:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72700494/20230922_SD_Rey_Santos_FC_Friday__c20ca5ff05c8ed19f92784a30b872144.0.jpg)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Sept. 29, 2023) with a live show emanating from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Fastlane premium live event scheduled for early next month in Indianapolis.
Advertised for tonight: Rey Mysterio defends the United States championship against fellow LWO member Santos Escobar.
Also on the card: Charlotte Flair has a singles match against Bayley, an irate Bobby Lashley is a guest on Grayson Waller’s talk show, John Cena could really use a friend as he stands up to The Bloodline, and much more!
Come right back here at 8 pm ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on FOX. It will be below this line here. (Note: Links to illegal streams are prohibited. Pics and GIFs are allowed.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR SEPT. 29
Onto a bale of hay looking the other way, from noncoms in machines squeezing tangerines emitting horrid cries, but me? I’m just here to liveblog this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with commentary hyping tonight’s festivities up.
The Bloodline, here consisting of Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman, make their entrance and get on the mic.
Paul does his usual introductory spiel and hypes up Roman Reigns and his responsibility for the worst beating John Cena has received in almost a decade, and we get video footage of last week to prove it. Back to live, Heyman says Cena’s having some transportation issues and he’s not here yet.
Jimmy takes the mic and does his “The Bloodline is now in your city” bit and says Heyman is too kind, because the real reason John isn’t here tonight is that he’s scared of him, Jim Uso. He says they’ll take care of AJ Styles just the same as they did Cena, but “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson rushes the ring and cleans house!
They go back and forth off-mic and we go to break.
Jimmy Uso vs. “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson
Back from commercial, match is joined in progress.
Anderson whip to the corner, Uso blocks, off the ropes, right into the spinning spinebuster... NOPE! Back and forth for a little bit but Jim has this...
Jimmy Uso wins by pinfall with the diving splash.
Post-match, Mia Yim comes down to check on her pal, Uso talks some trash to her on the stage and she slaps him across the face!
Cathy Kelley interviewes Santos Escobar backstage.
He says he’s staying very focused in his mind but his stomach is full of butterflies. It’s been his dream to face Rey Mysterio with a title on the line, and he’s worked his entire life to make it happen. Now, with the whole world watching, he can make his dreams come true, so Rey is in the fight for his life.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, Jimmy Uso is walking backstage and terrorizing crew members, and Paul Heyman calls Roman Reigns as we cut away.
Grayson Waller is in the ring to host the Grayson Waller Effect.
He says John Cena might be the greatest of all time, but he’s not the greatest at being on time. Never fear, however, because he’s going to save the day again. He introduces his guest, a man who’s done it all in WWE but has been struggling as a talent scout, Bobby Lashley.
He talks about having made a mistake with his selection of the Street Profits, thinking they don’t have the will to do whatever it takes, and Waller tries to sell him on himself and Austin Theory as an undefeated team, but Bob says he’ll pass on that one.
Grayson keeps going, saying Austin’s really a changed man if you get to know him and—
Enter Street Profits.
Lashley says he doesn’t want excuses, if they want something out of him, they should prove it.
He leaves, they chase after him, he reiterates his thesis and leaves, and Waller tries to “save” the segment by bringing Austin Theory out.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we see Dragon Lee in the crowd.
Austin Theory vs. Cameron Grimes
Grimes lighting him up, big Manhattan Drop, round kick, solebutt, low dropkick, cover for one! Right hands, whip reversed, boot up, enzuigiri takes Theory off his feet! Off the top, diving crossbody, only two! Everest German suplex gets another nearfall, to the floor, Grayson Waller runs interference and Theory puts Grimes into the post!
Rolling thunder dropkick...
Austin Theory wins by pinfall with A-Town Down.
Post-match, Theory gets into a shoving match with Dragon Lee but referee DA Brewer warns him off and threatens to drop his ass.
Rey Mysterio is interviewed backstage.
He says he knows how hard Santos worked to get here and he even grew up watching his dad, but there’s a saying— “be careful what you wish for,” and he warns Escobar that he’s bringing his best and he’ll give him the fight of his life.
Mysterio makes his entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Jimmy Uso’s backstage rampage contnues as he kicks the shit out of Ashante “Thee” Adonis while B-FAB pleads with him. Road agents Jason Jordan and Kenn Doane try to talk him down and Solo Sikoa slams Adonis through the table while Uso crows that he won’t be Cena’s partner.
