WWE SmackDown Results
May 19, 2023
Columbia, South Carolina (Colonial Life Arena)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go live into the Colonial Life Arena to hear the music of the Bloodline. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring alongside “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa.
Replays are shown from last week of Roman Reigns getting in the faces of Jimmy and Jey Uso. Jey Uso apologized to Reigns before Jimmy got pushed too far. Paul Heyman then announced that at Night of Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn would defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. The Usos were not happy they were left out of the match.
The Bloodline poses in the ring as pyrotechnics go off. The Usos are not in the ring. The three men stand in the ring as the crowd buzzes. Heyman hands the Tribal Chief a microphone. The crowd starts to boo and a “You suck” chant picks up. Reigns crooks his eyebrow at them. Reigns says that’s not how we start things here. Reigns says, “Columbia, South Carolina… acknowledge me!”
Kevin Owens’s music hits, and one-half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions comes out to the stage with a very serious look on his face. Owens is soon joined by his partner, Sami Zayn. The crowd sings Zayn’s song as the Tag Champions get in the ring. Reigns looks unimpressed before becoming disturbed by a “Sami” chant. Zayn smirks in the ring. Reigns says this is perfect. The crowd is excited. Reigns’s plan was to bring them out here since there are only two things to do. Columbia already did it. Now it’s their turn to acknowledge the Tribal Chief. When they’re done with that, they can drop the titles off and leave the ring.
Owens thinks about it before throwing the microphone aside without saying a word. Sikoa steps up, but Reigns puts a hand on his shoulder. Reigns says it figures. Owens isn’t here since he’s “Fight Owens Fight.” Reigns says he’s had a special career. He’s experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Reigns’s only regret is wasting his life on Zayn. Zayn says that’s funny because he also has one regret, which is not blasting him with that chair sooner. It’s been a long time coming. They haven’t been in the ring together since Montreal. Zayn thought for months that he’d never get this opportunity to tell Reigns everything he has wanted to say. Zayn has waited. Reigns’s greed has finally led them here, but now Zayn has nothing to say to him. For all of Reigns’ life, he’s been told that he’s the best. At Night of Champions, Reigns is not going to get the titles. Reigns isn’t as good as them. Reigns isn’t even as good as The Usos.
Reigns smirks and starts to scratch the side of his head. Reigns is pacing. Reigns cannot believe that is how Zayn feels. Reigns took it easy on Zayn and gave him multiple opportunities. All of a sudden, The Usos attack Owens and Zayn from behind. The Usos hit Zayn with stereo superkicks at ringside. The Usos get in the ring and celebrate. Jimmy goes for a handshake with Reigns, but Reigns swats his hand away. Reigns is irate and says this was not the plan. Reigns looks at Solo Sikoa and leaves the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Roman Reigns deep in thought. The Usos, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa are in the room with him. Jey Uso says they were just trying to help. Reigns says that he is the quarterback and calls the plays. Reigns had something to say to Sami Zayn. Reigns wasted a big piece of his career on Sami Zayn and wanted to say something. Reigns is the guy that keeps everyone on top. Reigns is the one who calls the shots. Reigns kicks them out of the locker room.
The Usos will battle Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar of the LWO later tonight.
The Brawling Brutes make their way to the ring.
Earlier today, Pretty Deadly was wearing chef hats and talking about the recipe for their debut on SmackDown.
Sheamus will be on commentary for the next match.
Tag Team Match
The Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland) vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
The bell rings, and Butch will start against Kit Wilson. Butch sends him into the ropes and takes Wilson down. Butch forearms him in the face, but Wilson pulls him down by the hair. Elton Prince tags in, and Pretty Deadly takes Butch down before taunting him. Butch grabs both of their hands, does some joint manipulation, and stomps them. Ridge Holland tags in and holds Prince up as Butch hits a low dropkick. Holland goes for a delayed vertical suplex. Prince fights it, but Holland still completes the move. Prince whips Holland off, and Wilson blind tags in. Prince leapfrogs Holland, and Wilson hits Holland with a DDT. Pretty Deadly poses as we go to the commercial break. It should be noted that Elton Prince has a bloody nose.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Prince uppercut Holland to his corner. Wilson tags in and hits Holland with a running back elbow. Prince tags in. Pretty Deadly drops Holland with a double shoulder tackle followed by a splash and a leg drop. Holland kicks out at one. Prince clubs away at Holland for a one-count. Holland starts to fight back and uppercuts him. Holland hits the ropes and turns Prince inside out with a shoulder tackle. Wilson quickly tags in and jumps on Holland’s back. Wilson cinches in a sleeper hold, but Holland fights up and makes a hot tag with Wilson on his back.
