WWE SmackDown Review – September 15, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with Pat McAfee says he was just up the road and there was no way he was going to miss the chance to appear on Smackdown before welcoming fans to the show.
Austin Theory’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Theory takes a couple shots at McAfee then says they have some unfinished business. He says he has something special for him then tells McAfee that he’ll drop him unable to do anything. McAfee says he’s flattered Theory is trying to be like him & Theory objects to his statement. McAfee says that Theory is disrespectful not just to the wrestling business but to the fans as well. He says that Smackdown is the people’s show.
The Rock’s music hits and he appears to a very warm reception from Denver. Theory asks The Rock if he knows whose ring he’s in, and The Rock tells him to shut up. He tells Theory that he clearly doesn’t know how all this works then says he’s finally come back to Denver. Theory goes on about how great he is and The Rock looks to speak. Theory cuts him off and tells him that it doesn’t matter what he says. The Rock corrects him and says it does but more importantly what the people say. He asks the people if they want to see him beat down Theory then calls him an asshole and rallies the crowd to call him such.
The Rock says he has a theory of his own about Theory and says he’ll attack him in three seconds. Theory goes after The Rock but The Rock catches him with a spinebuster and The People’s Elbow. The Rock then calls for McAfee to land a People’s Elbow of his own and McAfee does such.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles
Finn Balor fires off stomps on AJ Styles in the corner. Styles responds with a side Russian leg sweep and a backbreaker but Balor lands a dropkick after Styles tries rolling him up. He follows it up with a kick to his midsection but Styles delivers a dropkick and another backbreaker as we go to a break.
After the break Balor & Styles level one another with crossbodies. Style picks him up but Balor rakes his eyes. Styles then plants him on the mat and sits him on the top turnbuckle. He looks for a hurricanrana but Balor hangs on to the top rope to evade the maneuver.
Styles sets up for the Styles Clash but Balor escapes and he lands a shoulder breaker. Balor rolls to the outside and Styles goes flying over the top rope to take him down then he gets him back in the ring and levels Dominik Mysterio then looks to join him.
He sets up for Phenomenal Forearm but Damian Priest grabs his ankle to keep him ground but the referee sees him and ejects him & Mysterio from ringside. Jimmy Uso then appears out of nowhere and grabs Styles’ attention. Styles knocks him off the apron & that opens the door for Balor to roll him up for the win.
Winner: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Finn Balor
After the break we head backstage and see John Cena welcome The Rock back to WWE.
We then head over to Jimmy Uso & Finn Balor. Jimmy explains what he just did was to repay him for last week and Balor plants the idea of him reuniting with his brother so they can both join him and the rest of Judgment Day.
United States Champion Rey Mysterio says when he came to Smackdown his career was at a crossroads and he was struggling within his personal life. He says LWO reminded him of who he was and what family represents and now he stands as the United States Champion. Santos Escobar says Mysterio stepped up when he needed him to win the United States Title like the legend he is and his career dream has been to face Rey in a title match. He asks him for a shot and Mysterio gladly gives him one.
Bobby Lashley’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring along with Street Profits then make their way down to the ring. He says tag teams are falling apart while others are having love fests in the ring which makes their goal of taking over easier than ever. Street Profits mock Escobar for asking for a United States Title opportunity. Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde have heard enough and challenge Street Profits to a match.
Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Joaquin Wilde delivers a kick to Angelo Dawkins’ jaw then Montez Ford tags in and Street Profits hits The Revelation for the win.
Winners: Street Profits
After the match Street Profits continue beating down LWO on the orders of Lashley then Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar look to help Wilde & Del Toro but Lashley levels clocks Escobar from behind and stares down Mysterio. Dawkins then takes out Mysterio on Lashley’s behalf.
LA Knight vs. The Miz
Match starts off with a lock up then LA Knight delivers a shoulder tackle but The Miz sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle face first and lands a few stomps then follows it up with a pair of chops before Knight lands a few of his own and a powerslam.
He then delivers a neckbreaker and a shoulder to his midsection but Miz catches him with a knee to his midsection and a kick to his face before Knight sends Miz crashing into the turnbuckle then delivers a neckbreaker and a 2nd one off the middle rope.
He follows it up with a baseball slide but Miz rakes his eye while the referee has his back turned and delivers a flatliner from the middle rope as we go to a break.
After the break Miz delivers a series of kicks to Knight’s midsection and follows it up with a boot to his face. He sets up for Skull Crushing Finale but Knight fights his way out. He then delivers a clothesline and a side Russian leg sweep before firing off stomps in the corner.
Miz looks for the Skull Crushing Finale but Knight rolls him up but Miz reverses the fall while grabbing his trunks but Knight kicks out. Miz looks for a DDT off the ropes but Knight hangs on to them.
Miz then delivers a Codebreaker but Knight fires off right hands and sends him crashing into the top rope then delivers BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
After the match Knight grabs a mic and says he wants to talk to Denver. He says from the day he set foot in Smackdown he promised to come for gold. He says he see all the different options and it doesn’t matter if it’s Rey Mysterio, Gunther, Seth Rollins or Roman Reigns. He says it’s not just a catchphrase because he’s in the top 2%.
We head backstage to Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman discussing Jimmy Uso. Heyman tells Sikoa that he’ll be forced to fight Jimmy’s battles but Jimmy isn’t in The Bloodline and Sikoa only handles business when Roman Reigns gives the order. Sikoa says he knows what he needs to do and he’s going to finish things tonight.
After the break we head backstage to Adam Pearce & Pretty Deadly. Pearce says he hears that Elton Prince’s shoulder is healing and they should be back in no time.
Asuka vs. Bayley
Bayley lands a forearm but Asuka fires back with a kick to her midsection and ascends to the top rope & hits a dropkick then the action spills onto the apron and Asuka is sent crashing into the ring post as we go to a break.
After the break Asuka delivers a jawbreaker then Bayley fires back with a knee to his head but Asuka lands a German suplex and a kick then lands a knee to her head and a sliding kick then fires off more kicks on her head.
Asuka cinches in an Ankle Lock but Bayley escapes and Asuka delivers a Codebreaker off the middle ropes then the action spills back out of the ring and Bayley clears the announce table.
Shotzi Blackheart appears in the crowd and forces Bayley back into the ring as Asuka creeps up behind her then rolls her up for the win.
Winner: Asuka
Grayson Waller says he’s had the opportunity to have some huge guests on The Grayson Waller Effect but none of them live up to the moniker of The GOAT as John Cena. He then introduces him and Cena makes his way down to the ring.
Waller says he asked Cena on the show for a reason then tells him he thinks he needs some help and some advice. He tells Cena that he needs to be more like him and Cena looks to speak but Waller continues to talk. Cena has had enough and takes off both his hat and shirt. Waller finally gives Cena the chance to speak but before he can Jimmy Uso’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Jimmy tells Cena no one wants him here and everyone came to see him instead. He says if Cena tries to embarrass him again then he should take his shot while he has it. Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman then march down to the ring and staredown Cena as Jimmy runs his mouth. Sikoa then goes after Jimmy and looks to hit him with a Samoan Spike but opts to superkick Cena instead and beat him down. Jimmy fires off stomps in the corner before AJ Styles runs down to provide Cena with a helping hand. They send Sikoa crashing out of the ring and Cena gets Jimmy up on his shoulders but Sikoa saves Jimmy to close out this week’s Smackdown.
Next Week’s Smackdown
Womens Title Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Asuka
Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (United States Champion Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
