WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - July 28th, 2023

[LionDen]

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso come to SmackDown as they prepare for Tribal Combat at SummerSlam

What interaction, if any, will the two Superstars have with each other? If they do come face-to-face, will things once again turn volatile? Who will seize momentum just eight days before The Biggest Event of the Summer?

Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.

Jey Uso is in the ring.

Jey says that he is in your city, but before he can continue . . .

He is interrupted by Roman Reigns' music and Roman makes his way to the ring with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa, but Paul holds the Tribal Lei.

Jey stands in the corner, looking disinterested while Roman stares at him and waits for the microphone from Paul.

Roman tells "Nawlins" to Acknowledge him.

Roman moves to one side of the ring so Jey can get out of the corner.

Roman asks everyone if they want to know why they like the Usos. Roman says it is because of him. Roman says Jey must have forgot. If the Tribal Chief is supposed to appear, that means he opens up the show. Why did they call you the 'right hand man'? Roman says he made Jey that. Why do they call you 'Main Event Jey Uso'? Roman says because he made him that. Now you are trying to open his show and be the head of the table. Do you think you are the face of the company? For three years, you have tried to be the head of the table?

Jey says he never wanted any of that. He wanted to support him and be there as family. He was there through the trenches for three years. Jey says he believed Roman. He says he thought Roman could lead this company and this family. You broke this family and Jey says he has to do what he has to do. You broke the family, the Bloodline, and Jimmy. It is all your fault.

Roman tells everyone to shut up. When Jimmy got hurt, what did you do? You asked for a title match because you are selfish. The only reason you became the Right Hand Man was because Jimmy was hurt. If he wasn't hurt, you didn't have a chance. You took that from him. You screwed over your twin brother and your younger brother respects Roman more than his own brother. When you are beaten, you are done. You won't be part of this legacy or this history. Done.

Roman says we should think hypothetically and what if you beat him? That means you take this (the title) and this (the Tribal Lei). You take everything from him. Roman says he is no longer the Tribal Chief because of you. Roman says he will always be Roman Reigns. He will be able to do whatever he wants to do. You have nothing. The fact that you want to do this blows his mind. Roman says that Jey can't beat him and he wants to know why Jey thinks he can beat him.

Jey says it is because he already beat Roman. He says he pinned Roman and he is the only one to do it. At SummerSlam, Jey holds Roman by the back of his neck and says he will beat Roman again.
Jey walks out of the ring.

We go to commercial.


Finals of the United States Championship Collection of Matches to Determine Austin Theory's Future Opponent
Rey Mysterio vs Santos Escobar

They shake hands before the match starts. They lock up and Santos with a waist lock and rollup for a near fall. Santos with a front face lock but Rey with a wrist lock into a hammer lock. Santos works on the leg and he applies a Trailer Hitch. Santos rolls Rey around the mat.

We see Austin Theory in a sky box with a lot of beverages and popcorn.

Santos gets a near fall. Santos with a wrist lock and a waist lock take down. Rey misses a forearm and Santos with a kick to the leg. Rey slaps Santos and Santos slaps back. Rey drop kicks Santos into the ropes but Santos escapes and goes to the floor. Rey with a somersault senton onto Santos on the floor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Rey sends Santos to the apron and hip tosses him back into the ring. Santos sends Rey to the apron and Rey with a shoulder and punch. Rey goes up top and hits a seated splash. Rey with a springboard cross body for a near fall. Santos with a flying shoulder tackle followed by a second one. Santos is sent to the apron again. Santos with a kick to the head and he goes up top. Santos with a cross body for a near fall. Rey tries for kicks form the mat but Santos blocks them. Rey with a sunset flip for a near fall. Santos with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker to Rey for a near fall. Santos sets to catapult Rey into the corner and Rey lands on the turnbuckles. Rey with forearms.

Santos gets Rey on his shoulders and Rey with a head scissors to take Santos over the top rope to the floor but Santos holds on. Rey sends Santos into the apron with a rana. Rey misses a sliding splash when Santos moves. Santos with a suicide dive to Rey.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Rey Mysterio is being checked out by the medical staff. We see footage of the suicide dive and the impact Rey made on the ground.

The referee announces that she is declaring that Rey is not able to continue.

Winner: Santos Escobar (by referee stoppage)

After the match:
Santos hugs Rey and shows Rey respect. Austin Theory gets up from his seat in the suite. Austin faces Santos in two weeks for the US Title.


