Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 4/15/2022 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 Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
- The transmission began with a video recap from the 4/11/2022 showing SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos, beating up Raw Tag Team Champions, RKBro (Riddle & Randy Orton) to hold both WWE Tag Team Championships. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcomed the audience to the show, airing live from Worchester, Massachusetts.
- RKBro came down to the ring to open the show coming down the ring to cut a promo. Riddle stated that he was excited to return to SmackDown alongside Orton. Orton stated that they were on SmackDown because the Usos kicked him in the mouth and challenged them for a Championship Unification Match. Orton told The Usos to come down to the ring for an answer to their challenge. Obliging to Orton's instructions, The Usos made their way to the ring, who called SmackDown Bloodline Territory. Jey Uso told RK-Bro that they were behind enemy line, which Jimmy Uso continued by asking what RKBro's answer was. Before Orton answered, Jey Uso reminded Orton that him and Riddle with two twin brothers, the seven-time tag team champions, and the longest reigning tag team champions The Usos. Jimmy Uso told RKBro to leave the titles on the floor because they are The Ones. Orton called The Usos a pair of assholes, saying the Big Bog unleashed the small bitches off the leashes. Orton made fun of The Usos by reminding them that he has been setting record throughout all his career, before accepting the Title Unification Challenge from the Usos. The Usos attacked Riddle leaving ringside.
- Sasha Banks and Naomi were seeing backstage saying that RKBro and The Usos were following the Women's Tag Team Champions lead. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley interrupted before Naomi told Ripley that the glow always outshines the nightmare.
- RKBro were intercepted by Adam Pearce discussing the challenge for the Tag Team Championship Unification. Pearce scheduled Riddle vs Jimmy Uso for later in the night.
Naomi (w/ Sasha Banks) vs Rhea Ripley (w/ Liv Morgan)
The match began Naomi and Ripley locking up before Ripley corner Naomi. Naomi went for a Monkey Flip, but Ripley put Naomi tot he top turnbuckle. Naomi went for a Crossbody before Ripley caught her. Ripley put Naomi down before hitting shoulder block on Naomi. Ripley went for a big boot, but Naomi sent Ripey outside with a half-tijeras. Ripley went to the top rope, but Naomi hit Ripley with a dropkick to send Ripley outside. Naomi went for a baseball slide to the outside, but Ripley hit a clothesline on Naomi before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Naomi hit a chin breaker on Ripley before hitting a Scissors Kick. Naomi hit a top-rope Crossbody on Ripley for a near fall. Ripley caught a ground-roundhouse kick on Naomi, but Naomi got a Scissors DDT on Ripley for another near fall. Naomi went for a Full-Nelson, but Ripley hit a headbutt followed by a Northern Lights Suplex for a near fall. Ripley and Naomi went to the top rope. Ripley tried to hit an Avalanche Riptide on Naomi, but Naomi escaped. Ripley hit a missile on Naomi for a Near fall. Naomi did a Full Nelson pinfall transition for a near fall, but Ripley escape and caught Naomi with a Riptide for the pinfall victory.
Winner: Rhea Ripley (w/ Liv Morgan)
- Kayla Braxton tried to interview The Usos backstage, but The Usos ignored her and went inside the locker room of Roman Reigns.
- Backstage, Happy Corbin was interviewed by Megan Morant, calling Madcap Moss a minion, a lackey, and a weight around his neck. Corbin wishes Moss luck on his solo run, but told Morant to wait until Moss becomes a laughing stock
- Drew Gulak, interviewed Moss. Moss said he felt sorry for Corbin, but he gave him credit for teaching Moss how to tell terrible jokes. He requested Los Lotharios' kiss cam on his bum, which the producer obliged.
Madcap Moss vs Humberto (w/ Angel)
Prior to the match, Angel and Humberto Carrillo went in to kiss a fan at ringside for The Kiss Cam. the match began with Humberto ambushing Moss in the corner before stomping Moss down. Moss hit a series of punches on Humberto, but Humberto hit three punches on Humberto. Humberto went for a headlock, but Moss escaped before hitting a shoulder tackle on Humberto, Moss hit an elbow strike on Humberto. Humberto went for a Crossbody, but Humberto was caught and hit with a Fall-away Slam from Moss. Angel tried to distract Moss, but he was tackled out of ringside, before hitting Humberto with a modified neck breaker called The punchline for the pinfall victory. Angel was seeing telling Humberto this in Spanish: "You lost to a damn clown!"
Winner: Madcap Moss
- Charlotte came to Adam Pearce's locker room to ask him who accepted Ronda's challenge on her behalf, before being interrupted by Drew Gulak. Gulak asked Pearce for an evaluation of his interview abilities, but Charlotte demanded Gulak to interview her for interrupting her.
- Drew Gulak introduced SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair for an interview in the ring. After Gulak asked Flair if she was concerned about Ronda Rousey and her submission game, she said that she was nervous for Ronda because her requesting an "I Quit" Match. Gulak told Rousey that it looked that she tapped out, which the fans responded with "You fucked up" chants and " you tapped out" chants to both Flair and Gulak. Flair told Gulak that he was out of line because she was the champion and she did not tap out. Flair asked Gulak if he quit being a competitor to ask stupid questions because people like him are used to quitting. She said quitting was not in her DNA, but winning was. She kicked Gulak out of the ring before hitting a chop-block and a Figure Eight on Gulak. Flair demanded Gulak to say "I Quit", which Gulak obliged before referees came down to break Flair's hold.
