Welcome to Fightful.com’s live chat and coverage for the 4/22/2022 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. We’ll be bringing the full results and breakdowns for every game and segment of the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
– The show began with Pat McAfee and Michael Cole welcoming the audience to the show broadcast live from Albany, New York.
– In the ring, Adam Pearce greeted the audience before moderating the signing of the contract between SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and championship challenger Ronda Rousey. Pearce forgot about the backstage contract, which was brought into the ring by Drew Gulak, who was trying to become Adam Pearce’s trainee. Gulak was going to present a PowerPoint presentation to break the rules of an “I Quit” match, but Flair told him to shut up. The crowd chanted “You tapped” to Flair, who said she was trying to fix her bra. Flair then broke the rules for an “I Quit” match, which she said there was none. Flair said it didn’t matter how she won because she would always win no matter what. Flair said she would have Rousey say “I quit” before signing the contract. Rousey and Flair started arguing about whether Flair tapped or if Flair fixed her clothes, but Rousey said she wouldn’t be spared any humiliation when she made Flair say “I quit” before trying. to sign the contract, but Flair overturned the contract. table on Rousey before getting a Kendo Stick to hit Rousey. Rousey got the Kendo stick from Flair and hit her with the stick, but Gulak took the Kendo stick from Rousey. Rousey hit Gulak with the Piper’s Pit before locking an armbar on Gulak, followed by Rousey signing the contract as he held the armbar.
Xavier Woods (with Kofi Kingston) vs. Butch (with Ridge Holland and Sheamus).
The match started with Woods getting a series of near pinfalls on Butch before hitting Butch with a series of chops. Woods hit a knee followed by a clothesline on Butch for a near fall. Butch landed a forearm on Woods and landed a series of punches on Woods before hitting a double knee drop to his arm from Woods. Butch stomped on his arm from Woods. Butch slammed Woods on the middle turnbuckle. Woods lifted Butch out of the ring before hitting a rope kick down the middle on Woods. Sheamus and Holland blocked Woods’ way, leading to Butch jumping stairs and hitting a flying forearm at Woods before the commercial break.
Butch had Woods in a modified Lavelle Lock before switching to Woods stomping in the ribs. Butch continued to add pressure to Woods’ arm, but Woods hit Butch with a series of forearm strikes. Woods slid under Butch before hitting a forearm, chop and senton on Butch. Butch slapped Woods, hit an inseguri and hit a release suplex on Woods for a near fall. Woods went over the middle rope and got Butch with the Backwoods Inside Cradle for the overall win. After the match, Butch began having a temper tantrum before attacking a security guard and running out of the arena.
Winner: Xavier Woods (with Kofi Kingston).
– Backstage, Aliyah and Ricochet were seen talking about the match Ricochet had against Jinder Mahal on the 04/15/2022 edition of SmackDown. After Ricochet stayed that he would face anyone in front of him, Shanky confronted Ricochet and asked him to face him. Ricochet agreed, before telling Shanky to be careful what he wants.
Gunther (with Ludwig Kaiser) against Teddy Goodz.
The match started with Gunther getting a wrist lock on Goodz. Gooz kicked, but Gunther caught him with a big boot. Gunther hit an uppercut before putting Goodz in the top turnbuckle and hitting him with a chop. Gunther hit a suplex on Goodz before hitting another jab on Goodz. Gunther landed a third jab on Goodz, which was followed by a bodyslam on Goodz. Gunther landed a fourth shot on Goodz in the back. Gunther got a dormant hold on Goodz before hitting a powerbomb for the eventual victory.
Winner: Gunther (with Ludwig Kaiser).
– There was a video package showing the feud between RKBro and The Usos, which showed the highlights of the match between Riddle against Jimmy Uso. Drew McIntyre interacted with RKBro. As McIntyre and Orton had animosity, Riddle signed RKBro to be Lumberjacks for the match between McIntyre and Zayn later that night. Zayn was seen in the background, watching happily as Orton and McIntyre were in trouble.
– Xia Li was backstage saying that she was the protector, but now she was going to protect herself because no one was worth protecting.
Riddle (with Randy Orton) vs. Jey Uso (with Jimmy Uso).
Before the game, Roman Reigns was watching the game from his locker room. The match started with Jey and Riddle locked in, before Riddle did a takedown and locked Jey with a Sleeper Hold before Jey broke the rope. Jey hit a shoulder block on Riddle, and Riddle got Jey with another sleeper hold. Jey Uso threw Riddle and slapped Riddle. Riddle was kicked on Jey Uso before doing a key suplex on Jey Uso. Jey Uso hit a series of chops on Riddle. Riddle kicked Jey Uso in the chest. Jey Uso came out of the ring and grabbed Riddle with a slap before slamming Riddle down the stairs. Jey Uso hit a back suplex on Riddle in the announcer’s table before the commercial break.
