SmackDown's fallout from Crown Jewel takes place tonight from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Amid uncertainty within the faction, Bayley will address the future of Damage CTRL. Kairi Sane made her return to WWE at Saturday's Crown Jewel event, helping IYO SKY retain the WWE Women's Championship against Bianca Belair.
Sane last appeared on WWE TV during a July 2020 edition of Raw when she was attacked by Bayley backstage. From there, Sane left the company, only to return last weekend.
Also set for SmackDown is a match between LA Knight and Grayson Waller. Knight is coming off a loss to Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel. Waller and Knight traded social media barbs this week, which led to the match being made.
After weeks of their respective factions feuding, Bobby Lashley is set to face off against Carlito. Lashley said on last week's SmackDown that he was looking to beat the cool out of Carlito, who only recently returned to WWE.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone in to kick off the show. Kevin Owens's music hit and Owens made his entrance, complete with a tie around his neck because he's on commentary duty tonight (Corey Graves is off because of the recent birth of his child). Rey Mysterio's music hit and the entire LWO made their way to the ring.
The LWO segment
I'm all for the Santos Escobar heel turn to finally commence, and this was the next step toward that. For my money, he's a better heel than a babyface and for everything he's been through with both Mysterio and the LWO along the way, his turn should pack more of a punch than some of the random turns WWE enjoys doing.
Mysterio welcomed everyone to Friday Night SmackDown. Mysterio recalled his match against Logan Paul at Crown Jewel. Mysterio said Paul stole his U.S. title. Mysterio said he believes Paul wouldn't have beat him if it wasn't for the brass knuckles Paul used to win the match. Mysterio said he will do whatever he can to get a rematch with Paul. Oddly, Carlito's music hit and Carlito made his way to the ring (I thought he was in the LWO, too?).
Carlio snatched the microphone out of Mysterio's hand and asked Rey if they aren't going to talk about Crown Jewel. Carlito said Mysterio shouldn't blame Paul and instead, Rey should blame the person who left the brass knuckles on the ring canvas, Santos Escobar. Carlito and Escobar yelled at each other as a result of this. Escobar said he was out of there, threw a fit and left through the crowd. Bobby Lashley's music then hit and Lashley made his entrance for the first match.
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Bobby Lashley defeated Carlito [9:27]
The match wasn't much and featured a whole lot of no offense from Carlito. Even the moves he was given … well, they weren't much. Lashley winning made a little bit of sense, though I do worry that Carlito made his WWE comeback only to occasionally lose upper mid-card guys. Maybe a feel-good return win would have been fun? Anyway, the post-match angle was what this was all about and it was fairly interesting. Escobar didn't do the menacing, devilish turn; instead, he was pushed first and perhaps he took his rebuttal a bit too far. But even as he left ringside, he wasn't a glaring, cocky bad guy. He has a point or two. Families fight sometimes and this may have just been a family fight (though if that's the case … damn, Rey, you need to stop fighting with family on WWE programming, but I digress). I was hoping for more fire from Escobar once this moment happened, but I'm also willing to see where this goes as a whole before casting entire judgment.
The two locked up to begin things. Carlito dropkicked Lashley, but Lashley came right back with a clothesline. B-Fab was shown watching the match backstage. Lashley landed a series of shoulder-blocks and a neck-breaker. Lashley kept the upper hand with a series of strikes and a boot to Carlito's neck. Lashley went for the Hurt Lock early, but Carlito blocked it and hit a cross-body. Lashley no-sold some clotheslines and went for a vertical suplex, but Carlito blocked it and landed one of his own. Carlito then clotheslined Lashley over the top rope. Lashley blocked an attempt from Carlito to slam him into the ring steps and Lashley instead rammed Carlito onto them. Lashley then ran Carlito into a ring post and the show went to a commercial break.
When the show returned from break, Lashley had Carlito perched on the top rope. Carlito fought his way out of it and landed a shoulder-block off the top rope. Ashante Thee Adonis was shown approaching B-Fab backstage and B-Fab and Ashante walked out of the frame to talk. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Lashley and Carlito were on the outside of the ring. Carlito rolled Lashley back into the ring, but Montez Ford grabbed Carlito's leg. As a result, the Street Profits and Wilde and Toro of the LWO brawled. Escobar reappeared out of nowhere and fought the Profits. Amid the chaos, Lashley speared Carlito for the win.
