WWE SmackDown live results: The WWE Draft begins
WWE's new rosters will begin to take shape on tonight's SmackDown from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The first night of the 2023 WWE Draft goes down tonight. The following wrestlers are eligible to be selected: Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Bobby Lashley, Candice LeRae, Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green, Cody Rhodes, Damage CTRL, Dexter Lumis, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Edge, Hit Row, Imperium, Lacey Evans, Matt Riddle, Maximum Male Models & Maxxine Dupri, Mustafa Ali, Natalya, Omos, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa (with Paul Heyman), The Miz, The OC (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows & Michin), The Street Profits, and The Viking Raiders (with Valhalla).
Select wrestlers from NXT may also be drafted.
In a WrestleMania main event rematch, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defend against The Usos tonight. Owens & Zayn are set to team with Matt Riddle at Backlash to take on The Usos & Solo Sikoa in a six-man tag match.
Ahead of challenging Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women's Championship at Backlash, Zelina Vega goes one-on-one with Sonya Deville.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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- Michael Cole and Wade Barrett ran down the lineup for night 1 of the WWE Draft.
WWE Draft Round 1
There weren't too many surprises with the first-round picks. Roman Reigns is staying on SmackDown, while Cody Rhodes remains on Raw. The big surprise was Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair going to SmackDown.
Triple H came to announce the first picks for the WWE Draft. Cole noted that Triple H once got drafted to SmackDown but got traded back to Raw before he got to SmackDown.
Triple H went over the rules, noting that 50% of the roster would be eligible tonight. He added that select NXT stars are also eligible tonight. The draft goes into effect on May 8th after Backlash.
1st Pick: As the first pick, SmackDown selected Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman as one pick. Triple H pointed out that means the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion will be exclusive to Raw.
2nd Pick: Raw selected Cody Rhodes as their first pick. They played Rhodes music but cut it off before the "Whoa." Triple H noticed, so he let the fans do it without the music.
3rd Pick: SmackDown selected the Raw Women's Champion, Bianca Belair.
4th Pick: Raw selected Becky Lynch.
Triple H noted that concludes the first round. They'll be deliberating the second round backstage. He then introduced The Usos.
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The Usos/Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Segment
The Usos came out and congratulated Roman Reigns for being the first pick. They promised to win the titles tonight and return them to The Bloodline. They referenced trying to contact Reigns, but he didn't call or text them back since WrestleMania. Regardless, they're dedicating tonight's win to Reigns.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens interrupted. Zayn asked if they thought it was strange Reigns wouldn't respond to them. He added that Reigns, Sikoa, and Heyman were drafted without The Usos.
The Usos claimed Owens would turn on Zayn when they lose the titles. Owens heard enough. He doesn't care about any of this and promises to beat The Usos in the main event.
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- They showed the doors of the Raw and SmackDown "brain trust," as Cole called them. According to Cole, the brain trust is busy making their next picks.
- They showed the NXT roster watching from the NXT Performance Center.
- Bianca Belair sent in a message from Belfast, Ireland. She's excited to return to SmackDown.
LA Knight defeated Butch (8:00)
Knight defeated Butch in a fun opener. Knight gets a bigger reaction each week.
They recapped LA Knight mocking Butch last week, setting up this match.
Butch was firmly in control early as he worked over Knight's fingers and hand. Knight recovered, dropping Butch on the apron as they went to a break. The fans broke into a faint "LA Knight" chant.
Butch regained control, hitting a moonsault to the floor. The fans broke into a loud "LA Knight" chant. Butch climbed to the top rope, but Knight cut him off. Butch fought back and knocked him off. Knight recovered quickly, leaped to the top rope, and hit a superplex for a near fall to a huge pop. The fans broke into another loud "LA Knight" chant.
Butch went after the arm, but Knight reached the ropes. Knight rolled out of the ring. Knight quickly recovered and hit blunt force trauma for the win.
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- In the back, The Usos were sitting on a couch with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa standing behind them. Heyman noted TheUsoswill be drafted tonight to the island of relevancy or ocean of obscurity. Heyman told The Usos tonight's the night they come back as tag team champions. Heyman looked at Sikoa and said tonight is the night, implying he would take out The Usos if they failed.
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WWE Draft Round 2
Rob Van Dam and Michael Hayes came out to announce the next draft picks. RVD got a big pop, with the fans breaking into an "RVD" chant
The biggest surprises were Edge going to SmackDown, with Imperium, and the Intercontinental Champion Gunther going to Raw.
5th Pick: SmackDown selected The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins).
6th Pick: The Raw brand selected Imperium (Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovani Vinci).
7th Pick: SmackDown selected Edge.
8th Pick: Raw picked Matt Riddle.
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- The Street Profits made their way to the ring. Ford and Dawkins grabbed the mics. They're happy to be back on SmackDown. It doesn't matter what night they're on because they want the smoke.
Triple Threat Tag Team Match: Street Profits defeated Ricochet & Braun Strowman and LWO (Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) (7:35)
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The Street Profits won a fast-paced sprint with an excellent finish and a hot crowd.
Strowman cleared the ring of the Street Profits and LWO. Strowman tossed Ricochet over the top rope, wiping out the other two teams. They played off last week's spot when Strowman threw Ricochet into nothing.
Back from the break, Del Toro and Dawkins tried working together against Ricochet. Del Toro took out Dawkins with a springboard dropkick. Wilde tagged in and hit a dive, wiping out the Street Profits at ringside.
