On August 25, 2023, WWE hosted a new episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
The show was headlined by Jimmy Uso making his SmackDown Debut & the newly crowned WWE United States Champion Rey Mysterio facing Grayson Waller in a Non-title match. The full results & highlights are listed below.
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
WWE SmackDown (8/25/2023).
- Michael Cole welcomed the audience to the show, with the entire WWE Roster being on the ramp to pay tribute to Windham Rotunda (famously known as Bray Wyatt) & Terry Funk with the 10-Belt Salute.
- A video package highlighting the greatest moments of Bray Wyatt's wrestling career was shown. The video included Wyatt winning the WWE Championship, the rise of The Fiend and the Firefly Funhouse, his WWE Return at the 2022 edition of Extreme Rules, and more. After the video, the crowd sang Wyatt's famous "He's got the whole world in his hands" lyric before the camera transitioned into Wyatt's rocking chair.
- There was a video showing members of WWE Superstars paying tributes to Terry Funk. Cody Rhodes was announced to pay tribute to Terry Funk later tonight.
- Rey Mysterio def. Grayson Waller.
- After Mysterio hit the 619 on Waller, Austin Theory tried to interfere but Santos Escobar caught Theory with a leaping Thrust Kick. This allowed Mysterio to hit a Slingshot Splash for the pinfall win.
- There was a video showing social media posts of WWE Superstars paying tribute to Bray Wyatt.
- Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Bayley & WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky) were interviewed backstage ahead of Sky's title defense against Zelina Vega. Bayley said Sky is a once in a generation before telling everyone to buckle up and enjoy the ride because it was Iyo's era.
- WWE Women's Championship Match: Iyo Sky (c) (w/ Bayley & Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL) def. Zelina Vega.
- Cody Rhodes came to the ring to pay tribute to Terry Funk. Rhodes detailed a story of Terry Funk calling his dad, Dusty Rhodes, an "egg-sucking dog" at an Airport in Denver. Rhodes then stated that Superstars had been called many names, but few had been called "Cowboys" in the best possible manner like like Funk & Bray Wyatt.
After a video package highlighting the career & life of Terry Funk, Rhodes introduced the Terry Funk Hardcore Match to pay tribute to the Texas Icon, pitting The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins). - Terry Funk Tribute Hardcore Match: The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) def. The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland).
- Bobby Lashley watched the match from ringside. After Butch accidentally hit Lashley with the edge of a table, Lashley pushed Butch off the top rope before catching him with a Spear on the outside. This lead to Ford & Dawkins hitting a Sky High/ Neck Breaker combo on Holland for the pinfall win.
- After a vignette of Tozawa beating The Miz from Monday Night Raw, The Miz was interviewed by TMZ where he stated that he would make sure LA Knight did not make it to WrestleMania 40 if Knight continues to run his mouth.
- LA Knight was in the ring to cut a promo ahead of his match against Finn Balor in the Main Event of the show. Before addressing The Miz, Knight reflected on his feud with Bray Wyatt. Knight said that sometimes your biggest foes could be your biggest mentors, and he stated that Wyatt was the one who prepared him for everything. Knight said that he was emotional after seeing the pictures of Bray's family and the crowd becoming Wyatt's firefly before saying: "Thank You Bray".
After that tribute, Knight proceeded to run down on The Miz, saying that he had always been second fiddle to the real stars before saying that he would show Miz whose game this really is. Before ending, Knight made one more tribute to Wyatt by telling The Miz the following: "The next time you see me... RUN". - LA Knight def. Finn Balor.
- After the match, Bray Wyatt's Lantern was in the center of the ring as a photo of Bray flashed in the titantron. Wyatt's lantern remained on at the end of the broadcast.
Thank you, Bray.
He's got the whole world in his hands...
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
Thank you, Bray Wyatt. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aLSay3lYh1
.@CodyRhodes celebrates the incredible career of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk with the WWE Universe. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/R87trnY73K
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
"You know what he was doing? He was getting me ready for ANYTHING." @RealLAKnight gets emotional as he pays tribute to Bray Wyatt. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KOV8wwrENE
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
The Fireflies are shining extra bright tonight.
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
Thank you, Bray Wyatt. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/F2GQwY3byy
- 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.