At the start of tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FS1, Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa talk about what happened last week. Michael Cole welcomes us live from a sold-out Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida. He has Wade Barrett with him in the ring. As the announcers hype up the show, we see Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns going backstage.
LA Knight vs. Sheamus vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Rey Mysterio in the WWE United States Title Invitational Fatal 4 Way.
As the WWE United States Title Invitational continues, we go right to the ring, and 2023 WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio comes out. The winner of this match will face Santos Escobar next week. The winner of that match will become the new number one challenger to Austin Theory, who is the current WWE United States Champion. Theory is now sitting on the sidelines and watching. The next one out is Sheamus, and then Cameron Grimes. We’re in Orlando, where NXT is based, so Wes Lee and Dragon Lee are sitting in the front row. Next, LA Knight comes out to a big pop. LA gives a promo about WWE SummerSlam and how he’s coming for the title and this is his game. Yeah.
When the bell rings, Rey goes up against Grimes and LA goes up against Sheamus. Grimes finally gets Rey to fall to the ground by knocking him out of the air.
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Sheamus throws Knight to the ground, but Knight knocks him back down. Knight knocked Grimes out of the ring with a flying shoulder block. As we go to break, Knight stands tall and plays for the crowd to get a pop.
After the break, Rey throws Grimes to the ground. Sheamus gets a 2 count with a rolling senton. In the end, Rey and Sheamus clear the ring. Grimes gets 10 Beats of the Bodhrán from Rey, and LA gets 10 Beats of the Bodhrán from Sheamus. Fans pop. Now, Sheamus and Rey fight.
Sheamus stops 619 and hits a backbreaker. Grimes now works on both of them by kicking them while they are on their knees. Grimes knocks out LA, but Sheamus hits the Irish Curse backbreaker to win the match. Sheamus sends LA out, but LA pulls him back in and sends him into the apron. LA works on Grimes until Rey kicks LA and flies out of the room. With Rey, Sheamus and LA are now on top. This leads to a silly Tower of Doom with four people. As we go back to commercials, Theory watches.
After the break, there will be more back and forth. Sheamus ends up clearing the house and hitting White Noise on LA for 2. Sheamus wants to do a Brogue Kick, but Grimes has to be knocked off the apron first. LA avoids Brogue’s move and slams him down for a pin, but Rey jumps off the top rope to stop it.
Grimes kicked Rey at one point, but Sheamus hit Grimes with a big knee to knock him down. LA puts a BFT on Sheamus, but Rey comes in and breaks up the pin. As the fight between the four Superstars goes on, there are more close calls and moves. Rey hits a double 619 to both Sheamus and Grimes at the same time. Sheamus falls to the floor while Rey splashes Grimes and tries to pin him, but Theory pulls Rey out of the ring, sending him into the steel steps.
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Santos Escobar runs over to Theory and beats him up, sending him into the crowd and scaring him away. Grimes is put down by LA’s big elbow drop, but Sheamus puts him down with a Brogue Kick. Grimes knocked Sheamus off the middle rope with a Cave-In. Then, Rey hits Grimes with a big hurricanrana plancha for the pin and the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
After the match, Rey stands tall while the music plays and we watch the match again. Now, Santos watches. The finals will be Santos vs. Rey, and that is set for next week. The LWO stablemates are all smiling and shaking hands as they celebrate.
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After a break, WWE NIL wrestlers The Cavinder Twins are sitting in the front row.
Austin Theory comes up to Adam Pearce backstage in a rage and tells him that he wants to fight Santos Escobar. Pearce says it will be a match for the title, but Theory says no because Santos hasn’t earned the chance to fight for the title yet. Pearce says that he will make the match.
Jey Uso is going backstage when he sees Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Tony D’Angelo. He keeps walking and stops to fist-bump The Creed Brothers.
IYO SKY vs. Charlotte Flair
Cole talks up Flair vs. Bianca Belair vs. WWE Women’s Champion Asuka at SummerSlam after the break. Tiffany Stratton, who is the NXT Women’s Champion, is in the front row. IYO SKY with Bayley is the next to come out. IYO has her Money in the Bank bag with her. Tonight’s Progressive Match Flo recap looks at how SKY almost won money during last week’s match between Belair and Asuka. Now, Bayley will talk with the broadcasters.
When the bell rings, they fight and show each other up right away. IYO is sent to the corner by Flair, who then flips into boots. IYO grabs Flair and hits her while she’s on the ground. Flair fights back and hits a dropkick from the top rope.
SKY doesn’t give up and goes on the attack, landing a big springboard rocket dropkick from the apron. At 2, Flair kicks out. IYO is thrown out by Flair, but she fights her way back to the ring. IYO is on the floor when Flair hits him with a big boot. They go back and forth, and then they hit each other hard. As we are about to go to break, IYO hits a head-scissors.
