Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 4/1/2022 edition of WWE Friday Night 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 on Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
The broadcast begins with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcoming the audience to WrestleMania SmackDown, sponsored by Progressive, live from American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale
Following a video package showcasing the career and life of Andre the Giant, the match begins with Finn Balor attacking Damian Priest to begin the match, with Tozawa being eliminated by Reggie, who was eliminated by Damian Priest. Priest eliminated R-Truth after talking smack to both Tozawa and Reggie. Viking Raiders joined forces to eliminate Jinder Mahal, while Shelton hit a knee strike to T-Barr to eliminate him from the match. Madcap Moss hit a shoulder tackle on Drew Gulak, eliminating Gulak with a clothesline. Balor nearly eliminated Moss after Corbin lowered the rope, but moss and Tommasso Ciampa continued to brawl in the ropes. Apolo Crews hit an Inseguri kick on Cedric Alexander to eliminate him. Shelton tried to eliminate Crews, but he was eliminated by Azeez. Ciampa eliminated Mansoor with a knee-strike. Shanky and Azeez elimanted The biking Raiders before they started to brawl. The rest of the roster members joined forces to eliminate Azeez and Shanky. After hitting a Pele Kick, Finn Balor eliminate Priest from the match. Dolph Ziggler hit a superkick on Ciampa to eliminate him from the match.After Ziggler and Robert Roode tried to eliminate Balor, Madcap Moss eliminated the Dirty Dawgz from the match, but Balor got saved. Balor hit a sling-blade on Madcap Moss, but Moss tossed Balor out for the elimination, crowning him the winner of the 2022 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale.
After the match, Moss stated that Andre was his hero, and he wanted to follow in his enormous foot steps and he did it, before laughing out to end the segment.
Winner and 2022 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale: Madcap Moss
Intercontinental Championship Match
Angel vs Humberto vs Ricochet (c)
Prior to the match, Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo kissed a mysterious stand-in fan for the Los Lotharios Kiss-cam.
The match begins with Humberto and Angel ambushing Ricochet, stomping the Intercontinental Champion on the ground. Angel hit a knee-strike to Ricochet, before cornering Ricochet. Ricochet hit a double Frankensteiner on both Humberto and Angel before hitting a super to the corner on Humberto. Ricochet went to the top rope, but Humberto caught him with a Spring-rope arm drag on Ricochet. Garza tried to sneak attack Humberto, but the two did a stand-off before hugging it out before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Los Lotharios continued to double team Ricochet before Humberto lifted Ricochet up for Garza to kick him in the midsection. Ricochet hit an inseguri kick on Garza, but Humberto caught him with a spring rope Inseguri for a near fall. Angel tried to sneak in a pinfall attempt before Ricochet kicked out. Angel tried to go for the Wing Clipper, but Humberto got Angel for a roll-up for a near fall. Ricochet hit a cross body on Angel, hitting a Standing Moonsault for a near fall, which Michael Cole called a Shooting Star Press. Ricochet tossed Humberto out of the ring, with Angel and Ricochet brawling in the corner. After Ricochet hit a facebuster on Humberto, who fell on Angel, Ricochet hit a 630 on Angel. Ricochet hit the recoil on Humberto for the pinfall victory.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Ricochet
- After the commercial break, there was a video package showcasing the Road to Wrestlemania for Kevin Owens. This package showcased Owens slandering Texas, inviting "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to the KO Show on Wrestlemania, a video promo from "Stone Cold" accepting the invitation from Kevin Owens, and a short showcase of Stone Cold's career prior to the KO Show. They are set to be the Main Event of Wrestlemania Night One on April 2, 2022, live from AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
Sasha Banks & Naomi vs Queen Zelina & Carmella
The match began with Carmella ambushing Sasha Banks and throwing her out of the ring, before taunting to the crowd. Zelina tagged in before tagging Carmella in, who hit a rope-assisted head scissors on Banks, followed by a running Meteora from Zelina for a near fall. Carmella tagged back in by hitting a head lock on Banks, who got hit by Banks before tagging in Zelina Vega. Naomi tagged in and both Naomi and Banks hit stereo kicks to Zelina in the corner, before Banks hit a frog-splash on Zelina. Naomi hit a spring-rope Moonsault on Zelina for the pinfall victory.