Backstage:
Kayla is in the back with Bianca Belair. Kayla asks Bianca about her match against Asuka and Charlotte. Bianca says the numbers don't favor anyone in a Triple Threat Match but she is ready. Chelsea Green shows up and says she is not big on numbers but she mentions 11. Sonya says they have been champions for 11 days and they haven't had a celebration yet. Sonya says she is tired of hearing about Bianca since she is not a champion. Then they talk about how if it isn't Bianca, it is Charlotte. Bianca suggests a match and then Charlotte Flair shows up. Charlotte calls Sonya and Chelsea bullies and she says she wants Bianca at her best and suggests that they work together as a team. Bianca does not want to do it so Charlotte says she is going to talk to Adam about it.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Hit Row is in the ring and they suggest that they talk slowly for the people. Top Dolla says Roll Tide.

LA Knight makes his way to the ring and he wants to talk to ya.

Knight says he knew Will Smith was in the game, but he didn't know that Uncle Phil is a rapper. Knight says that Hit Row insulted New Orleans. Knight says that B-Fab looks a little horny for him. Knight says a lot of people claim to be undeniable and inevitable. You will be the next to be dropped on his head by the Megastar.


Ashante Thee Adonis vs LA Knight

Ashante punches Knight and chokes him in the ropes. Adonis chokes Knight and punches him. B-Fab gets on the apron to distract the referee and Dolla punches Knight. Ashante gets a near fall and he misses a splash into the corner. KNight with a clothesline and Dolla gets on the apron and he goes down after a punch. Knight with a power slam and the Yeahple's Elbow. Knight with a kick and BFT for the three count.

Winner: LA Knight


Backstage:
We go to Jey Uso in the back and he is checking his phone. Adam Pearce stops by and says that Grayson Waller is looking for a match with him. Jey says he is yeet for the match.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
The Street Profits are with Bobby Lashley. Bobby says that Trick and Carmelo talked highly about them and they should have because The Street Profits are stars and they should dress like stars. Dawkins does not realize Bobby is talking about him and Bobby says he has a gift for Dawkins and someone brings out some clothes for Dawkins. Lashley says it is on him.


Non Title Match
Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville (c) vs Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair

Bianca is surprised she is starting against Green. Bianca with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Bianca taunts Green and Charlotte makes the tag and kicks Green. Flair with a snap mare and she drives Green into the mat head first. Charlotte rolls Green around the ring. Flair struts and walks into a boot. Charlotte with a kick in the corner and Bianca tags herself in. Bianca with a wrist lock and Green stomps on the foot and applies a wrist lock. Bianca with a slam and Sonya tags in. Bianca with a slam to Sonya. Bianca with a handspring moonsault for a near fall. Sonya with punches in the corner and the referee warns Sonaya. Belair floats over on an Irish whip and hits a drop kick.

Bianca goes to the turnbuckles for punches and she flips over Green. Bianca sends Green to the floor and Sonya with a flying boot for a near fall.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Sonya with a reverse chin lock on Bianca. Bianca with a snap mare and Sonya with a boot to the midsection. Green tags in and Bianca with an elbow to Sonya and a boot to Green. Bianca tries to get to the corner but Sonya stops her. Green with a kick and they go for a double suplex but Bianca blocks it and hits a double suplex of her own. Flair makes the tag and she goes up top and hits a cross body on Sonya and Chelsea. Charlotte chops Green many times. Charlotte with a fallaway slam. Flair with a handspring clothesline for a near fall. Flair wtih a waist lock but Green with an elbow. Sonya tags in and Charlotte with a spear to Green and she avoids a boot from Sonya for a rollup and a near fall.

Charlotte with a fallaway slam and she sets for a figure four leg lock but Charlotte is sent into the turnbuckles. Bianca tags in and connects with shoulder tackles and a drop kick. Bianca with a suplex. Bianca with punches in the corner but Sonya escapes and grabs the hair. Green tags in and Bianca with a spinebuster to Sonya. Green trips Bianca and sets for UnprettiHer. Flair trips Sonya. Bianca gets Green up for KOD but Charlotte tags in and connects with a boot for the three count.

