SmackDown 05.04.2024
Finally, the Radiant Team has come back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Tonight marks the final stop before one of the biggest WrestleManias in history. This SmackDown is packed with critical moments leading into the weekend’s epic event. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton will finalize their heated build for the United States Championship, participants in the Tag Team Championship match will clash, and Solo Sikoa faces his brother, Main Event Jey Uso, in what promises to be a grueling encounter. And let’s not forget the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal! This show has all the makings of a WrestleMania-caliber preview. Let’s dive right in!
WrestleMania Edition of The Kevin Owens Show
What better way to kick off the final SmackDown before WrestleMania than with The Kevin Owens Show? Tonight’s special guest was none other than Randy Orton, Owens’ recent tag partner and one-third of the United States Championship Triple Threat match. The hot topic of conversation? Logan Paul.
Kevin and Randy shared their disdain for Logan, with Orton calling him an "overrated clown." Their lively banter was interrupted by the man himself, the United States Champion, who appeared on the TitanTron to hurl insults, declaring, “I’ll outsmart you both tomorrow and leave WrestleMania still champion!”
SmackDown 05.04.2024 -Logan is playing smart to avoid open confrontation with his future opponents.
With Logan lurking nearby, Kevin and Randy decided to take matters into their own hands. However, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory—Logan’s associates—attempted a sneak attack, leaping out from under the ring to ambush them. KO and Randy quickly chased them off, commandeering a golf cart to head to the WrestleMania venue in style. Classic chaos, just the way we like it.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has become a staple of WrestleMania weekend, and tonight’s iteration featured a stacked roster of hopefuls. The pre-match spotlight highlighted the top contenders: Bronson Reed, fresh off an impressive series of matches with Sami Zayn; Ricochet, who’s riding a career resurgence; and the returning "Nigerian Giant," Omos.
Key Highlights:
Omos Dominates Early: Pretty Deadly made the mistake of targeting Omos, and they paid dearly. Kit Wilson was hurled out of the ring like a rag doll, and Elton Prince opted to eliminate himself rather than face the wrath of the giant—a rare moment of wisdom.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Just imagine how painful falling down from such a high.LWO’s Early Run: Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde eliminated Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo but were immediately ambushed outside the ring. Unfortunately for Garza and Humberto, eliminations only count over the top rope, leaving them humiliated.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - LWO and Legado continues their rivalry even in this match. Omos and Creed Brothers Collide: Omos eliminated both Julius and Brutus Creed in an awe-inspiring moment, though the Creeds put up a valiant fight. This was bittersweet: great to see Omos gone but heartbreaking to lose the Creed Brothers.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Creed trying to slay Giant but that is not an easy business.Bronson Reed Shines: Reed strategically eliminated Wilde with a superplex over the top rope and later showcased his power against Cedric Alexander. By this point, he was clearly the frontrunner.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Beautiful cheeseburger with Akira smashed inside.JD McDonagh’s Sneaky Tactics: McDonagh hid outside the ring and managed to sneakily eliminate Ricochet, a gut-wrenching moment for fans. However, instant karma struck when Akira Tozawa delivered a perfect superkick to send McDonagh flying.
Final Four: Akira Tozawa, Otis, Ivar, Bronson Reed
The battle came down to four fan favorites, each hungry for the victory.
Otis Eliminated: Ivar delivered a spinning heel kick to send Otis out, ending the lovable powerhouse's chances.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Otis trying show something in this match at the finals. Akira Follows: Ivar continued his dominant streak, tossing Tozawa next.
The final showdown saw two titans, Ivar and Bronson Reed, square off. Ivar nearly secured the win with his devastating Spinning Heel Kick, but his decision to attempt the Doomsault proved fatal. Reed dodged the move, hit a rolling senton for good measure, and safely eliminated Ivar to claim victory.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Will be Read cursed by this trophy or will his new career stage is set?
