WWE SmackDown Results 9/29 - United States Title On The Line, Bayley Vs. Charlotte Flair

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE SmackDown" on September 29, 2023, coming to you live from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California!

The ending of last week's episode of "SmackDown" went off the air explosively when Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa attacked both AJ Styles backstage and John Cena in the ring. The latter duo had agreed to join forces to take on The Bloodline members at WWE Fastlane on October 7 after recent animosity between the four men, but Styles was not medically cleared to compete. With the Fastlane match still given the go ahead, questions remain as to whether or not Cena will be heading into the bout alone or find a partner in time, and tonight, hopefully he can provide some answers as he has something on his mind to share.

The United States Championship will be on the line, as titleholder Rey Mysterio defends against his fellow LWO member Santos Escobar. Escobar requested a shot at Rey's title two weeks ago on the September 15 episode of "SmackDown", to which Rey was more than happy to grant it to him.

Charlotte Flair and Bayley found themselves in a quarrel last week during the Women's Championship match between IYO SKY and Asuka, and tonight, the former two women will be colliding in singles competition. Flair and Bayley are no strangers to one another in the squared circle, having countless singles and tag team matches on "WWE NXT", "WWE Raw", "SmackDown", and Premium Live Events.

The Street Profits came up short to LWO in a tag team match last week, and Bobby Lashley (who was at ringside) made it clear that he was very frustrated with the loss, letting Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins know exactly how he felt backstage following the bout. In light of that, Lashley will be appearing on "The Grayson Waller Effect" as host Grayson Waller welcomes him on the talk show.

We are live! Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Kevin Patrick greet audiences at home as Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman make their way down to the ring.

Heyman introduces himself before saying he, Sikoa, and Jimmy acknowledge Roman Reigns along with everyone else. He says their acknowledgment comes in light of the attack Sikoa and Jimmy launched on John Cena last week, then throws it to a video of said attack.

Heyman then says Cena is having issues getting to the Golden 1 Center, but until he gets there, you can't see him. He says AJ Styles isn't at "SmackDown" tonight due to what happened last week, but Jimmy cuts him off and grabs the mic right out of his hands. He says The Bloodline is now in Sacramento, then says Cena isn't there because he's actually scared. He says if Cena doesn't stay away from The Bloodline, he'll end up in the same condition as Styles.

Karl Anderson then appears out of nowhere and blindsides Jimmy and Sikoa. He clotheslines Jimmy out of the ring to where Sikoa and Heyman have ended up, then challenges either Sikoa or Jimmy to a one-on-one match now that it's become O.C. business. Sikoa looks to step up and so does Jimmy, but Heyman stops Sikoa and tells him to let Jimmy take care of business. Sikoa then warns Jimmy to get the job done. 

Back from the break, the bell has rung and Anderson sends Jimmy into the top turnbuckle face first. He fires off stomps on him before landing a kick on his chest. Jimmy connects with a kick to Anderson's head, but Anderson fires back with a spinebuster and sits Jimmy on the top rope. He looks for a superplex, but Anderson becomes distracted by Sikoa on the outside. The referee tries controlling Sikoa, and Jimmy takes advantage. He rakes Anderson's eyes, then lands a superkick and ascends to the top rope to deliver the Uso Splash for the win.

Winner: Jimmy Uso

After the match, Anderson looks to attack Jimmy, but Sikoa hops in the ring and delivers the Samoan Spike on him. Michin then runs out to check on Anderson. Jimmy starts running his mouth on the ramp, and Michin slaps him before sliding in the ring to do what she set out to.

Back from the break, Grayson Waller is waiting in the ring on the set of "The Grayson Waller Effect".

Waller says he's here to save "SmackDown" seeing as John Cena is late, then introduces Bobby Lashley.

Lashley's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring and takes a seat. Waller addresses The Street Profits' loss last week, and Lashley says while he thought that Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins had what it takes, it's back to the drawing board. Waller then suggests himself and Austin Theory as the tag team he's been looking for, and Lashley passes. Waller tries talking him into it, but The Profits' music hits and they make their way down to the ring.

Dawkins looks to explain what happened, but Lashley cuts him off. He says he doesn't want excuses, and if they want something out of him, then they have to prove it. The Profits question what he means, but Lashley doesn't get specific and heads to his back.

Waller then introduces Austin Theory and he makes his way down to the ring, staring down Lashley as he walks by him. Cameron Grimes follows. 

Dragon Lee watches the action from the crowd as the bell rings and Grimes delivers a boot to Theory's face. He follows it up with an uppercut and a chop, then lands an Atomic Drop and a pair of kicks to his chest and head. Theory delivers a kick to Grimes' head and fires off right hands. Grimes then ascends to the top and executes a crossbody and a German suplex. He lands a kick on his chest and clotheslines him out of the ring, then delivers a kick to his face from the apron. Waller gets in his face, allowing Theory to send him crashing into the ring post face first and get him back inside the ring. He lands a rolling dropkick and A-Town Down for the win.

Winner: Austin Theory

After the match, Theory gets in Lee's face and shoves him. Lee then shoves him back. 

Rey Mysterio then makes his way down to the ring, stopping to show his respect for Lee in the crowd on the way down. 

