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KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN TV REPORT
JULY 21, 2023
NEW ORLEANS, LA. AT SMOOTHIE KING CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON FX
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
[HOUR ONE]
-After “Then, Now, Forever, Together,” they cut to the arena with the camera panning the audience. Michael Cole introduced the show and said the arena was jam-packed. He said Summerslam is just over a week away.
-Mike Rome introduced “Main Event Jey Uso.” Jey stood center-ring as fans cheered. He said, “Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city!” The Bloodline music then played and Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa walked out. Cole explained that a Tribal Combat match means anything goes and there are no countouts, which wipes away the champion’s advantage Reigns would otherwise have. Cole said Jey Uso “has a chance a week from tomorrow.”
Reigns entered the ring and asked N’rleans to acknowledge him. When fans chanted “Uso!” Reigns said the Usos are popular because of him. He told Jey he’s called “the right-hand man for a reason.” He scolded Jey for acting like the Tribal Chief by opening a show he’s on. He asked if he thinks he’s the Tribal Chief now. Jey said he never wanted any of that. He said he used to watch Roman’s back “and do what family does, support him, man.” He said he did it, no questions asked, because he believed him. He said he thought Roman could lead the company and the family. “But you broke the family,” he said. “And now I have to do what I have to do, Uce.” He said he broke the family and The Bloodline and Jimmy. “It is all your fault,” he emphasized.
Reigns told booing fans to “shut up, just shut your mouths.” He told Jey that his jealousy brought all of that on. He said when Jimmy got hurt, Jey asked for a championship match because he’s selfish. He said the only reason Jey became the right-hand man is because Jimmy was hurt. “You didn’t have a chance,” he said. “You took that from him.” He said he screwed his twin brother. He said his younger brother likes and respects him (Roman) more than Jey. “So when I beat you, you’re done,” he said. “We’re going to wipe you off the face of this Earth. You’re going to be wiped from history.”
Reigns then asked Jey to imagine if Jey beats him. Fans cheered. He said that’d mean he’s no longer the Tribal Chief, but he’ll still be Roman Reigns. He said he can still do whatever it is he wants to do. He said Jey has nothing. He said it blows his mind that he still wants to stand there and do it. “You can’t beat me,” he said. He yelled that Jey can’t beat him and he doesn’t understand how he thinks otherwise.
Jey said he thinks he can beat him because he already has and he’s the only one. He put his hand around the back of Reigns’s neck and leaned in and said he’d beat him again. Reigns’s nostrils flared. Jey’s music played and he left. Reigns soaked up his words as Solo looked sternly toward Jey as he walked away.
-They went to Cole and Wade Barrett at ringside. Cole said Reigns spun a wonderful yarn, perhaps rewriting history, but it did not phase Jey Uso. Barrett said Jey beat Reigns before, but it took an illegal move. He said Reigns and Jey can use any illegal move they want at Summerslam. Cole threw to a sponsored video recap of the U.S. Title situation.
(Keller’s Analysis: That final beat where Jey looked Reigns in the eyes while holding the back of his head was a key moment because it helps fans believe Jey can win since he’s confident he can. As usual, all four in the ring were stellar here whether they were speaking or just reacting. A key to all of this working is that Reigns sells Jey’s points and Jey sells Roman’s points as having validity when they talk about their history and the hierarchy.)
-Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance. [c]
-Backstage, Jey was clapping and smiling. Greyson Waller said he loves his passion out there. He said he’ll probably still lose, but he’ll give him the “Greyson Waller rub.” He invited him, after losing to Roman, to be on his talk show. He called him “Little Jey.” Jey mock-laughed and then punched him. Waller fell backward onto a rolling crate and grabbed his jaw.
