SmackDown Results: Reigns and Rhodes staredown, Owens traded, Aldis named GM

October 13, 2023 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

October 13, 2023
BOK Center – Tulsa, OK

By: John Kleinchester

 

Reigning Roman Returns

SmackDown kicked off with John Cena coming down to the ring and welcoming us to the “Season Premiere” of SmackDown. He was immediately interrupted by Roman Reigns’ music who came down to the ring flanked by Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. The announce team noted that this was Roman’s first appearance since the week after SummerSlam. Roman claimed that Cena only showed up because he was gone and that he then had the audacity to convince people to call him the Greatest of All Time. Reigns said he was the GOAT, not Cena, and told him to leave or they’d make him leave. Cena responded by saying he wasn’t here to challenge him he was here to acknowledge him. He said he hadn’t earned the opportunity to challenge him but knew someone who had. With that LA Knight came out. 

Knight got a huge reaction and Roman Reigns looked flabbergasted. Knight got on the mic and said Roman was standing in his way. Reigns asked Knight who the hell he thought he was standing in his ring right now and Knight responded by saying “Talking like that is a good way to get yourself referred to in the past tense”. Suddenly, Jimmy Uso jumped Knight from behind but was able to fight him off. Roman backed down and then whispered to Solo Sikoa, “Forget about Cena. Handle him.” Sikoa then challenged LA Knight to a match tonight.

Pretty Deadly vs. The Brawling Brutes

Pretty Deadly came down to the ring complete with a voiceover about Elton Prince’s recovery and Prince standing up out of a wheelchair. The match began and the Brutes focused heavily on Prince’s shoulder as Pretty Deadly were seeking revenge on the Brutes for causing Prince’s injury. The finish saw Elton Prince feign an injury allowing Kit Wilson to nail Ridge Holland with a kick and Prince got the roll-up victory. 

Uncool, Profits. Very Uncool.

Kayla Braxton interviewed Carlito, welcoming him back to WWE after his surprise appearance at Fastlane. Bobby Lashley interrupted and called his return amazing and masterful. Carlito challenged Lashley to a match but The Street Profits jumped him from behind and Lashley was about to hit Carlito with a chair when Adam Pearce and Jason Jordan, making an on-screen appearance as an agent broke it up. 

After the commercial, the LWO was trying to help Carlito when Bayley came in and started complaining about needing time to celebrate IYO Sky’s victory at Fastlane. Zelina Vega got in her face and Adam Pearce snapped, telling referee Charles Robinson to escort the two to the ring for a match to settle their differences. 

Roman & Jimmy

Backstage, Roman was asking Jimmy Uso what he was doing out there. Roman said that Jey Uso was old news and the only thing that matters is the Tag Titles and every day that Jey and Cody have the titles is a slap in the face to him and The Bloodline. 

Bayley vs. Zelina Vega

Zelina Vega had this match won and was about to hit the Code Red when IYO Sky distracted the referee allowing Bayley to hit the Rose Plant for the victory in under three minutes. After the match, Bayley and IYO started attacking Zelina when Charlotte ran down to save Vega. 

Triple H’s Special Announcement

Triple H came out and touted a very successful Fastlane with Crown Jewel coming up next and Survivor Series right around the corner. Hunter said he wanted to call attention to one of the unsung heroes of WWE, Adam Pearce. Hunter said Pearce has been doing an incredible yet thankless job. He said no one person should do his job alone and Pearce was getting a promotion to General Manager of Monday Night Raw. Hunter was then about to announce the new GM of SmackDown when Dominik Mysterio interrupted. Dom tried to say that Judgment Day got screwed out of the Tag Titles but he was being booed out of the building. Hunter joked that he thought they were pumping in the boos but he was impressed by how loud it was out there. Hunter then introduced Nick Aldis as the new SmackDown GM. 

Aldis finally brought up the lingering issue that no one was traded to SmackDown from Raw for Cody Rhodes from months ago. Nick was about to announce the new addition to SmackDown but Dom interrupted and said no one cares and whoever it is he’d slap. Kevin Owens’ music hit, revealing him to be the new addition to the SmackDown roster. Owens got into the ring and Stunnered Dominik and shook Nick Aldis’ hand. 

Roman, Again

Backstage again, Reigns was upset that Kevin Owens was on his show along with Cody Rhodes. Roman told Jimmy to “run the play” and Jimmy left with Solo to take care of it.

 

Dragon Lee

A short promo package aired highlighting Dragon Lee as SmackDown’s newest Superstar. 

 

Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were complaining to Nick Aldis saying they wanted to end the curse of the Women’s Tag Titles and wanted to change them to Italian leather. Aldis apologized saying he had another meeting as the camera panned back to reveal Charlotte standing on the other side of him. He told Charlotte that she would be champion if it weren’t for Damage CTRL’s involvement at Fastlane and therefore next week she would get a title shot against IYO for the WWE Women’s Championship.

As Charlotte was about to walk away she ran into Jade Cargill. Triple H appeared and attempted to introduce the two but Jade said it was her pleasure to which Charlotte responded “Oh, it will be.”

Tag Team Championship

Before this match, highlights from Fastlane were shown with Cody & Jey defeating Judgment Day for the titles. Strangely all night, full highlights from Fastlane were shown except for the actual three counts. During those, the screen went fully dark. Maybe some new Peacock contractual thing?

Waller & Theory dominated Jey Uso for a good portion of the match until Jey was able to make the hot tag to Cody. During the match, it was announced that the winners of this match would face The Judgment Day this Monday on Raw. Cody and Jey won with the “Cody/1D” followed by the Cross Rhodes. As Jey and Cody got to the stage, Solo and Jimmy appeared blocking their path with Roman and Heyman following close behind. This led to Jimmy and Jey staring each other down and then Cody and Roman doing the same. Nick Aldis was out to separate them all before anything occurred. 

Main Event: LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa

The main event of this Season Premiere of SmackDown saw LA Knight taking on Solo Sikoa with the whole ring basked in bright blue SmackDown-themed light. After the commercial break, the lighting returned to normal. The pair had a slow, plodding back-and-forth match until they took each other out with a double clothesline. Suddenly Jimmy Uso appeared and tried to attack Knight but was intercepted by John Cena out of nowhere hitting the Attitude Adjustment. Sikoa then hit Cena with the Somoan Spike but that was just enough of a distraction for LA Knight to hit the BFT on Sikoa for the victory. Knight was celebrating when he was speared by Roman Reigns (again out of nowhere), as Roman stood tall with his title to end the show.

Announced for SmackDown Next Week in San Antonio, TX

  • WWE Women’s Championship: IYO Sky vs. Charlotte Flair
  • Santos Escobar vs. Montez Ford

 

 

Friday Night SmackDown Results:

  • Pretty Deadly over The Brawling Brutes in 9:04
  • Bayley over Zelina Vega in 2:39
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso over Austin Theory & Grayson Waller in 9:22
  • LA Knight over Solo Sikoa in 12:34
About John Kleinchester 197 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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