WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results: Go-Home Show Before WWE Backlash 2024
The time has arrived for the go-home episode of Friday Night SmackDown before WWE Backlash 2024.
Tonight's show will air via tape delay. The SmackDown stars were in action earlier today in Lyon, France. Fear not, as this article will not contain any spoilers. We will be updating you throughout this evening's broadcast.
It'll be stacked episode for the blue brand, as we will see the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles meet face-to-face following their contract signing for the main event of Backlash last week. What will "The American Nightmare" and "The Phenomenal One" have to say to each other just one night before the big PLE?
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Championship gold will be at stake on WWE SmackDown as well. The WWE Tag Team Champions A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) will put their hardware on the line against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins).
We will also see the debut of the RKO Show with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. The two will be tag team partners at WWE Backlash 2024, as they will take on Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga of The Bloodline.
While we're still on the subject of tag teams, New Catch Republic and Authors of Pain have a score to settle. The Final Testament launched a beatdown of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate during last week's episode of SmackDown. New Catch Republic got back at AOP, costing them during their NXT Tag Team Championship match against titleholders Axiom and Nathan Frazer. We will see Dunne and Bate take on Akam and Rezar tonight.
Beginning at 8 p.m. ET, Sports Illustrated's MMA Knockout will be providing live coverage of WWE Friday Night SmackDown right here. If you keep refreshing this page once the broadcast begins, you will get live results and video highlights of all the action tonight.
WWE SmackDown Results (May 3, 2024)
Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles were shown entering the building, as were Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton, Dakota Kai and The Kabuki Warriors
Naomi and Kairi Sane got things started. Bianca was tagged in and immediately landed her trademark standing moonsault for a two-count. There was miscommunication between Bayley and Belair after "The Role Model" tagged in, allowing Stratton to take advantage going into the first commercial break.
Stratton knocked Cargill and Naomi off the ring apron, but Bayley hit a back suplex. Bayley could only tag in Belair until Jade rose up on the apron. Bayley chose to tag in Jade. It's clear that there are still trust issues with Bayley and Belair.
Jade cleaned house before Asuka landed a missile dropkick. Tiffany received a Bayley-To-Belly. Belair hit KOD on Dakota Kai for the win.
Winners: Bianca Belair, Bayley, Naomi, and Jade Cargill
A-Town Down Under were in the locker room and vowed to let The Street Profits know they are the smoke.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Bianca and Jade backstage. They were in the same room as Bayley and Naomi. Belair stared at Bayley as she was saying she wants to be done with Damage CTRL once and for all. Bayley left the room and Jade told Bianca to calm down.
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis had a conversation with Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo declared himself for the King of The Ring tournament before Bobby Lashley entered the room and congratulated him on being drafted. Lashley said if he needs him he's a call away. Carmelo said he thinks he'll be fine. Lashley reminded Carmelo that he lost to Cody Rhodes last week. Carmelo questioned when's the last time Lashley shot his shot to get back in the world title picture. Bobby warned Carmelo of who he disrespects.
New Catch Republic vs. Authors of Pain
Dunne and Akam were in the ring first. Dunne went for a submission before Bate tagged in and the double team on Akam began. Eventually, Akam dumped Bate with a clothesline before tagging in Rezar.
Bate climbed on Dunne's shoulders and took out both members of AOP on the outside. Bate got nailed with a death valley driver in the corner before another ad break.
Bate was able to tag Dunne in, who hit an enzuigiri on Rezar and knocked Akam off the apron. He even hit a moonsault from the apron on Akam. Bate lifted Rezar up for an Airplane Spin.
With a distraction from Scarlett, Karrion Kross took out Bate on the outside. In the ring, Authors of Pain hit their sitout powerbomb/neckbreaker combination for the win.
Winners: Authors of Pain
A recap of Randy Orton saving Kevin Owens from The Bloodline aired.
