LECLAIR’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 4/17: Alt perspective, detailed coverage of Tag Team title match, Banks vs. Tamina, Rose & Deville clear the air, more

LECLAIR’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 17, 2020
ORLANDO, FL AT WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON FOX NETWORK

Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

-Michael Cole welcomed the audience to the live show following the standard Smackdown opening. He and Corey Graves previewed the triple threat match for the tag team titles, as well as Money in the Bank qualifying matches between Daniel Bryan and Cesaro and Naomi and Dana Brooke.

-Alexa Bliss’ music played and she and Nikki Cross headed to the ring for A Moment of Bliss to kick off the show. Bliss welcomed the audience to the show and welcomed their guest, the Universal Champion, Braun Strowman.

Bliss congratulated Strowman on becoming Universal Champion. Braun congratulated Bliss and Cross on defeating Asuka and Kairi Sane twice. Bliss turned the focus toward Strowman’s next challenge. She said Bray Wyatt is cunning and psychotic. She threw to a clip of last week’s confrontation between Wyatt and Strowman.

Bliss asked Strowman for his response to Bray’s comments. Strowman said no one knows Bray like he does. “Bray Wyatt didn’t create me and I definitely don’t owe him anything.” Strowman said Bray is a manipulator that likes to get inside people’s heads. He said he’s not playing those games. “If you come for me, the only thing you’re gonna get are these hands.” Bliss seemed shaken. Strowman spotted a wrapped present in the corner of the ring. He asked if it was for him.

Bliss said she didn’t send the gift. Braun opened it up and pulled out a black sheep’s mask. Bliss and Cross slowly stood up and left the ring. Strowman stared at the mask. Wyatt’s laugh filled the speakers. Strowman looked around nervously. Suddenly, a still image of Strowman wearing the black sheep’s mask appeared on screen. The show cut to commercial.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Bliss and Cross continue to carry these segments to the best of their ability, but they’re rarely given much to work with. Braun Strowman came off forced and scripted, but it’s hard to find much direction or purpose with no crowd to feed from. I’m intrigued by the direction they’re taking with Braun’s past connection to Bray and the Wyatt Family, but I don’t expect much from this match, or from this feud, as a whole.)

-Out of the break, Cole and Graves teased that Strowman will face Bray Wyatt (note: not The Fiend) for the Universal title at Money in the Bank.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Not jumping into The Fiend right away, providing that is the idea here, is a nice way to give Strowman a win before bringing The Fiend into play for perhaps a bigger challenge down the road. It’s also a feasible, and logical way to draw out what otherwise feels like it should be a one match feud.)

-Sasha Banks headed to the ring. Bayley joined Cole and Graves at the announcers desk. Tamina headed down the ramp next. Cole showed footage of now this match came together.

(1) SASHA BANKS vs. TAMINA – If Tamina wins, she challenges Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s title

Sasha Banks begged off Tamina when the bell rang. She handed Tamina a Sasha Banks t-shirt. Tamina complained about the size. She shoved Banks to the mat and tossed the shirt at Bayley. Banks quickly went for a roll up, but Tamina powered out and dropped her to the mat.

Tamina shot Sasha into the corner and hoisted her onto her shoulders. Banks held onto the ropes to block the offense. Tamina dumped Sasha to the outside. Cole sent the show to commercial.

Out of the break, Tamina had Banks cornered, delivering shoulder thrusts. Sasha fought free, knocked Tamina to her knees, and then flew off the top with double knees to the chest for a two count. Sasha followed up with a number of kicks and trash talk. She hit a basement dropkick and covered for only a one count.

Banks applied a chin lock and worked Tamina down the mat. On commentary, Bayley said it would be an honor to face her best friend for the title. Tamina returned to a vertical base and dumped Banks in the corner. Banks rolled to the outside. Tamina went to retrieve her. Bayley tossed the t-shirt at Tamina and started talking trash. Sasha tossed Tamina into the ring post and then the steel steps.

Lacey Evans’ music hit, and she rushed to ringside, taking down Bayley. Tamina returned to her feet and caught Banks with a super kick, then tossed her back in the ring. Tamina followed it up with a second super kick in the ring and covered her for a three count.

WINNER: Tamina in 9:00

(LeClair’s Analysis: Not a great match. Sloppy at most points, slow in others. Tamina has never been a good worker, and this showed now signs of improvement. I don’t quite understand the idea of building a main title program around her at this stage of her career, but the Smackdown Women’s division has been out of sorts for quite some time. It seems clear that the goal is to bring Lacey Evans back up into the title picture, but their last feud proved uneventful and she doesn’t seem to have improved all that much either. The division is in some serious need of new blood.)

-Backstage, Jey Uso cut a quick promo about the triple threat match for the tag team titles. Cole teased the match before heading to commercial.

-After the break, Charly Caruso approached Lacey Evans. She said Sasha Banks has been a thorn in her side. Evans said she’s been more than just a thorn. She said wherever Banks goes now, she goes. Lacey said she doesn’t plan to stop until the mission is complete, just like a U.S. Marine.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Short and sweet. This tends to be how Evans’ promos work best, and this was a solid one.)

-Sheamus headed to the ring. His opponent was already in the ring.

(2) SHEAMUS vs. DENZEL DEJOURNETTE

Graves said he feels bad for Sheamus’ opponent as the bell rang. Sheamus gave Denzel a quick kick to the midsection. Denzel caught Sheamus with a quick roll up, but Sheamus fought out quickly. He began pummeling DeJournette with hard elbows to the head and neck.

Sheamus drove hard knees into Denzel’s face. He followed up with a quick Brogue Kick for a three count.

WINNER: Sheamus in 1:00

Michael Cole turned his attention to Jeff Hardy. Sheamus quickly interrupted him, upset at Cole’s lack of attention to his dominance. He asked Cole, “what about the Celtic Warrior?”  He got in Cole’s face and said he will not be disrespected.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Nothing to it. They’re clearly trying to sell Sheamus’ brutality, as this is the second week in a row he’s clobbered his opponent mercilessly with hard elbows and knees. I would’ve thought Sheamus would be a strong candidate for Money in the Bank, but it appears as though he’ll be headed for a program with Jeff Hardy.)

-Another retrospective video package for Jeff Hardy aired. This one touched on Hardy’s drug and alcohol issues.

(LeClair’s Analysis: This was a great package, like WWE typically produces. WWE has never really acknowledged Jeff’s struggles in this much detail on TV before, so they must be relatively confident that Jeff is on the straight and narrow, hopefully for good.)

-Backstage, Carmella approached Dana Brooke, frustrated that she took a Money in the Bank qualifying match instead of focusing on their tag title match. Dana said she could handle both. Carmella seemed unsure.

-Naomi headed to the ring. Cole said their first Money in the Bank qualifying match would be coming up after the break.