WWE SmackDown Results – Apr. 9, 2021 – Battle Royal, Tag Title Match

Apr 9, 2021

April 9, 2021
St. Petersburg, Florida (Tropicana Field)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way: Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (c) defeated The Street Profits, Chad Gable & Otis, Rey & Dominik Mysterio via superkick by Ziggler on Ford
Tamina defeated Nia Jax by disqualification when Shayna Baszler attacked Tamina
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Jey Uso won, last eliminating Shinsuke Nakamura

In-Ring: Daniel Bryan

In the ThunderDome, Daniel Bryan makes his way down to the ring. He says we are so close to the biggest event of the year, WrestleMania. He says he is excited about it all. But what he is excited about most is to finally hear the roar of the WWE Universe in person. He says he loves the ThunderDome, it is amazing. But there is absolutely nothing like wrestling in front of a live audience, nothing like wrestling in front of a live audience at WrestleMania. And nothing like winning the Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania.

Bryan says that’s what he can’t wait for. Walking down to the ring with 25,000 people chanting yes in unison. There is nothing like it. And he is often associated with the word yes. But the reality is that most of his career has revolved around constantly being told no. Is Daniel Bryan big enough? No. Does Bryan belong in the WWE? No. Is Bryan a superstar? No. Is Bryan best for business? No. Can Bryan be the face of WWE? No. Does Bryan deserve to be in the main event of WrestleMania? If you ask Batista, Randy Orton, Edge, Roman Reigns… They will tell you no. But if you ask him, you are damn right he does.

Daniel says because he is lucky. His parents, his mentors told him to ignore all of that and that is how he came to say yes, yes, yes. Because every time life to him no, he said yes. Will Bryan ever be able to wrestle again? Doctors said no, he said yes. When he came back, will Bryan ever be champion again? People said no, he said yes. At Fastlane, will Bryan be able to tap out Roman Reigns? Roman said no, he said yes. And can Bryan main event WrestleMania one more time? At first Adam Pearce said no and then Adam Pearce said yes.

He says this Sunday at WrestleMania, this is by far the biggest match of his career. A triple threat match for the Universal Championship. On one side, you have Edge. Furious because he thinks Bryan stole a spotlight that belongs to him. On the other, Roman Reigns who is enraged because he made him tap out before and if he taps out again, he will be nothing. And when people are furious and enraged, people are dangerous. And Roman and Edge are dangerous. But which Bryan are they going to face? It’s not going to be Bryan that was general manager or family man Daniel Bryan. At WrestleMania, they are getting the best Daniel Bryan they have ever seen, the most dangerous one, the one that made tap out Roman Reigns. The one who will kick Edge’s head in despite his neck problems. And can Daniel Bryan walk out of the main event of WrestleMania as Universal Champion? Yes as his music hits.

Backstage: The Street Profits, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode

The Street Profits are backstage with Kayla and they are chanting yes. They say it is about time. Bryan will win the Universal Championship just like the Street Profits will win back the Tag Team championships. And they will have champagne for the campaign. Roode and Ziggler attack them as the fight spills onto the stage. Out come the rest of the teams who will be competing next.

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Chad Gable & Otis vs. Rey & Dominik Mysterio

We come back from commercial and the match is already under way. Gable and Dominik are in the ring as Otis is tagged in and they double team Dominik. Ziggler tags himself in as he goes for the cover on Dominik but Dominik kicks out. Roode is tagged in and right hands on Dominik. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out again. A chin lock by Roode followed by a right hand knocking Dominik down. A body slam by Roode. He runs to the ropes as Gable tags himself in. Gable working on Dominik’s left arm. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out.

Gable working on Dominik’s arm again. Dominik kicks Gable away and Rey is tagged in. Rey with a head scissors takes Gable down. A back elbow by Rey followed by a DDT. He goes for the cover but Roode and Ziggler break it up. In comes Dominik as Roode and Ziggler are knocked to the outside. The Mysterios clean house.

