WWE SmackDown live results: Bray Wyatt & Terry Funk tributes
WWE SmackDown takes place from the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky tonight.
The company announced on Friday that the show will pay tribute to the late Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda). Wyatt passed away at 36 years old on Thursday due to a heart issue.
WWE hasn’t announced what the tribute will look like, but Director of Longterm Creative Rob Fee posted that tonight “is gonna be really special.”
The show will also pay tribute to Terry Funk, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79.
It’s been confirmed that WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY will defend her title against Zelina Vega tonight. It’s SKY’s first defense since cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase at SummerSlam to become champion.
A non-title match with United States Champion Rey Mysterio facing Grayson Waller is also set.
WWE had advertised that Jimmy Uso would be on SmackDown to continue the Bloodline story, but that segment is no longer included on WWE.com’s rundown for the show.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
SmackDown opened with a graphic paying tribute to both Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. The top of the entrance ramp was met by the WWE locker room including Braun Strowman and Wyatt family member Erick Rowan. Michael Cole then dedicated the show to the memories of Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk before we witnessed a moment of silence with a ten bell salute. After the ten bell salute, we were honored with the accomplishments, memories and lasting images of Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda and what he meant to the WWE Universe.
After the tribute played, WWE Superstars remained on stage, choking up as fans sang “He’s got the whole world in his hands…” before we saw a lone rocking chair sitting on stage before the camera faded away into darkness.
– A video tribute followed of Terry Funk’s peers recognizing and honoring him on social media.
– Michael Cole stated that Cody Rhodes was in attendance tonight and followed up by mentioning Dusty Rhodes’ rivalries with the late Terry Funk. Cole then stated that the WWE wanted to provide entertainment tonight as Rey Mysterio’s music hit.
Rey Mysterio defeated Grayson Waller in a non-title match
Waller was hungry to gain the victory against the current United States champion as quickly as he could but Mysterio remained resilient. Waller misstepped and action spilled to the outside and Mysterio gained momentum as we headed to commercial.
We are back from commercial and action was back in the ring and as Mysterio charged Waller in the corner, Grayson side-stepped and Mysterio was now in trouble. Waller followed up with a diving elbow but could only land a two count however.
Waller followed up by sending Mysterio corner to corner but as Waller attempted a powerbomb, Mysterio maneuvered and landed a seated senton and a tornado ddt but could only manage a two count himself.
Myterio with the momentum in his hand, managed to land Waller in a position to hit the 619 but before he could hit it, Austin Theory’s music hit causing the distraction. Santos Escobar hit the ring and countered Theory’s interference and after Mysterio was able to gain control of the match once again, he nailed Waller with the 619 followed by the Drop the Dime to get the 1-2-3.
– A video promo aired on the birth of The Wyatt Family.
– It was announced that on top of IYO SKY defending the WWE Women’s Championship against the LWO’s Zelina Vega tonight, we would also see Butch and Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes battle The Street Profits.
– A video promo aired on the return to WWE Friday Night SmackDown of the one-and-only John Cena live next week.
– A video tribute was shown of Bray Wyatt’s peers recognizing and honoring him on social media.
– Michael Cole announced that two of Bray Wyatt’s former foes would go to battle in the main event tonight as LA Knight would face Finn Bálor.
– Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviewed Damage CTRL. Bayley stated that this was IYO SKY’s era and it would remain that way.
IYO SKY (w/Damage CTRL) defeated Zelina Vega to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
After both competitors were introduced, we headed to commercial.
– Back from commercial and a video promo aired on the debut of The Fiend equipped with a QR code in the corner.
The bell rang and it was all SKY as Damage CTRL cheered on loudly from the outside. Vega attempted a comeback by climbing to the second rope but SKY caught her and Zelina was grounded hard to the mat.
Vega finally managed to gain momentum and managed to nail SKY with the Meterora but only managed a two count. SKY countered but so did Vega as she attempted to land Code Red but SKY escaped. SKY followed up and attempted to hit the air but Vega countered and nailed Code Red but SKY luckily rolled to he outside.
Vega followed SKY to the outside but IYO was able to execute an assault and send Zelina into the post switching momentum in her favor. SKY followed up by heading back into the ring, nailing Vega with the Over the Moonsault to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
– Backstage, Cody Rhodes was shown heading to the ring to honor the career and legacy of the late Terry Funk.
