WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - March 31st, 2023
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Andre the Giant Battle Royal returns!
A WrestleMania weekend staple, the Battle Royal has always wowed the WWE Universe as the WWE Superstars try to win the coveted prize. Former winners include Jey Uso, Baron Corbin, Braun Strowman with Madcap Moss being the most recent winner.
Who will join the pantheon of victors?
:smackdown:
Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
The Tag Team Champions, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso make their way to the ring.
Jey says the Bloodline is in your city. Jimmy says it is the Smackdown before the biggest tag match of all time at Wrestle . . .
Sami Zayn's music interrupts and Kevin and Sami make their way out.
Sami agrees that they are one night away from the biggest match in WWE history. They put an end to this all. Tonight, before we take your tag team championships away from you, tonight we are going to make sure that there is nothing unsaid between us. Sami wants to lay it all out on the table.
Kevin says there is something he has to say. He doesn't know what has to happen. It goes beyond the last seven months. You were the guys who made me belong when I came to WWE. You would play with my son and I thought I could look up to you. That was until you started doing your cousin's bidding. Then I lost all respect and it got worse at the Royal Rumble. Kevin tells them to look at him and he says at the Royal Rumble you tried to take it all from me. This man saved me Tomorrow night, there is a part of me that doesn't want to do what I have to do but there is a part that makes me want to do it. You know what is going to happen. It is not paranoia, we are taking your tag titles.
Jimmy says Kevin is right. We showed you love when you came here. That is the type of people we are. We ain't got no love for either of you. We conflicted? The only two conflicted are the two of you. This is what you wish you had. This is family. This is blood.
Sami says this is something you keep forgetting. He says blood is not the only thing that makes you family. Loyalty makes you family.
Jey asks Sami what does he know about loyalty?
Sami says he needs to remind Jey because he was loyal to both of them from day one. You were the ones who chose blood over loyalty. You chose Roman even though he has never been loyal to either of you.
Sami says the pressure and weight of the Bloodline has been on both of you. I am going to put you out of your miseries because we are taking your tag titles. When we do, that is the end. That is the end of Roman, the Bloodline, and all of it. You can go back to being you. The guys Kevin talked about. The guys who everyone loved. You can go back to being the Usos. You won't have those titles with you any more.
Sami tells Jimmy and Jey they know they know.
Jey says that ain't it. It's going to be the same thing with you two. You are going to lose the big match. Then Kevin is going to stab you in the back . . . again. Meanwhile, we are going to keep doing what we have been doing for the last 600 days. You will be in the ring with the longest reigning tag champions. After tomorrow, when the smoke clears, they are going to say AND STILL your tag team champions, Jimmy and Jey . . . the Usos.
The Street Profits make their way to the back as the Street Profits music hits and make their way to the ring. The Uso's and Street Profits have a stare down, then each go their separate ways.
We go to commercial.
Montez Ford (w/ Angelo Dawkins) vs Ricochet (w/ Braun Strowman) vs Chad Gable (w/ Otis) vs Erik (w/ Ivar and Valhalla)
All four start off and Chad kicks Ford and punches him while Erik punches Ricochet. Erik goes over the top rope when Ricochet drops down. Ford sends Gable to the floor and Ford backs into Ricochet. Ricochet with a single leg take down. Ricochet goes for an O'Connor Roll but he does a back flip when Ford holds on to the ropes. Ford returns the favor. Chad gets into the ring and then he does some dancing. Ford and Ricochet with a double drop kick to send Chad to the floor. Erik gets in the ring and Ricochet misses a clothesline. Ford and Ricochet with a double drop kick. Ricochet does some more dancing and then they go for a stereo pescado but Gable and Erik catch them and hit exploders. Chad and Erik have some words.
Chad sends Ricochet into the ring steps. Erik sends Ford into the ring post. Chad with a forearm when Ricochet tries to float over. Chad with a dragon screw leg whip on Ricochet. Erik with a forearm to Chad and then he punches Ricochet. Ricochet with a boot to Erik. Valhalla gets on the apron to distract Ricochet but Ricochet leaps over Erik. Erik with a clothesline to Ricochet. Gable with a clothesline off the turnbuckles to Erik.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Erik and Gable are in control but Ricochet pushes Gable off the turnbuckles while Erik hits a superplex on Ford. Gable with an overhead belly-to-belly superplex on Ricochet. Everyone is down in the ring. Ford with clotheslines to Erik and Gable followed by a back elbow to Ricochet. Ford with a kick to Erik and a cross body. Ford with a back hand to Ricochet. Ricochet with a springboard drop kick. Gable with Chaos Theory to Ricochet for a near fall. Ford misses an enzuigiri but Erik does not miss a knee. Erik with a uranage to Gable onto Ford and he gets near falls on both men. Ford with an enzuigiri to send Erik to the floor and then he hits a flip dive onto Erik, Chad, and Otis. Ford goes up top and htis the Seven Star Frog Splash on Gable followed by a Shooting Star Press by Ricochet onto Gable for the three count.
