Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 7/7/2023 edition of Friday Night SmackDown from Madison Square Garden 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 (7/7/2023).
- The Usos, Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman Host The Trial of "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
- AJ Styles (w/ "Michin" Mia Yim) vs. Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett).
- WWE United States Championship Match: Austin Theory (c) (w/ Elton Prince & Kit Wilson from Pretty Deadly) vs. Sheamus (w/ Butch & Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes).
- The Grayson Waller Effect with Edge.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- After a video recap of the events that happened on the 2023 edition of WWE Money In The Bank, Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York before transitioning into the opening segment.
The Trial of "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) came to the ring for The Trial of Roman Reigns. They celebrated beating Roman Reigns on Money In The Bank but were immediately interrupted by Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa. Heyman was about to present the evidence in favor on Reigns, but The Usos told Heyman to shut up. Heyman said that no one would make him stop talking, but Sikoa picked up the microphone and threw it out of the ring.
After that drama, The Defendant of the night, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, came to the ring for his trial before the commercial break. Reigns admitted that he got pinned on Money In The Bank, but refuted by saying that he was still "The Tribal Chief". Reigns was bamboozled as to why he was even brought out for Tribal Court when Reigns was the one to invoke the trial, but Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso refuted by playing a video package of Reigns manipulating The Usos in multiple events. The crowd chanted at Reigns "YOU FUCKED UP", but Reigns stated that he did not before running down on Jey for playing a montage of his worst moments before saying that he is the one responsible to lift all the Fatu-Anoa'i Families. Reigns stated that he did not need the money or the power before saying that all Jey wanted was Reigns's position before he said that he was done with all of it. Reigns gifted Jey his collar and kneel before Jey, but Sikoa responded by attacking The Usos.
Sikoa teased putting on Reigns's red necklace, but Reigns & Sikoa instead continued to beat down The Usos. Reigns & Sikoa trapped Jey with the middle & the bottom rope before Reigns blasted Jimmy Uso with his championship repeatedly, followed by hitting Jimmy with the steel steps. Jey finally freed himself and attacked Reigns, but Sikoa caught Jey with a Samoan Spike before tossing Jey over the broadcast table. Sikoa hit a Splash on Jimmy through the broadcast table. Jimmy was stretchered to a hospital.
WWE United States Championship Match.
Austin Theory (c) (w/ Elton Prince & Kit Wilson from Pretty Deadly) vs. Sheamus (w/ Butch & Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes).
The first match of the night began with Sheamus firing with punches on Theory before getting him in a Fireman's Carry, but Theory evaded. Theory hit a boot kick, but Sheamus responded with the Irish Curse before clotheslining him out of the ring and hitting an Ax Handle out of the ring before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Theory tried to go for the 10 Beats of the Battering on Sheamus, but Sheamus caught him with a series of back elbows before hitting a Slingshot Shoulder Tackle followed by a Knee Drop off the top rope for a near fall. Sheamus hit a vicious body shot on Theory, but Theory responded by hitting a Back Elbow for a near fall. Theory stomped down Sheamus before climbing to the top rope. Sheamus met Theory on the top rope before getting Theory and attempting an Air Raid Crash, but Theory evaded and hit the UFO on Sheamus for a near fall before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Sheamus went for the Razor's Edge, but Theory evaded before attempting a Rolling Dropkick, but Sheamus caught him with a powerbomb. Prince tried to interfere, but Sheamus caught him with the 1- Beats of the Battering. As Butch & Holland tried to takeout Prince, Sheamus was distracted by Wilson and he caught him with a Brogue Kick. Theory took advantage of the opening and got a Schoolboy Roll-Up on Sheamus for the win.
Winner AND STILL WWE United States Champion: Austin Theory.
