Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 6/16/2023 edition of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on https://Twitter.com/Fightful and http://Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
WWE SmackDown (6/16/2023).
- Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns Returns.
- #1 Contender Tag Team Gauntlet Match: Latino World Order (Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) vs. The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland) vs. The OC (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford).
- The Grayson Waller Effect w/ Charlotte Flair.
- The OC ("Michin" Mia Yim & AJ Styles) vs. Scarlett & Karrion Kross.
- Zelina Vega (w/ Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio) vs. Iyo Sky (w/ Bayley).
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- After a video recap of last week's episode, Kayla Braxton tried to get an interview in the parking lot with The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman & Roman Reigns) regarding Jey Uso, but they all ignored Braxton.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning into the opening match.
#1 Contender Tag Team Gauntlet Match.
Latino World Order (Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) vs. The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland) vs. The OC (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Hit-Row (Top Dolla & Ashante Thee Adonis).
Match One - Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland).
The match began with Ford & Sheamus locking up before Sheamus hit a shoulder tackle on Ford. Ford did a leapfrog over Sheamus before catching him with a dropkick. Ford hit a chop on Sheamus, but Sheamus responded with the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Holland tagged in and pinned Ford around before hitting a Butterfly Suplex on Ford. Ford landed on his feet and hit a Gamonguri on Holland before Dawkins tagged in. Dawkins ran the ropes and hit a back elbow on Holland before hitting a Twisting corner Splash and a jab on Holland, but Holland responded with a headbutt. Sheamus did the blind tag and hit the Brogue Kick on Dawkins for the pinfall win.
Match Two: Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland) vs. The OC (Luke Gallows & "The Machine Gun" Karl Anderson.
The OC immediately attacked Sheamus & Holland to dominate the proceedings before the commercial break. Back from the break, Gallows pushed Sheamus into the corner, but Sheamus fought off Gallows & Anderson, but Gallows responded with a slam on Sheamus for a near fall. "The Machine Gun" tagged in and attacked Sheamus. Anderson caught Sheamus with a series of forearms before going for a pin, but Sheamus kicked out at two. Gallows & Anderson continued to exchange quick tags before Gallows hit a snap-suplex into a chin lock on Sheamus. Sheamus got back up and hit a series of body shots before hitting a Tilt-to-Whirl Powerslam on Gallows. Anderson tagged in and kicked Sheamus in the abdomen and taunted in the corner, but Sheamus got back up and caught him with a Brogue Kick for the win.
Match Three: LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz del Toro) vs. Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland).
The LWO hit a double dropkick on Sheamus before they hit stereo Tope Con Giro to the outside on The Brutes. Back in the ring, Wilde hit a Shotgun Dropkick on Sheamus before Del Toro hit an Asai Moonsault on Sheamus for a near fall. Sheamus tossed Wilde out of the ring before catching Del Toro mid-air with a V-Trigger. Holland caught Wilde with an overhead Suplex before hitting a Torture Rack DDT on Del Toro for the win.
Match Four: Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland) vs. Hit-Row (Top Dolla & Ashante Thee Adonis)
Absolute domination from The Brutes as Holland tossed Adonis to the outside before Sheamus blasted Top Dolla with a Brogue Kick for the pinfall win.
Match Five: Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) vs. Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland).
Back from the break, Prince slammed Holland into the corner before Wilson tagged in and hit a neck breaker on Holland, but Holland kicked out at two. Wilson stomped away on Holland before Prince tagged in and laid in the lariats on Holland in the corner. Holland hit a series of forearm strikes, but Prince responded by slamming Holland with a Hammer Throw before hitting an elbow strike on Holland for a near fall. Prince locked in a headlock on Holland, but Holland evaded the hold before Prince hit a chop block on Holland. Wilson tagged in so that he & Prince could hit a double suplex, but Holland dropped down and hit a double back-drop before tagging in Sheamus. Sheamus hit Hammer Strikes, corner lariats & Irish Curse Back breakers on Pretty Deadly before hitting a Rolling Senton on Prince and a Powerslam on Wilson onto Prince. Sheamus hit an Alabama Slam on Wilson, but Prince broke the pin before Holland hit Prince with the POUNCE to send him flying to the outside. Wilson rolled out of the mat into the apron, but Sheamus got Wilson & Prince before catching both with the 30 Beats of the Battering. Sheamus brought Wilson back in the ring and hit the Celtic Cross on Wilson, but Prince did the Blind Tag and hit a Diving Leg Drop for the pinfall win, winning the Gauntlet.
