Tag: smackdown live results

WWE SmackDown Tribute to the Troops live results: CM Punk returns

Posted on by Colin McGuire

For the first time in nearly a decade, CM Punk will appear on SmackDown.

Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series two weeks ago and appeared on the next night’s Raw, but this will mark the first time Punk has been featured on the blue brand since coming back to WWE.

Also set for tonight’s special Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown is an appearance by Cody Rhodes. Signed to the Raw brand, Cody last appeared on SmackDown last month when he helped LA Knight fend off The Bloodline. 

Speaking of The Bloodline, Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso will team up to face Randy Orton & Knight tonight. Orton returned to the ring at Survivor Series after being out for nearly 18 months with an injury. Last week, he officially signed on to be part of SmackDown’s roster.

The United States title number one contender’s tournament kicks off as Bobby Lashley faces Karrion Kross and Santos Escobar steps into the ring against Dragon Lee.

Also, Asuka will go one-on-one agains Charlotte Flair. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– The show opened with shots of service members in the crowd chanting “USA!” This was the 21st Tribute To The Troops. The War And Treaty performed “God Bless America.” I interviewed them three days ago. It’s weird how life works. The crowd turned up the “USA!” chants after the performance as pyro shot off behind the duo. Michael Cole welcomed everyone in alongside Kevin Patrick and JBL, who sat in on commentary for the night. Patrick and Cole talked about some of the show’s card. Santos Escobar then made his entrance for the first match. 

Santos Escobar defeated Dragon Lee to advance in the United States Title Tournament [9:09]

This is a hot crowd and a stacked card, so I expected a little more from this. The finish weirdly came out of nowhere and played to the quietest the crowd had been all night to that point. Lee feels neutered on the main roster. There’s a lot of dropkicks to people in corners and a lot of head-scissor attempts, but little else. We all know he’s got it in him; I just wonder if the decision-makers are toning him down a bit, because there was potential here for both guys to have a very good match. Instead, it never managed to get into the next gear and this was ultimately just kind of there.

Before the match started, Dominik Mysterio’s music hit and Dirty Dom walked to ringside. Escobar ran at Lee to start the match, but Lee moved and clotheslined Escobar over the top rope. Back in the ring, Lee kept control as Escobar found himself on the outside again. From there, Lee landed a splash and threw Escobar back into the ring, where Lee hit a series of kicks for a two-count. Lee climbed the ropes, but Escobar pushed him off to slow things down. Escobar followed that up with a neck-breaker and a two-count. Escobar jawed at Lee and headbutted him. Escobar ran at Lee, but Lee countered and put Escobar on the apron. Lee attempted to follow that up, but Escobar caught Lee and hit a power-bomb as the show went to its first commercial break. 

Back from that break, Lee fired up and landed some punches on Escobar. Lee followed those up with some more strikes and a kick to an upside-down Escobar’s head. Lee hit a running dropkick for a two-count. Escobar eventually got in a hard-hitting super-kick for a nice near-fall. Escobar lifted Lee for his finisher, but it ultimately turned into a sit-out power-bomb for Lee for a good near-fall. Lee landed a running knee that took Escobar to the outside. With Escobar back in the ring, Lee went to the top, but Escobar cut Lee off and hit the Phantom Driver for the win.

After the match, Dominik entered the ring and stood tall over Lee. Dirty Dom left to a bunch of boos. A video recapping Randy Orton signing to SmackDown last week then aired. 

**********

– Nick Aldis was shown backstage and Randy Orton walked in. Orton asked Aldis why Aldis booked his tag match for later. Orton said he barely knows who LA Knight is. Aldis said all Orton needed to know was that both Orton and Knight want The Bloodline. Orton was apparently fined in storyline because of last week and Orton paid double the amount because he said he wanted to get the next fine’s payment out of the way now. 

The Cody Rhodes segment

The crowd offered some very loud “Cody!” chants, and Cody looked genuinely moved. Cody did the “What do you wanna talk about?” line and the crowd responded accordingly. Cody noted how it is WWE’s Tribute To The Troops. The crowd went nuts and that’s an understatement. Cody said on behalf of everyone at WWE, he wanted to say thanks to all the service men and women in the arena and watching around the world. Cody threw it to a video package chronicling Tribute To The Troops through the years. It focused on John Cena’s involvement. 

Back in the arena, the crowd erupted into “USA!” chants. Cody thanked everyone for their service again and then welcomed in the U.S. Army’s Drill Team. Brad Nessler was then shown at the commentary table because he’s going to call the Army vs. Navy game Saturday on CBS. Michael Cole asked Nessler if he wanted to stick around and call a match and Nessler agreed. Bobby Lashley then made his entrance.

Bobby Lashley defeated Karrion Kross to advance in the United States Title Tournament [6:47]

This was never in doubt. As if crowds need more reason to loudly cheer for Lashley these days, here was an Army veteran wrestling in front of an arena of service members on a show called Tribute To The Troops. If you thought Lashley might lose this, you probably also still think CM Punk is going to be revealed as the devil in AEW. The match was what it should have been, so it’s hard to complain about it. I continue to wonder about Kross, though. It feels like every four to six weeks, there’s some report somewhere stating that he’s ready for a “big push” or a “strong story,” but nothing ever seems to happen for the guy. He was fine here, as The Guy Designated To Lose To Bobby Lashley – and he was very good at it, to boot – but how much longer until he finds something meaningful?

Lashley cut a picture-in-picture promo during his entrance talking about how he and his father served in the armed services. Lashley ended it by saying “God bless America.” Montez Ford was also part of a video package chronicling his time in the Marine Corps before the match started. Once the match did start, Kross attacked Lashley with a series of kicks and knees. Lashley went for The Hurt Lock early, but Kross fought out of it and went back to some punches and elbows. Kross tried to throw Lashley into ring steps on the outside, but Lashley jumped over them and came right back at Kross. 

After things quickly moved back inside the ring, Lashley landed a German Suplex and then clotheslined Kross over the top to take him back outside of the ring. With Kross on the outside, the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, Kross had the upper hand and worked some elbows and a vertical suplex. Nessler noted on commentary how he hadn’t seen Kross since “like August,” so you know that guy’s a fan. Kross went for a punch and eventually hit a kick for a two-count. Kross ran at Lashley, but Lashley caught Kross and planted him. The crowd started a loud “Bobby!” chant. Lashley hit a swinging neck-breaker and followed that up with a vertical suplex. 

Lashley ran at Kross, but Kross got a knee up. Even so, Lashley came right back and slammed Kross before setting things up for a spear, which he hit. That spear was enough to get the 1-2-3. Lashley will face Santos Escobar in the next round of the U.S. title tournament. 

**********

– Damage CTRL was shown backstage and Asuka hesitantly gave Bayley a high-five. Bayley said she’d stay in the back and noted how Charlotte vs. Asuka is a WrestleMania rematch. Dakota Kai stepped in and said they would accompany Asuka to the ring while Bayley stayed back. 

The CM Punk segment

Well. This was better then whatever happened on Raw a couple weeks ago. I’m not so sure the crowd got the punching-people-backstage line – or even the Kevin Owens line for that matter – as much as Punk or others would have liked, but it’ll probably mean more with the online wrestling community, which is fun in its own right. For anyone who thinks CM Punk doesn’t listen to the noise, this promo should be reason enough to know that at this point, he pays attention to everything at all times. He heard the criticisms of his Raw promo. He pulled off the gloves as much as WWE would let him, complete with vague AEW drama reference, and the crowd loved it. He’s very, very good at speaking to all sets of wrestling fans at the same time and that’s one thing I’m not sure he gets enough credit for these days. All told, this was pretty good. And it felt more like CM Punk than anything else that’s happened since he returned to WWE.

Punk looked a bit inspired as he made his way to the ring. Plus, well, he smiled. A lot. “CM Punk!” chants then echoed loud. Punk referenced how his time got cut on Raw a couple weeks ago and naturally, the crowd responded with even louder “CM Punk!” chants. Punk talked about maybe signing to Raw and said the crowd might have been louder on Raw. Punk asked the crowd if they want him to be a Raw superstar or a SmackDown superstar. When the poll got to SmackDown, the crowd cheered. Punk asked the crowd if they want him to rin the Royal Rumble and main event WrestleMania and boy, those CM Punk chants could be heard in downtown Boston. 

Punk referenced Cody and asked “What do you guys want to talk about?” Punk noted how some people are upset about him being in WWE. Punk actually called himself happy-go-lucky. Punk said he wanted to turn it up to 11 and be “the spicy CM Punk you all know and love.” Punk said he’s putting his feet on the couch and his feet have mud all over them. Punk said it wasn’t “what,” but “who” they want him to talk about. Punk called out Roman Reigns and the crowd went nuts. Punk congratulated Reigns and said, “Don’t forget who the OG Paul Heyman Guy is.” 

Punk said Roman wasn’t there, but his cousins were. Punk shouted out Jey Uso. Punk stumbled on Jimmy Uso’s name. Punk talked about how the Usos have tons of cousins. Punk referenced Randy Orton and wondered if they could get along. Punk said LA Knight would tag with Punk and even did the LA Knight thing, which the crowd ate up. Punk mentioned Kevin Owens. Punk wondered if they could tag together or fight each other. Punk said he and Owens are probably too much alike. Punk referenced “randomly punching people in the face backstage.” Oh boy. 

Punk mentioned JBL at the commentary table. Punk said everyone has welcomed him back except that one guy. Punk said he’s “not even The Man in his own household.” The crowd then sang Seth Rollins’s theme song. Punk encouraged the singing and the crowd obliged. Punk said they will find out where he will sign – on Raw or SmackDown – on Monday night, and he even teased signing with NXT. Punk said he is the monkey wrench in everyone’s plans and goals. Punk said he is back to finish what he started and on Monday, he will put pen to paper. Punk said finishing his story is main-eventing WrestleMania. Punk dropped the microphone and mimicked hitting a baseball out of the park as the crowd chanted his name. 

**********

– Punk was shown walking backstage and came across The Bloodline locker room. Punk then walked away … until Kevin Owens stepped into the frame. The two exchanged a few words and walked their separate ways. 

Asuka defeated Charlotte Flair [6:21]

Friends, I was in New Orleans to watch Asuka wrestle Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania in 2017 and I had the highest of high expectations. This match went six-and-a-half minutes, had a commercial break in the middle of it, featured some type of spot that I must have missed because the commentary team laid heavy into Charlotte perhaps being injured, ended with a distraction finish – and even then felt like it was rushing to get to the end line (and maybe that was case and maybe Charlotte is legitimately injured, and if so, here’s hoping for a speedy recovery). But damn. There’s not much to say because not much happened. And it pains me to say that. 

Before the match started, Zelina Vega and Michin ran out and fought Damage CTRL members to the back. Shotzi and Bianca Belair joined the fun and we were down to a one-on-one match between Charlotte and Asuka. Charlotte had control early and the match spilled outside, where Charlotte landed a bunch of chops, until she missed one and chopped the ring post. Asuka briefly had the upper hand until Charlotte back-dropped Asuka on the guardrail. Charlotte then went for her moonsault off the top to the outside and missed it almost entirely. Still, Charlotte stood tall as the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from break, Asuka had control with a few kicks. Charlotte came back by slamming Asuka’s head into the second rope. Charlotte was limping and went for a figure-eight, but Bayley appeared out of nowhere and pulled Charlotte away from Asuka. Charlotte elbowed Bayley, but as a result, Asuka rolled Charlotte up for the win. 

**********

– Backstage, Nick Aldis handed Punk a contract for SmackDown and Cody stepped into the frame. Cody said it sounds like for Punk to finish his story, he’d have to win the Royal Rumble. Cody said that’s interesting. The two shook hands and Cody walked away. 

– Randy Orton was shown backstage. LA Knight walked into the frame. CM Punk then walked into the frame. Punk wished them good luck. Orton asked Knight if he was ready for tonight. LA Knight, predictably, said, “Yeah.” To the ring, we went, for the main event. 

– Roman Reigns will return to SmackDown next week. Also next week, Grayson Waller will go up against an NXT superstar in the U.S. title tournament. Kevin Owens will wrestle Austin Theory next week, too, as part of the tournament. 

Randy Orton & LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa [12:13]

I like this tiny place LA Knight finds himself in. He’s getting all the rubs from all the stars and in the meantime, it feels like he keeps showing respect to them all, thus making him both a fan favorite and a locker room favorite? Maybe? I don’t know. I’m not there. Either way, he feels like the most famous secondary player in every situation WWE puts him in and it serves him well. As for the match, it was entertaining, if not a little expected. Orton wasn’t going to lose his first match back on SmackDown and it kind of/sort of feels like Sikoa and Jimmy are moving into “They can take loss after loss” territory, which I’m not so sure is a good thing. At the end of the day, they sent the crowd home happy, which is pro wrestling 101, so good on them for it. This was a very good television show from start to finish. The crowd was up, the wrestlers delivered and then, well, CM Punk. 

Orton and Jimmy started the match. Orton worked over Uso with a series of punches. Knight tagged in, though it looked like Orton wasn’t too thrilled with that. Knight hit an elbow, but then Orton blindly tagged himself back in. Orton and Knight had a tiny bit of words and Sikoa tagged in. Orton and Sikoa engaged in a stare down but Jimmy ran in and hit Orton from behind. From there, we went to our final commercial break of the night. 

Back from that break, Jimmy was working a chin-lock on Orton, until Orton hit a back-drop to make things even. Knight received the hot tag and Sikoa tagged in as well. Knight landed a neck-breaker on Sikoa and proceeded to stomp a mud hole in Sikoa. Knight ultimately walked into a belly-to-belly suplex from Sikoa. Jimmy got in a cheap shot on Knight, who was draped over the second rope. Sikoa landed a snap suplex on Knight for a two-count. 

Sikoa hit a hip attack on Knight, who was sitting in a corner of the ring. Jimmy tagged in and mocked Knight. Uso hit a chop and tagged Sikoa back into the match. Uso and Sikoa whipped Knight into a corner and posed a bit. Sikoa went for another hip attack, but Knight moved and landed a bulldog from the second rope. From there, Orton received the hot tag as the crowd chanted “Randy!” Orton cleaned house and hit the snap power-slam on Jimmy. 

On the outside, Orton slammed Jimmy onto the commentary table before rolling him back inside the ring. Orton hit the draping DDT on Jimmy and the Greatest Hits were in full effect. Orton set up for the RKO, but Sikoa ran in and broke that up. Sikoa teased the Samoan Spike, but Knight cut Sikoa off with a DDT. Knight went for the BFT on on Jimmy, but Orton hit the RKO on Jimmy instead for the win. Knight and Orton posed on separate corners to end the show.

WWE SmackDown live results: Randy Orton and Logan Paul appear

Posted on by Colin McGuire

Six days after returning to the ring at Survivor Series, Randy Orton will appear on tonight’s SmackDown from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Though Orton was sidelined for about 18 months due to a back injury, he returned at Survivor Series as part of a team with Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn & Seth Rollins. They defeated The Judgment Day & Drew McIntyre in WarGames.

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis invited Orton to tonight’s show after Orton appeared on Monday’s edition of Raw. Orton stated on Raw that he has unfinished business with The Bloodline.

Also tonight, Logan Paul returns to WWE TV for the first time since defeating Rey Mysterio for the United States title at Crown Jewel. 

Kevin Owens is set to square off against Grayson Waller in one-on-one action. Owens teamed with LA Knight to defeat Waller & Austin Theory on last Friday’s SmackDown. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show and he was on the commentary team with Corey Graves and Michael Cole. Bianca Belair made her entrance and a video package chronicling the women’s War Games match from last Saturday aired. 

The Bianca Belair segment

This was pretty paint-by-numbers – WWE opening a show with a promo, a brawl happening and many entrances commencing. Nothing was particularly interesting and nobody sounded profound. But it did set the table for more between the women who competed in Saturday’s War Games match. Bayley’s absence was the only noteworthy element, but I suspect we’ll hear answers about that as the show continues. 

The crowd chanted “EST” and Belair was happy about that. Belair said she it was great to be in Brooklyn. Belair said she and her team did “exactly what needed to be done” at War Games. Belair shouted out Becky Lynch, Shotzi and Charlotte. Belair said that while the win felt good, her war with Damage CTRL still isn’t over because she wants her title back from IYO SKY. From there, SKY’s music hit and Damage CTRL, sans Bayley, walked out. 

Dakota Kai had a microphone and said it was great how Belair could get everyone to cheer for her. Kai told the crowd to shut up. Kai said SKY said earlier today that Brooklyn smells. Kai followed that up by saying SKY said Belair is already in over her head. Kai said if Belair wants another title shot, she’s going to have to go through all of Damage CTRL. Belair said they could all come and get it and from there, Charlotte’s music hit. Charlotte and Shotzi walked down the entrance way. 

Charlotte said Belair isn’t the only woman coming for Damage CTRL. Shotzi said it seemed to her like there was enough Damage CTRL to go around and all the women brawled in the ring. The babyfaces got the better of the interaction, complete with Belair slamming SKY. Belair’s music hit to end the segment and the heels retreated up the entrance way. 

**********

– Damage CTRL were shown walking backstage and they ran into Bayley. Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair was made for later. Bayley wondered why they didn’t tell her they were going to the ring. Kai said not to worry about that because they need Bayley to help Sane prepare for Belair. 

Bobby Lashley defeated Butch [8:06]

Brooklyn sure does love them some Bobby Lashley. You would have thought CM Punk was walking through the curtain with the way they popped for Lashley getting the win. The match itself was fine and they gave Butch a couple nice hope spots, though it was nothing that truly had anyone buying into the idea that he might pull out a win. The Curious Case of Butch/Pete Dunne continues. He was a badass in NXT/NXT UK and you can’t say it’s necessarily a bad thing to bring him into the main roster mix alongside Sheamus and Ridge Holland. But now that Holland and Sheamus aren’t out there with him, he kind of feels like he’s on an island. Anyway, good work from both guys here and if Bobby Lashley wanted to run for mayor of Brooklyn, he’d win in a landslide. 

Before the match started, Lashley took a microphone and was drowned out by “Bobby” chants. Lashley told Butch not to try and make a name for himself through Lashley. Butch slapped the hell out of Lashley and the match began. Butch jumpstarted the match and leapt onto Lashley, but Lashley threw Butch off him. Lashley whipped Butch into a corner. The crowd chanted “Let’s go Bobby!” Butch eventually cut Lashley off and dropkicked Lashley to the outside. While Lashley was outside the ring, Butch landed a moonsault from the second rope to take the show to a commercial break. 

Back from the break, Lashley had control again inside the ring. Lashley held Butch in a vertical suplex, but Butch fought out … until Lashley met Butch with a high slam. Lashley threw Butch to the outside. Lashley rammed Butch into a ring post. Back in the ring, Lashley went for a spear, but Butch moved and Lashley ran into a ring post. Butch fired up and hit a double stomp onto Lashley’s arm. Butch then landed a Blockbuster. Ultimately, Lashley stopped Butch’s momentum and got in a powerslam for a good near-fall. Lashley yelled at Butch to stay down and after Butch slapped Lashley, Lashley eventually hit a wild spear to get the win.

**********

– Nick Aldis was shown in his office. Paul Heyman walked in and asked Aldis if he invited Randy Orton to SmackDown. Aldis said he did because he wants to sign Orton to a SmackDown contract tonight. Heyman asked if Roman Reigns knew about it and Aldis said their interaction currently meant Reigns would know. Aldis then asked Heyman what he’d do about it it if he ends up signing Orton. Heyman said, “Anything it takes.”

– Butch was shown walking backstage and Kayla Braxton showed up to ask Butch while Ridge Holland walked out on him last week. Butch said he didn’t know and he didn’t care because he was there to fight. Pretty Deadly walked into the frame and told Butch to not be sad. They said Butch’s career is a dead end and Butch attacked both guys … until they threw Butch into a road case and Butch was left lying. 

– Santos Escobar was backstage and Cathy Kelley interviewed him. Escobar said he’s only finishing what Rey Mysterio started. Escobar said Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro are still blinded by Mysterio. Escobar said he’s going to put Wilde on the shelf “right now,” so to the ring, Escobar went for a match.

Santos Escobar defeated Joaquin Wilde [4:02]

A longer-than-it-needed-to-be squash for Escobar. I understand giving your friend some time to shine, and we all know Wilde and Escobar have been up and down the WWE roads together for years, but as Escobar continues to gain momentum as a heel, this should have been shorter (when was the last time you saw Wilde wrestle as a singles competitor on WWE TV in a meaningful way? It wasn’t yesterday and it wasn’t the day before that, either). I like keeping Escobar and Dragon Lee together coming out of Survivor Series because I think they could put together a series of very good to great matches, so the post-match stuff was a welcome development. This match, though? It was just kind of there.

Wilde started the match quickly with a dropkick. Wilde followed that up with an elbow and Escobar rolled to the outside, where Wilde landed a springboard splash. Wilde rolled Escobar back into the ring, but Escobar rolled out of it again and from there, Wilde landed another impressive splash. Back in the ring, Escobar cut Wilde off and draped Wilde from the top turnbuckle. Escobar then hit a running dropkick and pounded on Wilde before ripping off Wilde’s LWO shirt. 

Escobar worked Wilde’s arm, but Wilde kneed his way out of it. Wilde got in some punches and then ultimately a dropkick to Escobar’s knee. Wilde followed that with a running knee to Escobar’s head. Wilde then landed a pretty rolling DDT for a two-count. Wilde ran at Escobar, but Escobar countered with a super-kick. Escobar then hit a Phantom Driver for the win. 

After the match, Escobar pounded on Wilde until Dragon Lee’s music hit and Lee ran into the ring to run Escobar off. It looked like Escobar left, but Escobar appeared again and attacked Lee, until Lee fought Escobar off with a series of kicks. Lee hit a running dropkick and Lee’s music hit to end the segment. 

**********

– Nick Aldis was shown backstage and Logan Paul walked over to shake Aldis’s hand. The show went to a commercial break.

– Aldis was shown in his office again and Adam Pearce came into the room. Pearce asked Aldis if he was really going to try and sign Orton. Aldis said he was going to do that. Pearce said he had a contract for Raw, too, and Pearce will try to sign Orton to Raw tonight as well. 

The Logan Paul segment

There are far too many tournaments in professional wrestling these days (we can probably thank AEW for that), but I actually kind of like this idea because it’s not common for WWE and this so clearly plays into at least a couple ongoing storylines on SmackDown. Paul was crazy, entertaining, obnoxious and an anchor – everything he should be in a WWE promo. Combine that with Owens’s always-solid work and this was a lot of fun. Because they leaned so heavily into the idea that Owens will win the tournament and face Paul, I’m inclined to think that’s not where we’re going, but that could be a very entertaining match. We’ll see.

Paul started by saying “To every friend who stabbed him in the back and prayed on his downfall … where are you now?” Paul said the more people hope he fails, the harder he works. Paul said the harder he works, the more he wins. Paul shouted like the Tasmanian Devil and it was kind of funny, which probably wasn’t the desired effect. The crowd booed him. Paul said a champion is only as good as his challengers and he couldn’t give Mysterio a rematch because Mysterio is injured. Paul said he and Aldis created a tournament to name his next challenger. The tournament will feature eight superstars. Among those involved will be Austin Theory, Dragon Lee, Grayson Waller, Kevin Owens, Santos Escobar, Karrion Kross and an NXT superstar. Owens’s music then hit and Owens walked to the ring. 

Owens soaked in some cheers as he stood in the ring. Owens called Paul being there a nightmare. Owens said the first time he saw Paul was 10 years ago on the app Vine and it took him six seconds to know Paul was a jackass. Owens then called Prime a “crap drink.” Owens told Paul that the nightmare is about to end because he’s in the tournament. Paul said he had been in the ring with the greatest boxer in the world and six seconds is more than he needs to KO Kevin Owens. Owens said Paul was clever. Owens said boxing is another world and the WWE ring is Owens’s world. Owens stepped to Paul, but Waller’s music hit and Waller came out with Theory. 

Theory said they were standing in a ring with Paul, who knocks people out. Theory was mouthing off and Owens punched Theory out … again. Owens stepped to Paul and Owens’s music hit as the two stared each other down as the segment ended. 

**********

Kevin Owens defeated Grayson Waller [10:52]

Grayson Waller really should send Kevin Owens a Christmas card because the amount he’s gained during these interactions over the last several weeks has done wonders for his main roster on-screen presence. Yes, he isn’t getting many wins, but he’s having good matches with one of WWE’s best. This was no exception and the story about Owens’s hand/arm was worked very well here – to the point where I wonder if they’ll carry it over to their next interaction (or, at the very least, Owens’s run in the tournament to crown a challenger for Paul). Paul was kind of a hoot on commentary here, too, even if he was subdued. His one-liners were on par with some of the great heel commentators. It might be nice if he had a bit of personality behind them … but, you know. We take what we can get.

Logan Paul sat in on commentary. Owens had control early and the action spilled outside. When they got back into the ring, Waller had the upper hand for a minute or three. Waller laid in some blows and hit an elbow drop from the second rope for a two-count. Waller went for a suplex, but Owens countered into a vertical suplex of his own. Owens went for a cannonball, but he stopped running when Waller rolled to the outside. Waller slammed Owens onto the commentary table, but Owens came back with a clothesline and a frog splash onto Waller from the apron onto the ringside floor. 

Owens fired up the crowd, but Waller ran Owens into the ring post. Theory stomped on Owens’s hand while it was on the ring steps and from there, Waller worked on Owens’s hand. The show then went to commercial break. Back from break, Waller was still working on Owens’s hand and arm. Waller went for his rolling DDT, but Owens countered into a DDT of his own. Owens hit a headbutt and some chops. Owens then landed a cannonball and went to the top to follow up with a Swanton for a nice near-fall. Logan Paul called Owens “Otis on a diet,” which was funny. Paul slowed things down by going back to Owens’s hand/arm. Owens made it to the ropes for a break, but Waller went to kick Owens’s hand. Still, Owens moved and rolled Waller up for the win.

**********

– A video looking at CM Punk’s return aired and Punk will be on next week’s SmackDown. Bianca Belair made her entrance for the next match.Damage CTRL were shown backstage and Bayley was a little removed from the group. IYO SKY told Bayley to stay behind and the faction made their way to the ring. 

Bianca Belair defeated Kairi Sane [10:26]

While you can probably say it’s predictable, I tend to like the story they are telling between Bayley and the rest of Damage CTRL. You can’t say she’s messing things up. Sane’s loss here wasn’t her fault; Bayley did all she could to help, just like she did at War Games, and it just wasn’t enough. The sympathy Bayley will ultimately receive as a result of all this kind of stuff will be worth the wait. As for the match, it was good, but clunky at moments. Both women are very good in-ring workers, but they didn’t click at times here and it showed, sadly. One of those Belair slams towards the end of the thing felt like a good, old-fashioned, “OK, let’s settle down and get the rest of this right” moment. They recovered well enough. One down for Belair. Who’s her next victim on the inevitable way to a SKY rematch?

Sane kicked Belair in the butt early on, but Belair responded with a shoulder-block. Sane went for a head-scissors takedown, but Belair flipped through it. Belair lifted Sane, but Sane punched out of it and engaged in a tug-of-war with Belair’s braid. Belair went to run the ropes, but Asuka tripped Belair and Sane took control. Sane then ran the ropes and Charlotte tripped Sane. The referee saw that, though, and the ref ejected Charlotte and Shotzi from ringside. Asuka tried to get in the ring and the referee saw that, too, so he ejected all of Damage CTRL from ringside, too. The show then went to a commercial break as the match went one-on-one. 

Back from the commercial break, Sane worked a twisted Boston Crab before running Belair into a ring post. Before long, Belair rolled Sane out of a submission attempt. Belair fired up and slammed Sane repeatedly. Belair threw Sane across the ring and did the punches-in-a-corner spot. Belair followed that up with a springboard standing moonsault for a near-fall. Sane ran at Belair, but Belair caught her and dropped her awkwardly for a two-count. 

Sane got up and hit a spinning back fist. Sane went to the top and landed an elbow for a two-count. Sane went for another back fist, but Belair cut her off and went for Jaded, but Sane rolled Belair to the outside. As a result, Belair hit Jaded on Sane, draping Sane over the guardrail on the outside. Belair tried to get back in the ring, but Bayley showed up and cut off Belair. Bayley was pumped and Sane went to the top, but Belair stopped Sane and hit the KOD for the win.

**********

– Next week, Lashley will face Kross and Lee will face Escobar in matches for the U.S. title tournament. Asuka will wrestle Charlotte as well. Plus, as we already mentioned, CM Punk will appear. The show will be the company’s Tribute To The Troops. 

