Friday Night Smackdown – Jul 14th 2023: Results & Review
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s episode!
Match #1: Pretty Deadly def. Sheamus & Ridge Holland
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Sheamus and his cohort Ridge Holland were out for payback after Pretty Deadly cost The Celtic Warrior a chance to win the United States Title in his match against Austin Theory. The Brawling Brutes failed to achieve victory, however. Although Sheamus Brogue Kicked Kit Wilson out of the ring, Elton Prince quickly dumped him out as well. With the official focused elsewhere, Prince removed the turnbuckle padding. Unaware, Holland charged right into the exposed steel and paved the way for Elton to follow up with a leg drop off the top rope for the underhanded victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Bayley def. Zelina Vega
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Bayley capitalized on a distraction from Ms. Money in the Bank IYO SKY overcome The LWO’s Zelina Vega with the Rose Plant. After the victory, though, Shotzi appeared on the TitanTron and shaved her head in defiance of Damage CTRL.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Fatal 4-Way Match – Winner: Santos Escobar
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
AJ Styles looked ready to triumph in the Fatal 4-Way. Before he could hit the Styles Clash, however, it was revealed on the TitanTron that Karrion Kross was unleashing a vicious attack on Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. As Styles exited the ring to help, he was taken out from behind by Grayson Waller. But moments after Waller followed up with the Rolling Stunner on Butch, The LWO’s Santos Escobar leaped in to hit him with the Splash off the top rope to reign supreme. With the United States Championship Invitational victory, Escobar earns the right to the face the winner of next week’s Fatal 4-Way Match.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Bianca Belair def. Asuka (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Bayley and Ms. Money in the Bank IYO SKY as well as Charlotte Flair took front-row seats for the WWE Women’s Title Match pitting Asuka against Bianca Belair. When The Queen hopped the ringside barricade to neutralize The Role Model as she looked ready to interfere in the contest, SKY threw The Opportunity into the turnbuckle. When Flair attempt to respond with a Spear on IYO, Ms. Money in the Bank moved out of the way, and Charlotte accidently hit the Spear on Bianca to put an end to the match by disqualification. With everybody down, SKY tried to cash in her Money in the Bank contract. Before Bayley could give it to the official, however, Asuka hit Bayley with the mist and left SKY on the top turnbuckle as she made her escape.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
A weak week for Smackdown, with an episode that had matches that didn’t feel like there were any consequences to – especially the main event, which seemed hampered by everything going on with OTHER women on the roster rather than the Champ herself! Props to all those involved in the Fatal 4-way though, they managed to deliver a cohesive multi-man match that delivered both in excitement AND in wreslting skills. Even the Bloodline stuff felt inconsequential this week too, which is saying something!