Winner: Ricochet
After the match:
Braun and Ricochet point to the sign.
Backstage:
Jimmy and Jey are in the locker room with Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. Roman shows up and they all stand at attention. Roman sits down and stares ahead.
Backstage:
Bobby Lashley gets ready for the Andre Battle Royal.
We go to commercial
We take a look back at Rhea Ripley's Road to Wrestlemania from the Royal Rumble.
Bobby Lashley makes his way to the ring.
We go to commercial.
We take a look back at Rhea Ripley's Road to Wrestlemania from the Royal Rumble.
Backstage:
We see a production worker walking out of The Great Muta's locker room with green face paint.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
The bell rings and Cole gets a shot in on Dolla. Corbin is eliminated by Boogs and Elias. Lumis stands in the corner while everyone else fights around him. Escobar with a head butt to Butch. Lashley has Mace against the ropes and Dollas with forearms to Lashley while Adonis joins in to double team him but that stops quickly. Lashley clotheslines Dolla over the top rope to eliminate him and Adonis is eliminated too. Wilde is eliminated by Lashley as well. Mace kicks and punches Holland. Knight kicks WIlde. Erik and Dawkins are eliminated by Mace. Escobar punches Mansoor and Otis joins in with Mace and Mansoor but they try to eliminate Otis until Lumis and Gargano eliminate Mace and Mansoor. Cruz punches Gargano.
Anderson is eliminated by Otis. Gallows is eliminated by Otis as well. Otis helps Braun try to eliminate Elias. Ziggler hangs on the ropes.but gets back in. Boogs tries to eliminate Otis and he succceeds. Boogs hugs Elias but Angel and Humberto eliminate Elias. Boogs eliminates Angela dn then he press slams Humberto onto everyone.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Moss eliminates Lumis and Lumis shows his sadness. Kross eliminates Woods. Lashley has Escobar in the corner. Ali sends Zilgger over the top rope and then Ziggler pulls Ali over the top rope. They hang from the ropes and kick each other. Butch chops Moss but Moss with a punch. Knight eliminates Ali. Kross with a Kross Jacket on Knight. Lashley with a full nelson on Ziggler. Bobby and Karrion release their submissions. Lashley goes for a full nelson on Kross. Lashley gets Kross up and Kross gets to his feet. Lashley sends Kross over the top rope but he holds on to the ropes and gets back to the apron. Reed eliminates Moss as we lose the satellite feed.
Escobar goes after Lashley and Reed spots Braun in the ring. Lashley stops the interaction by eliminating Ziggler. Lashley joins in and Braun and Bobby take care of Reed. Lashley with a clothesline to Reed. Strowman goes for a power slam but Lashley escapes. Braun backs Lashley into the corner and Reed with a splash. Gargano with an enzuigiri to Ridge but Butch with a kick to Gargano. Gargano counters Bitter End into a DDT. Knight sends Gargano into the mat but Gargano holds on to the ropes. Kross with a back body drop to Knight. Escobar with a head scissors to Kross. Gargano with a slingshot spear. Gargano is eliminated by Lashley. Braun eliminates Esccobar.
Ridge gets Reed up but Reed gets to his feet and he eliminates Ridge with a clothesline. Ridge catches Butch off the apron and Butch gets on Reed's back but Reed eliminates Butch.
We are down to Reed, Knight, Braun, and Lashley.
Reed sends Knight to the apron and Knight gets back into the ring. Knight tries to get Reed over the top rope but Reed stays in the ring. Reed gets Knight on his shoulders to eliminate him. Lashley punches Braun. Lashley with a clothesline to Reed in the corner followed by one to Braun and another one to Reed. Lashley punches Braun and Braun gets Lashley up for a running power slam. Braun poses and Reed gets Braun over the top rope but he stays on the apron. Reed with a running shoulder tackle to eliminate Braun. Reed goes up top for a Tsunami but he misses. Lashley with a spear and then Lashley tries to send Reed over the top rope but Reed reverses it. Reed turns around so he does not see Lashley return into the ring to eliminate Reed.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
After the match:
Lashley poses with the Andre the Giant statue.
We take a look at Cody Rhodes journey to Wrestlemania 39.
Backstage:
We see Cody sitting in the back.
We go to commercial.