As Flair brings IYO back into the ring after the break, Bayley yells at Flair. Flair does a great job with IYO, but he misses a big leg stomp in the ropes. IYO with double knees running for 2. Use a belly-to-back flip to show flair. They exchange more blows. Flair mounts use kicks and chops. IYO goes for a dropkick, but Flair catches her and hits a fall-away slam, a kip-up, and a lariat for a close 2-count. Bayley cheers on Flair as she hits a backbreaker and more offence, but SKY kicks out.
Flair’s corner splash misses, but SKY’s charge misses. Bayley yells at IYO to do better as Flair slams her face into the ropes. Bayley ends up being a distraction, but Flair is able to get out of IYO’s sitdown powerbomb by kicking out. Shotzi pops up on the big screen and says Bayley’s name with a crazy laugh and scissors in his hands. Bayley says she’s scared and can’t be out here. When IYO calls her name, Bayley runs away.
When IYO moves, Flair goes for a Spear, but she hits the turnbuckles instead. IYO tries to do a moonsault from the top rope, but Flair moves. IYO gets her feet up before Flair can do a moonsault from the top rope. IYO is now putting Flair to sleep with a Crossface. On the mat, they fight and trade two counts.
IYO is sent to the apron by Flair, but he doesn’t get a big kick. IYO fixes Flair’s hurt knee again. IYO does a headbutt that sends her off the top rope, but Flair catches her in midair and gives her a Crab. IYO gets up and hits a basement strike.
More back and forth until Flair comes out of nowhere with a Spear. Flair can’t believe it when IYO kicks out. IYO keeps kicking out Flair, who has a stronger offence. IYO responds by doing a double stomp. IYO takes the hurt knee out, but Flair goes to the top. IYO works its way up to competing cheers. They try to pin each other again and again until Flair gets the pin with Natural Selection.
Charlotte Flair was the winner.
After the match, Flair stands tall, but Asuka, who is the WWE Women’s Champion, strikes her from behind right away. Asuka hits a German suplex next. Asuka holds Flair down and strikes a pose with her title as the music starts to play.
We can see what happened on Tuesday night when Dominik Mysterio won the NXT North American Title. Kayla Braxton is now backstage with Rhea Ripley and Dominik, who is the WWE Women’s World Champion. Dominik puts down his father Rey Mysterio and says that if he wins the WWE United States Title, it will be nothing compared to him because he will only be the champion of the USA and Dominik is the champion of 23 countries in North America.
Butch comes to say good luck to Dominik. He says that we are in the home of NXT tonight and that it feels like Fight Night, so how about a match? Dominik comes up with reasons and says that no one from NXT is available to make the match. WWE Hall of Famer and Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative shows up and says that Butch vs. Dominik sounds like a great plan. Shawn is going to the office of Adam Pearce to make the match.
Backstage, Roman Reigns is looking at the red lei he is holding. He looks at Solo Sikoa and then back at the lei when Solo gives him a nod. Paul Heyman, who is confused, looks on from behind them.
Austin Theory vs. Santos Escobar for the title of WWE United States Champion
Back in the ring, WWE United States Champion Austin Theory comes out for this match that isn’t for a title. As we go back to commercials, Theory strikes a pose in the corner.
After the break, we go back to the change room and see Bayley and IYO SKY there. Bayley’s suitcase is broken, and a pair of scissors is stuck into a picture on one of the bags. Bayley gets IYO to leave quickly, and they leave. We go back to the ring, and Santos Escobar comes out while Theory watches. They get close, and Santos starts to throw punches.
Theory tries to get on the offensive, but Santos gives him a drop kick. Theory threw Santos into the turnbuckles and then kicked him away. Theory for 2 suplexes. Santos knocks Theory down with a head scissors, but Theory right back with a kick and a big DDT for 2. They kept swapping blows until Santos hit Theory over the head with a clothesline. He then tried a suicide dive, but Theory moved. As we go back to commercials, Santos hits hard.
After the break, there will be more back and forth. During the ad, we see how Theory did the rolling dropkick. Santos fights back and does a suicide dive that sends Theory into the announce table. Santos brings it back and goes on the attack. Santos gets a close 2 count with a headbutt.
Theory stops the Phantom Driver and puts Santos on level 2 for 2 rounds. The Ushigoroshi is hit by Theory, but Santos kicks out. Theory tries to finish Santos off, but Santos comes back with a move and hits Theory with a dropkick. They fight on the top turnbuckle until Santos hits a hurricanrana, then runs double knees into the Phantom Driver for the pin to win.
Winner: Santos Escobar
After the fight, Escobar stands tall and cheers as the music plays and we go to replays. Escobar is now having a party with his friends.
Backstage, Bobby Lashley is seen talking with NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. Lashley hoped they would show up. They say that they want to be as good as Lashley.
