Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 4/28/2023 edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX.
We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
WWE SmackDown (4/28/2023).
- The 2023 WWE Draft Begins.
- WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso).
- Zelina Vega vs. Sonya Deville.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning to the opening segment.
- The first round of the 2023 WWE Draft was kicked off by Head of Talent Relations & Chief Content Officer "Triple H" Paul Levesque. Levesque said that the first round of the draft consisted of 50% of the roster, with the new roster taking effect on May 8, 2023. The first round of the WWE Draft was The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa, Cody Rhodes to Monday Night Raw, Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair to SmackDown, and Becky Lynch to Monday Night Raw.
- The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) came to the ramp to cut a promo, but they were interrupted by WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens. Zayn only had one thing to say to the Usos, and that was that it seemed strange that Reigns & Sikoa were put as one pick while they were as a separate pick. The Usos promised to regain the titles and Jimmy said that Kevin Owens would betray Zayn, but Owens snapped and said that all that mattered was beating the hell out of The Usos to retain the belts.
- Bianca Belair cut a promo from a hotel room on Belfast, Ireland. Belair said that she looks forward to being back on Friday Night SmackDown.
Butch (w/ Sheamus) vs. LA Knight.
The Bruiserweight & the megastar began the match locking up before Butch got Knight with a lariat. Butch got Knight's fingers and started bending Knight's fingers before stomping Knight's arm. Butch got on the apron and hit the Beats of the Battering on Knight before going for a dive, but Knight evaded. Butch locked in a Kimura on Knight, but Knight slinged Butch into the middle rope before planting Butch into the apron before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Butch hit a forearm strike, an enziguri kick into the corner, a series of stomps to Knight's fingers and arms, and a roundhouse kick on Knight for a near fall. Butch hit a Triangle Moonsault on Knight to the outside before going for a dive again on Knight, but Knight punched Butch and went for a superplex. Butch snapped Kngiht's fingers to send him off the top rope, but Knight leaped back up and hit a Superplex on Butch for a near fall. Knight went for a Burning Hammer on Butch, but Butch landed on his feet and hit an enziguri kick on Knight. Knight hit a running boot and went for the BFT on Butch, but Butch reversed it with a Fujiwara Arm Bar before Knight got a rope break and spiked Butch into the ring post. Knight hit the BFT on Butch to get the pinfall win.
Winner: LA Knight.
- Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa & The Usos talked backstage, with Heyman saying that The Usos would either be drafted to The Island of Relevancy or the Ocean of Failure. Heyman stared daggers at Solo Sikoa and told him that "tonight was the night".
- Round Two of the WWE Draft had brand representatives, with RVD representing Raw while Michael Hayes represented SmackDown. The round consisted of Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) moving to SmackDown, IMPERIUM (Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vince & Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER) to Raw, Edge to SmackDown, and Matt Riddle to Raw.
- The Street Profits cut a promo in their return to SmackDown, saying that they would still live by the words of "WE WANT THE SMOKE".
Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Ricochet & Braun Strowman vs. Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz del Toro).
Ford, Wilde & Strowman began the match. Wilde & Ford tried to attack Strowman, but Strowman laid everyone out before Strowman tried to veal Ricochet, but Ricochet stopped him. Ricochet launched a prayer before Strowman successfully tossed Ricochet onto LWO & Street Profits on the outside before the commercial break.
Back from the break Ricochet tossed Del Toro into a Bandera toss, but Cruz hit an enziguri kick on Ricochet before hitting a double-springboard dropkick on Dawkins. Del Toro slammed Ricochet into the corner before catching him with a rolling enziguri kick. Wilde hit a Senton on Dawkins & Ford to the outside before getting back in the ring and evading Ricochet's moonsault and connecting a Hurricanrana on Ricochet for a near fall. Ricochet tossed Wilde to the outside before Wilde tagged Del Toro in. Del Toro attacked Strowman and hit a Twisting Suplex on Ricochet, but Strowman broke the pin. Ford got back before Strowman tagged back in. Strowman laid everyone out with tackles on the outside, but Dawkins caught him with a Tope Con Giro before Ricochet hit a dive on Ricochet. Back in the ring, Dawkins hit the Silencer on Ricochet before Ford hit a frog splash for the pinfall win.
Winners: Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford).
- There was video package of the feud between Bad Bunny & Damian Priest.
Round Three of the WWE Draft was hosted by Teddy Long for Raw & JBL for SmackDown. The round consisted of Bobby Lashley to SmackDown, Drew McIntyre to Raw, The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Mia Yim & "The Machine" Gun Karl Anderson) to SmackDown & The Miz to Raw.
Zelina Vega vs. Sonya Deville (w/ Chelsea Green).