- Grayson Waller hosted a new edition of "The Grayson Waller Effect" with Edge as the special guest. Waller told Edge to make his announcement, but Edge was bamboozled. Waller asked Edge why he was even back in WWE, but Edge responded by saying that he was back for the fans. Edge then reminisced on his experiences in New York City, but Waller interrupted by saying that Edge was retiring. Edge was, once again, bamboozled by Waller before saying that he was not retiring and that Waller it was time for Waller to sink or swim. Edge revealed that he would have a match before revealing that he would face Waller tonight.
AJ Styles (w/ "Michin" Mia Yim) vs. Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett).
Kross hit a lariat on Styles to begin the match before firing away with punches on Styles, catching him with a back elbow and a forearm strike. Kross caught Styles with a Vicious Kross Hammer before locking in the Kross Jacket, but Styles reversed it with a Stunner followed by a Pele Kick. Styles was sent into the apron before Scarlett tried to get involved, but Yim attacked Scarlett. Kross got Styles in a Fireman's Carry, but Styles evaded before catching Kross with the Phenomenal Forearm for the pinfall win.
Winner: AJ Styles.
- WWE Women's Champion Asuka came to the ring to cut a promo, but was immediately interrupted by Bianca Belair. Belar & Asuka brawled in the ring before Charlotte Flair came to the ring and attacked Belair. Asuka was about to dive on Flair, but Iyo Sky & Bayley attacked Asuka and caught her with the Moonsault. Sky was about to cash in, but Bayley pulled Bayley out of the ring before Flair booted Asuka in the head. Asuka left the ring with her title.
Edge vs. Grayson Waller.
Waller & Edge began the match with a stare-down as Edge was serenaded by the crowd. The two locked up before Edge went for a headlock, but taller evaded before doing a dance. Edge caught Waller with two shoulder tackles before hitting two Pump Handle Gut Busters, a boot kick, and a Gut Wrench suplex on Edge. Edge & Waller exchanged punches before Waller leaped over Edge, but Edge caught him and hit a Fall-Away Slam on Edge. Edge set himself up for a Spear, but Waller caught him with a Knee Strike before tossing Edge out of the ring and catching him with a Sliding Lariat on the outside before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Waller hit a Flying DDT on Edge for a near fall. Waller locked in a Cravat on Edge while driving some knee strikes on Edge's face. Waller continued to lock in the Cravat, but Edge escaped the hold before hitting a series of forearm strikes, but Waller caught him with a knee lift to the abdomen. Waller climbed to the top rope, but Edge meet him there before Waller slammed Edge to the mat. Waller went for the Diving Elbow Drop, but Edge blocked it with his knees. Edge hit a big boot & a Flapjack on Waller before Edge powerbombed Waller onto the ringside floor.
Edge got Waller back in the ring before catching him with a High Crossbody for a near fall. Edge went for. DDT, but Waller blocked it before catching Edge with a big boot and hitting a Flipping Killswitch on Edge for a near fall. Edge ran the ropes, but Waller caught him with a Rolling Elbow on Edge's jaw for a near fall. Waller went for a Suplex, but Edge evaded and hit the Edge-cution on Waller for a near fall. Edge got back in the corner and went for the Spear, but Waller evaded before getting out of the ring. Waller went for his Rolling Stunner, but Edge caught him with a Spear for the pinfall win.
Winner: Edge.
- Paul Heyman informed Roman Reigns that Jey Uso came back to the arena and was looking for him. Reigns said that he would be in the ring waiting for Jey.
- The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman) came to the ring to wait for Jey Uso. The Usos's music played in the arena as Sikoa & Reigns waited for Jey. Jey matched through the crowd area before catching Sikoa with a splash over the barricade. Jey got a chair and attacked Reigns with the chair before catching Sikoa with a Superkick. Jey fired away on Sikoa with a chair as Reigns & Heyman fleed out of the ring. Jey grabbed the WWE Undisputed Title and said "it's like that now". Jey called trial by combat on Reigns before officially challenging Reigns for the title to "whoop his ass" one more time. The crowd erupted 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.
