Smackdown 4/16/2021: Cesaro vs. Uso Main Events; Ziggler/Roode defend against Profits; More!
Here's what's on tap for tonight's Smackdown:
Pat McAfee debuts on commentary along side Michael Cole
Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik vs. Otis w/ Chad Gable
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (champs)
We're in the ThunderDome at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. We open with highlights of the triple threat match between Roman Reigns, Edge, and Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania.
Pat McAfee joins Michael Cole on commentary for the first time!
We're kicking things off with the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION ROMAN REIGNS!! Jey Uso and Paul Heyman accompany Reigns to the ring. Cole and McAfee put over Reigns performance at Mania. "You suck" chants from the crowd as Reigns is all smiles. Heyman hands Reigns a mic and Reigns says they put a lot of eyes on Smackdown. For the new viewers, Reigns wants Heyman to tell the audience about the men Reigns beat at Mania. Heyman talks the accolades of Edge and Daniel Bryan. Heyman says Bryan should be retiring now soon. Heyman calls the triple threat pretty much a handicap match. Reigns says he took a page from the Heyman play book and he called his shot. He smashed them, stacked them, and pinned them. Then they acknowledged him. Reigns said he should never be in another triple threat again because no one wants to get what happened to Edge and Bryan. Reigns says if he can do that to men like that, no one wants to step to him now. Reigns says no one stacks up to him or is on his level. Reigns tells Heyman to have them cut the check, it's time to leave for the night. HERE COMES CESARO!!! Cesaro and Reigns have a stare down. Cesaro wants a mic and Reigns leaves! Cesaro throws the mic down as commentary talks about the Cesaro/Rollins match from Mania.
Cole says the single most impressive Mania moment is coming up next on Smackdown. I don't know what it's going to be but that's high praise so it better be good.
Back from a commercial, we get for Mania highlights. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are talking backstage when Cesaro approaches them. He's mad that Reigns blew him off. Cesaro wants a match against Reigns tonight and he doesn't even care if the title is on the line. Deville says she'll talk to Reigns. Highlights of the Cesaro/Rollins match from Mania are shown.
Otis w/ Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik
Otis bulldozes Rey to begin. Otis military presses Rey and drops it face first on the mat. Otis sends Rey to the outside. Rey gets back on the apron and hangs Otis up on the top rope. Rey goes to the top and Otis decks him. Rey falls into the tree of woe. Otis charges but Rey avoids him and hits a seated senton from the top. Running knee by Rey for a near fall. Rey picks up the pace and tries a spring board but Otis catches and slams him! Otis goes to the middle rope but misses a splash! Rey sends Otis to the ropes with a drop kick. Otis is up and charges but Rey drop toe holds him into the ropes. 619 BY REY!! REY GOES TO THE TOP AND DIVES OFF WITH A FLYING CRUCIFIX TO PIN OTIS FOR THE WIN!! Too short to mean much. These teams continue to trade wins.
W: Rey Mysterio via pin @ 2:59
Paul Heyman is set to answer Cesaro's challenge next!
Paul Heyman is with Kayla Braxton backstage. Heyman says what WWE does is put smiles on the faces of Neanderthals like Cesaro. Heyman mocks the rain delay at WrestleMania and says it wasn't rain but angel's tears for what Reigns was going to do to Edge and Daniel Bryan. Heyman says then Sunday there was more tears from the locker room. Heyman mocks Seth Rollins for lowering himself to facing Cesaro. Heyman says Cesaro has a million dollar body and ten cent brain. Heyman wants to stop the joke and end this train before it even gets started. HEYMAN SAYS CESARO CAN HAVE A MATCH IN THE MAIN EVENT AGAINST........JEY USO!!!
Cole says Reigns is making Uso fight his battles again where McAfee says Cesaro simply has to prove himself first.
Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring. Highlights of Mania where Kevin Owens stunned Logan Paul. Sami has a mic. He's seen all the headlines except the one about him being screwed again. Mania was suppose to be his vindication. Logan Paul was suppose to help him with his documentary but that's not how it went down. Sami says Logan Paul's mind was poisoned by Kevin Owens, the fans, management, and even Michael Cole. Sami says he gave Paul a hug and felt Paul pull back. Sami was distracted by wondering what Paul was thinking. That's the only reason why Kevin Owens won. SAMI CALLS OUT KEVIN OWENS!! Sami says he has no distractions tonight. HERE COMES KEVIN OWENS!!! They have a match next!
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
The bell rings and Zayn bails to the outside right away. Owens goes out to get him and bounces Zayn off the announce table. Back in the ring, Owens takes to to Zayn in the corner. Zayn turns things around for a minute but Owens explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Senton by Owens. Owens goes for a cannon ball and Zayn rolls out of the ring. Zayn hangs Owens across the top rope and then unloads with rights and lefts. Zayn chokes Owens across the middle rope. Owens fires back with a chop but Zayn stomps Owens in the corner. Owens battles back with right hands but Zayn hits a jaw breaker. Chop by Zayn and Owens hits him with a clothesline. Owens with a front face suplex to hang Zayn up on the top rope. Owens backs Zayn into the corner and unloads on him. Owens puts Zayn on the top turnbuckle and goes up with him where they trade blows. SUNSET FLIP POWER BOMB BY ZAYN!!! 1...2...NO!! We go to a break.
