WWE SmackDown Results April 14, 2023, Live Results
Welcome to the live results blog for WWE SmackDown April 14, 2023, which will be live from Lincoln, NE, on the way to Backlash 2023 event.
Only one match was announced in advance in LA Knight vs Xavier Woods which was set up with an argument over Xavier Woods’ video game exploits. The return of Shinsuke Nakamura is also announced but his opponent was not revealed in advance. Judgment Day vs LWO rivalry continued with a singles match between Santos Escobar and Damian Priest.
New Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez celebrated their title win. Matt Riddle continued his rivalry with The Bloodline as he faced Solo Sikoa in a singles match with Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens in his corner.
Check below for complete results from WWE Friday Night SmackDown April 14, 2023 episode with live updates, winners, highlights, and complete action.
RESULTS
- Xavier Woods defeated LA Knight in a singles match via pinfall.
- Damian Priest defeated Santos Escobar in a singles match via pinfall.
- Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Madcap Moss in a singles match via pinfall.
- Solo Sikoa defeated Matt Riddle in a singles match via pinfall
LIVE UPDATES
The Enemies of The Bloodline
WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn open the show and the crowd was hot for them. Sami starts to talk and mentions how just two weeks back they closed out WrestleMania 39 as the champions. He says they did not have much time to process what has happened. This is an exciting time but with a lot of uncertainty. Owens says there is uncertainty, but he can say some things with surety – they are the tag team champions and they will defend these titles as much as they can.
Owens says it is also a fact that sooner or later The Usos are coming for a rematch. The Usos’ music hits and they come out with Solo Sikoa. Jimmy starts to talk about being under pressure as the champions and says that they know about the pressure as they were champions for more than 600 days. Sami says he is sure that they know about the pressure since they had to report back to their daddy Roman Reigns. Jimmy mocks Sami over thinking that there are cracks in the Bloodline.
Jey says there are no cracks in the Bloodline. He says he was wrong about Owens, and adds that it will be Sami who will backstab and turn on Owens just like he did with the Bloodline. Sami says he wonders of he can be as good at lying as Jey. Sami says they are trying to act like everything is fine with Roman Reigns after they lost the tag team titles.
The Bloodline has had enough and they surround the ring. They have the numbers advantage but it is gone as Matt Riddle runs to start brawling with Solo. Owens and Sami brawl with The Usos and throw them into the timekeeper’s area. Riddle ducks a Samoan spike and hits ripcord knee on Solo. He was going for a moonsault but The Usos pull out Solo to safety. Riddle, Owens & Sami stand tall in the ring to close the segment.
After the break, we see the recap of the brawl. We cut backstage to Adam Pearce telling a referee that Solo Sikoa and Matt Riddle can settle their differences in the main event tonight.
Xavier Woods vs LA Knight
Knight starts with a side headlock. He hits a shoulder tackle when Woods throws him on the ropes. Woods replies with a dropkick and poses for the crowd. Woods puts on headlock now. He cranks in it with more pressure. Knight goes for a back body drop but Woods lands on his feet. Knight hits him with a shoulder tackle to drop him immediately. Knight hits a back body drop but Woods gets up on his feet with kip up.
Knight rolls to the floor and Woods hits him with a suicide dive. Woods brings Knight back in to the ring but Knight goes back to the floor quickly to avoid a splash. Woods goes for a dropkick through the ropes but Knight catches his legs and pulls him out. He sends Woods into the ring post and then into the barricade. We cut to a break.
Woods slams Knight’s face into the turnbuckle as we return. Knight counters with a neckbreaker to get a two-count. Knight boots him on the ropes before putting on a headlock again. Woods hits a knee to his face and follows up with some jabs. He hits a leg lariat to drop Knight again. Woods ducks a couple of clotheslines before dropping Knight with a double axe handle to get another two-count. Knight runs into an elbow but quickly counters with a kick to midsection to hit a DDT for a two-count.
