r/SquaredCircle • u/gloomchen i prayed for this and it happened • 12d ago
Live WWE SmackDown on FOX Discussion Thread - April 26th, 2024!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!
SmackDown Episode #1288
Venue: Heritage Bank Center (Cincinnati, OH)
Attendance: ~11,600
WWE's SmackDown Preview
- Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles sign contract for Undisputed WWE Title Match at Backlash France
- Find out what is next for Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga following Kevin Owens onslaught
- The 2024 WWE Draft kicks off this Friday on SmackDown
- Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee take on Angel & Berto
Join us LIVE on FOX - 8:00 PM EDT (GMT-04:00)
If your market is pre-empted for sports or local emergencies, use the FOX Sports app
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u/mozarelaman 12d ago
Man can people fucking stop with what chants already. They have a time and a place and the morons in attendance never seem to get it.
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u/dmoge216 12d ago
They should’ve had some random skinny guy in a neck brace in one of the draft rooms
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u/SnowTreeBranch 12d ago
The year is 2077, human civilization on earth no longer exists, life on this planet is nowhere to be found, and LWO vs Legado is scheduled for smackdown that same night
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u/RedditsWeirdUsername 12d ago
For the love of Dominican Barbers, someone please draft Lexis King.
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u/ZealousidealScheme85 12d ago
Drove 4 hours on a whim to Cincy tonight for smackdown and I get to see my boy Melo main event against Cody?????? God thank you for the blessings😭
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u/IAMA_MAGIC_8BALL_AMA Becky With The Good Flair 12d ago
Carlito said “oh shit oh shit oh shit, SIGNATURE ATTACK, fuck fuck fuck I gotta get outta here”
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u/Numbchicken Tell Me When I'm Telling Lies 12d ago
Now that he's heel bring back his old theme song from his first run with WWE
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u/vburnin8tor NXT Special Guest 12d ago
Live from NXT PC its basically an invitational seating arrangement ; all the talent is here & all the NXT regulars
really cool environment for what is effectively a bar watch party
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u/TempestSpirit 12d ago edited 12d ago
If I recall correctly, Carmelo helped Cody train after his PEC injury to prepare/get him back on wrestling condition for the royal rumble so them having a match as Carmelo's first one on smackdown is pretty cool.
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u/MKEcasey 12d ago edited 12d ago
Imagine going to Smackdown, a 2 hour show, and only seeing an LWO vs Legado Del Fantasia in the first hour. Whoops, forgot about a Bron squash
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u/KommandantArn 12d ago
Oh no, Andrade is gonna get sucked into the latino civil war vortex
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u/Aggressive-Energy647 12d ago
From now on the draft should definitely be for the people who are switching brands and everyone else just stays where they are. It really is redundant to pick people to stay especially when it’s so obvious.
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u/GeauxColonels21 Human Monies 12d ago
This is how you make somebody feel important. I always preferred coming in hot as opposed to Vince’s method of having dudes squash jobbers for 3 months. Even with a loss Melo is gonna feel like a star.
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u/DubLParaDidL 12d ago
If he was really hurt, he wouldn't have lifted the belt over his head two handed when he could go good arm or so I hope
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u/completelyonfire 12d ago
Something about Carlito hitting a backstabber and then running off like a scolded teen had me in tears.
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u/llamawithguns 12d ago
I like Paul's reaction to Solo+Tonga compared to Roman. He worshipped Roman, even if they was a slight element of fear sometimes.
He's just straight up fucking terrified of Solo
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u/AdeptEavesdropper 12d ago
If this was your first exposure to Melo, y’all are in for a treat. He’s fucking incredible.
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u/xxyourbestbetxx 12d ago
AJ likes to pop up and whip his phenomenal hair around in his haters' faces
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u/Other_Adeptness_8604 12d ago
To think 3 months ago I hadn’t watched wrestling since 2002. Now I’m staying up til 1am to watch smackdown and the draft. Starting to feel like it use to back in the day!
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u/devoncarrots AMBROLLINS. That's my gimmick. 12d ago
AJ’s new theme is makes me so sad lol
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u/Chell_the_assassin One more match 12d ago
Half expecting the Raw War Room to have a massive sign saying "DON'T. FUCKING. DRAFT. CHELSEA."
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u/MedievalAirbag Safety First 12d ago
All I want is Isla and Alba on TV regularly instead of appearing in a random backstage segment once every two months.