Winners: Sasha Banks & Naomi
- After the commercial break, Ronda Rousey was seen training with Shayna Baeszler before being interviewed by Kayla Braxton on her practice ring. She stated that she was controlling her anger and not waste her energy a day before the show. She then stated that she will take Charlotte's arm as a souvenir to her family, who will be in the front row of Wrestlemania.
- A video package was shown highlighting the feud between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey, where the career of both wrestlers was showcased, as well as their respective roads to WrestleMania prior to the show. Trish Stratus, Triple H, and more were shown talking about both wrestlers prior to the match. They are scheduled to wrestle for the SmackDown Women's Championship on WrestleMania Night One, live from AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
- After this, SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair, came to the stage total about her match against Ronda Rousey, calling the previous video package epic. Flair stated that she will destroy Rousey, stating that Charlotte Fair is cool, listing a series of uncool things to do with her as cool.
- Madcap Moss was seeing cleaning the Andre The Giant Trophy before Drew McIntyre's sword was seeing creeping in the background. It was revealed to be Happy Corbin, who laughed it out after he scared Moss.
- After the commercial break, there was a video package showcasing the feud between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar prior to their match, with Lesnar getting attacked by The Bloodline on Madison Square Garden, Lesnar destroying The Bloodline's cars with his forklift, and Lesnar destroying a team of WWE personnel. The match is scheduled for Wrestlemania Night Two on Sunday April 3, 2022.
- After Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs were making their entrance, Austin Theory took down a dancing Pat McAfee. This led to Michael Cole calling Theory an idiot and McAfee chasing Theory throughout the arena. Vince McMahon stopped the chase by telling McAfee to do his job or he will cancel the match or fire him.
Rick Boogs (w/ Shinsuke Nakamura) vs Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso)
The match begins with Boogs clotheslining Jimmy Uso before tossing him to the corner. Uso chopped Boogs before he got catching and curling Jimmy Uso into a Bodyslam. Boogs tried to lift Jimmy Uso, but Jimmy Uso sent him to the corner before stomping down Boogs. Boogs tried to lift Jimmy Uso from his knees, which led to Boogs hitting an overhead slam.
Austin Theory came down to the ring to throw a Coke on Pat McAfee, which led to Finn Balor coming in and attacking Theory, before they both got to the ring to cause a no-contest before the commercial break.
Result: No Contest
Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs Austin Theory & The Usos
After the commercial break, Nakamura and Jey Uso were brawling in the ring, with Nakamura choking Uso in the corner with his foot before hitting a running knee on Jey Uso. Theory tagged in and hit a spring-rope stomp on Nakamura for a near fall. Boogs tagge din and power lifted Theory before Theory kicked Boogs in the stomach. Boogs carried Theory side by side before hitting a modified suplex for a near fall. Balor tagged in and hit a series of chops and kicks before Theory started to stomp Balor on the ground. Jimmy Uso got Balor and sent him to the announcer's desk outside, while Theory contained to taunt on McAfee outside. Balor tried to tag in someone before eJimmy Uso tossed Balor outside, leading to the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Jimmy Usotried to do a corner splash on Balor, but he missed before tagging in Jey Uso. Nakamura tagged in and proceeded to kick Theory and took out The Usos. He continued to hit a series of kicks on Theory before hitting a Heel Kick on on Theory, followed by did the Sliding German Suplex for the near fall. Nakamura tagged in Baor and hit a over the top sommersault on Theory, a sling blade, and a dropkick. He attempted to go for the Coup de Grace, but after a distraction of The Usos, Theory caught him and hit the ATL for the win.
Winner: Austin Theory & The Usos
- After the commercial break, we get a special edition of Happy Talk with Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss, following Madcap's win of the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale. Corbin stated that he was happy for Moss for winning a match he won the match Corbin won in his debut, calling back to his debut on Wrestlemania 32. Corbin stated ran down his accomplishments in WrestleMania, including retiring Kurt Angle, winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale. Corbin then did a joke McIntyre attacked Corbin and Moss and regained his sword. He then destroyed a table with his sword and threw stuff out of the ring to end the segment, with McIntyre standing tall to end the show.
