John Cena returns on SmackDown.
WWE SmackDown featured the return of John Cena on the go-home show for WWE Payback amid rumors that Cena will be the host. Cena confirmed these reports during SmackDown’s opening segment.
Cena’s comeback tour will extend through two months as Hollywood remains dormant during a heated writers/Screen Actors Guild strike. SmackDown also advertised Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar vs. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory, The Miz face-to-face with LA Knight and Jimmy Uso’s first comments since his brother Jey’s departure.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown, with tributes to the lives of Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk, garnered 2.647 million viewers.
WWE SmackDown Results | September 1, 2023
- Grayson Waller and Austin Theory def. Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar
- Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. LWO
- Shotzi def. Bayley
- Solo Sikoa def. AJ Styles
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- August 25, 2023 | 2.647 million
- August 18, 2023 | 2.094 million
- August 11, 2023 | 2.097 million
- August 4, 2023 | 2.248 million
- July 28, 2023 | 2.323 million
- WWE SmackDown Venue: GIANT Center (Hershey, Penn.)
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 8,607
- Available Tickets: 6
WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades
John Cena Opens SmackDown With Jimmy Uso
John Cena confirmed reports he’ll host WWE Payback, and was unanimously cheered as a babyface before Jimmy Uso interrupted him.
Jimmy Uso compared John Cena to Roman Reigns, but the only difference is John Cena manipulates with a smile. Fans booed Jimmy and chanted “we want Jey!”
John Cena told Jimmy Uso that the wrong Uso quit.
Cena delivered an Attitude Adjustment to Jimmy Uso after blocking a super kick. It was a good showing for Jimmy who debuted new theme music and received a lot of heat as a heel.
Opening Segment Grade: A-
Waller And Theory Def. Mysterio And Escobar
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory as a tag team could boost both of their careers.
Just as Michael Cole was talking up how well Waller and Theory were working together, Waller accidentally hit Theory off the apron as Rey moved out of the way.
Waller finally won a match, winning with his Rolling Stunner finisher, which is the least-out-of-nowhere finisher ever.
Waller-Theory vs. LWO Grade: B-
Bobby Lashley And Street Profits Appear Live
Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits vowed to come for everything. They didn’t say much as it seems like WWE is still coming up with an idea of what they’re going to be doing as a faction.
After Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens walked out, there was a tense confrontation between Zayn, Owens and the Street Profits. If WWE has any sense, the Street Profits will be your nexts tag team champions.
Lashley and Street Profits Grade: B-
Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn Def. LWO
A long night for the LWO continued as Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro lost, unceremoniously, to Zayn and Owens.
I feel like KO and Sami Zayn appeared on this show to tease a feud with the Street Profits, but while they were there WWE had them compete in this match.
Zayn and Owens vs. LWO Grade: C+
LA Knight And Miz Face Off
LA Knight and Miz have a great chemistry together as rivals. Miz often acts as a conduit to WWE management, so his comments of LA Knight being a flash in the pan seem like the sentiments of higher-ups.
Miz called LA Knight for also being a former reality star due to Knight’s short stint on “The Hero.” Even when Miz doesn’t dress like LA Knight, they still seem like the same person.
LA Knight did flub a line at one point, but his comments against Miz were great.
Knight talked about the long road he traveled to get to the main roster and and saved his catchphrase from the end.
LA Knight-Miz segment Grade: A
Shotzi Def. Bayley
Corey Graves wasted no time burying Shotzi, making fun of how slow her tank was an comparing her spiky hair to Ed Grimley from Saturday Night Live.
Shotzi had been off television for so long, I’m surprised she didn’t grow all her hair back.
Cole and Graves jumped down Kevin Patrick’s throwat for daring to refer to Shotzi as “lovable.”
Charlotte Flair interfered, allowing Shotzi to get the win. Cole made sure to note that Shotzi won by a “hair.”
Bayley vs. Shotzi Grade: C+
Solo Sikoa Def. AJ Styles
AJ Styles confronted Jimmy Uso backstage for being rude to Mia Yim, only for Solo Sikoa to save Jimmy. It’s still unknown whether or not Jimmy will return to the Bloodline, but he defiantly walked out on Solo after Sikoa issued a threat.
Sikoa won the match with help from Jimmy Uso. Just as Solo was about to Spike Jimmy, Paul Heyman nixed it, allowing Jimmy to super kick Styles. Jimmy then threw up the “one,” implying he wants back in the Bloodline.