Butch hits Pretty Deadly with set-up enzuigiris. Butch hits Prince with a German Suplex. Wilson meets the same fate. Butch attacks them in the corner and stomps their hands. Butch connects with a release suplex. Holland gets in the ring and gets Pretty Deadly on his shoulders before slamming them down! The Brawling Brutes then perform stereo 10 Beats of the Bodhrans on Pretty Deadly. Butch is soon knocked away, and the referee checks on him. Pretty Deadly sneaks in Spilt Milk and picks up the win over The Brawling Brutes.
Winners by Pinfall: Pretty Deadly
Michael Cole mentions that “Superstar” Billy Graham passed away this week at 79.
Video Package: The Life and Times of “Superstar” Billy Graham: 1943-2023.
-Commercial Break-
Asuka makes her way to the ring. Replays are shown of Asuka attacking Bianca Belair with Blue Mist last week on SmackDown. Belair was celebrating her record-breaking title reign in her hometown. Michael Cole says Asuka was using a blue pepper mist.
Zelina Vega is backstage. Kayla Braxton comes up to her. Vega says she knows Kayla is going to ask if she’s ready for Asuka. When she received the love and support from her people in Puerto Rico, she realized she can hang with the best of the best. She gave her all to Rhea Ripley. Asuka will see that she is ready.
Asuka vs. Zelina Vega
The bell rings, and Vega immediately ducks a kick from Asuka. Vega takes her down and kicks her before covering for a one-count. Vega dropkicks Asuka in the back and goes for a 619, but Asuka gets out of the ring and laughs. Vega follows her out, so Asuka kicks her in the face. Asuka lifts her and drops her on the commentary table. Asuka celebrates.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Asuka sauntering around the ring. Asuka boots Vega in the face. Vega fights back with some forearms, but Asuka soon sends her to the corner. Vega knees her in the face and hits a running dropkick. Vega hits the ropes, but Asuka follows her in. Vega quickly drops Asuka into the middle rope and hits a 619. Vega goes to the second rope, does an Eddie Guerrero shimmy, and hits a meteora for a near fall.
Asuka fights out of Code Red, but Vega fights her and picks up a two-count. Asuka twists out and into a submission, but Vega gets out. Asuka soon regains the advantage and applies the Asuka Lock for the submission.
Winner by Submission: Asuka
Asuka refuses to let go of the Asuka Lock and pulls back on Vega’s arm. Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair runs down to make the save. Asuka gets out of the ring. Belair reaches after her but quickly pulls back when Asuka spits the Blue Mist at her. The mist does make contact, but it misses Belair’s eyes. The pepper mist still stings Belair, but she is not debilitated like she was last week. Asuka smiles psychotically at her.
The new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned one week from tomorrow in Saudi Arabia at WWE Night of Champions. Seth “Freakin” Rollins and AJ Styles will battle to determine the inaugural champion.
The Grayson Waller Effect will take place next with special guest AJ Styles.
-Commercial Break-
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the most talked about sensation on Friday Night SmackDown, the man with the triple-platinum tongue, the viral virtuoso, the dynamite from down under… he is the moment maker, the Aussie icon, your host of the Grayson Waller Effect, Grayson Waller!
Grayson Waller is in the ring for the Grayson Waller Effect. The ring is decorated with lit palm plants and a desk. Waller welcomes everyone to the show. His guest will face Seth “Freakin” Rollins next week for the World Heavyweight Championship. He is “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles.
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. Styles sits at the desk with Waller. Waller says they crossed paths in NXT. Styles told him something in NXT. Styles challenged him to be phenomenal for 20+ years. Styles was right. All the championships and great performances across the world make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Now he gets another opportunity for another accolade next week. What does winning the World Heavyweight Championship mean to him? Styles says he was injured and was out of the ring longer than he’s ever been. Styles trained extremely hard to get back. Styles knew an opportunity would come his way. Now he’s going for the World Heavyweight Championship and wants it more than the air he breathes.
Waller says he has goosebumps. Styles says Seth Rollins is on a movie set. Surely he’s exercising and training to be ready. Styles assures everyone that he is ready. Waller says it will be an instant classic. Waller is really looking forward to the ending when the announcer says, “And NEW World Heavyweight Champion, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.” Styles takes exception to that and gets in Waller’s face as the show ends.
