Courtesy of WWE
SMACKDOWN 9/22/23
-Jeffrey T. Fountain, Contributor
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On this edition of Smackdown, live from the sold out Desert Diamond in Phoenix, Arizona, we got a heavy Bloodline centered show and some big spots from John Cena, the second GOAT in WWE next to Roman Reigns, according to Paul Heyman.
Smackdown opens with John Cena, and the wild Phoenix crowd chanting, “Cena”. While the crowd is chanting “Cena”, the announce team, Corey, Graves, Kevin Patrick, and Michael Cole give us a run down of last weeks Smackdown that featured a surprise visit from the Great One, The Rock.
Cena is discussing all the jobs he’s had since coming back to WWE. He’s been a talk show guest, host, correspondent, referee, official, figure who enforces the match. The crowd is chanting, “What?”, after each thing he says until he runs out of jobs. He’s been to Hershey, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Denver, CO and multiple Premium Live Events and they have all been sold out but tonight is special and it’s special because he wants a match, but he needs the crowd's permission. The crowd erupts cause they want to see Cena and the Five Moves of Doom. He says he’s angry at the Bloodline. Angry enough to fight both himself but he’s lucky because he’s found a partner. A “Phenomenal” partner. AJ Styles’ music hits, and the crowd starts chanting “AJ Styles”. AJ starts, “Let me get this straight, you want to see AJ and John vs. the Bloodline?” The crowd erupted into “Yes” chants. AJ, says “Bloodline, If you want some come get some!”
Jimmy's music hits and Jimmy and Solo come out minus Paul Heyman come to the edge of the ring and taunt AJ and John. They jump down and go back to the back saying, “Nah, No Sir.”
Backstage Segment:
John and AJ are pleading with Adam Pierce about a match with the Bloodline. Adam says things with Bloodline are complicated cause when you deal with the bloodline you deal with Paul Heyman. Pierce says he'll locate Heyman and see if he can get this done.
Match 1
LWO (Mysterio/Santos w/ Zelina) vs. Street Profits w/ Bobby Lashley
Angelo and Escobar start things out and some big offense out the gate from Escobar. Tag to Rey and some double team from LWO, Angelo tags Montez and some big offense from Rey. Montez to the outside and Rey attempts baseball slide but Angelo pulls him out the way. Escobar comes to check on Rey and Angelo tosses Escobar like a rag doll. Back from break, Rey and Montez are still in the ring and Montez is hitting some hard offense on Rey. Rey goes for a tag and Montez stops him and some unique offense from Rey and makes tag to Escobar. Escobar is lighting Ford up and quick pin attempt by Santos for a near fall. Montez quick cover from the splash and a kick out. Zelina is trying to get crowd hyped but seem kinda dead for this match. Escobar pull top rope avalanche Hurcanrana and Montez is hurt. Santos hits a double knee in the corner and Montez gets a tag to Angelo. Angelo hitting big offense on Escobar and Escobar reaches for a tag to Rey. Rey sets up for 619 and Angelo hits a skyhigh to counter. Montez comes in to help and is tossed over the top rope, Rey gets tossed out and The Almighty hits a big slam on the outside of the ring and tosses Rey back in to the ring for Angelo to finish. Angelo hesitates and goes to put Rey in the skyhigh and Rey reverses and pins Dawkins for the win. Almighty walks off pissed at the street profits from the loss and not finishing the match when they had the chance.
Back from a break and WWE is showing a replay of last week's Smackdown. The Rock segment last week has already garnered 153+ million views in just a week. Austin Theory makes a appearance and tears up the announce table and he’s yelling, “Those are my views, not The Rock's!”
We also see a prerecorded video package from “The Unholy Union”, Alba Fire and Isla Dawn. They are talking about the curse on the womens tag division and asking, “Now, who would go and do a thing like that?”
Backstage Segment
Austin Theory is arguing with Adam Pierce with him saying you cant hijack a show cause your feelings got hurt. Brawling Brutes interrupt and make fun of Austin for getting slapped up by the Rock. Grayson Waller interrupts saying they don’t know what a star looks like. Adam Pierce makes a match with Grayson and Theory vs Brawling Brutes. Looks like its Fight Night!
Backstage Segment
Street Profits in locker room with a aggravated Bobby Lashley. Bobby says he wants everything back including the suits and the watches. He says, “If you cant finish the job you can sit in catering!” We see Adam Pierce finding Paul Heyman and trying to have a conversation but nothing is heard.
Match 2
Asuka vs. Iyo Sky (Womens Championship Match) First meeting in WWE
Before Match starts, Charlotte’s music hits and she joins the announce team ringside. Collar and elbow tie up and they are off to the races for what should be a athletic match with lots of big spots by the two ladies. They are calling this a dream match. Lots of big spots in the early going with some top rope offense from the champ and big moonsault to the outside and Asuka moves out the way and Iyo lands and rolls through and is met with a kick to the face from Asuka. Back from a break and they are perched on the top ropes and a big drop kick to Asuka and another top rope drop kick and follow up with a double stomp and a cover attempt. Iyo is completely in control and Asuka pulls off the ropes and the ladies are fighting in the corner. Asuka with a big super plex off the top rope and a quick cover Iyo out at 2. Both women laying in the middle of the ring getting a breather and now both up and fighting and a big kick from Asuka and a quick 2 count. Iyo off the ropes for a quick 2 count and a german suplex from Iyo into a pin attempt. Asuka reverses into some submission attempts and some offense from both women and they are both down recovering. Both women on their feet and Asuka to the top rope with a missile drop kick. Asuka with some heavy strikes to the champ into a pin and a big 2 count. Asuka going for another submission in a arm bar and Asuka is working on the arm of Iyo and Asuka to the top rope and Iyo with a drop kick off the ropes and Asuka hits the floor on the outside. Asuka makes her way back out side and goes for a inside out power bomb and Asuka blocks and Iyo ducks out the way and Asuka kicks the ring post. Iyo with big moonsault from the ropes onto Asuka.
