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WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For April 4

By Lovell Porter

Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include the debut of Rey Fenix, Motor City Machine Guns taking on #DIY in a number one contender’s match, Jacob Fatu and Braun Strowman battling in a Last Man Standing Match, CM Punk, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns set to appear. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

WWE SmackDown Card:

  • Rey Fenix debuts
  • Number One Contender’s Match: Motor City Machine Guns vs. #DIY
  • Last Man Standing Match: Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu
  • CM Punk, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns will appear

WWE SmackDown Results:

The Cult of Personality

Punk spends a lot of time playing with the crowd on his way to the ring. After the crowd quiets down, Punk notes that he was told the best crowds were overseas. The crowd roars for their hometown hero. Punk grabs a camera from Rico, the cameraman, and shoots a crowd shot of his people going wild. Punk isn’t supposed to be here tonight. While the crowd chants his name, Punk thanks all his friends and family in the arena.

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Punk notes that he’s in the main event of WrestleMania. A “you deserve it” chant breaks out. Punk says he’s EARNED this. Punk notes all the times he was told he wasn’t supposed to be there. Now, the hard work begins. Punk thanks his wife and his puppy, Larry. Punk puts over his city and promises to whip Seth Rollins a$$ and put a beating on Roman Reigns at the main event of WrestleMania. Paul Heyman interrupts and puts Punk over as his best friend and the best in the world. Heyman tells Punk he belongs here and in the main event of WrestleMania.

Heyman reminds us that Punk helped save the Bloodline, but with that, he has one more favor to ask of Punk. Punk asks what Heyman wants. Heyman asks Punk to tell him what favor he owes Punk. He’s worried about Reigns being upset. Punk tells Heyman that he wants to tell Heyman and Reigns what the favor is face-to-face. Heyman is verklempt. Punk tells Heyman to let him and all his family in Chicago know when Reigns decides to show up.

Grade: A

This was an awesome opening segment. Punk put over the importance of his first WrestleMania main event. If you didn’t get it before, you get it now. Both Punk and Heyman are masters at talking you into the building. This was a masterclass of making everything seem that much more important. What the heck is the favor??

NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer vs. Rey Fenix

Fenix and Frazer trade takedown. Frazer narrowly avoids a superkick. After several pin attempts, Fenix flips into a rana hold for a near fall. Frazer sends Fenix out of the ring with a head scissors. Fenix eats a suicide dive from Frazer that almost ends poorly for both men. Fenix responds with a corkscrew splash.

After the break, Frazer lands a roll-through superplex into a rolling neckbreaker. Kick out by Fenix. Frazer misses a Phoenix splash. Running knee by Frazer. Frazer gets hung up on the ropes. Fenix walks the ropes and lands a PK. Fenix hits a modified Emerald Flowsion. Frazer kicks out! Goodbye, amigo kick by Fenix. Fenix hits the MMB for the win.

Winner- Rey Fenix

After the match, Fenix cuts a promo about being excited to be here.

Grade: B

Fenix got a hell of a pop. This was a fun match. Frazer looked good, but Fenix looked better, which was the point. Mission accomplished.

Backstage, Legado del Fantasma are watching Fenix’s debut. Santos Escobar is impressed. Berto is not. Escobar tells Berto he’ll get him a match against Fenix.

United States Champion LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga w/Solo Sikoa

Tonga is in control early after a back suplex. Knight fires back with a big boot. Knight beats down Tonga in the corner. Tonga rolls out of the ring. Rope dropkick by Knight. Knight slams Tonga’s head into the commentary desk. After a distraction from Sikoa, Tonga sends Knight flying off the apron into the commentary desk. After the break, Sikoa misses a Samoan Spike attempt. Knight drops Tonga with the BFT for the win.

Winner- LA Knight

Grade: C+

Tonga tried to take full advantage of a rare singles match on SmackDown. He looked great out there. Knight is a perfect foil for any heel you are trying to get over; his charisma temporarily turns his opponent into the biggest heel in the building. The winner here was never in any doubt, which, in this case, definitely took away from the proceedings.

Championship Face-to-Face

The challenger, Charlotte Flair, is out first. The champion, Tiffany Stratton, joins Flair in the ring. Due to the heated nature of their feud, Wade Barrett is here to moderate. The crowd boos Flair. Flair says that’s passion. Stratton asks the crowd what time it is. The crowd chants, “It’s Tiffy time!” Flair calls Stratton desperate and says that there is no comparison between the two of them. Stratton tells Flair that her shtick is tired. Flair’s biggest battle isn’t against Stratton; it’s the people. Stratton says Flair will always come second to her father, Ric Flair.

Flair notes Stratton is just regurgitating what her other opponents have said. The crowd drowns Flair out with boos. Flair can’t get a word in, so she gives up and gives the last word to Stratton. Stratton dumps on Flair and says she’s clearly gotten to her. Stratton says outside of the ring Flair isn’t the queen of sh*t. After WrestleMania, Flair will be alone, just like she is outside the ring. Stratton quips that Flair’s record in marriage is 0-3. Flair asks if that’s why Kaiser is in her DMs. Stratton rolls out of the ring and walks away.

Grade: D

This segment was awful. Between the crowd hijacking the segment and Stratton tripping over her words, everyone looks terrible after this one.

The WWE Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits, are out to watch the next match.

Number One Contender’s Match: Motor City Machine Guns vs. #DIY

Sabin and Gargano kick the match off by trading takedowns. Ciampa tags in and gets worked over by Shelley and Gargano. After a bit of misdirection, Gargano surprises Shelley with a slingshot spear. Gargano and Ciampa take turns beating down Shelley. After the break, Ciampa lands a running knee, followed by Project Ciampa.

