Welcome to eWn’s coverage of Friday Night SmackDown, live from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. Here’s what’s on tap for the show:
- WWE United States Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar.
- Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley.
- The Grayson Waller Effect featuring Bobby Lashley.
John Cena will of course also be in attendance.
Stay tuned for the latest from WWE SmackDown!
******
The Bloodline is kicking off Friday Night SmackDown. Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman enter the arena as we are welcomed to the show. Heyman asks Sacramento to acknowledge Roman Reigns, and Solo and Jimmy do the “we the ones” gesture.
Last week, John Cena, “the second greatest of all time”, took the beating of a lifetime, and we are pitched to that footage. After we see that, Heyman adds that Cena has travel issues and is not here on SmackDown yet, but he’ll be here later. So isn’t AJ Styles, but that’s because he is laying in the hospital.
Jimmy Uso then asks for the mic and there’s some tension, so he eventually just yanks it from Paul E. Jimmy says that the real reason why John Cena isn’t here tonight is because he’s scared. In particular, scared of Jimmy. He then begins mocking AJ Styles before he and Solo are jumped by Karl Anderson.
Anderson says that this situation is now O.C. business and dares them to get in the ring, but Heyman stops them. Solo tells Jimmy to handle this, or he’ll step in. Jimmy goes that he’s got it, and we head to the commercial break. When we come back, we’ve got ourselves an impromptu match!
#1. Jimmy Uso vs. Karl Anderson – Winner: Jimmy Uso
After the match, Solo and Jimmy beatdown Anderson. The exclamation point is a Samoan Spike. Jimmy goes for a handshake but Solo is not having it. They walk up the ramp, as Mia Yim comes out. Jimmy taunts here and he slaps Jimmy, who falls down.
******
In a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley, Santos Escobar shares that he is come, and yet nervous, ahead of challenging his mentor, Rey Mysterio, for the United States Championship tonight. He says that Rey is in for the fight of his life.
******
Jimmy Uso is irate walking through the halls, shoving production people and pushing around things that make sounds. Paul Heyman asks Siri to call Roman Reigns.
******
Next up… Bobby Lashley is on The Grayson Waller Effect. But first, Grayson Waller will be doing some cheesy comedy. He says that John Cena may be the greatest of all time, but he isn’t the greatest at being on time. I’ll skip to Waller introducing Lashley. We are pitched to whatever transpired between Lashley and The Street Profits last week, before we come back live.
Lashley says he made a mistake picking The Street Profits as his clients, so he’s back scouting. Waller suggests himself and Austin Theory, but Lashley passes due to his history with Theory. He is interrupted by The Street Profits and their Italian suits. They begin to talk but Lashley cuts ’em off. He’s not interested in excuses. They need to prove themselves now. Lashley exits, and Ford & Dawkins follow him in an attempt to persuade him. They share an awkward moment before Waller introduces Austin Theory, who has a match, next…
******
#2. Austin Theory vs. Cameron Grimes – Winner: Austin Theory
******
After the match, Theory gets in Dragon Lee’s face, who was in the front row watching.
******
Backstage with Kayla Braxton, Rey Mysterio says that LWO is all family, before promising Santos Escobar the fight of his life tonight as well.
******
Jimmy Uso is seen assaulting Ashante Adonis backstage. Solo joins in too. Backstage officials and security check on the victim as we head to the United States title match.
******
#3. United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar – Winner: Rey Mysterio
Phenomenal match! After the match, Mysterio and Escobar, who is visibly disappointed, are about to shake hands, but they are suddenly attacked by The Street Profits. Lashley enters the arena and is smiling ear-to-ear. LWO attempts a save but is taken out swiftly. Meanwhile, Lashley takes out an already fallen Santos Escobar on the ramp. Dragon Lee wants to make the save as well but is held back by security.
******
WE LEARN THAT JOHN CENA HAS LANDED IN SACRAMENTO!
******
LWO is seen in the doctors’ room, where they issue a challenge to Lashley, Ford and Dawkins for Fastlane next Saturday.
******
We see another vignette featuring Pretty Deadly, as Elton Prince continues his “miraculous recovery.”
The commentary team hypes up Jade Cargill’s recent signing with WWE.
******
We see John Cena, dressed like a teletubby, drive into the building parking lot and rush through the made-up security check-in post.
******
#4. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley – Winner: Charlotte Flair
Notably, Charlotte had cut a quick pre-match promo on Bayley, stating that while Bayley has downgraded to a steppingstone and a background character, she is still the measuring stick in WWE. Charlotte then shared her intention to challenge IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Bayley threatened an attack on Flair, but Asuka arrived to even the odds. It looked as though a tag team match would be set up after Asuka’s promo, but Bayley “interpreted” that as a demand for a triple threat match between Charlotte, Asuka and IYO SKY next Saturday at Fastlane.
******
Mr. Cena’s here. The crowd’s going nuts, absolutely nuts! Cena comes out, contract in hand, and starts playing to the crowd. He has them in the palm of his hand. He is soon interrupted by The Bloodline, and Jimmy Uso is again acting the tough guy. He enters the ring but Cena takes him out. Solo enters next, and Cena gets him up for the AA, but Jimmy intervenes.
Two-on-one assault follows, and Jimmy clears the announce table to nail down Cena, but wait a damn minute… L.A. Knight! YEAHH!! The megastar is here. He’s beat COVID’s ass, and now, he’s come for The Bloodline. He takes out Jimmy and Solo all by himself before Cena joins in.
The Bloodline retreats as Knight signs the contract, and the match is all set for Fastlane!
******
Thanks for joining us tonight! I’ll see you tomorrow night for Collision!