Winners AND NEW #1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles: Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson).
- Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) continued to celebrate in the ring before the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens interrupted them. Zayn told Pretty Deadly to get the hell out of the ring. Pretty Deadly criticized Kevin Owens's hair before promising to celebrate in the ring even longer when they beat Owens & Zayn for the belts. Zayn asked Owens if he was hearing it and if it was bothering him, to which Owens responded by saying that hearing them made him want to punch their faces. Owens & Zayn stormed the ring to attack Pretty Deadly, but Wilson 7 Prince rolled out of the ring to evade the Wrath of The Wild SamiOwens.
- Backstage, Paul Heyman asked Roman Reigns if he had spoken to Jey Uso, but Reigns said that he had not because he was the Tribal Chief and that Jey should be the one that should reach out to Reigns. Reigns then demanded Paul Heyman talk with Jey Uso as soon as possible.
Zelina Vega vs. Iyo Sky (w/ Bayley).
Vega tried to adhere to the code of honor with Sky, but Sky pushed Sky's face. Vega hit a Thesz Press before going for a Hurricanrana on Sky, but Sky landed on her feet and hit a dropkick on Vega. Sky hit a stomp onto Vega's arm before locking in a Cross Jacket on the ropes and hitting an Ax-Handle on Vega. Vega got a Schoolboy into a Roundhouse Kick on Sky before trying to run. the ropes, but Vega stopped herself. Sky went for a Schoolboy on Vega, but Bayley distracted the referee to not catch the pin. Sky argued with Bayley, but that was until Vega hit the 619 into a Stacked Pin for the win.
Winner: Zelina Vega.
- There was a video package recapping Asuka being given the WWE Women's Championship & Charlotte Flair making her return to confront Asuka.
- Backstage, Bianca Belair confronted WWE Official Adam Pearce and asked him where was his rematch. Pearce told Belair that it was being discussed but could not provide an answer tonight. Belair was frustrated by this and told Pearce that she would write the wrong her own way.
- Bayley & Iyo Sky argued backstage before Shotzi confronted the two. Shotzi told Bayley that if she was so confident about being better than her to defend her spot in the Money In The Bank spot later tonight, which Iyo Sky accepted for Bayley to add more tension between Bayley & Iyo Sky.
- Grayson Waller hosted a new episode of "The Grayson Waller Effect" with special guest Charlotte Flair. Flair told Waller that she would be 15-time & 16-time Women's champion, saying that she had Asuka's number, but Flair was interrupted by Bianca Belair. Belair complained about Flair cutting the line to get the title shot, but Flair told Belair said that she would not apologize as the line started and ended there before stating that the two were owed a rematch for the titles. Belair said that she tried to do it the right way, but said that maybe should take matters into her own hands. Flair questioned if Belair was a worthy opponent for not holding the title 14 times, but Belair reminded Flair that she was the longest reigning Women's Champion era before demanding Flair put some respect on her name. Belair said that no matter what happens in the match, she would go and regain her title.
- Paul Heyman confronted Jey Uso backstage and apologized to Jey for being right about Jimmy Uso, calling Jimmy Uso's Thrust Kick the most precise in wrestling. Heyman told Jey that he was sorry for Jimmy's action, to which Jey responded by saying that he was sorry for saying that Heyman was still out of he is still in the Bloodline.
The OC ("Michin" Mia Yim & AJ Styles) vs. Scarlett & Karrion Kross.
