WWE SmackDown Results: Season Premiere
October 13, 2023
Tulsa, Oklahoma (BOK Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole, Kevin Patrick, and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go live into the BOK Center for the Season Premiere of SmackDown. John Cena’s music hits, and the Greatest of All Time makes his way to the ring to an enormous reception. Replays are shown of Cena and LA Knight defeating Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline this past Saturday at WWE Fastlane.
A “Cena” chant picks up. Cena says tonight is a big night, so he has to do this right. Cena says, “Tulsa… welcome to the Season Premiere of SmackDown!”
The music of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns hits. The Head of the Table makes his long-awaited return to SmackDown, coming to the ring alongside his Special Council, “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman, who has dyed his hair back to brown, and “The Enforcer” Solo Sikoa. Heyman looks pleased to have the champion back. Reigns has been champion for 1,139 days.
Reigns, Heyman, and Sikoa get in the ring and stand across from John Cena. The crowd is absolutely buzzing with anticipation. Heyman hands the microphone to Reigns, and he looks beside himself with joy at the thought of hearing his voice. Reigns says, “John-Boy… Hollywood… if you’re going to open my show, you better do it the right way. Tulsa… acknowledge me!” The crowd roars in a mixed reaction. A “Cena” chant fires up. Reigns says they’re chanting for a coward. The man only showed up because Reigns took his leave. Then, he had the audacity to come back and convince people to call him “The Greatest of All Time.” Reigns wants Cena to be honest. Cena already knows who the G.O.A.T. is… “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns! They’ve run into this before, but they’ll handle this again. Cena can leave, or they’ll make him leave.
Another loud “Cena” chant picks up. Cena says there’s a lot of energy in here tonight and a lot of anticipation for what’s about to happen. WWE and SmackDown are unpredictable. When John Cena and Roman Reigns are in the same ring, who knows what’s next? Cena says he’s here to throw him a curveball. He’s not going to challenge Reigns. He’s going to acknowledge him. For 1,138 days, he’s held that championship. In his mind, no matter what an announcer says, that is the greatest accomplishment of all time. It is earned. Cena is not here to challenge him tonight because he hasn’t earned it… but he does know someone who has.
LA Knight’s music hits! Knight comes out to a huge reaction. Cena says it’s his time and hands him the microphone before going to the ring’s corner. The crowd is buzzing. Knight looks around before saying, “Let me talk to ya!” Knight asks Reigns if he’s pissing his pants yet. Knight says he’s Roman, the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief (YEAH), but he’s not a defending champion. Reigns is just a man standing in Knight’s way. Knight realizes he didn’t introduce himself. Things have changed as Reigns has been sitting on the couch for the last month and a half while wearing a gold belt. Knight asks whose game this is. The crowd shouts, “LA Knight!” A loud “LA Knight” chant picks up. Reigns laughs and says he’s proud that after a few months, they know his name. After 1,138 days as champion, he’s seen a lot. Who the hell does Knight think he is standing in his ring? Knight looks serious and removes his glasses. Knight looks him in the eye and says talking to him like that is a ticket to being talked about in the past tense. Knight is the fastest-rising star in this business.
All of a sudden, Jimmy Uso attacks him from behind. Knight quickly fights back and sends him out of the ring. Knight gets in Reigns’s face and tells him to say what he wants to say to his face. Knight shouts at Reigns, and Heyman is begging Reigns off. Reigns leaves the ring with Heyman and Sikoa. Reigns tells Sikoa to forget about Cena. He needs to handle Knight.
Sikoa gets on the apron, but he backs off. Knight says Sikoa is supposed to face him, so he can come to the ring tonight and get his ass stomped so badly that he’ll use it as a mop. That’s just a fact of life. YEAH!
Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. We’ll also see Triple H.
Coming up next, The Brawling Brutes will face Pretty Deadly. This will be Elton Prince’s first match back since injury.
-Commercial Break-
A video puts over Elton Prince’s injury and says he is “Elton Strong.”
Elton Prince rises from the wheelchair he was in for a shoulder injury and makes his entrance alongside Kit Wilson. Pretty Deadly is back.
