Smackdown – April 10, 2020: Good For This, Bad For That

Smackdown
Date: April 10, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Wrestlemania and onto what seems to be the latest marathon taping session as they have finally come to realize that the current situation calls for such a thing. I’m not sure what to expect but I would say that a lot of self congratulation for Wrestlemania is in store. Let’s get to it.

Here’s Wrestlemania if you need a recap (Night Two)

Here’s Braun Strowman, the new Universal Champion, to open things up. After a highlight package on the title match which was almost longer than the match itself, Strowman talks about how awesome of a night it was but here’s Shinsuke Nakamura to interrupt. Nakamura says knock knock and wants Strowman to say who’s there. He’s knocking on Strowman’s door and wants his Wrestlemania moment. Strowman tells him to shut up or he’ll knock Nakamura out. Cue Cesaro for a distraction though and Nakamura gets in a cheap shot. Nakamura will work as a first challenger.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kabuki Warriors vs. Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross

Bliss and Cross are defending and it’s not a good sign that I couldn’t remember their first title reign to save my life. Cole talks about Cross being ecstatic to finally win a title, so I guess she has forgotten her win as well. Cross is knocked to the floor to start so Bliss has to fight out of a double suplex. A double elbow drops her again and the champs are in early trouble.

Asuka chokes away in the corner and brings Sane back in as the kicking continues. They go outside with Asuka grabbing a headset and then grabbing Cross’ head, earning herself a crossbody to the floor as we take a break. Back with Sane kicking at Cross for two until Cross grabs a rollup out of the corner. A bulldog allows the tag to Bliss but Insult To Injury misses.

Sane’s Interceptor gets two and it’s a powerbomb into the Asuka Lock on Cross. Bliss makes a save and gets caught with a running Blockbuster to put her outside. The Insane Elbow misses and it’s the hot tag to Bliss. The DDT plants Sane with Asuka pulling her to the floor for the save. That just earns the Warriors a Twisted Bliss to the floor but Sane is ready for the regular version back inside. Sane tags herself in and hits the Purge to finish Sane and retain at 12:29.

Rating: C-. I’m really not sure why I needed to see the rematch less than a week after the title change but this was a little more enjoyable due to the length. It’s still not a great pairing, but it’s not like there is anyone else to challenge the champions. The titles are as unimportant as you can get but at least they have something for these four to do.

Elias is on the same perch he was thrown off of to sing about beating King Corbin two weeks ago. The song does feature some Lion King references, making me wonder why Corbin didn’t say LONG LIVE THE KING before he threw Elias off. Oh and Elias wants to be Mr. Money in the Bank.

We look at Otis defeating Dolph Ziggler at Wrestlemania and getting to kiss Mandy Rose as a prize.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tucker

Sonya Deville is here with Ziggler. Hold on though as Tucker needs to show Dolph some photos of Mandy and Otis working out, while eating bananas of course. Tucker starts fast by sending Ziggler shoulder first into the post. A suplex gets two and Tucker catapults him into the corner. They head outside with Tucker sending him into the steps and dropping Ziggler onto the announcers’ table. A powerslam gives Tucker two and a crossbody is goof for the same. Tucker misses a charge into the post though and it’s a superkick to give Ziggler the pin at 4:21.

Rating: C. Tucker was working hard here and it showed off with a pretty good match. I’m not exactly needing to see more of Ziggler but that has been the case for years now and WWE doesn’t seem to care. You can probably pencil in a six person tag with Robert Roode joining Ziggler and Deville at Money in the Bank and that’s just fine.

We look at the Smackdown Tag Team Title match in a ladder match at Wrestlemania.

It’s time for the Dirt Sheet. Miz and John Morrison recap Wrestlemania in rapid fashion and we see part of the Boneyard Match. Some of these things are good and some of these things are bad, but what matters here is they are going to perform Hey Hey Ho Ho right now live. Cue the Usos to say they didn’t lose because it was a triple threat ladder match. Miz and Morrison bail to the floor so here’s New Day to interrupt to say something similar. As a result, next week it’s another triple threat for the titles with Jey Usos vs. Big E. vs. Miz.

