Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for April 26, 2024

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Paul Heyman, who announces that Roman Reigns has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility from the 2024 Draft, saying that this is a positive and not a negative after everything Roman has done and that Roman will not be returning in the immediate future so as not to hog the number one draft kick. He says that the first two draft picks will make history, and that he is intrigued as to who they will be. Meanwhile, back in the Performance Center, Jackie Redmond announces that NXT Superstars are eligible to be drafted.

Corey Graves moderates the contract signing between AJ Styles and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes for their Undisputed WWE Championship match at Backlash. Styles arrives first, followed by Cody. Styles says that "two Georgia boys are about ready to mix it up for the biggest prize in the game," and that he does not respect LA Knight for getting under his skin and it caused him to lose at WrestleMania. He after getting his composure back, he realized he was phenomenal and beat Knight to get to this moment, then says that he respect Cody as they traveled down the same roads to end up in WWE. He says that the same person who gave him advice a long time ago also gave Cody that advice, and that person is Cody's father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. He says that he learned a lot from Dusty and that Dusty was a good man, as he taught him how to carry himself and be a champion, and at Backlash, he and Cody will see if Cody can carry the gold. Styles signs the contract. Corey Graves hands the contract to Cody, then Cody says there is not a single locker room where everyone respects AJ Styles, and while he respects Styles and what he has done, that respect goes out the window at Backlash. He says that Styles has been in this position before and is not fit to carry the championship, then says it is not about winning the title, but keeping it, and as soon as he signs, it is not a dream match, but a "must win." Cody signs the contract. Both men stand up, and as Cody extends his hand, Styles says that while it was great to see Cody finish his story, his reign will end at Backlash. Cody looks back at Styles leaves the ring, ignoring the attempt at a handshake. Cody leaves, then WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque shows up, raises Cody's hand, and announces the first round draft picks. Triple H has Cody read the SmackDown picks while he reads the Raw picks, with SmackDown going first. #1 is Bianca Belair for SmackDown. #2 is "Main Event" Jey Uso for Raw. #3 is Carmelo Hayes for SmackDown, making him the first NXT Superstar to ever be drafted in the first round. #4 is Seth "Freakin'" Rollins for Raw. Carmelo Hayes shows up and introduces himself, saying that when they talk about who the hottest out it, they call him "Carmelo Hayes," and warns Cody that when he shoots, he does not miss, and as a first-round draft kick, he wants to shoot his first shot at him. Cody says fortune favors the bold, then asks if the fans want to see him tonight, then says he has his gear and tells Carmelo that he is on. Both men shake hands.

The Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) beat Legado del Fantasma (Humberto and Garza). After the match, Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez show up, and Escobar says that while he is many things, he is not a liar, and that he meant it when he said he did not attack Dragon Lee. He says Elektra has tracked down the security footage and has found it, and says Rey will find it very interesting. The footage reveals that Carlito attacked Dragon Lee, and when Carlito realizes he is found out, Carlito attacks Dragon Lee again before fleeing through the crowd.

Bron Breakker quickly beats Cedric Alexander. Strange images are shown during the replay.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis is met by Tiffany Stratton, who brags about what she did to Naomi and Bayley and asks where her title shot is. Aldis says somebody convinced her not to send her to the back of the line, and puts her in a match with Naomi where the winner gets a shot at the title. Tiffany asks whose idea this was, and Bayley shows up and says it was hers. Bayley says that if Naomi wins, she gets he rematch, and if Tiffany wins, she will see what it is like to step up to her. Tiffany says she will beat Naomi, then leaves.

Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson head to the stage for the Round 2 draft picks.

Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson head to the podium for the Round 2 draft picks. #5 is Randy Orton for SmackDown. #6 is Bron Breakker for Raw. #7 is Nia Jax for SmackDown. #8 is Liv Morgan for Raw.