Strowman tried to break up a pin attempt on Ricochet. He cleared the ring and ran around ringside, running everyone over until Dawkins hit a dive out of nowhere. Ricochet hit a dive of his own. The finish came when Ford made a blind tag and hit the frog splash on Ricochet for the win.
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- A video package recapped the Bad Bunny-Damien Priest feud.
WWE Draft Round 3
JBL and Teddy Long came out to announce the next round of draft picks. The biggest surprises were Bobby Lashley going to SmackDown and Drew McIntyre going to Raw.
9th Pick: SmackDown selected Bobby Lashley.
10th Pick: Raw picked Drew McIntyre.
11th Pick: SmackDown selected The OC (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Michin)
12th Pick: Raw selected The Miz.
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Zelina Vega defeated Sonya Deville (w/Chelsea Green) (3:05)
Vega defeated Deville, but they did a terrible job building her up as a challenger to Ripley. Instead of looking strong, Deville dominated, with Vega getting the fluke win. Rhea Ripley jumped Vega after the match, but Vega at least got the better of Ripley.
Deville backed Vega into the corner, but Vega caught Deville in an arm bar. Deville quickly regained control and slowed the pace. Vega made a brief comeback, but Deville cut her off. Vega rolled up Deville out of nowhere for the win.
After the match, Rhea Ripley ran out and attacked Vega and Deville. Green backed out of the ring with the fans breaking into a massive "Mami" chant. Ripley went to give Vega the rip tide, but Vega countered into a DDT to a big pop.
- They showed Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens getting ready for their title defense.
- Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio congratulated Zelina Vega on her win and on getting the better of Ripley.
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The OC/Viking Raiders Segment
The OC made their way to the ring. AJ Styles grabbed the mic, but The Viking Raiders and Valhalla interrupted before he could speak. Styles stepped back, allowing Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Michin to take out the Raiders and Valhalla. Styles promised they're just getting started. He then hit the Phenomenal forearm on Ivar.
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WWE Draft Round 4
Shawn Michales and Road Dogg came out together to DX's theme music. The fans broke into a loud "HBK" chant. Cole made a point to mention that Michaels runs NXT.
13th Pick: SmackDown selected Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY)
14th Pick: Raw picked Shinsuke Nakamura.
15th Pick: SmackDown selected NXT Women's Champions Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn. Michaels noted he wasn't happy about that pick.
16th Pick: Raw selected NXT Women's Champion Indie Hartwell. Before making the pick, Road Dogg said Micahels would lose his smile a second time.
- McKenzie Mitchell spoke with Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn at the NXT Performance Center. Kayden Carer and Katana Chance demanded a title shot Tuesday night.
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- Kayla Braxton spoke with Shinsuke Nakamura about going to Raw when Karrion Kross jumped him from behind.
- The Usos headed to the ring for their title shot. Again, Paul Heyman implied that Solo Sikoa would attack The Usos if they didn't win the titles.
- Cole and Barrett discussed the WWE World Heavyweight title being exclusive to Raw since Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is staying on SmackDown. Barrett then announced that BOTH Raw and SmackDown superstars would compete in a tournament at Night of Champions to crown the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Undisputed Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defeated The Usos to retain the titles (17:39)
Zayn and Owens defeated The Usos in a fantastic, hard-hitting, fast-paced main event. The story revolved around The Usos dedicating the match to Roman Reigns. After losing, Cole teased that Reigns wouldn't want The Usos in the Bloodline.
The Usos jumped Zayn and Owens at the bell. Jey sent Zayn into the ring post and isolated Owens in the ring. As they went to a break, the Usos rocked Owens with a double superkick for a near fall.
The fans broke into a "Let's go Usos/Let's Go Sami" chant. Jey and Zayn fought on the top rope until Zayn hit a sunset bomb for a near fall. Zayn then hit a blue thunder bomb for another close near fall. Zayn climbed to the top rope, but Jey cut him off with an enziguri, causing Zayn to crash to ringside.
Back from the break, Owens hit a cannonball on Jimmy. He went up for the frog splash, but Jimmy cut him off. Jimmy and Owens fought on the top rope. Owens got the better of Jimmy, hitting a fisherman's buster and a Swanton bomb for a close two-count. The fans broke into a "This is awesome" chant.
In the back, Roman Reigns phoned Heyman. Heyman then told Sikoa that tonight is his night.
Back in the ring, Zayn went for a plancha, but Jey caught him with a superkick. Owens hit the stunner on Jimmy for another near fall.
Sikoa slowly made his way to ringside. Suddenly, Matt Riddle ran out and fought Sikoa to the back.
The Usos regained control, hitting Owens with a double superkick for a close two-count. They hit another double superkick on Owens and then a double superkick on Zayn. They hit a third double superkick on Owens for another near fall. Jey hit another superkick for another two-count.
The Usos set up for the 1D when Zayn pulled Jey out of the ring. Owens took advantage, hitting a stunner on Jimmy. Zayn then hit a helluva kick on Jimmy for the win to retain the titles.
Sikoa returned and watched on in shock that The Usos lost. Cole speculated that Reigns might not want the Usos in the Bloodline. The WWE Draft continues this Monday Night on Raw.
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Next Week: SmackDown takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with Bad Bunny appearing. Shinsuke Nakamura goes one-on-one with Karrion Kross. Plus, OC's Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows take on The Viking Raiders.
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