Lucha House Party vs. Forgotten Sons

Here are your three callups, including Jaxson Ryker on the floor with Steve Cutler and Wesley Black in the ring. Cutler drives Dorado into the corner to start but gets caught with a springboard moonsault. Metalik comes in with a missile dropkick and it’s already back to Dorado to work on the arm.

Cutler fights up and hits Dorado in the back a few times, meaning Ryker can get in some trash talk from the floor. It’s off to Blake for some forearms to the back but the Golden Rewind allows the hot tag to Metalik. Everything breaks down and it’s Metalik with an enziguri to Blake. That doesn’t matter though as it’s the reverse DDT/middle rope stomp combination to finish Metalik at 4:09.

Rating: D+. Of all the people that could be called up, they picked the Forgotten Sons? Is this a case of “we have nothing else for you down there so here’s a promotion”? The team has never done anything for me, even though they have a decent enough gimmick. Maybe it works on Smackdown, because it really didn’t in NXT.

Bliss and Cross are happy with their win but here are Dana Brooke and Carmella to ask for a title shot. The champs huddle and said challenge is accepted.

Here are Sasha Banks and Bayley to brag about the Wrestlemania win after the huge odds. They are the best and the ultimate role models because no one can beat them. This brings out Tamina of all people, because THIS is continuing. The two of them congratulate her on a dominant performance but Tamina cuts them off to say that it took all of them to defeat her at Wrestlemania. Therefore, Tamina wants a title shot. Bayley initially says no, but then has an idea: if Tamina can beat Sasha, she can have the title shot. Banks doesn’t look happy.

Sheamus vs. Cal Bloom

Bloom slugs away to start but Sheamus elbows him in the face. The ten forearms make it worse and it’s the Brogue Kick for the pin at 1:06.

The announcers talk about a series of videos on Jeff Hardy but Sheamus glares at them before it starts up.

The video is part of a WWE Network special on Hardy, with the first part focusing on his career beginnings. We get some clips of the Hardys’ backyard federation with Jeff channeling Sting. The Hardys were awesome and everyone wanted to be like them. Jeff was the one who got the attention because of his flips and they helped make him a star.

Braun Strowman vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Non-title and Cesaro is here with Nakamura. Strowman dodges some kicks to start and kicks him down into the corner without much effort. There’s a big toss across the ring and the beating is on. Strowman takes him outside and even manages to yell at Cesaro before hitting Nakamura again. A charging Nakamura is dropped onto the barricade and we take a break.

Back with Strowman throwing him around even more and hitting the running splash in the corner. The powerslam is broken up so Nakamura hits the running kick to the face. Strowman isn’t having that and he blasts Nakamura with a clothesline. The running shoulders on the floor hit Nakamura and Cesaro but Nakamura hits the running kick to the chest for two. Kinshasa is loaded up but Strowman reverses into the running powerslam for the pin at 7:48.

Rating: C. This was a good and mostly dominant first match for Braun as champion and that’s how it should have been. Nakamura is long past the point of being a threat to the title but he still means a bit. He certainly means more than Cesaro at this point so they made the right choice.

Post match it’s time for the Firefly Fun House, with Bray standing next to a sign saying The History of John Cena and bray Wyatt. We see clips of the firefly Fun House match and Bray says Cena was right: we really can’t see him. That brings Bray to Braun and we see some of their history as well.

Bray talks about giving Braun a home but Braun turned his back on him. He can forgive Braun, but only Ramblin Rabbit agrees. Braun isn’t playing though and wants to fight. That’s cool with Bray, because he wants the title back. Bray brought him into the world and will take Strowman out. Bye! Braun says hang on because he’s ready to let Bray in anytime. Braun: “Bye! See you later!”

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling might not have been the best, but that tends to be the case with this show. What matters is they have figured out how to do regular shows without the crowd, because those previous few shows were terrible. This at least feels like a regular Smackdown, but that’s not exactly the best thing. Not bad for a regular show, but rather disappointing for a post Wrestlemania show.

Results

Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross b. Kabuki Warriors – Purge to Sane

Dolph Ziggler b. Tucker – Superkick

Forgotten Sons b. Lucha House Party – Reverse DDT/middle rope stomp combination to Metalik

Sheamus b. Cal Bloom – Brogue Kick

Braun Strowman b. Shinsuke Nakamura – Running powerslam

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