Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 6.09.23

Well it’s another Friday night, which means another episode of WWE Smackdown. Tonight we’re dealing with the fallout of Jimmy Uso being violently ejected from the Bloodline last week, mostly our questions now center around Jey and what he’s going to do. Really Jey’s decision is going to tell us just how much longer they’re going to run this thing, if Jey sides with Roman right now tack on another 3 or so weeks to the entire runtime. Mostly tonight we’re dealing with more Money in the Bank qualifying matches, we’ve got Butch vs. NXT wrestler Baron Corbin, Bayley vs. Mia Yim, Santos Escobar vs. Mustafa Ali and Iyo Sky vs. Shotzi all to that effect. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler might be hanging around, Austin Theory is still flopping about looking for anything meaningful, Bobby Lashley has been MIA for a little bit and will need something to do, and who knows what else. Well let’s get to the action folks.

First, a recap of the 1,000 day celebration that closed out last week’s episode.

We open with Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman in the ring. Heyman goes to introduce himself but the music of the Usos cuts them off. Jey Uso walks out alone. Jey gets a mic and climbs into the ring. Some pacing from Jey before he tells Solo he’s let a lot of things slide. But stabbing Jimmy in the back is something you don’t do. He’s not sure if he can forgive Solo for that, and wants Solo to say what he has to say. Heyman says Jey has this all wrong, it’s not Solo’s fault, or Heyman’s fault, or even Roman’s fault, this is all on Jimmy. Because Jimmy made up his own mind, not just for himself but tried to bring Jey along with that decision. Heyman asks Solo to step back so he can talk to Jey, and he opens his heart to Jey. When Jimmy kicked Roman he didn’t ask Jey in advance, he just pulled the trigger like the older brother. Jimmy’s always resented Jey, because Jimmy knows that Roman wants to groom Jey to take his place. That’s Jey’s future, destiny, and fate, who he’ll become and it was never going to be Jimmy and Jimmy always knew it. The people are booing because they don’t know the truth, and Heyman will prove the truth to Jey. Tonight Jey will wrestle a match that will set him on the course to become Tribal Chief, tonight Jey will bring gold to the Bloodline. Not tag team gold, because Jimmy killed the Usos, but tonight Jey will take on Austin Theory for the US title. Tonight Jey’s journey as a singles competitor begins with gold, and Roman will embrace him, and show him the way to become Tribal Chief. Jey is visibly conflicted by this. Heyman does need Jey’s answer right now though, and hands him the mic. Jey takes the mic from Heyman, and says he’ll take that title shot, but declines to shake Heyman’s hand when it’s offered and he’ll have to get back to everyone on that side of things.

Later tonight Asuka will get a new title belt, because dragging the RAW women’s title around Smackdown is just silly.

Santos Escobar heads to the ring, he’ll take on Mustafa Ali after this break.

Post break Mustafa Ali is heading to the ring. LA Knight then interrupts things, I assume he’s joining commentary.

Match #1: Santos Escobar w/ Rey Mysterio vs. Mustafa Ali

Knight has in fact joined commentary. Escobar and Ali trade words then Escobar unloads with punches and chops. Some rope running and Escobar lands a jumping elbow. Ali hits the ropes and lands a hurricanrana to send Escobar out of the ring. Escobar pulls Ali out of the ring and they trade chops on the floor. They move to the apron, where Escobar lands a kick then goes for a suplex, they fight over the spot on the apron before Escobar shoves Ali into the ring post. Escobar then with a hurricanrana to send Ali to the floor. It sounded like Escobar banged his head on the ring steps but he looks OK. Back in the ring Ali rolls out of the ring and Escobar with a high velocity suicide dive to wipe him out. Escobar heads to the ring and then climbs to the top rope for another dive onto Ali which sends us to break.