Congratulations to Bronson Reed, the 2024 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner! This monumental win cements his resurgence in WWE, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
USA Champion Plays Mind Games
Earlier tonight, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton made their chaotic ride to the WrestleMania arena, with Grayson Waller and Austin Theory desperately trying to keep up. Meanwhile, Logan Paul sneaked into SmackDown with his usual trash talk, claiming Philadelphia was a giant dumpster and its people were the "dumbest junkers" he'd ever seen. Typical Logan nonsense—we're used to it by now.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Logan lose in the game of minds.
Logan, of course, thinks he’s the mastermind heading into WrestleMania, bragging that he’ll outsmart everyone tomorrow night. But let’s be honest: the only idiots here are his so-called backup, Waller and Theory. They can barely handle Randy and Kevin, let alone set up a proper ambush. And speaking of getting outsmarted, Logan got a taste of his own medicine. KO and Orton showed up to SmackDown unannounced and hit him where it hurts. Owens silenced Logan's big mouth with a Stunner, and just when we thought it was over, Randy followed up with an RKO. A devastating one-two punch that left the champion sprawled on the mat!
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Will tomorrow we see a new USA champion or Logan will somehow survive this epic battle?
While that’ll definitely leave Logan a bit more vulnerable tomorrow night, something tells me he’s still got a plan up his sleeve for that triple-threat match. Let’s see if his scheming pays off—or if KO and Orton finally shut him down for good.
LWO's Expansion
Backstage, Carlito stumbled upon Dragon Lee beaten down. Who did it? Well, my money’s on Carlito himself. Let’s be real—he’s probably jealous that Rey picked Lee as his partner instead of him. Meanwhile, Zelina Vega was set to face Elektra Lopez, but this wasn’t just a match; it was a trap. Santos Escobar, Dominik Mysterio, and Andrade all accompanied Elektra, setting the stage for a decisive night for El Idolo. Would Andrade join The Judgment Day, or would his honor guide him down a different path?
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Zelina is looking excellent in her matches.
In the match, Zelina looked sharper than Elektra, which isn’t surprising given her consistent ring performances. Elektra, on the other hand, spends more time managing her team and hyping them up. Just as Zelina set up for the pinfall, Dirtbag Dominik interfered, distracting the referee. Zelina slapped Dom for his trouble, but that gave Elektra the opening to steal the win.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - A huge but dirtty vicotry for Legado.
After the match, Dominik and Santos brutally attacked Rey Mysterio. Escobar, in his fury, even tried to force Andrade to join the assault, but El Idolo wasn’t having it. Instead, Andrade wiped the floor with both Escobar and Dominik!
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - This is a pleasure to see Andrade on the right side of the bed.
It was a thrilling, satisfying moment—Andrade stood tall, honor intact. Will he join the LWO now? If so, Dominik and Santos have made themselves one formidable enemy.
A Message to Damage CTRL
Naomi and Bianca Belair made their entrance together, radiating confidence and rocking Western-inspired cowgirl outfits. Talk about style! They announced that Damage CTRL has united everyone against them, and now, they’ll face Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane, and Asuka at WrestleMania.
But the highlight? Jade Cargill’s entrance. She came out separately, showing just how important her presence is. On the mic, Jade declared them the “Great Three” and promised that once WrestleMania is over, there will be no Damage CTRL left to speak of.
While Jade’s promo showed she’s a powerhouse in the ring, there’s still work to be done on her mic skills. But hey, confidence counts, and these cowgirls mean business heading into WrestleMania!
A Huge Announcement from El Idolo
With Dragon Lee sidelined due to a severe injury, the ever-charismatic Andrade "El Idolo" has stepped up in a big way, announcing himself as Rey Mysterio's partner for WrestleMania. This news has left fans, including me, absolutely thrilled! But there’s one man who’s surely fuming—Carlito. Once again overlooked as Rey’s partner, it raises the burning question: could Carlito be the mystery attacker responsible for taking out Lee? If so, will he have the audacity to try the same against Andrade? Either way, I’m beyond excited to see El Idolo in action tomorrow.
New Catch Republic vs. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory
It’s always a delight to see Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne, collectively known as New Catch Republic. Their chemistry is off the charts, and Tyler’s energy and positivity make him a weekly highlight on SmackDown. Meanwhile, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory returned from WrestleMania arena chaos, only to face a world of pain without their buddy Logan Paul, who’s still recovering from a Stunner and RKO earlier tonight.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Do you trust in Austin and Waller this night?
