This week on SmackDown featured John Cena on the Grayson Waller Effect show, AJ Styles against Finn Balor and LA Knight battles The Miz again.
SmackDown took place at the Ball Arena in Denver with Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Kevin Patrick on commentary.
Pat McAfee did a promo welcoming us to Smackdown. Austin Theory interrupted and insulted McAfee. That’s when McAfee introduced a friend…it was The Rock. Huge ovation for The Rock, who was making a surprise appearance just like McAfee. The Rock was in Boulder, Colorado for McAfee’s show earlier on Friday. The Rock will also be on ESPN on College Gameday on Saturday morning along with McAfee, so he was in town just like McAfee was.
The Rock did an in-ring promo supporting his friend Pat McAfee against Austin Theory. Rock did a lot of his famous lines and the fans loved it. After exchanging some words, The Rock reminded Theory that this is The Rock’s show and the people’s show. After Theory threw a punch, Rock dropped Theory with a spinebuster and People’s Elbow. Pat did his own People’s Elbow too. The fans loved it.
The full segment featuring The Rock is posted on WWE’s YouTube channel as well.
Match #1:Finn Balor defeated AJ Styles. – Styles nearly won a few times, but couldn’t hit a finisher. After Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio were ejected from ringside, Jimmy Uso jumped on the apron and Styles went after. Balor did a crucifix pin on Styles to win.
The Rock and Pat McAfee were shown talking backstage. They spoke about how Denver would have gone on for two hours. John Cena walked up to The Rock and shook his hand saying “welcome home.” Cena gave The Rock a big hug.
Finn Balor talked to Jimmy Uso backstage about joining The Judgment Day. Balor said that he spoke to Jey Uso on Raw about joining The Judgment Day and he didn’t say no. Balor said that The Judgment Day doesn’t have a leader like The Bloodline does so nobody that is like Roman. Paul Heyman was in the background listening to the conversation as Balor left.
Rey Mysterio, the US Champion, was in the ring with the LWO group. Santos Escobar spoke about his respect for Rey and challenged Rey to a US Title match. Rey agreed to it. They were interrupted by Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits, which would lead to a tag team match.
Match #2: The Street Profits: Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins defeated LWO: Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro. – The Street Profits won in about one minute with The Revelation – a spinebuster/neckbreaker combo move.
After the match, Lashley told The Street Profits to attack some more. Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio tried to help their LWO buddies. Lashley faced off with Rey, so Dawkins punched Rey in the jaw and Lashley/Street Profits left.
Match #3: LA Knight defeated The Miz with the BFT for the pinfall win. – They got two segments and Knight won clean.
Post match, Knight did a promo saying ever since he joined Smackdown he said he was coming for gold. Knight said he sees all the different options. Knight said it doesn’t matter if it’s Rey Mysterio, GUNTHER, Seth Rollins and it doesn’t matter if it’s Roman Reigns. Knight said he’s easily top two and he’s not number two.
They showed Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman watching on big screen TV. Solo said he’s going to handle this LA Knight problem. Heyman said that order has to come from Roman Reigns and he hasn’t given that order yet. Solo claimed he would finish this tonight.
Match #4:Asuka defeated Bayley with a backslide pin. – Bayley was in control, but Shotzi showed up at ringside and scared her. Asuka trapped Bayley with a backslide pin for the win.
The Grayson Waller Effect talk show with John Cena was the main event. Cena didn’t say a word because Waller was being rude and kept talking every time it looked like Cena wanted to speak. Jimmy Uso interrupted complaining about Cena embarrassing Jimmy two weeks ago. Solo Sikoa entered the ring and teased fighting Jimmy, but then Solo hit Cena with a superkick.
The brothers Solo & Jimmy attacked Cena briefly, but AJ Styles made the save. Cena dumped Solo out of the ring and Cena gave Jimmy Uso the Five Knuckle Shuffle fist drop. Solo saved Jimmy (because Heyman told Solo) from an Attitude Adjustment from Cena. Styles and Cena, who are former rivals, hugged in the ring. That was the end of the segment with a tease of a future tag team match between those four men.
Next week on WWE SmackDown:
* IYO SKY defends the WWE Women’s Championship against Asuka. The announcers pushed it as a first-time-ever match.
* Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. The Street Profits.
The next WWE PLE is Fastlane on October 7th.