Tag Team Match
Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) vs. The Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland)
The bell rings, and Butch and Elton Prince will start it out. Butch twists the recently healed arm of Prince and takes him down before stomping him. Ridge Holland and Kit Wilson tag in. Holland viciously clubs away at him before tagging Butch back in. Butch stomps him and hits a low dropkick. Wilson fights back by whipping him to the corner, but Butch climbs and kicks Prince off the ropes. Butch takes Wilson down and hits him with a plancha. Prince avoids it, but he can’t avoid Holland’s grasp. The Brawling Brutes hit Pretty Deadly with stereo 10 Beats of the Bodhran.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Wilson punching away at Butch. Wilson grabs the arm and boots him in the head a few times. Prince blind tags in and elbows Butch in the head. Prince mounts Butch and punches away at him. Prince looks pleased with himself and stomps Butch. Prince takes him down with a forearm and stomps him a few times. Butch rolls to the apron, so Prince ties him up in the ropes for the 10 Beats of the Bodhran. After a few clubs, Butch grabs the arm and manipulates the fingers before snapping them. Wilson quickly tags in and hits a running uppercut in the corner. Wilson whips Prince into Butch, but Butch boots him back. Butch puts Wilson on the apron and elbows him. Prince grabs Wilson and pulls him back with one arm, shouting, “Elton Strong!” Butch hits them with a double enzuigiri and tags Holland in.
Holland runs roughshod on Pretty Deadly before hitting Wilson with a powerslam. Holland then grabs Prince and powerslams him onto Wilson! Holland is fired up. Prince boots him, but Holland soon grabs him and hits a press powerslam. 1… 2… Wilson breaks it up. Butch kicks Wilson in the head and sends him to the apron. Butch goes for a powerbomb on the apron, but Wilson hits him with a back body drop. Holland knocks Wilson off the apron and hits Prince with a release suplex. Prince is down and saying he’s injured. Wilson checks on his partner, but Prince says he’s really hurt. The referee makes it sound like she’s going to call it off. Wilson gets a cheap shot in on Holland as the referee checks on Prince. Prince then rolls Holland up for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Pretty Deadly
Pretty Deadly quickly runs away from the ring. Prince gets in his wheelchair and taunts the Brawling Brutes.
The Progressive Match Flo showcases the return of Carlito to help the Latino World Order win this past Saturday at WWE Fastlane.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Carlito. Carlito says there’s only one word to describe him back in WWE: “Cool.” Carlito goes to bite his apple, but Bobby Lashley walks up to him. Lashley says his return at Fastlane was amazing and masterful. The last time he saw him, he beat him up on SmackDown long ago. Lashley welcomes Carlito to his show. Carlito says that was a long time ago. Now, his first match back on SmackDown should be Bobby Lashley. The Street Profits hit Carlito from behind with a steel chair! They double-team him before holding him up. Lashley goes to hit him with a chair, but WWE Official Adam Pearce runs up with help. Lashley and The Street Profits walk off.
-Commercial Break-
We go backstage to see officials and trainers still dealing with Carlito backstage. He is still down. The Latino World Order is there as well. Bayley is behind WWE Official Adam Pearce putting over SmackDown Women’s Champion IYO SKY. Zelina Vega is furious that Bayley is there ignoring what just happened to Carlito. They get into an argument, so a frustrated Pearce stops them and makes a match.
The Bloodline is backstage. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns asks Jimmy Uso what he’s doing. Jimmy says he’s trying to be him and calling audibles as he sees. Reigns laughs and sarcastically says Jimmy is the quarterback. Reigns asks what he would do. Jimmy says he’d go after Jey Uso. Reigns says Jey is old news. However, the Tag Team Titles are their business. The longer Jey has those titles the more disrespectful to them it is. Teaming with Cody Rhodes is a slap in the face. Reigns tells him to handle it. They bump fists.
Damage CTRL makes their entrance. Bayley will face Zelina Vega next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of IYO SKY retaining the SmackDown Women’s Champion at WWE Fastlane. Charlotte Flair had made Asuka tap out, but the referee was distracted by Bayley. Sky would then hit Flair with the Over the Moonsault for the win.
Bayley w/ SmackDown Women’s Champion IYO SKY and Dakota Kai vs. Zelina Vega
Charles Robinson, the greatest referee ever, is the official for this match. Vega punches Bayley down and attacks the arm. Bayley fights back by going for a scoop slam, but Vega slides off twice and pushes her to the corner. Vega hits an arm drag before hitting a wheelbarrow arm drag. Bayley quickly retreats to the ropes. Vega forearms Bayley in the face, but Bayley soon counters out a head-scissor and hits a clothesline. Bayley drops an elbow for a two-count. Vega gets out of Bayley To Belly and kicks her into the bottom rope. Vega hits a low 619. Vega avoids an attack from Kai and kicks Bayley back. Vega comes off the second rope with a meteora for a near fall.
Vega sets up for Code Red, but IYO SKY gets on the apron to distract her. Vega hits a 619 on Sky. Bayley then kicks Vega and hits the Rose Plant for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Bayley
Damage CTRL gets in the ring to attack Vega, but they run away when Charlotte Flair “runs” down to the ring in ridiculously oversized heels, definitely not fit for running. Flair stands tall with Vega.