The match began with the two locking up before Deville slammed Vega into the mat. Vega hit a Wheelbarrow Arm Drag on Deville before going for a Code Red, but Deville blocked it and slammed Vega into the corner. Vega got Deville's arm and locked in a Juji Gatame on Deville before arguing with Chelsea Green on the outside, but Deville blindsided her. Back in the ring, Deville got a near fall on Vega before hitting a series of kicks on Vega and a snap-mare headlock on Vega. Deville slammed Vega into the corner before hitting a series of body shots and attempting a vertical suplex, but Vega side-stepped and got a Schoolboy on Deville for the pinfall win.
SmackDown Women's Champion Rhea Ripley attacked Vega after the match before hitting a headbutt on Deville. Ripley went for the Riptide on Vega, but Vega reversed it with a DDT before running to the ramp.
Winner: Zelina Vega.
- Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega talked backstage, with Mysterio telling Vega that the only one that needs to believe on Zelina Vega is herself, specially having a heart. Mysterio said that Vega was going to leave Backlash as the new SmackDown Women's Champion.
- The OC (AJ Styles, Mia Yim, Luke Gallows & "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) came to the ring to cut a promo after being drafted to SmackDown, but they were interrupted by The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar & Valhalla). Styles side-stepped into the turnbuckle before The OC & The Raiders brawled inside the ring. Yim hit the Eat Defeat on Valhalla before Gallows & Anderson hit the Magic Killer on Erik. Styles said that they have just started, but not before Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Ivar.
- Shawn Michaels & Road Dogg came to the ramp to announce the 4th round of the WWE Draft. The round consisted of Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai) to SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura to Raw, NXT Women's Tag team Champions The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) to SmackDown & NXT Women's Champion Indi Hartwell to Raw.
- McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre after being drafted, but that was until Kayden Carter & Katana Chance challenged them for the tag titles on NXT.
- Shinsuke Nakamura was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton after being drafted to Raw, but was attacked from behind by Karrion Kross.
- The Usos were heading to the ring by themselves after Paul Heyman told them that Roman Reigns wanted the spotlight all on them.
- There was a recap of Triple H announcing the reveal of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso).
The Usos immediately attacked Zayn & Owens to begin the match before the two attacked them on the outside. Back in the ring, Jey went for a Thrust kick, but Owens cooked it. Owens went for a Stunner, but Jey responded with a thrust kick before The Usos both hit Superkicks on Owens for a near fall before the commercial break.
Back from the break, The Usos aimed their focus on dismantling Owens's leg in the corner before Jimmy stomped him in the head. The two twin brothers cornered Owens and dominated the post-commercial break proceedings, but Owens slammed Jimmy into the ring post before tagging in Zayn. Zayn hit two lariats, a lariat off a back elbow on Jey before tossing Jimmy & Jey outside of the ring and hitting a Tope Con Giro on the two brothers. Back in the ring, Zayn climbed to the top rope, but Jey caught him at the top. Jey went for a Superplex, but Zayn reversed it with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb on Jey for a near fall. Jey tried to get away from Zayn's hold, but Zayn pulled his trunks and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Jey for a near fall. Zayn climbed to the top rope, but Jey leaped to send Zayn crashing with a thrust kick before the final commercial break.
Back from the break, Owens tagged in and laid out Jey before hitting a Cannonball on Jimmy. Owens climbed to the top rope, but Jimmy caught him with a punch. Jimmy went for a superplex, but Owens responded with an Avalanche Fisherman's Buster and followed up with a Frog Splash on Jimmy for a near fall as the camera cut to Paul Heyman telling Solo Sikoa that tonight was his night backstage. Owens hit a Thrust Kick and a Pop-Up Powerbomb on Jimmy, but Jey broke the pin. Zayn attacked Jey and went for a Springboard move, but Jey caught him with a Thrust Kick. Owens hit a Stunner on Jimmy, but Jimmy kicked out at two. Solo Sikoa strolled to the ramp to watch the match, but that was until Matt Riddle attacked Sikoa to send him to the back. Back in the ring, Jimmy hit a spinning Gamonguri on Owens before The Usos hit a Superkick Party on Owens, but Owens kicked out at two. The Usos hit double Superkicks on Owens & Zayn repeatedly before going for a pin on Owens, but Owens kicked out at two again. Jey hit another Superkick, but Owens kicked out at two and laid in a couple of punches on Jey before Jey caught him with another kick. Zayn tossed Jey into the stairs before Owens hit a Stunner on Jimmy. Zayn tagged back in and gave the killing blow, hitting the Helluva Kick on Jimmy for the pinfall win & title retention.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn stood tall as Solo Sikoa watched from the crowd to end the broadcast.
Winners AND STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
