WWE SmackDown Results 8/18/2023
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX opens live from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as Kevin Patrick welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Michael Cole and Corey Graves. They hype tonight’s show.
We go right to the ring and Mike Rome introduces Grayson Waller, who is already out for another edition of The Grayson Waller Effect.
Waller welcomes us and talks about tonight’s celebration for WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Waller then introduces his guests from The LWO – Santos Escobar and 2023 WWE Hall of Famer & new WWE United States Champion Rey Mysterio. They head to the ring and we see that Escobar is wearing a knee brace due to last week’s attack by Austin Theory. We get a video showing what led to Mysterio winning the title from Theory last week.
Mysterio and Waller sit while Escobar stands. Fans chant “619!” as Waller congratulates Rey and asks how he’s feeling. Rey says it feels good to be WWE United States Champion again. Waller mentions how Escobar must feel great also. Rey says they spoiled Theory’s plan last week. Waller says so they must be co-champions. Rey says no, but what’s important is the title belongs to The LWO. Waller stirs the pot and says Rey stole the title from Santos. Rey says this is not true.
Waller says this is what Legends do on SmackDown… Rey wasn’t ready to pass the torch because he’s selfish. Santos tells Waller to shut up. Santos is only angry with Theory. Santos says he gave Rey his blessing as he has nothing but respect for his friend and mentor. Santos sees what Waller is trying to do but it won’t work because he and Rey are family. Santos says Theory got what he deserved and once Santos is fully healed… the music interrupts and out comes Waller to boos as Santos and Rey standby.
Theory sarcastically congratulates Rey and knocks him for being a bad father. Theory says last week was a travesty. He says Santos wasn’t man enough to step up last week. Theory demands Adam Pearce come out and hand him back the title. Theory yells for Pearce and out he comes. Pearce had a feeling Theory would call him out, and nobody wants to hear that. The music hits and out comes LA Knight right behind Pearce. LA gets a massive pop from the crowd.
LA wants to talk to you. Fans pop again. LA dismisses Theory saying he was the greatest United States Champion and knocks him for how he barely defended. LA congratulates Rey and says he doesn’t care who has the title because it will be coming to him eventually. LA proposes a match with Theory, and says it should be for a shot at Rey’s title. Pearce says he can’t argue with that, and the only thing he can say to make it better is to have the match right now. LA agrees and insults Theory for another pop from the crowd. LA heads to the ring as Theory looks on and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and the announcers hype today’s WrestleMania 40 ticket sales.
#1 Contenders Match: LA Knight vs. Austin Theory
We go back to the ring and LA Knight is waiting, as is Austin Theory. The bell rings but the music interrupts and out comes The Miz. He joins the announcers for commentary.
LA and Theory go at it now