WWE SmackDown Results 9/15 - Asuka Collides With Bayley, LA Knight Takes On The Miz
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE SmackDown" on September 15, 2023, coming to you live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado!
Two former multi-time champions will meet in the ring tonight, as Asuka squares off with Damage CTRL's Bayley. "The Empress of Tomorrow" called her shot for the WWE Women's Championship last week, costing titleholder IYO SKY and Bayley their tag team match with Charlotte Flair and Shotzi on last week's episode of "SmackDown".
A huge edition of "The Grayson Waller Effect" is set for tonight, as Grayson Waller invites John Cena on as his special guest. Cena last appeared on the September 1 episode of "SmackDown", during which he found himself entangled in a heated exchange of words with Jimmy Uso.
LA Knight will be colliding with The Miz in a rematch from WWE Payback two weeks ago. The two men have had no shortage of issues with one another over the past couple of months, with Knight ultimately emerging victorious during their first bout.
Elsewhere, one half of the Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Finn Balor, will be going one-on-one with The O.C.'s AJ Styles. The pair have come face-to-face in the squared circle on a number of occasions in both singles and tag team competition, and both of them scored victories of their own last week after Styles defeated the aforementioned Jimmy while Balor and Damian Priest beat The Brawling Brutes.
Additionally, Jimmy, Solo Sikoa, Bobby Lashley, and United States Champion Rey Mysterio are all slated to be in town tonight, per WWE's event page.
We are live! Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Kevin Patrick greet audiences at home as Pat McAfee makes his way down to the ring.
The Rock and Pat McAfee Confront Austin Theory
McAfee says he was just up the road, and there was no way he was going to miss the chance to appear on "SmackDown" before welcoming fans to the show.
Austin Theory's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring. Theory takes a couple shots at McAfee, then says they have some unfinished business. He says he has something special for him, then tells McAfee that he'll drop him, unable to do anything. McAfee says he's flattered Theory is trying to be like him, and Theory objects to his statement. McAfee says that Theory is disrespectful not just to the wrestling business, but to the fans as well. He says that "SmackDown" is the people's show.
The Rock's music hits and he appears to a very warm reception from Denver. Theory asks The Rock if he knows whose ring he's in, and The Rock tells him to shut up. He tells Theory that he clearly doesn't know how all this works, then says he's finally come back to Denver. Theory goes on about how great he is, and The Rock looks to speak. Theory cuts him off and tells him that it doesn't matter what he says. The Rock corrects him and says it does, but more importantly what the people say. He asks the people if they want to see him beat down Theory, then calls him an a****** and rallies the crowd to call him such.
The Rock says he has a theory of his own about Theory, and says he'll attack him in three seconds. Theory goes after The Rock, but The Rock catches him with a spinebuster and The People's Elbow. The Rock then calls for McAfee to land a People's Elbow of his own, and McAfee does such.
Judgment Day then makes their way down to the ring. AJ Styles follows.
Finn Balor (w/ Judgment Day) vs. AJ Styles
The bell rings and Balor fires off stomps on Styles in the corner. Styles responds with a Side Russian Leg Sweep and a backbreaker, but Balor lands a dropkick after Styles tries rolling him up. He follows it up with a kick to his midsection, but Styles delivers a dropkick and another backbreaker.
Back from the break, the two men level one another with crossbodies. Style sheets him up, but Balor rakes his eyes. Styles then plants him on the mat and sits him on the top turnbuckle. He looks for a hurriacanrana, but Balor hangs on to the top to evade the maneuver. Styles sets up for the Styles Clash, but Balor escapes and he lands a shoulder breaker. Balor rolls to the outside, and Styles goes flying over the top rope to take him down. He gets him back in the ring and levels Dominik Mysterio, then looks to join him. He sets up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Damian Priest grabs his ankle to keep him ground. The referee sees him and ejects him and Dominik from ringside. Jimmy Uso then appears out of nowhere and grabs Styles' attention. Styles knocks him off the apron, opening the door for Balor to roll him up for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Back from the break, we head backstage and see John Cena welcome The Rock back to WWE.
We then head over to Jimmy Uso and Finn Balor. Jimmy explains what he just did was to repay him for last week, and Balor plants the idea of him reuniting with his brother so they can both join him and the rest of Judgment Day.
Back at ringside, LWO is standing by.
We Hear From LWO
Rey Mysterio says when he came to "SmackDown", his career was at a crossroads and he was struggling within his personal life. He says LWO reminded him of who he was and what family represents, and now he stands as the United States Championship. Santos Escobar says Rey stepped up when he needed him to win the title like the legend he is, and his career dream has been to face Rey in a title match. He asks him for a shot, and Rey gladly gives him one.