Raquel Rodriguez (w/ Liv Morgan) vs Natalya (w/ Shotzi) vs Shayna Baszler (w/ Ronda Rousey) vs Sonya Deville (w/ Chelsea Green)
Sonya tells Nattie and Raquel to go after Sonya and they listen to her. Natayla with a rollup on Sonya for a near fall. Nattie with a clothesline to Sonya and she goes to the floor. Nattie with a side head lock on Raquel and Nattie goes for an arm bar. Raquel blocks a rollup and Sonya with a kick to Raquel and a bulldog to Nattie for a near fall. Sonya gets a near fall on Raquel. Sonya iwht punches to Raquel and Nattie with a rollup into a Sharpshooter on Sonya. Shayna with a Kirifuta clutch on Nattie and Nattie with a back elbow in the corner. Shayna with a Kirifuta clutch in the corner but Raquel gets Nattie and Shayna on her shoulders but Sonya with a chop block. Raquel kicks Shayna and Sonya kicks Raquel and sends her into the ring post. Sonya goes to the turnbuckles and goes for a body scissors but she gets Sonya up for the Tejana Bomb. Shayna tries to stop it but Raquel with a boot to Shayna and the Tejana Bomb to Sonya for the three count.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Backstage:
We see Rey Mysterio and JBL in the back.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Solo Sikoa stands in Roman's locker room while Paul stares at Roman.
We take a look at Rey and Dominik Mysterio ahead of their match tomorrow night.
Backstage:
Rey is in the locker room and Legado del Fantasma show up. Rey thanks them for having his back last week. Escobar says that is the least they can do for a legend. He says he hopes Rey teaches Dom a lesson this weekend. Rey says it will be a lesson he will never forget. Escboar tells Rey that if THE Judgment Day gets involved, they have his back. Rey gives them shirts and they are the Latino World Order.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring.
We go to commercial.
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre vs Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci
Sheamus and Drew have some words while Gunther watches MATCH on MONITOR.
Drew and Vinci start things off and Sheamus is not happy. Drew goes for a hip toss but Vinci lands on his feet. Drew blocks a hip toss and clotheslines Vinci. Drew with a chop and he goes for a slam but Vinci lands on his feet. Kaiser with a kick and he tags in and he joins Vinci with punches. Sheamus tags in and hits a clothesline off the turnbuckles followed by a double sledge and clothesline in the corner. Sheamus gets Kaiser up but Kaiser gets to his feet. Sheamus sends Kaiser over the top rope but Kaiser holds on so Sheamus feels it is time for some forearms. Sheamus sets for a Brogue Kick and Drew tags himself in. Sheamus pushes Drew and Drew pushes back. Kaiser and Vinci attacck Drew and Sheamus. Sheamus sends Vinci to the floor and Drew with a head butt to Kaiser and he sends Kaiser to the floor.
We see Gunther continuing to watch MONITOR.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kaiser gets a near fall on Sheamus. Kaiser with a raer chin lock and Gunther shows APPRECIATION watching MONITOR. Sheamus with a uranage back breaker and both men are down. Drew tags in and so does Vinci. Drew with clotheslines and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Drew with another overhead belly-to-belly suplex followed by neck breakers to Vinci and Kaiser. Drew sets for a Claymore but Sheamus aborts the count down. Drew and Sheamus havve more words and Vinci drop kicks Sheamus into Drew and Drew is sent to the floor. Vinci and Kaiser with a high low on Sheamus for a near fall. Sheamus with a knee to Vinci for a near fall. Sheamus goes to a neutral corner to set for the Brogue Kick and he hits it. Drew with a Claymore to Kaiser for the three count.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus
Cole and Barrett run through the card for Wrestlemania.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
Cody looks at the Wrestlemania sign and asks Los Angeles what do ya want to talk about. We could talk about how we are at the end of the road. This is it. We sit at the precipice of the biggest event. Wrestlemania is here. On this ride, all of you have sat shotgun with me. All of my cards are on the table. No ace in the hole. I get here and the media starts. You have to make sure that everything is ready for Sunday so he can execute and do what he says he can do and become the WWE Champion.
When it comes to Sunday, the actual day of Wrestlemania for him. He says he is the most prepared he has ever been. In the spirit of full transparency, in this moment, speaking to you, I feel wildly unprepared. We could talk about literally anything. You guys want a showdown and duel. We have talked too much. Cody says he could do the Tupac part of California Love. He says it might be a hair too adult for Fox so he decides to stop. He says he can talk about gratitude. You welcomed me back and you let me be me. I am trying to be poised and composed, but that means something is broken inside. The medicine that he needs is to defeat Roman Reigns on Sunday.
Speaking of Roman, the last time we stood face to face, he laid the titles down in front of him and he talked about how Cody couldn't be the guy in his company. Roman has been here for eleven years but he didn't start to pay off until year eight. Roman likes to talk about how everybody thinks they are the guy until they meet the guy. Cody says allow himself to introduce himself. He says he is not Dusty's son, he is not dashing, but he is your successor. Cody says he is the next Undisputed Champion. Sunday, I finish . . .
Roman Reigns' music interrupts and he makes his way to the ring with Paul Heyman.
Roman gets in the ring and he is handed the mic by Paul Heyman.
Roman tells Los Angeles . . . he tells Paul he doesn't care about any of them. Roman turns to Cody and tells Cody it isn't there turn, it is yours. He tells Cody to ACKNOWLEDGE HIM and he drops the micc and holds up the title belts.
We go to credits.
