August 25, 2023
KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY
A Tribute to Bray & Terry
SmackDown started with a double “In Memory” card in tribute to Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. We then cut to the arena and the roster was gathered on the stage including Erick Rowan. Michael Cole announced that tonight they would be honoring their legacies and then they did the traditional ten-bell salute.
Tonight's SmackDown will be a celebration of the lives of Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/E2T655Ni36
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
They cut to a tribute video to Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt. Afterward, the crowd chanted “Thank You Bray” and sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” as an empty rocking chair was placed on the stage under a spotlight and the show went to its first commercial break.
He's got the whole world in his hands…
Thank you, Bray Wyatt. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aLSay3lYh1
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
After the break, a short tribute video to Terry Funk aired. Michael Cole then said Cody Rhodes would be out later to honor Terry Funk whom his father Dusty Rhodes had a great rivalry. Cole also went on to say that both Bray & Terry wanted to do nothing more than entertain the fans.
Terry Funk Forever#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hfZBQvHCwp
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
A message from Michael Cole before the first match of the night kicks off#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kVuqCKajbt
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
The Show Must Go On
With that, United States Champion Rey Mysterio came down to the ring for some reason without his championship belt for a match against Grayson Waller.
During the match, the following was announced for Payback next Saturday on Peacock:
- United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory
- The Grayson Waller Effect with Guest Cody Rhodes
Mysterio had Waller set up for the 619 when Austin Theory’s music hit and distracted Rey almost leading to him getting pinned. Santos Escobar then jumped Theory. Escobar was still selling his leg injury but was able to stop Theory from interfering further and Mysterio picked up the win (and his U.S. title magically appeared at ringside).
Santos Escobar fends off Austin Theory on the outside and Rey Mysterio gets the win over Grayson Waller!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mMqq0jLSvz
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
A quick Bray Wyatt video appeared with a QR code as a nice nod to his White Rabbit-related return that linked to this video:
This would continue through the night with QR codes pointing to WWE YouTube videos of major Bray Wyatt moments. After the break, A video highlighting WWE Superstars reacting to Bray Wyatt’s passing on Twitter aired.
Some posts from around the WWE Universe remembering Bray Wyatt#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/i3wSU8exlw
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
WWE Women’s Championship: Zelina Vega vs. Iyo Sky
Before the match, two instances were shown over the last few weeks of Zelina Vega beating Iyo Sky before Iyo was champion. Damage CTRL was interviewed in the back and Bayley said that we are in “Iyo’s Era” and asked Kayla Braxton if she was going to join the LWO because she’s short just like everyone in that group. Sky picked up the win with the Over the Moonsault.
And still! @Iyo_SkyWWE retains the WWE Women's Championship!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/z41rtztiD0
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
After that match, another Twitter tribute video aired:
More messages from around the WWE Universe remembering Bray Wyatt 🙏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/So9jy7fLzP
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
Cody Talks Funk
Cody Rhodes came out to the ring and said he knew what he wanted to talk about tonight and talked about how at 11 years old he overheard a man calling his father “an egg-sucking dog” and that man ended up being Terry Funk. He called Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt “cowboys in the best of ways”. Cody then threw to a tribute video.
.@CodyRhodes celebrates the incredible career of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk with the WWE Universe. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/R87trnY73K
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023
We take a look back at Terry Funk's illustrious Hall of Fame career#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/BnJERmp4FA
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
After the video, Cody announced that the next tag team match would be a “Terry Funk Hardcore Match”. With that, The Brawling Brutes came down to the ring to face The Street Profits.
The Terry Funk “Hardcore” Match
Outside of no tags and a lot of out-of-the-ring action, the beginning of the Terry Funk Hardcore Match was decidedly not very hardcore with the crowd incessantly chanting “We want tables”. Bobby Lashley came out and just stood at ringside not getting involved. Finally Butch pulled a table out from underneath the ring but Butch ran right into Bobby Lashley. Lashley then pushed Butch off the top rope and speared him. The Street Profits hit what the announcers dubbed “The Revelation” through the table for the victory.
THROUGH THE TABLE! The Street Profits win! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/scpcRkmyWZ
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
More love pouring in from around the WWE Universe for Bray Wyatt 🙏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/lGs5Z0kbhH
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
Knight on Wyatt
A video from TMZ Sports of The Miz aired where he essentially just cut a promo on Knight. Knight came out to the ring and cut a promo saying that tonight is about Bray Wyatt. He said they went through hell together and through that, he was getting him ready for anything. Knight then went in on Miz saying that he’s always been second fiddle, including when he had a stunt double. He then finished by quoting Bray, saying “A wise one once told me – the next time you see me…run.”
LA Knight remembers Bray Wyatt before tonight's main event@RealLAKnight #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1t5WZuZxbH
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
"Miz, a wise man once told me the next time you see me… Run."@RealLAKnight #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/LZ38DDVl9t
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
Finn Balor then came out to face LA Knight to which Michael Cole explained that these two performers had long histories with Bray Wyatt. The announcers then said it was made official that Knight would take on Miz next Saturday at Payback. LA Knight picked up the victory with a superplex followed by the BFT, pinning Finn Balor clean.
YEAH! @RealLAKnight gets the win! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ekDGzOLXcE
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
After LA Knight left the arena, the lights shorted out in Fiend fashion, and a Bray’s lantern was placed in the middle of the ring with the audience full of “Fireflies” chanting “Thank You Bray”.
Thank You Bray 🙏 pic.twitter.com/S03FrxpFTC
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 26, 2023
Announced for Payback:
- United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory
- The Grayson Waller Effect with Guest Cody Rhodes
- LA Knight vs. The Miz
Announced for SmackDown Next Week in Hershey, PA:
- John Cena Returns
- Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
- Jimmy Uso Returns
Friday Night SmackDown Results:
- Rey Mysterio over Grayson Waller in 11:53
- WWE Women’s Championship: Iyo Sky over Zelina Vega in 6:13
- The Street Profits over The Brawling Brutes in 12:33
- LA Knight over Finn Balor in 10:50