WWE SmackDown: Live Updates, Results and Reaction for April 23
Welcome to Bleacher Report’s live coverage of WWE SmackDown on April 23. This week’s show will continue the buildup for the upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view. We will find out how Roman Reigns will be punished for attacking Vince McMahon, Becky Lynch will come face to face with Charlotte for the first time since WrestleMania and Kofi Kingston will take on Shinsuke Nakamura in what should be a great match. Keep it locked right here for live updates of all the action.
- April 24, 2019
- via Bleacher Report
Until Next Week
The show ends with Owens leaving while Kofi and Woods try to recover.
KO Is Coming for Kofi
After he finishes delivering a beating, Owens grabs the WWE title and poses with it while stepping on Kofi's head. He taunts Kingston and says he is going to take the WWE title from him. Kingston hits him a few times but Owens stomps him into the mat without mercy. Woods saves Kofi from taking a powerbomb onto the apron, but Owens manages to take him down, too. KO grabs Woods and hits the apron powerbomb on him instead.
Kofi Kingston vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Part 3
Kofi misses Trouble in Paradise but manages to hit the SOS. Rusev breaks up the pin to cause a DQ. Woods and Big O come in to make the save and send them packing. Right after Kofi takes down Nakamura with Trouble in Paradise, Owens nails him with a superkick. The crowd boos as KO rips off his New Day shirt and proceeds to beat down the WWE champion. It looks like Big O is a thing of the past.
Kofi Kingston vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Part 2
We return to see Nakamura keeping Kofi down in a front facelock. They take the fight out of the ring and Nakamura continues to take Kingston to school with a series of strikes. Kofi lands on his feet to counter a monkey flip and taunts Nakamura to come at him. The champ unleashes a series of kicks, but Nakamura comes back with a few of his own. He puts Kofi on the middle rope and hits a sliding German suplex. Nakamura sets up for the Kinshasa but is stopped by a double stomp.
Kofi Kingston vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Part 1
Owens and Woods join the commentary team as Kofi and Shinsuke lock up in the ring. Nakamura hits a knee to the body to take control. Kingston sends Shin out of the ring and fakes him out with a dive to taunt him back into the ring. Nakamura misses a knee drop and Kofi makes him pay with a kick to the face and a splash for a two count. Shinsuke pulls Kofi down for an armbar and transitions into a triangle. Kofi breaks free and hits a splash to the back of Shinsuke for a two count. Nakamura takes control and hits a knee to the back of the head.
Bayley vs. Charlotte Part 2
We return to see Bayley fend off the Figure Four. She nails Charlotte with a knee to the face to give himself a little breathing room. The Hugger starts to build some momentum, but a big boot from Flair puts her down for a two count. The Queen climbs up for a moonsault. Bayley avoids the impact and hits a belly to back suplex for a near fall. Bayley uses a sunset flip to send Charlotte into the bottom turnbuckle, but she still can't get the pin. Flair trips Bayley on the top turnbuckle. She nails a spear and gets the pin and the win. Good match. That could have been a PPV showdown and it would have done well.
Bayley vs. Charlotte Part 1
The winner of this match will get a future title shot against Lynch. They lock up and struggle for control. Flair puts Bayley in the corner and shoves her, but The Hugger shoves her right back. Charlotte gets sent out of the ring and Bayley hits her with a dropkick under the ropes. The Hugger hits a crossbody for a near fall followed by a running clothesline. Charlotte hits a neckbreaker to stop her momentum. Bayley hits another crossbody out of the corner for two. She hits a few moves in the corner, but Charlotte is able to drop a knee onto her leg to begin setting her up for the Figure Eight.
Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain
Charlotte says she is next in line after Lacey Evans. Becky says Flair needs to clear the way for some new opponents. She says Charlotte needs to work her way back up from the bottom again before Bayley comes out to voice her opinion.
Sour Grapes 🍇
Flair brings up how she never lost at WrestleMania and blames Rousey for losing both of their titles to Becky. This brings out The Man to respond.
The Man and the Queen
Charlotte Flair comes out after the break for her confrontation with Becky Lynch.
The Truth Didn't Set Him Free
R-Truth comes to the ring to fight the man who attacked him last week, but Sullivan easily puts him down again with one slam. Lars picks him up for a running powerbomb before he poses for the crowd.
LARS!!!
As Chad Gable heads to the ring to face Mahal, Lars Sullivan attacks him from behind. The big man gets into the ring and stares at Mahal. Jinder runs for the hills but the Singhs suffer the wrath of Sullivan.
The Shake-up Is Still Happening Apparently
Sonya and Mandy come out on the stage and it looks like a fight might break out, but Jinder Mahal's entrance interrupts them. The announcers say the Superstar Shake-up is still going on to explain why Mahal is back on SmackDown.
Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce
The IIconics give a quick promo on their way to the ring. Royce mocks Sane's height, so Sane grabs her arm and wrenches it behind her back. Royce runs her to the corner and delivers several kicks to the body. Kairi takes her down with a dragon screw. She nails Peyton with a spear she calls The Interceptor. She hits a sliding elbow in the corner before heading up for the InSane Elbow to score the pin and the win.
Andrade vs. Finn Balor Part 2
We return to see Balor counter Andrade to hit a DDT. He hits a standing double stomp and a kick to the face before he climbs to the top rope. Andrade trips him on the turnbuckle and climbs up with him. Balor counters a hurricanrana into a sunset flip for a two count. El Idoli gets backdropped out of the ring. Finn hits a dive over the top rope to take him out. Andrade nails him with a spinning back elbow. He hits the double knees in the corner for a near fall. Balor counters the Hammerlock DDT with a takedown. Vega climbs to the top turnbuckle and jumps off. Andrade catches her when Balor moves out of the way, allowing Balor to hit a dropkick and the Coup de Grace for the pin and the win. Fun match with a weird ending. Vega and Andrade could be heading for a split if WWE has her cost him more matches.
Andrade vs. Finn Balor Part 1
Andrade gets in the first few shots before Balor turns things around and stomps him into the mat. Zelina Vega distracts the ref so Andrade can hit a cheap shot. He hits a corkscrew plancha over the top tope as we head to a break.
Big O Is Still with the New Day
Kofi and Woods give a quick interview backstage talking about how happy they are right now. They are still teaming with Big O this week. Owens looks like he is having fun with this gimmick. Back in the arena, Finn Balor heads to the ring.
Never Trust a McMahon
Reigns gets into the ring and it looks like Shane is ready to fight him right away. Elias provides a distraction so Shane can gain an advantage on The Big Dog. He and Elias assault Reigns and beat him down in the middle of the ring. Roman tries to fight them off to no avail. Elias hits Drift Away before he and Shane head to the back together.
Mess with One McMahon and You Mess with All of Them
Shane brings up how Reigns attacked his father last week and replays the segment. He says it was disgusting to watch Reigns punch his father and compares it to someone disgracing the American flag. Shane says there will be repercussions and lists off some of his possible punishments. He orders Roman to come to the ring to face the music.
The Best in the Woooooooooorld! 🌎
Shane McMahon opens SmackDown this week and makes Greg Hamilton give him a second intro like usual.
- April 23, 2019
Tuesday's Lineup
Will Roman Reigns be fired? Becky Lynch comes face to face with Charlotte. Kofi Kingston vs. Shinsuke Nakamura More buildup for Money in the Bank.
SmackDown Recap and Grades