The post-WrestleMania edition of WWE SmackDown aired live from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.
The show featured new WWE Champions, Cody Rhodes and Bayley. The Role Model introduced the fans to the new number-one contender for her championship.
The show also featured two triple threat number one contendership qualifiers to determine the challenger to Cody Rhodes at Backlash. Let’s recap the biggest hits and misses from the April 12, 2024, edition of WWE SmackDown.
Miss – Bron Breakker’s new theme song
Bron Breakker is being primed as the next big thing on WWE SmackDown. The former NXT Champion bid his farewell to the developmental brand this past Tuesday. Breakker and Baron Corbin dropped their tag team titles to Axiom and Nathan Frazer.
Breakker debuted a new theme song on the blue brand this week. To be honest, I liked his old theme better. The new entrance music doesn’t capture Breakker’s intense aura. WWE really needs to do better when it comes to entrance music for new superstars.
Hit – Tama Tonga has arrived on WWE SmackDown
Tama Tonga made his surprise debut on WWE SmackDown after WrestleMania. The Bullet Club OG took out Jimmy Uso to the shock of the WWE Universe. Paul Heyman watched in horror as Tama helped Solo destroy his older brother.
Tama’s arrival in WWE had been expected for weeks. The former tag team specialist finished up with NJPW in February 2024. I’ve been a huge fan of Tama for years. He’s great on the mic and solid in the ring.
Miss – Tribal Chief Solo Sikoa
The fate of the Island of Relevancy could be in jeopardy. Solo Sikoa betrayed his own flesh and blood this Friday on WWE SmackDown. The Enforcer brought his own backup in Tama Tonga to help him take out Jimmy Uso.
Tama later alluded to Solo as the Tribal Chief. WWE had been teasing Solo’s big break for months. That being said, I feel they dragged his eventual betrayal to the point the fans have stopped taking him seriously.
Hit – LA Knight picks up the win
LA Knight partook in one of the two triple threat number one contender’s qualifiers on WWE SmackDown this week. The Megastar collided with Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley. All three men delivered some hard-hitting action.
Knight picked up the win after planting Escobar with the BFT. He’ll meet AJ Styles in a number one contender’s match next Friday on SmackDown. The winner (probably Styles) will face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Backlash in France.
Miss – Another alliance for Bayley on WWE SmackDown?
Bayley handpicked Naomi as her first opponent for the WWE Women’s Championship. After all, Naomi helped Bayley against Damage CTRL on the road to WrestleMania XL. Naomi beat Tiffany Stratton in singles competition this week on SmackDown.
Bayley cheering on Naomi against Tiffany seems to suggest a new alliance is in the making. I think it’s too early for the Role Model to form a new partnership fresh out of her feud with Damage CTRL.
Hit – Avalanche Styles Clash
The main event on WWE SmackDown featured AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and Rey Mysterio. All three men collided for the opportunity to face LA Knight next week on SmackDown. Styles, Mysterio, and Owens give fans the Match of the Night.
The highlight of the match came when the Phenomenal One hit Rey with a second rope Styles Clash onto Owens for the win. Fans can check out the match card for WWE SmackDown next week here.
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