Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 7/21/2023 edition of Friday Night SmackDown on FS1.
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 (7/21/2023).
- WWE United States Championship Invitational - Semi-Final: Rey Mysterio vs. LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Sheamus.
- Charlotte Flair vs. Iyo Sky (w/ Bayley).
- Jey Uso & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns set the Rules of Engagement.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning into the opening match.
WWE United States Championship Invitational - Semi-Final.
Rey Mysterio vs. LA Knight vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Sheamus.
WWE United States Champion Austin Theory was at ringside for the match while NXT's Wes Lee & Dragon Lee watched the match from the crowd.
Before the match, LA Knight cut a promo promising to win the Eliminator match and win Austin Theory's United States Title. The beginning match of the match was all-out chaos, but LA Knight managed to stand tall by laying out Sheamus outside before hitting Slingshot Shoulder Tackle on Grimes before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Sheamus hit a Rolling Senton on Knight for a near fall. Knight hit a back l on Sheamus, but Sheamus tossed him to the apron. Grimes went for a pin on Sheamus, but Mysterio hit the Hurricanrana on Grimes to send him to the apron. Mysterio & Sheamus hit Stereo 10 Beats of the Battering on Knight & Grimes. Mysterio went for a 619, but Sheamus caught him with a tilt-to-whirl backbreaker. Grimes caught Sheamus with a Diving Crossbody before hitting chest kicks on Mysterio & Sheamus. Grimes hit an Enziguri kick on Knight, a Tilt-to-whirl Side Effect on Mysterio & a dropkick into a series of chest kicks on Sheamus, but Sheamus responded with a lariat & an Irish Curse. Knight & Sheamus brawled on the outside before Mysterio & Grimes hit dives to the outside. before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Mysterio & Grimes brawled in the ring while Sheamus & Knight brawled on the outside. Mysterio hit an Electric Chair Hurricanrana on Grimes into Theory's chair, but the two were then greeted by an ax handle from Sheamus off the stairs. Sheamus came back to the ring and hit a Diving Lariat on Knight, a Powerslam on Rey & the White Noise on Knight for a near fall. Knight hit a Powerslam on Sheamus, but Rey caught the two with a Splash. Grimes hit a Thrust Kick on Knight, but Knight shook it off and hit a Burning Hammer on Sheamus for a near fall. Sheamus got Grimes in an electric Chair, but Mysterio caught the two with a double 619 before Mysterio went for the pin on Grimes, but Theory pulled Rey out of the ring. Escobar attacked Theory, sending him out of the ring. Knight saw the opening and hit the Elbow Drop on Grimes, but Sheamus caught him with a Brogue Kick. Grimes hit a Diving Cave-In on Sheamus, but Mysterio caught Grimes with a Hurricanrana for the pinfall win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio.
- The Cavinder Twins were shown on the crowd watching the show Meanwhile, backstage, Tony D'Angelo & Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo met
- Austin Theory ranted at Adam Pearce backstage, telling him that he demanded a match against Santos Escobar. Pearce made the match for Theory, with Escobar & Theory set for later in the night.
- There was a video package of Brock Lesnar's attack on Cody Rhodes from the 7/17/2023 edition of Monday Night Raw.
- Trick Williams & NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes were in the crowd watching the show. After the commercial break, NXT Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton was also seen on the crowd.
Charlotte Flair vs. Iyo Sky (w/ Bayley).
Sky & Flair evaded each other's holds before Flair hit. shoulder tackle on Sky on the beginning of the match. Flair & Sky traded back-flips before Flair hit a front-leg sweep, but Sky responded by punching down Flair. Flair took control of the match, but Sky regained control by catching Flair with a Springboard Shotgun Dropkick for a near fall. Flair went for a German Suplex, but Sky slid through the ropes to send Flair crashing into the bottom rope. Flair went for a dive to the outside, but Sky evaded before hitting a Hurricanrana on Flair off the apron before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Sky & Flair continued to brawl on the outside before the two got back in the ring. Flair tried to work on Sky's leg, but Sky evaded and hit the Meteora before locking in the Crossface. Flair deadlifted Sky before slamming her with a back suplex to break the hold. Sky & Flair exchanged strikes before Flair caught Sky and hit a Fall-Away Slam, followed by a Front Flip into a Lariat for a near fall. Sky got on the top rope, but Flair met her on the top. Flair went for a Superplex, but Bayley distracted her briefly. Sky saw the opening and hit a Sunset Liger Bomb on Flair for a near fall. A vignette of Shotzi plated on the screen, which made Bayley leave the arena.
