WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Ratings, and Highlights From Apr. 11

With WrestleMania 41 just a little over a week away WWE SmackDown has headed to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Randy Orton kicks off WWE SmackDown

Kevin Owens made a shocking announcement last here on WWE SmacDown saying that he would not be able to perform at WrestleMania in his match against Randy Orton due to his upcoming neck surgery. Meanwhile, Randy Orton hit GM Nick Aldis with an RKO after he found out that he has no opponent at Mania.

Aldis kicked off this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown to address the whole situation saying he has been asked to maintain professionalism while he invited Orton to the ring. Orton arrived on the scene saying he really wanted a match at WrestleMania since it would be his 20th Mania.

Solo Sikoa then appeared on the scene saying Orton is now just a past and began bragging about Jacob Fatu. Orton then had enough and called out both Sikoa and Tama Tonga. Sikoa and Tonga then began their beat down on Orton before LA Knight arrived on the scene to help Orton.

Orton and Knight then challenged Sikoa and Tonga to a tag team match later on the show, which was made official by Aldis.

Ratings: 7 /10

Gauntlet Match for Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 41

GM Nick Aldis made an announcement last week here on WWE SmackDown that the Women’s Tag Team Championship will be defended at WrestleMania with the challengers being decided via Gauntlet Match.

• Lyra Valkyria and Bayley eliminated Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler
• Lyra Valkyria and Bayley eliminated Natalya and Maxxine Dupri
• Lyra Valkyria and Bayley eliminated Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
• Lyra Valkyria and Bayley eliminated B-Fab and Michin
• Lyra Valkyria and Bayley eliminated Alba Fyre and Piper Niven

Result: Bayley and Lyra Valkyria won the Gauntlet
Ratings: 7 /10

Damian Priest meets Drew McIntyre

Damian Priest was then attacked by Drew McIntyre as he was heading down to the ring for a possible face-to-face meeting between them ahead of their match at WrestleMania 41. A group of officials then came down to the ring side and took Priest backstage who was unable to walk by himself after the attack.

McIntyre then talked about his history with Priest from last year’s WrestleMania untimely unveiling that he is cleared for the match at Mania. Priest then returned to the ring as the officials tried to stop him. Meanwhile, McIntyre took advantage and began to attack the eyes of Priest and hit him with a Future Shock DDT on the steel steps.

Ratings: 8 /10

Backstage segment ft. DIY, Pretty Deadly, and Motor City Machine Guns

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where DIY tried to convince Pretty Deadly about how Motor City Machine Guns defeated them last week here on WWE SmackDown to become the new No.1 Contenders.

Machine Guns then also arrived on the scene saying this is no conspiracy but just karma.

Rey Fenix vs. Berto

After defeating Nathan Frazer last week here on WWE SmackDown Rey Fenix now faced Berto of the Legado Del Fantasma in a singles match.

Both Fenix and Berto delivered an amazing high-flying match with Fenix picking up the win.

Santos Escobar arrived on the scene and congratulated Fenix.

Result: Rey Fenix defeated Berto
Ratings: 8 /10

Backstage segment ft. Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Stratton

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Roxanne Perez said that she wanted to talk to GM Nick Aldis and wanted to fight for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 41 since she was the runner-up in Royal Rumble earlier this year.

Tiffany Stratton then arrived on the scene as she challenged Perez to match later on the show.

Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green on WWE SmackDown

WWE SmackDown then featured a singles match between Zelina Vega and Chelsea Green. Green had to walk alone for the night since Piper Niven and Alba Fyre were recovering from their match earlier on the show.

The match had a very weird ending as the referee completed the count of ten and no one had any clue about what was going on.

Result: Zelina Vega defeated Chelsea Green
Ratings: 4 /10

Backstage segment ft. Legado Del Fantasma

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Santos Escobar seemed to be upset about Berto’s performance in his match against Rey Fenix.

Cinematic promo segment ft. Naomi and Jade Cargill

Naomi then appeared in a promo segment giving a warning to Jade Cargill ahead of their match at WrestleMania 41. Cargill replied saying she was just jealous of her and that at Mania she would be coming for her.

Cody Rhodes comes to WWE SmackDown

Ahead of his WrestleMania 41 match against John Cena, Cody Rhodes arrived on WWE SmackDown as the ring was filled with all the versions of the WWE Championship over the years.

Rhodes delivered an amazing promo saying the WWE Championship will stay with ‘us’, referring to himself and the fans in attendance.

Ratings: 8 /10

Backstage segment ft. Street Profits

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Street Profits met The Miz and Carmelo Hayes who told them that Profits being the champion is a joke.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Roxanne Perez

WWE SmackDown then featured a shingles match between Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez after they had a little argument backstage earlier on the show.

Both women put up an awesome match with some incredible moves. But in the end, Stratton pinned Perez to pick up the win.

Stratton’s WrestleMania 41 opponent Charlotte Flair attacked her right after the match ended.

Result: Tiffany Stratton defeated Roxanne Perez
Ratings: 7 /10

Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga vs. Randy Orton and LA Knight

After coming to the aid of Orton against Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, LA Knight now teamed with Orton to take on both Sikoa and Tonga in a tag team match.

Orton and Knight delivered an amazing performance in the match. Knight was able to pick up the win for the team after Orton took away Sikoa from the ringside — fighting into the fans in attendance.

Jacob Fatu then attacked Knight after the match ahead of their own US Championship match at WrestleMania 41.

Result: Randy Orton and LA Knight defeated Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga
Ratings: 7 /10

WWE SmackDown, Apr. 11: Results Highlights

Gauntlet Match for Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 41:
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria won

Singles match:
Rey Fenix defeated Berto

Singles match:
Zelina Vega defeated Chelsea Green

Singles match:
Tiffany Stratton defeated Roxanne Perez

Tag Team match:
Randy Orton and LA Knight defeated Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga

My thoughts on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown:

With just a week away from WrestleMania 41, WWE SmackDown featured an episode that did not impact the card in any major way besides adding more layers of story to some of the already announced matches.

I know the fans have always wanted to see more crazy stuff going on as we head into the biggest show of the year. Maybe WWE is keeping to the weekly shows in normal order by choice to drop the big bomb of craziness at Mania in Vegas.

My Ratings for the show: 7 /10