After the match, the Profits and Lashley beat up Carlito. Escobar hopped onto the apron, but Escobar watched the beatdown instead of helping Carlito. Mysterio's music hit and Mysterio ran down to the ring with a chair in hand to clear the ring. Mysterio scolded Escobar for not helping on the post-match attack. Mysterio and Escobar jawed at each other and Mysterio pushed Escobar, yelling that the LWO is all family. Escobar looked like he was going to leave the ring, but instead turned around and attacked Mysterio. Escobar rolled Carlito out of the ring and Mysterio slapped Escobar, forcing Escobar to the ground. Mysterio approached Escobar to help him up, but Escobar ran Rey into a ring post. Escobar dropkicked the ring steps because Rey's leg between the steps and the post. Escobar yelled at Mysterio, saying he loved Rey. Zelina Vega ran down to the ring and pulled Escobar off Mysterio. Escobar walked to the back blaming Rey to end the segment.
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– Escobar was seen leaving the arena and Escobar was stopped by Cathy Kelley, who asked why Escobar did what he did. Escobar said, "Rey had it coming." The show returned to the commentary table and Owens said even though he's turned on a bunch of people during his career, he would never turn on Rey Mysterio. From there, we got a video recap of the IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair match from Crown Jewel.
The Damage CTRL segment
I … I … I don't know about this one. For Sane to just blindly forgive Bayley for that attack three years ago without much development or thought feels like lazy booking/writing. Maybe this will lead to Bayley being on her own, but for now, it feels unimaginative. Besides: Seeing Sane visually leading SKY and Kai in the entrance way packed more of a punch than the Bayley/SKY/Kai team does these days. I have hopes this will turn around sooner than later, but only time will tell. All four women are super talented. This, though? I don't know if that's the right way to go, if only because I can't fully believe in a lot of it right away because it feels so simple. I hope WWE proves this short-team response from me wrong.
Bayley referenced the video package and said she has had a plan and vision for SKY and Dakota Kai. Bayley said everything she wanted to come true, came true. That included the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, Ms. Money In The Bank, and the WWE Women's Championship. The crowd gave her the "What?!" treatment and Bayley called the crowd idiots. Bayley tried to play into the "What?!" stuff, but it didn't quite work and Bayley asked SKY to come to the ring to talk like adults.
Kai and SKY appeared with Kairi Sane in the middle of them. The three got into the ring and grabbed microphones, with the exception of Sane. Bayley asked what Sane was doing out there. SKY interrupted Bayley and said SKY had a plan, too. SKY thanked Sane for helping her retain the title. Bayley said she wanted the best for SKY and Kai and then Bayley threw to a video of the attack Bayley laid on Sane in 2020, which ostensibly forced Sane out of WWE in storyline. Bayley said she was concerned that Sane was around. Kai interrupted Bayley and said they brought Sane in to make Damage CTRL stronger. Kai said they wanted to take some of the weight off Bayley.
Kai said Damage CTRL is stronger than ever and it should be a celebration. Sane had a microphone and said she respected Bayley as the leader of Damage CTRL. Sane said she forgave Bayley for the attack three years ago. Sane, SKY and Kai went for a hug and Bayley acted like she wasn't into it as the four hugged. Bianca Belair's music hit, then, and Belair spoke to the trio from the entrance way. Belair said she doesn't forgive Damage CTRL. Belair said tonight, she's going to "have to whoop all three of y'all." Charlotte Flair's music hit and Charlotte walked out to stand with Belair. Belair said someone else was upset that Sane joined damage CTRL. Asuka's music then hit and out came Asuka, who spoke in Japanese. Asuka then said that nobody is ready for Asuka in English. Turns out, a six-woman tag team match will now happen later in the show.
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– A Dragon Lee vignette aired.