Winners: Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair


Backstage:
Bayley is in the locker room and Iyo shows up with her briefcase. Iyo wants to know why Bayley left and Bayley says she was trying to get to valet. Bayley mentions that Shotzi got to her stuff. Bayley shows something in her bag from Shotzi. Bayley wants to leave but Asuka stops them. Asuka talks about her match at SummerSlam and she tells Iyo if she is thinking about cashing in at SummerSlam, she will regret it. Iyo says she respects Asuka but it does not matter who wins at SummerSlam because she will be the Women's Champion. Iyo and Bayley leave.

We go to commercial.

We are back and there will be a Battle Royal at SummerSlam featuring wrsetlers from Raw and Smackdown.

Backstage:
Adam Pearce is on the phone and he says he hopes to have the roster for the match figured out. LA Knight enters and he wants to talk. He says the biggest misstep is not having the biggest star on the show. There is only one man to put in that battle royal. Sheamus shows up with Butch and Ridge. Sheamus says you need to fight like your life depends on it. Knight says Sheamus will get banged in his head. Pearce says they are in the Battle Royal and then Knight and Sheamus will have a match to see who has momentum going into SummerSlam.

Backstage:
Grayson Waller is in the back and Cathy asks him about whether he is worried that he provoked Jey. Waller says he did nothing to provoke Jey. Tonight,Jey is going to pay. He is so stressed about Roman and the Bloodline so he is not ready for the Grayson Waller Effect.


Karl Anderson (w/ Luke Gallows) vs Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett)

Karl with an elbow and punch. Kross with a punch. Karl with a chop and uppercuts. Karl with a chop and Kross with a knee. Kross runs into boots in the corner and Karl with a neck breaker off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Karl with punches and the referee pulls Karl out of the corner. Scarlett distracts Karl and Kross kicks Karl in the knee. Kross with a clothesline and rolling elbow in the corner. Kross with a Doomsday Saito. Kross with a running forearm to the head. Kross with a pump handle into Final Prayer for the three count.

Winner: Karrion Kross

After the match:
Kross applies the Kross Jacket. Kross calls out AJ and AJ makes his way to the ring.


Backstage:
We see Roman, Solo, and Paul in the special locker room.

We go to commercial.

We are back and next week, Sheamus faces LA Knight. In two weeks, Santos Escobar faces Austin Theory for the US Title.


Jey Uso vs Grayson Waller

They exchange some words before locking up. Jey backs Waller into the corner and Jey with a clean break. They lock up and Waller with a side head lock. Waller with a shoulder tackle and Jey with a forearm. Waller drop kicks Jey in the knee and Waller with kicks and he chokes Jey. Waller with a forearm to the back. Waller with a head butt and he forgot that you don't head butt Samoans. Jey with a slam and a boot to the head. Waller with a knee to the midsection followed by a forearm and knees to the ribs. Waller rakes the eyes. Waller blocks a kick and Jey with a dragon whip. Waller falls into the corner and Jey sets for a running hip strike, but Roman Reigns' music plays and out come Roman, Paul, and Solo.

Waller with a leg lariat.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Waller with a cravate while Roman sits in the aisle and Paul and Solo stand next to him. Jey with punches and he puts Waller on the turnbuckles. Jey with punches and Waller with forearms. Waller goes for a springboard elbow drop and gets a near fall. Waller with forearms to the back of the head. Waller misses a jumping leg lariat. Jey with a punch and Waller with a spinebuster. Waller sets for the People's Elbow but misses it. Jey with a Samoan drop. Waller avoids a running hip strike but Jey with a super kick when Waller gets back in the ring. Jey with a spear and he looks at Roman. Jey goes up top and hits a frog splash for the three count.

Winner: Jey Uso

After the match:
Solo attacks Jey and kicks him. Solo sets for a Samoan Spike and Roman gives the okay. Jey avoids the spike and he hits a super kick. Roman gets in the ring and Jey with a spear to Roman. Jey goes up top and Solo pushes Jey off the turnbuckles. Solo with a uranage to Jey. Solo picks up Jey and Roman is ready to cause some damage to his cousin. Roman with a spear while Solo hits the Samoan spike.

Roman asks Jey if this is what he wants. He tells Jey he cannot handle it.

Roman looks around and he hears the crowd remind him what happened at Money in the Bank so they hit another Spear and Spike combination.

We go to credits.

[LionDen]

Very uneventful opening IMO lol. Maybe more action will happen the Smackdown before Summerslam.

[LionDen]

Cool ending but no surprise. here was the action I wanted between the two. lol Good show.