WWE SmackDown Review – August 11, 2023
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth with forearms before Charlotte Flair knocks Asuka to the mat. Asuka fires back with several kicks to Flair’s chest but Flair ascends to the top rope but Asuka pulls her down and delivers a dropkick off the middle rope as we go to a break.
After the break Flair delivers a crossbody to Asuka over the top rope and to the outside then she ascends to the top and lands another crossbody then fires off chops before Asuka lands a back elbow.
Flair responds with a Spear and looks to lock in Figure 8 but becomes distracted by Damage CTRL & this allows Asuka to roll up Flair but Flair kicks out and lands a big boot.
They go back & forth with forearms before Bayley hops up on the apron & Flair knocks her down to the floor but Women’s Champion Iyo Sky does the same and double dropkicks both women causing a double disqualification.
Winner: No One (No Contest)
After the match Bayley & Sky continue beating down Flair & Asuka. Bayley sends Flair into the middle turnbuckle face first and Sky sends Asuka crashing into the ring post shoulder first.
We then head over to a video recapping the Undisputed WWE Universal Title Tribal Combat match at SummerSlam.
After the break we head backstage for an interview between Kayla Braxton & Santos Escobar then United States Champion Austin Theory blindsides Escobar and sends him into a road cast spine first then uses the lid to crush his leg. LWO then runs in to check on Escobar & Theory retreats.
After the break we see Santos Escobar being checked on in the medical office as Rey Mysterio flanks him.
AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross
AJ Styles wastes no time as he delivers a dropkick right out of the gate but Karrion Kross fires back with a suplex and sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle face first.
He then whips him into the corner and sends him into the top turnbuckle face first once again then sits him on the top and joins him up there.
Styles escapes his grasp and sends Kross crashing out of the ring with a clothesline but Kross sends Styles crashing into the announce table off his shoulders as we go to a break.
After the break Styles delivers a sliding forearm and a right hand in the corner then sets up for the Phenomenal Forearm but Kross catches him and looks to lock in the Kross Jacket.
Styles escapes and plants Kross then delivers a series of kicks to his face then lands a 450 Splash then goes for a pin but Scarlett puts Kross’ foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Michin goes after her but Scarlett levels her.
Kross clocks Styles from behind and delivers a Saito suplex then sets up for Kross Hammer but Styles ducks it and lands a step up enziguri then looks for Styles Clash but Scarlett hops up on the apron to distract him.
Michin sends her crashing over the announce desk before Styles lands a Pele Kick and the Styles Clash for the win.
Winner: AJ Styles
We then head over to a video recapping what occurred in the SummerSlam match between Brock Lesnar & Cody Rhodes.
After the break we head backstage to Cathy Kelley outside of the medical room. Austin Theory walks in and complains about being unable to defend the United States Title. Rey Mysterio emerges and assures Theory that Escobar will be ready to go later tonight and Theory mocks Escobar. Mysterio looks to attack Theory but is held back.
Edge says he knows he was unadvertised for tonight’s show, but before he celebrates 25 years in WWE next week, he saw Calgary was on the docket and it’s been too long since he’s been there. He says he’s in the ring tonight because he wants to face Sheamus then delves into their history and explains Sheamus was the one who inspired him to return to in ring competition after 9 years away from the ring. He recounts being featured on Sheamus’ YouTube channel Celtic Warrior Workouts and says after taking a tumble while they were mountain biking he thought people would question why he couldn’t wrestle and the lightbulb lit up in his head. He recalls training with Sheamus while he was gearing up to return to the ring. He then introduces the man himself and he makes his way to the ring alongside Butch & Ridge Holland.
Sheamus says he’s had the footage of Edge taking a fall for 4 years then calls for the production team to roll the footage. Edge then shows a picture of him and Sheamus as Sheamus sits on Edge’s daughter’s bike and Sheamus tells the production crew to take him down. Sheamus says in 2004, he was trying to decide if he was going to make it to WWE in the early days of his career or work an IT job. He recalls seeing the crew at a local show and looking for advice and while everyone else ignored him, Edge didn’t. He says Edge gave him some great advice and says it’s astonishing they haven’t wrestled each other. Sheamus says he wouldn’t be standing in the ring if it wasn’t for Edge & Edge formally challenges Sheamus to a 1 on 1 match next week. Sheamus asks Calgary what they think of the idea, and accepts after hearing their overwhelming positive reaction then they shake hands but before leaving, Sheamus tells Edge he hopes he didn’t make a mistake.