Ali and Escobar are fighting on the top rope as we come back. Ali flips to the floor and lands on his feet, Escobar tries to jump onto him but flies into a dropkick. Nice spot there. Back in the ring, Ali up top for the 450 but Escobar avoids him and sends Ali face first into the corner. Poisoned Rana from Escobar, but only a near fall. Meteora in the corner from Escobar, then Ali avoids a Phantom Driver and grabs an O’Connor Roll for 2 then hits a diving tornado DDT for another near fall. Ali heads up top, but Escobar kicks him and climbs up there with him. Escobar wants an avalanche Phantom Driver, and hits it to get the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Santos Escobar won

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Not surprising to see these two turn in something pretty darn good. These two have shown pretty good chemistry before and this was another example.

The entire LWO come out to celebrate with Escobar as he’s now qualified for the Money in the Bank match.

In the back Jey paces and runs into Sami Zayn. Sami has something to tell Jey, the time in the Bloodline was some of the best of Sami’s whole life and in another world they might still be doing it. But that couldn’t happen, not just because of Roman Reigns, but because of the Tribal Chief. The Tribal Chief will take over your life and ruin things, and Sami heard that voice and did everything for the Bloodline until eventually the Tribal Chief made him prove himself against his own brother. If Jey wants to go down that path Sami gets it, and he hopes Jey wins tonight so the Bloodline can see how much they need him while Jey doesn’t need them. But if Jey goes down that road there’s no more Usos, and Jey should listen to his own heart on the matter. Jey walks off and we head to break.

Post break Kayla is in the ring and brings out the Unholy Union, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Looks like they’ll get an interview, but this is cut off by Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler as we’ve got both sets of tag team champions here. Baszler objects to Fyre and Dawn calling themselves champions, and wants to know if they know the history of the NXT women’s tag team titles. Because Baszler is the reason those belts even exist, and thinks they should be hers. Ronda says they’ll end up hungry soon, and thinks the division isn’t big enough for them, so they want Dawn and Fyre’s tag team titles as well. Dawn seems down for a unification match, Fyre agrees and we get a brawl between all four women. Baszler and Ronda isolate Fyre but Dawn intercepts Baszler with a kick. Fyre kicks Ronda out of the ring. Baszler is left alone to eat a Fyre gordbuster, then Dawn follows up with a Shining Wizard to stand tall. Ronda pulls Baszler away from continuing the fight. Well that came a little out of left field, but only one set of women’s tag team champions who move between all three brands does make a degree of sense.

Next, a video package for the recently passed Iron Shiek.

Bayley heads to the ring, her match is up next.

Post break Michin heads to the ring.

Match #2: Bayley w/ Iyo Sky vs. Michin

AJ Styles has joined commentary. Bayley attacks at the bell, makes fun of AJ but that allows Michin to hit a suicide dive as they were on the floor. Back in the ring Michin with an Oklahoma Roll for 2. Double leg from Michin and strikes to follow up. Strikes from Michin as she backs Bayley into a corner. Michin off the ropes with a hurricanrana. Bayley sends Michin to the apron but Michin hits a between the ropes tornado DDT for 2. Kawada kicks from Michin and Bayley heads to the apron buying time, then runs into a boot. Bayley to the apron again, and uses the hair to send Michin face first into the corner. Rose Plant from Balyey and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Bayley won

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Short, and Bayley winning makes sense though Iyo costing her the briefcase is pretty obvious.

Post break Scarlett walks out to blow powder into AJ’s face, then Kross comes through the crowd to choke him out with a Kross Jacket. Michin chases Scarlett off and she jumps into Kross’s arms.

We get a recap of the brawl between Asuka and Bianca Belair from last week.

In the back Belair talks with Adam Pearce, he’s presenting Asuka with a new belt tonight. Pearce just asks for peace tonight. Belair isn’t a fan of doing nothing, but Pearce says she’s in line for a rematch, and Belair is willing to stay out of things tonight as long as she’s got that rematch. That title presentation will be up after this break.

Post break, a recap of Scarlett and Kross attacking AJ Styles.

In the back AJ is fighting to clear his vision and demanding to get at Kross with the rest of the OC.

