Match Ratings And Podcast Notes For WWE Smackdown Live For 4/24/18 From Sean Ross Sapp

Miz TV

• The Miz goes off about how Daniel Bryan doesn't care about his child the way that Miz does.
• Big Cass joins instead. He's in a suit, and says he's Miz's guest now. The Miz doesn't want Cass' help, but Cass says it's not always about Miz.
• Cass cuts a bad ass promo until he says the idea that if you get sick of bullying you can grow to be 7 feet tall. He says Daniel Bryan reminds him of himself when he was little.
• Cass says that he didn't have to go through the indies and Japan because he's tall, educated and good looking. This was an unbelievably good promo. 
• Big Cass knocked that promo out of the park besides going against everything he's said for years by insinuating he in fact did teach himself to be seven feet tall.
• After the segment, Asuka and Becky Lynch find Bryan laid out.
• Later on, an iced up Daniel Bryan says he's good to go for Friday, and Paige gave him a match with Big Cass for Backlash.

The IIconics defeated Becky Lynch & Asuka
5.5/10

• The IIconics are probably better at this kind of gimmick than anyone who has done it.
• For whatever reason, WWE loves going to commercial at the beginning of their opening matches. 
• We come back to Becky Lynch Matrix-ing her way out of a lazy pin.
• I like the addition of the Shoulderblock/forearm combo from Becky than the running one legged dropkick.
• Corey Graves flat out references Mean Girls. 
• I just realized how absurd Asuka's hair looks when it matches Peyton Royce's gear. 
• Asuka and Becky Lynch work well together as a team. Well, until Becky runs into Asuka and she gets pinned by Peyton with the help of the ropes. 
• Asuka technically loses.

Backstage Crappenings

• Andrade 'Cien' Almas highlight video. So is Sanity.
• New Day are backstage promoting their new book around the pancake dinner. The Bar interrupt and steal their pancakes after promoting their Greatest Royal Rumble match. 
• Samoa Joe cuts a promo on Seth Rollins for Greatest Royal Rumble. He throws Miz and Finn Balor in there, too. 

Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso) defeated Rowan (w/ Harper)
5.25/10

• Naomi approaches the Usos backstage, and is told she doesn't need to be at ringside because Jey has Jimmy's back. 
• Would they really have Jimmy Uso killed in front of a Make a Wish kid?! TUNE IN
• Rowan runs though Uso on the outside. Kills him. They did it. He killed Uso.
• Naomi 's entrance distracts Rowan. Rowan: "WHAT ARE THESE FUCKING COLORS I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE COLORS ARE"
• Jey Uso takes out Harper. Jimmy hits Rowan with a dropsuperkick and wins.

Contract signing

• Carmella looks right with the championship, and is getting use of that Mixed Match Challenge outfit. Renee Young is A+ at her job. Carmella throws to videos of herself weekly. 
• I fully believe the Carmella character would have highlight videos of herself commissioned each week.
• She isn't happy with the response, so she makes them play it again, but Charlotte interrupts.
• Charlotte signs, then slams Carmella's head on table and throws it over onto her. 

Shelton Benjamin defeated Randy Orton
6/10

• Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring, but Randy Orton interrupts him, just like Hardy did to him last week.
• Fun fact: Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin were in a battle royal together 18 years ago in Louisville for an OVW show. Of course they went on to be some of the best OVW products there were.
• Benjamin stops an RKO early, and kicks away at Orton on the apron. Shelton's run-up knee connects, as does a dragon whip that Orton sells well.
• Orton's powerslam connects, but Shelton sees the RKO coming and rolls out. Jeff Hardy moves so Orton can Singh Bomb Shelton into the table. 
• Outside of the ring, a masked man clips Hardy's leg. It's Singh, who gets RKO'd.
• This allows Shelton to hit a Paydirt that Orton takes TERRIBLY for the win.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev Day defeated The Club
5.25/10

• At what point did Rusev Day become Nakamura's "friends?" Either way, AJ Styles indicates that The Club will be joining him for a six-man tag main event. English declines an interview.
• The Club reunite backstage. It was a nothing happening few seconds.
• This effort to get Rusev booed is frustrating. 
• New vocals on the Nakamura theme.
• Corey Graves says Luke Gallows has "educated feet" but I'm not sure that means what it's supposed to.
• Back from the commercial, at Machka Kick hits AJ Styles. Styles gets a Pele kick.
• Road Dogg in Gorilla like "why did Gallows do the Pumphandle Slam without humping the guy?"
• It all breaks down and Nakamura hits the Kinshasa on Gallows for the win.
• Styles comes in and gets punched IN THE BALLS. At this point, WWE has to be regretting giving Reigns the fist-cock instead of Nakamura.
• Gallows takes a Kinshasa for Styles, and eats another one.