Winners And Grades As Triple H Vows Game-Changing Draft

WWE SmackDown advertised Jey Uso vs. Sami Zayn with The Bloodline storyline threatening to wear out its welcome after Roman Reigns’ shocking WrestleMania 39 victory over Cody Rhodes.

SmackDown was the subject of a lot of tension both in and out of the WWE locker room after Vince McMahon returned to creative Monday night on Raw. The result was a dismal Raw After Mania littered with last-minute changes. McMahon’s toxic return coincided with the sudden disappearance of Bayley as locker room morale plummeted. McMahon is reportedly working remotely for today’s broadcast as Triple H remains in charge (for now.)

Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown drew 2.484 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown Results | April 7, 2023

• The Brawling Brutes def. IMPERIUM
• Ricochet def. Ivar
• Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def. Shotzi and Natalya
• The Judgment Day def. Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar
• Jey Uso def. Sami Zayn

WWE SmackDown Ratings

• March 31, 2023 | 2.484 million
• March 24, 2023 | 2.219 million
• March 17, 2023 | 2.258 million
• March 10, 2023 | 2.320 million
• March 3, 2023 | 2.451 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Moda Center (Portland, Ore.)
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 9,838
• Available Tickets: 227

WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades

The Brawling Brutes def. IMPERIUM

This was a fun opener, and either WWE is still teasing Sheamus’ chase for the Intercontinental Championship, or they’re fresh out of ideas for all parties involved after a classic WrestleMania match.

Backstage, Paul Heyman continued to gaslight Jey Uso by claiming Jimmy Uso was ordered to stay home and watch Jey take Sami Zayn out all by himself. After Jey left, Heyman suggested Solo Sikoa may take out Jey if Jey wasn’t successful in the main event.

WWE continues to tease a reunion between Jey and Sami, which should absolutely make Rey Mysterio feel some type of way.

Brawling Brutes vs. IMPERIUM Grade: B

Ricochet def. Ivar

This was a rare singles match from Ivar, and it was actually pretty damn good.

Ricochet continues to be called the “highlight of the night,” with a copyright infringement lawsuit from Chris Jericho looming.

Ricochet vs. Ivar Grade: B-

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def. Shotzi and Natalya

Shotzi and Natalya are now calling themselves the Ballsy Baddies. Jade Cargill would not be impressed.

The finish was off as Shotzi awkwardly rolled while taking Liv Morgan’s Oblivion.

I feel like Trish Stratus is going to cost Lita and Becky Lynch the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, and if so, will there ever be a pair of women’s tag team champions who get to have a dominant reign.

Morgan and Rodriguez vs. Ballsy Baddies Grade: C+

Triple H Announces WWE Draft

Michael Cole noted that Triple H now “runs the place,” even though everybody knows Vince McMahon is hovering somewhere remotely as the Wizard of Oz in WWE.

Triple H noted “every Superstar” would be eligible to be drafted, but he didn’t mention WWE NXT by name.

Triple H vowed that the WWE Draft would be a “game-changer.” If this truly is a Triple H Era-approved draft, I’m excited.

I expect the WWE Draft to do a huge number if WWE builds it up accordingly.

The Judgment Day Appears Live

Rhea Ripley was introduced by Triple H and Michael Cole put over Ripley’s match against Charlotte as one of the greatest championship matches he’s ever seen at WrestleMania. With Ripley undefeated since May of last year, WWE is all-in on making her a gigantic star.

Michael Cole teased a potential Judgment Day split via the draft.

Rhea Ripley continues to call herself the greatEST women’s champion in all of WWE as the slow burn between Ripley and Bianca Belair continues.

Dominik Mysterio received absolutely nuclear heat from this crowd as he hasn’t lost an inch of steam since losing at WrestleMania. In fact, he may even be a bigger heel.

Judgment Day Promo Grade: B+

Judgment Day def. Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar

Though Damian Priest was not featured on WrestleMania, a pay-pre-view match against Bad Bunny, likely in the main event, is the next best thing.

I understand how Judgment Day, namely Damian Priest, has to be built up headed into Backlash, but why beat Santos Escobar a week after the LWO was formed?

Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio vs. Judgment Day Grade: B

Jey Uso def. Sami Zayn

Backstage, Solo Sikoa took out Kevin Owens.

Jey Uso donned all new gear where he wore boxing shorts similar to Grayson Waller’s gear.

Michael Cole continued to go on a crusade against The Bloodline, and just like he does while railing against Dominik Mysterio, Cole shined in his role.

Jey Uso won the match with help from yet another Samoan Spike from Solo Sikoa. Jey Uso finished off Sami with a modified dropkick.

Jey stopped Solo Sikoa from using the Samoan Spike only to tell Solo to get a chair. Riddle made the save and dispensed Sikoa out of the ring. Now they have a Matt Riddle problem.

Sami Zayn vs. Jey Uso Grade: B+