WWE SmackDown Review – August 4, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with LA Knight says SummerSlam weekend is the biggest party of the summer and he’s been thinking about all the competitors in the Slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal. He says he sees a group of stooges and everyone has a chance of winning then takes a few shots at Sheamus.
LA Knight vs. Sheamus
Sheamus delivers a knee to Knight’s midsection then he follows it up with a pair of shoulder tackles but Knight lands one of his own before firing off right hands and stomps in the corner. They then spill to the outside before Sheamus delivers White Noise to Knight as we go to a break.
After the break Sheamus gets Knight up on his shoulders but Knight escapes and delivers a reverse DDT before the pair go back & forth with right hands. Sheamus delivers a kick to Knight’s face but Knight plants him on the mat and delivers an elbow drop.
He gets Sheamus up on his shoulders and delivers a Death Valley Driver then goes for a pin but Sheamus kicks out. Sheamus lands an Irish Curse Backbreaker then follows it up with White Noise off the middle rope then goes for a pin but Knight kicks out.
Sheamus locks in a Cloverleaf but Knight manages to make his way to the bottom rope to break the hold. He ascends to the top but Knight meets him up there. Sheamus fights him off and they go tumbling out of the ring.
Austin Theory then blindsides Santos Escobar and quickly retreats before everyone on the outside begins brawling with one another. Sheamus delivers 10 Beats Of The Bodhran to The Miz allowing Knight to roll him up.
Sheamus kicks out and looks for the Brogue Kick on Knight & accidentally hits The Miz & this allows for Knight to hit BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
After the match match there’s a little more brawling and fighting as Karrion Kross & Grayson Waller threaten to get Knight tomorrow.
Backstage The OC & Brawling Brutes are arguing so Adam Pearce makes a tag team match so they head to the ring for a tag team match but leave Sheamus & AJ Styles having a stare off.
We head over to a video recounting everything that has happened between Brock Lesnar & Cody Rhodes over the past several months.
After the break we see Jey Uso walking around backstage.
Tag Team Match
Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) vs. Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows)
Ridge Holland fires off uppercuts on Luke Gallows then they go back & forth as they both try landing shoulder tackles but Gallows eventually gains the upper hand and delivers a fallaway slam then delivers a splash in the corner and tags in Karl Anderson.
Holland catches Anderson with a double underhook suplex and tags in Butch & he lands a dropkick on Anderson’s face then snaps his fingers and stomps on them.
Gallows tags back in and Good Brothers hits Magic Killer then Gallows pins Butch but Holland breaks the fall as we go to a break.
After the break Holland gets Anderson up on his shoulders before Anderson rakes Holland’s eyes to escape then delivers a series of kicks to his face. Holland gets fired up and delivers a clothesline then tags in Butch.
Butch delivers a few enziguiris then ascends to the middle rope and delivers a knee to Anderson’s arm then follows it up with a running knee and goes for a pin but Gallows breaks the fall.
Holland levels Gallows with a back body drop before Anderson sends him crashing out of the ring then out of nowhere Street Profits appear and attack Good Brothers & Brawling Brutes & the ref calls the match off.
Winners: No One (No Contest)
After the match Street Profits sends Gallows crashing into the ring post then plant Anderson, Holland & Butch with a series of moves. Bobby Lashley then appears on the ramp next to Street Profits and hugs them.
We then head over to a video of Charlotte Flair boarding a yacht and enjoying a drink as she takes some time to relax ahead of her Triple Threat Women’s Title match with Women’s Champion Asuka & Bianca BelAir.
Paul Heyman introduces himself then asks how it came to this. He says this is not what Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns wanted to happen and says if there’s anyone to blame for Jimmy Uso currently being on the shelf it’s Jey Uso. He says whatever happens to Jey tomorrow night at SummerSlam will be on Reigns and he will have no remorse or regret. He says when Reigns enters the ring at SummerSlam & he is entering Tribal Combat and throws it to a video explaining that there are no rules in the match except that there will only be one man who will emerge victorious.
Heyman then says that Reigns is the reigning defending Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and the WWE Universe’s Tribal Chief. He says he has been such for the last 3 years and tells Jey that he will never assume the role. He looks to give a spoiler for tomorrow but before he can The Usos’ music hits and Jey appears.
Jey says Tribal Combat is happening tomorrow night and says he’ll light Reigns up with chairs and table then says he’ll even plant him through one. He says he’s bringing all of his passion, the spirit of his ancestors, and his family tomorrow night to beat Reigns and become both the new Tribal Chief & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Solo Sikoa’s music hits and he marches down to the ring. Jey tells Sikoa to chill and Heyman says Jey screwed up. Jey says Sikoa is still his brother at the end of the day and he’ll always forgive him. He says all Sikoa does is take orders and tells him he’s been in his shoes. Heyman asks Jey if he really thinks Sikoa believes what he’s saying all the while Sikoa looks over at Jey, Heyman asks for a word with Sikoa & Sikoa tells him to get out. Jey sees his opening and takes it by superkicking Sikoa.
