LA Knight Takes Out Hit Row, Austin Theory Retains, Dark Order Beats The Elite | WWE SD x AEW Recap
Here is your fight size update for WWE Friday Night SmackDown and AEW Rampage on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Here is your fight size update for WWE Friday Night SmackDown and AEW Rampage on Friday, July 7, 2023.
WWE SmackDown
– In a Digital Exclusive, LA Knight interrupted Hit Row (Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, and B-Fab) and cleared the ring of them.
– Austin Theory defended the United States Championship against Sheamus. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) interfered, but the Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch) evened the odds. Still, Pretty Deadly helped Theory clinch the win by distracting Sheamus; Theory then rolled him up and used the tights for extra leverage.
It’s Pretty Deadly!#SmackDown #USTitle pic.twitter.com/Lp0YTjoQ2c
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– WWE Women’s Champion Asuka came to the ring. Bianca Belair interrupted her, as she charged to the ring and took the fight to Asuka. Charlotte Flair came out and joined the fray. They brawled, and IYO SKY and Bayley blindsided the champion. IYO tried to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase, but Flair and Belair blocked the attempt.
Are we witnessing a #MITB cash-in at @TheGarden?!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Tsz4C8AmCM
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– AJ Styles faced Karrion Kross. Scarlett got involved, but Michin took her out. Styles then pinned Kross with the Phenomenal Forearm.
The Phenomenal One picks up the win —@AJStylesOrg @MiaYim #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/MLcUgbLgkw
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 8, 2023
– The Usos kicked off WWE SmackDown and started to discuss their win at WWE Money in the Bank. Paul Heyman, alongside Solo Sikoa, interrupted. Heyman noted that he was Reigns’ defense counsel, but Sikoa took the microphone. Roman Reigns came to the ring. Reigns noted that he got pinned, but the crowd still acknowledged him as “The Tribal Chief.” He told The Usos that neither one of them was The Tribal Chief, so the trial wasn’t legitimate. The Usos refused to be bullied, and they played a video package of Reigns mistreating them. Reigns claimed that that’s not who he is; instead, it’s who he was forced to be. Reigns made it clear that everything he did was for The Bloodline, as he took on the weight of the world. He said he didn’t need money or power. Reigns told Jey Uso he’s done with all of it. He said that if Jey wanted it, it was his. Roman then took his lei off and put it on Jey. He dropped on his knees and put the title down. Jey moved closer to him, and Roman hit him below the belt. Jimmy attacked Roman, but Sikoa took him out. Solo grabbed the lei and teased putting it on himself. He started to give it to Reigns, but Jey took the fight to them. Solo dropped him, and Reigns nailed Jimmy with a punch. Sikoa tied Jey in the ropes while Reigns viciously attacked Jimmy. Jey broke free and tried to attack Reigns, but Solo stopped him. Solo then slammed Jimmy through the broadcast table with a splash.
– Jimmy Uso was taken out of the arena on a stretcher.
The aftermath of #TribalCourt.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/IoJgjydUgy
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa came to the ring at the end of the show. Jey Uso walked through the crowd and brawled with Sikoa. He attacked Reigns and unloaded on Sikoa with a steel chair. He then challenged Reigns to a match.
“YOU BETTER ACCEPT MY CHALLENGE!”@WWEUsos @WWERomanReigns #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/rfArgbytAz
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– Grayson Waller hosted the Grayson Waller Effect, and Edge was his guest. Waller noted that Edge had a big announcement. He asked Edge why he was back, and he said it was because of the fans. Edge reflected on his WWE career. Waller said that Edge’s big announcement was that he’s retiring. Edge responded by saying that Waller has put himself in deep waters, and he’d face a match against the Hall of Famer later in the show.
BREAKING: @EdgeRatedR will go one-on-one with @GraysonWWE live at @TheGarden TONIGHT on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/y1GVrLkBZa
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– Edge faced Grayson Waller in Waller’s SmackDown in-ring debut. Waller delivered a valiant effort, but the Hall of Famer emerged victorious. After the bell, Edge told Waller that he swam.
Even in defeat, @GraysonWWE looks like a winner tonight on #SmackDown.
Just ask @EdgeRatedR. pic.twitter.com/CmDhC111Wc
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
x
– WWE announced that the July 7 episode of WWE SmackDown broke two records.
– Grayson Waller stated that he’s ready to be thrown in the deep end after his SmackDown in-ring debut.
Sink or Swim? I’m Australian, Throw me in the deep end lad, I’m ready #SmackDown
— Grayson Waller (@GraysonWWE) July 8, 2023
– Cody Rhodes will speak on the July 10 episode of WWE Raw.
