The WWE Draft Night 1 edition of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX opens live from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Wade Barrett. They hype the show and Cole says the arena is sold out.
Here The WWE Friday Night SmackDown Full Results:
– WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H makes his way to the ring for Round One of the Draft. Samantha Irvin does the introduction. Triple H welcomes us to SmackDown and to the 2023 Draft.
Triple H goes over rules for tonight – every Superstar on WWE Raw and SmackDown can be sent to another brand, 50% of the roster will be drafted tonight, and the rest on Monday Night Raw. He did not mention the picks on The SmackDown LowDown tomorrow morning. We see the Draft pool for tonight. Triple H says select WWE NXT Superstars are also eligible, and he post-Draft rosters will go into affect on Monday, May 8, coming out of WWE Backlash.
He asks if we’re ready and then announces that SmackDown has selected The Bloodline – Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. Triple H confirms now that the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion will be on RAW. The second pick goes to RAW and they choose to keep Cody Rhodes.
The third picks sees SmackDown select RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. The final pick of round one sees RAW keep Becky Lynch. Triple H says the second round is being negotiated in the back, but in the mean-time, it’s his pleasure to introduce The Usos. The music hits and out they come.
– Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso embrace Triple H and then congratulate Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns on once again being the #1 Draft pick. The Usos, speaking from the stage, are fired up now. They go on about all the ways Roman has ignored their attempts at communications since WrestleMania 39, then promise to bring gold home tonight. They dedicate tonight’s win to Reigns.
The music interrupts and out comes Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to join The Usos on the stage. Sami brings up how Reigns continues to ignore The Usos, but they’re still dedicating their match to him, and not only that, The Usos were left out of The Bloodline in the Draft pick. Sami says that should tell you all you need to know. They continue arguing over the match and if Owens will turn on Sami. Owens yells to interrupt, and he’s heard enough. Owens says all that matters if he and Zayn will beat the hell out of The Usos in the ring tonight and leave with the gold. The two teams face off to end the segment.
– We see the doors of the RAW and SmackDown draft rooms, we also see WWE NXT Superstars watching from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair checks in with a video from on tour in the UK. She talks about being excited to represent SmackDown once again, and she plans to have the longest reign as blue brand champion. Belair says she will see us on Friday nights. Cole points to how SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley isn’t eligible for a pick until Monday’s RAW.
– LA Knight defeated Butch via pinfall. After the bell, LA stands tall and fans cheer him on.
– The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman are at backstage. The Usos are getting hyped up for tonight’s title shot. Heyman continues their “tonight is the night” narrative and cuts a tense promo. Heyman says tonight they will be on The Island of Relevancy or the Ocean of Obscurity as former champions.
He says Roman Reigns wants them to know success is the only avenue, and he wants them to reject the stain of failure Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens put on The Bloodline. Heyman goes on with the pep talk. Reigns wants them to know one way or another, he will only accept the fact that tonight is the night. Heyman hands the tape to Solo and he starts taping up his hand for the Samoan Spike. The Usos thank Heyman.
– We see Rob Van Dam coming out of the RAW Draft room and he will be a special presenter. Michael Hayes comes out of the SmackDown Draft room.
– WWE Hall of Famers Rob Van Dam and Michael “PS” Hayes come out to the stage for Round Two of the WWE Draft. We see NXT Superstars watching from Orlando. Hayes announces the first pick of round two and SmackDown chooses The Street Profits. Fans chant “RVD!” now. RVD announces that RAW has chosen Imperium (WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci). Hayes announces the third pick for round two and SmackDown has picked WWE Hall of Famer Edge from RAW. RVD announces the final pick for the second round and Matt Riddle is staying on RAW.
– The Street Profits defeated Ricochet and Braun Strowman and The LWO via pinfall in triple threat tag team match. After the match, The Street Profits stand tall.
– Tonight’s Progressive Match Flo looks at Bad Bunny and Damian Priest to promote their Street Fight at WWE Backlash. Bunny will be at next Friday’s SmackDown, which is also being held in Puerto Rico.
