WWE SmackDown Results
May 26, 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 into the Colonial Life Arena. We’re less than 24 hours away from WWE Night of Champions. Tonight, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa will be on the KO Show. We’ll also see AJ Styles battle Karrion Kross.
United States Championship
Sheamus w/ The Brawling Brutes vs. Austin Theory (c)
The bell rings, and they lock up. Sheamus gets Theory in the corner and applies a front facelock. Theory fights it and applies a waistlock before transitioning to a side headlock. Sheamus whips him off and connects with a shoulder tackle. Theory gets up, and they try a test of strength. Theory kicks him in the midsection, but Sheamus reverses a whip. They each counter a hip toss, so Sheamus simply clotheslines him down. Sheamus uppercuts him back to the corner twice. Theory comes back with a desperation drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckles before sending him to the apron with a rolling thunder dropkick. Theory goes for the 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Sheamus counters and pulls him onto his shoulders for White Noise off the apron! Theory slides off and drives Sheamus into the ring post before hitting a back suplex on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Theory clubbing away at Sheamus and booting him down for a one-count. Sheamus knocks him back and takes a moment to recover. Theory reverses a whip and takes Sheamus down with a back elbow for a two-count. Theory quickly goes to a chin lock. Sheamus fights up and sends Theory to the corner. Sheamus blocks a boot, but Theory punches him back. Theory hits a rolling thunder blockbuster for a near fall. Theory is furious that didn’t put Sheamus away.
Theory peppers Sheamus with punches and pushes him. This only angers the Celtic Warrior. Sheamus head-butts him. Theory whips him, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Sheamus connects with a pair of clotheslines. Sheamus hits a pair of corner clotheslines and goes for White Noise, but Theory slides off. Sheamus quickly comes back with an Irish Curse Backbreaker for a two-count. Sheamus sets up for what looks like an Alabama Slam, but we’ll never know as Theory slides off into a roll-up for a two-count. Sheamus immediately pops up and uppercuts him before connecting with a powerslam for a near fall. Sheamus gets Theory on his shoulders and climbs to the second rope for White Noise, but Theory slides off. Theory clubs away at him and puts him in a torture rack for a twisting bomb to pick up a near fall. Theory cannot believe it.
The Brawling Brutes pound the apron to get the crowd going and Sheamus is motivated. Theory goes to the apron and goes for a rolling thunder maneuver, but Sheamus viciously knees him in the face for a near fall. Theory pulls himself up on the apron. Sheamus goes for the 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Theory gets out and boots him back. Theory angrily goes to ringside and grabs a chair. Butch and Ridge Holland rip it out of his hands. Sheamus immediately follows up with 25 Beats of the Bodhran! Sheamus gets fired up… until Pretty Deadly attacks the Brawling Brutes at ringside. Elton Prince gets on the apron, but Sheamus knocks him off. Kit Wilson jumps to the apron, but Sheamus starts hitting him with the 10 Beats of the Bodhran. Theory then rolls Sheamus up with a handful of tights for the victory!
Winner by Pinfall and still United States Champion: Austin Theory
Pretty Deadly runs off through the crowd before Sheamus can get to them. Sheamus checks on the Brawling Brutes and walks off with them.
Replays are shown of The Usos interrupting an in-ring confrontation with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. Reigns was irate because he had something to say to Zayn, and they interrupted. Later in the night, Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar of the Latino World Order defeated The Usos.
We go backstage to see The Bloodline. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns tells Paul Heyman to speak. Heyman says the Tribal Chief is sorry that they cannot join them tomorrow at Night of Champions, but he wants them to join him next week when they celebrate 1,000 days of Roman Reigns’ history title run. Jimmy Uso says to Jey that he doesn’t know what the issue is and gets up to get something to eat. Reigns asks where he’s going and to sit down. Jimmy will not sit down. Reigns sighs and gets to his feet. Reigns tells him to remember back to when they were kids. He whooped Jimmy then and will do it now. Jimmy will obey him. Jey gets up and leads Jimmy off before anything happens.
Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi make their way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Shotzi saving Raquel Rodriguez from a beating by Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green on this past Monday’s Raw.
Tag Team Match
Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley and IYO SKY)
The bell rings, and Raquel Rodriguez will start against Bayley. Bayley slaps her and sidesteps her in the corner. Bayley keeps away and attacks Rodriguez when IYO SKY distracts her. Rodriguez tags Shotzi in. They square off against Damage CTRL and clear the ring. Rodriguez holds the top and middle rope open, so Shotzi hits a suicide dive on Damage CTRL. Shotzi gets Sky in the ring for a two-count. Rodriguez tags back in and attacks Sky with short-arm shoulder tackles. Bayley blind tags in and attacks Rodriguez from behind. Sky dropkicks Rodriguez as Bayley rolls her up for a two-count.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Bayley choking Rodriguez on the ropes. Sky tags in and dropkicks Rodriguez against the ropes. Sky wrenches the arm and keeps Rodriguez away from her tag partner. Bayley tags in, but Rodriguez elbows her down. Rodriguez knocks Sky away. Rodriguez fights off Damage CTRL and tags Shotzi in.
Shotzi runs wild on Bayley and Sky. Shotzi hits a bulldog on Bayley and knees her. Shotzi suplexes her legs against the ropes and avalanches her for a two-count. Sky distracts the referee, and Bayley rakes Shotzi’s eyes. Damage CTRL hit Shotzi with a double superkick, but Rodriguez breaks up the pin. Sky ducks some kicks from Shotzi and kicks her in the head. Sky goes for a double underhook maneuver, but Shotzi slides out and hits a German Suplex. Bayley quickly breaks up the pin. Rodriguez pulls Bayley out of the ring. Rodriguez tags back in. Rodriguez lifts Sky as Shotzi goes to the top rope. Bayley knocks Shotzi off the top rope as Sky drives Rodriguez headfirst into the turnbuckle. Bayley goes for a sunset flip, but Rodriguez doesn’t go down. Sky hits a missile dropkick on Shotzi, but she hits Rodrigues on the way down, causing Rodriguez to sit on Bayley’s shoulders for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi
IYO SKY goes over to Bayley and apologizes to her.
Video Package: Seth “Freakin” Rollins feels invincible heading into the WWE Night of Champions against AJ Styles. The winner will be the first WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Video Package: AJ Styles highlight reel
Hit Row makes their way to the ring. Ashante “Thee” Adonis will battle Cameron Grimes next.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Grayson Waller highlight reel
Ashante “Thee” Adonis w/ Hit Row vs. Cameron Grimes
Grimes avoids a t-shirt throw and takes Adonis down. Grimes hits a hurricanrana and kicks him down. Grimes connects with a standing shooting star press for a one-count. Adonis powers Grimes to the corner and punches away at him. Adonis sends him to the opposite corner, but Grimes slingshots over him. Grimes hits the ropes, but Top Dolla trips him. Adonis takes Grimes down and punches away at him. Adonis sends him to the corner and dropkicks him down for a one-count. Grimes fights back, but Adonis clubs the back. Grimes flips through a back suplex and forearms him down. Grimes hits a second running forearm, followed by a hurricanrana. Grimes signals for the end and hits a Cave In for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Cameron Grimes
As Cameron Grimes celebrates at the top of the entrance ramp, Baron Corbin attacks him from behind. Corbin celebrates taking down the man that embarrassed him with a near record-setting victory two weeks ago.
The Progressive Match Flo showcases Asuka hitting Bianca Belair with Blue Mist two weeks ago on SmackDown. Last week, Belair barely avoided another dose of Blue Mist.
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring. Tomorrow, she’ll defend the title against Asuka at WWE Night of Champions.
-Commercial Break-
WWE congratulates John Cena and Batista for being in the #1 and #2 movies at the box office, respectively.