– IYO SKY teased that she still has her sights set on Asuka.
I think we were very close tonight…#DamageCTRL
Hey @WWEAsuka ,we are still holding the briefcase. —#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KtdTDRFbL5
— IYO SKY (@Iyo_SkyWWE) July 8, 2023
– In a SmackDown Exclusive, AJ Styles and Michin noted that they’re expecting more fights with Karrion Kross and Scarlett.
EXCLUSIVE: @AJStylesOrg and @MiaYim await more battles with @realKILLERkross and @Lady_Scarlett13 down the road.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zsKE6kwqWC
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
– Grayson Waller reflected on his remarkable week in a SmackDown Exclusive.
EXCLUSIVE: First @JohnCena and now @EdgeRatedR … what a week it’s been for @GraysonWWE! pic.twitter.com/sOh420bhbF
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2023
Catch up on our coverage of the July 7 episode of WWE SmackDown here. For a full review, check out the post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.
AEW Rampage
– The Dark Order (Evl Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds) scored a major win as they defeated The Elite (Hangman Page and The Young Bucks) due to the interference of Konosuke Takeshita and Claudio Castagnoli. Castagnoli and Takeshita went to attack The Elite after the match, but Kenny Omega made the save.
Evil Uno and #DarkOrder just scored the upset and the win over #TheElite, thanks to some help from @Takesoup & @ClaudioCSRO!
WATCH #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@YoungBucks #HangmanPage @silvernumber1 @ytalexreynolds @eviluno pic.twitter.com/bKFHQFTfvp
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia defeated Jeff Jarrett and Matt Hardy in a quarterfinal match in the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament. Ethan Page made the save when Jarrett and his group attakced Hardy after the match.
With some impressive “teamwork,” Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia got the win and are now heading to the semifinals of the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament quarterfinals!
WATCH #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@SammyGuevara @GarciaWrestling pic.twitter.com/9soDaQrPoA
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
Brian Cage and Big Bill deploying some devastating teamwork for the win! Are they now the favorites heading into their match with @The_MJF and @AdamColePro this WEDNESDAY NIGHT on #AEWDynamite?
WATCH #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@briancagegmsi @thecazxl pic.twitter.com/veGWuyAx8L
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– Hikaru Shida kept rolling with another win over Marina Shafir.
Shida hits the KATANA for her 6th win in a row!
WATCH #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@shidahikaru pic.twitter.com/VU8OXkKvvl
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– TBS Champion Kris Statlander discussed her title run in an interview. She made it clear that she is a fighting champion.
“Defeater of the Undefeated!”
TBS Champion Kris Statlander is ALWAYS ready to defend the title, anytime, anywhere!
Watch #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@callmekrisstat pic.twitter.com/eGuRRSLPwX
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– On the latest edition of QTV, QT Marshall hyped up Powerhouse Hobbs’ win over Dustin Rhodes. They also highlighted Johnny TV’s successful TV. Harley Cameron played a clip of Johnny TV listening to The Acclaimed’s music.
What’s happening on the latest edition of #QTV?!
Watch #AEWRampage100 on TNT!@QTMarshall @aaronsoloAEW @TheRealMorrison @itsdanni_ellexo pic.twitter.com/XADaXuOogw
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– A video package hyped up the July 8 episode of AEW Collision.
You do NOT want to miss Saturday Night #AEWCollision TOMORROW NIGHT, LIVE from Regina at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT! pic.twitter.com/x5g8qZKhwO
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2023
– Matt Hardy praised the match between Dark Order and The Elite.
Dark Order vs The Elite was a fantastic match. It’s nice to see Dark Order earn such a well deserved spotlight. #AEWRampage
The @youngbucks & Adam Page are extraordinary talents that will unfortunately get their flowers way later than they should.
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) July 8, 2023
– John Silver described how he was celebrating the Dark Order’sv victory.
Huge Dark Order win tonight. I’m chugging Miller lites and dancing to Goodbye Horses #AEWRampage
— John Silver (@SilverNumber1) July 8, 2023
– Alex Reynolds stated that Dark Order’s win was the start of the group’s resurgence.
Everyone likes to talk about what the Dark Order was, or how small our group has become.
This is the start of our resurgence. #AEWRampage100 https://t.co/5TtevQyQuS
— Alex Reynolds (@YTAlexReynolds) July 8, 2023
Catch up on our coverage of the July 7 episode of AEW Rampage here.