Smackdown
Columbia, South Carolina
May 19, 2023
results thanks to
wreslteview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the
show.
We go live into the Colonial Life Arena to hear the music of the
Bloodline. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his
way to the ring alongside “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa.
Replays are shown from last week of Roman Reigns getting in the
faces of Jimmy and Jey Uso. Jey Uso apologized to Reigns before
Jimmy got pushed too far. Paul Heyman then announced that at Night
of Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn would defend the Undisputed
WWE Tag Team Championship against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. The
Usos were not happy they were left out of the match.
The Bloodline poses in the ring as pyrotechnics go off. The Usos are
not in the ring. The three men stand in the ring as the crowd
buzzes. Heyman hands the Tribal Chief a microphone. The crowd starts
to boo and a “You suck” chant picks up. Reigns crooks his eyebrow at
them. Reigns says that’s not how we start things here. Reigns says,
“Columbia, South Carolina… acknowledge me!”
Kevin Owens’s music hits, and one-half of the Undisputed WWE Tag
Team Champions comes out to the stage with a very serious look on
his face. Owens is soon joined by his partner, Sami Zayn. The crowd
sings Zayn’s song as the Tag Champions get in the ring. Reigns looks
unimpressed before becoming disturbed by a “Sami” chant. Zayn smirks
in the ring. Reigns says this is perfect. The crowd is excited.
Reigns’s plan was to bring them out here since there are only two
things to do. Columbia already did it. Now it’s their turn to
acknowledge the Tribal Chief. When they’re done with that, they can
drop the titles off and leave the ring.
Owens thinks about it before throwing the microphone aside without
saying a word. Sikoa steps up, but Reigns puts a hand on his
shoulder. Reigns says it figures. Owens isn’t here since he’s “Fight
Owens Fight.” Reigns says he’s had a special career. He’s
experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Reigns’s
only regret is wasting his life on Zayn. Zayn says that’s funny
because he also has one regret, which is not blasting him with that
chair sooner. It’s been a long time coming. They haven’t been in the
ring together since Montreal. Zayn thought for months that he’d
never get this opportunity to tell Reigns everything he has wanted
to say. Zayn has waited. Reigns’s greed has finally led them here,
but now Zayn has nothing to say to him. For all of Reigns’ life,
he’s been told that he’s the best. At Night of Champions, Reigns is
not going to get the titles. Reigns isn’t as good as them. Reigns
isn’t even as good as The Usos.
Reigns smirks and starts to scratch the side of his head. Reigns is
pacing. Reigns cannot believe that is how Zayn feels. Reigns took it
easy on Zayn and gave him multiple opportunities. All of a sudden,
The Usos attack Owens and Zayn from behind. The Usos hit Zayn with
stereo superkicks at ringside. The Usos get in the ring and
celebrate. Jimmy goes for a handshake with Reigns, but Reigns swats
his hand away. Reigns is irate and says this was not the plan.
Reigns looks at Solo Sikoa and leaves the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Roman Reigns deep in thought. The
Usos, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa are in the room with him. Jey Uso
says they were just trying to help. Reigns says that he is the
quarterback and calls the plays. Reigns had something to say to Sami
Zayn. Reigns wasted a big piece of his career on Sami Zayn and
wanted to say something. Reigns is the guy that keeps everyone on
top. Reigns is the one who calls the shots. Reigns kicks them out of
the locker room.
The Usos will battle Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar of the LWO
later tonight.
The Brawling Brutes make their way to the ring.
Earlier today, Pretty Deadly was wearing chef hats and talking about
the recipe for their debut on SmackDown.
Sheamus will be on commentary for the next match.
Tag Team Match
The Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland) vs. Pretty Deadly
(Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
The bell rings, and Butch will start against Kit Wilson. Butch sends
him into the ropes and takes Wilson down. Butch forearms him in the
face, but Wilson pulls him down by the hair. Elton Prince tags in,
and Pretty Deadly takes Butch down before taunting him. Butch grabs
both of their hands, does some joint manipulation, and stomps them.
Ridge Holland tags in and holds Prince up as Butch hits a low
dropkick. Holland goes for a delayed vertical suplex. Prince fights
it, but Holland still completes the move. Prince whips Holland off,
and Wilson blind tags in. Prince leapfrogs Holland, and Wilson hits
Holland with a DDT. Pretty Deadly poses as we go to the commercial
break. It should be noted that Elton Prince has a bloody nose.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Prince uppercut Holland to his
corner. Wilson tags in and hits Holland with a running back elbow.
Prince tags in. Pretty Deadly drops Holland with a double shoulder
tackle followed by a splash and a leg drop. Holland kicks out at
one. Prince clubs away at Holland for a one-count. Holland starts to
fight back and uppercuts him. Holland hits the ropes and turns
Prince inside out with a shoulder tackle. Wilson quickly tags in and
jumps on Holland’s back. Wilson cinches in a sleeper hold, but
Holland fights up and makes a hot tag with Wilson on his back.