The Randy Orton segment

And the plot thickens. Orton being on SmackDown sets up a ton of stuff and at least keeps the Bloodline in an interesting position moving forward (yes, that entire thing had been in question in recent months as the faction’s story has been both sparse and spinning wheels). Giving Aldis an RKO was a nice touch, and the Brooklyn crowd more than held up its end of the equation not just here, but all night, really. Good stuff. Randy looks great. Roman has a reason to show his face again. And LA Knight is still over. Why complain?

Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce stood in the ring. Aldis announced Orton and Orton made his entrance. The crowd chanted Orton’s name and Orton played into it, hopping onto the second rope to get them fired up more. Orton took off his vest and threw it as they chanted “RKO!” Pearce started to talk and Aldis interrupted him and the two GMs kept interrupting each other. Pearce offered Orton a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Aldis said he could offer Orton “the guys who took you out.” On cue, Paul Heyman said “Ladies and gentlemen,” into a microphone. Heyman walked out with no music and said his name is Paul … yeah, you get it. 

Heyman said, “Look who’s back.” Heyman said Orton came home to look for revenge, but Heyman said there will be no RKOs this evening and there will be no decision made by Orton because the Bloodline is going to make the decision for Orton. Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Sikoa, along with Jimmy Uso, made their respective ways to the ring. Uso and Sikoa put the boots to Orton. LA Knight’s music hit and the crowd went nuts. Knight ran into the ring and took down both Bloodline members … until Sikoa pulled Knight outside and those two fought to the back. Inside the ring, Orton threw Jimmy to the apron and hit the draping DDT on him. Orton landed an RKO on Uso and Heyman looked on, angry. 

The crowd chanted “Randy!” Orton asked for both contracts and picked up a microphone. Heyman said, “Go to Raw! You’re safe on Raw!” Orton threw the Raw contract away and signed the SmackDown contract instead. Orton threw the contract down on Uso, who was laid out in the middle of the ring. Orton had a microphone and said, “Hey, Paul. You can call Roman Reigns. And you can tell him, Daddy’s back.” Orton’s music hit and Orton jawed at Heyman. Aldis entered the ring to raise Orton’s hand and Orton RKO’d Aldis in a fun twist. Orton then posed on the second rope to end the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Survivor Series go-home show

Posted on by Colin McGuire

On the eve of Survivor Series, Damian Priest & Finn Balor are set to defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles on tonight’s SmackDown from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

The Judgment Day duo will square off against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) after Ford and Dawkins defeated Pretty Deadly and The Brawling Brutes last week to earn tonight’s title shot.

Priest and Balor will be part of the men’s WarGames match Saturday night at Survivor Series. 

Also set for SmackDown is another installment of The Grayson Waller Effect. Waller is set to have Kevin Owens as his guest. 

Owens is suspended from in-ring action after Waller lured Owens into attacking him on a recent SmackDown. Owens was doing commentary that night and wasn’t allowed to put his hands on anyone.

Tonight’s show will be broadcast on FS1 due to Fox’s college football coverage. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– A video chronicling the women’s War Games match aired to begin the show. 

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show and Becky Lynch’s music hit. Out came Lynch, Charlotte, Shotzi and Bianca Belair. The set was not the typical SmackDown set as the video screens in the entrance way weren’t tall and fans were sitting behind them. Corey Graves returned on commentary. 

The women’s War Games promo

You know, I’m happy that Shotzi is getting … well … a shot on a stage like this, but boy was she over the top here. Like way, super-duper over the top. And her logic that she’s now unhinged because of Damage CTRL felt hollow because it isn’t all that different from her previous unhinged character. That said, Bayley did a nice job trying to stir the pot between Charlotte and Becky, though I did find it odd that Bayley was out there by herself – and then even when the babyfaces called attention to it, nothing really happened, so you have to think this is all leading to something for the heel faction. Time will tell. This was a fine opening segment. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Lynch began the promo and said “The Man has come around to Friday night SmackDown.” Lynch said people were wondering why she’d team with Charlotte and Belair, but Lynch said she wanted to carve up Damage CTRL. Belair noted how they have a solid team. The crowd chanted “EST!” and that made Belair smile. The crowd then hit a “Woooo!” and Charlotte returned the favor. Belair said they were going to war. 

Shotzi chimed in and said she could barely contain herself thinking about all the carnage at War Games. Shotzi said Damage CTRL humiliated her when they cut her hair. Shotzi said they made her stronger, unpredictable and unbreakable. Shotzi said she can’t wait to unleash her madness on Damage CTRL. Charlotte said, “What Shotzi said,” and then gave another “Woooo!” Charlotte said War Games will be end of Damage CTRL. On cue, Bayley’s music hit and Bayley walked out with a microphone. 

Bayley spoke from the walkway and said she never thought she’d see the day Charlotte and Becky fought on the same side. Bayley said she knew Charlotte and Becky for at least 10 years. Bayley said Charlotte used to talk bad about Becky behind her back and Becky did the same to Charlotte. Bayley said it was two egos clashing, fighting to the top. Bayley shushed the crowd. Bayley called Becky soft since she became a mom. Bayley noted how Becky was picked last and used as a last resort for her team. 

Charlotte asked where Damage CTRL was because Bayley was out there alone. Lynch said she came to Chicago for a fight, so she challenged any two Damage CTRL members to fight Lynch and Charlotte in the main event later. Bayley accepted the challenge and said the babyface team will implode. Bayley’s must hit to end the segment. 

**********

– Patrick set up a video package chronicling the men’s War Games match. 

– Damage CTRL was shown talking backstage and Bayley walked into the frame. Bayley asked which group members wanted to wrestle later. Dakota Kai said they appreciate what they did for them, but it should Bayley in the match later and Bayley should team with Asuka. 

The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) [9:30]

The Street Profits just aren’t heels. Let’s get that straight first. It also didn’t help that Ford is from Chicago, so they ostensibly had to work as babyfaces here, but that’s beside the point. Instead, the point is that this was a lackluster match. It felt like it wanted to kick into another gear over the last three minutes, but the botched Revelation attempt from the Profits sort of killed the mood. Plus, a sub-10-minute title match? I’m not sure I’m a fan of that. Either way, I was hoping for more all around. Balor and Priest seem oddly lost and the Profits are not only miscast, but whatever momentum they had for all those months as Good Guys is almost entirely gone. So much of this fell flat, and I was hoping that wouldn’t be the case. Bah humbug. 

Priest and Dawkins began the match. Priest had control early, led by a leaping elbow. Balor tagged in, but Dawkins cut him off and tagged in Ford, who hit Balor with a dropkick. Dawkins tagged back in and the two planted Balor. Bobby Lashley was shown watching the match backstage and B-Fab walked in to watch with him. Back in the ring, Ford was working over Priest before he clotheslined Priest over the top to the outside. Ford went to run the ropes, but Balor cut him off. As a result, Ford landed a splash onto Balor on the outside, but Priest got up and essentially threw Ford onto the commentary table before the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from the commercial break, Ford was trying to work his way out of Priest having the upper hand, but Priest landed a kick to take Ford down. Priest leapt at Ford, but Ford moved. Even so, Balor tagged in and made sure the heels kept control … until Ford got the hot tag to Dawkins. Dawkins fired up and landed a jumping twisting elbow. Priest entered the ring and was the victim of a spinning neck-breaker. Ford tagged in and hit a Blockbuster on Balor while Balor was on the shoulders of Dawkins. That resulted in a nice near-fall. Ford went to the top, but Balor got up and hit a Slingblade on Ford. Priest tagged in and landed a leg drop on Ford. 

Thihings broke down a bit and Dawkins threw Balor to the outside. Priest, meanwhile, hit Dawkins and went for a chokeslam on Ford, but Ford countered it. Ford and Dawkins went for The Revelation, but it turned out clunky and I’m not quite sure what happened at first glance. Either way, it resulted in a two-count. Ford hit Priest and Balor with super-kicks and went to the top. Balor crotched Ford and Priest lifted Ford before tagging in Balor. Balor landed the Coup De Gras on Ford for the win.

**********

– Backstage, the babyface women’s War Games team was talking. Charlotte and Becky kind of bickered until Bianca stepped in and told them to focus on the match. Becky and Charlotte kept arguing and Becky said she didn’t come to SmackDown to socialize with anybody and instead, she was there to fight somebody. Becky left the room. 

– A Dragon Lee vignette aired. Lee leaned into him being the future of Lucha Libre. In a natural transition, Grayson Waller’s music hit and off to The Grayson Waller Effect, we went. 

The Grayson Waller Effect with Kevin Owens

This was sort of fun. I was wondering what might happen with LA Knight, considering how he’s not currently on the Survivor Series card and he just lost his big title match, so this was a nice way to use him. The more I see from these guys, though, the more it makes sense. At first, I sort of groaned at the thought of Owens working with Waller and Theory, but they seem to be finding their groove now. Adding Knight into the equation only helps, too, because none of these crowds are ready to turn on him yet. I wonder if this will lead to a tag match for Saturday night. Perhaps we shall see.

Waller introduced Owens and said he hopes this will be the start of a new friendship. Owens’s music hit and Austin Theory walked out in full Kevin Owens gear, which was funny (shout to the time KO did the same thing with Stone Cold). Theory mocked Owens’s mannerisms. As the two began to talk, Owens’s music hit again and out came the real Kevin Owens with a microphone in his hand. Owens started to talk to Waller and Theory while walking to the ring. Waller pointed out the Owens is supposed to be suspended, but Owens pointed out that the suspension ended today. 

Owens got into the ring asked Waller what was happening. Waller said the point was to make fun of Owens, but Owens said he never looked better as he pointed to Theory. Owens said he should punch Waller and Theory in the face. Waller noted how Owens cost Waller his match against LA Knight a few weeks ago. Owens said, “You know what happens when you keep saying somebody’s name,” which was fun if only because they were in Chicago. Still, they were talking about LA Knight and wouldn’t you know it: Knight’s music hit and Knight walked out with a microphone to say, “Let me talk to ya!” 

Knight said Owens tried to warn Theory and Waller. Knight said he would allow Owens to punch Theory and Waller at the same time, but then the heels talked about Knight, and they wouldn’t stop talking about him, and that’s why Knight came out. Knight called theory “A-Town Clown,” which was funny. Waller and Owens yelled at each other and said he and Theory should punch Owens and Knight. Instead, Knight and Owens punched Theory and Waller and destroyed The Grayson Waller Effect set to end the segment. 

**********

LA Knight & Kevin Owens defeated Austin Theory & Grayson Waller [12:25 of TV time]

Would you look at that. The tag team title match gets 9 minutes and the random, previously unannounced tag match gets more than 12 minutes – and more, if you count the fact that we joined this thing in progress. So it goes. The match was fine and a lot of fun for the crowd. Because it felt like they did the middle of the match twice, with both Owens and Knight getting their own respective hot tags, perhaps you could say it dragged at times, but all told, Knight and Owens know what they’re doing and that helped Waller and Theory keep the crowd’s attention. Or, at least so it seemed. I wasn’t there. I can’t speak for them. But, yeah. You get it. Anyway, this was a fine “let’s take up a big chunk of the show” sequence, what with the talk show and match. I’m not sure how I feel about matches that would previously probably be on a PLE card showing up on the SmackDown before said PLE card. Also: Why the hell not advertise this ahead of time?! Knight and Owens are stars while Theory and Waller are on their way up. Sometimes, I don’t understand pro wrestling companies. 

The match was joined in progress, and yes, it appears my thought about a tag match for Survivor Series was deemed null and void. Owens was working over Waller and tagged in Knight. Knight clotheslined Waller and suplexed him for a two-count. Knight worked Waller’s arm. Waller fought out of the predicament and Waller threw Knight to the outside, but Knight clotheslined Waller and slammed Theory on top of the commentary desk. Knight did the same thing to Waller at the same time. After some distraction from Theory, Waller clotheslined Knight on the outside and the show went to a commercial break. 

The show returned and the heels were working over Knight in a corner. Owens fired up the crowd in a wild way and the crowd reacted in kind. Knight ultimately got the hot tag to Owens and Owens cleaned house with some super-kicks. Owens landed a cannonball onto Theory on the outside. Owens then hit a Swanton Bomb on Waller for a two-count. Owens went for a Stunner, but Waller tagged Theory and got out of the ring. Theory then hit a rolling dropkick and stomped on Owens before posing to some boos. Waller tagged in and went to the second rope, where he landed his splash for a two-count. 

Waller did the Blackpool Combat Club strikes on Owens and Waller kept pounding on Owens. Waller worked a rear chin-lock. Owens fired up and tried for a tag, but Waller knocked Knight off the apron. Theory then hit a rolling Blockbuster for a two-count.  You crowd chanted “You suck!” at Theory. Theory drove Owens into his team’s corner and tagged in Waller, who went to the second rope again, but this time missed his splash. Owens then got the hot tag to Knight. Knight entered the ring and punched the hell out of Theory. Knight hit a DDT on Waller and a weird inverted powerslam on Theory. Knight planted Waller and Waller and Theory recoiled in a corner. Knight then hit a running knee on Theory. Knight slammed Theory and landed his elbow for a two-count. Theory lifted Knight, but Owens broke things up and Stunned Waller. Knight then hit the BFT on Theory for the win.

**********

– Backstage, Bianca Belair talked to Becky Lynch and told Becky to put her differences with Charlotte aside. Belair calmed Becky down and said at War Games, if they want to walk out in one piece, Becky has to get on the same page with Charlotte. Becky said she’s “cool,” and she’s “got this.” 

– Carlito made his entrance in street clothes. 

The Carlito/Santos Escobar segment

Eh. This was … eh. The rumors have been out there that maybe Carlito won’t actually be in the Survivor Series match, and considering the way Carlito sold a fairly pedestrian kick, those rumors appear they could be true. The crowd felt uninspired and I can’t blame them. Escobar has a point when he says Carlito just kind of parachuted in and convinced Mysterio that Escobar was the problem in the LWO, and thus, we have a feud. On top of that, the beginning of the brawl lacked a bit of heat. They tried and some of it worked, but in all, this wasn’t much to write home about.

Carlito said it had been a long time since he’s been back and his match with Santos Escobar at Survivor Series will be his first in WWE in 13 years. Carlito switched the conversation to Rey Mysterio and said all he can think about is getting his hands on Escobar. Carlito said he has a message for Escobar and Carlito gave that message in Spanish. Carlito said Escobar made a very big mistake. Escobar’s new music then hit and Escobar walked out. Escobar spoke to Carlito in Spanish. Escobar asked Carlito where his LWO tattoo is while pointing to his own LWO tattoo. Escobar yelled and hopped on the apron saying Mysterio was Escobar and the LWO was his family. Escobar said if it wasn’t for Carlito, his family would still be together. Escobar said Rey’s career is over and it’s because of Carlito. 

Carlito attacked Escobar and the two brawled on the outside of the ring. The crowd didn’t seem to respond to much. Carlito threw Escobar around and worked the ground-and-pound until officials ran out to break things up. Just when it looked like things were over, Escobar reappeared and jumped off the guardrail to land a kick to Carlito’s arm. Carlito sold it like he was about to lose an arm. The show then went to a commercial break. 

**********

– The show returned and they replayed the shot Escobar landed on Carlito’s arm. Carlito was shown backstage, where Escobar leapt out of nowhere to attack Carlito, but Dragon Lee attacked Escobar and saved Carlito. We then went back to the ring. 

Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) defeated The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) [3:26]

And for the 8,209th time on Friday Night SmackDown, we have … The Brutes vs. Pretty Deadly! Yay! Right. You had to think this was set up only to further the rift between Holland and Butch, but damn, man. SmackDown doesn’t have any other tag-teams? Is it really just Pretty Deadly, the Street Profits and the Brawling Brutes? Oh. Right. it is. Whoops. Anyway, the match didn’t matter – even though I was a fan of Butch not immediately folding in Holland’s absence – and I’m curious to see how Butch and Holland end up once the split is complete (unless a returning Sheamus has something to say about it).

Butch appeared first during the entrance and Holland walked past Butch without acknowledging him, looking all types of mad. Holland started the match with Wilson and suplexed Wilson. Butch and Prince tagged in. Holland and Butch landed stereo 10 Beats … until that was broken up and Pretty Deadly took control. Prince pounded on Butch. Butch worked out of it and went for a tag, but Holland stared at Butch and left ringside. From there, Pretty Deadly had complete control until Butch chopped the hell out of them. Butch landed some German Suplexes and funning kicks. Butch kicked Prince in the head and got a good near-fall out of it. Butch did the finger spot on Prince, but Wilson got the blind tag in. Butch hit the Bitter End on Prince, but Wilson came in and rolled Butch up for the win.

**********

– Shotzi and Charlotte were shown talking backstage. Shotzi talked about how Damage CTRL bullied her. Shotzi said it meant the world to her that Charlotte supported her after Damage CTRL made her feel less than good. Shotzi talked about Becky and abruptly left the frame to end the segment. 

– Kayla Braxton spoke to Nick Aldis backstage. Aldis said Carlito is not in any condition to compete at Survivor Series. Dragon Lee walked in and begged Aldis not to postpone the match. Lee asked Aldis if he could be in the match instead and Aldis made the match. 

– The Judgment Day talked in their backstage lair. Dominik talked about how Jey Uso took out Randy Orton a couple years ago. Damian Priest spoke to Orton and said they will make sure Orton doesn’t have another comeback. 

– Charlotte and Becky talked backstage and they both said they were good to go compete together. We then went back to the ring for the main event. 

Damage CTRL (Bayley & Asuka) defeated Charlotte and Becky Lynch [11:44]

The outcome was mildly surprising for me. I continue to think that Damage CTRL wins the War Games match and as a result, I figured Lynch and Charlotte would get the win here. But maybe this whole thing is designed to set up another Lynch/Charlotte feud. As for how this match came out, it was fine enough. There wasn’t much special to it. You can use words like “good,” and “OK,” and you wouldn’t be wrong. Becky did her best to get the crowd with her, but things seemed a little mild in terms of how invested the fans were. I like that they aren’t just brushing off Charlotte and Becky’s past, but it does make me wonder if they are maybe leaning into it too much. By the way, if the heels were going to win, and the typical War Games stipulation is that the heels have the advantage going in … why wasn’t this the advantage match and why are we leaving that up to a fan vote? Nonsense, I say. Nonsense. 

Lynch and Bayley started the match and Lynch had immediate control. Lynch landed a Beck-xploder and Bayley went to the outside. Charlotte tagged in and went to the top. Charlotte then hit her moonsault on Asuka and Bayley on the outside. Lynch and Charlotte posed as the show went to its final commercial break. Back from that break, Bayley had control over Lynch. Asuka tagged in and put the boots to Lynch. Asuka worked Lynch’s arm. Eventually, Lynch fired up, kicked Asuka and got the hot tag to Charlotte. Bayley tagged in as well. 

Charlotte took Asuka and Bayley down with a cross-body. Charlotte then hit chops on Bayley and Asuka. Charlotte landed a fallaway slam on Bayley. Charlotte hit her flipping clothesline (is there a name for this yet?) for a two-count. Charlotte rolled Bayley up for a two-count. Charlotte hit a running boot for a two-count. Asuka tagged in and landed a Codebreaker on Charlotte for a two-count. Bayley tagged in and hit an elbow from the second rope, but Lynch broke up a pin attempt. 

Charlotte tagged in Lynch and Lynch took everyone out. Lynch landed a series of kicks and hit dual DDTS on Asuka and Bayley, but Bayley kicked out at two. Before long, Lynch worked a Dis-Arm-Her, but Asuka broke it up. Bayley went for a Rose Plant, but Lynch countered with a belly-to-back suplex. Lynch landed a Manhandle Slam for what should have been the win, but Charlotte speared Asuka into the pin and that caused strife between Lynch and Charlotte. Bayley then rolled Lynch up for the win. Lynch had some words for Charlotte and then Lynch left the ring to end the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After costing LA Knight a chance to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel, Jimmy Uso goes one-on-one against Knight on tonight’s SmackDown from Evansville, Indiana. 

At the November 4 premium live event in Saudi Arabia, Knight appeared to have a victory against Roman Reigns in his grasp until Uso placed Reigns’ leg on the bottom rope to break up a pin attempt. As a result, Knight called out Uso last week before Knight defeated Grayson Waller. A match between Uso and Knight was made for tonight. 

Also slated for the program, Solo Sikoa makes his return to WWE TV. Sikoa was last seen at Crown Jewel, where he defeated John Cena in convincing fashion. Paul Heyman will be appearing alongside Sikoa tonight.

The build to Survivor Series continues with Damage CTRL appearing. We’ll see if the women’s WarGames match is made official.

Plus, there will be a number one contender’s match with Pretty Deadly vs. The Street Profits vs. The Brawling Brutes. The winning team will be next in line for a shot at Damian Priest & Finn Balor’s Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles.

**********

– A video package recpping last week’s Damage CTRL’s developments aired to begin the show. Kevin Patrick, who was joined by Michael Cole and Road Dogg on commentary, then welcomed everyone in and the group’s music hit. Out walked the five women. 

The Damage CTRL segment

This was a pretty good way to set the table for the “new and improved” version of Damage CTRL. I enjoyed how they played into the notion that Bayley might be the odd woman out, only to turn that around and officially induct Asuka into the group. I can’t be alone in thinking this will lead to Bayley’s ouster … but I also recall being convinced they were going to pull the trigger on an IYO SKY/Bayley separation all the way back at SummerSlam, so what do I know? Very little, is the answer. Anyway, the babyfaces showed good fire again, but they’re going to to continue to be outnumbered until they find their fourth for the proposed War Games match. My money still lands on Jade Cargill, even if that’s based solely on a gut feeling. That said, remember: What do I know?

The group soaked in a bunch of boos to begin things. Bayley said they were just there to have a good time and she welcomed everyone in to SmackDown. Bayley called the crowd dumb-dumbs. Bayley called last week’s developments one of the top five moments in WWE history. Bayley said they are playing chess while the other “idiots” are playing Candy Land. Bayley said nobody was ready for Asuka and laughed. The rest of the group didn’t really laugh.

Asuka then spoke in Japanese to Kairi Sane and IYO SKY and SKY and Sane laughed. Dakota Kai chimed in and said it wasn’t the new and improve Damage CTRL because there was someone in the ring who wasn’t in the new Damage CTRL. The audience reacted accordingly, thinking Kai meant Bayley, but Kai said it was actually Asuka who wasn’t in the group yet. Bayley got on one knee and asked Asuka to be in the group. Bayley presented Asuka with a Damage CTRL shirt and the faction celebrated. Kai mentioned how the women will be in War Games and Shotzi’s music hit. 

Shotzi appeared out of nowhere while her tank rolled out in the entrance way. Before long, Charlotte and Bianca Belair ran to the ring and provided Shotzi with backup. The heels, however, got the best of the babyfaces and threw Charlotte, Shotzi and Belair outside the ring. Damage CTRL stood tall and taunted the babyfaces to end the segment. 

**********

– Charlotte, Belair and Shotzi were shown talking backstage. Shotzi apologized for being compulsive, but said she really wanted to “kick their butts.” Belair turned to Charlotte and said she thinks she knows someone who could help them. Nick Aldis walked into the frame and said he’ll have to know who the fourth woman will be for the War Games match by the end of the night. 

The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) & The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) to become No. 1 contenders for the WWE Universal Tag Team Championship [10:58]

The tag team title match will take place on next week’s SmackDown instead of Survivor Series. This was one of the better matches on SmackDown in the last, say, six months or so, and it far exceeded my expectations. They had me on that near-fall that Prince went for after the blind tag near the end. These six guys worked well together and the result was somewhat of a surprise, considering how high WWE seems to be on Pretty Deadly. The after-match stuff is intriguing its own way, but definitely welcome, if nothing else. The Brutes have been spinning their wheels for quite a while now and are almost always inserted into matches to take a loss. Both guys deserve better than that and this could be the first step toward whatever that “better” is. The only question: If they split, what happens when Sheamus returns?

Butch, Dawkins and Prince started the match. Road Dogg mentioned Billy Gunn way more than I thought he would all within the first 20 seconds of the match. Dawkins stomped on Butch and threw Prince into a corner, only to work a series of punches. Ford tagged in and the Profits had control early. Ford hit a strong clothesline to take Butch down. Wilson tagged in the Pretty Deadly hit Butch and Ford at the same time. Butch tagged in Holland and hit a shoulder block on Ford before suplexing Wilson. Holland swung Wilson by his neck before hitting a DDT. 

Holland clotheslined Wilson other the top rope and Holland and Butch set up for 10 Beats, but the Profits broke that up. As a result, Holland and Butch hit 10 Beats on the Profits. Pretty Deadly followed that up by attacked the Brutes, running Holland into the ring steps. Pretty Deadly stood tall as the show went to a commercial break. Back from the break, Holland suplexed Ford and Prince at the same time on each arm. Butch and Dawkins tagged in and Butch cleaned house. Butch hit a moonsault onto Wilson on the outside before landing a Tornado DDT on Prince. 

Back in the ring, Butch stood tall over Dawkins and then hit a moonsault from the second rope onto every opponent on the outside. Back insdie the ring, Butch worked an arm-bar on Dawkins. Dawkins fired up and slammed Butch onto Prince, who only recently returned to the ring. At the nine-minute mark, Holland, Wilson and Ford all tagged in. Wilson had the upper hand and went to the top, but Holland cut him off and ultimately landed a super-plex, even though Prince made a blind tag. Prince tried to pin Holland after Ford hit a splash, but Butch broke it up. 

Bobby Lashley was shown watching the match backstage and B-Fab walked into the frame to talk to Lashley. Butch fired up and went after everybody until he was disposed of to the outside. Holland clotheslined both Profits and both members of Pretty Deadly. Butch went to kick Prince, but Prince moved and Butch kicked Holland. The Profits then hit The Revelation on Holland on got the pin to win the match. Lashley walked out and celebrated with the Profits. After the match, Holland was mad at Butch, pushed Butch away and left the ring alone. Butch looked confused. 

**********

– Bianca Belair was shown talking to Michin backstage before the show went to commercial. 

– Back from that commercial break, Damage CTRL was shown beating the hell out of Michin backstage, so there goes that. From there, Kevin Patrick threw to a video recapping the dysfunction in the LWO. 

– A video featuring Nick Aldis and Dragon Lee aired and Aldis told Lee that Lee would face Axiom from NXT on the show. A video chronicling and introducing Axiom aired after Lee made his entrance.

Dragon Lee defeated Axiom [9:30]

Holy hell. I tuned into SmackDown and a Dynamite broke out. What in the name of Penta El Zero Miedo was that?! More please? Like … please? Here I was talking about how that tag team match exceeded expectations – I didn’t even know this match was happening coming into the night. And, can you believe it: WWE gave them nine-and-a-half minutes to boot! Wow, this was great. Even better than the Lee/Alexander matches we’ve been seeing on SmackDown the last few weeks. Leave Axiom on the main roster. Why not? He’s not doing much in NXT. Let these two run it back again, add a few more wrestlers like this, and let them cook in the way all those cruiserweights made names for themselves in Nitro 25/30 years ago. It’s great when something is fantastic, but it’s even better when it’s unexpected and fantastic. I loved this.

The two shook hands before getting into it. The action was quick to start with a lot of reversals and failed pin attempts. Things settled down when Lee worked a side head-lock. Lee landed a wild dropkick, which took Axiom outside, where Lee followed it up with a splash. Back in the ring, Lee hit a missile dropkick as Axiom was on the mat in a corner. After that, the show went to a commercial break. 

The show returned and Axiom had the upper hand, dropkicking Lee to the outside. Axiom went to the top and hit a high moonsault on Lee before rolling Lee back into the ring. Axiom went to the top rope, but Lee moved and Lee kicked Axiom in the head. Lee went to the top, but Axiom cut him off. The two fought on the top tope. Lee then landed a double stomp onto Axiom, who was draped from the top. Lee chopped Axiom repeatedly. Axiom came back with chops of his own and then landed a fantastic dropkick. Axiom hit a fallaway suplex and a running knee, but Lee came back with a brain-buster. 

Lee tried to fire up the crowd and the crowd kind of responded. Lee lifted Axiom for a power-bomb, but Axiom somehow turned it into a Destroyer for a hell of a near-fall. At the eight-minute mark, Lee kicked Axiom in the head and went to the top, but Axiom cut Lee off with a kick. With the two on the top rope, Axiom landed a Spanish Fly from the top for another hell of a near-fall. “This is awesome!” chants broke out. Lee dropped Axiom on his head, but got only a near-fall out of it. Lee responded with a running knee and Operation Dragon for the win.

