WWE SmackDown April 04 Results, Winners, Grades and Analysis

WWE headed to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Chicago, Illinois, for Friday Night SmackDown on April 04. CM Punk and Roman Reigns appeared on the show. Rey Fenix made his WWE debut. The show mainly focused on building WrestleMania matches. Braun Strowman and Jacob Fatu collided in a Last Man Standing match. Let’s review the whole show and talk about WWE SmackDown April 04 Results. 

CM Punk and Paul Heyman in the opener

The show opened with the Allstate Arena echoing with “CM Punk” chants. The Best in the World made his entrance and greeted fans. Punk talked about the WrestleMania main event and the crowd told him that he deserved it. Punk said that he earned it and thanked everyone including his wife “AJ Lee” and his dog “Larry”. Punk aimed to beat both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.

Paul Heyman arrived with his “Ladies and Gentlemen” line. Heyman called Punk his best friend in the world and told him that he belonged to the main event of WrestleMania. The Wiseman thanked Punk for his assistance in the WarGames. Heyman asked Punk about the favor as Roman wasn’t there so far. Punk said that he’d tell the favor in front of Reigns as it would affect The Tribal Chief as well. 

Grades: B

Analysis: It was good to see CM Punk opening the show in Chicago. A segment involving Punk and Heyman can never go wrong. They have a beautiful chemistry. The segment was just to hype up the Reigns and Punk face-off happening later on the show where they might reveal the favor thing. 

Rey Fenix vs Nathan Frazer 

Rey Fenix made his debut with an electric entrance. He faced the other main roster debutant, Nathan Frazer, one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions. The match started with the acrobatic moves of Fenix as he landed a spinning kick and a hurricanrana. On the ringside, he landed a spinning corkscrew. Frazer bounced back with a superplex and a neckbreaker for a two-count. 

Rey delivered a Goodbye amigo kick and a firedriver for a nearfall. In the end, Rey Fenix hit a superkick and a Mexican Muscle Buster for the win. In the post-match interview, Fenix thanked the audience and said that he’s a WWE animal now. 

Winner: Rey Fenix 

Grades: B+

Analysis: It was a good start for Rey Fenix in the WWE. Also, the NXT star Nathan Frazer got to shine on the blue brand. The commentary team mentioned that Fenix is Penta’s brother. It looks like Rey will have the same initial few weeks as Penta. 

LA Knight vs Tama Tonga 

LA Knight delivered a suplex to begin but Tama Tonga quickly replied with a back drop. Knight landed a big boot and a running knee. A distraction by Solo Sikoa allowed Tama to gain an advantage. Tonga pushed Knight onto the announcer’s table. After the commercial break, Knight hit a shoulder tackle and a sunset flip for a nearfall. 

The US Champion delivered a power slam and a jumping elbow drop. Sikoa tried to distract again but Knight shut him down and delivered a BFT for the victory. 

Winner: LA Knight 

Grades: C

Analysis: It was a fine match. There’s nothing else to say. It was a filler on the card and WWE had to go through that 3-hour time period. It’s been reported that the 3-hour length of SmackDown has been disappointing for both the fans and the officials backstage in the WWE. 

Backstage

We saw Paul Heyman waiting for The Tribal Chief in the parking area. He said yes to any favor Punk would have. In the meantime, a car arrived. Instead of Reigns, it was Seth Rollins and Heyman was confused. Rollins told Heyman to invite him as well when the favor thing will be revealed. 

Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton exchange words 

Wade Barrett questioned Charlotte Flair about why she chose Tiffany Stratton as her WrestleMania opponent after winning the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match. The Queen replied that Tiffany begged her and also, she wanted to clear the fans that there’s no competition. Stratton told Flair that she’d be second to her at WrestleMania 41. 

The WWE Women’s Champion told Flair that she’d be entering WrestleMania at 25 years old while Flair was doing nothing when she was 25. Tiffany called Flair a nepo-baby and Flair converted it to nepo-queen. Stratton mentioned Flair’s marriage failures and said that she is 0-3 on the outside. Charlotte mentioned Ludwig Kaiser as well who is Tiffany’s boyfriend. Stratton raised the title in the air in the end. 

Grades: C

Analysis: It was a dull and boring segment. The dream match has turned into a nightmare. Both were bad on the mic throughout the time. 

DIY vs Motor City Machine Guns 

DIY and Motor City Machine Guns collided in a tag match to determine the number one contenders for the Tag Team Championships. MCMGs dominated in the early go, delivering a double ax and a double shoulder tackle to Ciampa. Gargano tagged in and delivered a slingshot spear to Shelley. 

Sabin landed a cross body and a suicide dive to the outside. In the end, Ciampa’s own tactics got the best of him as he crashed into the exposed turnbuckle. Sabin covered him and got the win.

