WWE Smackdown Review – July 21, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with a recap of last week & Jey Uso’s warpath in the wake of Jimmy getting taken out.
We see Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa walking in the back.
LA Knight has a mic as he walks to the ring & Knight reminds us about SummerSlam coming up and he wants to be the one to take the United States Title from Theory yeah. He’s going to take everyone out because this is LA Knight’s game yeah.
Semi Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Rey Mysterio vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Sheamus vs. LA Knight
We get brawling right away from all 4 men before Cameron Grimes sends Rey Mysterio out of the ring as Sheamus batters LA Knight. Knight avoids a back suplex and clotheslines Sheamus out of the ring. Knight drops Grimes with a slingshot shoulder block then tosses him out of the ring and stands tall as we head to break.
After the break Sheamus is working over Knight as Mysterio & Grimes are messing around on the floor as Knight drops Sheamus with a clothesline. Sheamus with a body blow to Knight then a Finlay Roll for a 1 count. Knight drops Sheamus with a back elbow but Sheamus sends him to the apron and drops him.
Grimes behind Sheamus and rolls him up for a 2 count so Mysterio sends Grimes into Knight and knocks him to the floor. Mysterio & Sheamus square off then seem to decide to beat up Knight & Grimes instead so Mysterio grabs Grimes while Sheamus grabs Knight and we go Bodhran beating to the count of 10.
That leaves Mysterio & Sheamus alone to shake hands then Mysterio tries a takedown but Sheamus is bigger and just stalls him out. Sheamus scoops up Mysterio but Mysterio gets free only to run into a tilt a whirl backbreaker before Sheamus gets jumped onto by Grimes.
Grimes looks to fire up with kicks to Sheamus & Mysterio, mild reaction to his offense until he hits Knight with an enziguri then Sheamus pulls Grimes off of a pin and lays into him with strikes.
Grimes dropkicks Sheamus then lays in more kicks before running into some blows and an Irish Curse. Knight gets tossed out but he pulls Sheamus with him and they brawl on the floor with LA Knight dropping Sheamus on the apron.
Mysterio is up top & Grimes eats a blow from Knight & Mysterio hops down then hits a baseball slide onto Knight. They all get to the corner and we get the tower of doom spot before we go to a another break.
After the 2nd break Grimes covering Mysterio for 2. Grimes gets Mysterio in an electric chair and they spill to the floor with Mysterio still in position and he hurricanrana’s Grimes into Austin Theory but Theory avoids it and whines. Sheamus has climbs the ropes and dives onto both Mysterio & Grimes then launches Grimes into the barricade and one for Mysterio as well.
Knight & Sheamus in the ring & Sheamus hits a diving clothesline to drop him. Sheamus with a powerslam to Mysterio and White Noise to Knight for a 2 count. Sheamus wants a Brogue Kick as Grimes eats a punch but Knight avoids a Brogue Kick and catches Sheamus with a powerbomb but Mysterio dives onto the pin to break it up.
Everyone gets a chance to hit a big move then Knight nearly pins Sheamus but Mysterio breaks it up. Grimes catches Mysterio with a spinning powerslam and Knight breaks up the pin. Mysterio with a modified 619 to Knight’s body, then a kick to Grimes.
Mysterio up top but Grimes is up there with him & Sheamus wanders over and clubs at Grimes then puts him on his shoulders. Mysterio sort of hits a double rana to Sheamus & Grimes then hits a double 619 on both men & hits a splash to Grimes then goes for the cover but Theory pulls Mysterio off the cover and tosses him into the ring steps & that brings out Santos Escobar to brawl with Theory through the crowd.
Back in the ring Knight with Yeah Elbow to Grimes but Sheamus comes in with a Brogue Kick to Knight then Grimes with a Cave In to Sheamus only for Mysterio to hit a Frankensteiner on Grimes for the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio (She will face Santos Escobar in the Finals)
After the match Santos Escobar & Mysterio celebrate in the ring as we go to a break
After the break we see Jey Uso walking in the back & he walks past The D’Angelo Family & Creed Brothers.
Elsewhere in the back Theory walks up to Adam Pearce & Theory objects to Santos Escobar attacking him, he wants a match tonight and Pearce wants to add the United States Title but Theory objects, he just wants a regular old match with Escobar and Pearce is amenable.
We get a recap Brock Lesnar attacking Cody Rhodes in front of his mom and setting up their SummerSlam match.
Ms Money In The Bank Iyo Sky vs. Charlotte Flair
Iyo Sky & Charlotte Flair lock up to get this match started then they hit the corner then Flair sort of cartwheels out of an arm drag before we get a another lock up and Flair lands a shoulder block then more gymnastics from Flair then Sky shows her up but doing them better. Low dropkick from Sky and she then gets tripped down by Flair.
We get a double kick from Sky then some mounted punches before Flair lands a kick through the ropes then climbs up top for a crossbody. Sky with another low dropkick to the leg of Flair.
Sky to the apron and hits a top rope dropkick then Flair grabs a rear waist lock but Sky slingshots her though the ropes and they trade momentum on the floor with Sky hitting a hurricanrana off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Flair is messing with Bayley then she & Sky head into the ring. Flair misses a knee attack and Sky lands a corner Meteora for a 2 count then a modified Crossface from Sky which Flair fights out of it before Sky with another dropkick to the knee.
Flair with chops then a fallaway slam before a step over clothesline from Flair gets a 2 count then they head up top and Bayley heads over to distract Flair which allows Sky to hit a sunset Liger Bomb for a near fall. A Shotzi Blackheart video interrupts things to distress Bayley & she runs away from ringside which distracts Sky.