**********

The Santos Escoar segment

This was very good (and no, I can’t recall a time when I said, “This was very good” this much while reviewing SmackDown). Plus … that’s more like it with Escobar. He’s just a better heel than he is a babyface and he proved it here. Some of those lines were stiff – you really want Rey Mysterio’s leg to be amputated, dude?! – but it worked and the way he showed no remorse for a crying Zelina Vega and his old running mates from NXT was very well done. Plus, you must be doing something right if you’re going out for first time on the main roster as a heel and you can’t get a word in because you’re getting Dominik Mysterio-level boos. The Santos Escobar heel turn is off to a great start.

Escobar was out by himself in a white suit and said he had something to say, but the crowd booed him before chanting “You suck!” It was like Dom Mysterio was out there. Escobar told everyone to never meet their heroes. The crowd then gave Escobar the “What?” treatment. Escobar noted how Rey Mysterio was his hero as the rest of the LWO was watching from backstage. Escobar said Rey made him feel at home, but after last week, Escobar said he realized Dominik was right. Escobar said he deserved to be the United States Champion, but instead Rey did it. Escobar said he wanted to rebuild the LWO, but Rey took it over and brought in Carlito. Escobar then spoke in Spanish to Carlito. 

Escobar said they were supposed to be like family and said Rey sided with an outsider like Carlito instead of Escobar. Escobar said all the pain Rey is suffering is like the suffering Escobar felt when Rey betrayed him. Escobar said everyone thought he’d go out there to apologize, and Escobar said he would apologize – for not doing more damage to Rey. Escobar said he hoped the surgery didn’t go well for Rey and he hopes Rey gets an infection and he hopes they have to amputate Rey’s leg. As Escobar was talking, Zelina Vega walked out to no music and confronted Escobar. Vega slapped the hell out of Escobar and Escobar grinned. 

Vega then walked to the back crying as Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde walked out. Escobar said he made Wilde and Del Toro and the two walked to the ring. Escobar stuck his fist out, but the two yelled at Escobar, who then told Del Toro and Wilde to leave because they are dead weight. Escobar then attacked them from behind as they tried to leave the ring. Escobar said he made them and he can destroy them. As he was setting up a move, Carlito’s music hit and Carlito walked/ran to the ring to clear Escobar from it. Escobar left through the crowd. 

**********

Grayson Waller defeated Cameron Grimes [2:42]

Well, there goes the streak of good TV. But it was fun while it lasted. WWE really seems to know they want Cameron Grimes, but WWE really does not seem to know what they want to do with Cameron Grimes. It’s a shame because he’s talented, but the main roster hasn’t been kind to him. As for Waller and Theory … I’m not ready to fold up shop on them yet, but I’m not not close to doing that. The act can be entertaining, but that doesn’t mean it always is. If anything, I hope this leads to a program between the two with Theory turning babyface. But we’ll see.

Austin Theory sat in on commentary and Grimes had control early. Grimes landed a nice dropkick, but Waller hit a rolling flatliner before hitting a bunch of strikes. Waller worked a chin-lock after hitting some Blackpool Combat Club elbows. Grimes fired up, though, and landed a series of strikes, complete with a low dropkick. Grimes slammed Waller for a two-count. Waller rolled to the outside and Grimes went for a running kick, but Waller grabbed Theory and Theory got in the way of it. Back in the ring, Waller hit his finisher for the win.

**********

– Backstage, Bianca Belair was talking to Zelina Vega right before the show went to commercial break. 

– The show returned from commercial break, but wouldn’t you know it, the first scene was Damage CTRL standing tall over a beaten-up Zelina Vega. 

The Solo Sikoa segment

Man, Heyman laid it on so thick with his John Cena stuff that he actually had me believing Cena might actually show up one more time tonight. Great stuff, there. He’s right when he says Cena’s first match back would have to be against Sikoa … but who knows when and who knows if that will ever happen. In the meantime, using Cena’s credibility to get Sikoa over in a strong way after beating Cena at Crown Jewel is a great piece of business. Cena doesn’t have to be there to make sure that win means something and that’s exactly what Heyman did. Knight’s confrontation was a good rebuttal, and it does make me wonder: Even if Cody does finish the story at WrestleMania, perhaps Knight can be the one who takes down – or at least has a big role in taking down – the Bloodline. 

Paul Heyman was in the ring and said there was going to be an acknowledgment of Sikoa. Jimmy Uso was also in the ring. Heyman fired up and introduced John Cena … but finished it by saying Cena wasn’t there. Heyman said Cena will never appear in a WWE ring ever again and it’s all thanks to Sikoa. Heyman called out a kid in the front row crying – which has been a running thing all night from anyone who’s had a microphone. Heyman said Cena has admiration for all the fans, but he doesn’t have the heart to say goodbye to the WWE Universe. Because of that, Heyman said he gets to say goodbye to Cena. Heyman went on about how on behalf of the Bloodline, “John Cena, goodbye.” 

Heyman teased a cue for Cena to come out, but Cena never came out. Heyman reiterated that the fans will never experience the John Cena thing again because of Solo Sikoa. Heyman said if Cena ever comes back, Sikoa is going to have to be his opponent. Heyman went to Jimmy and said it would have been the greatest promo of Cena’s career, but Cena won’t be able to say goodbye because Sikoa spiked Cena in the throat. Heyman said no one can see Cena because Cena isn’t there, but Heyman was then cut off by LA Knight’s music. 

Knight said that the only reason Roman Reigns is still champion today is “because of the Bloodline, yeah!” Knight said everyone “knows that’s a problem, yeah!” Knight said if there’s a problem, Knight is a problem-solver, “yeah!” Knight said the Bloodline will cease to exist because Knight will make that happen. Knight said everyone will fall until it’s just Knight and Roman. Knight said the first stop on that path is Jimmy Uso. Knight called Heyman “MC Boss Hog,” and it was funny. Knight rapped a little and Jimmy laughed. Knight did his catchphrase and walked into the ring. 

**********

– Kevin Patrick announced that Carlito will face Santos Escobar at Survivor Series next week. 

– Shotzi, Belair and Charlotte were shown backstage talking. Charlotte walked away, saying she was going to make a call. 

LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso [9:20]

LA Knight’s matches are almost as formulaic as Roman Reigns’s matches, but what works is what works. Jimmy seems to be the odd man out in the Bloodline equation, not just in storyline, but also in real life, because that guy never actually wins matches. The Cody appearance actually had me go “Oh,” out loud in a very unexcited, but unexpected way. The brand split is dumb anyway because nobody gives a heck about it, but Cody running out here can only suggest he’s officially on his way to another showdown with Roman Reigns. Time will tell. 

Heyman got a phone call as the match started and Heyman, along with Sikoa, walked away from ringside, leaving Jimmy alone to fight Knight, who took control early into the match. As Knight stomped on Uso, the crowd chanted “Yeah!” Jimmy rolled to the outside, but Knight followed him and rolled Jimmy back into the ring. Knight landed his slingshot shoulder-block in the ring for a two-count. Jimmy came back and hit a Samoan Drop to slow things down. Jimmy chopped Knight, but Knight back-body-dropped Jimmy over the top. Knight landed a sliding kick and hit Jimmy’s head off the announce table a few times. Knight threw Jimmy over the announce table and posed on top of the table to send the show to a commercial break. 

Back from that commercial break, Uso had control, hitting an enziguri for a two-count. Uso took his time and went for a hip attack, but Knight moved and landed a series of strikes to fire up. Knight then hit a DDT to even things out. Knight hit a clothesline before planting Jimmy a couple of times, the latter of which was a bit clunky. Jimmy went to the top, but Knight cut him off and ultimately set up for the running super-plex spot, but Jimmy push him away. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Knight hit the BFT for the win.

After the match, Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Sikoa came out. Jimmy hit Knight and Sikoa landed the Samoan Spike on Knight. Sikoa dismantled the commentary table and Jimmy dragged Knight to said table. As they were working over Knight, Cody’s music hit and Cody rushed the ring to beat everyone up. The crowd provided loud “Cody!” chants. Cody and Knight stood tall in the ring to end the segment. 

**********

– Backstage, Belair asked Charlotte what was going on and Charlotte said, “I called her, but I don’t know if she’ll make it on time.” From there, the final commercial break commenced. 

– After the show returned, backstage, Nick Aldis confronted Cody and told him to leave, so Cody did. Next week, the show will be on FS1 and will feature Kevin Owens on The Grayson Waller Effect as well as the aforementioned tag team title match. 

The women’s War Games match segment

Ok, so I tried to manifest Jade, but it just wasn’t happening. The reports all along said Becky was the woman who’d jump in, but … damn, when does Jade show up?! Either way, the crowd very much enjoyed Lynch’s appearance and this sets up WWE’s best established star power for the women’s War Games match. Still … where’s Jade?!

Bianca Belair made her entrance. Shotzi followed suit. Charlotte’s music hit and Charlotte made her entrance, too. Charlotte said they could talk about the damage Damage CTRL has done, but they were running out of time and they officially accepted their War Games challenge. Charlotte said if they’re going into war … well, Charlotte was interrupted by Damage CTRL’s music. Bayley walked out and said the faction took down everyone backstage. Bayley called Charlotte and idiot and a loser. As the teams faced off, Becky Lynch ran through the crowd and became the fourth member of the team. The teams then brawled to get the show off the air.

WWE SmackDown live results: LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller

Posted on by Colin McGuire

SmackDown’s fallout from Crown Jewel takes place tonight from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Amid uncertainty within the faction, Bayley will address the future of Damage CTRL. Kairi Sane made her return to WWE at Saturday’s Crown Jewel event, helping IYO SKY retain the WWE Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair. 

Sane last appeared on WWE TV during a July 2020 edition of Raw when she was attacked by Bayley backstage. From there, Sane left the company, only to return last weekend.

Also set for SmackDown is a match between LA Knight and Grayson Waller. Knight is coming off a loss to Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel. Waller and Knight traded social media barbs this week, which led to the match being made.

After weeks of their respective factions feuding, Bobby Lashley is set to face off against Carlito. Lashley said on last week’s SmackDown that he was looking to beat the cool out of Carlito, who only recently returned to WWE. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone in to kick off the show. Kevin Owens’s music hit and Owens made his entrance, complete with a tie around his neck because he’s on commentary duty tonight (Corey Graves is off because of the recent birth of his child). Rey Mysterio’s music hit and the entire LWO made their way to the ring. 

The LWO segment

I’m all for the Santos Escobar heel turn to finally commence, and this was the next step toward that. For my money, he’s a better heel than a babyface and for everything he’s been through with both Mysterio and the LWO along the way, his turn should pack more of a punch than some of the random turns WWE enjoys doing. 

Mysterio welcomed everyone to Friday Night SmackDown. Mysterio recalled his match against Logan Paul at Crown Jewel. Mysterio said Paul stole his U.S. title. Mysterio said he believes Paul wouldn’t have beat him if it wasn’t for the brass knuckles Paul used to win the match. Mysterio said he will do whatever he can to get a rematch with Paul. Oddly, Carlito’s music hit and Carlito made his way to the ring (I thought he was in the LWO, too?). 

Carlio snatched the microphone out of Mysterio’s hand and asked Rey if they aren’t going to talk about Crown Jewel. Carlito said Mysterio shouldn’t blame Paul and instead, Rey should blame the person who left the brass knuckles on the ring canvas, Santos Escobar. Carlito and Escobar yelled at each other as a result of this. Escobar said he was out of there, threw a fit and left through the crowd. Bobby Lashley’s music then hit and Lashley made his entrance for the first match. 

**********

Bobby Lashley defeated Carlito [9:27]

The match wasn’t much and featured a whole lot of no offense from Carlito. Even the moves he was given … well, they weren’t much. Lashley winning made a little bit of sense, though I do worry that Carlito made his WWE comeback only to occasionally lose upper mid-card guys. Maybe a feel-good return win would have been fun? Anyway, the post-match angle was what this was all about and it was fairly interesting. Escobar didn’t do the menacing, devilish turn; instead, he was pushed first and perhaps he took his rebuttal a bit too far. But even as he left ringside, he wasn’t a glaring, cocky bad guy. He has a point or two. Families fight sometimes and this may have just been a family fight (though if that’s the case … damn, Rey, you need to stop fighting with family on WWE programming, but I digress). I was hoping for more fire from Escobar once this moment happened, but I’m also willing to see where this goes as a whole before casting entire judgment. 

The two locked up to begin things. Carlito dropkicked Lashley, but Lashley came right back with a clothesline. B-Fab was shown watching the match backstage. Lashley landed a series of shoulder-blocks and a neck-breaker. Lashley kept the upper hand with a series of strikes and a boot to Carlito’s neck. Lashley went for the Hurt Lock early, but Carlito blocked it and hit a cross-body. Lashley no-sold some clotheslines and went for a vertical suplex, but Carlito blocked it and landed one of his own. Carlito then clotheslined Lashley over the top rope. Lashley blocked an attempt from Carlito to slam him into the ring steps and Lashley instead rammed Carlito onto them. Lashley then ran Carlito into a ring post and the show went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned from break, Lashley had Carlito perched on the top rope. Carlito fought his way out of it and landed a shoulder-block off the top rope. Ashante Thee Adonis was shown approaching B-Fab backstage and B-Fab and Ashante walked out of the frame to talk. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Lashley and Carlito were on the outside of the ring. Carlito rolled Lashley back into the ring, but Montez Ford grabbed Carlito’s leg. As a result, the Street Profits and Wilde and Toro of the LWO brawled. Escobar reappeared out of nowhere and fought the Profits. Amid the chaos, Lashley speared Carlito for the win.

After the match, the Profits and Lashley beat up Carlito. Escobar hopped onto the apron, but Escobar watched the beatdown instead of helping Carlito. Mysterio’s music hit and Mysterio ran down to the ring with a chair in hand to clear the ring. Mysterio scolded Escobar for not helping on the post-match attack. Mysterio and Escobar jawed at each other and Mysterio pushed Escobar, yelling that the LWO is all family. Escobar looked like he was going to leave the ring, but instead turned around and attacked Mysterio. Escobar rolled Carlito out of the ring and Mysterio slapped Escobar, forcing Escobar to the ground. Mysterio approached Escobar to help him up, but Escobar ran Rey into a ring post. Escobar dropkicked the ring steps because Rey’s leg between the steps and the post. Escobar yelled at Mysterio, saying he loved Rey. Zelina Vega ran down to the ring and pulled Escobar off Mysterio. Escobar walked to the back blaming Rey to end the segment. 

**********

– Escobar was seen leaving the arena and Escobar was stopped by Cathy Kelley, who asked why Escobar did what he did. Escobar said, “Rey had it coming.” The show returned to the commentary table and Owens said even though he’s turned on a bunch of people during his career, he would never turn on Rey Mysterio. From there, we got a video recap of the IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair match from Crown Jewel. 

The Damage CTRL segment

I … I … I don’t know about this one. For Sane to just blindly forgive Bayley for that attack three years ago without much development or thought feels like lazy booking/writing. Maybe this will lead to Bayley being on her own, but for now, it feels unimaginative. Besides: Seeing Sane visually leading SKY and Kai in the entrance way packed more of a punch than the Bayley/SKY/Kai team does these days. I have hopes this will turn around sooner than later, but only time will tell. All four women are super talented. This, though? I don’t know if that’s the right way to go, if only because I can’t fully believe in a lot of it right away because it feels so simple. I hope WWE proves this short-team response from me wrong. 

Bayley referenced the video package and said she has had a plan and vision for SKY and Dakota Kai. Bayley said everything she wanted to come true, came true. That included the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Ms. Money In The Bank, and the WWE Women’s Championship. The crowd gave her the “What?!” treatment and Bayley called the crowd idiots. Bayley tried to play into the “What?!” stuff, but it didn’t quite work and Bayley asked SKY to come to the ring to talk like adults. 

Kai and SKY appeared with Kairi Sane in the middle of them. The three got into the ring and grabbed microphones, with the exception of Sane. Bayley asked what Sane was doing out there. SKY interrupted Bayley and said SKY had a plan, too. SKY thanked Sane for helping her retain the title. Bayley said she wanted the best for SKY and Kai and then Bayley threw to a video of the attack Bayley laid on Sane in 2020, which ostensibly forced Sane out of WWE in storyline. Bayley said she was concerned that Sane was around. Kai interrupted Bayley and said they brought Sane in to make Damage CTRL stronger. Kai said they wanted to take some of the weight off Bayley. 

Kai said Damage CTRL is stronger than ever and it should be a celebration. Sane had a microphone and said she respected Bayley as the leader of Damage CTRL. Sane said she forgave Bayley for the attack three years ago. Sane, SKY and Kai went for a hug and Bayley acted like she wasn’t into it as the four hugged. Bianca Belair’s music hit, then, and Belair spoke to the trio from the entrance way. Belair said she doesn’t forgive Damage CTRL. Belair said tonight, she’s going to “have to whoop all three of y’all.” Charlotte Flair’s music hit and Charlotte walked out to stand with Belair. Belair said someone else was upset that Sane joined damage CTRL. Asuka’s music then hit and out came Asuka, who spoke in Japanese. Asuka then said that nobody is ready for Asuka in English. Turns out, a six-woman tag team match will now happen later in the show. 

**********

– A Dragon Lee vignette aired. 

Dragon Lee defeated Cedric Alexander [5:49 of TV time]

I’m convinced they only ran this back because Alexander is the only person on WWE’s main roster who can take Dragon Lee’s finisher in a natural, pretty way, but that’s enough cynicism from me (for now). For nearly six minutes, this was a lot of fun, and I tend to get a kick out of “This is awesome!” chants for matches like this in WWE anymore because it makes me think … “Hey, they could book more of this type of stuff if they want to,” but they never seem to do that. If Dragon Lee vs. Cedric Alexander becomes the go-to match for both guys on SmackDown every other week for the next six months, I won’t complain. Let’s just see the entire match next time, guys. Please?

The match was joined in progress from commercial and Alexander hit a dropkick before landing a tope suicida on Lee, who was on the outside. Back in the ring, Alexander hit a tornado DDT for a two-count. Alexander chopped Lee. Alexander landed a running elbow and a dropkick to a sitting Lee for a two-count. Lee came back a bit and Alexander was on the outside. Lee landed a dive onto Alexander and rolled Alexander back into the ring, where Lee hit a sit-out power-bomb for a two-count. 

Lee ran and Alexander and Alexander launched Lee halfway across the ring and into the turnbuckles. Alexander followed that up with an elbow and the two traded strikes. Alexander kicked Lee in the head to end that, but Lee came back with a German Suplex and a kick to the head of his own. There was a weird Spanish Fly-type move that Lee took the worse of and Alexander got a nice near-fall out of it. The crowd chanted “This is awesome!” Lee kicked Alexander in the head again and dropped his knee pad to run at Alexander, but Alexander caught him with a Michinoku Driver. Alexander went for a Lumbar Check, but Lee countered and Kneed Alexander. Lee then hit his finisher for the win. 

**********

– Kevin Patrick said Rey Mysterio is being treated at a “local medical facility,” and from there, a video package chronicling the Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio match from Crown Jewel aired. 

The LA Knight/Grayson Waller segment

Two of WWE’s best talkers doing their best talking. The belief, it seems, was that Knight could lose to Reigns and get his heat right back as long as they gave him a microphone for 10 minutes on the following SmackDown, and that’s exactly what happened. Waller was good foil for him, too, and while the ensuing match might not be a mat-classic, it will at least serve the purpose of keeping Knight in the spotlight. Presumably, at least. Let’s see how it goes. 

LA Knight came to the ring and stood there, soaking in cheers from the crowd. Knight then gave them the “Let me talk to ya” catchphrase. Knight said Crown Jewel didn’t go exactly as he hoped for. Knight said he could say he was sorry for not living up to the expectations. The crowd chanted “That’s OK!” Knight said he did what he said he was going to do – he took Roman Reigns within an inch of his championship and he had Reigns for the 1-2-3, if not for Jimmy Uso. Knight told Reigns to give Jimmy a raise and a promotion because if Jimmy wasn’t there, the world would be looking at a new champion right now. Knight said he wasn’t going to the back of the line because he’s not done with the Bloodline and the Bloodline isn’t done with him. Knight said he will own the WWE championship and he went on a little more until Grayson Waller’s music hit and Waller walked out. 

Waller said Knight was embarrassing himself. Waller said Knight was blaming everyone but himself. Waller said Knight needed honesty. Waller said the truth is that Knight is maybe just not the guy. Waller said he knows someone who is the guy. Knight called Waller “Kangaroo Jackass.” Waller asked Knight if Knight really thought he belonged in the ring with Roman Reigns. Knight responded with a question of his own: Does The Grayson Waller Effect sound like an STD? The crowd yelled “Yeah!” Knight called Waller a creep and said Waller shouldn’t be allowed within 50 yards of a high school. Knight mocked Waller for his social media stuff. Knight told Waller that Waller was dealing with an angry Knight and Knight hit Waller with his microphone. Knight spilled Owens’s water onto Waller near the commentary table and did his catchphrase with the crowd. 

**********

LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller [11:22]

Man, you can tell that the WWE decision-makers really do believe in Grayson Waller. Waller got so much shine here, it was almost refreshing to see (because you knew there was no way Knight was losing this coming off the Crown Jewel defeat). Good on Knight, too, for being so generous. In all, this was a fine-enough television match. Nothing special. Nothing egregious. You forget how green Waller should be at this point in his career because Waller keeps looking like he belongs. Good on him for it. 

Knight had control early and worked Waller’s shoulder. Waller retreated to the outside and Knight went after him. Knight slammed Waller onto the apron and rolled Waller back into the ring. Knight hit his slingshot shoulder-block for a one-count. Knight landed a swinging neck-breaker for another one-count. Waller hit a discus elbow and then took control with a series of strikes. Ultimately, Knight back-body-dropped Waller over the top to the outside. Knight slammed Waller’s head off the commentary table repeatedly. Waller came back by running Knight into the commentary table as well as the ringside steps. Waller then landed a sliding clothesline and the show went to a commercial break.

When the show returned, Waller still had control inside the ring, working a chin-lock. Waller ran Knight into the ring post and worked a single-leg crab over the top turnbuckle. Waller then worked a single-leg crab in the middle of the ring. Waller went to the second rope and hit an elbow for a two-count. Waller went back to the well, but Knight moved and Waller hit the canvas. Waller went for a rolling cutter, but Knight countered into a back suplex. With the two back on their feet, Knight landed a series of punches and, before long, a leaping clothesline, a Russian Leg Sweep and a DDT for a two-count. Waller jumped at Knight, but Knight caught Waller for a bodyslam. Knight then hit his elbow and the BFT for the win.

**********

– After a couple video packages, it was revealed that Solo Sikoa will be back on SmackDown next week. 

– Austin Theory and Grayson Waller walked down to ringside to confront Kevin Owens. Theory pushed Owens. Waller dumped a bottle of water onto Owens. Owens chased Waller and Theory up the entrance way. Owens went for a Stunner on Theory, but instead gave a Stunner to Waller. I suppose this means Owens will now be suspended, via Nick Aldis’s stipulation for Owens working commentary. 

– Jimmy Uso was shown backstage and said if LA Knight wants him next week, he can have him. Jimmy then got on the phone to the Tribal Chief. There wasn’t much that came from it. Either way, next week will feature LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso. Also next week, Solo Sikoa will return. 

**********

Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY & Kairi Sane) wrestled Charlotte, Asuka & Bianca Belair to a no-contest [8:16]

The match was irrelevant, so let’s get into what matters. I don’t know, man. I’m kinda into it. It’s like the NWO before it started to suck. Five of the best women WWE has to offer should run all over everyone else, and I’m here for it (as long as they … well … do it better than latter-day NWO). This was here only to set up Damage CTRL as a Real Deal group and it worked. Conventional wisdom this suggests a women’s War Games match in some way, though I do wonder who the other babyfaces will be (Jade Cargill is one, but who might be the other?). All told, this was very much a worthy main event segment and I’m intrigued to see how things go from here. Good stuff, really. All the way around. Good stuff. 

Belair and Bayley started the match and Belair landed her springboard moonsault early on. Belair hit a splash on Bayley and SKY on the outside. Charlotte then hit a big boot on Sane and Asuka, Charlotte and Belair posed as the show went to its final commercial break of the night. Whent he show returned, Charlotte landed a fallaway slam on SKY, who got up and tagged in Sane. Belair then tagged in and hit a shoulder-block to take Sane down. Belair unloaded on Sane and hit a vertical suplex. Belair tried to Suplex Sane over the top rope, but Sane blocked it and pretty much all of Damage CTRL either distracted the referee or attacked Belair so they could get the upper hand. 

Sane went to the top and hit a flying punch for a two-count on Belair. SKY tagged in and then Bayley tagged in and worked over Belair. Bayley ran at Belair, but Belair disposed of Bayley and went for a hot tag, but Sane pulled Charlotte off the apron. Bayley rushed back into the ring and hammered away at Belair. Belair eventually hit a spine-buster on Bayley to get the hot tag to Asuka, but … wouldn’t you know it, Asuka pulled away and misted Belair. Asuka then kicked Belair in the head and hugged Sane. SKY, Asuka and Sane hugged and Bayley hugged them, too. Charlotte tried to fight back, but the bell rang, signaling a no contest. Shotzi ran down to the ring, but Damage CTRL got the best of her, too. Sane landed the Insane Elbow on Belair and the heels, complete with Asuka as a member of the faction, stood tall to end the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Crown Jewel go-home show

Posted on by Colin McGuire

On the final SmackDown before Crown Jewel, Rey Mysterio and Logan Paul will conduct a weigh-in for Saturday’s United States Championship match.

The title match was made after Paul called Mysterio out after defeating Dillon Danis in a boxing match last month. Paul is looking to win his first championship in WWE.

Tonight’s show was taped in Milwaukee last week. The episode will feature a singles match between Bianca Belair and Bayley. At Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, Belair challenges Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship.

A Donnybrook Rules match is set for SmackDown. It will pit the Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) against Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson). Pretty Deadly defeated the Brutes on the October 13 edition of SmackDown. 

Kevin Owens and Austin Theory will also square off. Owens had a backstage interaction with Theory and Grayson Waller last week, during which Owens knocked them out. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– The “Then, Now, Forever, Together” bumper aired, and it still included the Ric Flair “Wooo!” So, there’s that. Afterwards, a video package chronicling all of last week’s Roman Reigns/LA Knight developments aired. Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone in and Knight’s music hit. Knight then walked to the ring. 

The LA Knight segment

God bless that Milwaukee crowd for sticking it out for a segment they saw that was almost identical … what … two hours before this happened live? You can’t avoid having to tape two episodes in one night when “Saudi Arabia” is on the itinerary as the town you’re making tomorrow, but this lacked the type of go-home fire you’d hope for a promo segment selling the next PLE main event. Part of that was the crowd, part of that was the redundancy. But they did what they could and it wasn’t terrible. My only whining moment comes in the form of this: Nobody with two feet and a heartbeat thinks Knight is taking that title off Reigns tomorrow, so WWE really didn’t have a way to somehow heat this thing up in a creative way on the final TV program before the Big Show? All told, it just feels like everyone involved could have done better and the segment only gets a passing grade because of how much raw talent Reigns and Knight have on the mic at this point.

Knight soaked up some crowd love before saying “Let me talk to ya!” Knight started by saying 1,200 days as champion is impressive. Knight talked about how quick it can be that those 1,200 days end. Knight talked about how he dropped Reigns with a BFT last week. Knight said it will be a hostile takeover because Knight is coming to take over everything Reigns stands for. Knight said, “It will be the end of Roman’s reign, yeah!” On cue, Reigns’s music hit and out walked Roman with Paul Heyman. 

The two jawed at each other as they stood in the ring, off-mic, and Reigns’s music was still playing. Reigns started by saying he typically starts by telling the town to acknowledge him, but they already know who he is (or this was the second SmackDown they taped in one night and at least Reigns had the tact to not put them through the whole song and dance again, but I digress). Reigns talked about how surprised he was that Knight stepped up. Reigns said Knight “managed his time wisely,” and now Knight has all the people on his side. Reigns gave Knight credit for that and said it’s not easy to do that in this day and age. Reigns told the crowd to chant Knight’s name, which the crowd did, and Reigns followed that up by saying this is the last time the crowd will do that. 