Uso had Riddle in a sideways headlock before hitting an Inseguri Kick on Riddle. Jey Uso and Riddle exchanged forearm punches and slaps before Riddle landed a big boot and kick from Pele on Jey. Riddle hit a series of forearms on Jey Uso, followed by a Saito Suplex. Riddle went for the Bro-ton, but missed the landing as Jey Uso dodged the move. Riddle hit the Floating Bro on Jey Uso for a near fall. Riddle hit the DDT high on Jey Uso before setting up to hit the RKO. Jimmy Uso distracted Riddle, but Orton caught Jimmy with a back-suplex on the announcer’s table. Jey Uso hit a pop-up daredevil on Riddle for a near pinfall. Riddle hit a running knee on Riddle, but Jey hit a super kick on Riddle. Jey went for a Frog Splash, but Riddle got his knees up and rolled over Jey Uso for the overall win.
Winner: Riddle (with Randy Orton).
– After the commercial break, Kayla Braxton interviewed WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi. Naomi said they dominate the tag division and shine while doing so. The banks said they had no competition. Natalya and Shayna Baszler came down to the ring, telling Banks that they didn’t lose the match at Wrestlemania. Natalya is a world record holder of three Guisiness, who Naomi asked if it was for having lots of cats. Baszler said she and Natalya would rip out all of Banks and Naomi to become the new Women’s Tag Team Champions before pushing Sasha Banks. Naomi told Baszler and Natalya to pick them up.
– Madcap Moss was practicing backstage before Happy Corbin interrupted him. Corbin offered Moss if he was interested in getting back together with Corbin. Moss said there was a better chance of Corbin pushing back his bald head because that ship has sailed. Moss laughed at Corbin.
– There was a video package highlighting Raquel Rodriguez, showing footage of her work on NXT and NXT 2.0.
Madcap Moss versus Angel (with Humberto).
Prior to the match, Los Lotharios reached out to a fan at ringside for the kiss-cam. The match started with Angel and Moss locked in before Angel hit Moss with the forearm. Moss made a takedown on Angel hitting a running elbow on Moss. Moss threw Angel at Humberto. Angel landed a low kick on Moss before hitting Moss. Moss hit a Fall-away slam on Angel before hitting a spear on Angel in the corner. Moss clothesline on Humberto before hitting a shoulder block on Angel. Moss hit the Punchline Neck-breaker on Angel for the overall victory. After the match, Happy Corbin attacked Moss from behind before hitting end of days on Moss. Happy Corbin took Madcap’s Andre The Giant Battle Royal trophy to the ramp.
Winner: Madcap Moss
– Sami Zayn was seen standing outside Roman Reigns’ door. It wasn’t clear why he was outside the locker room, but he was hesitant to knock on Reigns’ door before the commercial break.
– Roman Reigns was seen backstage talking to Jey Uso, Jey saying that what happened against Riddle will never happen again. Paul Heyman informed that Sami Zayn was there, where Zayn said he recognized him. Zayn said he was the locker room leader because he saw things, including seeing RKBro take on Drew McIntyre. Zayn asked if Reigns could give him an assist for his lumberjack match due to disrespectful remarks made by RKBro. Zayn told Reigns he would be an invaluable asset, telling Reigns he recognized him. Reigns asked The Usos to make sure people keep his name out of their mouths.
– Lacey Evans was backstage to talk about her life story, saying her dad brought a lot of drugs, saying she didn’t have her mom with her support. Evans said she believed at a young age that if she wanted something done right, she had to do it herself. She said it hurt her to see her dad high with a cigarette in his hand after every amateur wrestling practice. She said she was no better than other WWE Superstars, but they were definitely no better than her.
Lumberjack Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn started the match by stepping out of the ring, but the Lumberjacks brought him back into the ring. The Lumberjacks, Shinsuke Nakamura, New Day and Mansoor brought Zayn back to the ring. McIntyre hit a series of chops on Zayn before Zayn lowered the rope to send Drew back into the ring. Sheamus attacked McIntyre before throwing him back into the ring. The Lumberjacks faced off before the commercial break.
After the commercial break, Zayn pushed McIntyre out of the ring before Sheamus attacked Drew again. Mcintyre hit a kiss from Glasgow on Zayn. McIntyre hit two Overhead Suplexes and kicked to hit a Claymore on Zayn, but Zayn got out of the ring. RKBro attempted to send Zayn back to the ring, but The Usos superkicked Orton and attacked Riddle. The Lumberjacks tackled each other, leading to Mcintyre hitting an Over the Top Rope Senton on all of the Lumberjacks. Zayn managed to flee the ring, leading to the match ending in a no-contest. Pearce told Zyan he would have nowhere to run as he will face Mcintyre in a Steel Cage Match. Jinder Mahal and Shanky attacked McIntyre, but McIntyre attacked them both. McIntyre hit the Claymore Kick on Mahal to end the show, telling Zayn that his ass belongs to Drew McIntyre.
Result of the match: no contest.
