SmackDown Live | April 9, 2019To kick off tonight's show, a replay of last night's Raw announcement from Mr. McMahon was aired, announcing the rosters will be wiped clean and a WWE Draft will take place.
Shane McMahon was already in the ring to address this matter. Shane said he was grateful to get a look at the Raw talent and tonight he has his own homegrown talent on SmackDown to evaluate ahead of the Draft. Shane then moves to The Miz and after explaining what happened at WrestleMania, he calls The Miz out.
The Miz accepts the invitation to the ring and The Miz explained why he did it. The Miz admitted to using Shane and when he wasn't valuable, he tossed him aside. The Miz said he didn't give a damn about his father's approval, because he doesn't need it. All of a sudden, Raw's Universal Champion
Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring. Shane's perplexed, as is The Miz, and asks Ambrose the reason he is at SmackDown, and how he even got in the door. Ambrose said he apologized for interrupting their weird relationship, but wanted to make it known to the entire world. Dean Ambrose told Shane he is the most prized choice in Saturday's Draft event, but tells him the draft pick will be wasted. Ambrose clarified his contract is up at the end of the month and will NOT re-sign with WWE, so he's taking the Universal Championship with him. After the bombshell, he flips the mic and walks out as Shane is stunned, but there's The Miz to stir the pot. Being stunned after the news and The Miz continuing to irk Shane, The Miz is then put into a match suddenly against the newest member to SmackDown's roster... ALEISTER BLACK!
Aleister Black makes an eerie entrance for his debut next!
Aleister Black vs. The MizSmackDown Live is off to a great start as Aleister Black debuts against The Miz. The Miz as a veteran gives Black a run for his money and nearly ends things with a Skull Crushing Finale, but Miz took a moment to shout a message to Shane, which enabled Aleister Black to get out of The Miz's grasps and knock him out with Black Mass.
Winner: Aleister Black (12:44)Shane McMahon is back in his office watching the match with Aleister Black and The Miz as he can't help but smile afterward. Shane hears a knock at the door and after declaring it open, the cameras pan to see
Cedric Alexander and
Tony Nese from 205 Live. Shane welcomes them to SmackDown Live and admits that the Draft has thrown plans for a loop. Shane says they're still competing tonight under SmackDown contracts, but after tonight, they'll just be main roster contracted superstars. Shane lets them know they'll be competing against each other in tag team action, Nese's partner will be Andrade and Cedric's partner will be Mustafa Ali. Shane wishes the two luck as they prove he and Stephanie worthy of a permanent contract. They both thank Shane for his opportunity before Tony Nese calls himself a Premier Athlete and says he won't let the inferior Ali and Alexander win tonight, in which Alexander brings up his reign as Cruiserweight Champion. Shane tells them to settle it inside the ring... Speaking of, they throw it to the ring for the first tag team match of the evening.
Former WWE Champion
Daniel Bryan is the first to come alongside
Erick Rowan. Bryan expresses his frustrations with the result of WrestleMania where he lost the title to Kevin Owens. Bryan declares that no matter if he is on Raw or SmackDown, he will be getting his rematch for the WWE Championship because Owens cannot stop his movement.
The New Day interrupt Bryan which does not help the cause.
Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan vs. The New Day (with Big E)Bryan and Rowan were fighting from frustration which made it easier for The New Day to use their comical routine to get inside their heads. This only worked until Rowan hit Kofi with a huge big boot to take over the match. A little while later, The New Day began to fight their way back in it, but Bryan ended all hopes (and the match) with a Running Knee to Kofi Kingston.
Winners: Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan (12:01)United States Champion
AJ Styles has an interview with Mike Rome after his big win at WrestleMania capturing the title. Styles says how he is blessed to be the new champion and will make this title the most deserving title in all of WWE. When asked about his thoughts on wrestling WWE Champion Kevin Owens, Styles begins to reflect on his past encounters with Owens before
R-Truth crashes the interview. Truth claims he's afraid of heights but he is not scared of AJ Styles and demands a rematch tonight! When Styles says he's already booked, Truth says he's going to Shane McMahon for his title rematch.
Bayley and
Sasha Banks as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions come to the ring and the Raw women talk about the WWE Draft this Saturday. Bayley and Sasha say they are currently signed to Raw, but as the champions, they can appear on any show in the WWE. With that said, they'll be pulling double duty. They then reflect on being best friends in NXT through their battles, and ultimately to this WrestleMania where they defeated the Bella Twins. At the cue,
Brie Bella and
Nikki Bella come to the ring and offer a congratulatory handshake to Bayley and Banks. However, they say they have officially signed main roster contracts and will be in Saturday's Draft as well, but they have no intentions of sticking to one show.