Backstage, Paul Heyman apologizes to Solo Sikoa, who wants to know if The Bloodline have been drafted, then asks for all the details about Roman Reigns withdrawing from the Draft. Heyman gives him that, then says both sides not knowing what they will get when The Bloodline (Heyman, Solo, Tama Tonga) is drafted due to Solo adding new members. Tama Tonga shows up, and when Solo asks Heyman to repeat himself. Heyman runs away when he notices Kevin Owens going for a cheap shot from behind, and referees have to break up the ensuing brawl.

Kayla Braxton interviews Bianca Belair on the stage. Bianca says that she hopes that Jade Cargill is drafted with her to SmackDown, as she wants to put an end to everything Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane) has done and Jade is the perfect person to help her with that. She says Damage CTRL is falling apart, and when she and Jade have the women's tag team titles, they will have no reason to return to SmackDown. Solo Sikoa shows up and security and officials show up to try to break up the brawl, and security is quickly laid out. Randy Orton shows up and fights off both Solo and Tonga, and officials and security are able to move into place to break up the brawl. Owens hugs, then tries to get another piece of Solo and Tonga.

The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) head to the stage for the Round 3 draft picks.

The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) head to the podium for the Round 3 draft picks, with Bubba Ray covering SmackDown and D-Von Dudley covering Raw. The Dudleys put on their signature glasses before naming the picks. #9 is LA Knight for SmackDown. #10 is Ricochet for Raw. #11 is The Bloodline (Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga) for SmackDown. #12 is Sheamus for Raw.

Bayley guests on commentary for the next match.

Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton to decide a #1 contender for the WWE Women's Championship ends when Nia Jax shows up and attacks Bayley before throwing Naomi into the ring post. After the match, Tiffany gets Naomi and Bayley back into the ring to hit them both with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and B-Fab. B-Fab says it does not matter where they get drafted, as The Street Profits will win the WWE Tag Team Championships and earn a one-way ticket back to SmackDown. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory butt into the interview, and Grayson says the Cincinnati Bengals know nothing about championships to get Angelo's goat for wearing a Bengals jersey. Grayson and Theory run away when Bobby Lashley sneaks up on them.

Teddy Long and JBL head to the stage for the Round 4 draft picks.

Backstage, Karrion Kross and Scarlett reveal that The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) have attacked New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne), and Kross says that regardless of where they are drafted, the violence will not stop until The Final Testament (Kross, Scarlett, Akam, Rezar, Paul Ellering) gets what they want.

Teddy Long and JBL head to the podium for the Round 4 draft picks. #13 is AJ Styles for SmackDown. #14 is Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) for Raw. #15 is Andrade for SmackDown. #16 is Kiana James for Raw. After a vignette for Kiana James, Jackie Redmond interviews Kiana, who says that she is filled with gratitude and that all her decisions have been made to lead to this moment and she hopes to prove that she is the "one percent" on Raw.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews General Manager Nick Aldis, who says that he is happy with his draft pick and hopes that the SmackDown roster will show out. He also announces that Tiffany Stratton, Naomi and Bayley will face each other in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women's Championship at Backlash. Teddy Long shows up and announces that The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) will take on Kevin Owens and Randy Orton, also at Backlash.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Carmelo Hayes. After the match, AJ Styles shows up and has a staredown with Cody Rhodes in the ring to end the show.

#1: Bianca Belair (SmackDown)

#2: "Main Event" Jey Uso (Raw)

#3: Carmelo Hayes (SmackDown)

#4: Seth "Freakin'" Rollins (Raw)

#5: Randy Orton (SmackDown)

#6: Bron Breakker (Raw)

#7: Nia Jax (SmackDown)

#8: Liv Morgan (Raw)

#9: LA Knight (SmackDown)

#10: Ricochet (Raw)

#11: The Bloodline (Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga) (SmackDown)

#12: Sheamus (Raw)

#13: AJ Styles (SmackDown)

#14: Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) (Raw)

#15: Andrade (SmackDown)

#16: Kiana James (Raw)

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Bayley! Grayson Waller and Austin Theory! Carmelo Hayes!

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