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WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results: Championship Celebration For Cody Rhodes & Bayley, Road to WWE Backlash 2024

The first episode of WWE SmackDown after WrestleMania 40 is here.

Fernando Quiles Jr.

Cody Rhodes has his arm raised by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque.
Cody Rhodes has his arm raised by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque. / (via WWE)

The post-WrestleMania 40 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown is here, and Sports Illustrated's MMA Knockout has you covered with live results and video highlights.

The new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes will enter Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. What will "The American Nightmare" have to say after being handed a mysterious gift from The Rock on Monday Night Raw?

That's not all lined up for WWE SmackDown.

MAJOR WWE NAME REPORTEDLY SPOTTED AHEAD OF FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN, POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Bayley will also be featured on tonight's show. She'll be carry the WWE Women's Championship, which she won after defeating IYO SKY at WrestleMania 40 Sunday. Is Damage CTRL finally out of Bayley's sights?

We also have two big triple threat matches, which were initially reported by WrestleVotes. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Santos Escobar have been made official.

The winners of those triple threat matches are going to square off one-on-one next week and the one who emerges victorious there will get a shot at the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

There has also been a report from PWInsider surfacing about Tama Tonga being spotted in Detroit. Could he be a part of tonight's show?

We'll be providing live coverage of Friday Night SmackDown, which will begin at 8 p.m. ET. Make sure you're refreshing this page for live results and video highlights.

WWE SmackDown Results (April 12, 2024)

The new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion made his way out to start SmackDown.

Cody recalled being interrupted by The Rock during Monday Night Raw. Rhodes had a callback to a promo from his wife, Brandi when he asked who told The Rock it was open mic night.

Cody said he doesn't doubt The Rock will return to finish their business. Cody mentioned all of the competitors in the two triple threat matches.

Bayley was shown entering the building, as was Rey Mysterio and the rest of the LWO.

Cameras then cut to Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman. They appeared near Cody's locker room. Kevin Owens entered and told The Bloodline they're not invited.

Heyman warned Solo to respect the fact that Cody Rhodes is champion and by "The Tribal Chief's" order, the only true way to restore The Bloodline's place atop WWE is to win back the Undisputed Universal Championship.

LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Santos Escobar

Santos immediately left the ring and Knight tried rolling up Lashley. Eventually, Knight and Lashley were on the outside and Escobar hit a suicide dive.

Legado Del Fantasma got involved before The Street Profits fought them off. Lashley went for a Spear, but his should rammed into the post.

LA Knight then hit BFT on Escobar for the three.

Winner: LA Knight

Rey Mysterio was backstage and he said he believes he has one last run as WWE champion left in him.

Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and Paul Heyman made their way out. Heyman said by orders of Roman Reigns, it's time to take accountability. On behalf of Reigns, Heyman admitted that "The Tribal Chief" made a mistake by going for revenge instead of taking Cody out.

Heyman was interrupted by Sikoa. Solo said losing means consequences. Solo pushed Heyman aside and hugged Jimmy before Tama Tonga laid the Uso out. Solo landed multiple Samoan Spikes on Jimmy Uso. Tama Tonga then threw up the one.

Solo then took Jimmy out by placing a chair over his neck and ramming into him with a hip attack.

Bron Breakker vs. Cameron Grimes

This was a showcase match for Bron, who won with the Spear.

Winner: Bron Breakker

Bayley was interupted by Tiffany Stratton, who said she should get a crack at the WWE Women's Championship. Bayley said she was more thinking about facing Noami, and Tiffany said Naomi can't win a title these days if it was glowing in the dark.

Naomi made it clear she was in no mood for Tiffy Time. Naomi said she wants to face Stratton before accepting Bayley's challenge.

Kayla Braxton got a word with Paul Heyman, who confirmed Jimmy Uso was not okay by simply nodding no. Tama and Solo approached Heyman just to scare him. Paul has no idea who gave the order to take out Jimmy. Tama seemed to insinuate that the new "Tribal Chief" is Solo.

Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton was kicked high by Naomi. Naiomi was thrown into the ring post going into a commercial break.

Naomi hit some crossbodys. She then went on the middle rope and hit a spin kick on Tiffany.

Stratton kicked out of the split-legged moonsault. Stratton hit a double stomp for a near fall. Tiffany hit an Alabama Slam, but missed Prettiest Moonsault ever.

Naomi won the match with a Jacknife pin. She has earned a WWE Women's Championship match.

Winner: Naomi

A vignette for the new WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions A-Town Down Under played.

The Street Profits and New Catch Republic saw the video with Nick Aldis backstage. the SmackDown GM promised both team he'll determine a number one contender.

A selfie video of WWE United States Champion Logan Paul play. Logan took credit for WrestleMania 40's social media presence. He called this the "Logan Paul Levesque era."

Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven

Bianca and Chelsea got the match started. Green quickly tagged Piper in. She demanded Jade in the ring, but Piper grabbed Bianca's hair off the distraction.

Eventually, Jade met Green once again. She caught Green's leg and slammed her down before hitting Jaded for the win.

Winners: Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair

Kevin Owens was backstage and decided to have some fun with WWE's never camera work. He grabbed a custom sports team WWE title.

Owens said he has respect for Styles and Mysterio, but he's gonna kick both their asses.

AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens

Owens threw Rey to the outside. Rey slide under the bottom rope right onto AJ, who slammed Rey on the ring apron.

KO landed a cannonball on Styles on the barricade. Rey dove on KO from the apron going into a commercial break.

Rey wanted a 619, but AJ cut him off. He went faceplanted KO for a two-count.

AJ reversed a Pop-Up Powerbomb into the Pele Kick. Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Rey hit a springboard crossbody. Owens caught both AJ and Rey in a German Suplex.

Rey hit a 619 on Styles, but Owens hit him with a Stunner on the apron.

KO went for a Swanton Bomb on AJ, but Styles got his knees up. AJ was on the top rope, but Rey went for a hurricanrana, instead, AJ hit Styles Clash on Rey onto Kevin Owens for the win.

Winner: AJ Styles

After the match, LA Knight and AJ Styles had a faceoff.

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Fernando Quiles Jr.
FERNANDO QUILES JR.