Woods blocks a suplex. Knight resorts to a big blow to his back before some kicks. He goes to suplex Woods outside the ring but Woods counters and drops him on the ropes. Woods hits a double stomp on the back of Knight’s head on the ropes. Woods follows up with an elbow drop but Knight grabs onto the ropes to break the pin. Knight comes back with a body slam and an elbow drop.
Woods blocks BFT. Knight goes for a roll-up but the referee refuses to count as he was holding onto the tights. Woods rolls up Knight and holds onto the tights to get the pinfall.
Winner – Xavier Woods
Knight is livid at the referee not catching Woods for holding onto the tights. Woods has rolled to the floor quickly and says his time is now.
Imperium trio are talking backstage when Xavier Woods comes in and blows his trumpet in their ears. Intercontinental Champion Gunther tells his stablemates to ignore him, but Woods plays the trumpet once again. Gunther asks him what he wants. Woods says with the upcoming draft, he does not know which brand he will land on, so he wants to challenge Gunther for the IC title.
We get a recap of Matt Riddle being sidelined last year after an attack from Solo Sikoa. Sami Zayn is talking to Riddle backstage and warns him that anything could happen in the ring against Solo and he needs to be careful. Owens takes offense on being careful part but Riddle cuts in and says he can only control his side of things and keep it clean, but he cannot control the Usos or Sami Zayn’s Uceyness.
Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio are interviewed by Kayla Braxton at the Gorilla position. Rhea snaps at Kayla for questions about LWO and Rey Mysterio. Priest calms her down and says Santos Escobar can fight, but he is terrible at picking friends. Priest says he is going to the ring to talk about Bad Bunny. Judgment Day trio make the way to the ring.
Priest takes the mic and says Backlash is in Puerto Rico with Bad Bunny being the guest. He says if Bad Bunny wants to watch the show from the front row, he is welcome but if he tries to attack him family, he knows what happens. We get a recap of Damian Priest putting Bunny through the announce table when he tried to brawl with Dominik.
Santos Escobar vs Damian Priest
The match has already started as we return from the break. Santos hits a knee strike. He ducks a clothesline and pushes Priest to the floor. Santos goes for a double axe handle but Priest nails him with an uppercut. Priest takes him back to the ring and drops him with a suplex to get a two-count. Rhea screams at the referee for a slow count. Priest hits a body kick. Escobar hits back with a chop at the chest.
Priest hits more body kicks and Santos replies with some rapid-fire chops. Santos hits a dropkick to get a two-count. Escobar puts Priest in the corner and hits double knees. He unloads with punches from the second rope. Priest picks up Escobar, but he avoids a move with an elbow. Priest sends Escobar to the floor with a big kick. He hits a double axe handle after jumping off the steel steps. We cut to a break.
Priest stops Santos’ momentum with a flat liner as we return. Priest hits some punches before Santos hits a jawbreaker. Santos charges to the corner but Priest hits back. He gets to the second rope and goes for a move, but Santos hits back with headbutts before a hurricanrana off the top rope to get a two-count. They start trading punches now. Escobar hits a ripcord knee and running forearm shots. Priest sends him to the apron but Escobar hits him with a shot and hits a moonsault to get a quick two-count.
Santos picks Priest in fireman’s carry. Rhea distracts the referee as Dominik pulls Priest down. Priest runs over Escobar with a lariat. Wilde and Del Toro attack Dominik. Priest gets to the floor and pushes them over the barricade. Escobar hits a suicide dive on Priest. He brings Priest back to the ring but Rhea Ripley pulls his legs. Zelina Vega sends Rhea into the barricade. Priest takes advantage of the distraction and hits South of Heaven Chokeslam to get the pinfall.
Winner – Damian Priest
After the match, Priest continues to beat Escobar down on the floor. Rey Mysterio’s music hits and he jumps on Priest after coming through the crowd. He gets into the ring and drops Dominik on the ropes but Priest pulls Dominik out before Rey can hit 619.
Paul Heyman is backstage with The Usos as he tries to hype Solo Sikoa. Heyman says he just talked to Roman Reigns and he has told him that Riddle has not only humiliated Solo but also humiliated Roman. Heyman names several from Anoia Family who are humiliated by Riddle’s attack on The Bloodline. Solo stops Heyman and asks Heyman to tell Roman that he has got it.
