Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for April 12, 2024

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. The crowd chants "You deserve it!" before Cody talks about how he was interrupted by The Rock on Monday and wondered, just like his wife Brandi Rhodes, "Who told you tonight was open mic night, bitch?" He admits the air got colder and the mood changed as The Rock put something in his hand, and that while it was uncomfortable and awkward, he believed him when he says he was returning to Hollywood and believed him more when he said he would return for him. Cody tells The Rock that he will be right here waiting, then addresses Backlash, which will happen in France in three weeks, when he faces either Santos Escobar, Rey Mysterio, LA Knight, AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley or Kevin Owens for the Undipusted WWE Universal Championship. Cody says it is not lost on him that tonight is sold out, and he looks out at the crowd. He says that he is now the hunted and not the hunter, and "If you come at the king, you'd best not miss."

Backstage, The Bloodline (Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) are shocked that Roman Reigns' dressing room now belongs to "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Kevin Owens shows up, goes through the door, tells them they are not invited, and that there is a broom closet nearby. Solo says he will take care of things, but Heyman tells him that winning and losing matters and that there are consequences to losing. He says that if they want the dressing room back, the title must come back to The Bloodline, by order of Roman Reigns.

LA Knight beats Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley in a Triple Threat Match to help determine a #1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship that sees Humberto and Angel get involved only to get beaten down by The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford).

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews The Latino World Order. Rey Mysterio says Santos Escobar's loss earlier is karma, and Carlito says that "Santos is all cap." Rey says the truth will eventually surface regardless of how it gets twisted, then says he is focused on AJ Styles and Kevin Owens and he believes he has another run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

The Bloodline (Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso) head to the ring. Paul Heyman states that The Bloodline have no excuses for Roman Reigns losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship as "accountability is a big word on the island of relevancy" and that Roman insists on accountability. He says that Roman entered the ring strategically and unemotional, and that Cody was able to flip the script at WrestleMania 40, that Seth "Freakin'" Rollins told the truth, and that Roman gave in to temptation after ten years of waiting for revenge on Rollins. Heyman says that when Roman gave in to temptation, Cody was strategic and prepared, and it was over. He says Cody is the champion now, but as he says that Roman will rise from the ashes, Solo stops him, asking if losing and winning matters and if there are consequences for losing, then says consequences mean change. He then pushes Heyman out of the way, stares down Jimmy, then hugs him much like Roman Reigns would. He then says "You're my brother. I love you," before Jimmy is attacked from behind by a man in a black hoodie, who is none other than Tama Tonga, who has recently left New Japan Pro Wrestling. Solo then stops Tama Tonga so that he can personally hit Jimmy Uso with the Samoan Spike, then Tama Tonga raises a finger upwards while Solo guides Heyman to the ring and also raises a finger up. Solo then takes Heyman's phone and stomps on it, then Tama Tonga grabs a chair at Solo's command. Solo takes the chair and wraps it around Jimmy's neck in the corner before hitting him with the hip attack.

Bron Breakker quickly beats Cameron Grimes.

We hear from "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, who says that tonight is the night to fix what went wrong at WrestleMania. He says Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio are collateral on his path to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, as he will demolish everything in his path to the title and that it is just business. After stating he will go through Owens and Rey to get what he wants, he states that it will be a taste for what LA Knight will get next week.

Bayley heads to the ring. The crowd chants "You deserve it!" before Bayley says it feels so good and so proud to be WWE Women's Champion, and while it is not her first time as champion, she had to beat someone she once considered a friend in Iyo Sky to do it. She says that she also gets to call herself champion for a new era as she part of one of the best locker rooms she has ever been part of, and she also thanks the fans for being behind her every step of the way. As she prepares to give a brand new opportunity to anyone to face her as champion, Tiffany Stratton shows up and says it was rude not to be given an opportunity at WrestleMania before saying Bayley is building up to an open challenge, which she accepts because it is "Tiffy Time." Bayley says it is not an open challenge and that she had someone else in mind: Naomi. Tiffany says Naomi could not win a title if it glowed in the dark. Naomi shows up, and Tiffany says she and Bayley were in the middle of something and that she already beat Naomi. Naomi says Tiffany tried her on the wrong night and that she has earned all her accomplishments in WWE, and she is not stopping now. She says that the championship match will have to wait, as she wants "Clueless Tiffany" right now.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton reports that Jimmy Uso is in the trainer's room. Paul Heyman emerges from the room, and before Heyman can say anything, Tama Tonga stares down Heyman and tells him "By orders of the Tribal Chief." Solo Sikoa then shows up and stares menacingly at Heyman before he and Tama leave.

Naomi beats Tiffany Stratton with a jackknife pin after Tiffany mouths off at Bayley.

We hear from Grayson Waller and Austin Theory, who brag about winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championships while Grayson Waller brags about Theory's recent history of winning titles at WrestleMania. Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis is meeting with The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne), and he says they will find Waller and Theory new challengers next week.

WWE has had eighteen consecutive sold out televised shows. 15,785 people are here at tonight's show.

We hear from Logan Paul, who brags about retaining the United States Championship at WrestleMania and how every event he has been in has been the biggest event WWE has ever had. He says it is the new era and "The Logan Paul Levesque Era."

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair beat Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Kevin Owens. Owens borrows the microphone, carries a Detroit Tigers championship and says he hopes that "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is suffering from some PTSD from LA Knight's home invasion. He also says that he and Rey Mysterio have sons who are taller than they are and that his son is not a disappointment while Dominik "just sucks." He then says Styles and Rey are in his way, and he will beat both of them tonight before stepping out onto the ramp.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles beats Rey Mysterio and Kevin Owens in a Triple Threat Match to help determine a #1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and face LA Knight next week for #1 contendership after hitting an avalanche Styles Clash on Rey onto Owens. After the match, LA Knight shows up and has a staredown with Styles in the ring.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Naomi! LA Knight! "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!