This week’s SmackDown featured a no disqualification main event between Matt Riddle and Solo Sikoa. A fight that could be on a pay-per-view would surely be the highlight of the show and it did not disappoint. The first half of the show was packed with tags, as Rey Mysterio teamed with Santos Escobar, Ricochet and Braun Strowman had a match against The Viking Raiders, and the women’s tag team titles were on the line. In the second half, Xavier Woods got his shot at the Intercontinental Championship and The Bloodline eliminated Riddle, who had no help from the tag team champions.
These are the winners and losers of SmackDown, April 21, 2023:
Winner/Loser: Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar vs. Damian Priest and Finn Balor
The show began with a tag match that was likely put together to promote Bad Bunny’s Monday Raw return. Priest and Balor were victorious when the babyfaces failed to realize that Balor was not the legal man in the match. Priest snuck in and delivered his finisher over Escobar for the pin. After the match, Priest badmouthed Bad Bunny.
This match was good. It wasn’t great and it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t necessarily long enough to gain traction, but the ending was creative enough that it was more than just filler. Having the Judgment Day win was probably the right call as they want to look strong heading into Monday night.
A backstage interview aired when Karrion Kross talked about targeting the recently returned Shinsuke Nakamura.
Winner: Ricochet and Strowman vs. viking raiders
Another tag match and another half-decent segment with passable action inside the ring. At one point, Strowman tossed Ricochet into the ring, intending for him to land on his opponent. He was extremely awkward when he missed, but Ricochet did a good job of quickly selling the mistake and kept flying into the commercial break.
The match resumed after the break and it looked like the Raiders had blocked this one with a splash and double pin, but Strowman kicked out. The babyfaces fought back and eventually performed a series of moves that ended with a Swanton off Strowman’s shoulders. This match elevated both Strowman and Ricochet up the contenders lists, which is a bit surprising considering the champions are Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The Viking Raiders seemed more credible opponents.
Winner: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville
Another tag team match, this one much more predictable than the previous two, was also just as entertaining, if not the best of the three. Both teams felt like real teams (something the division lacked) and the action was solid with a logical ending that made sense to both teams.
The heels tried to get into the shoes of the champions before the game but it was Morgan and Rodríguez who took control early. When the challengers got the upper hand and tried to secure pinfalls by cheating, the official caught on both times. But, when the roles were reversed and the champions had a chance to score a sneaky victory by breaking the rules, the referee blew it. This will obviously open the door for Green and Deville to complain to management, which makes a lot of sense for their characters, and gives Morgan and Rodriguez an element of attitude. They are not afraid to take shortcuts to retain their titles.
Winner: Woods vs. gunther
WWE did a good job of selling the importance of the title shot Woods was getting and how Gunther didn’t think Woods deserved it. On paper, it didn’t look like it was going to be an even matchup, and from the start, it looked like the narrative would unfold. That being said, Gunther and Woods did a good job of making fans believe the challenger had a chance when Woods made his big comeback. He came close to receiving a pin with a leg drop from the top rope. Eventually Gunther stopped the barrage dead in its tracks and applied a sleeper for the win.
This was a very strong match from both men. Woods fought back after taking a beating in the first half of the fight and came closer than most to dethroning the champion. Gunther was victorious, but he had to get a quick win, not the decisive one.
Following the successful title defense, WWE announced a series of confirmed matches for Backlash. Among the new matches, Zelina Vega would challenge Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s Title, Seth Rollins would face Omos and there is a Triple Threat for the United States Championship with Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed.
Winner: Riddler vs. Sikoa only
Before the main event, The Usos came out to push their tag title rematch next week, introducing Sikoa and pointing to the fact that it was clear Riddle would be outnumbered in a no disqualification match. As Sikoa waited for Riddle to enter the ring, Riddle attacked from behind to start. That seemed to anger Sikoa, who changed course almost instantly.
Sikoa went for the guns early and that ended up costing him as Riddle used a kendo stick to gain the upper hand and go into the break controlling the action.
After the break, the two men exchanged control of the action. Riddle was able to bury Sikoa under the announce table and The Usos came to attack Riddle. That distraction gave Solo enough time to get back up and go for a Samoan Spike. He picked up the win.
This was a good match and the three on one to end the show had The Bloodline on top heading into their WrestleMania rematch next week.