The Latino World Order is backstage. Rey Mysterio says the word on the street is The Usos are the greatest tag team. Santos Escobar disagrees and says they’ll show it. Joaquin Wilde says they’ll prove they’re better. Cruz Del Toro talks to Mysterio. Mysterio says The Usos will find out what happens when you mess with the LWO.
The Street Profits make their entrance. They’ll face LA Knight and Rick Boogs next.
-Commercial Break-
LA Knight says he came here for titles. That means the Tag Team Titles are not safe. He’s going to rise up the ranks alongside Rick Boogs.
Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. LA Knight and Rick Boogs
Montez Ford starts against Rick Boogs and tries for a clothesline, but Boogs absorbs it. Ford tries again for the same result. Boogs misses a clothesline, but he catches Ford. Boogs presses Ford above his head and throws him to his corner. Boogs is fired up. Angelo Dawkins looks confused and tags in. They lock up, and Dawkins applies a side headlock. Boogs powers Dawkins up and whips him off. Dawkins leapfrogs him, but Boogs hits a shoulder tackle. Boogs puts Dawkins in a pumphandle and curls with his body. Boogs throws Dawkins. LA Knight tags in. Knight and Boogs send Dawkins into the ropes for a double-team shoulder tackle. Dawkins hits a jawbreaker, but Knight comes back with a powerslam. Knight drops an elbow for a two-count. Boogs tags back in. Knight and Boogs go for a double-team back suplex, but Dawkins flips through and tags in Ford.
Ford hits Knight and Boogs with a cross-body block. Ford knocks Knight out of the ring and stumbles Boogs with a flurry of strikes. Ford drops Knight on the apron and sidesteps Boogs to send him into his partner. Ford wipes out Boogs and Knight with a somersault senton. Dawkins tags in and hits Boogs with Sky High. Ford tags in and hits a massive Frog Splash for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Street Profits
LA Knight helps Rick Boogs up before hitting him with BFT!
Replays are shown of Cameron Grimes defeating Baron Corbin with a Cave In seconds after the start of their match last week on SmackDown.
Cameron Grimes is backstage with Megan Morant. Grimes says if you’d have told him that he’d have one of the fastest victories in WWE history, he wouldn’t have believed it. Grimes is determined and focused to go to the top. Grimes wants to go to the moon.
The Usos are getting ready backstage to face the LWO later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Karrion Kross is backstage with Scarlett. Kross says it has been said that justice is blind. Kross is an imminent threat to justice and it has no idea. Kross says, “Isn’t it, Allen?” A tarot card with AJ Styles is shown.
A replay is shown from Monday Night Raw of Cody Rhodes saying that Brock Lesnar is not the Next Big Thing. He’s just in his way.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon
The bell rings, and Alba Fyre will start the match. She locks up with the one woman and takes her down before dropping a knee on her head. Isla Dawn tags in. Fyre and Dawn hit a double-team kick. Dawn hits a meteora before sending her into the ropes, but the woman holds on and tags in her partner. The partner goes to the top rope, but she’s slammed off. Fyre tags in. Fyre and Dawn hit her with a double-team Gory Bomb for the victory.
Winners by Pinfall: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
Liv Morgan was injured last week on SmackDown and will miss “a considerable amount of time.” Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were forced to relinquish the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In two weeks on Monday Night Raw, new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions will be crowned. Raquel Rodriguez will have to find a partner to compete in a Fatal 4-Way that also consists of the teams of Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, Bayley and IYO SKY of Damage CTRL, and Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez gives Liv Morgan a shout-out. Bayley and IYO SKY walk up. Bayley says Dakota Kai was injured last week as well. If Rodriguez can find an idiot to tag with her, Bayley and IYO will be waiting in the ring for her.
United States Champion Austin Theory makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
United States Champion Austin Theory is in the ring. Theory welcomes the crowd to “Austin Theory Live.” Everyone knows who he is. Coming to SmackDown last week wasn’t what he expected. Theory expected respect. Look at the list of legends he bodied. He was instead ganged up on by Bobby Lashley and Sheamus. They both know he’d have gone on to beat Seth “Freakin” Rollins to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. That’s not a theory. It’s a fact. Bobby Lashley has a weird obsession with following him show to show. As for Sheamus, he doesn’t understand him. They have things in common. They’re both tough, strong, and beat John Cena. The only difference is he did it at WrestleMania and Sheamus did it 12 years ago.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring. Sheamus gets in his face before going for a microphone. Sheamus turns around and drops Theory with a Brogue Kick! Sheamus drops the microphone and walks off without saying a word!
