WWE SmackDown live results: Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar US title match

Two LWO members are set to clash for the United States Championship on tonight’s SmackDown from Sacramento, California.

Santos Escobar is challenging Rey Mysterio for the US championship. Last month, Escobar was supposed to get a title shot against Austin Theory but was taken out by Theory before the match. Mysterio took Escobar’s place and defeated Theory to become United States Champion. Mysterio recently agreed to give his friend Escobar a title shot when Escobar asked for it.

Bayley and Charlotte Flair will meet in their first televised singles match since 2020. Last week, Charlotte stopped Bayley from interfering in IYO SKY’s title defense against Asuka. But Asuka was distracted by Charlotte and wasn’t able to defeat SKY for the title.

Bobby Lashley appears on The Grayson Waller Effect tonight and will discuss his recent unhappiness with The Street Profits.

We’ll also see if John Cena is able to find a tag team partner for Fastlane. Cena is currently slated to face Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso in a handicap match at the October 7 PPV.

SmackDown opened with Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman of The Bloodline heading to the ring. Heyman introduced himself on the mic to a chorus of boos by the crowd and after Heyman responded by telling the Sacramento crowd he was in a hell hole tonight, he acknowledged Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief.

Heyman followed up by stating that the second greatest of all-time, John Cena, took a beating last week, a beating that he hadn’t taken in a very long time before calling for footage from last week’s assault on not only Cena, but AJ Styles as well.

After the footage aired, Heyman stated that he heard that Cena was having transportation issues tonight and wasn’t at the building. Heyman followed up by stating that Styles also wasn’t in the building tonight due to being in the hospital with medical issues before Jimmy grabbed the mic.

Jimmy started bragging about the chaos that’s been caused by messing with the Bloodline but as he was talking smack, Karl Anderson hit the ring and attacked Jimmy. Anderson sent the Bloodline to the outside and stated that because Styles was in the hospital, it was now O.C. business.

Jimmy stalled at responding and Sikoa looked at Jimmy and stated that he better do something before he does as we headed to commercial.

Jimmy Uso (w/Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa) defeated Karl Anderson

We’re back from commercial and a match is officially underway between Anderson and Uso.

Anderson was hitting a lot of offense but because he was flying solo, Sikoa became a distraction on the outside. After a rake of the eyes, Jimmy soon found himself on the top rope and nailed a huge splash for the easy victory.

After the match, Anderson attempted to attack Uso but Sikoa made the save and laid him out with the Samoan Spike. As the Bloodline headed up the entrance ramp, Mia Yim headed to the ring and nailed Uso hard on the way by causing Jimmy to be almost somewhat amused.

– Backstage, Cathy Kelley was with Santos Escobar of the LWO. Escobar stated that while he was focused, he had butterflies. He stated that it was his dream to challenge Rey Mysterio in a championship match and that Rey was in for the fight of his life tonight.

Back to ringside and the ring crew was setting up for The Grayson Waller Effect as we headed to commercial.

– We’re back from commercial and the Bloodline was heading through the hallways as a very frustrated Jimmy Uso was attacking anyone that got in his way. Paul Heyman then decided to call Roman Reigns.

The Grayson Waller Effect with Bobby Lashley

Lashley stated that he made a mistake when it came to aligning with The Street Profits. Lashley stated that the Profits just didn’t have what it took to be successful before Waller stated that himself and Austin Theory could be that tag team he was looking for.

Lashley stated that he knew all about Theory and what he stood for and as Waller attempted to defend Theory, The Street Profits music hit and Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford headed to the ring.

Dawkins and Ford stepped up to Lashley but Bobby stated he didn’t want to hear it and that the Profits needed to prove it to him before leaving the ring. Dawkins and Ford caught up with him but Lashley reiterated that they needed to prove it to him as the Profits looked confused.

Waller got back on the mic and said that he needed to liven things up again before introducing Austin Theory to the Sacramento crowd for his upcoming match against Cameron Grimes as we headed to commercial.