Nick Aldis was in his office and was asked by Paul Heyman if he got his memo. Aldis said his request to have Randy Orton and Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga pulled from Backlash is denied. Heyman admitted he hasn't spoken to Roman Reigns since WrestleMania 40, which means Roman never actually removed himself from the WWE Draft. Aldis dared Heyman to try to pull Orton and Owens from their Backlash match on the RKO Show.
Randy Orton walked out to the raucous crowd signing his song. Kevin Owens then made his way out, and it's time for the RKO Show.
Owens spoke to the Lyon crowd in the French language. Orton heaped praise on the crowd, who chanted his name. Owens said at first he didn't consider a guest before he received numerous calls from Paul Heyman.
Heyman made his way out before an introduction.
Owens cautioned Orton not to RKO Heyman right away. Paul decided to stay on the apron. Heyman was showered with "We want Roman" chants. Paul said he wants Roman too. Heyman warned Orton and Owens that Solo and Tama don't play by the same rules as Roman, and pleaded with them not to take the Backlash match.
Owens said they shouldn't take advice from Paul since everything is falling apart for him. Orton asked Heyman who is the real "Tribal Chief." As Paul was answering him, Sikoa and Tama attacked Orton and Owens.
The two teams brawled outside the ring and officials were attempting to break things up. Orton began taking out the security team. Owens hit a dive on Sikoa, Tama, and more security guards.
The Street Profits responded to Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. They said they will dethrone the WWE Tag Team Champions
LA Knight vs. Angel
Angel mocked LA Knight's "Yeah" catchphrase and ate a clothesline for it. Knight slammed Angel's head on the side of the ring multiple times.
Berto distracted Knight, allowing Angel to take advantage. Knight quickly got back in a groove and stomped his opponent in the corner before hitting a running knee. Knight went for BFT, but he had to knock Berto off the ring apron. He then hit BFT for the victory.
Winner: LA Knight
Knight grabbed a mic after the match. He announced he is officially an entrant in the King of the Ring. Santos Escobar interrupted and vowed he'll be the one to be the King of the Ring. Knight said he couldn't hear Santos with the crowd chanting "You suck."
Knight said when he's done talking that's when Santos gets dropped on his head in the ring. He said when Santos wakes up he'll finally realize whose game this is.
A recap of Carlito being outed as the one who betrayed the LWO played.
Byron Saxton interviewed Carlito and asked him why he attacked Dragon Lee. Carlito said he wanted another WrestleMania moment until Rey Mysterio chose Lee as a tag partner. So, he said he took matters into his own hands.
Dragon Lee attacked Carlito backstage before the two were separated.
A-Town Down Under (c) vs. The Street Profits - for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Waller immediately knocked Ford off the ring apron and escaped the ring, while Theory attacked Dawkins from behind. Things quickly turned around as Ford was tagged in and he dropkicked Waller. Dawkins was tagged back in and hit a Swanton Bomb on Waller before Theory pulled his partner to the outside. Ford dove on A-Town Down Under outside the ring.
Waller climbed up the top turnbuckle and tightrope walked before hitting a dropkick to the leg of Dawkins. The Street Profits hit a double team Blockbuster on Theory for a near fall.
With the ref's back turned, Waller hit a flatliner on Dawkins, allowing Theory to score the pin.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: A-Town Down Under
Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles were out for their face-to-face. Cody asked the fans what they wanted to talk about. AJ said he doesn't care what the fans want to talk about. He doesn't think Cody is focused on Backlash. Cody said he's totally focused on AJ and respects what he's done, but Styles told him not to give him any of that crap.
AJ made a reference to Cody's Stardust gimmick with a gesture, and said "The American Nightmare" made the decision to leave. He said legends watched Cody's back just so he could finish his story.
Cody told AJ not to put down his compliments to big himself up. He said at Backlash he's not look at Styles as "Phenomenal," he's looking at him as his first successful title defense and that's Too Sweet.
Styles slapped Cody in the face and left the ring.
Backstage, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens were with fighting Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa to end the show.
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