- Ludwig Kaiser said that The Mat is Sacred, saying that him and Gunther believe in elegant violence. Gunter said this: "You will obey to Die Ring General".
Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn
Before the match, Sami Zayn said that his reputation had taken a big hit after WrestleMania, which was made worse by him running away from McIntyre on the 4/8/2022 edition of SmackDown. Zayn said that he was going to run or hide because he was going to regain the respect the fans owe him. The match started with Zayn getting out of the ring, but McIntyre slammed Zayn in the barricade and the apron. Zayn got out again and got behind the announcer's table. Zayn tried to use McAfee as a shield, but McAfee got down so McIntyre punched Zayn. Zayn and McIntyre got back to the ring, but McIntyre got caught by a series of punches from Zayn. McIntyre caught Zayn with an Overhead Suplex. Zayn walked out of a Claymore kick, but McIntyre got him back in the ring. McIntyre went for another Claymore, but Zayn walked out of the arena for a count-out loss. Drew Mcintyre chased Zayn down in the crowd before Zayn escaped for good.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Intercontinental Championship Match
- There was a video package showcasing the 2022 edition of WWE's Make-A-Wish campaign.
- Backstage, Adam Pearce caught up to Zayn to tell him that he will face McIntyre in a Lumberjack Match on the 4/22/2022 edition of SmackDown.
Ricochet vs Jinder Mahal (w/ Shanky)
Prior to the match, Kayla Braxton interviewed Intercontinental Champion, Ricochet, about the match. Ricochet said that Mahal was another tree-trunk waiting to be trimmed down.
The match began with Mahal and Ricochet locking up, with Mahal hitting a bodyslam on Ricochet before getting a headlock and a punch to the face of Ricochet. Jinder did a lifted slam on Ricochet for a near fall. Jinder did the Kallas head lock before sending Ricochet to the corner. Ricochet did a rolling Dropkick before hitting a crossbody and a standing moonsault on Jinder for a near fall. Jinder went for the Kallas, but Jinder got Ricochet's reversal with a roll-up for a near fall. Ricochet hit the Recoil on Mahal before Shanky pulled Mahal out of the ring. Ricochet hit a crossbody on the outside to both Shanky and Jinder Mahal. Ricochet send Mahal back in the ring before hitting a Shooting Star Press for the pinfall victory, retaining the Intercontinental Championship.
Winner and Still Intercontinental Champion: Ricochet.
- Megan Morant Interviewed Butch, Sheamus, and Ridge Holland. Sheamus said that their confrontation was child's play, as they had bigger arguments for the TV controller. Butch continued to passive-aggressively pushing Sheamus before leaving the scene. Ridge Holland stated that they lost Butch.
- Backstage, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were signing merchandise before Butch ambushed Woods. Holland and Sheamus came in to hold off Butch from the attack.
- Lacey Evans told chapter two fo her story, saying that her father found her and he mother after they ran away. She was cleaning job sites, and she said that she that if the dishes she cooked was cooked well enough, he threw the food on them. She revealed her father was charged with assault, saying that Child Protective Forces were involved. She said that she had to rely on her own self because no one was able to save her, revealing that she had to keep her head up. Evans said that she is ready for anything.
- Natalya and Shayna Baszler were seeing complaining about what Lacey Evans said in the video package, but she turned to see Raquel Rodriguez next to her changing. Rodrguez introduced herself, but Natalya walked out of the locker room with Baszler.
Riddle (w/ Randy Orton) vs Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso)
The match began with Riddle slamming Jimmy on the ground before locking in a guillotine. Riddle went for an RKO, but Jimmy got out of the ring. Riddle chased down Jimmy, but Jimmy Uso caught him with a clothesline. Jimmy hit a series of punches on Riddle before slamming Riddleto the corner with an Irish Whip. Jimmy Uso hit another clothesline before hitting a chop on Riddle. Riddle hit. a kick to the chest before doing a Kareline Suplex on Jimmy Uso. Jimmy uso slammed Riddle to the stairs and the barricade before hitting Riddle with a superkick, which sent him over the barricade, before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Jimmy hit Riddle with an inseguri for a near fall. Riddle hit Jimmy with a pele kick. Riddle hit a Fisherman's Suplex before hitting a senton on Jimmy. Riddle hit a GTS, followed by a German Suplex for a near fall. Riddle wen for the Bro-Derek, but Jimmy lifted his knees before doing a pop-up Samoan Drop for a near fall. Jey Uso distracted Randy Orton before Jimmy Uso hit a sliding kick on Orton. Orton distracted Jimmy Uso by hitting Jey Uso with a Back-Suplex on the announcer's table. Jimmy Uso went for a frog Splash, but missed Riddle. Jimmy Uso went for another pop-up Samoan Drop, but Riddle caught Jimmy Uso in the middle of the pop-up with an RKO for the pinfall victory, with Randy Orton shocked by the move Riddle connected. RKBro stood tall to end the show.
Winner: Riddle (w/ Randy Orton).
