WWE SmackDown
April 26, 2024
Heritage Bank Center
Cincinnati, OH
Welcome to our live coverage of WWE SmackDown. As always, we will have the results up immediately after every match. Refresh this page often to see updated results.
Tonight on WWE SmackDown
Contract signing with Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles for their match at Backlash
The 2024 WWE Draft kicks off tonight
Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee vs Angel & Berto
Our live coverage begins at 8 PM EST
The show started with the rules of the draft being displayed:
4 rounds tonight, 6 rounds Monday
4 draft picks per round
Champions on each brand are protected
SmackDown picks first tonight
RAW picks first Monday
Rosters lock Monday, May 6th
Backstage, Paul Heyman said Roman Reigns has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for the 2024 draft as he will not be returning in the immediate future.
WWE Championship Contract Signing with Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles
Styles said I don’t respect LA Knight and he got under my skin. That’s why I lost at WrestleMania, but I got my composure back. I realized I’m phenomenal and I beat LA Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash. Styles told Cody I respect you. We’ve been down the same roads and we had to prove ourselves outside of WWE. Dusty Rhodes gave us the same advice and that’s to stand on our own two feet and be the men we are today. Styles signed the contract. Cody told Styles I respect the roads you have traveled to get here, but that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. This is not a dream match for me, it’s a must win. Cody stuck out his arm to Styles to shake his hand. Styles said it was great to see you finish your story, but your title reign is going to end at Backlash and he shook Cody’s hand.
Triple H came out and shook Cody’s hand. Triple H welcomed everybody to the 2024 WWE Draft. Triple H asked Cody to read the SmackDown picks and he will read the RAW picks. Cody announced SmackDown selects Bianca Belair. Triple H announced RAW selects Jey Uso. Cody announced SmackDown selects Carmelo Hayes. Triple H announced RAW selects Seth Rollins.
Carmelo Hayes came out. Hayes told Cody that he heard him say when you come for the king, you best not miss. That’s funny because when I shoot, I don’t miss. I can’t think of a better way to shoot my shot on SmackDown than to shoot it against you. Cody told Hayes you got your shot tonight and they shook hands.
Legado Del Fantasma (Angel & Berto) vs The LWO (Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee) (w/ Carlito & Zelina Vega)
Mysterio gave Angel a Seated Senton and a Code Red, but Berto broke up the pinfall attempt. Mysterio gave Berto a head scissors which sent Berto over the top rope. Mysterio gave Angel the 619. Lee gave Angel the Project Dragon and pinned him.
===Winners: The LWO
After the match, Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez came down to ringside. Escobar said I did not attack Dragon Lee. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage from that evening. Escobar showed the footage of Carlito attacking Dragon Lee. Carlito shoved Lee into Mysterio while the footage was playing and gave Lee the backstabber.
Bron Breakker vs Cedric Alexander
Cedric tried for a springboard, but Breakker speared him and pinned him in a quick match.
===Winner: Bron Breakker
Backstage, Tiffany Stratton told Nick Aldis I dropped Naomi and Bayley, so where’s my title match? Aldis said I was close to sending you to the back of the line, but then someone convinced me otherwise. So tonight, you’re going one on one with Naomi with the winner getting a title match. Stratton asked who came up with this idea. Bayley came in and said that was my idea. If Naomi wins, she gets a championship match that she was cheated out of last week, and if you win, then you find out what it’s like when you attack the role model. Stratton told Bayley to sit ringside for the match.
Michelle McCool and Torie Wilson came out to announce the next draft picks. McCool announced SmackDown selects Randy Orton. Wilson announced RAW selects Bron Breakker. McCool announced SmackDown selects Nia Jax. Wilson announced RAW selects Liv Morgan.
Solo Sikoa arrived in the parking area. He asked Paul Heyman if The Bloodline got drafted yet. Heyman said not yet. Sikoa asked him to give him the details. Heyman said Roman Reigns withdrew from the draft. You’re adding new members so nobody knows what they’re getting in the draft when they draft The Bloodline. Tama Tonga came out of the car. Solo told Heyman to repeat that one more time. Kevin Owens attacked Tonga from behind before officials separated them.
Bianca Belair said Jade Cargill is the perfect person to take down Damage CTRL at Backlash. The Kabuki Warriors came out holding up their title belts, but Jade Cargill quickly came out to stand side by side with Belair. Owens and Tonga came through the entrance way still fighting as they made their way into the ring. Solo came out to help Tonga beat up Owens. Officials tried to separate them, but Tonga beat them up as well. Randy Orton came out and attacked Tonga and Solo until more officials came out to separate them.
Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley came out to announce the next draft picks. Bubba announced SmackDown selects LA Knight. D-Von announced RAW selects Ricochet. Bubba Ray announced SmackDown selects Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Paul Heyman. D-Von announced RAW selects Sheamus.
Tiffany Stratton vs Naomi
Nia Jax attacked Bayley who was on commentary. Naomi went outside the ring to help Bayley, but Jax threw Naomi into the ring post. Jax left. Stratton threw Naomi and Bayley in the ring, laid them next to each other, and gave them the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
In the back, The Street Profits and B-Fab said next week they are going to defeat A-Town Down Under next week on SmackDown. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller showed up and said we are the greatest undefeated tag team champions of all time. Bobby Lashley showed up and Theory and Waller left.
Backstage, The Final Testament were shown attacking Tyler Bate and Pete Dunn. Karrion Kross said whether we are drafted to RAW or stay here on SmackDown, the violence will continue until we get what we want.
Teddy Long and JBL came out to announce the next draft picks. Teddy Long announced SmackDown selects AJ Styles. JBL announced RAW selects Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri. Teddy Long announced SmackDown selects Andrade. JBL announced RAW selects Kiana James.
Kiana James said this means the world to me. I’m filled with gratitude. Every decision I made thus far was designed to get me here. Shawn Michaels came out to congratulate her.
Nick Aldis announced that at Backlash, Bayley will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Tiffany Stratton and Naomi in a Triple Threat Match. Teddy Long announced that at Backlash, it will be The Bloodline against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
Cody Rhodes vs Carmelo Hayes
Cody gave Hayes a Cody Cutter for a near fall. Hayes hit the First 48 on Cody. Both missed a springboard. Cody gave Hayes the Cross Rhodes and pinned him. Cody pulled up Hayes, talked to him, and patted him on the back. AJ Styles came to the ring and they had a staredown and then shook hands.
===Winner: Cody Rhodes
