WWE Smackdown Review – September 29, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with Paul Heyman introduces himself before saying he, Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso acknowledge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns along with everyone else. He says their acknowledgment comes in light of the attack Sikoa and Jimmy launched on John Cena last week then throws it to a video of said attack.
Heyman then says Cena is having issues getting to the Golden 1 Center but until he gets there you can’t see him. He says AJ Styles isn’t at Smackdown tonight due to what happened last week but Jimmy cuts him off and grabs the mic right out of his hands. He says The Bloodline is now in Sacramento then says Cena isn’t there because he’s actually scared. He says if Cena doesn’t stay away from The Bloodline he’ll end up in the same condition as Styles.
Karl Anderson then appears out of nowhere and blindsides The Bloodline then he clotheslines Jimmy out of the ring to where Sikoa & Heyman have ended up then challenges either Sikoa or Jimmy to a 1 on 1 match now that it’s become The OC business. Sikoa looks to step up and so does Jimmy but Heyman stops Sikoa and tells him to let Jimmy take care of business. Sikoa then warns Jimmy to get the job done.
Jimmy Uso vs. Karl Anderson
Karl Anderson sends Jimmy Uso into the top turnbuckle face first. He fires off stomps on him before landing a kick on his chest. Jimmy connects with a kick to Anderson’s head but Anderson fires back with a spinebuster and sits Jimmy on the top rope.
He looks for a superplex but Anderson becomes distracted by Sikoa on the outside. The referee tries controlling Sikoa & Jimmy takes advantage.
He rakes Anderson’s eyes then lands a superkick and ascends to the top rope & hits Uso Splash for the win.
Winner: Jimmy Uso
After the match Anderson looks to attack Jimmy but Sikoa hops in the ring and hits Samoan Spike on him. Michin then runs out to check on Anderson. Jimmy starts running his mouth on the ramp and Michin slaps him before sliding in the ring to do what she set out to.
Grayson Waller says he’s here to save Smackdown seeing as John Cena is late then introduces Bobby Lashley.
Lashley’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring and takes a seat. Waller addresses Street Profits’ loss last week and Lashley says while he thought that Street Profits had what it takes it’s back to the drawing board. Waller then suggests himself & Austin Theory as the tag team he’s been looking for and Lashley passes. Waller tries talking him into it but Street Profits’ music hits and they make their way down to the ring.
Angelo Dawkins looks to explain what happened but Lashley cuts him off. He says he doesn’t want excuses and if they want something out of him then they have to prove it. Street Profits question what he means, but Lashley doesn’t get specific and heads to his back.
Waller then introduces Austin Theory and he makes his way down to the ring staring down Lashley as he walks by him.
Austin Theory vs. Cameron Grimes
Cameron Grimes delivers a boot to Austin Theory’s face then follows it up with an uppercut and a chop then lands an Atomic Drop and a pair of kicks to his chest and head before Theory delivers a kick to Grimes’ head and fires off right hands.
Grimes then ascends to the top and executes a crossbody and a German suplex before he lands a kick on his chest and clotheslines him out of the ring then delivers a kick to his face from the apron.
Waller gets in his face allowing Theory to send him crashing into the ring post face first and get him back inside the ring then lands a rolling dropkick follow by A Town Down for the win.
Winner: Austin Theory
After the match Theory gets in Dragon Lee’s face and shoves him. Lee then shoves him back.
United States Champion Rey Mysterio then makes his way down to the ring stopping to show his respect for Lee in the crowd on the way down.
After the break we see Jimmy Uso attack Ashante Thee Adonis backstage as Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman & B Fab watch on. Sikoa then sends Adonis through a table with Spinning Solo before Jimmy points out that he will not be John Cena’s tag team partner at Fastlane.
United States Title Match
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Santos Escobar
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth exchanging submission holds before Santos Escobar delivers an enzuigiri to Rey Mysterio that sends him crashing out of the ring. He follows it up with a crossbody over the top rope as we go to a break.
After the break Escobar delivers a shoulder tackle and a dropkick to Mysterio before he fires back with a hurricanrana and a crossbody on the outside then delivers a senton back inside the ring.
Both men then level one another with crossbodies but Mysterio delivers a kick to Escobar’s head and sends him into the ropes with a drop toe hold. He dials it up for 619 but Escobar catches him with a superkick that sends him crashing on the outside.