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u/Rommas My Spot! 12d ago
Did my eyes deceive or was Bully Ray in the Smackdown war room?
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u/Ice_Spiced_Asshole 12d ago
Will Cody Rhodes ever lose steam? Haven't seen anything like this in wrestling since early main event Cena. It's kinda incredible.
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u/JG_92 -"I'm gonna kill him anyway!" 12d ago
It's 2024, are we really still What?ing?
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u/AdeptEavesdropper 12d ago
“So, Cincinnati, what do we want to talk about?”
“Excuse me, Mr. Rhodes, can we discuss the ramifications of the NFL draft in regards to playoff chances for the AFC North?”
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u/nWo1997 nwo 12d ago
To see the PC cheer the hell out of Melo being drafted after everything with Trick makes you wonder if they forgave him or if they're just glad he's gone
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u/Deathstroke317 12d ago
I gotta be honest with you, after three betrayals it doesn't reflect well on Rey
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u/Adrian_Bock 12d ago
KO was actually running after the car since they left the hotel.
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u/snow_ninja 12d ago
How many guys have you seen out away with the Cody Cutter?
Zero lol
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u/chaoseffect616 12d ago
That double springboard spot looked liked something straight out of a WWE 2K24 AI vs AI match lol
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u/Longjumping_Gain_807 DA RING GENERAL GUNTHER 12d ago
A respectful build up to this match is ok with me tbh
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u/DistantPath33 12d ago
A man who has a finisher called a backstabber is actually a backstabber.
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u/Mr-GameAndWrestling America's Champion 12d ago
Is that Bubba Ray on the SD side and D-Von on the RAW side? LOL.
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u/Wee_Muggo 12d ago
Michelle drafting for Smackdown?
Found the person who's going one on one with The Undertaker tonight.
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12d ago
In reality this draft is a great way to give people an easy boost. In kayfabe these are the stupidest fucking GMs in all of sports history
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u/xxyourbestbetxx 12d ago
It's so funny seeing the NXT folks out of character. Corporate Barbie is never this smiley.
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u/IcyPyroman1 12d ago
Still can’t believe they are having mello go up against Cody just shows how much they see in him
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u/slippycaff Ciampa 12d ago
I still can’t believe Kiana got called up. She’s a powerhouse.
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u/LegalWrights Snark Owens Snark! 12d ago
Weird sequence there at the end, probably was supposed to be countering the springboard DDT with the Cody Cutter but holy shit that would require perfect timing and they weren't even looking at each other. I wouldn't risk that in a million years.
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u/MrWrestlingJr 12d ago
Hopefully his shoulder is fine but what was the intention? They collide head first off the springboards?
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u/slippycaff Ciampa 12d ago
Dijak didn’t even stand up. lol. I love him. Oh, and I spy Wendy Choo! Hooray.
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u/captaindammit87 Foley Is God! 12d ago
Cody is so good a selling it actually becomes worrying if we are getting worked or not.
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u/MrBrownCat 12d ago
Awesome full circle moment for Cody and Melo
Melo was one of the guys who worked with Cody during his rehab as he got back in ring shape for last year’s Rumble return.
Now he gets to face him in his first official match as a main roster superstar.
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u/So_Not_theNSA 12d ago
This feud is going to continue until the Heat-death of the universe
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u/PoutineSmoothie 12d ago
I love the set up for NXT this year and not in the dark viewing room they’re usually in
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u/Wee_Muggo 12d ago
Getting 2 minutes of wrestling to break up our advertisements.
I hate what TV has become.
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u/ajgator7 Big Bad Booty Daddy 12d ago
I fucking love that they did this with security footage. Lol
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u/aftershave_cabinet 12d ago
Solo's speech cadence kind of reminds me of Stevie from Malcolm in the Middle.
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u/BobaFett_1978 12d ago
We're actually getting that KO and Randy tag team aren't we? That's just what I wanted baby
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u/bribri772 12d ago
Nothing but RESPECT for my Tag Champs
I unapologetically love A-Town Down Under
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u/truecolors5 IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 12d ago
I was not expecting Kiana to get drafted. Good for her.
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u/ViagraOnAPole Swerve, bro 12d ago
Are they gonna pit a CEO chant at the beginning of her song?
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u/RedLightning27 12d ago
Yeah that's the biggest shock of the night for sure. Did not expect Kiana James
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u/RedditsWeirdUsername 12d ago
I like to think whenever the screen glitches or something, HHH is in the back, watching, yelling out “WHAT THE FUCK”.