– We see JBL coming out of the SmackDown Draft room. Teddy Long comes out of the RAW Draft room.
– WWE Hall of Famers JBL and Teddy Long for Round Three of the WWE Draft. JBL announces the first pick and SmackDown selects Bobby Lashley from RAW. Teddy announces that RAW has picked Drew McIntyre from SmackDown. JBL announces the third pick and SmackDown has picked The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Mia Yim) from RAW. The final pick sees RAW keep The Miz.
– Zelina Vega defeated Sonya Deville via pinfall. After the match, Vega stands tall but Ripley suddenly attacks Vega and lays her out. Deville goes for Ripley but Ripley nails a headbutt. Green gets on the apron but she jumps off when Ripley stares her down. Ripley goes for Vega again to deliver Riptide, but Vega counters and spikes her with a DDT. Ripley sits up in the corner, clutching her title, and she’s furious as Vega runs away to the back.
– We see Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens warming up backstage.
– Zelina Vega at backstage with Santos Escobar and 2023 WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. She says the win felt so good, and The LWO has sparked a fire in her. Vega says she’s ready to go to WWE Backlash to perform in front of family. Rey says no matter what Vega thinks her chances are against SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, all she has to do is fight with her heart and mind, and she will leave Puerto Rico as champion.
– The O.C. – AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Mia Yim makes their way to the ring. The new SmackDown Superstars hit the ring but before AJ can speak, the music interrupts and out come The Viking Raiders – Erik and Ivar with Valhalla.
AJ takes the mic and wants to make sure The Vikings came out for a fight. He says it would be 4-on-3 so they’re not very smart. AJ says he’s going to scoot to the corner, and now The O.C. can handle business. A brawl breaks out with all six Superstars as AJ watches. The action ends with Gallows and Anderson hitting a Magic Killer on Erik in the middle of the ring. The O.C. now stands tall over Erik.
AJ takes the mic and announces to SmackDown that The O.C. is just getting started. The music of The O.C. starts playing but Ivar gets back up. AJ goes to the apron and hits a Phenomenal Forearm to put Ivar right back down. AJ’s music starts up as The O.C. leaves.
– We see WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels coming out of the SmackDown Draft room, while WWE Senior Vice President of Live Events “Road Dogg” Brian James comes out of the RAW room.
– WWE Hall of Famers DX – Shawn Michaels and “Road Dogg” Brian James comes out. Shawn announces the first pick to Round Four of the WWE Draft and SmackDown selects Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai) from RAW. Road Dogg announces that RAW has selected Shinsuke Nakamura from SmackDown. Shawn announces that SmackDown has selected NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre. We see NXT stars celebrating at the WWE Performance Center. Shawn isn’t happy with that pick or the next one. Road Dogg announces the final pick of the night and RAW has selected NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell. We get another live shot from Orlando.
– McKenzie Mitchell interviews Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre and they’re excited to come to the main roster after dominating NXT. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter interrupt and the two teams agree to have a title match on Tuesday’s NXT.
– Kayla Braxton at backstage with Shinsuke Nakamura now. He’s excited to go to RAW… Karrion Kross suddenly attacks from behind and destroys Nakamura. Kross and Scarlett stand tall over Nakamura now.
– The Usos are at backstage, telling Solo Sikoa to head out with them. Paul Heyman says The Tribal Chief wants Solo to stay back because he wants the spotlight on The Usos tonight… because tonight is THE night. The Usos leave. Solo looks at his taped up thumb as Heyman flashes him a sinister look. It feels like a swerve is coming for The Bloodline tonight.
– Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defeated The Usos and successfully retained their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles. After the match, Zayn and Owens recovers in the ring and The Usos recover at ringside and they are disappointed. We see Solo Sikoa staring them down from the stage area. The WWE Draft Night 1 edition of SmackDown goes off the air with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn raising their titles on high.