Butch hits Pretty Deadly with set-up enzuigiris. Butch hits Prince
with a German Suplex. Wilson meets the same fate. Butch attacks them
in the corner and stomps their hands. Butch connects with a release
suplex. Holland gets in the ring and gets Pretty Deadly on his
shoulders before slamming them down! The Brawling Brutes then
perform stereo 10 Beats of the Bodhrans on Pretty Deadly. Butch is
soon knocked away, and the referee checks on him. Pretty Deadly
sneaks in Spilt Milk and picks up the win over The Brawling Brutes.
Winners by Pinfall: Pretty Deadly
Michael Cole mentions that “Superstar” Billy Graham passed away this
week at 79.
Video Package: The Life and Times of “Superstar” Billy Graham:
1943-2023.
-Commercial Break-
Asuka makes her way to the ring. Replays are shown of Asuka
attacking Bianca Belair with Blue Mist last week on SmackDown.
Belair was celebrating her record-breaking title reign in her
hometown. Michael Cole says Asuka was using a blue pepper mist.
Zelina Vega is backstage. Kayla Braxton comes up to her. Vega says
she knows Kayla is going to ask if she’s ready for Asuka. When she
received the love and support from her people in Puerto Rico, she
realized she can hang with the best of the best. She gave her all to
Rhea Ripley. Asuka will see that she is ready.
Asuka vs. Zelina Vega
The bell rings, and Vega immediately ducks a kick from Asuka. Vega
takes her down and kicks her before covering for a one-count. Vega
dropkicks Asuka in the back and goes for a 619, but Asuka gets out
of the ring and laughs. Vega follows her out, so Asuka kicks her in
the face. Asuka lifts her and drops her on the commentary table.
Asuka celebrates.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Asuka sauntering around the ring.
Asuka boots Vega in the face. Vega fights back with some forearms,
but Asuka soon sends her to the corner. Vega knees her in the face
and hits a running dropkick. Vega hits the ropes, but Asuka follows
her in. Vega quickly drops Asuka into the middle rope and hits a
619. Vega goes to the second rope, does an Eddie Guerrero shimmy,
and hits a meteora for a near fall.
Asuka fights out of Code Red, but Vega fights her and picks up a
two-count. Asuka twists out and into a submission, but Vega gets
out. Asuka soon regains the advantage and applies the Asuka Lock for
the submission.
Winner by Submission: Asuka
Asuka refuses to let go of the Asuka Lock and pulls back on Vega’s
arm. Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair runs down to make the save.
Asuka gets out of the ring. Belair reaches after her but quickly
pulls back when Asuka spits the Blue Mist at her. The mist does make
contact, but it misses Belair’s eyes. The pepper mist still stings
Belair, but she is not debilitated like she was last week. Asuka
smiles psychotically at her.
The new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned one week from
tomorrow in Saudi Arabia at WWE Night of Champions. Seth “Freakin”
Rollins and AJ Styles will battle to determine the inaugural
champion.
The Grayson Waller Effect will take place next with special guest AJ
Styles.
-Commercial Break-
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the most talked about
sensation on Friday Night SmackDown, the man with the
triple-platinum tongue, the viral virtuoso, the dynamite from down
under… he is the moment maker, the Aussie icon, your host of the
Grayson Waller Effect, Grayson Waller!
Grayson Waller is in the ring for the Grayson Waller Effect. The
ring is decorated with lit palm plants and a desk. Waller welcomes
everyone to the show. His guest will face Seth “Freakin” Rollins
next week for the World Heavyweight Championship. He is “The
Phenomenal” AJ Styles.
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. Styles sits at the desk with
Waller. Waller says they crossed paths in NXT. Styles told him
something in NXT. Styles challenged him to be phenomenal for 20+
years. Styles was right. All the championships and great
performances across the world make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Now he gets another opportunity for another accolade next week. What
does winning the World Heavyweight Championship mean to him? Styles
says he was injured and was out of the ring longer than he’s ever
been. Styles trained extremely hard to get back. Styles knew an
opportunity would come his way. Now he’s going for the World
Heavyweight Championship and wants it more than the air he breathes.
Waller says he has goosebumps. Styles says Seth Rollins is on a
movie set. Surely he’s exercising and training to be ready. Styles
assures everyone that he is ready. Waller says it will be an instant
classic. Waller is really looking forward to the ending when the
announcer says, “And NEW World Heavyweight Champion, Seth ‘Freakin’
Rollins.” Styles takes exception to that and gets in Waller’s face
as the show ends.
