WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before SummerSlam
Just 24 hours before an emotional and potentially historic clash with Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns, Jey Uso squared off with his own brother, Solo Sikoa, in the main event of the go-home edition of SmackDown.
The sibling showdown headlined a broadcast that also saw the latest between WWE Women's champion Asuka and her top two contenders, Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair, as well as an appearance by the hottest star in the industry, LA Knight.
What went down and who built momentum in their final appearances before the summertime spectacular?
Find out with this recap of the August 4 Fox broadcast, live from Wright State University's Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.
Match Card
1 of 8Announced in advance of Friday's show were:
- Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
- LA Knight vs. Sheamus
- The final stop before Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair challenge Asuka for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam
LA Knight vs. Sheamus
2 of 8
LA Knight continued his momentous 2023 with a signature win Friday night, defeating Sheamus in the opening contest.
It was not without controversy, though, as several of the competitors in Saturday's Slim Jim Battle Royal made their presence felt at ringside, leading to a distraction finish that concluded with Knight delivering Blunt Force Trauma for the win.
Rather than just having guys involved in the battle royal surround the ring, there was at least some effort put into presenting ongoing rivalries while highlighting Knight in what was a physical bout with The Celtic Warrior.
The crowd was red-hot for the self-proclaimed megastar and was behind him from start to finish. The reaction to his entrance all the way through the victory was the stuff of genuine stars and further evidence that WWE may very well have lucked into a breakout star in the form of a guy who has found success at every stop in his career.
The time is now to take the leap of faith with Knight and, hopefully, create a new star that can keep the company's red-hot run going strong.
Result
Knight defeated Sheamus
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The pop for Knight gets louder and more passionate every week. He is a megastar in the making and the time to pull the proverbial trigger is drawing nearer with every passing week.
- Santos Escobar, The Miz, Grayson Waller, Karrion Kross (with Scarlett), and AJ Styles (with Michin) all made their way to the ring to get a closer look at the action as all are entered in Saturday's Slim Jim Battle Royal. Sure, it shines a light on the combatants but it is far from inspired booking.
- It is a testament to how over Knight is that the crowd that Dayton was solidly behind him over the perennially popular Celtic Warrior.
- Austin Theory attacked Escobar at ringside to build hype for their United States Championship match next week. Styles and Kross heated up their rivalry at ringside and Sheamus delivered the 10 Beats of the Bodhran.
- Knight took advantage of the distraction and scored the win.
The OC vs. The Brawling Brutes
3 of 8The recent teases of a business relationship between The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley paid off Friday as Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins interrupted a match pitting Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows against Butch and Ridge Holland.
The contest ended in no contest but it was, ultimately, secondary to the angle that played out after the bell.
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins immediately leveled up. They went from beloved, fun-loving babyfaces to a tag team that can threaten any team, especially with the influence of The All-Mighty behind them.
It remains to be seen if the duo will turn heel in the coming weeks but one would think that interrupting a battle of babyfaces would position them in that role. If so, it will be a refreshing change for two guys who have only scratched the surface of what they are capable of in the rings of WWE.
Result
No contest
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- This battle of babyface teams was the product of a backstage pull-apart. It felt rather random but the tense staredown between Sheamus and AJ Styles may be a hint of a post-SummerSlam feud.
- Anderson taunted Holland, disrespectfully kicking his face before the forby rugby player fired up and fought him off. The intensity was all over Holland's face here. Once greener than you would hope for from a main roster guy, he has grown and learned exponentially over the last year.
- The Street Profits' Ford and Dawkins hit the ring, attacked the participants and stood tall to a nice ovation from fans before Bobby Lashley joined them, teasing the reformation of The Hurt Business.
Paul Heyman Speaks
4 of 8
Jey Uso, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa put the finishing touches on the hype for Saturday's with an in-ring segment that will likely define the next chapter of The Bloodline saga.
Uso repeatedly pointed out to Sikoa that he is currently the victim of the same manipulation that Jey and Jimmy used to endure. When Heyman attempted to denounce the claim, Sikoa stopped him with a single glare. Apparent dissension gave way to a superkick from Uso, a teaser for the night's main event.
This was more good stuff. Even the shorter, more subdued promo segments are great. This did not need Reigns to accomplish what it did, with Uso planting the seed that The Enforcer might be realizing what games The Tribal Chief is playing.
It will be interesting to see what followup occurs later in the show when brothers Uso and Sikoa square off in the main event.
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Heyman threw it to a video package that helped put over the Tribal Combat match at SummerSlam as something that is unlike anything WWE fans have seen by highlighting the family legacy of the Samoan wrestling dynasty.