Mandy Rose and
Sonya Deville, the Absolution duo, come to the ring and express their desires to be the next Women's Tag Team Champions. Deville makes a comment towards Brie's husband Daniel Bryan choking at WrestleMania, and Rose makes the comment that Nikki wishes she was choking but Cena's not letting her swallow. This enraged the Bella Twins enough for Brie to slap Mandy Rose and ensue a brawl, as Bayley and Sasha Banks also got involved. Coming out of a commercial break, it was announced that the Bella Twins would be wrestling Absolution with Bayley and Banks joining the commentary team.
Absolution vs. The Bella Twins (Bayley & Sasha Banks joins commentary)Bayley and Sasha Banks took a stance against the "uncalled for" comments of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, and gave props to the Bella Twins for a great match on Sunday, and have even said they'd be willing to give them a rematch down the road. It was the Bella Twins being relentless in this match, but their heads were at another point, as Nikki hit a Thesz Press and choked Mandy Rose and the official had no choice but to disqualify the Bella Twins.
Winners by DQ: Absolution (8:23)The Bella Twins stood tall afterward as Sonya Deville helps Mandy Rose roll out of harm's way and back up the ramp, while Bayley says no blame should be put on Nikki tonight, but Banks says Nikki's smart enough not to do it and it cost them tonight.
R-Truth storms into
Shane McMahon's office and demands a rematch for the United States Championship tonight! Shane shakes his head and says he doesn't hand out rematches, along with AJ Styles already being booked in a match tonight. R-Truth kept clamoring, but Shane was adamant he wasn't getting a match. R-Truth then threatened to ruin the main event tonight before storming back out of the office.
Set up in the ring is the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy and
Lana stands by it before she introduces the winner,
Rusev! Rusev comes and claims that Rusev Day reached new heights this Sunday by winning the battle royal. Rusev thanks Lana for being by his side, and this is until
Shelton Benjamin ruins the party. Benjamin says to cut the crap and he is going to prove to everyone that Rusev Day is nothing but a facade.
Rusev (with Lana) vs. Shelton BenjaminThe Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner took on Benjamin and proved Benjamin wrong after hitting a Machcha Kick and putting Benjamin away rather quickly.
Winner: Rusev (6:04)A tweet is displayed per Vince McMahon addressing Dean Ambrose's comments earlier tonight:
"
Whether Dean Ambrose gets drafted is Shane and Steph's business. But he will not take the Universal title away from WWE. Mark my words."
A video package is displayed of the work from Tony Nese and Cedric Alexander respectively in 205 Live as they make their SmackDown debuts next!
Andrade & Tony Nese (with Zelina Vega) vs. Cedric Alexander & Mustafa AliThe tag team match set up four different matchups and they were all exciting. As Ali and Andrade tried to overcome losses at WrestleMania, Nese and Alexander were trying to be proven draft worthy. The match came down to Tony Nese nailing Mustafa Ali in the head and hitting the Pumphandle Michinoku Driver to score a big win over Mustafa Ali.
Winners: Andrade and Tony Nese (12:41)Backstage,
Randy Orton gets an interview with Mike Rome about his thoughts on the Draft. Orton can't help but make a comment on the legend of Mustafa Ali fading quickly, and he'll take credit for killing his career. Regarding the draft, he said it was interesting to hear Dean Ambrose's comments earlier tonight. Orton says he will keep an eye on that because if he doesn't end on the same brand as the WWE Champion Kevin Owens, he will want to be the next Universal Champion.
Main event time! United States Champion
AJ Styles approaches the ring first. As the WWE Champion
Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring,
R-Truth comes from behind and attacks Owens. Truth, however, goes to mouth off at Styles claiming he's getting his title rematch now but Owens bulldozes him from behind. Owens then assaults Truth before hitting the Powerbomb on the ring apron to Truth. Owens then looks up and catches a springboard forearm to the floor! Following a commercial break, the match had officially started.
AJ Styles vs. Kevin OwensStyles and Owens battled one-on-one and it was a true test of wills. After multiple times eluding each other's finishers, it was Owens that hit his finisher first with the Popup Powerbomb, yet he only got a two-count. Then Owens would be caught in the Calf Crusher which he struggled to make the ropes and did so after much pain. Styles then went for a Phenomenal Forearm but as he leaped, got caught in the Popup Powerbomb! Owens dropped for the cover and got it.
Winner: Kevin Owens (17:51)The WWE Champion's music hit and he got up to celebrate, yet it was short-lived by Erick Rowan attacking Kevin Owens. Daniel Bryan then came down and hit a Running Knee on the WWE Champion. AJ Styles then tried to get ahead, but Bryan and Rowan put him down as well. Bryan and Rowan were the two men standing when SmackDown Live went off the air.