Back from commercial, a drop kick by Ford onto Roode. He goes for the cover but Roode kicks out. Ford goes for the tag but Roode with a right hand. He goes for a back drop but Ford lands on his feet. Ford knocks Ziggler of the ring apron but Roode hits him with a spine buster. Otis is tagged in and a clothesline takes Ford out. Otis goes for the cover but Rey breaks it up.

Otis with a bodyslam followed by an elbow onto Ford. Otis sends Ford to the ropes and a right hand to the midsection slows Ford down. Gable is tagged in and they double team Ford. Gable with a northern lights suplex cover but Ford kicks out. Ziggler tags himself in and a head lock on Ford. Ford gets out of it but Ziggler with a dropkick. Dolph goes for the famouser but Ford picks him up and throws him onto the mat. Both men down. Roode is tagged in and as is Dawkins.

Dawkins with a clothesline takes Roode down. In comes Gable but Dawkins throws him across the ring. Dawkins with a spinning splash onto Roode followed by a bulldog. Rey tags himself in and Rey with a sit down senton onto Roode. Dawkins is thrown to the outside. Roode is thrown into Otis, Dominik is tagged in. In comes Ziggler but he’s tripped up as is Roode. It’s a double 619. Dominik with a frog splash on Roode. He goes for the cover but Otis breaks it up. Rey jumps off the top rope, Otis catches him and throws him to the outside. The Street Profits double team Otis to the outside. Ford with a splash onto Otis on the outside.

Dominik and Roode are down. Dawkins and Gable tag themselves in. Gable goes for a German but Ford tags himself in. Gable lands the German but Ford lands a big frog splash on Gable. Roode tags himself in for Ford as Ziggler hits Ford with a superkick. Roode goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Still WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode

Backstage: Bianca Belair

“When I beat @SashaBanksWWE and become #SmackDown Women’s Champion, that’s gonna be the greatEST night of my life!” @BiancaBelairWWE is ready for tomorrow night at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/aNRVuW7ChH

— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2021

Kayla is backstage with Bianca Belair. She asks her about her match at WrestleMania. Bianca says she has butterflies but that’s not a bad thing. She’s excited and nervous. Her dad once told her being nervous means you care. It’s fine to be nervous as long as you are not scared. And she is not scared because this is an opportunity of a life time. She has been working for so long, even when no one was watching but now the entire world will be watching.

Braxton says that Sasha has been here before and she will do anything to keep her title. Bianca says her being the EST gives her all the tools to win. So that makes her dangerous and when she beats Sasha and becomes the SmackDown Women’s Champion, that’s going to be the greatest night of her life.

Segment: Big E

We see a clip of Big E in Tampa where he is from. He’s shown getting a haircut as he cuts a promo talking about where he came from in regards to Apollo’s comments. He’s then shown next to his old school and he’s standing next to Raymond James Stadium.

Nia Jax vs. Tamina

The bell rings and we are under way. Nia pushes Tamina down. Tamina gets bacj up and Tamina pushes Nia down. Nia back up and a right hand followed by a back hand by Tamina. Right hands by Tamina in the corner as the referee breaks it up. Reginald gets on the ring apron as Tamina tries to grab him but Shayna holding onto Reginald’s legs. Nia runs into Tamina taking her down.

Nia with a splash in the corner. Tamina back up but Nia pushes her back down. Nia throws Tamina in the corner. She goes for a spear but Tamina moves out of the way. Tamina on the ring apron as she climbs the second rope. Baszler on the ring apron but Natalya takes her down. Shayna throws Natalya into the steel steps. Nia brings Tamina down but Tamina with a super kick followed by a Samoan drop. Tamina goes for the cover but Shayna breaks it up as the referee calls for the bell.

Winner by disqualification: Tamina

In comes Natalya as Baszler leaves the ring.

Backstage: The Riott Squad, Billie Kay, Carmella, More

We cut backstage and Kayla is standing with The Riott Squad. In comes Billie Kay as Liv tells her she doesn’t have a partner. In comes Carmella who tells them she is with her. Ruby says they are focused for WrestleMania. Kayla says in order for them to challenge at WrestleMania on Sunday, they have to get through four other teams.