To the ring where Adam Pearce is going to unveil the new women’s title, and brings out RAW women’s champion Asuka. Pearce presents the new belt to Asuka, it looks exactly like Roman’s new gold backed belt but with a white leather belt instead of a black one. Asuka gets the new belt put on, but HEEEEEEEERE’s POOCHIE to ruin things. Charlotte Flair tries to wink as she heads to the ring, I swear you can hear the sound of creaking metal every time she does. Anyway Charlotte eventually gets to the ring, boy I hope Asuka just mists her and doesn’t let her talk. Charlotte gets a mic, not looking good, and Pearce wants to know what Charlotte is doing out here. Perace says Charlotte needs to get in line. Charlotte objects as Karens, er Poochies, er Charlotte doesn’t wait in line, she made the line. Charlotte says no one respects Asuka more than she does, but she wants that title. Asuka responds with some Japanese, then accepts. Charlotte avoids a mist attack, because of course Poochie can’t actually put anything over, and stands tall. Ugh, freaking Charlotte.

We get a recap of the opening of the show, there are still plenty of matches and we needed to kill time with this?

In the back Jey Uso gets ready for his match and here comes Paul Heyman. Heyman appreciates the slickness of Jey and loves a good cliffhanger, but the next thing he wants in his hand is Jey’s passport and suit measurements. Because Jey will be on the private jet to Money in the Bank with the rest of the Bloodline, and next week Jey will need a suit to celebrate with Roman, celebrate Jey’s title win, and to acknowledge that Jey is going to be Roman’s successor. Heyman offers the handshake again, Jey loves the celebration idea, he’s in, but doesn’t know why Heyman is happy. Because if Jey’s in the Bloodline, that means Heyman will be out of the Bloodline. Heyman seethes as we head to the ring.

Back in the ring Butch heads to the ring for his match with Baron Corbin. Ridge Holland Sheamus are on the entrance stage with Butch, but they leave him to head to the ring alone as we go to break.

In the back Pearce is on the phone, he makes Asuka vs. Charlotte for 3 weeks from tonight in London. Bianca Belair is here and not happy, Pearce promises to make this work. Belair says he better, and be warned that when she gets one back on him it’ll be justified.

Trick Williams and Carmello Hayes are sitting ringside, Baron Corbin moved to NXT to beef with him recently. That leads to Baron Corbin and his somehow even worse theme coming out. Also, Corbin should not wear shorts. As Corbin walks to the ring we recap Corbin jumping Hayes in NXT. Corbin talks, the same generic stuff he always does.

Match #3: Butch vs. Baron Corbin

All that talking leads to Butch landing a few kicks right away, then climbs up for a diving DDT and a 2 count. Cole brings up that Corbin failed on his previous MITB cash in, which always brings me joy. Corbin lands a backbreaker on Butch to stifle the talent in the match. Butch avoids a Deep Six and lands an enziguri then attacks the fingers of Corbin from the apron. Corbin lands a right hand and trash talks Hayes and Williams, but that allows Butch to grab a roll up for 3.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Butch won

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Too short to mean much, but if Butch couldn’t get by Corbin given where Corbin is that would have been the end of Butch in any meaningful way. Butch was also easily the right call to go into the ladder match.

Post match Corbin attacks Williams but Hayes clocks him and we get a pull apart as Corbin hides behind officials.

Next, a video recap of Bobby Lashley to hype up his place on Smackdown. In theory he’ll be back on TV at some point.

Shotzi and her tank head to the ring, she’ll be in action against Iyo Sky after this break.

Post break Megan talks with Butch in the back, he’s coming home and taking that briefcase. This is interrupted by Baron Corbin, who whines, but Cameron Grimes clobbers him to shut him up.

To the ring, and here comes Iyo Sky.

Match #4: Iyo Syk w/ Bayley vs. Shotzi

Bayley distracts Shotzi and Iyo lands a dropkick early. Shotzi lands a knee then suplexes Iyo into the corner. Iyo fights back with a boot then climbs up and hits a stomp onto the arm of Shotzi. Some arm work from Iyo now including snapping it over the top rope. Iyo misses a top rope dropkick and Shotzi with some offense then a Tiger suplex. Shotzi with a corner senton, and Iyo rolls out of the ring. Low angle suicide dive from Shotzi then they head back into the ring, where Shotzi heads up top, Bayley distracts her and Iyo lands a palm strike. Iyo and Shotzi fight over a superplex, Shotzi hits a top rope gordbuster to Iyo, but as the ref checks on Iyo Bayley trips up Shotzi who falls to the mat. Iyo follows with a Moonsault and gets the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Iyo Sky won

Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: Again very short with an obvious outcome, I’m deducting a bit for the booking here as Iyo should have been able to win this on her own and that bump Shotzi took off the top rope was a little gnarly looking.