Sky up top but Flair pulls her down then misses a Spear and eats corner. Sky up top again but Flair avoids Over The Moonsault. Flair up top for her moonsault but Sky gets the feet up then we get La Mistica from Sky and they trade crucifix pins for near falls.
Sky avoids a boot and snaps Flair’s leg over the rope before Flair avoids a top rope dropkick and grabs a Boston Crab but Sky counters into a rana pin for a 2 count then a dropkick from Sky then some elbows but Flair catches a charging Sky with a Spear for an near fall.
Flair wants the Figure 8 but Sky counters into a small package for a 2 count then we get a German suplex from Flair then she holds on and tries another but Sky counters into a victory roll then a double stomp to the body.
Flair with a boot from then she climbs the ropes but Sky hits a palm strike and climbs up with her & Sky hits a top rope rana before they trade covers then Charlotte hits Natural Selection to score the win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match Women’s Champion Asuka is here to German suplex Flair and wipes her out with a sliding kick before she locks in a armbar.
In the back Kayla Braxton talks with NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio & Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. Dom wanted to show off what a real champion looks like, and says he’s the North American Champion which would trump the United States Title if Rey wins it. Butch shows up and wants a match with Mysterio for his NXT North American Title. Mysterio tries to beg off but Shawn Michaels is here to approve the match.
Elsewhere in the back Roman Reigns fondles his ceremonial lei while Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman look on.
In the back Damage CTRL argue then Bayley finds a picture of herself stabbed with scissors to her bag. Bayley just wants to go as soon as possible.
Non Title Match
United States Champion Austin Theory vs. Santos Escobar
Austin Theory & Santos Escobar attack each other right away and Escobar lands a dropkick then some corner stomps from Theory but Escobar fights back but Theory cuts him off with a DDT then Escobar with a 10 punch in the corner but he can’t keep Theory down for a pin yet.
Theory gets caught up by the technical acumen of Escobar then Escobar clotheslines him out of the ring and sets for a dive but just poses as Theory request a time out as we go to a break.
After the break Theory lands a backbreaker then they head to the apron & Theory wants a suplex but Escobar blocks him then kicks him to the floor. Escobar hits a suicide dive to send Theory into the announce table then back in the ring Escobar with some diving forearms then a hurricanrana.
Theory runs into an enziguri then Escobar heads up top for a crossbody that gets a 2 count then Escobar tries to go for Phantom Driver but Theory slips free and lands a chop block then an elbow for a 2 count. Theory goes for A Town Down but Escobar avoids it and lands a kick.
They head up top again & Theory shoves Escobar down but Escobar hops back up with him and they fight on the top rope with Escobar hitting a super hurricanrana then a corner Meteora from Escobar then Phantom Driver puts away Theory.
Winner: Santos Escobar
In the back Bobby Lashley meets NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams and wants to talk with them.
We get a replay of Ridge Holland injuring Elton Prince last week.
NXT North American Title Match
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Butch
Match starts off with a lock up then Dominik Mysterio lands a right hand before Butch fights back and goes for the arm of Mysterio then stomps on him before yanking the fingers of Mysterio and grabs an armbar but Mysterio gets under the ropes to break and snaps Butch over the top rope.
Rhea Ripley hands Mysterio a chain then distracts the ref but here’s Ridge Holland to pull the chain away. Butch with a release suplex for a 2 count as we go to a break.
After the break Mysterio is in control as we see Kit Wilson wheels Elton Prince down in a wheel chair then Butch fires up and nails Mysterio with kicks in the corner then an elbow drop to the arm. Punt kick from Butch then he stomps on the hands.
Mysterio slings Butch into the ropes & wants the 619 but Butch counters with a slingshot German suplex then stomps the hands and lands a Buzzsaw Kick for a 2 count. Pretty Deadly want an apology from Holland then they brawl with Brawling Brutes before Wilson abandons Prince in the wheel chair.
Prince tries to beg off then runs away leaving the wheel chair behind. Holland chases them back & this all allows Ripley to hit a chop block on Butch then Mysterio posts him to get the win.
Winner & Still NXT North American Champion: Dominik Mysterio (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!)
After the break Roman Reigns moves his chair to the head of the table before sitting. Reigns gets a mic from Paul Heyman and provides Orlando the opportunity to acknowledge him. Jey Uso & Roman sit, Jey still refuses to look at Reigns & Reigns asks if Jey still wants to do this. Jey still wants to do this this is what he’s supposed to do, Reigns has forced this after putting Jimmy Uso in the hospital. Reigns says Jey wont get him because Jey doesn’t get it. Jey’s just a soldier, a pawn. Roman pulls over the contract and then gets a pen from Heyman. Jey pulls out the contract and tears it in half then says they don’t need a contract. Their contract is in their blood & this is Tribal Combat. Reigns asks if the elders know about this, Jey tells him it was their idea. Anything goes in Tribal Combat and Jey runs down all the things he can do to Reigns & he tells the crowd to shut up as they support Jey then he tells Jey to shut up as well. The Tribal Chief is talking and he’s been running this business for almost a decade. He puts his Undisputed WWE Universal Title on the table and says it doesn’t mean anything to him. Jey said Tribal Combat and Reigns has to take off his ceremonial lei and put that on the line too, which Reigns thinks about but ultimately does. Reigns & Jey offer hands then go forehead to forehead for a moment, solidifying the combat. Reigns is about to leave, Solo Sikoa flips the table & goes to Spike Jey but Reigns stops him leading to Jey superkicking Solo out of the ring & Reigns looks shocked before leaving.