- "My family, I'm bringing all of that tomorrow. The culture, I'm bringing all of that tomorrow," Uso told Heyman, putting over the gravity of the SummerSlam main event on the family.
- Uso warned Sikoa that Heyman and Reigns are playing games with him, that they are giving him orders and manipulating him like they did Jey and Jimmy.
- "Tell my cousin I'll see him tomorrow night but you can tell my brother I'll see his ass later tonight," Uso told the special counsel to close out the segment.
Cameron Grimes vs. Austin Theory
5 of 8
Austin Theory narrowly escaped his match with Cameron Grimes with a victory Friday night but immediately fell prey to an attack from Santos Escobar, who he will defend his United States Championship against on next week's show.
The beating from Escobar resulted from Theory's own sneak attack from earlier in the show and escalated a rivalry that could go a long way in heating up a title that has felt stagnant and stale for months now.
The in-ring action should be strong. How the contest is booked and if there is any quality follow-up will ultimately decide how effective this feud has been in the rejuvenation of the US title.
Result
Theory defeated Graves
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Graves scored a great near-fall off the Cave In early in the match but Theory lucked out, his foot catching the bottom rope and breaking the pin.
- Escobar attacked Theory after the match, gaining a measure of revenge after the sneak attack from earlier in the night.
The Grayson Waller Effect with Bayley and Iyo Sky; Zelina Vega vs. Sky
6 of 8
Moments after Shotzi continued to terrorize Bayley by chasing her off the set of the Grayson Waller Effect and through the crowd to the locker room area, Iyo Sky battled Zelina Vega in singles competition.
A solid match between Vega and Sky culminated with the re-emergence of Shotzi and Bayley from backstage, resulting in a distraction and victory for the first lady of the LWO.
The Shotzi-Bayley stuff is refreshing if only because it is fresh and gives the former something to do. She has a unique look, a new edge and if handled properly, can make a star out of the most original woman the roster has seen in years.
Vega's renaissance since Backlash has been nothing short of fantastic. A hugely underutilized performer for too long, she has plenty to offer the women's division and it is beyond time that she has this opportunity.
The question now is whether Sky shakes off this loss to Vega and cashes in her Money in the Bank briefcase during Saturday night's premium live event, perhaps taking advantage of an exhausted Charlotte Flair, Asuka or Bianca Belair.
Result
Vega defeated Sky
Grade
C+ for the whole thing
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Moments after Waller tricked Bayley into thinking Shotzi was coming after her, The Ballsy Badass actually did come for The Role Model, chasing her out of the ring with a pair of hair clippers. Zelina Vega revealed herself to have been in Shotzi's tank, setting her up for a one-on-one match with Sky.
- Starting Vega and Sky during the break may help with the timing of the show but it will do nothing to weather the recent criticisms of the utilization (or lack thereof) of the women's division.
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
7 of 8
If there were any concerns about Jey Uso not looking strong enough entering SummerSlam, they were erased by show's end Friday night after he defeated Solo Sikoa clean and in the center of the ring, using Roman Reigns' own spear to put down his brother and build more momentum ahead of the biggest match of his career.
The crowd was hot, the chemistry was obvious and Uso vs. Sikoa is a match WWE will likely revisit down the line.
And rightfully so.
Even in defeat, Sikoa looks strong in that it took an unexpected finisher to stun him and the top-rope splash to put him away.
Tribal Combat is going to be something magical, another expertly booked bit of drama that will either put a bow on one of the greatest storylines in WWE history or propel it forward as Reigns continues his run atop the industry.
Either way, the main event of SummerSlam feels like destination viewing.
Result
Uso defeated Sikoa
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Sikoa's timing is so much better now than it was when he made the jump to the main roster last September. Like Holland earlier on the show, he is another young star that benefited exponentially from working with veteran competitors in high-profile spots. It's not all pretty but he is getting there.
- Uso delivering the spear to put Sikoa down was a wonderful spot. It taunted Reigns, not only proving he can win, but he can do it using moves he learned from The Tribal Chief himself.
Overall Grade
8 of 8WWE did a really solid job of putting the final touches on the hype for SummerSlam with this go-home episode of SmackDown.
Jey Uso was prominently featured, the booking shined a light on the battle royal combatants and the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women's Championship was featured nicely in three different, unique video packages featuring Charlotte Flair, Asuka and Bianca Belair in different settings.
It did not settle just for hyping Saturday's show. This broadcast featured angles involving AJ Styles and Karrion Kross, Shotzi, Bayley, The Street Profits, Austin Theory and Santos Escobar that will feature beyond the summertime spectacular and affect the blue brand.
WWE Creative walked a fine line and delivered a strong, entertaining night of television ahead of a show that could shape the next several months of its programming.
Grade: B+