Butch vs. Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Title (c)
We go back to the ring, and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio come out. Back to ad.
When we got back from the break, we saw how Ridge Holland hurt Elton Prince in last week’s match between Pretty Deadly and Holland and Sheamus. Butch is now walking to the ring. When the bell rings, they lock the door. Dominik takes Butch down. They run the ropes, and Butch hits Dominik, puts him on the ground, and starts to bend his fingers as Ripley watches.
Butch stomps on the arm of Dominik. Dominik tries to fight, but Butch takes him down and works on his fingers. To break it, Dominik gets the rope. Butch is stunned when Dominik throws him over the top rope.
Ripley runs up to Dominik and gives him a steel chain. The judge is distracted by Ripley, but Holland comes down and stops Dominik from using it. As we go back to commercial, Butch hits the enziguri for a close 2-count.
After the break, Dominik runs in from the bench for the second goal. Dominik throws punches at Butch and then puts him in a headlock. Kit Wilson pushes Prince in a wheelchair in Pretty Deadly, which is strange since he has a shoulder injury. Now, Butch says hurtful things to Dominik. Butch, with a strong right hand and a hard kick. Butch doesn’t stomp enough. Dominik tries to hit a 619, but Butch moves out of the way and hits a German suplex. Butch with more offence for two.
Wilson takes an easy shot, but Holland steps in. As Holland and Butch look at him from the bottom of the ramp, Kit moves away. Then Prince gets out of his wheelchair and runs away, with Holland trying to catch him. Butch tries to go back to the ring, but Dominik kicks him.
Dominik takes the referee’s attention away, which gives Ripley a chance to hit Butch’s knee from behind. Then, Dominik rams Butch’s head into the ring post and throws him back into the ring for the pin. He wins and keeps his title.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
As we go to replays after the fight, Mysterio and Ripley are having a party.
We go back to the ring, and Jey Uso comes out to a big cheer. Back to ad.
Back from the break, Jey is waiting in the ring while they talk about the SummerSlam Rules of Engagement. When the music starts, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman come out while Mike Rome does the entrances. As they walk to the ring, fireworks go off.
Jey looks angry as the rest of The Bloodline walks to the ring, which has a red cover and a table set up for signing a contract. Jey snarls as his cousin Reigns nods his head. Reigns gets up to the mic and tells Orlando to pay attention to him. Solo and Heyman stand by while Reigns and Jey sit at the table. Adam Pearce is not around.
Reigns asks Little Jey, “What’s up?” Do you want to do this still? Jey says yes, because he has to. Reigns is making him do this because Reigns called a shot, and now Jimmy Uso is in the hospital. Jey says that he has to go after Roman now. Fans pop. Jey says he can’t do anything else. Reigns laughs and calls him “Little Jey.” He tells him that Jey won’t get him because Jey just doesn’t get it: “You’re just a soldier, a pawn in this game.”
The fans yell, “Uso!” now. Heyman gives Reigns a pen and tells him to sign the deal. Even though Reigns doesn’t like the chants, he gives Jey the deal. Heyman gives back his pen. Jey is about to sign, but he rips up the paper and says they don’t need a contract because their deal is in blood. Now it’s time for Tribal Combat.
Reigns asks the elders if they know what’s going on. Jey says they came up with the idea. Jey says that he can do whatever he wants because this is a free-for-all. Reigns gets up and tells Orlando to shut up, which makes him angry. Jey is talking, but Reigns tells him to shut up because The Tribal Chief is talking. Reigns says that you shouldn’t act like this is his first time doing this or that he hasn’t been running the business for ten years. Reigns puts the belt that he won on the table. He says this doesn’t matter to him because it’s over. Let’s go.
Jey keeps saying the same thing. As I said, we are now in Tribal Combat. Jey puts down the microphone. When Reigns takes off his red lei, he looks a little shocked. Heyman yells, no! As another chant for The Usos starts up, Jey looks down at Reign. Reigns puts the red lei on the title belt so that everyone can see it. Jey and Roman look down at the title, and then they meet in the middle of the ring. They shake hands and hug each other, and then they touch foreheads. Then they step back and look at each other.
Jey is still there when Reigns leaves, but Reigns may have shown Solo something. Solo yells and turns the table over. Solo tries to use the Samoa Spike on Jey, but he can’t because Reigns has one arm and Jey has the other. Solo can’t hit Jey right now because Reigns and Jey are both in the way. Jey gives Solo a sudden superkick that knocks him out of the ring. Heyman is standing behind them and watching as Reigns and Jey exchange looks. Reigns gets out of the ring and stands at ringside with Solo as he stands back up. Solo isn’t happy as they watch, and Jey gives him the same look. As Jey looks at what’s left of The Bloodline, the Usos’ music starts playing. SmackDown stops airing on FS1.