(1) REY MYSTERIO vs. SANTOS ESCOBAR – U.S. Title Invitational Final
Barrett said Jey is now his favorite wrestler after he hit Waller. Escobar’s ring entrance took place. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. They showed Austin Theory watching from a luxury suite. Cole said he was joined by “all of his friends”; he was sitting alone. After a tentative start, at 2:00 they started striking each other. Escobar bailed out to ringside. Rey landed a running flip dive onto him and they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, they showed Theory watching and eating popcorn. Cole called him a narcissist. A “This is awesome!” chant broke out a few minutes later. Escobar lifted Rey onto his shoulders, but Rey head scissored him over the top rope to the floor. He then sent Escobar into the ring apron hard. Rey hit a belly slide splash under the bottom rope onto the floor. Escobar then did a running dive and tackled Rey at ringside. They cut to a break at 10:00. [c]
Back from the break, a medic was checking on Rey. Cole said Rey appeared to suffer whiplash when he landed at ringside. The ref called off the match and said Escobar was to be declared the winner. Escobar consoled Rey who entered the ring and hugged him afterward. Escobar bowed in front of Rey out of respect. Theory stood and smiled. Cole said Theory would defend against Escobar in two weeks on Smackdown.
WINNER: Escobar via forfeit in 12:00.
-Kayla Braxton wished Rey a speedy recovery and then interviewed Bianca Belair backstage. She said she stays ready so she doesn’t have to get ready and no one has an advantage in a Triple Threat match. In walked Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green who said it’s been too long since they were appreciated. Green said they’re the best Women’s Tag Team Champions ever. Sonya took offense to the spotlight being on Belair and Charlotte, instead of them despite Belair not having any belts. Belair said they could have their own match. Charlotte walked in and said she wants Belair 100 percent at Summerslam, so she offered to team with her tonight. Belair said, “Girl, eh eh.” Charlotte said that makes her want to do it even more, so she’s going to talk to Pearce. Green and Deville weren’t pleased by the developments. [c]
-Hit Row stood mid-ring and insulted the fans. L.A. Knight walked out to his music and got a big crowd pop. “Let me talk to ya’!” he said. Fans roared with cheers and chanted his name. Knight said he knew Will Smith was in the game, but he didn’t know Uncle Phil became a rapper. Top Dolla threw a fit in the ring. Knight told Ashante that a lot of people claim to be undeniable and inevitable, but “I live it.” He said Ashante can be the next to be dropped on his head by the mega-star L.A. Knight.
(2) ASHANTE “THEE” ADONIS (w/Top Dolla, B-Fab) vs. L.A. KNIGHT
The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Barrett told Cole not to rap again live on the air. Adonis took early control. A loud “L.A. Knight” chant rang out. Dolla took a cheap shot at Knight as B-Fab distracted the referee. Adonis went for a Stinger splash, but Knight moved. Dolla stood on the ring apron. Knight knocked him off the apron and then hit a charging Adonis with a powerslam. He followed with a running elbowdrop and his Blunt Force Trauma leaping stunner for the win.
WINNER: Knight in 90 seconds.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s a crowd-pleasing segment to keep fans somewhat satisfied until Knight’s next big feud is established at or right after Summerslam.)
-Backstage Adam Pearce approached Jey and said Waller has been running his mouth and demanding a match with him. Jey agreed to face him and said it’ll be real quick.
-Charlotte made her ring entrance. [c]
-Postcard shots aired of New Orleans.
-Bobby Lashley was sitting with The Street Profits in what looked like a nice lobby area. He said they’re stars and should be treated like stars but that means they should dress like stars. Angelo Dawkins didn’t like the taste of the red wine. Montez Ford told Dawkins that he’s talking about him. Dawkins tried to defend his sweat pants. A woman rolled in a rack of high-end clothes and Dawkins seemed game to try to up his look.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m liking the idea of Lashley and the Profits together. The Profits were getting stale and Lashley’s character has been all over the place the last year or so. This could be good.)
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[HOUR TWO]
(3) BIANCA BELAIR & CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE
The bell rang three minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 3:00 with the heels in control. [c]
Charlotte hot-tagged in after the break and rallied against Deville. She went for a Figure-Eight, but Deville kicked her head-first into the middle turnbuckle. Charlotte tagged in Belair who went on a flurry of offense against Deville. She landed a leaping vertical suplex and then kipped up. Sonya ducked under Belair as she was punching away at her in the corner. Green blind-tagged in. Belair landed a spinebuster, but Green entered and tripped Belair and set up an UnPrettyHer. Charlotte yanked Deville out of the ring and then blind tagged in. She kicked Green off of Belair’s shoulders. Belair took exception because she was about to do her K.O.D. Charlotte waved her away and scored the three count. Belair kept yelling at Charlotte from ringside as Charlotte unapologetically celebrated. Charlotte said, “We both won!”