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair is in the ring. An “EST” chant picks up. Tomorrow at WWE Night of Champions, she’ll step into the ring and defend the title against Asuka. This is not the same Asuka she faced at WrestleMania. She respected that Asuka because she just wanted the title. This Asuka is different. This Asuka wants more than just her title. If Asuka wanted a rematch, all she had to do was ask. Instead, she waited until she got into her hometown and humiliated her in front of her entire family and friends. The fakest boos you’ll ever hear are played. Last week, she tried to do it again. Since this was taped last week, Belair’s hands are still stained blue. Belair says she just wants to fight and will leave tomorrow night still the Raw Women’s Champion.
Asuka’s music plays, but she sneaks into the ring and attacks her from behind. Asuka applies a cross-arm breaker, but WWE officials quickly run down to break it up. Asuka breaks away, but Belair lifts her for a KOD. Asuka lands on the WWE officials and comes away unscathed. Belair is irate.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are talking backstage. They’ll host Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa on the KO Show later tonight.
LA Knight will battle Rick Boogs next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of LA Knight attacking Rick Boogs after losing a tag match against The Street Profits.
The Street Profits make their way to the ring. They’ll be on commentary for the next match.
LA Knight vs. Rick Boogs
The bell rings, and Boogs takes Knight down before throwing him across the ring. Knight gets out of the ring and tries to get away from Boogs. Boogs catches him and press slams him onto the commentary table. Boogs gets Knight in the ring. Knight attacks him as he gets in the ring and punches him. Boogs fights back, but he soon runs into the ring post shoulder first. Knight stomps Boogs down in the corner. Knight hits a running knee in the corner. Boogs elbows him back and sends him into the ropes, but Knight takes him down. Boogs avoids a knee drop, but Knight quickly comes back with a front facelock. Boogs quickly presses Knight away. Knight comes off the second rope, but Boogs hits a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Boogs soon sends Knight into the ropes and hits a huge flapjack. Boogs hits a wild gutwrench suplex. Boogs goes for a pumphandle, but Knight rakes the eyes. Knight follows up with BFT for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: LA Knight
LA Knight says he just took out the trash. The Street Profits should know their time is coming. They’re going to get the smoke courtesy of LA Knight, yeah. Knight throws the microphone and nearly hits Wade Barrett.
Karrion Kross is backstage with Scarlett. They’re holding the tarot card with AJ Styles on it. Styles should be worried about how he’ll make it to Night of Champions after being victimized by Karrion Kross.
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Karrion Kross next.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn highlight reel
AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett
The bell rings, and Kross immediately starts strong with some kicks and clubs. Kross drives Styles hard into the turnbuckles. Kross elbows Styles in the head before hitting a release northern lights suplex. Kross sizes Styles up and charges, but Styles sidesteps him. Styles punches away at Kross in the corner before dropkicking him. Kross reverses a whip to the corner, but Styles knocks him back. Styles boots him back and goes to the apron. Scarlett grabs the ankles, so Kross knocks Styles down to ringside. “Michin” Mia Yim makes her way down to ringside to even the odds. Michin chases Scarlett to the back. Kross does not look pleased.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kross beating Styles down in the corner. During the break, Kross powerbombed Styles into the ring post before carelessly dropping him on the floor. In the ring, Styles fights back, but Kross quickly neutralizes him with a back elbow for a one-count. Kross applies a chin lock. Styles fights up and elbows out before hitting a quick strike combo. Kross stumbles to the corner. Styles gets up and holds his lower back. Styles hits a leaping clothesline and lifts him, but Styles’ back gives out. Styles quickly hits an overhead kick. Styles catches Kross with the ushigoroshi for a near fall.