Back from the break, we see Jimmy Uso attack Ashante "Thee" Adonis backstage as Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and B-Fab watch on. Sikoa then sends Adonis through a table with Spinning Solo before Jimmy points out that he will not be John Cena's tag team partner at WWE Fastlane. 

Back at ringside, Santos Escobar heads down Zelina Vega has also made her way down to support both men. 

The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth exchanging submission holds before Escobar delivers an enzuigiri to Rey that sends him crashing out of the ring. He follows it up with a crossbody over the top rope.

Back from the break, Escobar delivers a shoulder tackle and a dropkick to Rey. Rey fires back with a hurricanrana and a crossbody on the outside, then delivers a senton back inside the ring. Both men then level one another with crossbodies, but Rey delivers a kick to Escobar's head and sends him into the ropes with a drop toe hold. He dials it up for the 619, but Escobar catches him with a superkick that sends him crashing on the outside. He then delivers a tope suicida and a moonsault off the barricade before getting him back inside the ring and delivering a pair of running meteoras. He sits him on the top rope and connects with an enzuigiri, then hits a hurricanrana and a crossbody over the top rope from the apron.

Back from another break, Escobar has a shoulder submission locked in on Rey. Rey escapes and tosses Escobar onto the apron, but Escobar responds with an enzuigiri. Rey then looks for a springboard moonsault, but Escobar rolls out of the way and lands a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Rey delivers a kick to his face and looks for a hurricanrana, but Escobar catches him and sets up for a powerbomb. Rey manages to roll him up, but Escobar kicks out.

The two men teeter on the top rope before Escobar gets Rey on his shoulders. Rey fights out of it and delivers a hurricanrana, then dropkicks him into the ropes and dials it up for the 619. Escobar catches him, but Rey fights his way out again and sends him into the ropes. He connects with the 619 and ascends to the top before hitting a Frog Splash. Escobar moves out of the way and pins Rey. Rey counters into a pin of his own, but Escobar kicks out and sets up for a Phantom Driver. Rey then manages to roll him up once again, but this time for the win.

Winner (and still): Rey Mysterio

After the match, Rey and Escobar face one another in the aftermath of what just happened and look to show respect to one another. Out of nowhere, The Street Profits blindside them and level them. Bobby Lashley then makes his way down to the ring and applauds them for what they just did. The rest of LWO look to attack Lashley, but Lashley and The Profits quickly level them. Dragon Lee looks to get involved, but security holds him back.

Back from the break, we see LWO being checked on in the medical office. Kayla Braxton enters for a word, which leads to Rey challenging the Profits to a tag team match with LWO.

Back at ringside, Charlotte Flair heads down. Damage CTRL follows.

Before the match, Flair grabs a mic and asks Bayley what happened to her. She says Bayley is a stepping stone while she's the measuring stick then declares that she will be challenging IYO SKY for the Women's Championship at WWE Fastlane once she wins tonight.

The bell rings and Bayley goes straight after Flair. She sends her into the top turnbuckle face first, but Flair does the same and delivers a boot to Bayley's head. Bayley sends Flair crashing to the outside and delivers an elbow drop off the apron.

Back from the break, Flair ascends to the top rope and delivers a crossbody. She follows it up with a series of chops and a Fallaway Slam, then kips up and lands a boot. She ascends back to the top, but Bayley pulls her down and sends her into the corner spine first. She then fires off several chops and runs the ropes, but Flair catches her with a spear for the win.

Winner: Charlotte Flair

After the match, Kai hands Bayley a mic and says she can't just cut the line. She says she promised to end Flair tonight and she intends to do just so. Damage CTRL surrounds the ring, but before they can attack Flair, Asuka's music hits and she runs down to make the save. Bayley then says Asuka can be added to the WWE Fastlane match between SKY and Flair after Asuka had said something in Japanese.

Back from the break, John Cena heads down to the ring.

Cena says he said he came back to compete and he wanted a match. He says while The Bloodline left him knocked out, they also left him with a contract for their Fastlane 2 on 1 Handicap Match. He says he doesn't have a partner, and he now faces a choice: rip up the contract or fight. He promises to honor the contract even if he doesn't have a partner.

Jimmy Uso's music hits and he appears alongside Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. Jimmy starts running his mouth about what he and Sikoa did to Ashante "Thee" Adonis earlier tonight, then says he won't make it to Fastlane as he hops up on the apron with Sikoa. Cena clocks Jimmy and looks to plant Sikoa with an Attitude Adjustment, but Jimmy superkicks Cena to help Sikoa before the pair take turns landing hop attacks. Jimmy and Sikoa then clear the announce desk and get Cena on top of it before Sikoa ascends to the top rope. Before he can go flying, LA Knight's music hits and he runs down to the ring to provide Cena with a helping hand. He stomps on Jimmy and rains down right hands on Sikoa. He lands a neckbreaker on Sikoa and plants Jimmy before landing an elbow drop on him. Cena dumps Sikoa out of the ring as Knight does the same to Jimmy. Knight and Cena are left standing in the ring, and Knight grabs the contract. He then signs it and hands it back to Cena.