Triple H will join the WWE Universe in Tulsa next.
-Commercial Break-
“It’s time to play the game.”
The gravelly voice of the late, great Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead sings Paul “Triple H” Levesque down to the ring. Levesque gets a tremendous reaction. A loud “Triple H” chant picks up. Levesque says a big part of him misses that. It’s electric in here tonight. He doesn’t know what it is. It could be that time of the year. It is October, which means they came out of an incredibly successful Fastlane. Now they’re onto Crown Jewel. After that, it’s Survivor Series. It all starts here tonight on the Season Premiere of SmackDown.
Levesque is out here to call attention to one of the unsung heroes of WWE. He’s in the ring with him right now. He doesn’t know why he asked him here. Not only did he have an incredibly successful career as an in-ring performer, but Adam Pearce over the last three years as a WWE Official has done an incredible job doing a very thankless job. He has managed the Superstars of Raw and SmackDown. He has overseen both shows and done an incredible job. Levesque shakes hands with Pearce. That job is incredibly difficult and a job no one person should do alone. Levesque says Pearce will no longer be alone. Pearce is getting a promotion. Pearce looks surprised. Adam Pearce is now the new General Manager of Monday Night Raw. Pearce is happy and shakes hands with Levesque.
That leads him to who will be the General Manager of SmackDown…
NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio comes out to the stage! The crowd loudly boos him! Mysterio tries to speak, but the crowd drowns him out. Mysterio says Fastlane was not a tremendous success. The Judgment Day got screwed out of their Tag Team Titles. Mysterio gets in the ring. Mysterio tries to repeat himself, but the crowd continues to boo. Triple H says he cannot hear Mysterio. Triple H sarcastically asks the crowd to keep it down. They continue to boo Mysterio. Mysterio says, “Like I was saying…” The crowd crushes him with boos. Jey and Cody are defending their titles tonight when the Judgment Day has a Tag Team Title match on Monday. How could Levesque allow Pearce to do this?
Levesque always thought they were pumping in that noise. He didn’t realize how actually loud he was. Levesque has a long history as a lip reader. Mysterio was talking about the injustice with the Tag Titles. Mysterio is yelling at the wrong people. This is the GM of Monday Night Raw. He needs to be talking to the General Manager of SmackDown… Mr. Nick Aldis!
The former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis makes his way into the ring to a small reaction. Aldis is pleased to be the General Manager of SmackDown. Aldis says he looks forward to healthy competition between Raw and SmackDown. Aldis says it’s nice to meet Mysterio. He’s a big fan… of his dad. Aldis wants to cut to the chase. A month ago, Cody Rhodes was instrumental in a deal that took Jey Uso to Monday Night Raw. In exchange, a Raw Superstar must come to SmackDown. As his first official act as General Manager, he wants to introduce SmackDown’s newest star. Mysterio says no one cares, and the crowd explodes with anger. Mysterio asks what Aldis’s name is. Jey and Cody are the problem. Now Aldis has to deal with him. Aldis says they’ll get to that in a moment. The business at hand is SmackDown’s newest star. Mysterio says he’ll slap him and make him respect him…
Kevin Owens’s music hits. Kevin Owens is SmackDown’s newest superstar. Owens gets in the ring and drops Mysterio with a Stunner. Mysterio is knocked out of the ring. A “KO” chant fires up. Owens poses with Nick Aldis in the ring. Owens then embraces Levesque and shakes hands with Pearce.
We go backstage to The Bloodline. Roman Reigns shakes his head in disgust thinking about Kevin Owens on his show. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso are on his show while Jimmy Uso is on his couch. Reigns asks what Jimmy is doing. Reigns just called the play and told him the plan, but Jimmy is drinking water on his couch. Who is the quarterback? Jimmy asks if he’s serious. Reigns says he’s not but imagine if he was. Jimmy gets up and gets moving. Jimmy asks Solo to come with him, which displeases Reigns. Heyman approaches Reigns.
-Commercial Break-
Becky Lynch’s book “The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl” is coming in March 2024.
Video Package: Dragon Lee highlight reel
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green and Piper Niven are backstage with new SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. Green wants new titles that are stylish and classy like them. Charlotte Flair walks up, and Aldis dismisses Green and Niven. Aldis says he saw Fastlane. She’d be champion if Bayley didn’t distract the referee. Next week, Flair will go one-on-one with IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship. Flair is happy.