Styles laid in the rapid-fire strikes on Kross to begin the match before Yim hit a Tornado DDT on Kross. Scarlett came from behind and confronted Yim before hitting a Flat liner for a near fall. Yim hit a series of kicks on Scarlett before catching her with a German Suplex. Styles & Yim exchanged kicks on Kross before Scarlett tossed Yim out of the ring. Styles hit the Styles Clash to get a pin on Kross, but Scarlett pulled Styles to break the pin. Yim pulled Scarlett out of the ring, but Scarlett caught her with a faceslam on the outside. Kross got Styles from behind and locked in the Kross Hammer before hitting a Pump-Handle Flat Liner for the pinfall win.
Winners: Scarlett & Karrion Kross.
- Paul Heyman told Reigns that he was not able. to get an answer from Uso. This led to Solo SIkoa to run Heyman out of the conference room. Sikoa asked Reigns if he had to handle it, but Reigns told Sikoa that there is still plenty of time.
- Kayla Braxton interviewed Cameron Grimes backstage, but Baron Corbin interrupted the interview by attacking Grimes from behind.
- Rey Mysterio came to the ring to cut a promo. Mysterio said that he has had a bunch of accomplishments in his career, but reforming the LWO was close to the top. Mysterio introduced Santos Escobar, claiming that he was going to be Mr. MITB. Escobar said that him being involved in the MITB Ladder Match was the opportunity of a lifetime before thanking Mysterio for believing in him. LA Knight interrupted Escobar and pushed Mysterio ahead of his match against Escobar.
LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar (w/ Rey Mysterio).
After the commercial break, Knight locked in a headlock on Escobar, but Escobar got out of the hold before hitting. shoulder tackle, a forearm strike, a backbreaker, an enziguri kick on the apron, and a Diving Crossbody on Knight for a near fall. Escobar hit a double knee drop on Knight before going for the Phantom Driver, but Knight evaded and hit the Tilt-to-Whirl Powerslam and the Flying Elbow on Escobar for a near fall. Escobar hit a toe kick on Knight before going for a Poison Rana, but Knight reversed it by trying to go for a pin, but Escobar reversed it with a Victory Roll for the pinfall win.
Knight attacked Escobar after the match, but Mysterio came to the ring to make the save.
Winner: Santos Escobar.
- Jey Uso stopped by and confronted Sami Zayn backstage. Zayn nodded at Jey before walking out of the shot.
- The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns) came to the ring to demand Jey Uso's decision on whether he was staying with The Bloodline. Jey Uso immediately came to the ring in order to make his decision. Reigns asked Jey if he was in or if he was out. After stalling for a lengthy bit, Jey responded to Reigns by saying "you tell me" before telling Reigns that it was either Heyman or it was Jey. Reigns told Jey that Heyman was his 'wiseman" and said that Jey can pick whoever he wishes. Reigns said that he got the Anoa'i family to the promise land and that Jey was the one to keep them there before saying that they had been grooming Jey to be the new "Tribal Chief" for over three years. Reigns then said that the problem was Jimmy Uso, which prompted Jimmy to come to the ring, saying that the problem was Reigns all along. Jimmy said that Reigns was using Jey before asking Jey if he believed Reigns over his own brother. Reigns talked trash about The Usos saying that without Reigns, it took them 10 years to being WrestleMania before saying that Jimmy Uso was the only on who was opposed to Jimmy being "The Right Hand Man" of the Tribal Chief. Jimmy admitted to Jey that it was true, which led to Jey saying that he expected that from Reigns but not from Jimmy. Jey said that Jimmy's injury was a blessing in disguise as he stepped up because of Reigns. Jey said that Jimmy was out and confronted Jimmy. After staring daggers at Jimmy, Jey said that he was out too before hitting a Thrust kick on Reigns to the roar of the crowd. Jimmy & Jey hit Double Thrust Kicks on Sikoa before catching Reigns with a Double Thrust Kick. The Usos stood tall to end the broadcast.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