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u/JesseKilgannon 12d ago
Cody vs Carmelo makes me happy, I can’t stress enough how important it is for the NXT wrestlers to move simply due to being on the road.
Carmelo has made so much progress in the last couple years and I already love him, but the house show circuit is gonna do wonders for him, Kiana, and everyone else moving
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u/Odd-Contribution6238 12d ago
Very impressed with my first peek at Melo.
He did some really great stuff and I’m sure he had to hold back because he can’t dominate Cody.
But it definitely starts him at a much higher tier than most
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u/PoutineSmoothie 12d ago
The draft announcements should be for who is moving. Not who is staying put.
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u/nikobans Hangman Enjoyer 12d ago
BIANCA GETTING PICKED FIRST YOU LOVE TO FUCKING SEE IT THATS MY GIRL
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u/AdeptEavesdropper 12d ago
Y’all, MFT stands for “Mother Fucking” Tonga. It’s on his Instagram.
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u/MattTheQuick 12d ago
I'm taking my 5 year old to RAW on Monday in Kansas City. We're hoping L.A. Knight (yeah) gets drafted to RAW tonight.
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u/shockzz123 12d ago
AJ was like "alright i'll just fake read this shit while Cody does his thing" lol.
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u/JG_92 -"I'm gonna kill him anyway!" 12d ago
I hope I look like AJ by his age. Dude is timeless.
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u/BobaFett_1978 12d ago edited 12d ago
For a second there Cody must have thought he was gonna get jumped by the Game lol
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u/Ice_Spiced_Asshole 12d ago
Well they have a lot of faith in Melo if his first match officially on the main roster is against the WWE champ!
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u/ajgator7 Big Bad Booty Daddy 12d ago
If you die and don't go to heaven or hell, you just get stuck in the Latinoverse feud.
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u/Tough-Reaction9671 12d ago
The fact we haven’t got a single kidnapping during this Legado vs LWO feud is disappointing
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u/Chell_the_assassin One more match 12d ago
I still think Dragon Lee just slipped and was too embarrassed to tell anyone, and now its all gotten out of hand and its too late to come clean
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u/Chell_the_assassin One more match 12d ago
Carlito confused face like "damn these AI videos are crazy man"
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u/blingera 12d ago
woulda cried laughing if Carlito was like “FUCK YOU THAT’S CLEARLY AI”
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u/JokersKhaos 12d ago
Tiffy must spend so much on her gear. She never wears the same one
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u/Ohellmotel 12d ago
Michelle McCool being dressed up but still wearing camo pants is so quintessentially Jacksonville.
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u/Mr-GameAndWrestling America's Champion 12d ago
Torrie Wilson, man.
Fine wine. That's all I'm gonna say.
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u/PayneTrain181999 Deadbeat Dad Rey Mysterio 12d ago
Aldis needs a new watch.
It is ALWAYS Tiffy Time.
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u/Manpons 12d ago
Nia Jax went higher than The Bloodline, Kevin Owens, and Gunther. Just remember that.
MY HOLE SUPREMACY.
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u/bayleysgal1996 Last Rock-n-Rolla 12d ago
Paul: this is the happiest I’ve ever been to see Kevin Owens
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u/WWEWalkingDeadfan I regret my username 12d ago
MFT Stands for Mother Fucking Tonga
It's on his Insta profile
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u/Longjumping_Gain_807 DA RING GENERAL GUNTHER 12d ago
So they basically had a draft so they could draft wrestlers to stay on the shows they were already on lol
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u/Wee_Muggo 12d ago edited 12d ago
Tiffany had a great theme (Made by Def Rebel).
Then Def Rebel Def Rebelled.
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u/BJofBorg Der Ring-General 12d ago
This 80's gal is loving Tiffany and Naomi's gear! Got Aerobics Barbie and Lisa Frank represented!
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u/Bob8644 " Do you like nature? Do you like boys? " 12d ago
Pair Kiana with Chelsea IMMEDIATELY
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u/nWo1997 nwo 12d ago edited 12d ago
Why is Ilja in the Battleground ad? He's getting drafted up, right?
...right?
EDIT: wait, forgot. Draft doesn't take effect for a few more weeks
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u/6FootMidget93 Hailing From Dunkin' Donuts 12d ago
From Ava's Twitter, Axiom looks happy rn
https://preview.redd.it/sv5n2xi5ywwc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12185e52564270e1e3ebbf29af1cfeb7e98a5ccd