Ruby says besides getting rid of their sidekick, they have learned from their lessons. They are more in sync than ever. Carmella says if she wanted a lesson on friendship, she would watch an after school special. Those titles are theirs because Mella is Money. In come Mandy and Brooke along with Naomi and Lana. All four teams fight backstage. Natalya and Tamina attack them from behind as Tamina throws Liv down. Natalya throws Dana into a piece of equipment and they walk away.

Video: Seth Rollins

We see a Seth Rollins propaganda video where the narrator talks about his accomplishments and Cesaro’s failures.

In-Ring: Edge

Out comes Edge with a steel chair. Edge says he went to WrestleMania 6. Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior and that night, he knew what he needed to do with the rest of his life. And when he dreams things, he has to manifest them, that’s the way things work in his world. Some might relate and others won’t. And he did. He became a WWE superstar. A superstar who accomplished everything but ending his career on his terms. He says he had to fight back for his career, he didn’t walk away from this. He had it ripped away from him. This is all that he wanted to do.

He says he fought and he ripped his career out of fate’s hands. He didn’t come back for some greatest hits tour. To be a shell of his former self. He came back to steal the show, to main event WrestleMania. He missed nine of them, he won’t apologize for that. Bryan comes out and says this could be his last WrestleMania, Edge says. A month in his career is like a year for Edge. He uses sympathy as a factor to get in the match and before that he has these ridiculous ideas.

Edge runs down the list of ideas Bryan had for WrestleMania. But somehow this is now a triple threat match which means that Bryan can pin Roman and he has nothing to do with that. It could happen. And instead of a clash of the titans between two era’s, we had an indy book store clerk troll sticking his nose in their business.

As for Roman. He walks around like he created this. Edge says he owes him nothing. In fact, Roman owes him. Let’s run it back. He came in the WWE in a three man group. He made his entrance through the crowd. He uses a spear as a finisher. Who set that template for him. He’s a Samoan Edge as Edge laughs. But he will say that he is good. He always has been and he sees what he has become. He came back to swing for the fences and Roman is the green monster. And now they had their match ripped away from them and the fans too.

Roman says some of the fans might be on to Bryan except for some who still chant yes. But this match takes place 10 years to the face when he was forced to retire. It’s not mentioned. No video packages, no social media comments. But if that was Bryan, that narrative would be driven into the ground. And why does Edge have to remind everyone of this and that is because since he came back, he has not gotten the respect that he deserves.

Edge says he came back, won the Rumble and is in the main event of WrestleMania. He shouldn’t have to jump through hoops. A triple fusion in his neck, the pain he has went through to get this back. Edge gets emotional. You want to call him a part timer? He is doing hurricanranas off the top rope. He is competing at a level that no one has ever done from this type of injury. That is a slap in the face for him and his work ethic. Edge says now it is time for him to take and demand the respect that he deserves. You will put respect on his name, he is the rated R superstar. You can call it fate, God’s will, what you want but he is the next Universal Champion.

Backstage: Adam Pearce, Sonya Deville

👀

“I think at #WrestleMania it needs to be @WWERomanReigns vs. @EdgeRatedR in a Singles Match.” – @SonyaDevilleWWE #SmackDown @ScrapDaddyAP pic.twitter.com/dThfZXNvey

— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2021

Adam Pearce and Sonya are backstage. They talk about WrestleMania as Sonya asks how it’s fair that Dolph and Roode had to defend their titles tonight. Adam asks what that has to do with WrestleMania. She tells him as for WrestleMania, it needs to be Roman vs. Edge in a singles match as she walks away.

Backstage: Sasha Banks

.@SashaBanksWWE welcomes @BiancaBelairWWE giving it her all tomorrow night at #WrestleMania because she believes she’s simply…the b-E-S-T! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/AgnYDFTQzP

— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2021

Kayla is backstage with Sasha as she asks her about Bianca’s comments. Sasha says she doesn’t care what Bianca has to say. It’s the other way around, Bianca wants to hear what she has to say. Bianca may be the EST but she’s not the best because she is. At WrestleMania, she knows Bianca will give it her all but she will give it right back, boss style. And at WrestleMania, when she makes Bianca tap out, she will realize her place which is beneath her. Sasha says she is the best and still SmackDown Women’s champion.