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Santos Escobar (WWE United States Championship)
Escobar grinding him down with a bodyscissors, things heat up a little bit, to the floor and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Escobar with a hammerlock, Mysterio fights out of it, drop down, off the ropes, dropkick from Santos cuts him off, cover for two! We get inset video of the Bloodline rampage continuing backstage, Rey lands a buzzsaw roundhouse kick, to the floor, Escobar dives on him!
Moonsault follows it up, back inside, counting down, rising knee, avalanche Frankensteiner, splash gets a nearfall and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Escobar with a whip into a front kick, Gory Special applied! Backbreaker follows it, working Rey’s back, following it with La Atlantida... STILL NO! Rolling sunset flip gets Mysterio a nearfall, up top and jockeying for position... REY MYSTERIO AVALANCHE RELEASE VICTORY ROLL!
Setting Escobar in the turnbuckles, 619 caught, Santos pulls him through, reversed back into position, 619 connects this time! Trading nearfalls, no finish! Fireman’s carry, Phantom Driver, Rey reverses...
Rey Mysterio wins by pinfall with a crucifix pin, retaining the WWE United States Championship.
Post-match, Santos is heartbroken and Rey extends a hand... AND THE STREET PROFITS ATTACK! They lay Santos and Rey out!
Bobby Lashley makes his entrance, obviously pleased at his proteges’ work. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro attack but quickly get picked off, security holds Dragon Lee back as the Profits lay Wilde out with their finish!
Bob stands tall with his pals and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Latino World Order are interviewed in the trainer’s room.
Santos Escobar speaks excitedly in Spanish and Rey Mysterio challenges Lashley and the Street Profits to a trios match at Fastlane.
We get a media hype reel for WWE’s signing of Jade Cargill.
Charlotte Flair makes her entrance.
We go to the parking lot where John Cena arrives at high speed, contract in hand as we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get an inspirational video package covering Elton Prince’s rehabilitation.
Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair
Flair asks Bayley what happened to her that she’s happy to be on the sidelines and carry IYO SKY’s championship? She’s become a stepping stone and Charlotte is still the measuring stick, and after Flair wins, she’ll challenge IYO to a title match.
We get the bell, Bayley lights on her with falling forearms, Flair to the apron, interference from Damage CTRL and the Role Model knocks her to the floor as we go to break!
Back from commercial, Flair hammering her with chops, fallaway slam, kip-up, fired up! Bayley goes for a German suplex, blocked, stepover knee drop to the knee, kick in the corner, trading boots, Charlotte gets a nearfall! Pulling Flair out of the turnbuckles, knee to the midsection, pressing the attack with chops and mocking “Wooo!”s!
Flair off the ropes...
Charlotte Flair wins by pinfall with a spear.
Post-match, Dakota Kai delivers a mic to an apoplectic Bayley.
Bayley says Charlotte can’t just beat her and cut the line and she’s gonna take care of her once and for all. Damage CTRL get up on the apron... ASUKA MAKES THE SAVE IN HOT PINK PANTS AND A FUR COAT! Bayley accepts a triple threat match between IYO, Charlotte, and Asuka at Fast Lane, much to IYO’s confusion and consternation.
John Cena strides purposefully through the arena to send us to break.
Back from commercial, commentary hypes up next week’s show.
He says he came here to compete and last week he said he wants a match, and the Bloodline didn’t take too kindly to that, and they left him knocked out. But they also left him with this contract, signed and ready for a match against the Bloodline at Fastlane.
Only one problem, he doesn’t have a partner, so tonight is very important because he has a choice— he can rip up this contract and act like none of this every happened, or he can stand and fight. What choice do you think the man who wears the words “never give up” over his heart is going to make.
You’re damn right he’s going to honor this contract, and if he can’t find a partner he’ll fight by himself in a handicap match!
Enter the Bloodline.
Jim Uso gets on the mic and asks if he didn’t see what he and Solo Sikoa did in the back to send a message that if you team with Cena, you’re gonna get got by the Bloodline. And further he’s not making it to Fastlane! John blasts Uso off the apron with an elbow, waves Sikoa in, ducks a lariat, fireman’s carry, but here’s Jim with the superkick!
Ode to Rikishi connects, another one from Solo, and an assisted one! To the floor, the heels clear the announce desk and put Cena on top of it! Jim goes up top but Solo holds him back because he wants to do it! Sikoa up top—
LA KNIGHT IS HERE! He runs roughshod over Solo and Jim, putting boots to Uso, right hands for Sikoa! Jumping neckbreaker takes Solo out, powerslam for Jimmy! People’s Elbow to Jim! Cena returns to the ring and dumps Solo out! He and LA have a moment together, Knight picks up the contract and he signs that bad boy on the spot! Cena’s got a partner!
That’s the show, folks.
Loading comments...