Winners: Motor City Machine Guns 

Grades: B-

Analysis: It was a fun tag team match but the lack of storyline has made this tag team division dead. The fans couldn’t care less about what’s happening in the division right now. Street Profits won the titles on March 14th episode of SmackDown but didn’t do anything memorable since then. Motor City Machine Guns is the #1 contender team for the tag titles. 

Naomi vs B-Fab

Naomi was attacked during her entrance by Jade Cargill. The security officials prevented the brawl and the match began. B-Fab took advantage of Jade’s attack and landed a spinning kick and a slam. Other than that, B-Fab couldn’t do much as Naomi landed a kneeling lung blower for the victory. 

Cargill attacked Naomi yet again after the match as the officials tried to separate the two. Nick Aldis wasn’t very happy and he made the match official for WrestleMania between Naomi and Jade Cargill. 

Winner: Naomi

Grades: B

Analysis: The match was kept short and Noami got the last laugh. The interesting storyline between Jade Cargill and Naomi will culminate in a match at the Grandest Stage of them all. 

Kevin Owens’ shocking announcement 

Nick Aldis was in the middle of the ring and he talked about the difficulties of being in the wrestling business. Aldis was referring to career-threatening injuries. He invited Kevin Owens. A despondent Kevin Owens arrived. The Prizefighter talked about his 25 years as a wrestler where he got to live his dream with his family. But, there is always a price to pay for every superstar and Owens said that it’s his time to pay that price. 

Owens declared that he needs to have neck surgery right now and cannot be a part of WrestleMania. He said that it is a bad time and it sucks for him to not share the ring with Randy Orton. KO said sorry and thanked the fans. As he was about to leave, Randy Orton came out. Randy entered the ring and Owens left. 

In the ring, Aldis told Orton that he’ll no longer have a match at WrestleMania. The Viper delivered RKO to the SmackDown GM and looked at the WrestleMania sign before leaving.

Analysis: It is heartbreaking to hear that KO won’t be a part of WrestleMania 41. His hard work in the recent months earned him a spot against the veteran Randy Orton, but his bad neck got that away. On the other part, it looks like they will manipulate a way for Orton to be a part of WrestleMania as a legend like him can’t miss the Showcase of Immortals. It was one of the Biggest Feuds heading into WrestleMania 41.

Braun Strowman vs Jacob Fatu 

It was a Last Man Standing match and the winner will get a shot at the United States Championship. Fatu ran through Strowman during the entrance. He landed superkicks and moonsaults. At ringside, Strowman smashed Fatu’s head with a steel chair and sent him crashing through the barricade. Both men stood up at the ninth count by the referee.

After the break, the fight went on between the fans. Strowman delivered a suplex through the table onto the concrete floor but that couldn’t take Fatu down for a 10 count. They both somehow came back to the ring where Jacob hit a running hit attack through the table, enough to keep the Monster down for a 10 count. 

Winner: Jacob Fatu

Grades: B+

Analysis: It was a colossal Last Man Standing match between a Monster and a Werewolf. Jacob Fatu is a future star and he proves it every time in the ring. Fatu has earned himself a US Title opportunity without Bloodline’s help.

What is CM Punk’s Favor?

Roman Reigns pulled up in a black SUV. He walked angrily, straight to the ring, and didn’t do much of his usual entrance. Reigns took a microphone from his Wiseman and demanded acknowledgment from the Chicago crowd. Roman talked about how Punk returned to WWE because of him and will now main event WrestleMania because of him. The fans chanted “OTC” and Roman said to Punk that fans in his own city are chanting for the Tribal Chief.

Seth Rollins made his entrance and entered the ring. He told Reigns that reality was going to bite him soon. Rollins said that Punk is in the main event and that’s reality. Reigns should have stopped him at Survivor Series or at the Garden. Roman called Rollins untrustworthy and said that he gave the main event to Punk because he promised his Wiseman. 

CM Punk arrived and straight got to the point. Punk said that the favor is about friendship, loyalty, and promises. Punk remembered a promise made to him years ago on Raw and asked for Heyman to be in his corner at WrestleMania as his Wiseman and best friend. Roman Reigns laughed about the favor. He said that the Wiseman loves The Tribal Chief. Roman said that Heyman wouldn’t go even if he allowed him to. 

Reigns told the Wiseman to say no to Punk. Heyman had tears in his eyes. Reigns told Heyman to reject Punk’s offer multiple times. Heyman’s silence made him angry. Finally, Heyman spoke and said that he couldn’t say no to Punk. Reigns grabbed Heyman to the corner. Punk attacked Roman from behind and delivered a GTS. Seth was leaving as he had a staredown with Punk. With Roman down, Heyman was yelling from the apron to close out SmackDown.

Grades: A

Analysis: Wow! Another cinema segment was added to the list. Punk wants Heyman in his corner at WrestleMania and he didn’t say no. The story just took multiple steps up. We can’t wait for this match. 

Overall, a fun episode of SmackDown. Brilliant opening and ending segments. What are your thoughts on the WWE SmackDown April 04 Results?