We’re back from commercial and a video promo aired for Dragon Lee and some of his highlights in WWE NXT before he was shown in attendance live at SmackDown tonight.

Austin Theory (w/Grayson Waller) defeated Cameron Grimes

Waller was apparently upset that the Dragon Lee promo aired as it should have spotlighted Theory.

Grimes managed to control the majority of the match but with Waller ringside, Theory capitalized when Waller distracted Grimes allowing him to shove Cameron flying into the post on the outside of the ring.

Back inside the ring and Theory sent Grimes packing after nailing his A-Town Down.

After the match, Theory got in the face of Dragon Lee and a scuffle broke out before Theory headed to the back.

– Backstage, Kayla Braxton was with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio stated that the LWO was all about family. Mysterio stated that when he’s in the ring, he expected the best out of his opponent and that he would give the fight of his life tonight before heading to the ring.

As we headed to commercial, a video promo aired featuring an upcoming special on FOX titled the Top 25 SmackDown Moments in History airing on October 8th.

We’re back from commercial and Jimmy Uso was attacking Ashante “Thee” Adonis backstage as B-Fab looked on helplessly. As Uso looked to be leaving the scene, Solo Sikoa attacked Adonis as well, sending him through a table.

Rey Mysterio defeated Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega) to retain the United States Championship

The match began with both men feeling one another out, attempting to gain a technical advantage. As Vega looked on, Mysterio was sent to the outside followed by a diving crossbody by Escobar as we headed to a commercial break.

We’re back from commercial and Escobar has Mysterio trapped in an abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring. Mysterio escaped and as Rey was bouncing off of the ropes, Escobar nailed a huge dropkick sending the champion down.

Mysterio mounted a comeback and after Escobar was sent to the outside, Mysterio hit the second rope and nailed Escobar with a crossbody of his own to the outside. After the match was back in the ring and Mysterio nailed an awkward crossbody, Jimmy Uso was shown attacking people once again backstage in a split screen. 

Mysterio attempted to nail the 619 but Escobar dodged it and after Rey soon found himself on the outside again, Santos nailed him with a dive through the ropes knocking Mysterio down hard. Escobar followed up with a moonsault off of the barricade before sending the match back to the inside.

Escobar feeling the momentum going his way, battled Mysterio on the top rope and after gaining the upperhand, he sent Rey crashing to the mat with a hurricanrana but could only follow up with a two count as we headed to commercial.

We’re back from commercial and Escobar was still on the attack but Mysterio was holding his own but you could tell the damage had been done as Santos locked Rey in a Gory Special.

Escobar attempted to follow up with a diving crossbody from the top rope but missed and then Mysterio missed with a flying crossbody of his own. Escobar then nailed a huge tilt-a-whirl backbreaker followed by a modified torture rack but again could only get a two count on his mentor.

Escobar attempted a power bomb but Mysterio countered and managed a close two count of his own. Mysterio attempted a top rope hurricanrana but Escobar blocked it, attempted to nail his Phantom Driver but Mysterio blocked it and finally nailed a top rope hurricanrana.

Mysterio attempted to hit the 619 but Escobar caught him. Mysterio escaped and sent Escobar back into the ropes and successfully managed to hit the 619 but as he headed to the top rope to hit his Drop the Dime, he missed. Escobar attempted to pin Mysterio with a cocky cover and he paid the price as Mysterio almost gained the victory with a backslide.

A frustrated Escobar picked Mysterio up and attempted to again nail Rey with his Phantom Driver but Mysterio was too quick and rolled him up with a quick modified small package to get the 1-2-3 and retain the United States Championship.

After the match, a frustrated Escobar and a concerned Vega were collecting their thoughts as Mysterio celebrated his victory with the championship. Before Mysterio and Escobar could pay respect to one another however, The Street Profits hit the ring and attacked but Rey and Santos.

Bobby Lashley’s music hit and as he was heading down to the ring, the other members of the LWO attempted to make the save for Mysterio and Escobar but were laid out as well. Lashley smiled and celebrated the work of The Street Profits as we headed to a  commercial break.