The Latino World Order is backstage. Rey Mysterio says the word on
the street is The Usos are the greatest tag team. Santos Escobar
disagrees and says they’ll show it. Joaquin Wilde says they’ll prove
they’re better. Cruz Del Toro talks to Mysterio. Mysterio says The
Usos will find out what happens when you mess with the LWO.
The Street Profits make their entrance. They’ll face LA Knight and
Rick Boogs next.
-Commercial Break-
LA Knight says he came here for titles. That means the Tag Team
Titles are not safe. He’s going to rise up the ranks alongside Rick
Boogs.
Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. LA Knight
and Rick Boogs
Montez Ford starts against Rick Boogs and tries for a clothesline,
but Boogs absorbs it. Ford tries again for the same result. Boogs
misses a clothesline, but he catches Ford. Boogs presses Ford above
his head and throws him to his corner. Boogs is fired up. Angelo
Dawkins looks confused and tags in. They lock up, and Dawkins
applies a side headlock. Boogs powers Dawkins up and whips him off.
Dawkins leapfrogs him, but Boogs hits a shoulder tackle. Boogs puts
Dawkins in a pumphandle and curls with his body. Boogs throws
Dawkins. LA Knight tags in. Knight and Boogs send Dawkins into the
ropes for a double-team shoulder tackle. Dawkins hits a jawbreaker,
but Knight comes back with a powerslam. Knight drops an elbow for a
two-count. Boogs tags back in. Knight and Boogs go for a double-team
back suplex, but Dawkins flips through and tags in Ford.
Ford hits Knight and Boogs with a cross-body block. Ford knocks
Knight out of the ring and stumbles Boogs with a flurry of strikes.
Ford drops Knight on the apron and sidesteps Boogs to send him into
his partner. Ford wipes out Boogs and Knight with a somersault
senton. Dawkins tags in and hits Boogs with Sky High. Ford tags in
and hits a massive Frog Splash for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Street Profits
LA Knight helps Rick Boogs up before hitting him with BFT!
Replays are shown of Cameron Grimes defeating Baron Corbin with a
Cave In seconds after the start of their match last week on
SmackDown.
Cameron Grimes is backstage with Megan Morant. Grimes says if you’d
have told him that he’d have one of the fastest victories in WWE
history, he wouldn’t have believed it. Grimes is determined and
focused to go to the top. Grimes wants to go to the moon.
The Usos are getting ready backstage to face the LWO later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Karrion Kross is backstage with Scarlett. Kross says it has been
said that justice is blind. Kross is an imminent threat to justice
and it has no idea. Kross says, “Isn’t it, Allen?” A tarot card with
AJ Styles is shown.
A replay is shown from Monday Night Raw of Cody Rhodes saying that
Brock Lesnar is not the Next Big Thing. He’s just in his way.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Valentina
Feroz and Yulisa Leon
The bell rings, and Alba Fyre will start the match. She locks up
with the one woman and takes her down before dropping a knee on her
head. Isla Dawn tags in. Fyre and Dawn hit a double-team kick. Dawn
hits a meteora before sending her into the ropes, but the woman
holds on and tags in her partner. The partner goes to the top rope,
but she’s slammed off. Fyre tags in. Fyre and Dawn hit her with a
double-team Gory Bomb for the victory.
Winners by Pinfall: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
Liv Morgan was injured last week on SmackDown and will miss “a
considerable amount of time.” Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were
forced to relinquish the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In two weeks on Monday Night Raw, new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
will be crowned. Raquel Rodriguez will have to find a partner to
compete in a Fatal 4-Way that also consists of the teams of Ronda
Rousey and Shayna Baszler, Bayley and IYO SKY of Damage CTRL, and
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez gives
Liv Morgan a shout-out. Bayley and IYO SKY walk up. Bayley says
Dakota Kai was injured last week as well. If Rodriguez can find an
idiot to tag with her, Bayley and IYO will be waiting in the ring
for her.
United States Champion Austin Theory makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
United States Champion Austin Theory is in the ring. Theory welcomes
the crowd to “Austin Theory Live.” Everyone knows who he is. Coming
to SmackDown last week wasn’t what he expected. Theory expected
respect. Look at the list of legends he bodied. He was instead
ganged up on by Bobby Lashley and Sheamus. They both know he’d have
gone on to beat Seth “Freakin” Rollins to become the new World
Heavyweight Champion. That’s not a theory. It’s a fact. Bobby
Lashley has a weird obsession with following him show to show. As
for Sheamus, he doesn’t understand him. They have things in common.
They’re both tough, strong, and beat John Cena. The only difference
is he did it at WrestleMania and Sheamus did it 12 years ago.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring. Sheamus gets in his face before
going for a microphone. Sheamus turns around and drops Theory with a
Brogue Kick! Sheamus drops the microphone and walks off without
saying a word!
