Asuka's recent match with Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair, and an appearance by LA Knight were the highlights of the SmackDown broadcast.
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Jey Uso competed against his very own brother, Solo Sikoa, in the main event of the final episode of SmackDown less than 24 hours ahead of an emotional and potentially historic match with Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns. The WWE Women’s champion Asuka’s most recent match with her top two rivals, Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair, and an appearance by LA Knight, the hottest talent in the business, were the other highlights of the broadcast.
What transpired and who gained traction in their last performances prior to the July extravaganza? Find out by reading this summary of the August 4 Fox show, which was aired live from the Nutter Centre at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
LA Knight defeated Sheamus in the opening match on Friday night, continuing his historic 2023. However, it wasn’t without controversy as several of the participants in the Slim Jim Battle Royal on Saturday made themselves known at the ringside, resulting in a chaotic finish when Knight delivered Blunt Force Trauma to win. There was at least some effort made to showcase ongoing rivalries while spotlighting Knight in what was a physically demanding match with The Celtic Warrior rather than simply having participants in the battle royal surround the ring.
The crowd was completely behind the self-described megastar and was in his corner the entire time. A second indication that WWE may have lucked into a breakout star in the form of a man who has found success at every stage in his career is the reaction to his entrance throughout the victory, which was the stuff of true stars. The time has come to take a chance on Knight and maybe produce a new star who can continue the business’s hot streak.
Friday’s bout between Butch and Ridge Holland and Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows was interrupted by Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, proving that recent hints of a business partnership between The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley were accurate. The contest was declared a no-contest, but in the end, that outcome was secondary to how the angle developed after the bell. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford immediately advanced.
They transformed from popular, lovable baby faces to a tag team that can pose a threat to any team, especially with The All-Mighty’s support. It is unknown if the pair will turn heel in the upcoming weeks, but one may assume that interfering in a babyfaces’ fight would put them in that position. If so, it will be a welcome shift for two men who have only begun to show their full potential in the WWE ring.
With an in-ring segment that is likely to define the upcoming installment of The Bloodline narrative, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman put the finishing touches on the buildup for Saturday’s event. Uso continually reminded Sikoa that he is currently under the same kind of duress that Jey and Jimmy were. Heyman tried to refute the claim, but Sikoa cut him off with a single stare. A superkick from Uso, a teaser for the night’s big event, replaced the apparent disagreement.
This was even better. Even the breezier, more sombre promotional segments are fantastic. Uso’s hint that The Enforcer might be aware of the tricks The Tribal Chief is playing allowed this to happen without the need for Reigns. When brothers Uso and Sikoa face off in the main event later in the programme, it will be intriguing to see what happens in the aftermath.
Austin Theory, who plans to defend his United States Championship against Santos Escobar on the following week’s programme, was attacked after narrowly defeating Cameron Grimes on Friday night. Escobar’s beating was the consequence of Theory’s own sneak attack earlier in the performance, and it intensified a rivalry that had been seeming old and stagnant for some months. Strong in-ring activity is expected. The success of this feud in reviving the US championship will ultimately depend on how the match is booked and whether there is any good follow-up.
Read more: WWE SummerSlam 2023 Match Card, rumors, news, how to stream and more
Iyo Sky competed against Zelina Vega in singles competition shortly after Shotzi proceeded to terrorize Bayley by chasing her off the set of the Grayson Waller Effect and into the audience to the locker room area. After a good bout between Vega and Sky, Shotzi and Bayley returned from behind the scenes, creating a distraction and giving the LWO’s first female champion the win. Even if just because it is new and provides the former something to do, the Shotzi-Bayley material is invigorating. The most original lady on the roster in years could become a star thanks to her distinctive appearance and fresh edge if used skillfully.
Since Backlash, Vega has seen nothing short of a phenomenal revival. She has been grossly underutilized as a performer for far too long, and it is long past time that she was given this chance. The question is whether Sky can move on from her defeat by Vega and use Saturday night’s high-profile live event to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase, potentially by taking advantage of drained Charlotte Flair, Asuka, or Bianca Belair.
Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa cleanly in the middle of the ring on Friday night, using Roman Reigns’ own spear to put down his brother and gain more momentum before the biggest match of his career. If there had been any doubts about Jey Uso’s strength going into SummerSlam, they had been dispelled by the end of the show. WWE will probably revisit Uso vs. Sikoa in the future because of the enthusiastic crowd, the apparent chemistry between the two, and the match itself. And with good reason. Sikoa displays strength even in defeat because it took an unexpected finisher to knock him out and a top-rope splash to kill him off.
Tribal Combat is going to be extraordinary; it’s another masterfully planned drama that will either wrap up one of the greatest storylines in WWE history or advance it as Reigns maintains his dominance of the business. In either case, SummerSlam’s main event seems like must-see television.
With this final SmackDown broadcast, WWE did an excellent job of putting the finishing touches on the excitement for SummerSlam. The Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women’s Championship was skillfully showcased in three different, original video packages showcasing Charlotte Flair, Asuka, and Bianca Belair in various situations. Jey Uso was extensively featured, the booking highlighted the battle royal competitors.
It went beyond simply promoting the performance on Saturday. Aspects including AJ Styles and Karrion Kross, Shotzi, Bayley, The Street Profits, Austin Theory, and Santos Escobar were covered in this programme that will continue to be relevant and have an impact on the blue brand after the midsummer extravaganza. Ahead of a show that may determine how WWE Creative approaches its programming for the upcoming few months, WWE Creative walked a delicate line and produced a compelling, engaging evening of television.
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