singing and playing guitar singing a song about how SmackDown will be his. The challenged Roman to a match at MITB.
Kairi Sane vs Peyton Royce
The IIconics came out and cut one dad joke after another. Then the said the future is iconic before posing.
Kairi Sane did not take it easy on Peyton. This was rather brutal. Everything Kairi did worked and she woke the crowd up before hitting her InSane Elbow. Amazing.
Winner: Kairi Sane
Mandy and Sonya came out as Asuka, Paige, and Sane were celebrating. Rose and Deville were not impressed and seemed very comfortable. They didn’t say anything. They just stared the new team down.
Then Jinder Mahal came down
Jinder Mahal vs Chad Gable
Before this match started Aleister Black had a nice vignette where he was talking about how we will see who is is. That was nice.
Before the Mahal vs Gable match could get started, Lars Sullivan ran down and demolished Gable. Sullivan destroyed a Singh brother too and then R-Truth ran down because he’s a glutton for punishment.
Lars Sullivan hit a Freak Accident on Truth too.
Charlotte and Becky Face Off
Flair came down and cut a promo about the Mania main event. Flair brought up how The Man pinned Ronda Rousey and not her. She said Rousey lost her championship for her. So she wants a rematch.
Lynch said she pinned Rousey because she already knew she could beat Flair since she’s done it before. There’s not a damn thing Charlotte can do about it either.
Flair was still in denial saying that Lynch can’t beat her. Then she mentioned Lacey Evans knocking Lynch out on RAW and how Lynch brings up Charlotte every time she talks about Evans which is kind of true. Flair said she is in Becky’s head which is what Lynch was always saying about Ronda Rousey on the road to WrestleMania.
Lynch said that Flair is on a losing streak and she’s actually in her head. Flair said she has nothing to lose while The Man has everything to lose. Then she said that she’s next in line after Lacey Evans.
Lynch told Flair to clear the way for Bayley, Ember Moon, and Mickie James. She called Flair the web that manage entangles her in. Then Bayley came out too.
Bayley told Lynch that she’s defeated her zero times. Flair told The Hugger to get in the back of the line. Bayley didn’t like being touched by Flair. Bayley said if she wants a shot at Lynch then they should face each other.
The crowd liked that idea. Flair tried to tell Bayley to get in the back of the line and Bayley knocked the mic out of her hand.
Bayley vs Charlotte Flair
The winner of this match will win a “future title opportunity” from Becky Lynch.
Bayley was aggressive, but Flair soon took control. Flair worked on Bayley’s legs when she had a chance as she continued to wear The Hugger down.
Bayley came back with bursts of offense, but Flair took her legs out from under her. Bayley blocked a Figure 4, but Flair kicked Bayely’s leg out from under her. Then Bayley landed a knee to the side of the head, but it didn’t pay off. Flair kicked out at two.
Flair still couldn’t get Bayley to stay down even after a big boot. Bayley moved out of the way of a moonsault and hit a belly to back suplex for a two count.
Flair went for Bayley’s knee again and The Hugger reversed and hit a sunset flip that sent Flair into the middle turnbuckle for a two count. Then Bayley climbed up top and Flair knocked her down before trying for a Figure 4, but Bayley rolled her up for a two count.
Suddenly, Flair nailed a spear for the win. Now it’s Flair vs Lynch. That will be fun, right?
Winner: Charlotte Flair
The Man cut an interview backstage and isn’t worried about Flair or Lacey Evans. She’s betting on herself.
They showed that amazing Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House segment again.
Kofi Kingston vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Big O did the New Day’s intro again and it was better than last week.
Rusev came down to the ring wearing a suit. Woods and Owens had their own commentary table and they really should have kept them on the entire time during this match.
Kofi and Nakamura went move for move throughout most of this match. Corey Graves told Todd Phillips to throw it back to the New Day table because he’s done for the night.
Kofi nailed a splash on Nakamura’s back for a two count and he started to wear down on Shinsuke for a bit from there. However, Nakamura caught Kofi in the ropes off of a dive to the outside and landed a knee to the back of the neck on the apron.
Nakamura started laying in multiple kicks to Kofi and Kingston continued to sell. Kofi caught Shinsuke’s leg, but Nakamura started punching him. Kofi got away and mocked Nakamura with his own “come on!” taunt before Nakamura brought it.
Shinsuke sent Kofi to the mat hard after hanging him in the ropes. Shinsuke prepared for a Kinshasa, but Kofi hit a double chest stomp. Nakamura blocked the Trouble In Paradise so Kofi hit an SOS.
As Kofi pinned Nakamura, Rusev jumped in to lay the boots to Kofi. Then the New Day jumped in for the save.
Big O sent Woods out of the ring and then Kofi hit a Trouble In Paradise on Nakamura before Kevin Owens turned on Kofi and beat him down.
It didn’t take Owens long to turn heel at all. KO beat Kofi around the ring and then he hit a powerbomb on the apron to Woods that pretty much murdered Xavier.
It looks like Kevin Owens is heel again and he’s going after Kofi’s title.