The match showcased British excellence, with Bate and Dunne taking charge with their impeccable teamwork. While Waller and Theory had their moments, Tyler, as always, bore the brunt of the action, enduring punishment yet dazzling us with his insane feats of strength and innovative moves. Ultimately, Pete took control, sealing the win with a devastating Burning Hammer on Waller.
But no celebration lasts long before chaos erupts. The Judgment Day stormed the ring post-match, dismantling everyone in sight. While it sends a strong message, their decision to alienate possible temporary allies in Theory and Waller feels like a tactical blunder. With this approach, their chances in the Tag Team Championship match seem slimmer than ever.
LA Knight’s Final Words
LA Knight is here, brimming with confidence and his trademark swagger. While his message isn’t new, it’s sharp as ever: AJ Styles is nothing but a "phenomenal crying baby," and all he’s done since returning is whine about everything. Knight made it clear that he is the one who made Styles relevant again, and at WrestleMania, there’s no doubt whose game it is. Knight promised to plant his boot firmly in AJ’s rear and leave everyone chanting, “Yeah!”
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - There will be no SmackDown without LA Knight YEAH!
This promo solidifies one thing—LA Knight is dialed in and ready to steal the show tomorrow. Whether you love or hate him, you can’t deny he’s got the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
For the second week in a row, Solo Sikoa finds himself in a fight he can’t win. After being stomped into oblivion by Seth Rollins last week, tonight he squared off against his own brother, Main Event Jey Uso. And as expected, Jey’s experience and skill outclassed Solo’s raw power.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - One of the most dangerouse Solo's moves.
The match was a brutal battle of Samoan pride, with both brothers pushing each other to their limits. Solo nearly clinched victory after a devastating Samoan Drop, but his hesitation while setting up the Samoan Spike cost him. Jey capitalized, delivering a flurry of Superkicks, a Spear, and finally, the Samoan Splash to seal the deal—or so it seemed.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - Good old Spear sends Hello to Tribal Chief and finnish Sikoa.
Jimmy Uso stormed the ring, attacking Jey and turning the match into a two-on-one beatdown. The odds looked grim for Jey until Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes ran down to even the odds. Cody, ever dramatic, brought his belt and used it to lay into Solo and Jimmy, delivering a bit of poetic justice.
SmackDown 05.04.2024 - This should be the end of Jey Uso but he always has a backup.
While the scene was chaotic, it was also bittersweet. Cody and Seth failed to stand up to the Tribal Chief and The Rock earlier, but here they were, taking their frustrations out on Solo and Jimmy. While the crowd loved the spectacle, it felt like a hollow victory—beating the "young blood" of the Bloodline instead of taking down its true leaders.
As expected, Cody grabbed the mic to promise once again that he’d dethrone Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. The fans roared in agreement, but the question lingers: will this truly be Cody’s moment, or is the Bloodline still one step ahead?
Final Thoughts and Ranking
This SmackDown had its moments but didn’t quite match the intensity of the last Raw. The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal delivered a fast-paced and exciting showcase, with a deserving winner in Bronson Reed. Hopefully, this victory propels Reed toward bigger opportunities.
The Judgment Day once again demonstrated their dominance, with Finn Bálor and Damian Priest looking like unstoppable forces heading into WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton outsmarted Logan Paul and left the United States Champion licking his wounds after a satisfying Stunner and RKO combo.
The main event, while entertaining, felt predictable. Solo Sikoa has been on a losing streak against top-tier opponents, which begs the question: why is he continually put in these no-win situations? The post-match beatdown by Seth and Cody felt more like a personal vendetta than a strategic move. If their goal was to weaken the Bloodline’s interference at WrestleMania, they fell short. Instead of sending a clear message to Roman Reigns, they targeted his less influential cousins.
As we head into WrestleMania 40, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The grandest stage of them all promises to deliver unforgettable moments, and I’ll be there to cover every second. See you soon—don’t miss it!
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