The latest episode of WWE SmackDown, also known as Friday Night SmackDown, is scheduled to air on August 11, 2023, from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. Following the most recent pay-per-view event, WWE SummerSlam 2023, which took place on August 5, 2023, will be the first episode of WWE SmackDown. Let us have a SmackDown recap by watching WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, and Grades.
In our location is the Scotiabank Saddledome, where we film the “Who’s better than me? The song “I don’t see nobody!” plays. In addition to Corey Graves, Kevin Patrick greets the audience and introduces tonight’s “Hail to the Chief” segment with Roman Reigns.
Match Card:
Match | Result |
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka | Disqualification |
AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross | AJ Styles |
LA Knight vs. Top Dolla | LA Knight |
Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio | Rey Mysterio |
WWE SmackDown Results: Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
Charlotte Flair theme plays, and “The Queen” enters the ring dressed as usual. Time for the opening game of the evening. We cut to the commentary booth as she enters the ring, and Patrick and Graves are there to welcome Michael Cole to the three-man crew for tonight’s broadcast.
After the long video package has concluded, Asuka’s theme will play. For our inaugural match on SmackDown, “The Empress of Tomorrow” steps onto the stage. She moves toward the ring while donning her outrageous mask. She takes a seat within the circle and gets ready for some singles play.
The bell now rings, signaling that we may now move forward with this. The background noise of the crowd’s “WOOO’s!” can be heard as these two circles one another. While they are standing, Charlotte isolates Asuka’s arm and briefly controls it.
Asuka manages to break free and begins to attack “The Queen” with rigid forearms. Asuka is eventually run over by Charlotte with a powerful shoulder tackle as she exits the ring. Asuka is lifted by her and thrown into the ropes. She jump frogs her, but Asuka follows up on the other side of the ring, coming off the ropes, with a drop kick. As Charlotte tries to stand up, Asuka kicks her again.
Flair retaliates and pins Asuka to the ground. She tries to isolate the leg, but Asuka manages to get away. Asuka appears and stops Charlotte as she approaches the top rope. She uses force to drag her down and attempts to get the cover but only manages to get two. She flashes a cruel smile and puts her green tongue out at the camera. On that point, the action resumes with “The Empress of Tomorrow” in the offensive driving seat as we switch gears and enter a mid-match commercial break.
Interrupts Damage CTRL
On that point, the action resumes with “The Empress of Tomorrow” in the offensive driving seat as we switch gears and enter a mid-match commercial break.After the intermission, Charlotte Flair is shown retaliating and taking the initiative offensively. She springs to her feet and launches a spear at Asuka.
She then stands up and prepares to kill Asuka, but is deterred as she sees Damage CTRL leaving. As Iyo Sky, Bayley, and Dakota Kai make their way down to the ring, Asuka has taken advantage of Charlotte’s brief moment of distraction and is now in charge of the action. Bayley ascends the ring platform.
While Charlotte pursues her, Asuka turns around and kneels on both knees. Iyo Sky jumps off the ropes and dropkicks them both, disqualifying them twice. Damage CTRL keeps abusing Asuka and Charlotte Flair after the bout. They leave, and Dakota Kai enters the ring to give the crowd some cheap heat by announcing Iyo Sky as the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Result – Double Disqualification
Grade – C
Post Match
Following the bout, Bayley and IYO further beat Flair and Asuka down while Dakota Kai serves as SKY’s hype girl.
There is a Santos Escobar interview.He promises to defeat Austin Theory tonight, but Theory sneaks up on him, attacks, and breaks his leg in a road case!
WWE SmackDown Results: AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross
When he starts to boot in the corner, Styles stops him and locks him in a Muta Lock. Kross shoots him off, lariats and elbows in the corners, and covers for a near fall. Right hands drive AJ into the ropes, hard whip sternum first in the corner, and Styles explodes out! We head into break after setting AJ up top, taking him down, and playing Death Valley Driver on the announce desk!
Styles attempts the Phenomenal Elbow but is stopped by Karrion with the KrossJacket! The Phenomenal One tries to counter into a pin while struggling, but Kross holds on and suffocates him to death! Kross is too huge and in the way when AJ attempts to moonsault inverted DDT him into the turnbuckles. Kawada kicks with a 450 splash off the top.
Karrion’s foot is placed on the ropes BY SCARLETT! Mia Yim arrives to disarm Scarlett, but Bordeaux kills her instead! The Saito Suplex connects, AJ avoids the Krosshammer, the Enzuigiri connects, and Scarlett is on the ringside apron as the Styles Clash is attempted! She is yanked off by Mia and thrown over the desk. To the Styles Clash again.
Victor – AJ Styles
Grade – B
Austin Theory Interview
Austin Theory was being interviewed backstage. According to theory, he’s disappointed that he can’t defend his title tonight. Escobar will be allowed to compete tonight, Rey Mysterio approaches Theroy and informs him. Before a WWE representative holds Mysterio back as Theory walks away, the two’s argument intensifies.