In the back Kayla talks with Austin Theory and his fake crowd noise. Theory objects to being the last man to find out about his title defense, but he wont make excuses as all he gets is wins and he plans on sending Jey back to the Bloodline as a failure. And if Paul Heyman needs a new client next week, he should check out Austin Theory. Some fake boos send us to break.

Sami Zayn is in the back and Kevin Owens finds him. Sami doesn’t know what Jey’s going to do, and Owens wants to focus on the tag team titles. Pretty Deadly is here to mock their appearance, and lack of title defenses. Ridge Holland and Sheamus come up and want a shot as well, this brings in the OC, pretty much every tag team walks in and everyone yells. Owens doesn’t like how close everyone is standing to him and doesn’t know what’s going on. Sami calms him down and explains what happened to Adam Pearce. Pearce says they can all have a gauntlet match next week for a title shot. Everyone seems amenable, and Owens yells at all of them to leave him alone.

We get a video package for Grayson Waller next. OK then. Next week the Grayson Waller Effect hosts Poochie. Joy.

Jey Uso heads to the ring. That title match will be up after this break.

Post break the title match in three weeks between Asuka and Poochie, plus in two weeks Ronda and Baszler vs. Fyre and Dawn winner takes all. Next week mixed tag team with AJ and Michin vs. Kross and Scarlett, plus the gauntlet match for the tag team title shot, and Roman Reigns shows up as well.

Austin Theory and his fake crowd noise show up next. The obviously fake noise for Theory’s in ring introduction is just painful at this point.

Match #5 – US Title Match: (c) Austin Theory vs. Jey Uso

They tie up, Theory grabs a side headlock then lands a shoulder block. Jey fights back with a jumping elbow then clotheslines Theory out of the ring. They head to the floor now, and Jey launches Theory over the announcers table and poses as we head to break.

We come back to Theory working a rest hold. Jey fights back and they start trading punches then Jey with a back suplex into a neckbreaker for 2. Theory avoids a hip attack and this a rolling dropkick for 2. Theory with a spinning Rack Bomb for a 2 count. Jey fights off A Town Down and lands strikes then goads Theory into a brawl that Theory can’t win and Jey superkicks Theory who falls into the ref so we’ve got a ref bump. Jey up top, Splash for the visual win but no ref to count. Pretty Deadly show up and attack Jey, but here comes Jimmy to superkick both of them but Solo shows up to attack Jimmy. Solo with a Samoan Spike attempt but Jey stops him. Jimmy tries to superkick Solo, and hits Jey instead. Jimmy and Solo brawl on the floor, back in the ring Theory covers Jey and pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Austin Theory retained the title

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: The commercial break gutted this one, and I’m not sure it needed to be this horribly overbooked either. Jey definitely has the crowd though and if he’s going to make a singles push it should start in the near future.

We get a recap of what just happened.

In the ring Jimmy and Jey are hanging out, Solo is on the floor standing in front of Paul Heyman. Jimmy tries to console Jey and helps him to his feet, but Jey shoves him away. Jimmy tries to apologize but Jey isn’t having it and exits the ring. Heyman expresses condolences on the entrance ramp, and Jey just walks away from all of this as Heyman calls Roman Reigns on his phone as the episode ends with commentary talking about next week.

7.9

The final score: review Good

The 411

Almost Very Good this week, unfortunately I think the time management hurt this week as a couple of matches could have used more time. We got some quality stuff overall though, the Bloodline story continues to be engaging, Jey Uso potentially angling to get Heyman out of the group is a really nice twist. We got some direction for the women's tag team scene, and the unfortunate return of Poochie, but all in all we had some solid wrestling, good story progression, and mostly logical choices by everyone involved along the way.