The Usos are backstage. Paul Heyman walks up to them with a sinister
smirk on his face. Heyman says he has it all under control. The
Tribal Chief forgives them. Jimmy Uso asks if he’ll be out there
tonight. Heyman says Reigns will not be out tonight. He’s the Tribal
Chief. There is a lot that goes into that burden. Reigns has to go
through Night of Champions to make a declarative statement. Two
weeks from tonight will be the 1,000-day celebration of the Tribal
Chief as champion. They’re facing the LWO. The Usos are the greatest
tag team of all time. They’ve got this. Heyman asks them to not make
that a prediction but a spoiler. The Usos walk off, and Heyman
starts to take out his iPhone.
The Latino World Order makes its way to the ring. The main event is
next.
-Commercial Break-
The Night of Champions Press Conference takes place next Friday in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Next Friday on SmackDown, The KO Show returns with Roman Reigns and
Solo Sikoa as the special guests. Raquel Rodriguez and a new partner
will battle Bayley and IYO SKY. AJ Styles will also face off against
Karrion Kross. Finally, Austin Theory will defend the United States
Championship against Sheamus.
Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) vs. The Usos
(Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Jey Uso will start the match against Rey Mysterio. Jey powers the
WWE Hall of Famer into the corner and shoulders the midsection.
Jimmy Uso tags in and punches Mysterio down. Jimmy whips Mysterio
sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Jimmy talks trash to the legend
and lifts him. Mysterio elbows off, but Jimmy kicks him. Jimmy hits
the ropes, but Mysterio kicks him. Santos Escobar tags in as
Mysterio hits a sunset flip. Jimmy is sent out of the ring. The LWO
stands tall in the ring. The Usos seethe in anger at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Jimmy
standing over Escobar. Escobar fights back and punches Jey down.
Jimmy stops Escobar from making a tag and sends him to his corner
for a two-count.
Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman are shown watching the
match backstage.
Jimmy punches away at Escobar in the corner before talking some
trash. Jimmy chops the chest and whips him to the opposite corner,
but Escobar pops out and kicks him down. Jey tags in and punches
Mysterio down on the apron. Escobar surprises Jey with an inside
cradle for a near fall. Jey irately punches Escobar down and talks
trash for a near fall. Escobar fights back with some right hands,
but Jey pushes him off and hits a back elbow. Jimmy tags in and
punches Escobar down in the corner. The Usos taunt the crowd and
look to be gaining confidence. Jimmy hits Escobar with a running hip
attack. Jimmy tries again, but Escobar takes him out with a running
knee.
Mysterio and Jey tag in. Mysterio hits a head-scissor takeover. Jey
quickly drops Mysterio on the apron, but Mysterio knocks him back.
Mysterio comes off the top rope with a seated senton and follows up
with a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. After taking a
moment to collect himself, Jey lays in some kicks. Mysterio fights
back and hits Code Red for a near fall. Jey reverses a whip, but Rey
holds on and boots him back. Jimmy gets a cheap shot in on the WWE
Hall of Famer. Jey hits a pop-up neckbreaker for a near fall.
The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Jimmy tags in. The Usos go for
a double-team suplex on Mysterio, but Mysterio fights out with some
knees to the head. The Usos charge him, but Mysterio pulls the top
rope to get them out of the ring. Escobar tags in and wipes out The
Usos with a big somersault senton. Escobar puts Jimmy in the ring,
but Jimmy stuns him with an enzuigiri. Jimmy sends him into the
ropes, but Escobar connects with a running knee. Escobar hits a
double running knee in the corner followed by a top rope
hurricanrana for a near fall. Mysterio cannot believe it on the
apron. The crowd is very into this match. Escobar kicks Jimmy on the
apron and hooks the neck. Mysterio tags in and comes off the ropes
with a diving leg drop. Mysterio covers. 1… 2… Jey breaks it up in
the nick of time!
Jey superkicks Escobar off the apron. Mysterio sends Jey out of the
ring. Mysterio gets Jimmy on the ropes for a 619, but Jimmy
superkicks him. Jey immediately tags in and hits Mysterio with an
Uso Splash for a near fall! Wow! Jey is absolutely stunned and looks
disheartened. Jimmy tags in. The Usos set up for stereo Uso
Splashes. Kevin Owens makes his way down to the ring and distracts
Jey. Escobar knocks Jey off the top rope. As the referee yells at
Owens, Sami Zayn knocks Jimmy off the top rope! Mysterio hits a
hurricanrana to put Jimmy into the ropes. Escobar tags in. Mysterio
hits Jimmy with a 619 before wiping out Jey with a seated senton off
the apron. Escobar comes off the top rope with a splash on Jimmy for
the victory!
Winners by Pinfall: The Latino World Order
The Usos are stunned and cannot believe their run of bad luck. We go
backstage, and Roman Reigns cannot even look at the screen. Solo
Sikoa goes to get up, but Reigns holds him back. Paul Heyman sits in
the background and looks like he’s scheming.