Reigns talked about how what he does is cinema and he is a mega-star. Reigns said he turned the business into a billion-dollar industry. Reigns called Knight a “cosplay redneck version of my cousin,” and it was a lazy shot, but still kind of funny. Reigns said he’s going to leave Knight in the desert. Knight responded by noting how Reigns must feel invincible. Knight said he isn’t coming at Reigns from the same angle everyone else did. Knight said “he’s not there to finish something, he’s there to start something (yeah!)”. Knight said he will cosplay the guy who is going to kick Reigns’s ass at Crown Jewel. Knight said he’s a megastar. Knight said he doesn’t do warning shots, so if Reigns is going to take his shot, he better make sure Knight is done for good. Knight closed things with his catchphrase and WWE officials came out to separate the two as things got a little feisty to end the segment. 

**********

– Austin Theory was interviewed back stage and said he’s used to taking hits and said he has a confident face and a face that everyone wants to see. Theory Kevin Owens has a face only a mother can love. Theory then made a comment about how Owens has a face where he would have to wear a mask on Halloween, but joke’s on you (bro). Halloween already happened. 

Kevin Owens defeated Austin Theory [7:20]

This was surprising in the sense that this was clearly set up to forward a story between Waller and Owens. Theory taking a loss like that doesn’t feel common in WWE these days, and if anything, I would have thought it would have been Waller taking a loss like this first, setting up a match between Owens and Theory. So, that’s refreshing in its own weird way. Anyway, the match was fine. The package suplex Owens hit from the second rope to kickstart the go-home sequence was great and to be honest, Theory looked better here than he has in a bit when it comes to WWE TV in-ring work. A three-minute commercial break in a seven-minute match never allows a viewer to get into a groove with it, but it was what it was.

Grayson Waller sat in on commentary. The two locked up to begin things and Owens tried to attack Theory, but the ref broke it up as Theory went to the ropes. They locked up again and Theory went to the outside. Owens followed and Theory rammed Owens into the ring and the commentary table. Back inside the ring, Theory took control with a series of strikes. Theory went for another punch and Owens caught him, only to punch Theory and clothesline Theory over the top rope to the outside. Owens followed that up with a clothesline, taking Theory to the floor. The show then went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned, Owens slammed Theory into the commentary table and jawed at Waller. Theory took advantage of that and ran Owens into the ring pole. Back in the ring, Theory chop-blocked Owens. Theory lifted Owens, but Owens fought out of it and ultimately tried a Stunner, but Theory pushed Owens away and landed a rolling Blockbuster for a near-fall. Theory stomped on Owens and worked him over with punches. With Owens on the second rope, Owens hit a wild suplex, which was followed up with a pop-up powerbomb. Owens landed a Stunner and stared at Waller as he got the three-count. 

**********

– Cathy Kelley interview Bianca Belair backstage. Belair didn’t get 10 seconds into her promo and Damage CTRL attacked Belair. WWE officials, included Nick Aldis ran onto the set and broke things up. 

– A video recapping the Street Profits/LWO stuff from last week aired. Logan Paul was shown walking backstage and he ran into the Street Profits and Bobby Lashley. Paul walked out of the scene and Lashley was talking up the Profits but B-Fab came into interrupt things and then walked off with Lashley to talk. 

Charlotte Flair & Shotzi defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven [2:58]

This means Charlotte and Shotzi will get a title shot, so cool it on any idea that they are new women’s tag champs. Still, I kind of/sort of like the Shotzi/Charlotte pairing. Even if this is just a vehicle for Charlotte to put “tag team champion” on her resume, Shotzi seems to be into it, which is fun. Not so fun is Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, as champs, taking a loss that felt more like a squash than anything else. I understand that WWE wants to make Green into, essentially, the female version of The Miz, but damn, man. Give her a win every now and then (yes, I know she picked up a win on RAW this week, but that was her first singles win since coming back to WWE, right?). Champions should never look as weak as especially Green does – even if the sole intention is “fun,” whatever that means.  

Look at that. Shotzi was teaming with a mystery opponent, and who could have guessed it’d be Charlotte Flair after what’s happened in recent weeks?! Why not just announce this team ahead time? OK, I’ll shut up. Anyway, the match started with Niven and Shotzi and Niven had her way with Shotzi. Green tagged in after Shotzi was vulnerable and Green worked over Shotzi with some boots. Niven tagged back in, but Shotzi worked her way out and got the hot tag to Charlotte, who hit a cross-body on both Niven and Green. Charlotte hit a series of chops on both Green and Niven. Charlotte landed a suplex on Green and then got her hands on Niven, but Green got a blind tag in … only to run into a big boot from Charlotte, which was enough for Charlotte to get the win for her team. 

**********

The Solo Sikoa/John Cena segment

I don’t know what that 90 second stipulation was that Cena referenced twice – and I also don’t know why Cena all of a sudden didn’t have a voice – but damn, man. On his way out, Cena throws his best out there as he’s ready to head into the (presumed) final match of this latest WWE run. The Taz line was a lot of fun, and makes even a little more sense now that Excalibur actually spoke Cena’s name on Dynamite this past Wednesday. Sikoa has a ways to go on the microphone (still, don’t think he’s not capable; the guy wasn’t bad when he was on his own during his NXT run), but this was some of the best use of Cena the company has put out there since Cena decided to come home for a couple months. Short, sweet, poignant, effective. The raspy voice was a blessing.

Paul Heyman accompanied Sikoa to the ring. Heyman began by saying it’s the end of days for Cena. Heyman said it wasn’t the way he wanted it to be. Heyman said it’s not his fault and nobody should blame Roman Reigns. Heyman said Cena picked a fight with the Bloodline. Heyman said there was no way they would let Cena get away with it. Heyman noted how Reigns turned to the soldier and the assassin, which is Sikoa. Heyman suggested that Sikoa could someday be the Tribal Chief and Cena will be a victim of Sikoa. The crowd booed heavily. Sikoa whispered something to Heyman and took the mic for himself. 

Sikoa asked Heyman why he would waste his breath talking to the crowd. Sikoa said they weren’t there to talk to the crowd; they were there to talk to Cena face-to-face. Cena’s music then hit and Cena made his entrance. Cena entered the ring and Sikoa said he’s mad he has to “wait until tomorrow to fight you.” Sikoa said he got orders from Reigns, and that order was to give Cena a microphone to be able to say goodbye to the fans while he still could. Sikoa said after the Crown Jewel match, Cena won’t be able to talk to the fans. Sikoa then gave Cena the microphone as the crowd chanted “Let’s go Cena!” 

Cena said, “That’s it?” Cena asked Sikoa if he knew who he was in the ring with. Cena said everyone has “been waiting for Sikoa to talk for a year, and that’s all you bring to the table?” Cena’s voice was raspy. Cena said he’s going to say goodbye – but not to them, but for them. Cena said the only reason Sikoa got a job in WWE is because of his cousin. Cena called Sikoa a “bargain basement Taz ripoff.” Cena told Sikoa to tape his thumb extra tight because it’s going up his ass tomorrow. Cena said “that’s my 90 seconds,” threw the microphone down and left to end the segment. 

**********

– Damage CTRL were shown talking backstage. Bayley said Bianca Belair has never learned her lesson. Bayley teasted SKY vs. Bayley at Crown Jewel, but then said it was a joke. Nick Aldis came into the frame and said that Damage CTRL will be barred from ringside for the Bayley vs. Belair match. SKY also reminded Bayley that Bayley couldn’t handle SKY if she wanted to. 

Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) defeated Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) in a Donnybrook Rules match [12:21]

A good WWE-style brawl with a somewhat surprising outcome. With two wins in this program, I have to think both teams move onto something else, but what will that be, exactly? Pretty Deadly moves up the card (in theory), but the Brutes take yet another loss, which at this point, makes them look like they have even less credibility than they did going into the match – and that’s a shame because the Brutes are supposed to be tough guys, but for one reason or another, they never seem to come up on the winning end. Even so, this was fine. It’s WWE. There will be no blood. The spots will be overtly safe. Nothing wrong with that last part, of course – nobody should ever risk their health for this stuff. But if you watch no-DQ matches elsewhere, you’ll get something different. These four did all they could with what they had. No complaints on the work. 

The Brutes jumpstarted the match by attacking Pretty Deadly in the aisle as the camera did its slow motion thing during Pretty Deadly’s entrance. The action spilled into the ring and Butch and Holland hit stereo 10 Beats on both Pretty Deadly members. Butch obtained a pair of Shillelaghs and the Brutes worked over both Deadly guys with them. With Prince leaning on a bar set up at ringside, Butch went for his finger-breaking spot, but Prince turned that into a suplex. From there, Pretty Deadly took control and posed to the crowd. 

In the ring, Pretty Deadly worked over Holland with kicks and then got a hold of the Shillelaghs. They both went to hit Holland with them, but Holland caught them and threw them both over the top rope. Butch came back into the picture and landed a moonsault from the top rope onto everyone – including Holland – to send the show to a commercial break. Back from that break, Prince hit a Tornado DDT on Butch while Holland slammed Wilson onto a garbage can for a two-count. Holland, weirdly worked a Boston Crab, even though this was essentially a street fight. 

Prince went for the save, but Butch worked an ankle lock on Prince. Prince and Wilson locked hands and fired up. Prince kicked Butch away and hit Holland’s back with a barstool. Pretty Deadly followed that up with a clunky double-team move, but Butch made the save on a pin attempt. Butch then chopped the hell out of Wilson. Prince got back at Butch and an elbow strike. Prince went to the second rope, but Holland cut him off and slammed Prince. Holland lifted Wilson, but Wilson countered into a modified face-buster. Butch fired up, but Wilson stopped his momentum with a clothesline and all four guys were down. 

Wilson went for something, but Butch cut him off and hit his fingers spot. Prince brought a Shillelagh back and hit Butch with it. Prince went to the top, but Holland cut Prince off and powerbombed Prince through a table on the outside. Inside the ring, Butch landed a boot to Wilson’s head for a good near-fall. Holland grabbed a table from under the ring and the Brutes set it up inside the ring. Wilson rolled away from them and went to the outside. Wilson then ran Holland into a keg. Butch and Wilson were on the second rope, but Prince showed up with a glass bottle and slammed it on Butch’s head. Pretty Deadly then hit their finisher on Butch through the table and got the pinfall win.

**********

– Nick Aldis was walking backstage and ran into Paul Heyman. Heyman told Aldis to have a lot of medical personnel on hand at Crown Jewel because this is the most savage version of Roman Reigns that anyone will ever see. 

The Rey Mysterio/Logan Paul Weigh-In

There is nothing intelligent to say about this. There is nothing constructive to say about this. There is silly. There is pro wrestling silly. And then there is what happened here. God bless. 

Nick Aldis introduced both competitors. It looked like they were doing this in a storage shed in the back. Paul weighed in at 213 while there were piped in camera sounds. Mysterio weighed in at 175. Paul and Mysterio jawed at each other like they would at a real weigh-in, but nothing really came of it. Mysterio took a microphone and then slapped Paul. Paul came back and punched Mysterio … who then took the microphone and hit Paul in the way Paul was hit at the weigh-in for the Dillion Danis fight recently. That ended the segment.

**********

– Next week, Carlito will face Bobby Lashley. And that’s about all they had to say about next week’s SmackDown episode. 

Bianca Belair defeated Bayley [13:18]

These two worked well together. It’s not that often we see Bayley work singles matches anymore – and it’s even more rare that we see her work meaningful singles matches – but she showed here that she can still very much hang. That super-plex spot was a little scary, but in all, this was a good and worthy main event. I kind of like that Bayley has become a sort of gatekeeper for babyfaces in WWE and in that sense, has taken a half-backseat role in Damage CTRL. If nothing else, it works to help put the babyfaces over with a sense of credibility. Good work from both women. 

Bayley threw a shirt at Belair and attacked Belair to start the match. Belair rebounded with a series of shoulder-blocks on Bayley. Belair landed a pair of vertical suplexes on Bayley before hitting a Will Ospreay-esque standing moonsault for a two-count. Bayley rolled to the outside, where Belair chased her. Back in the ring, Belair hit a trio of bodyslams. With Bayley on the apron, Bayley kicked Belair, which took Belair to the outside, which then took the show to its final commercial break. 

Back from break, Bayley still had the upper hand and hit an elbow from the apron onto Belair on the outside. Back inside the ring, Bayley went for a cover, but Belair immediately kicked out. Bayley worked a chin-lock. Belair fought out and hit a back-breaker to even things out. Belair fired up and hit Bayley with a series of punches. Belair planted Bayley for a two-count. With Bayley on the top rope, Belair hit a rough-looking super-plex that Bayley only barely got over for. All of that resulted in a two-count. 

Belair went for another moonsault, but Bayley moved and dragged Belair outside by her ponytail. Bayley rammed Belair into the ring post. Bayley hit an elbow from the top rope and got a near-fall out of it. Bayley went to the outside and cleared off the commentary table. Bayley lifted Belair for a powerbomb, but Belair fought out of it and Bayley ran herself into the ring post. Belair followed that up with a dive onto the outside and then rolled Bayley back into the ring. Belair went for the KOD, but Bayley rolled out and into a pinfall attempt. Belair kicked out and whipped Bayley witih the ponytail. Belair hit the KOD for the win. 

After the match, Belair KOD’d Bayley through the commentary table and that ended the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns-LA Knight contract signing

Posted on by Colin McGuire

Due to the World Series, tonight’s SmackDown from Milwaukee airs live on FS1 instead of Fox.

The show is taking place with Crown Jewel just eight days away. Roman Reigns and LA Knight will both be on hand to sign the contract for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match at Crown Jewel.

This will be the first time Reigns and Knight have shared the ring since Reigns laid out Knight with a spear on SmackDown two weeks ago.

Also slated for tonight is a tag team match pitting Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar against The Street Profits. Mysterio is gearing up for a United States title defense against Logan Paul at Crown Jewel.

John Cena will address his upcoming match against Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel. Plus, Bianca Belair is scheduled to appear. Belair returned from a hiatus last week and saved Charlotte Flair from a beatdown by Damage CTRL. IYO SKY retained her WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte in the main event of the episode after Damage CTRL interference.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone in. Corey Graves recapped how People Magazine broke the news that John Cena will face Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel. Roman Reigns’s music hit and Regisn began his 1,295-minute entrance – but wait. As Reigns was posing in the aisle, LA Knight’s music hit and Knight strutted past Reigns to the ring. 

The Roman Reigns/LA Knight contract signing

This was one of the better talkie opening segments in recent WWE TV memory. I ate up the lack of respect Knight had for Reigns and all his pomp and circumstance. It was a welcome change of pace for the Roman Reigns presentation and Reigns did a great job selling how much that annoyed him. None of us think Knight is taking that belt off Reigns, but damn if they aren’t doing all they can to convince us Knight has a chance. Of all the good Knight promo segments that have occurred in the last year or so, this ranked up there with the best of them. He felt confident and never out of place in a major position like that – and that’s not easy to do. 

The crowd chanted “LA Knight!” as Knight sat at the proverbial head of the literal table, which made Paul Heyman angry. Knight said it was time to sign the deal for the match (yeah!). SmackDown GM Nick Aldis weighed in and welcomed everyone. Knight interrupted Aldis and said, “Let me talk to ya!” Knight said the contract said Roman Reigns will hand over the championship to LA Knight (yeah!). Reigns sat down and said, “Hello, big boy.” 

When the crowd calmed down, Reigns said, “Hey, idiot,” to Knight. Reigns called Knight stupid for just “signing away.” Reigns asked Knight if Knight had ever actually had a contract signing as well as a championship match before. Reigns said Knight had no clue what he was doing. Reigns said he would go easy on Knight. Reigns said he’d be gentle with Knight and called Knight “sweetheart.” The pen didn’t work, so Heyman threw it. Reigns got a pen that worked and signed the contract as the crowd chanted “Roman’s scared!” Aldis took the contract and wished both guys the best of luck. 

Reigns got up to leave, but Knight stopped him and told Reigns to acknowledge him. Knight said it was sweet of Roman to say he’d be gentle with him. Knight said Reigns is already beat. Knight said it might be his first time in this position, but it happened “after only a single year.” Knight said he climbed to fast, Reigns hasn’t known what’s hit him. Knight said he only needs one time to get Reigns’s title and mocked Reigns for his infamous “sufferin succotash” promo. Knight said there was nothing Roman could do to stop him and that wasn’t an insult, it was “a fact of life.”

Knight said he can’t stop being the man they call the megastar and Knight led the crowd in his chants, but Reigns cut Knight off by flipping the table onto Knight. Reigns threw Knight into the ring post and got another table from under the ring. Reigns set up the table inside the ring and tried to punch Knight, but Knight fought back and stomped a mud hole in Reigns. Jimmy Uso appeared out of nowhere and stomped a mud hole in Knight. Heyman told Jimmy to “get him” when it came to Knight, but Knight caught Jimmy and suplexed Jimmy through the table. Knight’s music hit to end the segment. 

**********

The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated LWO (Carlito & Santos Escobar) [11:52]

From the tenth of a second it was randomly announced that Mysterio wasn’t actually going to participate in this match – even though he was initially announced to wrestle in this match – it was clear who the winners were going to be. I might be in the minority, but I kind of like the Profits working a heel style in the ring. There’s a noticeable difference and if the hope for them and Bobby Lashley ever fails, you can’t say it’s because nobody tried their hardest. That in mind, I’m still concerned about where they go from this program with the LWO. WWE doesn’t get as much flak for investing as much in 50/50 booking as it once did, but you can’t tell me either the Profits or the LWO look great as a result of this story. Either way, the match was fine for what it was, even if the crowd felt indifferent toward Carlito, which in its own right, was a shame. 

Dawkins and Escobar started the match out with Dawkins taking control early. After trading a handful of flips and athletic moves, Escobar got the upper hand with a dropkick. Carlito tagged in and muscled Dawkins to the mat. Carlito jawed at Lashley and Dawkins capitalized on it with a series of strikes. Carlito came back with a standing dropkick and with Ford and Dawkins on the outside, Carlito took off his shirt and landed a flip onto the heels before the show cut to a commercial break. 

Back from break, Ford was working over Escobar inside the ring. When Escobar tried to fight back, Ford kicked Escobar and landed a splash for a two-count. Ford worked a chin-lock to slow things down. Ford hit an enziguri and stepped on Escobar’s throat. Ford went back to the rear chin-lock. Escobar punched and elbowed his way out, but Ford cut Escobar off with a clothesline. Dawkins tagged in and the Profits dropped Escobar face-first. Dawkins ran at Escobar, but Escobar countered with a knee strike to even things out. Carlito then received the hot tag as Ford tagged in. 

Carlito took both Profits out, complete with a spinebuster on Ford for a two-count. Carlito set up a backstabber, but Ford countered into a rollup and a two-count. Carlito came back with a neck-breaker, but Dawkins broke up a pin attempt. Escobar tagged in and Rey Mysterio was shown watching the match backstage … until Logan Paul attacked Mysterio. Carlito ran to the back to help Rey and as a result, despite a valiant effort, the Profits hit The Revelation for the win. 

**********

– Roman Reigns was shown backstage and Paul Heyman showed Reigns a WWE title “made exclusively for the Green Bay Packers.” Heyman said he was going to give the title to LA Knight because it will be the closest Knight or the Green Bay Packers will ever come to becoming champions, which was kind of funny. Jimmy Uso showed up and laid on the couch. Jimmy said he ran the play – but it was “an audible, a hot route.” Reigns said they have to handle Knight tonight, but Jimmy said he was on the IR … until Jimmy said he was off it after a weird look from Roman. Heyman said he was going to talk to Nick Aldis to make the match between Jimmy and Knight for later. 

– Logan Paul was shown walking backstage and Cathy Kelley caught up with him. Paul quickly rambled for a second and walked away. Shown standing alongside a wall was Kevin Owens, who Paul dismissed. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller came into the frame and confronted Owens. WWE officials separated Owens and the heels. With Owens seemingly gone, Owens came out of nowhere and put both Waller and Theory down with one punch. 

– Kayla Braxton interviewed Dragon Lee. Lee said he was happy to be on SmackDown, but was then interrupted by Cedric Alexander. Alexander said Lee reminded him of himself. Cedric recalled how the crowd once chanted “Please sign Cedric!” Alexander challenged Lee to a match tonight and Lee accepted. 

**********

Shotzi defeated Chelsea Green [3:18]

I maintain that Chelsea Green takes too many losses. She could be a lot of fun as a pest heel who always pulls out wins, but instead, it’s so much harder to take her seriously as someone who holds a belt, but never seems to win. She’s not not entertaining – and on top of that, I’m all for Shotzi getting some wins under her belt – but there has to be a more meaningful way to use both women. 

Green attacked Shotzi early. Shotzi fought back and choked Green with her legs. Green rolled to the outside, where Shotzi hit a splash onto Green. Back in the ring, Green landed a sort of Russian Leg Sweep from the middle rope. Green got a two-count out of it. Green landed a missile dropkick for another two-count. Green hit a short-arm clothesline and stepped on Shotzi. Green ran at Shotzi, but Shotzi pulled down the ropes and Green went to the apron. From there, the two went to a corner and the middle rope. It resulted in Green throwing Shotzi down, face-first, onto the canvas. Green posed a little too much and Shotzi rolled Green up for the win.

**********

The John Cena segment

Yeah, you can’t tell me Cena is working a second beyond Crown Jewel after that. Heyman gave him a great sendoff and there was a lot of hidden respect built into that promo that you have to think Crown Jewel will be the last we see of Cena for a while (if not forever? OK, probably not forever, but you never know). Cena has been fantastic in this latest run and he’s been everything anyone could ask him to be and more. The only question remains: Does he go out on his back and give Sikoa a super-rub, or does Cena get a victory to feel good about before he goes back to Hollywood Land? It might be the most up-for-grabs result on Crown Jewel as we sit right now, eight days removed. 

Cena fired up the crowd by saying “This is what SmackDown sounds like from a sold-out Milwaukee, Wisconsin!” Cena said there was a special energy in the building. Cena said the energy for him was a little different because the energy was serious. Cena said he’s had a lot of serious moments in his career, but it hasn’t been this serious in a wild. Cena said for more than 20 years, he and the fans have shared “this” (whatever “this” is, which is apparently impossible to define). Cena talked about how the fans have given him their respect. Cena said he felt he was in jeopardy of losing the fans’ support and respect. Cena himself couldn’t help but laugh at that notion because my God, let’s not pretend like those fans have always been on his side and if there was ever a time they’ve been on his side in recent years, it’s now, but I digress. 

Anyway, the crowd chanted “You still got it!” Cena responded with “But what if I don’t?” Cena said if he doesn’t deliver soon, he’ll lose “this” (and again, can we please define with “this” is?). Cena said he wanted to keep the ride going and as a result, there was only one thing left to do at Crown Jewel and that was to win. Cena said Crown Jewel will be both must-see and a must-win. Cena said he knows it takes guts to promise a victory, but Cena said the time is now to deliver. On cue, Paul Heyman’s voice cut through and Heyman walked to the ring. 

Heyman said he’s loyal to the truth and he assured Cena he was out there with respect. The crowd chanted “You suck!” at Heyman. Heyman entered the ring after asking Cena if he was allowed to do so. Heyman extended his hand for a handshake. Cena shook Heyman’s hand. Heyman noted how it was a sold out crowd and Heyman actually said, “Thank you for the house,” which got a pop out of me. Heyman said it started when Vince McMahon turned to Heyman 21 years ago and Heyman said Cena was Heyman’s first pick. Heyman said he raised his kids to be more like Cena than Heyman. Heyman told Cena Roman Reigns proved Cena isn’t the greatest of all time in the ring anymore. Heyman followed that up by saying Cena is the greatest at communication in the history of WWE. 

Heyman said Cena has a bond with the fans that Heyman could never have because Cena can talk in a way nobody else in the world can talk. Heyman said Cena could have been Heyman – until he “pissed off the Bloodline.” Because of that, the order has come from the top to take Cena out. Heyman said when Sikoa hits Cena with a spike, Cena won’t be able to talk anymore. Heyman said the Bloodline will take Cena away from his WWE Universe. Heyman mocked Cena for saying he has to win at Crown Jewel. Heyman said the one match left that Cena must win, he can’t win. Heyman said that wasn’t a prediction … and Solo Sikoa attacked Cena from behind. Sikoa planted Cena and set up for the spike, which Solo hit. The segment ended with Sikoa and Heyman standing tall and walking to the back. 

**********

– LA Knight was shown backstage and Knight ostensibly accepted the challenge from Jimmy Uso. 

Dragon Lee defeated Cedric Alexander [8:10]

So, you do the workers match and you allow Cedric, who has been criminally underused in WWE Land, to go out there and show what he can do … and you lose three minutes of it to a commercial break. Such is the WWE conundrum. Sure, you give fans of this type of wrestling a carrot, but it’s not even enough to make you say what they got was enough. Yes, I’d love to see five more minutes and yes, I’d love to see that without the inconvenience of a commercial break. I also know I can’t be in the minority. Either way, I thought Alexander did everything he could with the time and position he was given and Dragon Lee is clearly getting the proverbial push as the new guy who can both work and fly. This was very good for what it was; I just wanted more. 

Both guys countered each other’s best attempts to take control and it resulted in a face-off about 40 seconds into the match. Alexander worked Lee’s arm until the two got back to their feet and Lee worked Alexander’s knee. That was short-lived because Alexander came right back with an arm-drag. Alexander landed a chop and Lee returned the favor. The two then went back and forth with some chops. With the two on the apron, Lee hit a running knee, but Alexander responded by slamming Lee onto the apron as the show went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned, Alexander hit a wild Michinoku Driver for a two-count. Lee was on the apron and the two battled on a top turnbuckle. The end result was a high  double-stomp from Lee onto Alexander. Lee landed a hell of a sit-out power-bomb for a good near-fall. Alexander tried to slam Lee, but all that meant was both guys went for pin attempts and neither got one that worked. Lee hit what I think is supposed to be his finisher, which was a kind of inverted DDT, for the win. After the match, the two shook hands and Alexander raised Lee’s hand. 

**********

The Bianca Belair segment

This was fairly basic for what it was, but it does set up what should be a nice rematch between Belair and SKY. My guess is next week’s match between Belair and Bayley will be more of an angle than a match, but it’s good to see Belair back nonetheless. I enjoy Belair’s fire when she wants to show it and one has to think if she ends up losing at Crown Jewel, we’ll only see more of it. 

Belair said she was so excited to be back on SmackDown. Belair said she was just getting started because while she was away, she only had one thing on her mind. From there, she threw to a video package of her being attacked by Damage CTRL backstage two months ago. Belair said it hurt to watch that. Belair said for the first time, she was out and she sat at home with nothing but her thoughts. Belair said she thought about how she can make Damage CTRL pay. Belair said she couldn’t let it go. Belair said for the first time in her life, she was consumed with vengeance. Belair said she had a plan that she took to Nick Aldis earlier. 

As a result, it was official: Belair is going to get her rematch against IYO SKY at Crown Jewel for the WWE Women’s Championship. Belair also said she will face Bayley next week on SmackDown. Belair said she will take out Damage CTRL one by one before she reclaims her title and she slammed down the microphone to end the segment. 

**********

– Next week, Bianca Belair will face Bayley. A weigh-in between Rey Mysterio and Logan Paul will also take place. It sounded like Kevin Patrick had one more match to announce, but he pulled back and to the main event, we went. 

LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso [13:31]

This was one of the better Knight matches in recent WWE television memory. I got a little curious as the show crept up on the last few minutes and a finish didn’t seem to see in sight, but all told, they protected Jimmy for him being on the IR for about 15 seconds earlier in the show. so nobody really loses, but at the same time, this certainly helped Knight become a true contender for Reigns next week. Like I said earlier, they’re trying, and you can’t ask for more than that. to whatever degree that works, we’ll see. They still have a week and a day. 

The two jawed at each other to start the match. They then locked up. Jimmy knocked Knight down and posed a bit. Jimmy went for a cheap shot, but Knight countered with a running elbow and a suplex for a two-count. Knight worked Jimmy’s arm and jawed at him while doing so. Knight hit the ropes and kicked Jimmy before landing a serioes of dropkicks to Uso’s head. With Knight on the apron, Jimmy took back control with a snap-suplex. From there, the show went to its final commercial break. 

Back from break, Jimmy landed an uppercut that slowed things down. Jimmy hit a hip attack on Knight, who was perched in a corner (though to be fair, Jimmy barely hit Knight when they showed it on replay). Jimmy went for another one, but Knight countered with a clothesline. After fighting back and forth, Jimmy ran Knight into a ring post. Jimmy landed a chop on Knight, but Knight came back with chops of his own. Knight then hit a reverse DDT to try and gain the advantage. Knight landed a combination of moves, which included a Russian Leg Sweep and a DDT for a near-fall. 