Dragon Lee defeated Cedric Alexander [5:49 of TV time]
I'm convinced they only ran this back because Alexander is the only person on WWE's main roster who can take Dragon Lee's finisher in a natural, pretty way, but that's enough cynicism from me (for now). For nearly six minutes, this was a lot of fun, and I tend to get a kick out of "This is awesome!" chants for matches like this in WWE anymore because it makes me think … "Hey, they could book more of this type of stuff if they want to," but they never seem to do that. If Dragon Lee vs. Cedric Alexander becomes the go-to match for both guys on SmackDown every other week for the next six months, I won't complain. Let's just see the entire match next time, guys. Please?
The match was joined in progress from commercial and Alexander hit a dropkick before landing a tope suicida on Lee, who was on the outside. Back in the ring, Alexander hit a tornado DDT for a two-count. Alexander chopped Lee. Alexander landed a running elbow and a dropkick to a sitting Lee for a two-count. Lee came back a bit and Alexander was on the outside. Lee landed a dive onto Alexander and rolled Alexander back into the ring, where Lee hit a sit-out power-bomb for a two-count.
Lee ran and Alexander and Alexander launched Lee halfway across the ring and into the turnbuckles. Alexander followed that up with an elbow and the two traded strikes. Alexander kicked Lee in the head to end that, but Lee came back with a German Suplex and a kick to the head of his own. There was a weird Spanish Fly-type move that Lee took the worse of and Alexander got a nice near-fall out of it. The crowd chanted "This is awesome!" Lee kicked Alexander in the head again and dropped his knee pad to run at Alexander, but Alexander caught him with a Michinoku Driver. Alexander went for a Lumbar Check, but Lee countered and Kneed Alexander. Lee then hit his finisher for the win.
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– Kevin Patrick said Rey Mysterio is being treated at a "local medical facility," and from there, a video package chronicling the Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio match from Crown Jewel aired.
The LA Knight/Grayson Waller segment
Two of WWE's best talkers doing their best talking. The belief, it seems, was that Knight could lose to Reigns and get his heat right back as long as they gave him a microphone for 10 minutes on the following SmackDown, and that's exactly what happened. Waller was good foil for him, too, and while the ensuing match might not be a mat-classic, it will at least serve the purpose of keeping Knight in the spotlight. Presumably, at least. Let's see how it goes.
LA Knight came to the ring and stood there, soaking in cheers from the crowd. Knight then gave them the "Let me talk to ya" catchphrase. Knight said Crown Jewel didn't go exactly as he hoped for. Knight said he could say he was sorry for not living up to the expectations. The crowd chanted "That's OK!" Knight said he did what he said he was going to do – he took Roman Reigns within an inch of his championship and he had Reigns for the 1-2-3, if not for Jimmy Uso. Knight told Reigns to give Jimmy a raise and a promotion because if Jimmy wasn't there, the world would be looking at a new champion right now. Knight said he wasn't going to the back of the line because he's not done with the Bloodline and the Bloodline isn't done with him. Knight said he will own the WWE championship and he went on a little more until Grayson Waller's music hit and Waller walked out.
Waller said Knight was embarrassing himself. Waller said Knight was blaming everyone but himself. Waller said Knight needed honesty. Waller said the truth is that Knight is maybe just not the guy. Waller said he knows someone who is the guy. Knight called Waller "Kangaroo Jackass." Waller asked Knight if Knight really thought he belonged in the ring with Roman Reigns. Knight responded with a question of his own: Does The Grayson Waller Effect sound like an STD? The crowd yelled "Yeah!" Knight called Waller a creep and said Waller shouldn't be allowed within 50 yards of a high school. Knight mocked Waller for his social media stuff. Knight told Waller that Waller was dealing with an angry Knight and Knight hit Waller with his microphone. Knight spilled Owens's water onto Waller near the commentary table and did his catchphrase with the crowd.
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LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller [11:22]
Man, you can tell that the WWE decision-makers really do believe in Grayson Waller. Waller got so much shine here, it was almost refreshing to see (because you knew there was no way Knight was losing this coming off the Crown Jewel defeat). Good on Knight, too, for being so generous. In all, this was a fine-enough television match. Nothing special. Nothing egregious. You forget how green Waller should be at this point in his career because Waller keeps looking like he belongs. Good on him for it.