Women’s Tag Team Champions
We get a recap of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez winning Women’s Tag Team Championship. They are in the ring after making their entrance before the break. Raquel thanks Liv for using her as her personal weapon. Liv says she will always allow her to throw her on people. Liv adds that they are still catching each other’s vibes and wonders how good could they be if they are champions this early.
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green interrupt them. Sonya asks how can they be tag team champions when they have not defeated both the champions. Sonya reminds that it was Trish Stratus in their match and not Lita when they became the champions. Green takes a shot at them by saying that there is no difference between the fans and them.
Liv replies that Deville and Green will their new title challengers after they talk to Adam Pearce. Liv and Raquel then attack Deville and Green. Raquel forces Sonya to the floor before Liv hits Green with a codebreaker. She goes for Oblivion but Sonya pulls her out.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Madcap Moss
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his grand entrance. Madcap Moss is at the Gorilla Position with Emma. Emma motivates him and tells him to show his best version before the draft. Moss is hyped as he makes his entrance.
Moss rushes Nakamura to the corner with a tackle and unloads with punches. Nakamura blocks a fall away slam before more shots from Nakamura. Nakamura hits a roundhouse kick to drop Moss. He unloads with punches before another kick. He sets up and hits a sliding German suplex before returning to the ring to hit Kinshasa to get the pinfall.
Winner – Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match, Moss tries to attack Nakamura from behind but Nakamura gets him into an armbar. Emma has to pull him to safety.
We cut to Scarlett backstage who has a Shinsuke Nakamura tarot card. Karrion Kross stamps a card beside Nakamura’s and tries to scare us on the camera.
Braun Strowman is walking backstage when he suddenly gets attacked by The Viking Raiders.
Matt Riddle makes his entrance for the match. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens accompany him. Solo Sikoa comes out with The Usos and Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman takes the mic and says he has a historic announcement from the Tribal Cheif. Heyman says after Roman has talked to the management and there will a rematch for Tag Team Titles on SmackDown two weeks later. Heyman says he can guarantee us that Sami and Owens will lose. He says that The Tribal Cheif is getting fed up of them, as he looks at The Usos in hindsight.
Matt Riddle vs Solo Sikoa
Riddle starts with quick shots in the corner. Solo pushes him back but Riddle grabs his arm for a lock. Solo overpowers him and slams him to the mat. Riddle jumps on his back and puts on a sleeper. Solo slams him on his back. Riddle puts on the sleeper once again. Solo has to slam him to the mat on his back. Solo hits a big uppercut to take over control.
Solo manhandles Riddle on the mat before working him against the ropes. Solo hits a big chop before Riddle tries to create momentum with some quick shots. The Usos run a distraction and Jey pulls Riddle’s leg. Sami and KO protest The Usos’ invovlement. The referee boots them all to backstage. Riddle rolls up Solo for a two-count. Solo hits a Samoan Drop to get a two-count.
Riddle is firing punches but Solo hits back with a back elbow to cut off his charge. Solo gets a hold on Riddle’s shoulder. Riddle gets back to his feet and trade punches. Solo hits a big uppercut to drop him. Solo misses a corner splash and Riddle hits quick shots before a Pele kick. He hits a running elbow in the corner. Solo tries to block an exploder but Riddle manages to hit it. Solo gets his knees up on a senton.
Riddle fires more shots before hitting The Floating Bro. Solo kicks out of the pin. The Usos come to ringside through the crowd. Sami and KO run out and start brawling with The Usos. Riddle catches Solo’s dive with a kick. He hits a moonsault on The Usos on the floor. Solo catches Solo with a superkick midair when he goes for a splash. Solo hits Samoan spike to get the pinfall.
Winner – Solo Sikoa
After the match, Solo hits an Urinage on Riddle on the announce table. He then buries Riddle under the announce table. Sami and KO come in and remove the announce table. Some referees and crew also run in and check on Riddle. Sami and The Usos stand tall in the ring.
