WWE Friday Night Smackdown 7/28/2023

WWE Friday Night Smackdown 7/28/2023

Jey Uso is in the ring. He says, "Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city", then Roman Reigns' music. He, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman take 3 minutes to get to the ring. Roman says when he's scheduled to appear, it means he opens up the show. He said he made him the right hand man and "Main Event" Jey Uso. He said he's trying to do what he does and thinks he's the face of the company now. Roman asks him if he thinks he's the tribal chief now.

Jey said he didn't want any of that and said he believes he can lead the company and family. He said Roman broke the family and now he has to do what he has to do. He said he broke the family, The Bloodline and now Jimmy and said it's all his fault. Roman said Jey became the right hand man only because Jimmy was hurt. Roman said Jey took that from Jimmy. He said he's going to be all alone because he screwed his twin brother and said his younger brother likes him (Roman) more than Jey. Roman says he's done once he beats him. Roman said he may not be his tribal chief but will always be Roman Reigns and can do what he wants. He says Jey has nobody and nothing. 

Roman says he can't beat him then Jey said he already beat him. He said he pinned him and will do it again at Summerslam.

We get a package on the Rey Mysterio vs Santos Escobar feud.

Grayson Waller goes up to Jey Uso. He says he will probably lose at Summerslam but he will give him the Grayson Waller rub by having him on his show. He said his show will feature, "Little Jey". Jey then decks him and leaves him laying on boxes.

WWE United States Title Invitational Final Match - Rey Mysterio vs Santos Escobar

Rey got injured here

Santos rolls him up then rolls into an indian deathlock. We see Austin Theory watching in a skybox and eating popcorn. Santos leg kicks him and they slap each other. Santos is dropkicked into the middle rope but he avoids the 619. Rey then tope con hilos him and we go to break.

We return and Santos is hiptossed from the apron inn. Rey hits a top rope la silla then springboard crossbodies him for 2. Santos hits flying forearms then top rope crossbodies him for 2. Rey goes up and over into a sunset flip on Santos. Santos hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2.

Rey is weakly catapulted into the buckles and catches himself. Rey headscissors him over the top but Santos holds on and ends up getting hurricanrana'd into the apron on the floor. Rey misses a sliding splash onto the floor (which looked hilarious) then Santos topes him.

We go to another break and return with a trainer looking at Rey. They said Rey sufferred some kind of injury after taking a tope. The ref stops the match.

What we got of this was good prior to the injury. The two matched up well as expected though it was almost exhibition like at times.

Theory is seen laughing and mocking Rey from the sky box.

Bianca Belair is interviewed. She said she is ready for anything in the triple threat. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville then come in. They talk about 11, which is the amount of days they have been Women's Tag Champs. Green says they are the best women's tag champs ever and they mock Bianca for not being a champ. Green says if it's not about Bianca, it's about Charlotte. Bianca tells them not to be disrespectful and challenges them to a triple threat match. Charlotte Flair then walks in. She tells Bianca she needs to be 100% for Summerslam and says they should team up instead of doing a triple threat.

Hit Row is in the ring. Ashante says they need to talk slow so the fans can understand. Top Dolla rips New Orleans. LA Knight then comes out. LA calls Top Dolla "Uncle Phil" and says B-Fab is horny for him, which is not PG. LA says Ashante will be the next to get dropped on his head courtesy of the megastar, LA Knight. LA is on another level on the mic.

LA Knight vs Ashante "Thee" Adonis

AA hits punches and chokes him over the top rope. He then whips his neck into the rope and Top Dolla gets a cheapshot in while B-Fab distracts. LA hits a neckbreaker then nails Top Dolla on the apron. LA slams AA then jumping elbows him. He then hits a nice stunner/cutter and wins it.

It was basically a short squash but LA Knight looked good.

Jey Uso talks to Adam Pearce in the back. Pearce says Waller wants a match with Jey. Jey says Waller has been running his mouth and he'll make it nice and quick tonight, agreeing to the match.

The Street Profits are with Bobby Lashley. Bobby says Trick and Melo spoke highly of The SP's. He said they should dress like stars to be treated like stars. Ford says Dawkins needs to drop the sweats. Bobby then brings in a rack of suits and says it's on him.

Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair vs Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green

Charlotte looks 60 now facially. Bianca side headlocks Green and shoulders her. Bianca flips over Green then Flair kicks Green. Flair bangs Green's head off the mat with her knees then rolls her and throws her from it. Flair does the Flair strut then Bianca slams Green. Sonya is slammed too then Bianca handsprings into a standing moonsault on her for 2.