Edge’s Segment
The audience is yelling his name as we cut to Edge in the ring. Edge claims he was required to appear in front of the Calgary supporters. Edge claims that he wants to compete against Sheamus in a one-on-one bout in Toronto the following week. Edge claims that most people are unaware of the extensive history he and Sheamus share.
Edge claims that Sheamus is the reason he is currently in the ring. Edge claims that Sheamus was the one who stoked his motivation to pick up wrestling again. Edge claims that when he was getting ready for his return in 2020, he called Sheamus and convinced him to come train with him.
For a second, Sheamus says he wants to be serious. He claims that in 2004, he came to a turning point in his professional life. Sheamus claims that when WWE visited his hometown, he went to try and obtain advice from the WWE talent. Except for Edge, who provided Sheamus with the best advice he’s ever heard and bought him a pint of Guinness, Sheamus claims that everyone else in the room ignored him.
Sheamus conveys that if their 2004 chat hadn’t taken place, Sheamus wouldn’t be standing here either. Sheamus asks the fans what they think as the “yes” chants erupt before accepting Edge’s request for a match the following week. The two shake hands before Sheamus draws Edge close and says he hopes he didn’t make a mistake.
WWE SmackDown Results: LA Knight vs. Top Dolla
For his next match against Top Dolla, LA Knight enters the ring to a standing ovation from the crowd. In the opening moments of the bout, Ashante trips up LA Knight outside the ring, causing Top Dolla to score a shoulder tackle. While the referee is off-task, B-Fab and Ashante each fire rounds at LA Knight.
n the corner, Knight kicks after flipping out of a power slam. LA Knight performs a bulldog from the middle rope, followed by his trademark elbow drop, before hitting the BFT and scoring a three-count.
Victor – LA Knight
Grade – B
Following the match, LA Knight takes the microphone and declares that whether he is on Raw or SmackDown, no one will be confused as to whose game it is. LA Knight then commands the fans to scream his name.
Backstage
Adam Pearce clears that Escobar has been medically cleared and Escobar states he will fight tonight.
Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits. According to Lashley, he sees boundless potential in the two. Ford claims that although last week went well, the work is not yet complete. Lashley claims that SmackDown needs some fresh leadership.
WWE SmackDown Results: United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs Austin Theory (c)
Austin Theory again approaches from behind as Escobar enters the arena for the title battle, and Theory uses a chop block to eliminate Escobar. Theory enters the arena and claims that Escobar is too weak for him to successfully defend his belt. Adam Pearce predicts that the crowd will see their title bout as Theory defends against Rey Mysterio as WWE officials check on Escobar. Before hitting Theory with a huricanrana outside the ring, Mysterio runs into the ring and kicks Theory outside.
Mysterio ascends to the top rope, hits a senton, and then launches himself off the middle rope with a flying cross body. Theory kicks Mysterio in the face and attempts to take him down with the A-Town but Mysterio manages to get away and land an enziguri. Mysterio kicks Theory into the ropes, then attempts the 619 but Theory grabs the legs. Mysterio then manages to escape and kicks Theory into the ropes once more. This time, Mysterio manages to hit the 619, and after the splash, he covers for the three count to win the new US Championship.
Victor – Rey Mysterio
Grade – B +
WWE SmackDown Results: Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso’s conversation was interrupted by Jey Uso
Reigns asks Heyman where Jimmy is after telling Calgary to acknowledge him. Heyman denies knowing and claims not to have seen the individual. As Jimmy enters the ring in front of Reigns, Heyman, and Sikoa, Reigns inquires as to whether they have spoken.
When the group notices him, Jimmy enters the ring. Reigns reminds Jimmy that he owes him money for SummerSlam and challenges him to choose a price. Roman is told by Jimmy that he has nothing to offer him and that his actions at SummerSlam have nothing to do with him. Reigns informs Jimmy that he must be confused before asking him what he wants once more.
Jimmy asks Jey Uso to kick him in the face and give the pain. Jey turns his back to Jimmy and Jimmy giving up makes his way out of the ring. Reigns laughed and highlighted that SummerSlam was the perfect time for Jimmy to tell Jey he holds his back. Then directs Jey Uso to acknowledge him, following this night is about Roman Reigns not about Usos.
Jey shot Superkick to Roman and Jimmy
Jey superkicks Reigns after concluding his point. Sikoa jumps him and prepares to hit him with the Samoan Spike, but Jey manages to get away and score a superkick. Then, as Jimmy ambles to the back, Reigns hits Jey with a Superman Punch and prepares to launch a spear. He charges, but Jey counters with a superkick and his own Spear.
Jimmy is stopped after he grabs a microphone, and he moves closer to him while holding out his arms. Jimmy reciprocates and prepares to give him a hug, but Jey sneaks up on him and hits him with a superkick. After that, he declares his departure from The Bloodline, “SmackDown,” and WWE and leaves through the crowd.
Grade – A
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