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Sabin kicks out. #DIY set up Meet in the Middle, but Sabin ducks. Shelley and Sabin double-team Ciampa and set up Skull and Bones. Gargano pushes Shelley off the top. Ciampa tries to pin Sabin with his feet on the ropes. The referee catches Ciampa cheating. Ciampa gets run into an exposed turnbuckle. Sabin rolls up Ciampa for the win.

Winners- Motor City Machine Guns

Grade: B-

Standard TV match, quality in-ring action with a fitting finish.

B-Fab vs. Naomi

Jade Cargill attacks Naomi during her entrance. Security pulls Cargill to the back. Naomi stumbles to the ring. B-Fab attacks Naomi. Big boot by B-Fab. Naomi kicks out. Big slam by B-Fab. Naomi kicks out. B-Fab misses a big boot and gets caught in the ropes. Naomi traps B-Fab in a tree of woe and slams her head into the bottom turnbuckle.

Ripcord lung blower by Naomi for the win.

Winner- Naomi

After the match, Naomi grabs a mic and tells Cargill to bring it. Cargill teleports into the ring and boots Naomi in the face. Cargill sets up her finish. Security saves Naomi. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis walks out on the ramp and announces Naomi and Cargill will face off at WrestleMania.

Grade: B

The match wasn’t anything special, and the crowd was less than interested. Well, unless Cargill was involved, that is. The B-Fab detore is just that; the meat of the matter is this intensely personal issue between Cargill and Naomi. Their brawling and the epic announcement that their match will take place at WrestleMania bumps this up a grade.





Last Man Standing Match: Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu (Winner gets a United States Championship Match at WrestleMania)

Fatu and Strowman brawl in the aisle. Strowman clubs Fatu against the barricade. The fight spills into the ring. Fatu tries to go up top. Strowman cuts him off and attempts a Powerslam. Fatu slips off Strowman’s shoulder and lands a superkick. Fatu crushes Strowman with two double jump moonsaults.

After the break, Strowman chokebombs Fatu. The referee counts as Fatu rolls around on the mat. Strowman grabs a table and brings it into the ring. Big boot by Strowman. Fatu charges at Strowman. Strowman clocks Fatu in the face with a chair. The referee counts. Fatu gets to his feet. Strowman lands a running crossbody that sends both men through the barricade. Both men manage to break the count.

After the break, the fight spills into the crowd. Strowman suplexes Fatu off a platform through two tables. Both men somehow break the count. Strowman crawls back into the ring. Fatu puts Strowman through a table with a running hip attack. Fatu gets to his feet just as the referee gets to ten.

Winner- Jacob Fatu

Grade: B

This was a wonder car crash. Fatu and Strowman did their best to commit murder on live TV tonight. This writer could watch these two destroy each other and their surroundings every night. Fatu winning this match means he won’t be facing Sikoa at WrestleMania, which seems like a missed opportunity.

Roman Reigns arrives and heads straight to the ring.

The OTC Has Arrived

Reigns tells Chicago to acknowledge him. The crowd goes nuts. Reigns asks his Wiseman if “he” is here. Heyman says yes. Reigns wants to know what this favor is. Reigns shares a secret with the WWE Universe: Punk wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Reigns. If it wasn’t for him, Punk wouldn’t be in the main event of WrestleMania. Reigns calls out Punk. Seth Rollins’ music hits. Reigns is pissed. Rollins joins Reigns in the ring. Rollins says he wouldn’t miss this one for the world.

The crowd chants, “What’s the favor?” Punk finally joins them in the ring. Punk says this is about loyalty. This goes back to a prophecy Heyman laid out on a Monday Night Raw years ago. Punk announces that Paul Heyman will be in his corner during the main event. Reigns laughs. Reigns says Heyman loves him and needs him. Even if Reigns would let him, Heyman wouldn’t. Reigns tells Heyman to let this desperate fool down easy.

Heyman hesitates as the crowd chants for Punk. Reigns glares at Heyman. Heyman is crying. Reigns browbeats Heyman to tell Punk no. Heyman wipes away his tears. Reigns gets in Heyman’s face and tells him to tell Punk no. Heyman says, “No, my Tribal Chief, I can’t do that.” Rollins falls out laughing. Reigns backed Heyman into the corner. Punk attacks Reigns from behind. GTS by Punk. Rollins and Punk lock eyes. Heyman is screaming no from outside the ring. Punk squares up. Rollins laughs and walks away.

Grade: A

Are you not entertained? The main event of WrestleMania has more heat than it’s had in years.

WWE SmackDown Review

Tonight was a better night on the promo side of things. The in-ring action was solid but not at the level that Raw has been delivering lately. The road to WrestleMania is on fire, as we have the first non-championship match featuring two Black women being announced for the show of shows, as the Jade Cargill/Naomi issue deserves a spot at the show of shows.

Rey Fenix killed it, and possibly Nathan Frazer during his debut tonight. And CM Punk finally cashed in his favor, asking Paul Heyman to be in his corner as he main events WrestleMania for the first time ever. All exciting stuff, but heading to WrestleMania, they seem to be focusing even less on the in-ring action, which is always the worst part during the lead-up to WrestleMania.

Rating: B-

This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.

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Lovell Porter
Lovell Porter

Lovell Porter is the lead Play-by-Play Analyst for Wrestlezone.com. Lovell handles the live coverage for Monday Night RAW, NXT, and all WWE Special Events. Lovell is a lifelong professional wrestling fan that has been covering the sport professionally since 2015.

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