Knight stomped on Jimmy and ran at Jimmy, but Jimmy rolled to the outside. On the outside, Knight slammed Jimmy’s head into the commentary table repeatedly, which I guess wasn’t a DQ(?). Back in the ring, Knight came off the top, but missed and Jimmy hit a Samoan Drop for a two-count. The crowd launched into a “This is awesome!” chant. Jimmy went to the top, but Knight cut him off. Jimmy fought him off and hit an Uso Splash for a good near-fall. Jimmy went back to the top, but Knight cut him off and landed a super-plex, which turned into the BFT for the win. After the match, Roman Reigns tried to attack Knight, but Knight sidestepped him and hit the BFT on Reigns. Reigns sold the hell out of it and Knight yelled at Reigns to close the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Rey Mysterio & Logan Paul confrontation

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After failing to win the WWE Women’s Championship in a triple threat at Fastlane, Charlotte Flair will battle IYO SKY for the title on tonight’s SmackDown from San Antonio, Texas.

Charlotte has yet to face SKY in a one-on-one match for the title on WWE television. The last time these two were in a ring together on TV, Charlotte teamed with Asuka to defeat SKY & Bayley on the October 6 edition of SmackDown. 

Also set to appear on tonight’s show is Logan Paul. After Paul defeated Dillon Danis in a boxing match last weekend, Paul called out United States Champion Rey Mysterio. As a result, Paul said he plans to confront Mysterio tonight. We’ll see if Mysterio vs. Paul becomes official for Crown Jewel.

Mysterio’s stablemate Santos Escobar will also be in action as he takes on Montez Ford. The match was made after Ford, along with Angelo Dawkins, attacked Carlito on last week’s SmackDown. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– A video recapping what happened with John Cena, LA Knight and the Bloodline last week aired to open the show. 

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show, per usual. He, along with Corey Graves, ran down what was announced for the card. Paul Heyman was standing in the ring alone and Heyman did his introductory schtick. 

The Paul Heyman segment

This was one of Knight’s better promo outings in recent memory on WWE TV – and that is said while knowing entirely that the catalyst behind Knight’s quick rise in WWE has been his promo ability. He showed a bit more of an edge here, which was both welcome and mildly surprising. Heyman, as usual, was great, being the cocky heel before Knight showed up, because from there, Heyman immediately turned into the cowardly pest that he’s so good at being. I could do without another eye-rolling contract signing next week, but it ain’t like we’re running back Reigns vs. Zayn as a tune-up for Crown Jewel. So it goes. 

Heyman recalled what Jimmy Uso did on Monday Night Raw. Heyman said Jimmy single-handedly cost Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. Heyman then noted how the Los Angeles Times broke the story earlier in the day that Roman Reigns will face LA Knight at Crown Jewel for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship. 

Heyman said he’s just like everyone there – outside of the fact that he dresses better and makes more money than everyone else there. Heyman said what they have in common is that they are all fans of Knight. The crowd did the “Yeah!” thing after Heyman said “LA Knight,” and Heyman threw a fit, telling the crowd not to do that when he talks. Heyman said Crown Jewel will be the last time everyone will see Knight inside a ring. Heyman said Knight will get smashed at Crown Jewel by Reigns. On cue, Knight’s musit hit and the crowd went wild. 

Knight said all Heyman has been doing is making “a whole lot of damn noise.” Knight said Heyman can take a walk because he needed Reigns’s ass out there. Heyman tried to leave the ring, but Knight stopped him. Knight called Heyman out for his threats. Knight asked Heyman what Reigns was going to do to him, but when Heyman tried to talk, Knight told Heymann to shut up. Heyman tried to leave the ring again. Knight stopped him and said if Heyman tried to leave, Knight would hit him so hard, his hair would turn back to gray, which was funny. 

Knight asked Heyman if Heyman said the spear last week was a warning shot. Knight asked Heyman if he thought that was the right move. Knight said he doesn’t do warning shots. Knight said if anyone takes a shot at Knight, they better put Knight down for good. Knight said he can’t stop, won’t stop and he will not stop until he puts Reigns down in the ring and owns the Undisputed Universal Championship. Knight said Reigns should be scared. Knight said for as fast as he’s risen in WWE, it’ll be just as fast that he takes the title off Reigns. 

Knight said next week, a contract signing will take place between Reigns and Knight. Knight told Heyman that he better make sure when he talks to Reigns, he better tell Reigns whose game it is (LA Knight’s, of course). Knight slammed the microphone into Heyman’s chest and walked out of the ring to end the segment. 

**********

The Street Profits were shown backstage talking to Bobby Lashley. Santos Escobar then made his entrance for the next match. 

Montez Ford defeated Santos Escobar [9:01]

A fine-enough match with a dumb finish. I can’t be the only one who feels like this iteration of the LWO has run its course and the Street Profits as heels simply isn’t the best use of the Profits … right? Ford did his best to work a heel style – and he was even given the bulk of the offense here – but both acts seem lukewarm at best. It feels like everyone involved on both sides needs a reboot. It’d be easy to think that comes for Escobar when he inevitably turns on Mysterio, but they just kicked off this Street Profits/Bobby Lashley thing, so the end could very much not be near. Blah. 

The two locked up to begin the match. Ford had control early behind some kicks and aggressive elbows. Ford landed a nice-looking dropkick and taunted the crowd. Ford hit a high standing frog splash for a two-count. Escobar got back to his feet and worked his way back, but Ford kicked Escobar in the head as Escobar was perched on the top rope. That sent Escobar to the outside and it sent the broadcast to a commercial break. 

Back from that commercial break, Ford had control. Lashley was shown watching the match backstage. Ford went for some type of springboard move from the second rope turnbuckle and it kind of/sort of looked like a modified bulldog. Either way, it kept Ford on the offensive. Escobar ultimately fired up and a super-kick forced Ford to the outside. Escobar landed a dive and rolled Ford back into the ring. Escobar went to the top and hit a cross-body for a two-count. 

Escobar hit a double-knees and set up a Phantom Driver, but Ford got out of it and went to the top himself, but Escobar cut him off and landed a top-rope Frankensteiner. Dawkins pulled Ford to the outside and Escobar went for a splash and kind of half hit it? Either way, with the ref’s back turned, Dawkins ran Escobar into a ring post. The factions fought outside, complete with Escobar getting his revenge on Dawkins. As a result, Escobar rolled back into the ring and Ford rolled Escobar up for the win. A brawl broke out after the match, but Carlito ran to the ring with a chair to break things up. 

**********

– Damage CTRL were shown backstage hyping up IYO SKY. 

– The LWO were shown talking backstage and they were interrupted by Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega. Mysterio said he was going to go take care of business. Vega asked Rey if he wanted the rest of them to have his back, but Mysterio said “thanks, but no thanks,” and he’d rather go it alone on this night. 

– Highlights of last week’s Pretty Deadly’s match aired. A vignette was shown and it featured Pretty Deadly getting the spa treatment. Wouldn’t you know it – the Brawling Brutes showed up and attacked Pretty Deadly during their spa. Ridge Holland finished it by telling Butch that they should go grab a pint. 

– Backstage, Jimmy Uso, Heyman and Solo Sikoa were sitting together backstage. Jimmy said he was the starting quarterback at Raw, even though Reigns called the play. Uso celebrated and the camera cut to John Cena showing up and walking backstage. 

The John Cena segment

And here, I thought we were going to get an actual John Cena match. Oh, well. Maybe that was for the best. I suppose this sets up Cena going away again, him introducing the “retirement” word into the discourse. All of that makes sense, of course, and when you look at this in a vacuum, I’m not sure you could have made better use out of Cena at this point. He has the social currency to lift people up (Knight, etc.), and it’s not like any of us should expect him to put on a six-star, 45-minute classic (to be fair, here, now, and probably ever). Here’s hoping he gets one more win. The 2,002 days stat was a wow-moment for me. You can’t say the guy isn’t selfless. 

Cena said that San Antonio was sold out and it was fired up, so at least he can read a room. Cena said followed that by saying he was fired up. “Thank you, Cena!” chants broke out. Cena thanked the crowd. Cena said it was a rough day because he got hit with some harsh truths. Cena said he felt he should be honest with everyone. Cena brought up Roman Reigns’s streak as champion. Cena said today, he found out he has a streak of his own: 2,002 days since he last won a televised singles match. Cena said his last win was in 2018. Wow, I add parenthetically without typing parenthesis. 

Cena said he’s been talking about retirement. Cena said it was time to face facts. Cena reiterated that it’s been a long time since he’s had a win. The crowd chanted “You still got it!” Cena said “Damn it, I believe in me, I believe in you and I believe in us!” Cena said he believes “in the beauty that is all this madness.” Cena said he could still go and the time is now to turn the match around. Cena said it’s going to be a bad night for “the next idiot to walk through that curtain.” Cena said whoever it is, they will get smoked. Naturally, Solo Sikoa’s music hit. 

Sikoa got on the apron and fought Cena. Jimmy Uso ran down and attacked Cena, but Jey Uso showed up and took out Jimmy. Security got in the way and broke the brothers up. Back in the ring, Sikoa went for the Samoan Spike, but Cena countered with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena posed to end the segment. 

**********

– An Alba Fyre/Isla Dawn video aired, so it’s nice to know SmackDown isn’t completely done with them, despite their absence. 

– Kevin Patrick threw it to a video package of the tag team title match on Raw. 

– Backstage, Nick Aldis gave Jey Uso a $10,000 fine and told security to escort Jey from the building. Adam Pearce was with them and Aldis had Pearce escorted from the building, too. Pearce was like, “Really!?” Aldis said yes and Pearce said, “Let the games begin.” To Survivor Series, we apparently go. Logan Paul then made his entrance. 

The Logan Paul/Rey Mysterio segment

A few things to take away from all of this: One, why is Logan Paul so obsessed with the United States Championship, seemingly out of nowhere? Two, is Paul supposed to the heel? Probably, right? If so, why didn’t he attack Rey? Three, I understand why you’d put Logan Paul at the top of the hour because of his social media clout, but if you’re going to do that, wouldn’t you want more pomp and circumstance? So much of this felt ordinary, and I wasn’t expecting that. The match was all but already made, so it’s not like that announcement was shocking. Do I think they’ll have a good match? Sure. Did that help this segment? No.

Paul said that six days ago, he was in England, “beating the living daylights out of a scumbag.” Paul said he won his fight. Paul said it was a pathetic excuse for a fight. Paul said he should have known if he wanted real competition, he could have just had another WWE match. Paul then brought up people who “hide behind masks.” Paul said he already beat Rey Mysterio in his first-ever WWE wrestling match. Paul said the last time he wrestled Mysterio, LA Knight didn’t have a job, Roman Reigns still wrestled and Dominik was still Rey’s son. Paul said he knows who he is, and he’s a “WWE superstar, baby.” 

Paul said Mysterio has something Paul needs. Paul said he needs the United States Championship. Paul said even though he beat up a deadbeat dad last weekend, at Crown Jewel, “he’s going to have to beat up another.” Mysterio’s music then hit. As Mysterio made his way to the ring, Michael Cole on commentary noted that Paul actually beat Mysterio in a tag match and not one-on-one. Mysterio said Paul reminds him of his son Dominick: A lot of natural ability, dripping with passion, incredible career ahead of him … and a big mouth. 

Mytsterio said he thinks Paul needs humbling. Mysterio said he was reluctant with Dominik, but with Paul, he’s not going to hesitate to “whoop his ass.” Mysterio asked Paul if he wants the U.S. title. Paul said, “Si.” Mysterio said he would give Paul the opportunity at Crown Jewel. Paul extended his hand for a handshake and it looked like Rey would comply. Despite conventional wisdom, the two simply shook hands and Paul left the ring. 

**********

Grayson Waller & Austin Theory defeated Dragon Lee & Cameron Grimes [6:03]

A six-minute match with two of those minutes coming during a commercial break. Maybe it’s easy to get bored with WWE programming, but I actually kind of like the Grimes/Lee duo, if only because it’s fresh. That said, this felt like a glorified squash for the Theory/Waller team, which was disappointing in its own right. Until Grimes got involved last week, I forgot he was still with the company. And I’d love it if that was an exaggeration, but it’s not. My fear now is that Lee got the call-up just to job out to any and everybody, but time will tell. For now, this wasn’t a move in a good direction. By the way, at the end of this match, it was about 9:30 EST, which meant that in the first hour-and-a-half of the show, we got about 15 minutes of wrestling. Do with that what you will. 

Theory and Lee started the match, but Waller tagged in quickly. Waller was subject to a series of double-team moves from Grimes and Lee after Grimes tagged in. That included a wild Russian Leg Sweep combo that looked like it hurt. The action spilled outside and Grimes with Lee took control. The babyfaces returned to the ring and the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, Waller was working over Lee inside the ring. Theory tagged in, but Lee landed a DDT on the heels and got the hot tag to Grimes. 

Grimes hit a cross-body on Waller and fought off both Theory and Waller. Grimes got in a German Suplex on Theory for a two-count. Waller went to the outside and Lee hit a splash. Inside the ring, Grimes covered Theory for a two-count. Grimes lifted Theory, but Theory raked the eyes to break it up. Waller ran into the ring as Grimes rolled up Theory and Waller hit his finisher on Grimes. Theory then pinned Grimes for the win. 

**********

The Kevin Owens interview

Cathy Kelley sat down with Owens and Kelley asked Owens what it felt like to be separated from Sami Zayn. Owens said it doesn’t feel great. Owens noted how they did a lot together and to be separated in the way they were separated, it hurt. Owens said he’s happy to be on SmackDown because it’s a clean slate and Owens said it’s bittersweet. Owens mentioned he has a lot of history with the Bloodline. Owens said he expects to cross paths with the Bloodline. Owens said he wants to have a singles match with Rey Mysterio and Sheamus. Owens said there are a lot of new faces to punch. 

Owens asked Kelley if there was anybody she wanted him to punch. Kelley said she couldn’t answer that. Owens said that all he wants people to know is that this is the Kevin Owens Show. That’s how everything ended. 

**********

IYO SKY defeated Charlotte Flair [16:04]

And the expected return of Bianca Belair happens. That said, I was at least a tiny bit surprised that IYO got the pinfall, no matter how she got it. This was a good match and very much main-event worthy, especially on a show like this, which didn’t feature much wrestling. These women wrestled – and wrestled well, to boot. I’ll tell you, when Charlotte wants to work, man, she can work. Call me a simpleton, but give these two 10 more minutes and no nonsense and let’s watch them work. Because under the right circumstances, that could be special. I digress. This was good, but we all knew it was little more than a conduit for bringing Belair back, which is fine, too. As for what’s next, only time will tell. 

Charlotte took SKY down to start the match and SKY rolled to the outside. From there, the show instantly went to commercial. When the show returned, Charlotte was working the hell out of SKY. Charlotte’s momentum stopped when Bayley grabbed her leg. As a result, SKY landed a dive between the ropes onto Charlotte, who was on the outside, SKY then hit a missile dropkick for a one-count. SKY then worked a chin-lock. 

Charlotte fought back and hit SKY with a kick to the head. Charlotte leapt at SKY and SKY moved. Ultimately, SKY flipped Charlottewith her legs over the top to the outside. SKY jumped at Charlotte, but Charlotte caught SKY and slammed SKY into the apron. From there, we got our (most likely) final commercial break of the night. Back from that break, the two were fighting on the top rope and it resulted in a tough sit-out powerbomb from SKY, who got a two-count out of it. 

SKY landed a double-knees and then worked a cross-face, but Charlotte got up immediately and landed a lose German Suplex to slow things down. After the two got back on their feet, Charlotte hit a bunch of chops, the final of which took SKY down. Charlotte then landed a fallaway slam. Charlotte put SKY on her back and went to the second rope. From there, Charlotte hit another fallaway slam for a good near-fall. SKY was on the apron and went for a springboard dropkick, but Charlotte caught her and worked a Boston Crab. SKY rolled through for a two-count. 

With the two of them on their feet, Charlotte went for a knee, but SKY moved and dropkicked Charlotte into the second turnbuckle. SKY went to the top and tried a moonsault, but Charlotte got her knees up for a nasty spot. Charlotte then landed a spear, but Bayley put SKY’s foot on the rope to ensure Charlotte wouldn’t get the pin. Charlotte attacked Bayley and threw Bayley over the announce table. Back in the ring, Charlotte went for another spear, but SKY had the title in her hand and Charlotte ran into that. As a result, SKY pinned Charlotte for the win. 

After the match, Damage CTRL attacked Charlotte, but Bianca Belair made her return to get rid of Damage CTRL. The show ended with Charlotte and Belair standing tall. 

WWE SmackDown season premiere live results: Roman Reigns returns

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After two months away from WWE television, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns returns on SmackDown’s season premiere from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The last time Reigns wrestled was at SummerSlam, when he defeated Jey Uso under Tribal Combat rules. Since then, his Bloodline stablemates have found themselves in feuds with LA Knight, AJ Styles, and John Cena.

Speaking of Cena, he is scheduled to appear on SmackDown tonight as well. Cena teamed up with Knight at Fastlane to get a victory over The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa.

Another appearance set for the show will come from Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

Pretty Deadly will return to in-ring action against The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland). It’s the first time Pretty Deadly have competed since Elton Prince suffered an injury in July.

Plus, Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Theory & Waller accepted an open challenge that Rhodes & Jey issued.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show. John Cena’s music hit and out he came to kick things off. 

The John Cena/Roman Reigns segment

A star-studded opening segment that reintroduced Reigns effectively. Is it me or does something seem off in the Cena/Knight alignment? It feels like Cena is trying his hardest to give Knight all he can, but there’s a tiny disconnect there. I just can’t put my finger on it. Anyway, I wonder if this means we’ll get Knight vs. Reigns at Crownd Jewel. I actually wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Cena get one more title shot, but, hey, he’s right: In storyline, at least, what has Cena done to deserve it? 

Cena reminded everyone that tonight is a big night and welcomed everyone to “the season premiere of SmackDown.” On cue, Roman Reigns’s music hit and his 58-minute entrance began. Reigns was flanked by Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, the latter of whom’s hair was no longer entirely gray. Reigns stood in the ring for a while before he said, “John boy, Hollywood, if you’re going to open my show, you better do it the right way.” From there, Reigns told Tulsa to acknolwedge him. 

Reigns said Cena was a coward and Cena showed up only because Reigns took his leave. Reigns said Cena isn’t the GOAT, and, in fact, the GOAT is Roman Reigns. Reigns told Cena to leave and if he doesn’t, Reigns will make Cena leave. Cena chimed in by saying there was a bunch of energy in the building. Cena said he was going to throw Reigns a curveball. Cena said he wasn’t there to challenge Reigns and instead, he was there to acknowledge Reigns. Cena cited the 1,000-plus days Reigns has held his title and said it was the greatest accomplishment ever. Cena said he wasn’t going to challenge Reigns because Cena hasn’t earned it. Meanwhile, Cena said that he knows someone who has earned a title shot. Cue LA Knight’s music. 

Knight played to the crowd once in the ring. Cena said it’s LA Knight’s time and handed Knight the microphone while the crowd chanted Knight’s name. Knight did the “Let me talk to ya!” line. Knight asked Reigns if he was pissing his pants yet. Knight said Reigns is nothing more than a man standing in Knight’s way. Knight introduced himself to Reigns via the crowd, who chanted “L-A-Knight-Yeah!” The crowd kept up the “LA Knight” chants. Reigns mocked Knight for the crowd knowing Knight’s name now. Reigns asked Knight “who the hell do you think you are standing in my ring right now?”

Knight took off his sunglasses. Knight said talking like that is a good way to get himself referred to in the past tense. As Knight ranted, Jimmy Uso attacked Knight from behind. Reigns looked a little perplexed. Knight quickly rebounded and dispatched of Jimmy. Knight and Reigns engaged in a stare down until Reigns rolled out of the ring. Reigns told Sikoa to handle Knight. Sikoa hopped onto the apron and said it’s going to be Knight vs. Sikoa tonight. Knight accepted the challenge. 

**********

A disembodied voice explained that Elton Prince has been injured and Prince was shown in a wheelchair in the entryway to the ring. Prince miraculously stood out of the wheelchair to mark his comeback. Pretty Deadly made their way to the ring. 

Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) defeated the Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) [9:04]

Oh. So, Pretty Deadly are going to do this injury thing for a while now, aren’t they? This first time out was dragged on a bit too long for my taste, but that’s a team that can make something like that fun, moving forward. They can also run it into the ground pretty hard, pretty quickly, so only time will tell how that plays out. The match itself was fine for what it was, but I’ve got to say: At what point do the Brawling Brutes start to get some booking love? They lose far too much to be taken seriously. At this point, they garner more sympathy than fear.

Prince and Butch began the match. Butch worked on Prince’s arm and tagged in Holland. Wilson tagged in as well and worked over Wilson until Butch tagged in. Butch landed a German Suplex and a kick to Wilson’s head. Wilson rolled to the outside and Butch hit a splash and Butch and Holland landed 10 Beats on both Wilson and Prince before the show went to commercial break. When the show returned, Wilson was beating down Butch. Prince tagged in and kept the beatdown going. Prince set up for 10 Beats on Butch, but Butch cut him off and did the finger spot on Prince. 

Wilson tagged in and Pretty Deadly got back control. Ultimately, Butch fought his way out and got the hot tag to Holland, who cleaned house. Prince went to the second rope, but Holland cut him off and slammed Prince for a two-count. Things broke down with Butch hitting a Shining Wizard and Wilson. Butch and Wilson fought on the outside as Holland slammed Prince, who then sold a knee injury. There was a lot of nothing happening as Prince insisted he was hurt and in the meantime Wilson kicked Holland in the head. Prince then rolled up Holland for the win. 

**********

– Kayla Braxton interviewed Carlito backstage. Carlito said that him being back in WWE is “cool.” Bobby Lashley stepped into the frame and told Carlito that his comeback was amazing and masterful. Lashley stuck out his hand and said he wanted to welcome Carlito back. Carlito didn’t shake it and said he wants his first match back on SmackDown to be against Lashley. From there, the Street Profits attacked Carlito from behind with a chair. Lashley raised the chair, but things were broken up by Adam Pearce and other WWE officials. The LWO was shown tending to Carlito, but Bayley interrupted things. Zelina Vega stepped to Bayley They bickered until Pearce ordered a match between the two right away. 

– Roman Reigns and the Bloodline were shown backstage. Jimmy Uso told Reigns about how he can call an audible when needed. Reigns asked Jimmy if Jimmy was the quarterback, what would Jimmy do. Jimmy said he’d get Jey and Reigns noted how much it bothers him that Jey has the tag titles with Cody Rhodes. Reigns asked Jimmy if Jimmy will handle that and Jimmy siad “Yeet.” Reigns said he doesn’t like “Yeet.” They fist-bumped. 

Bayley defeated Zelina Vega [2:39]

When I saw this match started at 8:50 p.m. EST, I thought, “Well, this can go two ways. One, they put a lot of thought into this and these women are going to be given the opportunity to put on a hell of a match. Or two, they’re out in under three minutes because they have something planned for top of the hour.” Sadly, the latter prediction turned out to be the correct one, but these two worked well together, especially considering the constraints. Vega was given a lot of offense, which was a welcome surprise, and Damage CTRL reiterated how they are a faction that oftentimes feels impossible to beat. It could be worse. 

Bayley mocked how short Vega is to start the match. Vega ran Bayley into a corner and hit an arm-drag. Vega went for a head-scissors, but Bayley cut her off with a clothesline. Bayley went for a Bayley-To-Belly, but Vega countered and eventually set up a 619. Vega hit the first part, but was then distracted by Dakota Kai. Vega followed that up with a Meteora for a two-count. IYO SKY distracted the ref and Vega tended to that. As a result, Bayley took advantage, hit the Rose Plant and got the win. After the match, SKY and Bayley attacked Vega until Charlotte ran to the ring to clear the ring of Damage CTRL. 

**********

The Triple H segment

I’m torn on the deluge of wrestling news in the Wrestling News Era. The word that Nick Aldis was going to be the new SmackDown GM leaked earlier today and I just think it would have packed a bigger punch if that wasn’t out in the public beforehand. Either way, I feel bad for him not getting much of a response when Hunter actually got around to introducing him. The Dirty Dom involvement made things fun, but Aldis could have used more a spotlight (as an aside: dude looked like a block in that weird clue checked suit. Felt very unnatural, very uncomfortable. But I digress). I’m interested to see how well Aldis does in this role. Pearce kind of backed into his role as Designated WWE Official over time, but Aldis got the announcement treatment, so some fans may be expecting more from him. Owens to SmackDown, meanwhile, was a convenient way to get him split from Sami Zayn without having to pull another turn, so I can’t complain about that. Owens has to be one of the next in line for Reigns, right?

Adam Pearce stood in the ring as Triple H made his entrance. The crowd was excited. Hunter said it was electric in there. Hunter said WWE is on their way to Crown Jewel and just around the corner will be Survivor Series. Hunter said it all starts tonight at the season premiere of SmackDown (somebody trademark that). Hunter called Pearce one of the unsung heroes of WWE. Hunter said over the last three years, Pearce has done an incredible job as a WWE official. Hunter said Pearce has overseen both Raw and SmackDown and he has done an incredible job. Hunter thanked Pearce. Hunter said it’s a job no one person should do alone. 

Hunter said Pearce is getting a promotion – the new GM of Monday Night Raw. Hunter asked who the general manager of SmackDown will be. Dominik Mysterio’s music played and Dirty Dom walked to the ring with a microphone. Dom got booed out of the building. Dom talked about how the Judgment Day got screwed out of their tag team titles. Hunter said he couldn’t hear Dom talk because of the boos. This, of course, only inspired the crowd to boo more. Dominik asked how they could do a tag team title match tonight when Judgment Day is supposed to have one on Monday. 

Hunter made a joke about how loud the boos were and he always thought “they just pumped them in,” which was kind of funny. Hunter said he was bringing the new GM of SmackDown out to talk to Dominik, and that new GM was going to be Nick Aldis. The crowd seemed … confused? Aldis got some respectable applause after he introduced himself. Aldis shook Dom’s hand and said he was a big fan … of Dom’s dad, which woke the crowd up. Aldis said his first official act as GM was completing the trade Cody made some weeks ago. Aldis tried to introduce the new SmackDown roster member, but Dom cut him off. The crowd went nuts booing Dirty Dom. Kevin Owens’s music hit, and, well, look who’s back on SmackDown. 

Owens walked through the entrance way. Owens entered the ring and gave Dominik a Stunner. Aldos and Owens shook hands and Aldis raised Owens’s arm. The show cut backstage, where roman Reigns was shaking his head at the addition of Owens to the SmackDown roster. Reigns said Jey, Cody and Kevin are running around on his show. Reigns asked “What are we doing?!” Reigns was mad at Jimmy Uso for drinking water on Reigns’s couch. Jimmy asked Reigns if he was serious. Roman said he wasn’t … “but imagine if he was.” Jimmy left and took Sikoa with him. 

**********

– A Dragon Lee vignette aired. Good for him on that. And actually, good on WWE for doing it, too. 

– Aldis was backstage talking to Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. Green pitched new women’s tag belts featuring Italian leather. Charlotte walked into the frame and Aldis turned his attention to Charlotte. Aldis referenced what happened at Fastlane and said next week, Charlotte will face IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship. Charlotte turned around and Jade Cargill was standing right there. Hunter was standing with Cargill. Cargill and Charlotte exchanged a few words and we went back to the ring, where Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes were making their entrances. 

Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso defeated Grayson Waller & Austin Theory [9:21]

Man, it looks like Cody and Jey are having a blast out there together. I don’t really get it, and that Fastlane press conference was wild, but I dig it. Their enthusiasm is infectious. Anyway, Waller and Theory make a good team, but I started to wonder during this match: Are they teaming as a means to turn Theory babyface soon? That’s not too silly of an idea, is it? The match hit all the right notes and it was everything you’d expect from a Cody/Jey title defense. They’re a nice, feel-good team, but this can’t be long-term … right? I put the over/under on their tag title reign at three months, by the way. And yes. I’m taking the under. 