WINNERS: Charlotte & Belair in 10:00.
-Bayley was gathering her things in the locker room. She said she is getting them ready to leave because of Shotzi. Bayley then pulled out a ransom-style note that said, “Bayley! See you soon!” Asuka entered and said she is going to face two of the best ever at Summerslam. She said if they are thinking of cashing in, she’ll make her regret it. She danced a bit. Iyo Sky said she respects Asuka, but it doesn’t matter who wins at Summerslam because she’ll walk away as the champion. Bayley flinched as she walked past Asuka to follow Sky as she walked away. Cole said Bayley is spooked. [c]
-Pearce was on the phone telling someone that he hopes to have the entire Summerslam battle royal participants figured out by next week. Knight walked in and said after last week’s debacle, he said it’s a huge misstep to not have the fastest rising star on Summerslam. He said he should be in the battle royal. Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch walked in. Sheamus said they talk about banger after banger after banger. Knight heard enough and said the only thing that’s going to get banged on is the side of his head. Pearce suggested Knight and Sheamus battle one-on-one next week. Knight and Sheamus went eye-to-eye.
-They went to Cole and Barrett at ringside who talked about the Jey-Waller incident.
-Backstage, Waller told Cathy Kelley that Jey is so stressed about Reigns and The Bloodline, he’s not ready for him.
-Karrion Kross made his ring entrance with Scarlett. They showed on split-screen Kross attacking Karl Anderson backstage two weeks ago. [c]
-A.J. Styles, Michin, and Luke Gallows gave Anderson a pep talk. Anderson said they always have his back, but his match against Kross is personal, so let him do it on his own. Styles agreed.
(4) KARL ANDERSON vs. KARRION KROSS (w/Scarlett)
Cole said Rey being evaluated in the back by their doctors and would have updates over the weekend on their social media channels. The bell rang 31 minutes into the hour. Anderson and Kross battled back and forth at the start. Anderson landed a leaping second rope neckbreaker for a two count at 1:00. The ref separated them in the corner. Scarlett grabbed at Anderson’s legs, giving Kross an opening to attack him. He then landed a Saito suplex. Anderson clutched his knee. Kross hit him with the Kross Hammer and then his Final Prayer finisher for the win.
WINNER: Kross at 2:00.
-Kross applied a Kross Jacket afterward. Styles, Gallows, and Michin charged out. Kross and Scarlett bailed out. Fans chanted, “A.J. Styles!”
-They cut backstage to Reigns, Solo, and Heyman. Heyman stared at Reigns as Reigns was lost in thoughts as usual. Solo stood cross-armed behind them. They watched Jey’s entrance on a monitor set-up backstage. [c]
(5) JEY USO vs. GREYSON WALLER
Waller made his ring entrance after the break. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Waller mouthed off at Jey before the bell. Cole talked about the Jey-Reigns verbal exchange earlier as Waller got in some early offense. At 4:00 the Bloodline music played. They walked out. Waller attacked a distracted Jey from behind. They cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Waller had Jey grounded mid-ring. Reigns sat at ringside. Heyman and Solo flanked him. Jey hit a spear and eyed Reigns as Cole said he was taunting Reigns with his own move. He then a hit frog splash for the win.
WINNER: Jey in 11:00.
-As Jey celebrated, Solo attacked him in the ring. He stomped away at him and went for a Spike, but Jey ducked and then superkicked Solo. Reigns charged into the ring. Jey speared him and let out a big celebration yell. The crowd roared with cheers. He positioned Reigns and then set up a top rope frog splash. Solo shoved him off the top rope. Boos rang out. Solo then gave Jey a uranage. Reigns stood and got psyched up and then speared Jey as Solo gave him a Spike. Jey was down on his back. Reigns hit him with a second spear seconds later. Jey was face down on the mat and not moving. The Bloodline music played as Reigns held the red lei above his head
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