Michael Cole then provides an update on Rey Mysterio following the injury he sustained last week and says he is at home recovering from severe whiplash.
At gorilla position Kayla Braxton is with United States Champion Austin Theory and he dismisses Santos Escobar and hopes Rey Mysterio is watching next week when he beats Escobar and dedicates that win to Mysterio. Tonight he’s taking on Cameron Grimes and will crush his dreams.
Non Title Match
United States Champion Austin Theory vs. Cameron Grimes
Match starts off with a lock up then Austin Theory executes a mat return as Santos Escobar appears as officials try to stop him from doing anything temporarily distracting theory so Grimes lands Cave In and rolls Theory up but Theory gets his foot on the bottom rope.
Escobar heads to the back as Grimes delivers a tope suicida then sends him crashing into the barricades and dumps him back in the ring then ascends to the top rope and delivers a crossbody then goes for a pin.
Theory kicks out and Grimes lands a forearm then plants him and fires off kicks on his chest then looks for Cave In but Theory moves out of the way.
Grimes ascends to the top rope but Theory trips him and nails A Town Down for the win.
Winner: United States Champion Austin Theory
After the match Escobar reemerges and plants Theory with a Phantom Driver.
We then head over to a video of Asuka preparing for her Women’s Title defense with some training in a boxing gym as he discusses Charlotte Flair & Bianca BelAir.
Grayson Waller welcomes fans to The Grayson Waller Effect then introduces Damage CTRL.
They then make their way down to the ring, and Waller asks Ms Money In The Bank Iyo Sky if she’s intending to cash in her Money In The Bank briefcase. Sky looks to speak but Bayley cuts her off and says they won’t be telling anyone what they’re thinking or their strategy. Bayley says Sky is focused on her upcoming match with Zelina Vega but she gets cut off by the sounds of Shotzi Blackheart creepily laughing and saying her name.
Bayley looks to leave and Waller calls her scared. Bayley says Shotzi is scared of her and not the other way around but before she can continue Blackheart’s music cuts her off and an individual appears in Blackheart’s tank.
Bayley orders Sky to confront Blackheart but the individual in the tank remains seated. Blackheart then appears behind Bayley & Bayley begs for forgiveness. Blackheart catches her with a right hand then retrieves a hair clipper. Bayley quickly retreats and Blackheart chases her then the person in the tank takes off their mask and reveals themselves to be Zelina Vega.
Ms Money In The Bank Iyo Sky vs. Zelina Vega
Iyo Sky & Zelina Vega both level one another with clotheslines then Vega delivers a series of forearms then sends Sky into the top turnbuckle face first and rains down right hands on her in the corner.
Vega fires back with a Meteora off the middle rope then delivers a kick to Sky’s midsection before Sky lands a backbreaker and follows it up with the double running knees then becomes distracted by Shotzi Blackheart about to shave Bayley’s head on the ramp.
Bayley fights her off and retreats as Blackheart follows closely in pursuit and Vega takes advantage as she delivers a powerbomb follow by Code Red for the win.
Winner: Zelina Vega
We then see Bianca BelAir preparing for her SummerSlam Women’s Title Triple Threat match against Asuka & Charlotte Flair by sewing her ring gear and training in the gym.
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
Jey Uso & Solo Sikoa lock up to get this match started before Sikoa lands a shoulder tackle then delivers a headbutt and follows it up with a chop so Jey rolls out of the ring and Sikoa follows him out.
He sends his head bouncing off the announce table then looks for Spinning Solo through it but Jey escapes and delivers a superkick then follows it up with a tope suicida as we go to a break.
After the break Sikoa has Jey in a hold but Jey escapes and low bridge Sikoa to the outside then looks to go flying. Sikoa catches him with a right hand then slides back in the ring and delivers a Samoan Drop.
He executes a 2nd one but Jey lands several right hands on his midsection then follows it up with a kick but Sikoa lands a clothesline before Jey ascends to the top and delivers a splash then goes for a pin.
Sikoa kicks out and executes Spinning Solo then sets up for the Samoan Spike but Jey ducks it and delivers a superkick then follows it up with a Spear and ascends to the top rope & lands Uso Splash for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
After the match Sikoa attacks Jey from behind and sends him crashing into the ring post then he grabs a chair from the timekeeper’s area but Jey superkicks it out of his hand and cracks it across his spine repeatedly then hits him with it in the head and stands tall to close out this week’s Smackdown.