We're back with both men battling in the corner. Zayn head butts Owens off the top. Zayn dives off the top but no one is there. OWENS WITH A SUPER KICK!! 1...2...NO!! OWENS WITH A SWANTON OFF THE TOP!! 1...2...NO!! Owens sets up for the Pop Up Power Bomb but Zayn rolls under the ropes. Owens follows and sends Zayn into the barricade before putting him back in the ring. Zayn avoids the Pop Up Power Bomb again. Owens plants Zayn with a fisherman neck breaker! Zayn once again rolls to the outside and Owens brings him back to the ring. Zayn avoids a stunner and again goes outside. Zayn rakes the eyes of Owens to create separation. ZAYN BAILS NAD PURPOSELY GETS COUNTED OUT!!
W: Kevin Owens via count out @ 9:37
Post match, Owens drags Zayn back to the ring and STUNS HIM!!
New WWE Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews and Dabba-Kato are backstage. Crews talks about his win over Big E at WrestleMania. Crews would love to offer Big E a rematch tonight but Big E isn't here. We see highlights of their Mania match. Crews calls Dabba-Kato Commander Azeez and says he's a former member of the Nigerian Elite Guard. Crews says if anyone comes for his championship, they will be annihilated by the Nigerian Nail! Alrighty then!
The Street Profits make their way to the ring. It's new WWE Smackdown Women's Champion Bianca Belair's victory party next! We're back with the Profits in the ring. Ford sings "Friday Night and feeling fine". Dawkins says it's time for them to clean up the tag division. They says they're taking the tag titles back but that's not the only reason to raise the solo cups! They say Mania was a historic night but one match in particular he will be telling his grandkids about for a long time. Highlights of Belair/Banks are shown. Dawkins says the highlight video hit him in the feels. Ford says the party isn't over yet. Ford says that moment will be dear to his heart forever. THEY INTRODUCE THE NEW WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION BIANCA BELAIR!!! Cole puts over the match while Belair heads to the ring. The match was amazing and worth going out of your way to see! Belair now has her side plates on the championship. Belair has a mic and loud "EST" chants from the crowd. Belair feels so blessed. Despite setbacks and struggles, she never stopped believing all this was possible. Her family helped her believe that she could always change the game. Belair believed she could do it and it's not cockiness. She'll never apologize for telling people she is the B-E-S-T!! She says if you can dream it, then you can do it. She says it's not just about her, it's also about Sasha Banks. There is no one Belair would of rather been in the ring with than Banks because Banks pushed her to the next level. Belair says she left Banks with something to remember her by. Belair says it's about all the little girls that watched that match, it's for them. Belair calls Mania magic and that's she just getting started creating history. Belair and the Profits all hug. Belair says it's time for drop the solo cups and put the tissues away. It's time for the Profits to get the tag gold back because they only wear gold in this house!
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Sasha Banks. Banks is pissed. We zoom in to Banks scar on her torso from where Belair whipped her with her hair. Banks is about to say something but then storms off!!
Commentary shows us the "most impressive" footage in Mania history. It's Cesaro giving Rollins the UFO!
Kayla is now backstage with Bayley. She knows Banks wants a rematch. Bayley puts over herself as saving WrestleMania on both nights. Bayley says the reason Belair was crying at Mania was because not even Belair thought she would win. Bayley now says Belair is going around showboating. BAYLEY CHALLENGES BELAIR!! Bayley says she's the longest reigning Smackdown Women's Champion and she's coming for the title!
The tag team championship match is next!
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match
The Street Profits vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (champs)
Ziggler and Dawkins start it. They go to the ropes and Ziggler catches Dawkins with an elbow before hitting a drop kick. Dawkins answers that and tags Ford who hits Ziggler with a drop kick for a near fall. Snap mare by Ford and he works on the arm of Ziggler. Dawkins tags back in and hits Ziggler with a double axe. Dawkins works on the arm as well. Quick tags by the Profits. Ford with an elbow from the middle rope. Ziggler stops the momentum and tags Roode. Ford ducks and the tag champs complain. Double flapjack by the Profits to Roode Ford throws Ziggler out of the ring. Dawkins with a spinning splash to Roode in the corner followed by a clotheslines and a shoulder tackle! All Profits as we go to a break!