LA Knight vs. Top Dolla
LA Knight wastes no time as he sends Top Dolla into the top turnbuckle face first then fires off right hands. Top Dolla fires back with a shoulder tackle before he receives some help from B Fab & Ashante Thee Adonis on the outside.
He gets Knight up on his shoulders and looks to plant him but Knight lands on his feet and plants Top Dolla with a bulldog off the middle rope then delivers an elbow drop follow by BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
After the match Knight grabs a mic and says it doesn’t matter where you go in the world or what show he’s on because you will know whose game it is when you hear the name LA Knight.
We then head backstage to Adam Pearce, Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio. Pearce says Escobar has been cleared by the trainer but he wants to make sure he’s ready to go and Escobar assures him that such is the case.
After the break we go backstage to Bobby Lashley & Street Profits celebrating their new alliance with a drink. Lashley says the saddest thing in life is untapped potential, and he sees lots of potential in them. Montez Ford says he still doesn’t feel like the job is finished after last week and Lashley tells him that the possibilities are endless. He says Smackdown is ready for some new blood and the 3 toast to that.
United States Title Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
Austin Theory delivers a chop block to Santos Escobar on the ramp before LWO runs out to check on him. A medical official and Adam Pearce run down to check on Escobar as Theory starts running his mouth and says he was really looking forward to defending his United States Title & says he’s going home but Rey Mysterio steps up to the plate and takes Escobar’s place.
Mysterio wastes no time and fires off strikes as he sends Theory crashing out of the ring then delivers a hurricanrana off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Mysterio delivers a hurricanrana to Theory. He ascends to the top and delivers a senton then lands a springboard crossbody then follows it up with a back elbow and looks for a springboard moonsault but Theory catches him and gets Rey in an electric chair position.
Rey escapes with a sunset flip to Theory in the corner before Theory lands a boot and looks for A Town Down but Rey escapes and delivers an enziguri then dials it up for 619 on Theory’s spine then looks for a 2nd one to his face but Theory catches him and gets him up on his shoulders.
Rey delivers a hurricanrana to escape and dials it up for the 619 then gets back inside the ring & hits a Splash for the win.
Winner & New United States Champion: Rey Mysterio (NEW CHAMPION!!!!!)
After the match the rest of LWO comes out to celebrate with Mysterio.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns tells Calgary to acknowledge him then asks Paul Heyman where Jimmy Uso is. Heyman says he doesn’t know, and Heyman says he hasn’t seen him. Reigns asks if he’s talked to him as Jimmy appears at ringside behind Reigns, Heyman & Solo Sikoa & they spot him and Jimmy gets inside the ring. Reigns says he owes Jimmy one for SummerSlam and tells him to name his price. Jimmy says he wants nothing from Reigns then says what he did at SummerSlam had nothing to do with him. Reigns tells Jimmy he must be confused then asks him once again what he wants.
Jey Usos’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He slaps the mic out of Jimmy’s hand then stares him down and asks Jimmy why he did what he did on Saturday. Jimmy says he did what he did because he loves him then says it wasn’t out of jealousy but out of fear of losing him. He asks what would’ve happened to The Usos if Jey became Tribal Chief then says he would’ve become corrupted like Reigns. Jimmy says he would never been able to live with himself if he let Jey become an egotistical monster like Reigns then says Jey doesn’t have to believe him because he told him what he wanted to. He tells Jey he loves him then offers Jey a superkick.
Jey turns his back on Jimmy, and Jimmy steps next to him. Jey turns around once again and Jimmy gives up. He slides out of the ring as Reigns laughs and says there was no more of a perfect time to tell Jey he told him so. He tells Jey he thinks with his emotions and says tonight is not about The Usos because it’s about acknowledging him.
Jey has heard enough and superkicks Reigns. Sikoa jumps him and sets up for the Samoan Spike but Jey escapes and lands a superkick. Reigns then delivers a Superman Punch to Jey and sets up for a Spear as Jimmy saunters to the back. He charges but Jey delivers a superkick and a Spear of his own. He grabs a mic and stops Jimmy then starts walking towards him and opens his arms. Jimmy does the same and looks to hug him back but Jey blindsides him and delivers a superkick. He then says he’s out of The Bloodline, Smackdown and WWE before retreating through the crowd.