Back from the break and Iyo is in control of Asuka and Asuka is fighting back and into a roll up for a quick pin attempt. Iyo with a german suplex with a bridge for a pin attempt and Asuka kicks out at 2.
iyo goes for a cross face and grabs the rope but pulls her away and still applying the cross face. Asuka reverses into the Asuka lock and Iyo rolls her for a quick pin attempts and Iyo kicks Asuka and a quick pin attempt. Asuka off the ropes with a missile drop kick and a pin for quick 2 count. Both ladies are in the middle of ring on knees landing strikes, Asuka rolls Iyo into a arm bar and Iyo fights out and Asuka gets her in a Asuka lock and gives up the submission and goes again for another submission attempt. Iyo turns it around for a quick pin attempt and Asuka goes for the Asuka lock again. Bailey is trying to help Iyo cheat and Charlotte kicks the shit out of Bailey to stop the interference but the slight interference gives Iyo the chance to recover and hit the over the moonsault on Asuka to retain the Women's Championship.
Backstage Segment
Solo, Paul Heyman and Jimmy Uso are with Adam Pierce with the contract for the tag match between the Bloodline and John Cena and AJ Styles. The match isn’t happening tonight and will be at Fast Lane, Jimmy says it looks good and they'll be in ring to sign it later tonight. Paul says, “Who authorized this?” and they need approval/authorization from the Tribal Chief. Solo says, “Don’t worry about it and after tonight there will be nobody to fight us at Fast Lane.”
WWE has a prerecorded segment with the Yes Boys (Pretty Deadly), Kit and Elton are at an Rehab Facility and they give us one of the funniest segments of the night. Pretty Deadly are a talented tag-team and I’m looking forward to their return to the squared circle.
ITS FIGHT NIGHT!
Match 3
Brawling Brutes vs. Austin Theory/Grayson Waller (A Town Down Under) Butch and Theory start it off and Butch is laying it on Theory with some hard offense but Theory comes back with a big clothes line. Quick tag to Waller and some big knees to Butch and Butch grabs Wallers hand and wrecks his fingers. Tag to Ridge and a big swinging neck breaker and a big stalled brain buster. Ridge is hitting some hard offense on Waller and a quick tag to Butch and he goes off the ropes and Theory holds the ropes and Butch falls out the ring. Holland and Butch deliver the 10 beats...Butch outside on Waller and Holland to Theory inside the ring and the Brawling Brutes are in control.
Back from break Theory is in control of Butch and hammering big lefts off a blind tag. Quick tag to Waller and they continue to beat on Butch. Double team on Butch and Holland is trying to get Butch back into it. Waller attempts his on 10 beats of the bowery and Butch reverses and hyper-extend the fingers and makes the tag to Ridge. Holland putting the heavy offense on Waller and a quick pin on Waller and he’s out at 2. Waller tags in to Theory and a double chop block on Ridge. Quick pin to Butch and he breaks it up and Waller landing big shots on Butch. Big rugby tackle by Ridge on Waller and big power slam on Theory into the pin out at 2. Ridge is favoring his knees and Butch goes for a moonsault off the top on Waller. Theory goes for a town down and ridge reverses with a big Alabama slam. Ridge turns Theory over for a Boston crab and Butch is stopping Waller from getting into the ring with a sleeper hold. Waller runs Butch into the ring and recovers. Waller hits a rolling stunner on Ridge and Theory hits a town down for the 1, 2 and 3. Grayson and Austin remain undefeated.
After the break and Adam Pierce is in the ring for the contract signing. This match will be one of the main events at Fast Lane. The first super star to the ring is one of the greatest of all time, John Cena and he immediately signs the contract.
Adam Pierce announces the phenomenal one and his music hits. He isnt coming out and the camera cuts to the backstage area and Jimmy and Solo are beating the hell out of AJ Styles. John is running to the back to help AJ but Solo hits a big splash on AJ from the backstage equipment and WWE officials are trying to get to AJ, who is trapped behind some big storage cases. Jimmy and Solo make their way to the ring and AJ is out and laying on what appears to be a broken table.
Back from the commercial break and AJ is on the stretcher going into the ambulance. Paul Heyman makes his way to the ring and we see the OC with AJ by the ambulance and the OC tell Cena, they told him not to get involved with the Bloodline. Jimmy and Solo make their way to the ring and the crowd is maliciously booing them and Solo clears out the ring of the table and chairs. Heyman has the contract and a mic in his hand, ladies and gentleman my name is Paul Heyman and the crowd is booing. Paul says, “You can boo my kosher touchas.”
The contract is signed by John Cena, the 2nd greatest of all time but his partner didn’t sign the contract. Jimmy grabs the mic and crowd is chanting, “Rocky!” Jimmy says, “Look what happens when you mess with the Bloodline, tell John to go far, far away from the Bloodline.” John runs to the ring and meets Solo with some fists and hits Jimmy with a shoulder block. Jimmy is back up and hits Cena with a superkick and Cena quickly recovers and goes for a Attitude Adjustment. Jimmy gets out and sets up Cena for a Samoan spike. Jimmy and Solo lay the boots to Cena, Jimmy goes to the ropes and gives John his “you can’t see me” and hits an Uso splash.
Smackdown Takeaways
-This Smackdown fell short compared to last week with The Rock
-Cena vs. Bloodline is happening at Fast Lane but who will John’s partner be? The Rock?
-Paul Heyman is other reason the Bloodline story is still working without the Tribal Chief being present
-The last few Smackdowns have felt formulaic. Wash, Rinse, & Repeat