Styles pulls Kross to the corner and tries for a tornado DDT, but Kross counters into a northern lights suplex. Kross follows up with a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Kross sizes him up, but Styles ducks a Kross Hammer. Styles hits a wild strike flurry and goes for the Styles Clash, but Kross pushes him off. Kross drops him on the apron, but Styles knocks him back. Styles hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: AJ Styles
AJ Styles celebrates in the ring and signals that he will win the World Heavyweight Championship tomorrow night.
The KO Show with special guests Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa is next.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Styles is backstage and vows to beat Seth “Freakin” Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The commentators run down the card for WWE Night of Champions tomorrow.
Video Package: Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes at WWE Night of Champions
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens make their way to the ring. The KO Show is next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week on SmackDown, Roman Reigns will celebrate 1,000 days as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Money in the Bank Qualifying Matches will also take place.
The KO Show with special guests Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are in the ring. Owens welcomes everyone to The Kevin Owens Show. Zayn says he thought when they did the show together… Owens cuts him off and welcomes everyone to the Kevin and Sami Show. Owens says tomorrow night, they’ll defend their titles at WWE Night of Champions. Before they do, they have a few things to get off their chests.
Paul Heyman comes out to the stage and says no one gets the plot around here. Your Tribal Chief doesn’t come out when they want. He comes out when he wants to.
The Usos come out to the stage, and Paul Heyman looks completely befuddled. They walk by the Wise Man. Jey Uso says they haven’t forgotten what Owens and Zayn did to them last week. They have a real problem staring them in the face. The Usos are in the ring.
Zayn starts to speak, but Owens stops him. Owens says he wants to give Heyman a spoiler. He knew Reigns wouldn’t come out, but he really wanted to talk to The Usos. For months, Zayn has told him they have to help The Usos. Owens doesn’t get it. After everything that has happened, Zayn thinks they deserve better. Owens couldn’t care less. The Usos need to acknowledge this: Zayn has been right about everything the whole time. Zayn has been right about how Reigns treats them and how they deserve better. Roman Reigns can call himself the Head of the Table, but The Usos are the heart of the table. Reigns instead treats them like the appendix of the table. Owens says Reigns doesn’t need them. Reigns uses them. Jimmy knows Owens is speaking the truth. What goes through their heads when they look in the mirror? They went from being the greatest tag team in the history of WWE to Roman Reigns’s errand boys. Jimmy says that’s cute. They are the best tag team in the world. When it comes to the day ones, Jimmy Uso is the Tribal Chief!
Roman Reigns’s music hits. Heyman has his hands in his face after Jimmy Uso said he’s the Tribal Chief. Roman Reigns, who is marking 999 days as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, makes his way to the ring quickly and gets in Jey Uso’s face. Reigns swats the microphone away. Reigns then stares at Jimmy. Heyman looks concerned. Zayn says Reigns knows the Bloodline is collapsing and it’s all his fault. Reigns smacks the microphone out of Zayn’s hands. Owens hits Reigns with a Stunner! Owens and Zayn brawl with The Usos! Owens and Zayn get the better of The Usos. All of a sudden, Solo Sikoa runs in and hits Zayn with a Samoan Spike. Owens runs in, but Sikoa hits him with a Samoan Spike as well.
Reigns is irate and tells Sikoa to pick Zayn up. Reigns throws some chairs out of the ring and gets fired up. Reigns then crushes Zayn with a Spear. Jey hands Sikoa two Tag Title belts. Jimmy picks up the other two, but he won’t hand it over to Reigns. Reigns stares at him for a long time. Jey finally comes up to Jimmy and tries to take the titles, but Jimmy doesn’t let go of them very easily. Jimmy finally releases them. Jey hands them to Reigns, but he doesn’t let go quickly. Both Usos look visibly upset. Reigns finally takes the titles. The Bloodline poses to end the show.
Quick Match Results
— Austin Theory def. Sheamus to retain the United States Championship
— Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi def. Damage CTRL (Bayley and IYO SKY)
— Cameron Grimes def. Ashante “Thee” Adonis
— LA Knight def. Rick Boogs
— AJ Styles def. Karrion Kross
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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