Bobby Lashley's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring along with The Street Profits then make their way down to the ring. He says tag teams are falling apart while others are having love fests in the ring, which makes their goal of taking over easier than ever. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford mock Escobar for asking for a title opportunity. Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde have heard enough, and challenge The Profits to a match.
The Street Profits (w/ Bobby Lashley) vs. LWO (w/ Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and Zelina Vega)
Back from the break, the bell has rung and Wilde delivers a kick to Dawkins' jaw. Ford tags in, and The Profits deliver a sit-out powerbomb-neckbreaker combination for the win.
Winners: The Street Profits
After the match, The Profits continue beating down LWO on the orders of Lashley. Rey and Escobar look to help Wilde and Del Toro, but Lashley levels clocks Escobar from behind and stares down Rey. Dawkins then takes out Rey on Lashley's behalf.
Back from the break, The Miz heads down to the ring. LA Knight follows.
LA Knight vs. The Miz
The bell rings and the two lock up. Knight delivers a shoulder tackle, but Miz sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle face first and lands a few stomps. He follows it up with a pair of chops before Knight lands a few of his own and a powerslam. He then delivers a neckbreaker and a shoulder to his midsection, but Miz catches him with a knee to his midsection and a kick to his face. Knight sends Miz crashing into the turnbuckle, then delivers a neckbreaker and a second one off the middle rope. He follows it up with a baseball slide kick, but Miz rakes his eye while the referee has his back turned and delivers a flatliner from the middle rope.
Back from the break, Miz delivers a series of kicks to Knight's midsection and follows it up with a boot to his face. He sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight fights his way out. He then delivers a clothesline and a Side Russian Leg Sweep before firing off stomps in the corner. Miz looks for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight rolls him up. Miz reverses the fall while grabbing his trunks, but Knight kicks out. Miz looks for a DDT off the ropes, but Knight hangs on to them. Miz then delivers a Codebreaker, but Knight fires off right hands and sends him crashing into the top rope. He then delivers BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
After the match, Knight grabs a mic and says he wants to talk to Denver. He says from the day he set foot in "SmackDown", he promised to come for gold. He says he see all the different options, and it doesn't matter if it's Rey Mysterio, GUNTHER, Seth "Freakin" Rollins or Roman Reigns. He says it's not just a catchphrase because he's in the top two percent.
We head backstage to Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman discussing Jimmy Uso. Heyman tells Sikoa that he'll be forced to fight Jimmy's battles, but Jimmy isn't in The Bloodline and Sikoa only handles business when Roman Reigns gives the order. Sikoa says he knows what he needs to do and he's going to finish things tonight.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Adam Pearce and Pretty Deadly. Pearce says he hears that Elton Prince's shoulder is healing and they should be back in no time.
Back at ringside, Asuka heads down. Damage CTRL follows.
Asuka vs. Bayley (w/ Dakota Kai)
The bell rings and Bayley lands a forearm. Asuka fires back with a kick to her midsection and ascends to the top, then delivers a dropkick. The action spills onto the apron, and Asuka is sent crashing into the ring post.
Back from the break, Asuka delivers a jawbreaker. Bayley fires back with a knee to his head, but Asuka lands a German suplex and a kick. She lands a knee to her head and a sliding kick, then fires off more kicks on her head. Asuka cinches in an Ankle Lock, but Bayley escapes and Asuka delivers a Codebreaker off the middle ropes. The action spills back out of the ring, and Bayley clears the announce desk. Shotzi appears in the crowd and forces Bayley back into the ring as Asuka creeps up behind her. She then rolls her up for the win.
Winner: Asuka
Back from the break, Grayson Waller is waiting in the ring on the set of "The Grayson Waller Effect".
Grayson Waller Hosts John Cena on The Grayson Waller Effect
Waller says he's had the opportunity to have some huge guests on "The Grayson Waller Effect", but none of them live up to the moniker of "The GOAT" as John Cena. He then introduces him, and Cena makes his way down to the ring.
Waller says he asked Cena on the show for a reason, then tells him he thinks he needs some help and some advice. He tells Cena that he needs to be more like him, and Cena looks to speak but Waller continues to talk. Cena has had enough and takes off both his hat and shirt. Waller finally gives Cena the chance to speak, but before he can, Jimmy Uso's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Jimmy tells Cena no one wants him here, and everyone came to see him instead. He says if Cena tries to embarrass him again, then he should take his shot while he has it. Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman then march down to the ring, and stare down Cena as Jimmy runs his mouth. Sikoa then goes after Jimmy and looks to hit him with a Samoan Spike, but opts to superkick Cena instead and beat him down. Jimmy fires off stomps in the corner before AJ Styles runs down to provide Cena with a helping hand. The pair send Sikoa crashing out of the ring and Cena gets Jimmy up on his shoulders, but Sikoa saves Jimmy and the show goes off the air.