Flair turns and is facing Jade Cargill. Paul “Triple H” Levesque is standing there and introduces Flair to Cargill. Flair says she knows who she is. Flair says it’s nice to meet her. Cargill says, “It’s my pleasure.” Flair says, “Oh, it will be.” Flair walks off.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions “Main Event” Jey Uso and “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes make their way to the ring. They’ll defend the titles against Grayson Waller and Austin Theory next.
-Commercial Break-
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
“Main Event” Jey Uso and “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c’s) vs. A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory)
Cody Rhodes will start against Grayson Waller. Rhodes drops down and uppercuts him before sending him into the ropes for a kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Waller quickly gets away and tags in Austin Theory. Rhodes takes Theory down and goes for a Figure Four Leglock, but Theory gets away. Waller tags in, but Rhodes controls him and tags Jey Uso in. Waller tries to head-butt him, but you cannot head-butt a Samoan. Waller is rocked, and Jey sends him out of the ring. Theory blind tagged in and attacks Jey from behind. Jey fights back, but Waller distracts him. Theory sends Jey into the ring post.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jey trying to fight up from a chin lock, but Theory takes him down. Theory stomps away at him in the corner and talks trash. Theory pulls Jey up, but Jey punches back. Jey elbows Waller down. Theory quickly knees Jey in the midsection and hits a backbreaker. Waller comes off the top rope with an elbow drop for a two-count. Waller shouts at Rhodes and grabs Jey. Jey quickly drops him with an enzuigiri.
Rhodes and Theory tag in. Rhodes hits a clothesline and a back elbow followed by a shoulder tackle. Rhodes slingshots over him and hits a snap powerslam. Rhodes hits the ropes for a Disaster Kick. Rhodes sends Waller out of the ring. Waller gets in, but Rhodes hits him with a Disaster Kick. Theory quickly hits a throat thrust and a fisherman’s neckbreaker to the knee. 1… 2… Jey breaks it up. Jey superkicks Waller off the apron and superkicks Theory. They hit the Co-D-1D (1D into a Cody Cutter). Jey then hits Waller with a suicide dive. Rhodes connects with Cross Rhodes on Theory for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes
Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes celebrate. As they head up the ramp, the Bloodline’s music hits. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa come out and stand across from the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Jimmy Uso laughs as he looks them up and down. All of a sudden, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns walks out and goes face-to-face with Cody Rhodes. Rhodes stares a hole through his eyes. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis comes out and stands between them.
-Commercial Break-
Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight
The bell rings, and Knight takes it to Sikoa quickly. Knight hits the ropes, but Sikoa delivers a back elbow. Sikoa goes for a suplex, but Knight floats through and connects with a neckbreaker. Sikoa reverses a whip. Knight ducks two attacks, but Sikoa eventually smashes him with a clothesline. Sikoa gets him up. Knight gets away and tries to lift him, but Sikoa clubs him. Sikoa puts him in the corner and chops the chest. Knight fights back and clotheslines him out of the ring. There is something going on with the lights. Sikoa sends Knight hard into the ring post, and Knight falls to the floor hard.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sikoa applying a nerve hold to Knight. Knight gets to his feet and tries to lift Sikoa, but he falls under his weight. Sikoa connects with a belly-to-belly suplex for a two-count. Sikoa gets him in the corner and hits a running hip attack. Sikoa punches and head-butts him. Knight begins to fight back, but Sikoa drops him with a nasty Samoan Drop for a near fall. Knight goes for a sunset flip, but Sikoa stays up. Knight avoids a cannonball. Sikoa goes for a splash in the corner, but Knight moves. Sikoa tries again and hits the ring post.
Knight punches away at Sikoa, who looks out on his feet. Knight hits the ropes and clotheslines him down. Knight connects with a DDT. Sikoa goes to the corner to recover, but Knight follows and starts to stomp him. Knight connects with a running knee to the face. Knight backs up and charges, but Sikoa picks him up. Knight slides off and soon powers him up for a powerslam. Knight gets the crowd going and hits a leaping elbow drop. Knight sets up for Blunt Force Trauma, but Sikoa pushes him off. They hit the ropes and wipe each other out with a double clothesline.
Jimmy Uso runs down and sets up for an attack on Knight. John Cena runs in and hits Jimmy with an Attitude Adjustment! Cena turns into a Samoan Spike from Sikoa. Knight then hits Sikoa with BFT for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: LA Knight
LA Knight celebrates his win and poses on the turnbuckle. Knight gets down… and is speared by Roman Reigns! The crowd loudly boos. Reigns smiles and mocks LA Knight. Reigns puts a single finger up in the air and stands over Knight. Reigns puts the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in his face and holds it up as the show comes to an end.