He then delivers a tope suicida and a moonsault off the barricade before getting him back inside the ring and delivering a pair of running Meteoras. He sits him on the top rope and connects with an enzuigiri then hits a hurricanrana and a crossbody over the top rope from the apron as we go to a another break.
After the 2nd break Escobar has a shoulder submission locked in on Mysterio but he escapes and tosses Escobar onto the apron but Escobar responds with an enzuigiri.
Mysterio then looks for a springboard moonsault but Escobar rolls out of the way and lands a tilt a whirl backbreaker then Mysterio delivers a kick to his face and looks for a hurricanrana but Escobar catches him and sets up for a powerbomb but Mysterio manages to roll him up but Escobar kicks out.
They teeter on the top rope before Escobar gets Mysterio on his shoulders but Mysterio fights out of it and delivers a hurricanrana then dropkicks him into the ropes and dials it up for 619 but Escobar catches him but Rey fights his way out again and sends him into the ropes & he connects with the 619 and ascends to the top before hitting a Frog Splash.
Escobar moves out of the way and pins Mysterio but he counters into a pin of his own but Escobar kicks out and sets up for a Phantom Driver before Mysterio manages to roll him up once again but this time for the win.
Winner & Still United States Champion: Rey Mysterio (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
After the match Mysterio & Escobar face one another in the aftermath of what just happened and look to show respect to one another then out of nowhere Street Profits blindside them and level them. Bobby Lashley then makes his way down to the ring and applauds them for what they just did. The rest of LWO look to attack Lashley but Lashley & Street Profits quickly level them. Dragon Lee looks to get involved but security holds him back.
After the break we see LWO being checked on in the medical office. Kayla Braxton enters for a word which leads to Mysterio challenging Street Profits & Bobby Lashley to a 6 Man Tag Team Match at Fastlane.
Before the match Charlotte Flair grabs a mic and asks Bayley what happened to her. She says Bayley is a stepping stone while she’s the measuring stick then declares that she will be challenging Iyo Sky for the Women’s Title at Fastlane once she wins tonight.
Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
Bayley goes straight after Charlotte Flair but she sends her into the top turnbuckle face first but Flair does the same and delivers a boot to Bayley’s head before Bayley sends Flair crashing to the outside and delivers an elbow drop off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Flair ascends to the top rope and delivers a crossbody then she follows it up with a series of chops and a fallaway slam then kips up and lands a boot.
She ascends back to the top rope but Bayley pulls her down and sends her into the corner spine first then fires off several chops and runs the ropes but Flair catches her with a spear for the win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match Dakota Kai hands Bayley a mic and says she can’t just cut the line. She says she promised to end Flair tonight and she intends to do just so. Damage CTRL surrounds the ring but before they can attack Flair Asuka’s music hits and she runs down to make the save. Bayley then says Asuka can be added to the Fastlane match between Sky & Flair after Asuka had said something in Japanese.
John Cena says he said he came back to compete and he wanted a match. He says while The Bloodline left him knocked out they also left him with a contract for their Fastlane 2 on 1 Handicap Match. He says he doesn’t have a partner and he now faces a choice: rip up the contract or fight. He promises to honor the contract even if he doesn’t have a partner.
Jimmy Uso’s music hits and he appears alongside Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman. Jimmy starts running his mouth about what he and Sikoa did to Ashante Thee Adonis earlier tonight then says he won’t make it to Fastlane as he hops up on the apron with Sikoa. Cena clocks Jimmy and looks to plant Sikoa with an Attitude Adjustment but Jimmy superkicks Cena to help Sikoa before they take turns landing hop attacks. The Bloodline then clear the announce desk and get Cena on top of it before Sikoa ascends to the top rope. Before he can go flying LA Knight’s music hits and he runs down to the ring to provide Cena with a helping hand. He stomps on Jimmy and rains down right hands on Sikoa. He lands a neckbreaker on Sikoa and plants Jimmy before landing an elbow drop on him. Cena dumps Sikoa out of the ring as Knight does the same to Jimmy. Knight & Cena are left standing in the ring and Knight grabs the contract. He then signs it and hands it back to Cena to close out this week’s Smackdown.
Next Week’s Smackdown
Dragon Lee vs. Austin Theory
Fastlane Card So Far (Oct 7th)
World Heavyweight Title Last Man Standing Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Tag Team Match
The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) vs. John Cena & LA Knight
Women’s Title Triple Threat Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