Cody and Waller started the match. Cody had the upper hand early until Waller kicked Cody and tagged in Theory. Cody took Theory down and Theory tagged Waller back into the match. Cody tagged in Uso, who kicked Waller. Theory landed a blind tag to get himself in the match and eventually ran into a series of punches from Uso. With Uso on the apron, Theory ran Uso into a ring post and the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from the commercial break, Theory was worked a chin-lock on Uso inside the ring. Theory stomped on Uso repeatedly. Waller tagged in as Uso fired up. Theory cut him off, however, and Waller came off the second rope with an elbow for a two-count. Uso hit an enziguri to slow things down and Uso got the hot tag to Cody, who ran in and pummeled Theory. Cody landed a powerslam and a Disaster Kick. Waller entered the ring and Cody hit another Disaster Kick. Theory hit a suplex, but Uso broke up a pin attempt. Uso hit some super-kicks on everyone and the Co-D 1D. Cody landed the CrossRhodes on Theory and got the pin. 

After the match, Jey and Cody were walking to the back and Jimmy and Sikoa walked through the (not) curtain. Roman Reigns followed them and Reigns engaged in a stare down with Cody. Aldis walked out and told Cody and Roman “not tonight.” The show went to a commercial break. 

**********

– The commentary team ran down the fact that next week, we get IYO SKY vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women’s Championship. Also on tap will be Santos Escobar vs. Montez Ford. 

LA Knight defeated Solo Sikoa [12:34]

There’s something about LA Knight matches that I just don’t like. That’s not even coming from the place that says, “Give me Will Ospreay matches into my veins all day, every day.” Because I can enjoy the WWE style and I certainly appreciate what that company continues to accomplish. But something about Knight’s matches feel lesser than, and much like something else I pointed out earlier, I can’t put my finger on it. That said, this was one of the better LA Knight matches in some time on WWE TV. He’s clearly got the best cards in the deck and the crowds love him. For that, my hat is tipped. But it’s rare we see an LA Knight match and think … “That was pretty good.” But this? Well this was … pretty good. The show-closing angle puts the heat on an inevitable Knight vs. Reigns match. It’s a matter of when, not if. And that match, above all else, will be one of the most fascinating to watch in the year of our lord 2023. in the meantime, Sikoa did a very good job here while Knight more than held up his end. You knew Reigns would play into the final seconds of the show. He did. And now off, we go. 

The two locked up to start things out. Sikoa had control early with a back elbow. Sikoa lifted Knight for a suplex, but Knight landed on his feet and hit a neck-breaker for a one-count. Sikoa took Knight down in what appeared to be a tiny bit of miscommunication. Knight tried to lift Sikoa, but Sikoa was too heavy and from there, Sikoa hit a chop. Knight came right back and took Sikoa’s legs out. Knight then clotheslined Sikoa over the top and the action spilled outside. With Knight on the apron, Knight went for a suplex, but Sikoa cut him off and ran Knight into a ring post. The show then went to its final commercial break. 

When the show returned, Sikoa worked Knight’s neck. Knight again went for a body-slam, but Sikoa just fell on Knight for a two-count. Sikoa landed a belly-to-belly for a two-count. Sikoa then hit what is known as a hip attack in other situations. Sikoa went back to his vice grip on Knight’s neck. Knight tried to fire up, but Sikoa threw Knight into a corner. Knight countered with a bulldog from the second rope for a two count. Knight ran at Sikoa, but Sikoa hit a Samoan Drop for a two-count. Sikoa went to sit on Knight, but Knight moved to even things out. Sikoa ran at Knight, but Knight moved and Sikoa hit a turnbuckle. It happened twice. 

The two traded punches until Knight got the best of the exchange. Knight landed a clothesline and a DDT. Knight stomped a mud hole in Sikoa. Knight then hit a running knee. Sikoa lifted Knight, but Knight got out of it and finally, at last, landed a body-slam on Sikoa. Knight hit his famous elbow. The two ran the ropes and took each other out with a double clothesline. Wouldn’t you know it, Jimmy Uso appeared and got into the ring, but John Cena ran out and cut Jimmy off. In light of the chaos, Knight hit the BFT for the win.

After the match, Knight was celebrating, but out of nowhere Roman Reigns ran in and speared Knight. Reigns smiled at the crowd. Reigns stood tall as the show went off the air. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Fastlane go-home show

Posted on by Colin McGuire

On the eve of Fastlane, SmackDown takes place tonight from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Judgment Day are set to make an appearance on the episode. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso, who are challenging Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & Damian Priest at Fastlane, have also announced that they’ll be appearing tonight.

Also on tap is a tag team match with Asuka & Charlotte Flair joining forces against Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY & Bayley. SKY is defending her title against Asuka and Charlotte in a triple threat match on Saturday. The match was made after Bayley accepted a challenge on Sky’s behalf.

United States Champion Rey Mysterio is set to take on Bobby Lashley in non-title action. The Street Profits attacked the LWO last week in an attempt to get back on Lashley’s good side. At Fastlane, it will be the LWO vs. Lashley & The Street Profits in a six-man tag match.

Plus, after a confrontation last week, Austin Theory will battle Dragon Lee. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show kicked off with a video package chronicling all of the John Cena/LA Knight/Bloodline stuff from last week. The opening video then aired before fireworks shot off in the arena and Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show. Knight’s music hit and the crowd went wild. 

The LA Knight segment

Pretty standard “This is how WWE television shows open these days” stuff – but it was entertaining, nonetheless. That’s what happens when you have the company’s best talker and its most organically popular star in the segment. Heyman was a little more fun than usual here, showing his ornery side in a subtle-yet-effective way. Jimmy vs. Knight should be fun, especially considering how Heyman seemed annoyed that Jimmy accepted the challenge for a singles match with Knight almost instantly. Heyman calling Knight the next big megastar is notable, if only because I continue to wonder how things will pan out for Knight once he cools down a bit. 

Knight started with his “Let me talk to ya” catchphrase but was instantly cut off by Paul Heyman, who walked out with Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Heyman said he has a reputation for spotting the next big thing in the pro wrestling industry. Heyman said the next big megastar in this business will be LA Knight. The crowd responded with “Yeah!” and Heyman said he hates when the crowd does that, which was funny. “LA Knight!” chants broke out. 

Heyman said the chants really piss him off. Heyman said he was offering Knight his condolences because now the Bloodline is going to have to do something about the attention Knight has garnered. Knight asked Heyman if he was done running his mouth. Knight said it was a wise move to put respect on his name. Knight pulled out a “reciept” and said he didn’t buy any of Heyman’s B.S. As Knight went on, Jimmy Uso chimed in and said Knight won’t make it to Fastlane. Sikoa and Jimmy got on the apron and wouldn’t you know it – John Cena’s music hit.

Cena ran to the ring. Heyman talked Uso and Sikoa out of stepping in the ring and the Bloodline trio started toward the back. Knight grabbed a microphone and said while everyone is thinking about tomorrow night, he’s thinking about tonight. Knight said what he was thinking for tonight is that Knight and Jimmy can face off tonight. Knight had the crowd do the “LA Knight, Yeah!” bit to close the segment as Jimmy accepted the challenge while walking up the entrance area. 

**********

– The Judgment Day was shown walking backstage and they even had JD McDonagh with them. Charlotte Flair & Asuka then made their entrance. 

Charlotte Flair & Asuka defeated Damage CTRL (Bayley & IYO SKY) [13:20]

This was pretty good. I tend to believe Charlotte is hit or miss when it comes to TV matches (PLEs, however, are a different story), but she showed up here and it helped the match a lot. The accidental kick to Asuka sets up the triple threat for Fastline nicely, and the loss for Damage CTRL, with Bayley taking the pin, means dissension is still always present in that group, which is intriguing if nothing else. You had to know the babyfaces would get the win, considering how tomorrow night is the PLE, but they had me guessing toward the end, so I can’t complain about that. A very solid television match. 

Charlotte and SKY started the match. SKY went for an early rollup and got a one-count. SKY posed, but Charlotte came back with a slam and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two-count. Asuka tagged in and chopped SKY repeatedly. Asuka went for a kick and SKY avoided it to hit a roll-up for a two-count. SKY reached for a tag, but Bayley was jawing at the crowd. As a result, Asuka took back control with a kick. Asuka ran at SKY, but Bayley shoved SKY out of the way and Asuka hit Bayley. Asuka went to the top and landed a double dropkick on Bayley and SKY as the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from the commercial break, Bayley was working a chinlock on Asuka. Bayley hit a vertical suplex for a two-count. SKY tagged in and worked on Asuka’s arm. SKY worked a body-scissors and then bit Asuka’s face. Bayley tagged in and ran Asuka into a corner. Bayley knocked Charlotte off the apron and ran Asuka unto a turnbuckle. SKY tagged in and the two face-planted Asuka. Asuka fired up and landed some elbows to SKY. Asuka went for a cover, but SKY’s shoulders weren’t down, so the ref didn’t count. Ultimately, Asuka got the hot tag to Charlotte as Bayley tagged in as well. 

Charlotte went to the top and hit a high cross-body on Bayley. Charlotte landed some signature chops. SKY entered the ring and Charlotte hit a fallaway slam. Charlotte followed that up with a neck-breaker on Bayley and went for her flip-clothesline, but Bayley cut her off. Within seconds, Charlotte went for it again and landed it for a good near-fall. Asuka tagged in and put Bayley on the top rope. Charlotte tagged in and Asuka and Charlotte set up for a super-plex, but SKY cut it off and threw Charlotte and Asuka – along with Bayley – down to the canvas. All four women were down. 

Bayley kicked Charlotte and Charlotte kicked Bayley. SKY ran in to hit a meteora on Charlotte. Asuka held Bayley, but Bayley moved and Charlotte kicked Asuka off the apron. Bayley woooo-ed in Charlotte’s face. SKY hit the apron, which got Bayley off track and as a result, Charlotte landed the Natural Selection for the win.

**********

– The Bloodline were walking backstage and entered a locker room … where they found the Judgment Day sitting in said locker room. The show went to break. When it returned, the factions were staring each other down. Rhea Ripley told everyone to leave because she and Heyman needed to have a chat. Sikoa and Priest continued to have a stare down regardless of the orders. Eventually, Ripley and Heyman were left alone to talk. 

– Kevin Patrick threw to a video recapping the Bobby Lashley/Street Profits stuff from last week. 

Bobby Lashley defeated Rey Mysterio [12:46]

Maybe I’m grumpy, maybe I’m tired and maybe I’m just annoyed, but I’ve had enough of seeing Rey Mysterio set up for a 619 one hundred thousand times in a match and barely land the first part of it … half the time. Anyway, it would have been hard to buy into Mysterio winning, if only because this was Lashley’s first WWE television match since May – not to mention their respective factions are going to face each other tomorrow night – but both guys told a good story, complete with size advantage in mind. Lashley is a little underrated for being a big guy and Mysterio is a legend, so in some ways, I might end up preferring this one-on-one matchup over the six-man that’s slated for Fastlane. We’ll see how tomorrow goes. As for this, it was solid TV. 

Lashley backed Mysterio into a corner and the size difference between the two was nuts. Lashley hit a shoulder-block to take Mysterio down. Lashley hit some elbows and choked Mysterio over the middle rope. Mysterio ran the ropes and it looked like there was a tiny bit of miscommunication, but Mysterio ultimately got control and hit a springboard moonsault, but only got a one-count out of it. Lashley was on the outside and Mysterio teased a 619, but held onto the ropes, swung back into the ring, and the show went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned, Lashley was working a bearhug. Mysterio fought his way out of it, but Lashley cut him off and went back to the bearhug. Mysterio head-butted his way out of it, but Lashley responded another whip to a corner and another go at a bearhug. Again, Mysterio fought out of it and kicked Lashley in the head. Mysterio went to the top, but Lashley cut him off and draped Mysterio from the top turnbuckle. Lashley landed a series of strikes before Lashley ran at Mysterio and Mysterio moved. From there, Mysterio landed a sitting senton. Mysterio ran at Lashley, but Lashley caught him. Even so, Mysterio turned that into a tornado DDT for a good near-fall. 

Mysterio pounded on Lashley, but Lashley caught Mysterio and lifted Mysterio for a vertical suplex, but Mysterio got out of it and set up for a 619, but Lashley caught Mysterio and hit an axe-handle to land Mysterio on the outside of the ring. Lashley ran Mysterio into the crowd barrier and then rolled Mysterio back into the ring. Lashley then threw Santos Escobar around. Mysterio tried to hit a splash, but Lashley caught him. Mysterio countered by throwing Lashley into a ring post. Back inside the ring, Mysterio set up for a 619 and this time hit the first part of it. The Street Profits and LWO brawled on the outside. The scene stopped Mysterio from following up on the 619. When Mysterio finally got back to it, Lashley speared Mysterio for the win.

**********

– Ripley and Heyman were shown talking in the locker room. Ripley told Heyman to make a wise decision. Ripley said the Judgment Day and Bloodline are stronger together. Heyman said he liked the idea. Heyman said it was a really good idea, and he was going to remove himself to make a phone call and authorize things, but Ripley stopped him. Ripley said the deal is authorized. Ripley looked at Heyman and said, “Acknowledge me.” Heyman told Ripley she was in the wrong locker room to say something like that. Ripley said Jey Uso acknowledges her and if Heyman doesn’t, they will find out who’s stronger – Judgment Day or the Bloodline. Ripley closed it by saying Heyman was authorized to go make his “little phone call.” 

**********

– A video profiling Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn aired. Hey, dudes. Where ya been?! Let’s hope WWE isn’t just bringing you around because Halloween is on on tap and the aesthetic makes sense. Really, though. You’re better than that. Anyway, back to the action. 

Dragon Lee defeated Austin Theory [9:19]

Wow, if you would have told me Cameron Grimes was still a thing in WWE, I would have said, “Please define ‘A Thing,'” before asking “What, again, is a ‘Cameron Grimes?'” Regardless, this was fun, and Lee looked good here (but not as good as he did against Dirty Dom a few weeks ago which says way more about Theory than it does Dom). I’m all for keeping Lee on the main roster, and I’m even more for giving Grimes a true, honest-to-goodness push (or at least real attention), so I have no problem with the way this worked out. Theory, meanwhile, continues to be a salad with no dressing, no matter how many times the waiter tries to tell me the flavor was included in the plate. At some point, someone is going to have to figure out something.

Theory grabbed a mic before the match started and told everyone they were in the presence of greatness. Theory said he was such a ncie guy, he allowed The Rock to share a ring with him. Theory said he’s the 150 million hit man. The bell rang and Theory backed Lee up. Lee fired up and landed a fury of moves to get himself a two-count. As a result, Grayson Waller’s music hit and Waller walked down to the ring. Theory took advantage and attacked Lee. Lee came back and dropkicked Theory for a two-count. Lee hit a snap German Suplex. Waller got on the apron and Theory responded with a rolling dropkick to take back control. The show then went to another commercial break. 

Back from that break, Theory went for another rolling move, but Lee cut him off with a super-kick. Lee landed a series of axe-handles and a kick to Theory’s face. Lee hit a running dropkick. Theory worked his way back and hit a nice spinning back-breaker for a two-count. Corey Graves made a comment about people being mad about wearing masks that didn’t quite land. Lee countered Theory with a Liger Bomb for a two-count. Waller distracted Lee, but Theory couldn’t put Lee away. Lee was perched on the top rope, but Lee worked out of hit and hit a double-stomp on Theory. Waller pulled Theory to the outside and Lee landed a flip dive before rolling Theory back into the ring. 

Waller slammed Lee’s head off the apron and rolled Lee into the ring. Out of nowhere, Cameron Grimes showed up and attacked Waller. That was enough to distract Theory and Lee rolled up Theory for the win.

**********

– Backstage, it was determined there was no way the LWO can fully compete in the six-man tag match at Fastlane due to injuries sustained earlier. Mysterio said he was going to make a phone call to remedy the issue. 

– A video package chronicling the Seth Rollins/Shinuske Nakamura program aired.

– The commentary team ran down the Fastlane card.  

– Next week, Roman Reigns will return to SmackDown. In addition to that, Pretty Deadly will return and face off against Ridge Holland and Butch. Triple H will make an appearance as well, which I guess means WWE is determined to make sure SmackDown gets more viewers than AEW’s Rampage. I kid. To the main event, we go.

LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso via DQ [7:47]

An Angle Alert if there ever was one. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But this match was never supposed to have a pure finish. The babyfaces standing tall makes me wonder if Fastlane will be the Night Of The Heels (and, perhaps, a Roman Reigns appearance). For what this was supposed to be, it was fine enough. Knight had one of his better in-ring outings while it lasted and Jimmy has really become an entertaining “I will never believe in you” heel. What this means for tomorrow night, only time will tell. For now, this was a very good way to end the show and the live crowd was there for it. Can’t ask for much more than that. 

The two jawed at each other to start the match. They then locked up and Uso got the better of Knight, until Knight worked a side head-lock. Knight shoulder-blocked Uso to the mat and said “Yeah!” Uso kicked Knight and worked a side head-lock of his own. Uso then hit a shoulder-block of his own, too, which took Knight down. Knight came back with a back-elbow. Knight then hit a power-slam for a two-count. Both guys went for their respective finishers, but both missed. Action spilled to the outside, where Knight hit a dropkick and threw Uso back into the ring, where Uso landed a spinning kick, thus taking the action back to the outside. Uso hit a super-kick and the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from that commercial break, Knight slammed Uso onto his knees after a sunset flip in a spot that felt unnatural. Knight hit a Russian Leg Sweep and a DDT before stomping on him repeatedly. Knight landed a running knee for a two-count. Knight went to lift Uso, but Uso got out of it … until Knight caught him and hit a powerslam. Knight hit his jumping elbow, but Solo Sikoa quickly entered the ring and the match ended. 

John Cena’s music ended and Cena threw Sikoa out of the ring. The Judgment Day’s music then hit and the entire faction walked to the ring. Outside the ring, Ripley and Heyman shook hands and Heyman yelled “authorized.” The two factions surrounded the ring with Knight and Cena standing in the ring. Jey Uso’s music hit and out came Jey to help even things up. Cody’s music hit and Cody came out to do the same. The crowd was very happy about all of this. 

Heyman grabbed Sikoa and in the meantime, the rest of the wrestlers brawled. Sikoa and Cena eventually squared off inside the ring. Cena got the best of it first, but Sikoa came back and then Knight entered the ring and clotheslined Sikoa to the outside. McDonough entered the ring and the babyfaces worked him over. Cena, especially, got all his spots in. Cody threw his weight belt into the crowd and hit the CrossRhodes on JD. Cody’s music hit to close out the segment and the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar US title match

Posted on by Chris Maloney

Two LWO members are set to clash for the United States Championship on tonight’s SmackDown from Sacramento, California.

Santos Escobar is challenging Rey Mysterio for the US championship. Last month, Escobar was supposed to get a title shot against Austin Theory but was taken out by Theory before the match. Mysterio took Escobar’s place and defeated Theory to become United States Champion. Mysterio recently agreed to give his friend Escobar a title shot when Escobar asked for it.

Bayley and Charlotte Flair will meet in their first televised singles match since 2020. Last week, Charlotte stopped Bayley from interfering in IYO SKY’s title defense against Asuka. But Asuka was distracted by Charlotte and wasn’t able to defeat SKY for the title.

Bobby Lashley appears on The Grayson Waller Effect tonight and will discuss his recent unhappiness with The Street Profits.

We’ll also see if John Cena is able to find a tag team partner for Fastlane. Cena is currently slated to face Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso in a handicap match at the October 7 PPV.

SmackDown opened with Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman of The Bloodline heading to the ring. Heyman introduced himself on the mic to a chorus of boos by the crowd and after Heyman responded by telling the Sacramento crowd he was in a hell hole tonight, he acknowledged Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief.

Heyman followed up by stating that the second greatest of all-time, John Cena, took a beating last week, a beating that he hadn’t taken in a very long time before calling for footage from last week’s assault on not only Cena, but AJ Styles as well.

After the footage aired, Heyman stated that he heard that Cena was having transportation issues tonight and wasn’t at the building. Heyman followed up by stating that Styles also wasn’t in the building tonight due to being in the hospital with medical issues before Jimmy grabbed the mic.

Jimmy started bragging about the chaos that’s been caused by messing with the Bloodline but as he was talking smack, Karl Anderson hit the ring and attacked Jimmy. Anderson sent the Bloodline to the outside and stated that because Styles was in the hospital, it was now O.C. business.

Jimmy stalled at responding and Sikoa looked at Jimmy and stated that he better do something before he does as we headed to commercial.

Jimmy Uso (w/Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa) defeated Karl Anderson

We’re back from commercial and a match is officially underway between Anderson and Uso.

Anderson was hitting a lot of offense but because he was flying solo, Sikoa became a distraction on the outside. After a rake of the eyes, Jimmy soon found himself on the top rope and nailed a huge splash for the easy victory.

After the match, Anderson attempted to attack Uso but Sikoa made the save and laid him out with the Samoan Spike. As the Bloodline headed up the entrance ramp, Mia Yim headed to the ring and nailed Uso hard on the way by causing Jimmy to be almost somewhat amused.

– Backstage, Cathy Kelley was with Santos Escobar of the LWO. Escobar stated that while he was focused, he had butterflies. He stated that it was his dream to challenge Rey Mysterio in a championship match and that Rey was in for the fight of his life tonight.

Back to ringside and the ring crew was setting up for The Grayson Waller Effect as we headed to commercial.

– We’re back from commercial and the Bloodline was heading through the hallways as a very frustrated Jimmy Uso was attacking anyone that got in his way. Paul Heyman then decided to call Roman Reigns.

The Grayson Waller Effect with Bobby Lashley

Lashley stated that he made a mistake when it came to aligning with The Street Profits. Lashley stated that the Profits just didn’t have what it took to be successful before Waller stated that himself and Austin Theory could be that tag team he was looking for.

Lashley stated that he knew all about Theory and what he stood for and as Waller attempted to defend Theory, The Street Profits music hit and Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford headed to the ring.

Dawkins and Ford stepped up to Lashley but Bobby stated he didn’t want to hear it and that the Profits needed to prove it to him before leaving the ring. Dawkins and Ford caught up with him but Lashley reiterated that they needed to prove it to him as the Profits looked confused.

Waller got back on the mic and said that he needed to liven things up again before introducing Austin Theory to the Sacramento crowd for his upcoming match against Cameron Grimes as we headed to commercial.

We’re back from commercial and a video promo aired for Dragon Lee and some of his highlights in WWE NXT before he was shown in attendance live at SmackDown tonight.

Austin Theory (w/Grayson Waller) defeated Cameron Grimes

Waller was apparently upset that the Dragon Lee promo aired as it should have spotlighted Theory.

Grimes managed to control the majority of the match but with Waller ringside, Theory capitalized when Waller distracted Grimes allowing him to shove Cameron flying into the post on the outside of the ring.

Back inside the ring and Theory sent Grimes packing after nailing his A-Town Down.

After the match, Theory got in the face of Dragon Lee and a scuffle broke out before Theory headed to the back.

– Backstage, Kayla Braxton was with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio stated that the LWO was all about family. Mysterio stated that when he’s in the ring, he expected the best out of his opponent and that he would give the fight of his life tonight before heading to the ring.

As we headed to commercial, a video promo aired featuring an upcoming special on FOX titled the Top 25 SmackDown Moments in History airing on October 8th.

We’re back from commercial and Jimmy Uso was attacking Ashante “Thee” Adonis backstage as B-Fab looked on helplessly. As Uso looked to be leaving the scene, Solo Sikoa attacked Adonis as well, sending him through a table.

Rey Mysterio defeated Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega) to retain the United States Championship

The match began with both men feeling one another out, attempting to gain a technical advantage. As Vega looked on, Mysterio was sent to the outside followed by a diving crossbody by Escobar as we headed to a commercial break.

We’re back from commercial and Escobar has Mysterio trapped in an abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring. Mysterio escaped and as Rey was bouncing off of the ropes, Escobar nailed a huge dropkick sending the champion down.

Mysterio mounted a comeback and after Escobar was sent to the outside, Mysterio hit the second rope and nailed Escobar with a crossbody of his own to the outside. After the match was back in the ring and Mysterio nailed an awkward crossbody, Jimmy Uso was shown attacking people once again backstage in a split screen. 

Mysterio attempted to nail the 619 but Escobar dodged it and after Rey soon found himself on the outside again, Santos nailed him with a dive through the ropes knocking Mysterio down hard. Escobar followed up with a moonsault off of the barricade before sending the match back to the inside.

Escobar feeling the momentum going his way, battled Mysterio on the top rope and after gaining the upperhand, he sent Rey crashing to the mat with a hurricanrana but could only follow up with a two count as we headed to commercial.

We’re back from commercial and Escobar was still on the attack but Mysterio was holding his own but you could tell the damage had been done as Santos locked Rey in a Gory Special.

Escobar attempted to follow up with a diving crossbody from the top rope but missed and then Mysterio missed with a flying crossbody of his own. Escobar then nailed a huge tilt-a-whirl backbreaker followed by a modified torture rack but again could only get a two count on his mentor.

Escobar attempted a power bomb but Mysterio countered and managed a close two count of his own. Mysterio attempted a top rope hurricanrana but Escobar blocked it, attempted to nail his Phantom Driver but Mysterio blocked it and finally nailed a top rope hurricanrana.

Mysterio attempted to hit the 619 but Escobar caught him. Mysterio escaped and sent Escobar back into the ropes and successfully managed to hit the 619 but as he headed to the top rope to hit his Drop the Dime, he missed. Escobar attempted to pin Mysterio with a cocky cover and he paid the price as Mysterio almost gained the victory with a backslide.

A frustrated Escobar picked Mysterio up and attempted to again nail Rey with his Phantom Driver but Mysterio was too quick and rolled him up with a quick modified small package to get the 1-2-3 and retain the United States Championship.

After the match, a frustrated Escobar and a concerned Vega were collecting their thoughts as Mysterio celebrated his victory with the championship. Before Mysterio and Escobar could pay respect to one another however, The Street Profits hit the ring and attacked but Rey and Santos.

Bobby Lashley’s music hit and as he was heading down to the ring, the other members of the LWO attempted to make the save for Mysterio and Escobar but were laid out as well. Lashley smiled and celebrated the work of The Street Profits as we headed to a  commercial break.

– Backstage, Kayla Braxton was with a beaten down LWO. Mysterio told Braxton that he was challenging Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits to a match at WWE Fastlane.

Michael Cole referenced this week’s huge WWE signing of Jade Cargill and what her potential and future could look like in the WWE.

Charlotte Flair made her way to the ring with her upcoming match with Bayley before we headed to commercial. Before the break took place, John Cena finally arrived to the arena in a sports car. Cena got out of the car with his WWE Fastlane contract in his hand and headed towards to backstage area as we headed to break.

We’re back from commercial and a video promo aired on the massive injury Elton Prince had suffered back in July and his road to recovery since. The conclusion of the video showed Prince hopping up from his wheelchair in celebration of a full recovery.

– Backstage, Butch and Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes shared their thoughts on what they just saw and stated that they should have done more damage back in July.

Charlotte Flair defeated Bayley (w/Damage CTRL)

Before the match began, Flair asked Bayley what happened to her as she was one of the four horsewomen. Flair then stated that after she beat her tonight, she was challenging IYO SKY to a WWE Women’s Championship match at WWE Fastlane.

After the bell rang, both women looked to gain the upperhand but after Flair was sent to the outside, Bayley flew off of the ring apron with a diving elbow drop sending Flair down hard as we headed to a quick commercial break.

We’re back from commercial and Flair was on the top rope and managed to land a massive crossbody on Bayley to gain control of the match. Flair followed up with a fallaway slam but as she was looking to weaken the legs of Bayley to set up for the Figure 8, Bayley made a comeback.

The comeback wouldn’t last long however. Bayley was fired up but wasn’t as focused as she could have been and because of it, Flair managed to nail a spear out of nowhere and score the victory.

After the match, Bayley grabbed the mic and stated that it was her goal tonight to destroy Flair. As Damage CTRL looked like they were about to fulfill Bayley’s promise, Asuka’s music hit and she headed to the ring.

Asuka cut a promo in Japanese and Bayley attempting to translate, stated that SKY would defend the title in a Triple Threat match against Flair and Asuka at WWE Fastlane. As you could imagine, SKY wasn’t happy.

– Backstage, John Cena with his WWE Fastlane contract in hand was on his way to the ring as we headed to commercial.

– We’re back from commercial and it was announced that The Judgment Day would return to SmackDown next week. On top of the Judgment Day’s appearance, it was also announced that Dragon Lee would face Austin Theory on next week’s episode as well.