Sonya hits gut shots on Bianca then Bianca backflips then dropkicks Sonya. Bianca hits corner punches and flips over Greene. Green is thrown out then Sonya hits a stiff pump kick on Bianca for 2. We go to break and return with Sonya doing a headlock/cravate on Bianca. Bianca rolls out of a 1v2 then reverses into a double suplex. Bianca tags Flair in and Flair top rope crossbodies both opponents. Flair chops Green then fallaway slams her. Flair forward cartwheels into a lariat for 2. 

Flair spears Green and rolls up Sonya. Sonya is fallaway slammed then Bianca shoulders and dropkicks Sonya. Bianca suplexes Sonya then hits corner punches. Sonya grabs Bianca by the hair then takes a spinebuster. Green blocks Bianca's handspring and is pushed into the top buckle. Flair tags herself in and facekicks Green while Bianca has her up for the KOD. Flair then picks up the win after they argue.

There was nothing wrong with this. It was a basic tag that pushed some issues with Flair/Bianca, though that could have been done a little better. They could have argued more and messed up some spots or something.

Bayley is in the back and laughing. Io Sky goes up to her and asks why she left her last week. Bayley said she was getting a key and said it was best they got their stuff and got out of there due to Shotzi. Bayley then picks up a piece of paper in her bag that has Shotzi's shaven hair on it. Asuka then walks in with  some 70's style shirt. Asuka says something about Io cashing in her briefcase. Io says she respects her and will leave WWE Women's Champ at Summerslam.

Adam Pearce and LA Knight talk in the back. LA said he's making a big mistake by not having him on the show. He said he needs to be in the Slim Jim battle royale. Sheamus, Butch and Ridge Holland walk in. They say "Banger after banger" and LA says the only banger they will get is one upside down the head from him. Pearce says LA and Sheamus should fight next week to see who walks into Summerslam with more momentum.

Grayson Waller is warming up and is interviewed. He said he didn't deserve the cheapshot he got from Jey. He said he was just trying to be a good bloke. He says Jey is too worried about Roman and says he's not ready for the Grayson Waller Effect.

We see clips of Karl Anderson being attacked by Karrion Kross. They say it's a proxy attack on AJ Styles.

Karl Anderson talks with his crew in the back. He says tonight is personal and he wants AJ to let him do this on his own. AJ agrees.

Karrion Kross vs Karl Anderson 

Karl hits punches on him then hits euros. Karl comes off the 2nd rope with a neckbreaker for 2. Karl hits more punches then Scarlett grabs his leg. Kross hits him from behind then hits corner strikes. Kross saito suplexes him then running forearms him. Kross hits the final prayer (pumphandle into a swinging ddt) and wins it.

It was a short squash here. I didn't have any issues with it.

Kross chokes him after, talking about AJ Styles then The OC come and make the save for Karl. 

Jey Uso vs Grayson Waller

Roman and crew are watching this on TV in the back. GW is backed up into the corner early then shoulders him over. Jey hits a flying forearm and drops him. GW dropkicks him in the knee then kneels on him in the corner. Jey slams GW and stomps him. GW drops knees on him and rakes his face.

Jey hits a spinning enzugiri then Roman and crew come out. Jey is distracted and takes a leg lariat. We go to break and return with GW putting a cravate on him. Jey chinbreakers GW then GW walks the 2nd rope with an elbow on him. GW pounds on him then Jey hits some shots. GW spinebusters him and goes for his version of the people's elbow. Jey avoids it and samoan drops him.

Jey misses a running back elbow then GW tries to roll in but is superkicked. Jey stares at Roman then spears GW. Jey talks trash to Roman from the apron then top rope crossbodies him for the win.

It was another short one. Nothing wrong with it, but certainty, not half of what they could have done together. 

Solo Sikoa stomps Jey after. Jey avoids his samoan spike and superkicks him. Roman gets in and is speared. Jey is shocked at what just happened and then Solo pushes him off the top rope. Solo uranage's him then Jey takes a spear + samoan spike combo. Bloodline stands over Jey after and Roman says the title is what its all about. Jey then takes another spear + samoan spike combo and is left laying to close the show.

Overall thoughts: There were mostly a bunch of short and compact matches here. While that kept the show moving and kept things from getting boring, nobody went all out and none of the matches came close to what they could have been with proper time.