Meanwhile, in the ring, Sky went for a Moonsualt, but Flair dropped her. Flair went for a Spear, but Sky side-stepped to send her crashing into the ring post. Sky went for a Moonsault, but Flair evaded and attempted a Moonsault of her own, but Sky rolled out of the way. Sky hit La Mistica into a Crossface on Flair, but Flair reversed the hold with a Crucifix for a near fall. Flair locked in a Boston Crab on Sky, but Sky reversed it with a pin for a near fall. Sky ran the ropes, but Flair caught her with a spear for a near fall. Flair hit a German Suplex on Sky, but Sky responded by hitting a German Suplex of her own on Sky. Flair went for a Moonsault, but Sky caught her with a Shote on the top rope before hitting an Avalanche Frankensteiner on Flair for a near fall. Flair & Sky continued to exchange pins, but Flair caught Sky with the Natural Selection for the pinfall win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair.
- After the match, WWE Women's Champion Asuka attacked Charlotte Flair, locking in a Juji Gatame on Flair.
- NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton, but Butch interrupted him. Butch challenged Dominik to a match for the NXT North American Title, but Dominik said that he was not ready and that no one from NXT was there. Shawn Michaels appeared on the scene and said that he loved the idea, saying that he would talk to Adam Pearce to make it official.
- Bayley & Iyo Sky argued backstage before Bayley saw that her luggage got stabbed with the scissors through a picture of herself. Bayley & Sky left the arena.
Austin Theory vs. Santos Escobar.
Escobar controlled the beginning proceedings of the match, catching Theory with a dropkick, but Theory regained control by stomping down Theory in the corner before hitting a suplex for a near fall. Escobar hit the Tijeras on Theory, but Theory responded with a DDT for a near fall. Escobar controlled proceedings before clotheslining Theory out of the ring and attempting a Tope on Theory, but Theory side-stepped out of the way before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Theory had full control of the match before attempting a suplex onto the outside, but Escobar caught him with the enziguri kick before hitting Theory with a Tope Suicida to the outside. Escobar Escobar made his comeback against Theory before catching Theory with a crossbody for a near fall. Theory hit a jab on Escobar before hitting a Yushigoroshi on Escobar for a near fall. Theory went for A-Town Down, but Escobar floated over and hit a dropkick on Theory before getting him on the top rope. Escobar hit an Avalanche Frankensteiner on Theory before hitting the Running Knees and the Phantom Driver for the pinfall win.
Winner: Santos Escobar.
- Bobby Lashely met with NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams backstage.
NXT North American Championship Match.
Dominik Mysterio (c) (w/ Rhea Ripley) vs. Butch.
Butch leaned Dominik into the ropes, but Dominik dropped him before punching him down. Butch regained control by getting Dominik's arm before he stomped Dominik's left shoulder in front of Ripley. Butch continued to work on Dominik's arm before snapping his fingers. Dominik came to the ring and had a chain, but Ridge Holland stole it away from him, which Butch took advantage off by hitting a Release Plex on Dominik for a near fall.
Back from the break, Dominik hit a Springboard senton on Butch for a near fall. Elton Prince & Kit Wilson came to ringside to watch the match. Dominik kicked Butch in the head, but Butch responded by blasting Dominik with a forearm strike, an enzguri kick, and a PK on Dominik. Dominik went for the 619, but Butch evaded and hit a Roundhouse Kick on Dominik for a near fall. Kit Wilson attacked Holland, but Butch blasted him with a forearm. Wilson & Prince ran out of the arena. Butch got on the apron, but Ripley hit a chop block on Butch. This allowed Dominik to slam Butch's head right into the ring post for the pinfall win.
Winner AND STILL NXT North American Champion: Dominik Mysterio.
- Jey Uso & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (w/ Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa) came to the ring for the Rules of Engagement for their match at WWE Summerslam. Reigns asked Jey one final time if he wants to do this, but Jey said that he had to because he had. to get at Reigns. Reigns said that Jey would not get him because he did not get it. Reigns said that Jey was only a soldier & a pawn. Reigns signed the contract, but Jey said that they did not need a contract, saying that it was Tribal Combat now. It was revealed that the match would be a Tribal Combat, anything goes. Reigns told Jey to get up, but Jey restated that it was Tribal Combat now. This left Reigns to take off his necklace and putting it across the WWE Championship. The two shook hands and agreed to the match. Sikoa tried to attack Jey, but Reigns stopped him. Jey responded by hitting a Thrust Kick on Sikoa. Reigns, Sikoa & Hyeman fled the scene, with Jey Uso standing 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.
