WrestleMania 38 SmackDown featured the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, “Happy Talk” with special guest Angela (Drew McIntyre’s sword) and Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza challenging Ricochet for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Last week’s broadcast of Friday Night SmackDown garnered 2.180 million viewers.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown Ratings—Last Five Weeks
- March 25, 2022—2.180 million
- March 18, 2022—2.147 million
- March 11, 2022—2.226 million
- March 4, 2022—2.261 million
- February 25, 2022—2.114 million
WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales
- WWE SmackDown Venue: American Airlines Arena (Dallas, Texas)
- Tickets Distributed: 11,703
- Available Tickets: 510
Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti Must Turn Heel (Pro Wrestling Bits)
WWE SmackDown Total YouTube Viewership Last Friday: 6,840,856 (Down from 6,548,411)
- Most-Viewed: Brock Lesnar Steel Chair assault (2,641,650 views)
- Least-Viewed: Sami Zayn calls out Johnny Knoxville (123,402 views)
- Median Viewership: 296,194 views
WWE SmackDown Results | Friday, April 1, 2022
Madcap Moss wins Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Happy Corbin interfered multiple times, resulting in multiple distractions for Madcap Moss.
Last week I identified Madcap Moss as a “buy low” candidate, and here he is winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Get ready for a jealousy storyline and split to make Madcap Moss one of the top babyfaces on SmackDown, possibly as Riddick Moss.
If Madcap/Riddick Moss isn't a top star this time next year, something went horribly wrong in WWE's star-building process (again). Him or Big E are actually my early picks to win next year's Royal Rumble match.
Ricochet def. Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza—WWE Intercontinental Championship
Wrestling politics aside, this was actually a fantastic Triple Threat match. At points it reminded me of the great Triple Threat opener from WrestleMania 34.
Though it sucks Ricochet was bumped to the go-home show, at lest he essentially got to win a 2-on-1 match.
Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Queen Zelina and Carmella
This was a “momentum-building” match, so naturally the champions had to lose.
The other two tag teams were positioned on the outside of the ring, but surprisingly they really didn’t play into the match or the finish, which was a basic spit-legged moonsault by Naomi.
Charlotte Flair cut a promo on Ronda Rousey following this match, and as has been the case all week, she had to deal with these pesky “what” chants.
Pat McAfee Faces off with Vince McMahon
Pat McAfee’s reaction to being tripped up by Austin Theory on the table was priceless.
Vince McMahon has not officially inserted himself into this match, but he did make a cameo after a chase sequence between Austin Theory and Pat McAfee to reprimand McAfee.
Despite Pat McAfee making up to $120 million for his podcast, Vince McMahon just looked him in the eye and said "You want me to fire you?"
Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs vs. Austin Theory and The Usos
Between Ricochet, Madcap and Rick Boogs, WWE has its next generation of top babyfaces right under its nose. They just need to kick their addiction to part-timers and see it through.
By trolling Pat McAfee, Austin Theory was able to get some solid heat as fans chanted “Theory sucks” during this tag team match.
Michael Cole told Pat McAfee that Austin Theory has been punking him out for weeks, and the camera panned over at McAfee just as he was staring daggers through Cole.
WWE sacrificed both the Intercontinental and United States champion to put keep Austin Theory strong headed into his match against McAfee.
Michael Cole has been Pat McAfee’s life coach throughout this whole feud. Fans even chanted “Michael Cole.”
“Happy Talk” with Happy Corbin
The special guest for this segment was Drew McIntyre’s sword Angela. I was very surprised that this was the main event segment with Drew McIntyre chasing off Happy Corbin.
Drew McIntyre conveniently destroyed the ring moments before the WWE Hall of Fame. Now I know why this was the main event segment.