Knight had control early and worked Waller's shoulder. Waller retreated to the outside and Knight went after him. Knight slammed Waller onto the apron and rolled Waller back into the ring. Knight hit his slingshot shoulder-block for a one-count. Knight landed a swinging neck-breaker for another one-count. Waller hit a discus elbow and then took control with a series of strikes. Ultimately, Knight back-body-dropped Waller over the top to the outside. Knight slammed Waller's head off the commentary table repeatedly. Waller came back by running Knight into the commentary table as well as the ringside steps. Waller then landed a sliding clothesline and the show went to a commercial break.
When the show returned, Waller still had control inside the ring, working a chin-lock. Waller ran Knight into the ring post and worked a single-leg crab over the top turnbuckle. Waller then worked a single-leg crab in the middle of the ring. Waller went to the second rope and hit an elbow for a two-count. Waller went back to the well, but Knight moved and Waller hit the canvas. Waller went for a rolling cutter, but Knight countered into a back suplex. With the two back on their feet, Knight landed a series of punches and, before long, a leaping clothesline, a Russian Leg Sweep and a DDT for a two-count. Waller jumped at Knight, but Knight caught Waller for a bodyslam. Knight then hit his elbow and the BFT for the win.
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– After a couple video packages, it was revealed that Solo Sikoa will be back on SmackDown next week.
– Austin Theory and Grayson Waller walked down to ringside to confront Kevin Owens. Theory pushed Owens. Waller dumped a bottle of water onto Owens. Owens chased Waller and Theory up the entrance way. Owens went for a Stunner on Theory, but instead gave a Stunner to Waller. I suppose this means Owens will now be suspended, via Nick Aldis's stipulation for Owens working commentary.
– Jimmy Uso was shown backstage and said if LA Knight wants him next week, he can have him. Jimmy then got on the phone to the Tribal Chief. There wasn't much that came from it. Either way, next week will feature LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso. Also next week, Solo Sikoa will return.
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Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY & Kairi Sane) wrestled Charlotte, Asuka & Bianca Belair to a no-contest [8:16]
The match was irrelevant, so let's get into what matters. I don't know, man. I'm kinda into it. It's like the NWO before it started to suck. Five of the best women WWE has to offer should run all over everyone else, and I'm here for it (as long as they … well … do it better than latter-day NWO). This was here only to set up Damage CTRL as a Real Deal group and it worked. Conventional wisdom this suggests a women's War Games match in some way, though I do wonder who the other babyfaces will be (Jade Cargill is one, but who might be the other?). All told, this was very much a worthy main event segment and I'm intrigued to see how things go from here. Good stuff, really. All the way around. Good stuff.
Belair and Bayley started the match and Belair landed her springboard moonsault early on. Belair hit a splash on Bayley and SKY on the outside. Charlotte then hit a big boot on Sane and Asuka, Charlotte and Belair posed as the show went to its final commercial break of the night. Whent he show returned, Charlotte landed a fallaway slam on SKY, who got up and tagged in Sane. Belair then tagged in and hit a shoulder-block to take Sane down. Belair unloaded on Sane and hit a vertical suplex. Belair tried to Suplex Sane over the top rope, but Sane blocked it and pretty much all of Damage CTRL either distracted the referee or attacked Belair so they could get the upper hand.
Sane went to the top and hit a flying punch for a two-count on Belair. SKY tagged in and then Bayley tagged in and worked over Belair. Bayley ran at Belair, but Belair disposed of Bayley and went for a hot tag, but Sane pulled Charlotte off the apron. Bayley rushed back into the ring and hammered away at Belair. Belair eventually hit a spine-buster on Bayley to get the hot tag to Asuka, but … wouldn't you know it, Asuka pulled away and misted Belair. Asuka then kicked Belair in the head and hugged Sane. SKY, Asuka and Sane hugged and Bayley hugged them, too. Charlotte tried to fight back, but the bell rang, signaling a no contest. Shotzi ran down to the ring, but Damage CTRL got the best of her, too. Sane landed the Insane Elbow on Belair and the heels, complete with Asuka as a member of the faction, stood tall to end the show.