Segment: Sami Zayn, Logan Paul, Kevin Owens

We cut to earlier where Sami Zayn is in a gym and Logan Paul is training in a boxing ring with his brother Jake Paul. Sami tells him he will go get his gear and they could all box in the ring. Sami exists the gym but the door locks behind him. He knocks on the door as security opens and doesn’t let Sami in.

We cut to the Cole and Graves and in comes Sami and he tells him that is biased journalism. He said what we didn’t see was Logan and his brother apologizing and letting him back in and how they even went for breakfast together. Kevin Owens attacks Sami from behind as both men fight. Kevin goes for the stunner but Sami gets out of it and runs away.

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Participants: Akira Tozawa, Angel Garza, Cedric Alexander, Drew Gulak, Elias, Erik, Gran Metalik, Humberto Carrillo, Jaxson Ryker, Jey Uso, Kalisto, King Corbin, Lince Dorado, MACE, Murphy, Mustafa Ali, Ricochet, Shelton Benjamin, Shinsuke Nakamura, SLAPJACK, T-Bar, Tucker

The bell rings and we are under way. Tozawa is eliminated first. The entire ring goes up against Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin as Benjamin is eliminated and as is Cedric.

Back from commercial, Erik is eliminated and as is Gulak. Elias and Ryker are eliminated. Ali eliminated T-Bar. Dorado eliminated Kalisto as Metalik eliminated Dorado from the match. Corbin eliminated Metalik.

Corbin eliminated Murphy and Nakamura eliminated Garza. Final five are Ricochet, Ali, Corbin, Nakamura and Jey Uso.

Ricochet eliminated Ali and Jey Uso eliminates Ricochet. Nakamura eliminates Corbin.

Final two are Jey Uso and Shinsuke Nakamura. Jey goes for the Samoan drop but Nakamura gets out of it. Nakamura with a kick to the side of the head knocks Jey down. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Jey hits him with the super kick but Nakamura hits him with the Kinshasa after it. Nakamura goes to throw Jey but Jey throws Nakamura over the top rope and to the outside.

Winner: Jey Uso

As Uso is celebrating, out comes Roman Reigns along with Paul Heyman to the ring.

In-Ring: Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jey Uso

Roman is in the ring along with Heyman and Jey Uso. Roman says that he’s annoyed that he even has to be here. He is not a politician, he’s not running for president, he doesn’t have to sell himself. He has more things to worry about, he’s in a match he can lose even if he is not pinned. But at WrestleMania, he will show up and win. He says every single day when you prep at a 12, the 10 comes easy. But to everybody else, what show up and win means that when Roman shows up, WWE is winning.

He can be like Edge or Bryan, have one good week. Bryan had a good week last week and the one before, Edge. But since August 23, since Summerslam, he has been doing it for over 30 weeks in a row. The numbers don’t lie, who changed the ratings for this show, he did. Who made this title relevant, the one that everyone wants. Him. Which brings him to the dreamers. This is Bryan’s dream, he wants someone to say yes. And now he is running around telling people he made him tap out.

Roman tells Bryan he is holding on by a thread, if he made Roman tap out, he’d be champion but he is not. And he won’t ever be because on Sunday, he can’t make him tap out. Roman tells Edge he wants to complete the comeback. Roman took it from him and from everyone else. He calls them dreamers. This is where the comeback story ends. Roman says being in the main event with Roman Reigns is their dream and that’s where their story ends and his begins. He says if they think what he did this year was special, wait until what he does next. Dreamers are selfish but him, he’s the man with the golden hand. Everything he touches has purpose.

Reigns says he saves careers. He looks at Jey and asks him who gave him the greatest year of his career and we have gold in the Andre the Giant statue to prove it. But he won’t make Edge or Bryan’s dreams come true. This isn’t a prediction, it’s a spoiler. In the main event at WrestleMania, he will wreck everyone, pin them and he will hold the Universal Championship. And they will look up and see someone better than them and they will see a million dollars of pyro go off and they will see the entire world acknowledge him.