– Backstage, Kayla Braxton was with a beaten down LWO. Mysterio told Braxton that he was challenging Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits to a match at WWE Fastlane.

Michael Cole referenced this week’s huge WWE signing of Jade Cargill and what her potential and future could look like in the WWE.

Charlotte Flair made her way to the ring with her upcoming match with Bayley before we headed to commercial. Before the break took place, John Cena finally arrived to the arena in a sports car. Cena got out of the car with his WWE Fastlane contract in his hand and headed towards to backstage area as we headed to break.

We’re back from commercial and a video promo aired on the massive injury Elton Prince had suffered back in July and his road to recovery since. The conclusion of the video showed Prince hopping up from his wheelchair in celebration of a full recovery.

– Backstage, Butch and Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes shared their thoughts on what they just saw and stated that they should have done more damage back in July.

Charlotte Flair defeated Bayley (w/Damage CTRL)

Before the match began, Flair asked Bayley what happened to her as she was one of the four horsewomen. Flair then stated that after she beat her tonight, she was challenging IYO SKY to a WWE Women’s Championship match at WWE Fastlane.

After the bell rang, both women looked to gain the upperhand but after Flair was sent to the outside, Bayley flew off of the ring apron with a diving elbow drop sending Flair down hard as we headed to a quick commercial break.

We’re back from commercial and Flair was on the top rope and managed to land a massive crossbody on Bayley to gain control of the match. Flair followed up with a fallaway slam but as she was looking to weaken the legs of Bayley to set up for the Figure 8, Bayley made a comeback.

The comeback wouldn’t last long however. Bayley was fired up but wasn’t as focused as she could have been and because of it, Flair managed to nail a spear out of nowhere and score the victory.

After the match, Bayley grabbed the mic and stated that it was her goal tonight to destroy Flair. As Damage CTRL looked like they were about to fulfill Bayley’s promise, Asuka’s music hit and she headed to the ring.

Asuka cut a promo in Japanese and Bayley attempting to translate, stated that SKY would defend the title in a Triple Threat match against Flair and Asuka at WWE Fastlane. As you could imagine, SKY wasn’t happy.

– Backstage, John Cena with his WWE Fastlane contract in hand was on his way to the ring as we headed to commercial.

– We’re back from commercial and it was announced that The Judgment Day would return to SmackDown next week. On top of the Judgment Day’s appearance, it was also announced that Dragon Lee would face Austin Theory on next week’s episode as well.

John Cena promo

Cena made his way to the ring with his WWE Fastlane contract in hand. Cena stated that he didn’t have a partner to face Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa and that he could simply rip up the contract and move on or he could step up and fight them both in a handicap match. Cena followed up by stating that he would take them on by himself if he couldn’t find a partner before Jimmy Uso’s music hit.

Uso and Sikoa came down to the ring and Jimmy stated that Cena wasn’t going to make it to Fastlane before the attack on Cena ensued. Cena attempted to fight them off but the numbers game was just too much and Cena found himself down and out.

Jimmy attempted to setup Cena on the announce table to land his splash but Sikoa stopped him, wanting to end Cena on his own. As it looked like Cena was all but done for, the music of the one and only LA Knight hit… Yeah!

Knight rushed down to the ring and after nailing Sikoa with Blunt Force Trauma, he landed a powerslam on Uso before hitting his Yeah Elbow in the middle of the ring. As Cena reentered the ring, Knight picked up the Fastlane contract and signed it as a surprised Cena and a packed arena cheered as the show came to a close.

Final Thoughts:

The return of LA Knight officially alongside John Cena for WWE Fastlane should be a great main event against The Bloodline next weekend.

You’ve got the LWO challenging a unified Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits for the PLE as well as what looks to be a Triple Threat match between IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair and Asuka with the continuous dissension of Damage CTRL with regards to Bayley and her blinded jealousy of SKY’s success.

Speaking of sky, I think the sky is the limit for Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. Their chemistry with regards to their young arrogant attitudes and these two could be one of the greatest tag teams we’ve seen in a while.

Solid show by SmackDown tonight!