John Cena promo

Cena made his way to the ring with his WWE Fastlane contract in hand. Cena stated that he didn’t have a partner to face Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa and that he could simply rip up the contract and move on or he could step up and fight them both in a handicap match. Cena followed up by stating that he would take them on by himself if he couldn’t find a partner before Jimmy Uso’s music hit.

Uso and Sikoa came down to the ring and Jimmy stated that Cena wasn’t going to make it to Fastlane before the attack on Cena ensued. Cena attempted to fight them off but the numbers game was just too much and Cena found himself down and out.

Jimmy attempted to setup Cena on the announce table to land his splash but Sikoa stopped him, wanting to end Cena on his own. As it looked like Cena was all but done for, the music of the one and only LA Knight hit… Yeah!

Knight rushed down to the ring and after nailing Sikoa with Blunt Force Trauma, he landed a powerslam on Uso before hitting his Yeah Elbow in the middle of the ring. As Cena reentered the ring, Knight picked up the Fastlane contract and signed it as a surprised Cena and a packed arena cheered as the show came to a close.

Final Thoughts:

The return of LA Knight officially alongside John Cena for WWE Fastlane should be a great main event against The Bloodline next weekend.

You’ve got the LWO challenging a unified Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits for the PLE as well as what looks to be a Triple Threat match between IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair and Asuka with the continuous dissension of Damage CTRL with regards to Bayley and her blinded jealousy of SKY’s success.

Speaking of sky, I think the sky is the limit for Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. Their chemistry with regards to their young arrogant attitudes and these two could be one of the greatest tag teams we’ve seen in a while.

Solid show by SmackDown tonight!

WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena appears, IYO SKY vs. Asuka

Posted on by Colin McGuire

Asuka will get her WWE Women’s Championship rematch when she goes one-on-one with IYO SKY on tonight’s SmackDown from Glendale, Arizona.

The match was made after Asuka interfered in a tag team bout that featured SKY & Bayley losing to Charlotte Flair and Shotzi on the September 8 edition of SmackDown. Asuka cost the Damage CTRL team the win when she appeared at ringside. 

Also set for tonight, John Cena will make an appearance after he was a guest on The Grayson Waller Effect last week. Cena didn’t get a word in during the interview and instead was involved in a confrontation that featured AJ Styles, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa.

In addition to that, The Street Profits are scheduled to take on the LWO’s Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar. The Street Profits beat LWO’s Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde last week before attacking them after the match.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Kevin Patrick welcomed viewers into the show. John Cena’s music hit and off, we went. 

The John Cena segment

Before saying anything, Cena played to the crowd, who went bonkers for him. Cena welcomed everyone to “another sold out Friday night SmackDown.” Cena said he’s been able to do a lot of things since he’s been back. He said he’s been a host, a referee, a backstage correspondent. The crowd gave him the “What?” treatment and Cena gave it back in his own way. Cena said since he’s been back, the shows have been sold out, but they haven’t been like this night. Cena said it’s a special night because he doesn’t want to be a ref, host or backstage correspondent. Instead, Cena said he came back to WWE to compete, and because of that, tonight is the night he wants to have a match. 

Cena said he’s both excited and angry – angry at the Bloodline. Cena said he wants to fight both Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso himself, but instead, he found a partner. That partner, he said, was phenomenal. Cue AJ Styles’s music and entrance. Styles looked like he was wearing a wig at first, which was both weird and funny, but it only took him a few head shakes to remedy that. Styles took the mic from Cena and the crowd chanted Styles’s name. Styles asked Cena if Cena was sure that he wanted Styles and Cena to team up. Style said, “Bloodline, if you want some, come get some.” 

Jimmy Uso’s music hit. Jimmy and Sikoa walked to the ring and hopped onto the apron. Jimmy jawed a little bit, smiled and hopped off the apron. Sikoa followed suit. Jimmy and Sikoa walked back up the entrance way to end the segment – and I remained baffled as to why WWE wouldn’t officially announce a match like that ahead of time, if that match is ultimately going to happen. 

**********

– Backstage, Adam Pearce was shown talking to Cena and Styles. Pearce said he was going to talk to Paul Heyman to see if they could make the tag match for later. 

The LWO (Rey Mysterio Jr. & Santos Escobar) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) [10:47]

The story here was that Dawkins hesitated to capitalize on Lashley’s interference and that caused some strife between the Profits and Lashley. It’d be a shame if WWE pulled the plug on those three before it even really has a chance to get going. The crowds are still cheering the Profits, so perhaps the creative minds are calling an audible on the Profits being heels because of their popularity … but damn, man. At least let it breathe. Anyway, the match was fine and the outcome was mildly surprising. I half-expected to see the LWO lose due to miscommunication between Escobar and Mysterio as a means to set up their U.S. title match next week, but so it goes. The four guys worked hard and it was refreshing to see Escobar get somewhat of a spotlight. Ford especially had a good outing reminding everyone that at least he can work an interesting heel style. But the post-match stuff may indicate that he won’t be doing that for long.

Dawkins and Escobar started the match and locked up. After going back and forth, Escobar landed a dropkick to take control. Mysterio tagged in and Dawkins gained control quickly. Ford tagged in and hit a dropkick for a two-count. After running the ropes, Mysterio landed a splash from the second rope. With Ford on the outside, Mysterio went for a slide splash, but Dawkins moved Ford and Mysterio landed on nobody. Escobar tried to came to help, but Dawkins slammed Escobar and the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from break, Ford hit a strong clothesline on Mysterio for a two-count. With Mysterio in the Profits’ corner, Rey fought his way out, but came up short on a hot tag. Eventually, Mysterio ran Ford into the second turnbuckle and then got the hot tag to Escobar, who came in and and landed a pair of flying forearms. Escobar went to the top and hit a cross-body block for a two-count. There was a clunky moment that resulted in Ford kicking Escobar and hitting a running frog splash. Ford went to the top, but Escobar cut him off and landed a Frankensteiner from the top rope. That got Escobar a two-count. 

Escobar hit a double-knees on Ford and lifted Ford, but Ford fought out and landed a knee to Escobar’s head. Dawkins tagged in and slammed Escobar, and that was good enough for a two-count. Escobar hit a knee on Dawkins and tagged in Mysterio, who immediately landed a tornado DDT. Mysterio set up for a 619, but Dawkins countered with a Sky High powerbomb. Dawkins body-dropped Mysterio over the top rope and Mysterio landed on Ford. Bobby Lashley then chokeslammed Mysterio as the referee was distracted. Dawkins lifed Mysterio for a powerbomb, but Mysterio rolled Dawkins up for the pin. After the match, Lashley left ringside without the Profits. 

**********

– A video aried on The Rock’s return last week. Michael Cole was yelling about “Smeeeellllllling what The Rock is cooking,” but he was interrupted by an angry Austin Theory, who threw a fit and had somewhat of an awkward exchange with the commentary team off mic. The show then went to a commercial break. 

– Backstage, Adam Pearce was shown scolding Austin Theory. The Brawling Brutes showed up and Ridge Holland said Theory was embarrassed by The Rock. Grayson Waller showed up and Butch chimed in, challenging Theory and Waller. Pearce made the match for later on the spot. 

– The Street Profits were shown backstage. Bobby Lashley yelled at Dawkins and said he wants all his stuff back – the watches, suits, etc. Lashley said he’s going to find someone back in catering if the Profits can’t get it done, and, well, the Profits didn’t get it done. A video on Asuka vs. IYO SKY then aired. 

– Backstage, Adam Pearce found Paul Heyman. Pearce tried to talk to Heyman, but Heyman was talking on his phone and we went back to the ring. 

**********

IYO SKY defeated Asuka [19:30]

Wow, these women worked their asses off. It wasn’t always pretty, but good on WWE for giving these wrestlers three segments and 20 minutes and good on SKY and Asuka for delivering quite a fight. I feared a screwy finish, and we kind of/sort of got that, but to be fair that came after almost 20 minutes of really good wrestling. There were times I thought both women genuinely had their bells rung, and there were moments that I was certain they were three seconds away from the end of the match, but Asuka and SKY clearly work so well together, I’d love to see this with no BS from the outside, and hell … take it to a half-hour. Some of those strikes were gnarly and by the time it was all said and done, it felt like both ladies left every tiny inch of everything they had in the ring. It’s not often SmackDown produces a match that it feels like everyone should see, but I’ll vote for this one, even with the commercial breaks. Great stuff.

Before the bell rang, Charlotte Flair’s music hit and Charlotte walked to ringside. The two locked up to begin and they traded a series of moves until Asuka worked a side head-lock. SKY returned the favor. SKY ran the ropes and cartwheeled her way past Asuka. Asuka hit some kicks, and ultimately landed a pair of arm-drags. Asuka went to the second rope and SKY followed her to land an arm-drag from the second rope. Asuka went to the outside and SKY went for a moonsault, but Asuka moved. Asuka then hit a high kick to SKY’s head and the show went to commercial break. 

Back from break, the two women were on the top rope and SKY stretched Asuka’s arm over the top rope. SKY then hit a pair of springboard shotgun dropkicks. SKY hit a double stomp and a double knees for a two-count. SKY went to the top, but Asuka cut her off and slammed her on the top turnbuckle. SKY came right back and slapped the hell out of Asuka. Asuka came right back and hit some Kowada Kicks. Asuka then landed a super-plex, which led to a good near-fall. 

SKY fired up, but ultimately ran into a knee, which got Asuka a two-count. SKY came back with a throat chop, which was good enough for another two-count. SKY hit a German Suplex, but Asuka countered into a modified Kimura. SKY fought her way out of it and landed a kick to Asuka’s head. Asuka kicked SKY and went to the top to hit her own missile dropkick. Asuka followed that up with a hip attack and a series of back-fists and kicks. Asuka landed a sliding kick for another good near-fall. 

Asuka sunk in an arm-bar and eventually got up to climb the ropes. Asuka was on the second rope, but SKY cut her off and landed a dropkick, which took Asuka to the outside. With Asuka on the apron, SKY went for something, but Asuka held on … until she didn’t. Asuka then kicked the ring post after SKY moved. SKY then hit a moonsault onto Asuka, who was still outside the ring. The show went to another commercial break. 

Back from that commercial break, SKY was working a rear chin-lock inside the ring. SKY hit another German Suplex for another good near-fall. SKY went for a cross-face, but Asuka went for the bottom rope. Before long, Asuka rolled into an Asuka Lock. SKY countered with a pin attempt, which broke up the submission attempt. Asuka came back and kicked SKY in the head, which got Asuka a two-count. Asuka went to the second rope and hit a missile dropkick, which was good enough for another good near-fall. The two traded elbows while on their knees. Asuka rolled into an arm-bar, which turned into another Asuka Lock, but SKY fought out of it. Asuka came right back and went for the Asuka Lock again, but SKY fought out. Asuka went for another Asuka Lock. SKY was fading, but Bayley put SKY’s leg on the rope for a break. Charlotte walked over to get rid of Bayley, but SKY took advantage and hit a wild knee. SKY followed that up with a moonsault for the win. 

**********

– The Bloodline were seen backstage and Adam Pearce appeared. Pearce brought a contract for the tag-team match and Heyman said that’s fine as long as the match won’t be tonight. Jimmy Uso said they’ll be in the ring to sign the contract while Heyman and Sikoa looked nonplussed. Heyman told Jimmy that decisions like that need approval from the Tribal Chief first. Jimmy told Heyman to let him know what the Tribal Chief says. Sikoa told Heyman not to worry about it because after tonight, there won’t be anyone left to fight them at Fastlane. 

**********

– A video on Pretty Deadly aired and it was everything you thought it would be. 

Austin Theory & Grayson Waller defeated The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) [10:50]

And here, I thought this was going to be the famed “let me up” match that WWE loves to slot. At nearly 11 minutes, color me wrong (again). Michael Cole probably went a tiny bit overboard when he said it was a great match, but it’s fair to say that this was a surprisingly good match. The Brutes need some wins, though. For as good as they look in the ring and for as much as WWE half-protects them, they rarely come out on the winning side with these things. Still, Waller keeps adjusting nicely to the main roster and pairing him with Theory was a smart move. Who’s to say if they are in for a true run as a tag-team, but if they are, WWE could do worse. 

Waller beat up Butch to begin the match. Butch came back and did the fingers spot on Waller and Butch tagged in Holland. Holland swung Waller around and lifted Waller for a suplex, which he completed. Butch tagged in and hit a shotgun dropkick on Waller. Butch ran the ropes and Theory held up the ropes, which meant Butch went spilling to the outside. Butch and Waller fought on the outside. Butch and Holland did 10 Beats on Waller and Theory before Butch rolled back into the ring and the Brutes played to the crowd. The show then went to a commercial break. 

When the show returned, Theory had control and was pounding on Butch. Waller and Theory clotheslined Butch repeatedly. Waller went for his version of 10 Beats, but Butch countered with his fingers spot again and got the hot tag to Holland, who fired up and landed a series of slams on Waller. Theory tagged in and Waller chop-blocked Holland. Theory hit an elbow, but Butch broke up a pin attempt and things broke down. Waller rolled into the ring, but Holland cut him off with a spear. Holland then power-slammed Theory for a two-count. 

Butch landed a moonsault on Waller, who was on the outside. Meanwhile, Holland lifted Theory, but Theory rolled out of it. Holland followed that up wiht an Alabama Slam for a two-count. Holland worked a Boston Crab, but Waller broke it up with a rolling Stunner. Theory followed that up with A-Town Down for the win. After the match, Michael Cole said, while sounding surprised, said, “That was a great match.”

**********

– Next week, Charlotte Flair will face Bayley, Escobar vs. Mysterio for the U.S. Title will happen and Bobby Lashley will be the next guest on The Grayson Waller Effect. 

The contract signing segment

Adam Pearce introduced John Cena as “The Greatest Of All Time.” Cena ran to the ring and signed the contract instantly. AJ Styles’s music hit, but a camera backstage picked up Jimmy Uso beating up AJ Styles. Cena ran to the back. Solo Sikoa jumped off a bunch of travel cases onto Styles and the backstage crew went nuts. Sikoa and Jimmy left the scene while Styles was unconscious. Cena finally got to the back and yelled for help as the show went to a commercial break. 

The show returned and Styles was being stretchered out of the building. Paul Heyman walked slowly to the ring by himself without any entrance music. Karl Anderson was with Styles as they loaded him into the ambulance and Anderson said to Cena that he told Styles not to get involved in the Bloodline stuff. The ambulance drove off. Sikoa and Uso then also walked to the ring without any entrance music. Sikoa threw all the chairs and the contract signing table out of the ring. The crowd booed accordingly. 

Heyman tried to talk, but the crowd’s boos were quite loud. Heyman hit his “My name is Paul Heyman” line. Heyman said he had in his hands a contract signed by John Cena without any tag-team partner for Fastlane. As Heyman was going on, Jimmy grabbed the microphone from Heyman. Jimmy said, “Look what happens when you mess with The Bloodline!” Jimmy said if Cena was smart, he would have jumped in the ambulance with Styles and gone far away from The Bloodline. Jimmy said Cena is going to end up in an ambulance anyway. Cena ran to the ring and shoulder-blocked JImmy. Cena slammed Jimmy and lifted Sikoa for an AA, but Jimmy super-kicked Cena. 

Sikoa set up for the Samoan Spike and landed said Samoan Spike. Jimmy and Sikoa put the boots to Cena. Jimmy went to the second rope and applauded Sikoa. Jimmy went to the top and and hit the Uso Splash on Cena. Jimmy grabbed the contract from Heyman and signed it. Jimmy gave it to Sikoa and Sikoa signed it. Jimmy slammed the contract on Cena’s chest and went to the top again. Jimmy hit another Uso Splash. Jimmy and Sikoa gave the point to the sky and stood over Cena. From there, the show just kind of ended, which was odd because it felt like they were stretching things out for a surprise, but no surprise was to be had. Until next week …

WWE SmackDown live results: The Grayson Waller Effect with John Cena

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After a week away, John Cena returns to WWE television on tonight’s SmackDown from Denver, Colorado.

Cena will appear as a guest on The Grayson Waller Effect. An interaction between the two at Money in the Bank this summer ended with Cena laying Waller out. The talk show segment was announced last week as Waller sat in on commentary for Austin Theory’s match with LA Knight. 

Knight, meanwhile, will face The Miz in a rematch from Payback. Cena was the special guest referee as Knight defeated Miz in that showdown.

Bayley is set to go one-on-one with Asuka tonight. The match comes in advance of IYO SKY, Bayley’s Damage CTRL stablemate, defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Asuka on SmackDown next Friday.

In a battle of two former Bullet Club members, AJ Styles will wrestle Finn Balor. Last week’s SmackDown ended with Balor and Damian Priest attacking Styles in what was an apparent attempt to recruit Bloodline member Solo Sikoa to Judgment Day’s side.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

The Rock/Pat McAfee/Austin Theory segment

Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show and Pat McAfee’s music hit. McAfee got a microphone and stood in the ring. McAfee said he loved the Mile High City and called SmackDown “the greatest wrestling show to ever be on television.” McAfee called the WWE Universe the greatest universe on earth. MaAfee welcomed everyone into Friday Night SmackDown and on cue, Austin Theory’s music hit. 

Theory had a mic in his hands and said it’s not SmackDown; it’s Austin Theory Live. Theory said people in Colorado don’t get oxygen in their heads and that there’s nothing Theory can’t do. Theory said he has unfinished business with McAfee and mocked McAfee for covering college football. Theory said McAfee would go back to his show injured like Aaron Rodgers is injured and the crowd booed. McAfee said he was pumped that Theory was trying to dress and be like McAfee. Theory said McAfee looks like he should be flipping fries. McAfee referenced enjoying the local laws (i.e. legally smoking weed) which popped the crowd. McAfee said SmackDown will never be Theory’s show because it’s the people’s show. McAfee asked Theory if Theory knew what that meant and wouldn’t you know it, The Rock’s music hit and The Rock entered to a gigantic ovation. 

The crowd chanted “Rocky!” after Rock took his sweet good time making his way to the ring. Rock soaked it all up. The crowd “Holy s—” but the censors blocked it out, leaving the show with dead audio for a bit. Theory told Rock that Rock is in Theory’s ring. Theory tried to keep going, but Rock said, “Shut your bitch-ass up.” Rock said Theory doesn’t know how everything works. Rock gave McAfee his microphone and took off his jacket. Rock got the microphone back and said “Finally, The Rock has come back to Denver!” As a result, “Rocky!” chants broke out again. Theory tried the “Finally …” line, but the crowd booed Theory. Theory said he’s going to one day be so great, he will be the entire Mount Rushmore. The Rock started to talk and Theory interrupted him by saying “It doesn’t matter what The Rock says!” 

The Rock said it does matter what The Rock says. Rock asked the crowd if they wanted to see Rock beat Theory down and the crowd said, “Hell yeah!” Rock called Theory an “A Hole.” Rock led the crowd in a split chant of “You are” and “an asshole.” The censors responded accordingly, and it was even more annoying than you could imagine. The Rock broke it up by saying he was having fun with the people. The Rock said he has a theory of his own, and it’s that in three seconds, he was going “whoop Theory’s candy ass,” but Theory attacked Rock first. Rock rebounded quickly and hit a spine-buster before setting up for the People’s Elbow. Rock hit the People’s Elbow and The Rock’s music hit. McAfee followed that up with a People’s Elbow of his own. The Rock’s music hit again and Rock posed to end the segment. 

**********

Finn Balor defeated AJ Styles [8:30]

Maybe the most frustrating thing about watching WWE TV anymore is seeing two wrestlers you know are really very good and then see them execute the WWE style with little to no fanfare in the middle of a card. This match went eight-and-a-half minutes, two of those were lost to commercial, and then we got a distraction finish. Color me hopelessly romantic, but after all these years, I still believe Styles and Balor could work to put on a hell of a match if they even just had 15 minutes. Instead, this. I suppose this keeps the Styles vs. Bloodline story going, and if some reports are to be believed, it’s going to lead to Styles facing off against Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia in November, but for now, give guys like these more pro wrestling booking love? Maybe? Please?

Balor put the boots to Styles early. Styles fought back until Balor landed a basement dropkick on Styles and worked a chin-lock. Styles eventually worked out of it and landed a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker. Balor then rolled to the outside. The show went to break from there. After that, Styles and Balor went for simultaneous cross-body-blocks and the two were down in the middle of the ring. Styles was up first and landed a forearm and a leaping clothesline. Styles lifted Balor, but Dirty Dom got on the apron, which was enough for Balor to rake the eyes. Styles came right back and face-planted Balor for a two-count. 

With both wrestlers on the ropes, Styles went for a Frankensteiner, but Balor held on to the ropes for a counter. Styles got himself in order and went for a Styles Clash, but Balor fought out of it and ultimately, Balor found himself outside the ring. Styles hit a splash on Balor and clotheslined Dirty Dom. Styles got on the apron and set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Damian Priest held Styles’s ankle. The ref ejected the Dom and Priest, but out of nowhere, Jimmy Uso showed up and distracted Styles enough for Balor to roll Styles up for the win. 

**********

– Rock and McAfee were shown talking backstage. Rock turned around and saw John Cena, who shook Rock’s hand and said “Welcome home.” The camera cut to Jimmy Uso backstage. Balor approached Jimmy and thanked Jimmy. Uso said he was just paying Balor back for his help last week. Balor said he saw Jimmy’s brother at Raw and pitched the Usos joining the Judgment Day. Jimmy said they were good on that. Balor said the good thing about the Judgment Day is that there’s no leaders, which means there’s no Roman Reigns. Paul Heyman was shown walking out of the dark, but the camera went back to the ring, where the LWO was in the ring. 

The LWO segment

Rey Mysterio asked Denver what was good. The crowd cheered. Mysterio said a year ago, his career was at a crossroads and personally, he was going through one of the hardest times of his life. Mysterio said he was devastated and heartbroken. He said the LWO reminded him what family really represents and because of that, he’s the U.S. Champion. Santos Escobar hopped on the mic and said their family is full of champions. Escobar noted how Rey stepped up against Austin Theory and Escobar was happy because of that. Escobar said his career dream has always been to face Rey with a title on the line. Escobar asked Rey if he’d face him for the U.S. title. Rey said that of course, he’ll accept. 

Bobby Lashley’s music hit and Lashley came out with the Street Profits. Lashey said a few weeks ago, they said they were taking over and after looking at the LWO, it looks like it’s going to be easier than he ever imagined. The Profits weighed in and compared Mysterio to Oprah saying “You get an opportunity! And you get an opportunity!” The Profits walked the rest of the way to the ring and it looked like we were in for a tag team match after a commercial break. 

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The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated LWO (Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) [0:45 of TV time]

The match was joined in progress and it was one big piece of nothing. After the predictable and useless pin, Lashley and Mysterio had a tiny moment after the Profits kept attacking their opponents, but it was clear that The Rock’s opening segment ran long and at least these guys in this spot got their time cut. I’m not sure anyone is to blame (how the hell are you going to say no to The Rock?), but it was unfortunate. 

**********

– A package on the announcement of the 2024 Royal Rumble aired. The commentary team set up The Miz vs. LA Knight. 

LA Knight defeated The Miz [11:32]

I preferred this match over their match at Payback. It was almost a living, breathing argument for why running house show loops actually mattered when it came to developing programs. Give these guys four weeks on the road to hone this match, and I promise you it’d be even five times better than this. Anyway, this must have (mercifully) been the blowoff for this program as Knight made his intention for gold clear after the match. God bless Miz, man. He’s some sort of high-mid-level gatekeeper that always seems to elevate The Next Big Thing whenever the company calls upon him to work with whoever that is. And somehow, it always works – probably mostly because The Miz is a professional. Neither of these guys were going to have a five-star match in the Tokyo Dome, but as I said a few sentences ago, this was far better than the first Big Match they had. Good on them for it. 

The crowd was ruckus with their “LA Knight” chants to begin the match. The wrestlers locked up and Miz worked a side head-lock. Knight hit a shoulder block and yelled “Yeah!” The crowd followed suit and chanted a “Tiny balls!” chant. Miz begged off, but then rammed Knight into the turnbuckle to gain the upper hand. Miz and Knight traded chops until Knight hit a power-slam for a two-count. Knight landed a neck-breaker and followed that up with a leaping shoulder-block for another two-count. Miz came back quickly with a knee to Knight’s midsection. 

Miz kicked Knight in the head. Miz jawed at the crowd and lifted Knight, but Knight kind of/sort of worked out of it (it looked like Knight slipped at one point) to hit a neck-breaker and a bulldog from the second rope. Miz fired up quickly, though, and face-planted Knight for a two-count. From there, the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, Miz had control and kicked Knight in the midsection repeatedly. Miz hit a running knee to Knight’s face and got a two-count out of it. Miz went for his finisher, but Knight fought out and ultimately hit a clothesline, Russian Leg Sweep and DDT to fire everyone up. 

Knight hit some boots and a running knee for a two-count. The two traded roll-ups and two-counts. Miz thought he hit a DDT, but Knight grabbed the rope and didn’t hit hard. Miz responded by landed a knee and a modified draping Codebreaker for a near-fall. Miz jawed at the referee and set up for a kick, but Knight moved and hit some punches. Somewhat out of nowhere, Knight landed the BFT for the win. 

After the match, Knight grabbed a microphone and the crowd went nuts for him. Knight did the “Let me talk to ya!” bit and everyone screamed. Knight said he told everyone that he’s coming for gold. Knight said he has different options. Knight said it doesn’t matter if it’s Gunther, Seth Rollins, Rey Mysterio or Roman Reigns. The crowd ate it up. Knight said it ain’t just a catchphrase when he says he’s top two and he ain’t No. 2. The crowd responded with a hearty “Yeah!” and while Knight walked to the back, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa were shown watching Knight on a TV. Heyman said he hasn’t received an order from Reigns to take out Knight yet. Heyman told Solo about how Jimmy Uso is cutting deals with Judgment Day. Heyman told Solo that Jimmy thinks he’s back in the Bloodline, but Jimmy isn’t back in the Bloodline. Heyman said they can only make moves when Reigns calls him. Solo said he already knows what he needs to do. Solo said he’s going to finish something … tonight. They segment ended with Heyman telling his cellphone to call Roman Reigns. 

**********

– Backstage, Pretty Deadly rolled up on Adam Pearce. Elton Prince reflected on how his shoulder was and is still broken. Pearce asked them why Prince would be in a wheelchair if the problem was his shoulder. Kit Wilson chimed in and said they will be back before anyone knows it. Prince gave a loud “Yes, boy!” and the two rolled out of frame. 

– Bayley and Dakota Kai were shown talking backstage. Kai told Bayley that Bayley has to show up against Asuka later. Kai mentioned how Bayley has been distracted by Shotzi and asked Bayley if Bayley is actually ready for Asuka. We then went back to the ring for Asuka’s entrance. 

Asuka defeated Bayley [8:57]

I wrote a lot of things that were just magically deleted before they were published, so I’ll keep it short. Asuka has a ton of wins over Bayley and Asuka is the one wrestling for a belt next week, so this was predictable. But the women worked hard and this was worthy of the main event slot. Here’s hoping we get at least 15 minutes out of IYO SKY vs. Bayley next week. 

Asuka had control early until the two traded roll-ups and Bayley retreated to slow things down. Asuka went to the top and hit a missile dropkick, which took Bayley to the outside. Bayley immediately lured Asuka in and took control. From there, the show went to break. Returning to the show, Bayley was working a headlock. Asuka worked out of it briefly, but Bayley came right back with a knee and a two-count. Out of nowhere, Asuka went for an arm-bar, but Bayley kicked out of it. Asuka hit a German Suplex. 

Asuka landed a hip attack and a knee to the head of Bayley for a two-count. Asuka went for some kicks, but Bayley countered and ultimately went for a figure-four, but Asuka turned it around with an ankle lock. Asuka went to the second rope and landed a pseudo Codebreaker from the second rope. Asuka went for an arm-bar, but Bayley rolled to the outside. Bayley threw Asuka around and ripped apart the commentary table. Suddenly, Shotzi poppped up out of the crowd and chased Bayley back into the ring …  where Asuka got the pin with a backslide. After the match, Shotzi and Asuka went for a fist bump. 

**********

The Grayson Waller Effect with John Cena

Waller started out by saying it must be a dream for Cena to be on his talk show. Waller made a reference to the Coach Prime controversy surrounding taking hats off and wearing sunglasses. Waller said Cena needs to be more like Waller and Cena needs to sit back and let the stars shine. Waller said Cena has to make everything about him one more time. Waller said Cena got back in the ring at Packback … but not as a competitor and as a special guest referee. Waller said Cena has been lying to people because Cena doesn’t want to be an in-ring competitor. Waller said there is no doubt that Cena is the greatest of all time, but he’s not the greatest right now. 