We're back with Dawkins covering Roode for a near fall. Dawkins takes down Roode with a shoulder block and then again with a corkscrew elbow. Roode avoids Dawkins in the corner. Dawkins knocks Ziggler off the apron but turns into a SPINE BUSTER BY ROODE! 1...2...NO!! Ziggler tags in and hits Dawkins with a neck breaker! 1...2...NO!! Roode tags back in and suplexes Dawkins for another near fall. Ziggler comes back in as they continue to isolate Dawkins. Ziggler talks trash and Dawkins sling shots him into the turnbuckle. Roode and Ford both get tags. Ford picks up the pace. Ford brings in Ziggler the hard way. Ford with drop kicks to both men! Ford is on fire! Ford with a back suplex to Roode and Ford kips up. Standing moonsault by Ford on Roode! 1...2...NO!! FORD FLIPS OVER THE TOP TO TAKE OUT THE CHAMPS!! Blind tag by Dawkins. DAWKINS PLANTS ROODE WITH THE ANNOINTMENT!! FORD WITH FROM THE HEAVENS!! 1....2....ZIGGLER SAVES IT! Ziggler sends Dawkins over the top. Ford drops Ziggler with a right. Ford pounds on Roode in the corner. Ziggler makes a blind tag. FORD CONTINUES TO POUND ON ROODE AND ZIGGLER HITS FORD FROM BEHIND WITH THE ZIG ZAG!! IT'S OVER!! Not a bad match by any means because they have good chemistry but I feel like these two teams have fought too much lately.
W: Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode via pin @ 10:40
McAfee and Cole put over that match.
We see Cesaro with the UFO on Rollins for like the sixth time.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Cesaro. She asks his comments about what Paul Heyman said. Cesaro says Heyman is right! He does look like a Neanderthal! However, he's wrong because Cesaro says he does belong in the ring with Roman Reigns. We cut to Roman Reigns locker room. Reigns look on his face is priceless. Jey Uso is also there pacing back and forth. Reigns tells Uso that he better win.
Natalya w/ Tamina vs. Shayna Baszler w/ Nia Jax (WWE Women's Tag Team Champions)
They lock up and Baszler gets the upper hand early. Natalya counters and takes down Baszler. Natalya looks for the Sharpshooter but Baszler is able to escape to the outside. Back in the ring, Natalya takes down Baszler again but Baszler counters. In a funny moment, McAfee says he saw Baszler in catering and she could definitely beat the hell out of Cole. Baszler sends Natalya to the outside. Natalya gets back in and eats a knee strike. Natalya fires back with a discus clothesline. Natalya goes for the Sharpshooter but Jax gets on the apron. Baszler goes for the Kirifuda Clutch but Natalya counters and goes to send Baszler into Jax but Baszler puts on the brakes. NATALYA ROLLS UP BASZLER FOR THE WIN!! Not very good.
W: Natalya via pin @ 2:25
We see Cesaro's UFO for the seventh time.
Jey Uso promo now. He makes fun of Cesaro for only having one move. Uso says Cesaro has cross the Tribal Chief and "Right Hand Man". Uso will prove to Cesaro why he's "Main Event" Jey Uso. Uso leaves and Reigns looks at the camera and says he will show you. The main event is next!
Stone Cold Steve Austin video package for WrestleMania 38 in Dallas, Texas!
It's advertised for Raw that Drew McIntyre will confront MVP and Asuka will battle Charlotte Flair one-one-one.
Jey Uso vs. Cesaro
Cesaro immediately takes Uso down. Off the ropes they go and Cesaro catches Uso and hits a back breaker. They battle to the corner where Uso gets the advantage. Uso works the arm of Cesaro. Cesaro blocks a super kick and a kick by Cesaro sends Uso to the floor outside. Cesaro leaps off the apron but USO HITS HIM WITH A SUPER KICK IN MID AIR AS WE GO TO A COMMERCIAL.
We're back with Uso working on Cesaro's arm but Cesaro fighting free. Cesaro comes off the ropes but USO WITH A SAMOAN DROP!! 1...2...NO!! Uso goes back to working on the arm by tying it up in the ropes. Cesaro blocks a suplex and lifts Uso with a vertical suplex. Cesaro charges in the corner but Uso back drops him to the apron. Cesaro goes to the top and hits a cross body! 1...2....NO!! Uso goes back to the arm to cut off Cesaro. Uso hits a kick to the jaw of Cesaro for another near fall. Uso is back in control now and gets another near fall. Uso goes up to the top turnbuckle. Cesaro is up and drop kicks Uso! Cesaro goes up top with Uso and Uso knocks him off with body shots. Uppercut by Cesaro! CESARO HITS USO WITH A GUTWRENCH SUPLEX FROM THE TOP! 1...2...NO!! Cesaro sets up for the Neutralizer but Uso hits the arm. CESARO WITH A SPRING BOARD CORKSCREW UPPERCUT!! 1...2...NO!! Cesaro goes for the swing but Uso kicks him away. Cesaro hits an uppercut but Uso answers with a neck breaker for a near fall. Uso is frustrated now. Uso hits Cesaro with right hands and Cesaro is getting fired up. Cesaro with a series of uppercuts and a discus clothesline! 1...2...NO!! Cesaro calls for the swing!! USO IS GOING SWINGING!! SETH ROLLINS IS HERE TO ATTACK FORCING A DQ!!! Pretty solid match up until the finish. Glad to see Cesaro getting main event time.
W: Cesaro via DQ @ 10:50
Post match, Rollins tells Cesaro he's not done with him and it's not over. Rollins says Cesaro got lucky at Mania! Rollins says he's the end all be all of this business and the show ends with Rollins and Cesaro staring each other down.
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