– Another video tribute was shown of Bray Wyatt’s peers recognizing and honoring him on social media.
– Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring. Rhodes stated that he knew what he wanted to talk about tonight and shared a story when he was 11 years old, hearing a guy calling his father an “egg sucking dog”.
Cody paid tribute to the 50-year legacy of Terry Funk before introducing a video package honoring the career of the WWE Hall of Famer. Clips were shown of Funk’s highlights in the NWA, WWE and ECW before ending the package with Terry and Dory Funk Jr.’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
After the package ended, Rhodes announced that the tag team match taking place next would be a Terry Funk Hardcore Match!
– A video promo aired on The Era of Wyatt, focusing on Bray winning the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber in 2017.
The Street Profits defeated The Brawling Brutes in a Terry Funk Hardcore Tag Team Match
No count outs, no disqualifications and the new edge Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford gained control of the match early on but it wouldn’t last long as in tribute to the late “Funker”, Holland picked up Butch in a fireman’s carry and swung him around, knocking out Dawkins and Ford, reminiscent of Funk’s infamous ladder spot in ECW.
The Street Profits would rebound and after Ford took out his opponents on the outside, Bobby Lashley made his presence known as we headed to commercial.
Back from commercial and Butch and Holland were in control but Lashley was now ringside and watching on like a shark. Momentum changed and Ford nailed Holland with a double team blockbuster but Butch was able to make the save.
Ford followed up with his “From the Heavens” frog-splash but Butch once again was able to make the save. Butch grabbed a table from under the ring but with no rules, Lashley got involved and laid out Butch. The Street Profits followed up with The Revelation through a table on Holland to score the 1-2-3 after a hard fought battle.
– A video promo aired on The Firefly Funhouse.
– Backstage, LA Knight was shown heading to the ring.
– Another video promo aired on the return of John Cena to WWE Friday Night SmackDown live next week.
– Another video tribute was shown of Bray Wyatt’s peers recognizing and honoring him on social media.
– Highlights were shown of this week’s past Monday Night Raw where LA Knight helped Akira Tozawa score a victory over The Miz.
– Video was shown of TMZ catching up with The Miz, questioning him about his feud with LA Knight.
LA Knight defeated Finn Bálor
Knight took the mic before the match to honor the career and legacy of the late Bray Wyatt. Knight stated that sometimes your greatest foe can become your greatest helper and said he held it together tonight until he thought about Bray’s family.
Knight then went into character and cut a promo on The Miz and his current feud with him. Knight finished the promo, telling The Miz to “run” .
– A video promo aired on Bray Wyatt’s return at Extreme Rules last year.
– Another video promo aired on the return of John Cena to WWE Friday Night SmackDown next week followed by the announcement of Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar battling Austin Theory & Grayson Waller and the return of Jimmy Uso to Friday Night SmackDown as well.
Knight was quick to gain control of the match using his size and power and as he was capitalizing, it was announced that Knight would battle The Miz at WWE Payback early next month before we headed to commercial.
– A video promo aired on Bray Wyatt’s “Heartfelt Message” promo on SmackDown earlier this year.
We’re back from commercial and Bálor had gained momentum but Knight went back on the attack fairly quickly, landing some stiff shots but could only manage a two count. Bálor followed up with a sling blade but failed to capitalize any further.
Bálor nailed his running dropkick in the corner but missed the Coup de Grâce and Knight followed up with a massive powerslam. Knight furthered his momentum and after nailing a suplex from the top rope, hit the B.F.T. and picked up the victory.
– After the match, a lantern sat in the middle of the ring as a silhouette of Bray Wyatt was shown on the screen. Fans chanted “Thank you Bray” as the show came to an end.
Final Thoughts:
Touching tributes to both the late Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk but not what I expected with regards to the tribute shows the WWE produced for the late Owen Hart and Eddie Guerrero.
Nonetheless, the WWE honoured both men tonight with class and after seeing the presence of Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan on the entrance ramp tonight at the beginning of the show, you couldn’t help but shed a tear.
Hug your loved ones and let them know how much you appreciate them.