The Usos are backstage. Paul Heyman walks up to them with a sinister smirk on his face. Heyman says he has it all under control. The Tribal Chief forgives them. Jimmy Uso asks if he’ll be out there tonight. Heyman says Reigns will not be out tonight. He’s the Tribal Chief. There is a lot that goes into that burden. Reigns has to go through Night of Champions to make a declarative statement. Two weeks from tonight will be the 1,000-day celebration of the Tribal Chief as champion. They’re facing the LWO. The Usos are the greatest tag team of all time. They’ve got this. Heyman asks them to not make that a prediction but a spoiler. The Usos walk off, and Heyman starts to take out his iPhone.
The Latino World Order makes its way to the ring. The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
The Night of Champions Press Conference takes place next Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Next Friday on SmackDown, The KO Show returns with Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa as the special guests. Raquel Rodriguez and a new partner will battle Bayley and IYO SKY. AJ Styles will also face off against Karrion Kross. Finally, Austin Theory will defend the United States Championship against Sheamus.
Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Jey Uso will start the match against Rey Mysterio. Jey powers the WWE Hall of Famer into the corner and shoulders the midsection. Jimmy Uso tags in and punches Mysterio down. Jimmy whips Mysterio sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Jimmy talks trash to the legend and lifts him. Mysterio elbows off, but Jimmy kicks him. Jimmy hits the ropes, but Mysterio kicks him. Santos Escobar tags in as Mysterio hits a sunset flip. Jimmy is sent out of the ring. The LWO stands tall in the ring. The Usos seethe in anger at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Jimmy standing over Escobar. Escobar fights back and punches Jey down. Jimmy stops Escobar from making a tag and sends him to his corner for a two-count.
Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman are shown watching the match backstage.
Jimmy punches away at Escobar in the corner before talking some trash. Jimmy chops the chest and whips him to the opposite corner, but Escobar pops out and kicks him down. Jey tags in and punches Mysterio down on the apron. Escobar surprises Jey with an inside cradle for a near fall. Jey irately punches Escobar down and talks trash for a near fall. Escobar fights back with some right hands, but Jey pushes him off and hits a back elbow. Jimmy tags in and punches Escobar down in the corner. The Usos taunt the crowd and look to be gaining confidence. Jimmy hits Escobar with a running hip attack. Jimmy tries again, but Escobar takes him out with a running knee.
Mysterio and Jey tag in. Mysterio hits a head-scissor takeover. Jey quickly drops Mysterio on the apron, but Mysterio knocks him back. Mysterio comes off the top rope with a seated senton and follows up with a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. After taking a moment to collect himself, Jey lays in some kicks. Mysterio fights back and hits Code Red for a near fall. Jey reverses a whip, but Rey holds on and boots him back. Jimmy gets a cheap shot in on the WWE Hall of Famer. Jey hits a pop-up neckbreaker for a near fall.
The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Jimmy tags in. The Usos go for a double-team suplex on Mysterio, but Mysterio fights out with some knees to the head. The Usos charge him, but Mysterio pulls the top rope to get them out of the ring. Escobar tags in and wipes out The Usos with a big somersault senton. Escobar puts Jimmy in the ring, but Jimmy stuns him with an enzuigiri. Jimmy sends him into the ropes, but Escobar connects with a running knee. Escobar hits a double running knee in the corner followed by a top rope hurricanrana for a near fall. Mysterio cannot believe it on the apron. The crowd is very into this match. Escobar kicks Jimmy on the apron and hooks the neck. Mysterio tags in and comes off the ropes with a diving leg drop. Mysterio covers. 1… 2… Jey breaks it up in the nick of time!
Jey superkicks Escobar off the apron. Mysterio sends Jey out of the ring. Mysterio gets Jimmy on the ropes for a 619, but Jimmy superkicks him. Jey immediately tags in and hits Mysterio with an Uso Splash for a near fall! Wow! Jey is absolutely stunned and looks disheartened. Jimmy tags in. The Usos set up for stereo Uso Splashes. Kevin Owens makes his way down to the ring and distracts Jey. Escobar knocks Jey off the top rope. As the referee yells at Owens, Sami Zayn knocks Jimmy off the top rope! Mysterio hits a hurricanrana to put Jimmy into the ropes. Escobar tags in. Mysterio hits Jimmy with a 619 before wiping out Jey with a seated senton off the apron. Escobar comes off the top rope with a splash on Jimmy for the victory!
Winners by Pinfall: The Latino World Order
The Usos are stunned and cannot believe their run of bad luck. We go backstage, and Roman Reigns cannot even look at the screen. Solo Sikoa goes to get up, but Reigns holds him back. Paul Heyman sits in the background and looks like he’s scheming.