Waller mentioned how Austin Theory beat Cena and WrestleMania. Cena stood up and took off his shirt. Cena went to speak, but Jimmy Uso’s music hit and Jimmy walked to the ring. Jimmy and Cena stood in the ring. Cena walked to Jimmy nad Jimmy took the microphone out of Cena’s hand. Jimmy called Waller “Kangaroo Jack” and Jimmy said nobody wanted Cena there. The crowd chanted “Cena!” Jimmy said he was out there to tell Cena that he should fight him or get out of the ring. Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Solo came out with Heyman. Solo and Cena engaged in a stare down. Solo turned around and choked Jimmy before super-kicking Cena. Soli and Jimmy hammered away on Cena until AJ Styles’s music hit and Styles ran to the ring and pounded on Jimmy. Cena then threw Solo outside the ring. Cena lifted Jimmy, but Solo broke it up. Cena’s music hit and that effectively ended the show. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Jimmy Uso vs. AJ Styles

Posted on by Colin McGuire

A match between Jimmy Uso and AJ Styles headlines tonight’s SmackDown from TD Garden in Boston.

Jimmy is apparently looking to get back into The Bloodline after helping Solo Sikoa defeat Styles last week. Issues between Jimmy and Styles began earlier in the episode when Jimmy disrespected O.C. member Michin.

A tag team bout with Charlotte Flair & Shotzi taking on IYO SKY & Bayley has also been announced for tonight. Last Friday, Shotzi defeated Bayley in a singles match after Charlotte assisted her in evening the odds against Damage CTRL.

Tonight is the first SmackDown since Payback. At last Saturday’s PPV, Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a Steel City Street Fight to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles. Balor & Priest are facing Ridge Holland & Butch in a non-title match on tonight’s show.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– The show opened with a video package recapping last Saturday’s Payback event. From there, a new SmackDown opening, complete with a new Smackdown theme song, aired. Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show on commentary. 

Shotzi & Charlotte Flair defeated IYO SKY & Bayley [9:04]

This was fine for what it was. It was a pleasant surprise to see Asuka back and even more of a pleasant development to see Asuka go right after SKY after the match because I think that’s a match we’ve all been waiting to see on the main roster with big time stakes for a long time now. Shotzi is good for one or two spots a match where you kind of/sort of wonder if she actually might have just severely injured herself and this match had a couple of those, but I’m happy to see her get some booking love last week and this week. Sure, they protected the heels here, but until a couple months ago, you could be forgiven if you forgot Shotzi was even hired to wrestle on the main roster in 2023. So, good stuff all around. Shotzi got a win and we started the (hopeful) road toward Asuka vs. IYO SKY. 

Bayley and Charlotte started the match and pushed each other. Charlotte fired up and attacked SKY and Bayley. Shotzi ran in for reinforcements and things broke down. With Shotzi and Charlotte on the outside, SKY landed a springboard moonsault off the second rope. The show then went to commercial break. When the show returned, SKY had control on Shotzi and Bayley tagged in to hit a stereo kick to Shotzi’s head. Bayley got a two count out of it. 

Bayley worked a chin-lock on Shotzi until Shotzi worked out of it … until Bayley kicked Shotzi in the leg. No matter because Shotzi ultimately kicked Bayley in the ear and Shotzi got the hot tag to Charlotte. Charlotte landed a cross body on both Bayley and SKY. Charlotte hit a series of chops on Bayley before landing a fallaway slam. Charlotte followed that up with a walkover clothesline and a fallaway slam on SKY. Charlotte went for a figure-eight, Bayley rolled Charlotte up for a two-count. Charlotte came right back and sunk in a figure-four until SKY broke it up with a Meteora. 

SKY tagged in and hit a top-rope Frankensteiner. Bayley went to the top, but was stopped as she saw Asuka grab the women’s title from Dakota Kai on the outside. Charlotte hit a boot on Bayley and tagged in Shotzi, who hit her finisher on Bayley for the win. AFter the match, Asuka threw the title down in the ring and engage in a stare down with SKY. Asuka then left the ring. 

**********

– Paul Heyman was backstage and Jimmy Uso came up to tell Heyman that Jimmy is happy to be in the Bloodline. Heyman said both Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa weren’t there. Heyman advised Jimmy to handle AJ Styles business and at the same time, Heyman said if Jimmy does that, Heyman will bring the family back together. Jimmy with for a handshake, but Heyman walked away before shaking it. Heyman ran into AJ Styles as he was walking. Heyman told Styles he has too many problems in his life and Styles grabbed Heyman … until Jimmy saved the day, attacked Styles and threw Styles over some crates. The segment ended with Heyman telling his phone to call Roman Reigns. 

**********

– Backstage, Bayley yelled about Asuka until SKY chimed in and said she will fight Asuka for the title. 

– LA Knight made his entrance to a massive pop. Knight grabbed a microphone and soaked in a ton of cheers and chants. Knight did his “Ley me talk to ya!” catchphrase. Knight mocked the Miz and the Miz’s song. Knight recalled the Kevin Nash adjective moment from Nitro and corrected it to a verb. Knight talked about Miz fighting invisible John Cena. Knight mocked Miz for crying about Cena. Knight said he has all the respect in the world for Cena, and Cena counted to three at Payback and was about to say Miz can consider his challenge … but Grayson Waller’s music hit and the crowd booed. 

Waller told Knight to hold on. Waller said Miz ran through Cena on Raw and before Knight accepts Miz’s challenge, Waller wanted to bring out Austin Theory. Waller said Waller and Theory are the only tag team on the roster that is undefeated after last week. Knight responded by telling the heels to talk to their mommy … and to say Knight said hi. Theory noted that he beat both Cena and Knight previously. Theory reminded everyone at 26 years old, he’s been a two-time US Champion. Theory told Knight to soak in his 15 minutes of fame. Theory said when he’s done with Knight, the Miz won’t waste his time on Knight. Knight then welcomed Theory and Waller into the ring. Knight said TD Garden stands on Legends Way and Theory can “get his keister kicked tonight.” The match was made for after a commercial break. 

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LA Knight defeated Austin Theory [9:29]

This was a solid television match. The nonsense was fairly useless and even a bit gratuitous by the end. Theory and Waller are supposed to be annoying, but we can talk all day about Theory and still probably never find a way to properly end the conversation. Waller is off to a nice start on the main roster by being a pest, but I fear his association with Theory will hurt more than it helps. Knight, meanwhile, is still very over, though his Kevin Nash callback didn’t seem to land with the live crowd, which disappointed this viewer. Knight isn’t the smoothest performer and Theory isn’t the most refined 20-something-year-old on the roster, but the match made sense and the right guy went over. It was never going to be Omega vs. Ospreay and that’s OK. 

Grayson Waller sat in on commentary and announced that John Cena will be on the Grayson Waller Effect next week on SmackDown. Theory and Knight locked up to start the match and exchanged momentum until Knight landed a European Uppercut and a neck-breaker to gain slight control. Theory eventually came back and hit a snap suplex for a two-count. With Knight on the apron, Knight fought Theory off and hit a shoulder block. The action spilled to the side of the outside where the commentary team was and Knight slammed Theory’s head off the top of it repeatedly. 

Back inside the ring, Knight ran at Theory, but Theory countered and eventually hit a neck-breaker on Knight from the apron to the floor on the outside. The show then went to commercial break. The show returned, Knight fired up inside the ring and landed a DDT before putting the boots to him. Knight lifted Theory, but Theory punched Knight and hit a rolling Blockbuster for a two-count. Theory ran at Knight and Knight dropped Theory over the top. Knight landed a dropkick through the bottom ropes and went for a suplex on the outside, but Theory countered into a suplex of his own. 

With the wrestlers down, Waller ran to a corner and untied a turnbuckle to expose it. Knight and Theory got back into the ring and Knight hit a powerslam before hitting the big elbow drop. Waller got on the apron to distract Knight and Theory rolled Knight up to no avail. It looked like the exposed turnbuckle might come into use, but Knight stopped it and hit the BFT on Theory for the win. 

**********

– AJ Styles was interviewed by Cathy Kelly backstage. Styles said he’s standing and as long as he’s standing, he can fight. Styles said Jimmy Uso can jump Styles as much as he wants, but nothing is going to stop Styles from tearing Uso’s head off. The Judgment Day’s entrance began back at ringside (sans Rhea Ripley). 

– Backstage, Paul Heyman was talking to Adam Pearce and wanted to know who SmackDown was receiving after Jey Uso was traded to Raw. LA Knight interrupted things and asked Pearce to make the Miz vs. Knight match for next week and Pearce obliged. Heyman told Knight he’s a huge admirer. Heyman did the “Yeah!” catchphrase. Heyman also told Knight to knock on the door the next time he wants to enter a room in which Heyman is doing business. Knight didn’t appear happy about that, but said “Yeah!” when Heyman asked if he was clear. 

– Damian Priest told the crowd to all rise for the crew that holds all the gold, the Judgment Day. Finn Balor introduced himself as “Grand Slam Finn.” Balor introduced Dirty Dom and the crowd booed. Dom tried to talk, but the crowd erupted in boos. It was hard to make out what Dom was saying because of the boos. Priest chimed back in and said he was proud that his group accomplished something not even the Bloodline could do. Priest said not only did they beat Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, but they took the Undisputed Tag Team Championship from Owens and Zayn. Dom called out Jey Uso, but it was still hard to hear Dom because of the boos. Dom (I think) was saying Judgment Day is the most dominate … something until the Brawling Brutes music hit and Butch and Ridge Holland came out with microphones. Holland said they were looking to put on a banger in Bean Town. Holland said it wasn’t him they needed to worry about and rather, it was Butch they had to worry about. Balor laughed until Butch went to snap Balor’s fingers. The Brutes shot Balor off into the ropes, but Balor rolled to the outside and the show went to commercial while the match was set to begin after the break. 

**********

The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defeated the Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) [12:20 of TV time]

Good for the Brutes for getting in a lot of offense and showing a lot of fight, but there was no way anyone could have thought they’d get the win here. The new tag champs aren’t coming out of a PLE and losing the first time the crowd sees them as champs on TV. Still, Holland and Butch worked hard and this was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be – especially considering how the match went through two commercial breaks, which was yet another welcome surprise of the night. I’m more intrigued to see where this Judgment Day vs. Lashley & Profits thing goes. Last I read, Lashley’s new group was internally listed as heels and I can’t imagine WWE is going to run a long-term program between two heel factions. The crowd was up for Lashley, though, so perhaps we actually have a new hot babyface trio that was at first mischaracterized? Time will tell. 

The match was shown in progress when the episode returned. The Brutes had control and worked over Balor. Holland spun Balor around and slammed him, but Balor shot back up and tagged in Priest, who took control with a shoulder-block on Holland. Holland fired up and had both Balor and Priest on separate shoulders before slamming them. Priest came right back with a clothesline and Balor tagged in. Pretty Deadly were shown watching the match on a TV backstage. Balor worked a headlock on Holland until Holland fired up and got the hot tag to Butch. Butch landed a moonsault on both Priest and Balor, who were on the outside, and the show went to another commercial break. 

Coming back from that break, Butch hit a super-plex on Balor inside the ring. Butch went for something, but Balor countered into a falling elbow. Priest and Holland tagged in and traded blows. The exchange ended with Holland hitting a suplex and tagging in Butch, who ran at Priest, but Priest got a boot to the face for a two-count. Priest kicked Holland and landed some version of a bulldog/headlock driver on Butch for a two-count. Balor tagged in and ran at Butch, but Butch countered while Dominik got on the apron. Butch went for 10 Bells on Butch, but Balor interrupted it with a Slingblade. Balor went for a Coup De Gras, but Butch moved and Balor hit an enziguri before tagging in Priest. 

Butch kicked Priest and tagged in Holland. Holland lifted Priest and Butch went to the top, but Balor pushed Butch off the top. Priest landed South of Heaven on both Holland and Butch. Balor went to the top and hit the Coup De Gras on Holland and that was enough for Balor to get the pin. After the match, Bobby Lashley’s music hit and Lashley came out with the Street Profits. Lashley and the Profits entered the ring and engaged in a stare down with Balor, Priest and Dominik. Lashley said the Bloodline is crumbling, but it won’t be the Judgment Day that takes over and instead it will be Lashley and the Profits that will take over. 

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– Backstage, Gallows, Anderson and Michin were shown watching a phone. AJ Styles came into the frame and asked the Good Brothers about Jimmy jumping Styles. Styles knocked the phone out of Karl Anderson’s hand and Styles screamed that they always had each other’s back. Styles told them he doesn’t want them anywhere near his match with Jimmy as the segment ended. 

– Kevin Patrick and Michael Cole narrated a highlight package of the Superstar Spectacle in India from earlier Friday. The commentary team ran down what’s booked for next week, which will include LA Knight vs. The Miz and Cena on the Grayson Waller Effect. In two weeks, Asuka will face IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship. 

**********

AJ Styles defeated Jimmy Uso [15:55]

Well, now isn’t that something. I don’t know where WWE is going with the Judgment Day/Bloodline/OC/Lashley group stuff, but color me intrigued. I was happy to see Styles go over because it’s been far too long since he’s earned a meaningful win on WWE TV (no, whatever that was with Karrion Kross doesn’t count), but adding another layer of all these faction wars makes me interested in seeing what happens next week, and if I’m honest, it’s been a little while since I’ve been interested in seeing what happens next week. The match finish was a little flat and the crowd faded during the end, but the question of whatever is next made it worth it for me. Very interesting. 

Styles had control early and kicked Jimmy in the back of the neck. Jimmy came back with a rollup, but Jimmy put his feet on the ropes and the ref stopped counting. Styles followed that up with some chops and a snap suplex. Styles landed a back-breaker. Styles jawed at Jimmy and kicked Jimmy a few times in the mouth. Styles set up a Styles Clash, but Jimmy rolled to the outside. After getting back into the ring, Jimmy hit an elbow to take Styles to the ground. Jimmy ran the ropes and held himself up before rolling to the outside. Styles landed a sliding dropkick and went for a knee, but Jimmy hit a superkick to slow things down. Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa (who Heyman said wasn’t there!?) appeared in the entrance way. Jimmy smiled and slammed Styles’s head off the ring steps. The camera showed Jimmy smiling as the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from the break, Jimmy had control inside the ring and Jimmy kept smiling. Jimmy did the “Uce!” chant with the crowd and landed a hip attack on Styles in a corner, which was good enough to get Jimmy a two-count. Jimmy worked a chin-lock. Styles tried to elbow his way out of it, but Jimmy cut him off with a clothesline. Jimmy went back to the chin-lock. Styles countered with a belly-to-back suplex and both guys were down. On their knees, the wrestlers traded slaps. Styles eventually hit a Pele Kick to slow stuff down again. Styles clotheslined Jimmy over the top rope and followed that up with a leaping forearm. 

Inside the ring, Styles set up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Jimmy moved. As a result, Styles slammed Jimmy on his neck and got a two-count out of it. Styles landed a clothesline, but Jimmy fought back with a punch, which was enough for a two-count of his own. On their feet, the two traded strikes until Styles hit a DDT, which led to a nice near-fall. Styles went to the apron, but Heyman and Sikoa distracted him. The lull was enough for Jimmy to hit a superkick on Styles. Styles was on the outside and Jimmy rolled out with him. Jimmy tried to talk to Sikoa, but Sikoa turned his back and Styles hit both Sikoa and Jimmy. Styles then confronted Heyman and ran Jimmy into the ring post. From there, Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Jimmy, which was enough for the win. 

After the match, Damian Priest and Finn Balor attacked AJ Styles and threw Styles back into the ring, where Sikoa and Jimmy were. Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Styles and stared at Priest and Balor. The show ended as Sikoa stared down the Judgment Day. 

WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena returns

Posted on by Colin McGuire

John Cena makes his return to WWE television on tonight’s SmackDown from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It’s Cena’s first time back in WWE since making a surprise appearance at Money in the Bank.

WWE recently announced that Cena will be on hand for eight episodes of SmackDown in September and October. Cena will also be teaming with Seth Rollins against Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci at WWE’s Superstar Spectacle live event in India on September 8.

Tonight is the final SmackDown before Payback. Also set for the episode is an appearance by Jimmy Uso. This will be the first time we’ve heard from Jimmy since his brother Jey walked out on WWE last month. 

Elsewhere, Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar will team up to face Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. Mysterio is set to defend his United States title against Theory at Payback this Saturday.

LA Knight and The Miz will also come face to face before their match at Payback. 

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– A Bloodline video aired to open the show. Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone in and John Cena’s music hit. 

The John Cena segment

Cena made his entrance to a huge pop and yelled “Welcome to SmackDown.” The crowd chanted “Cena!” Cena said the fans have given him 20 years worth of moments. Cena said it never gets old; it only gets better. Cena said from now on when he gets in the ring, he’s always going to say “Thank you.” Cena said he was coming home to WWE. Cena talked about how he’s going to wrestle in India for the first time next week. Cena said he’s going to host Payback on Saturday. Cena said he’s going to do his best to give back to the fans. Cena said they’re going to give the crowd an epic SmackDown. Cena said tonight, WWE is going to … do something, but Cena was cut off as Jimmy Uso’s music hit. 

The crowd booed Jimmy. The crowd chanted Cena’s name along with “We want Jey!” Cena acknowledged the loud crowd. Jimmy asked Cena what he was going there and said the crowd was there to see Jimmy, a top star. Jimmy followed that up by saying he did what he did to Jey because he will save his brother 10 times out of 10. Jimmy said he did it because he loves his brother. Jimmy reiterated that he didn’t want Jey to be corrupted like both Roman Reigns and John Cena has been.

Cena cut Jimmy off and made fun of his own fashion sense. Jimmy responded by saying Cena and Roman are exactly alike. Jimmy said Cena takes, takes and takes just like Roman. The crowd chanted “Cena!” Cena said Jimmy has a lot on his mind and Jimmy has made some rash decisions. Cena said he’s been wanting to say something to Jimmy for three years and it’s that the wrong Uso quit. Cena said “Take that.” Jimmy went for a super-kick, but Cena caught Jimmy with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena’s music to end the segment. 

**********

– Kayla Braxton was backstage and she welcomed in Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. They laughed at Cena being the host of Payback. Theory talked about how he beat Cena at WrestleMania. We went back to the ring for the LWO entrance. 

Grayson Waller & Austin Theory defeated Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar [8:09]

This was a fine enough thrown-together tag match with a fairly predictable outcome considering the match at Payback between Mysterio and Theory. Seeing Waller get the win was a tiny bit of a surprise, though, which was welcome. The four guys worked hard and they worked well together. I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of getting LWO fatigue as I wait for Escobar to finally turn and make things interesting again. When you combine that fatigue with inherent Austin Theory fatigue, this match didn’t do much for me. But what do I know?

Escobar and Waller started the match. Mysterio quickly tagged in and Theory ran in to attack, but both Theory and Waller ended up on the outside. Escobar then threw Mysterio over the top to the outside onto the heels. The show then went to a commercial break. When it returned, Waller was working over Mysterio inside the ring. Theory tagged in and continued working over Mysterio with punches and kicks until Waller tagged in. Theory held Mysterio and Waller went to hit Mysterio, but Mysterio moved and Waller hit Theory. Waller then tagged in, but Mysterio got rid of Waller and landed the hot tag to Escobar. 

Escobar came in and landed a cross body on Waller for a two-count. Escobar landed a Frankensteiner from the top for a two-count. Theory and Mysterio both entered the ring and things broke down. Theory went for a chop block on Mysterio, but Escobar pushed Mysterio out of the way to take it himself. Waller then ran in and hit the rolling stunner on Escobar to get the win. 

**********

– Adam Pearce was shown talking to Michin backstage, but Jimmy Uso interrupted them. Pearce essentially told Jimmy to go away and Jimmy reluctantly did just that. We then went back to the ring, where Bobby Lashley made his entrance. The show went to commercial break. Michin was talking to the rest of the O.C. when the show returned and AJ Styles looked angry. We then went back to the ring. 

The Bobby Lashley/Street Profits segment

The crowd was really pumped for Lashley and Lashley thanked them accordingly. Lashley talked about what might be going on between him and the Street Profits. Lashley said real recognizes real and great recognizes great. Lashley then said he wants to recognize the Street Profits and the Profits made their entrance. Lashley said the Profits are charismatic and athletic and aggressive. Montez Ford interrupted Lashley and said they were out there to thank Lashley. Ford said the Profits are sexy. Dawkins chimed in and said Lashley helped the Profits see the bigger picture. Ford said, “It’s nothing personal, it’s just profits.” Ford and Dawkins both said “Thank you” at the same time and it was aimed at Lashley. 

Lashley said they were there to send a message to the WWE Universe. Lashley said they are putting everyone on notice and they are coming for power, control and championship gold. Lashley said they are coming for it all. Lashley’s music hit and that was the end of the segment … until Kevin Owens’s music hit and Owens walked out with the tag team belts. Sami Zayn’s music hit and Zayn soon followed. Zayn and Owens walked by the Profits on their way to the ring. 

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Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated Cruz Del Toro & Juaquin Wilde [2:30]

A basic squash to give the tag champs momentum heading into the weekend. It’s weird. Owens and Zayn still seem like stars and they are the only ones left carrying around two sets of belts. But they feel stagnant. Hopefully, Saturday’s match kicks off something for the duo rather than simply end their reign. We’ll see. 

Zayn and Wilde began the match with Zayn taking control early. Eventually, Wilde landed an elbow, but Zayn came back with a clothesline. Owens tagged in and hit a Swanton Bomb for a two-count. Del Toro tagged in and took out Zayn while kicking Owens in the head. Ultimately, the momentum ended with a pop-up powerbomb from Owens. Zayn tagged in and hit the Helluva Kick on Del Toro. Owens tagged back in and hit a Stunner for the win.

After the match, Zayn took a microphone and said at Payback, Judgment Day will need to bring everything they have because it will be the fight of their lives. Backstage, Jimmy Uso was looking to leave, but he was cut off by AJ Styles, who said Uso disrespected Michin. Solo Sikoa showed up and pushed Styles away. Jimmy told Sikoa that nobody can tell him anything and left the building. 

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– AJ Styles was interviewed backstage. Styles said the Bloodline thinks they run everything. Styles then said he wants to knock Sikoa’s teeth down his throat. The rest of the OC showed up and said Styles doesn’t need to get involved in that drama. Styles said no and that the Bloodline needs to be reminded that this was the house that AJ Styles built. 

The Miz/LA Knight segment

Miz said that LA Knight will be competing in the biggest match of his career at Payback. The crowd drowned Miz out with “LA Knight!” chants. Miz said Knight isn’t on his level. Knight’s music hit and the crowd went nuts. Knight walked quickly to the ring and grabbed a microphone. The crowd chanted “LA Knight!” loudly while Knight looked around. When he hit the “Let me talk to ya” line, the crowd blew up. Knight referenced Miz impersonating The Rock, John Cena and now LA Knight. Knight said what they have in common is that those are people Miz wants to be, but he can’t be. 

Knight said he brought himself out of the sewer to get here. Knight said he worked every job, he slept in his car and then he flubbed a line. Knight then mocked Miz for coming from a reality show. Knight said he’s above Miz’s level. Miz responded by saying Knight has failed where Miz succeeded. Miz talked about how Knight was on a reality show, too, but Knight failed. Miz said he succeeded because he’s a star. Knight came back and said the star of “Miz & Mrs.” is the Miz’s wife. Knight said after Payback, he’s going to send Miz home broken and battered. 

Miz mocked Knight for cutting promos into a hairbrush. Miz said the people love Knight because the people are failures. Miz said Knight has had his hopes and dreams crushed, but Knight has never given up. Miz said Knight has a chance to do something the people will never do, which is succeed. Miz said he is the wrong superstar for Knight. Miz brought up his past and said on Saturday, Miz is a human time-traveler and when Knight loses his confidence and popularity, Knight will go back to cutting promos in a mirror with a hairbrush like it was 2003. 

Knight responded by saying he’s never quit because he doesn’t know how. Knight said while Miz lives in the past, Knight is the present. Knight said at Payback, Miz will get stomped out. Knight went for his catchphrase, but Miz cut him off and ultimately hit the Skull-Crushing Finale. As Miz walked up the ramp, Knight attacked Miz from behind and the two brawled until they were broken up by referees and officials. The crowd offered up loud “LA Knight!” chants. 

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Shotzi defeated Bayley [9:18]

This was disappointing to me, if only because I had high hopes for a long Bayley/Shotzi program with Bayley playing the chicken-s!@# heel, being scared of Shotzi forever until Shotzi got her revenge. I was also hopeful that Shotzi could parlay the program into a push of her own. While this kind of/sort of forwarded that by Shotzi getting the win and doing it with help from Charlotte, it had the feel of a one-and-done situation. Here’s hoping the story continues and Shotzi gets a little more spotlight. As for the match itself, it was fine. I’m not a fan of these long commercial breaks getting in the way of seeing a full women’s match, but both women worked clean and hard and you can’t ask for much more than that. 

Shotzi lunged at Bayley a few times to begin the match. Shotzi eventually unloaded on Bayley with some right hands. Bayley slapped Shotzi and Shotzi laughed. Shotzi choked Bayley with her legs over the top rope. Bayley came back and put the boots to Shotzi. Bayley mouthed off until Shotzi landed a step-up enziguri. The action spilled outside, where Shotzi rag-dolled Bayley before landing a front flip splash on Bayley to take the show to a commercial break. 

Back from the break, Bayley was working a chin-lock on Shotzi, but Shotzi fought her way out, until Bayley hit an elbow drop from the second rope for a two-count. Bayley went for another elbow drop, but Shotzi countered. With Bayley on the outside, Shotzi hit a dive to the floor and rolled Bayley into the ring. Shotzi hit a face-buster and laned a right-elbow. Bayley draped Shotzi on a top turnbuckle and hit an elbow for a two-count. Shotzi came back with a suplex into the turnbuckle and a cannonball. 

Shotzi went to the top, but Bayley cut her off. Bayley tried to grab IYO SKY’s title, but Charlotte’s music hit and Charlotte came out to give SKY a boot to the face. Charlotte hit Bayley as the referee was distracted. Shotzi followed that up with a strike of her own and then got the win. 

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Sikoa made his entrance with a graphic that said “with Paul Heyman,” even though Heyman wasn’t with him because Paul E. ain’t making Hershey, my friends. Next week, we’re going to get Charlotte & Shotzi vs IYO SKY and Bayley. AJ Styles then made his entrance and to the main event, we went. 

Solo Sikoa defeated AJ Styles [12:08]

This was probably the best match of the night, though I can’t say that says too much about either the match or the night (we had only two matches in the first hour of TV). Jimmy coming back into play at the end the night surprised me a little bit, but I can’t quite explain why. I was hoping we’d be working toward AJ vs. Roman, but if AJ is taking a loss to Solo Sikoa this early in whatever that story could be … well, it looks like I won’t be getting that anytime soon. Still, Sikoa has come so far since he began – and it’s easy to forget how soon he began. Plus, Sikoa held his own against the veteran Styles, who continues to show no sign of slowing down. All around, there was good stuff here, but I’m curious to see where the story goes now.

The two went at it aggressively at first and Sikoa got the best of Styles. Styles came back and tried to bodyslam Sikoa, but Styles couldn’t get him up. As a result, Sikoa slammed Styles. Styles hit a high dropkick, but wouldn’t you know it: Paul Heyman made his entrance to distract Styles and I stand corrected. Before long, Styles hit a Phenomenal Forearm on Sikoa, who was on the outside, and the show went to a commercial break. 

Back from break, Sikoa had control and ran Styles into the ring post. Sikoa hit a belly to belly suplex for a two-count. Sikoa landed a high back-body drop. Sikoa set up the Samoan Spike, but Styles countered with a Pele Kick. Styles dropkicked Sikoa’s knee and lifted Sikoa, but Sikoa countered with a wild Samoan Drop for a good near-fall. Sikoa ran at Styles, but Styles moved and elbowed Sikoa before landing a moonsault for another good near-fall. Styles went for a Styles Clash, but Sikoa placed Styles on the apron. Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Jimmy Uso appeared and hit Styles off the ropes. Sikoa landed the Samoan Spike and got the win. Sikoa threatened to Samoan Spike Jimmy, but Heyman called Sikoa off. Sikoa left the ring and Jimmy super-kicked Styles. Jimmy hit a splash on Styles from the top and did the Bloodline gesture to Sikoa as the show ended.