WWE SmackDown 21st of July 2023

Backstage, The Bloodline arrives.
United States Invitational: LA Knight vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Sheamus vs. Cameron Grimes
United States Champion Austin Theory is at ringside for the match. On his way to the ring, Knight says he is going to take the United States Championship. He’s only got three men who stand in his way. They will soon realize whose game it is, with everybody saying, L-A-Knight. The crowd is going NUTS for Knight. A brawl breaks out. Knight clears the ring. After the break, Sheamus and Mysterio land stereo ten beats on Knight and Grimes. Mysterio tries to sneak in an armdrag on Sheamus, but Sheamus stuffs it. Mysterio dropkicks Sheamus in the knee.
Sheamus falls into the ropes. Sheamus counters the 619 with a power slam. Grimes breaks up Sheamus’ rolling senton attempt with a crossbody that takes down both men. Knight tries a superplex on Mysterio. Sheamus tries to join in but gets knocked off the top by Mysterio. Grimes charges in and tries to rana Sheamus. Sheamus stuffs it, but they are still in the same corner as Knight and Mysterio, who are still perched up top.
Knight goes back to his superplex attempt. Grimes sits up while Sheamus holds him, and German suplexes Knight, which also sends Mysterio flying. After the break, Mysterio sends Grimes flying in Theory’s direction with a rana. Theory moves and yells at Mysterio about doing that on purpose. Sheamus dives off the top and clotheslines Mysterio and Grimes. Knight hits a burning hammer on Sheamus. Rey Mysterio breaks up the pin.
Mysterio hits the 619 on Sheamus and Grimes at the same time. Mysterio lands a springboard splash. Theory pulls Mysterio out of the ring and tosses him into the ring steps. Santos Escobar runs down to the ring and attacks Theory. Sheamus Brogue Kicks Knight. Grimes leaps off the second rope and crushes Sheamus with the Cave In. Grimes turns around and walks right into a rana hold by Mysterio. Mysterio gets the three count.
Winner- Rey Mysterio

Backstage, Austin Theory demands Adam Pearce give him a match tonight against Santo Escobar. Pearce says he’s happy to book a title match tonight. Theory says Escobar doesn’t deserve a shot. Pearce says ok and agrees to make the match.

NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton are in the crowd.

Charlotte Flair vs. Miss Money in the Bank Iyo Sky w/Bayley
Flair and Sky trade backflip counters. Flair tries a front flip lariat, but Sky boots her in the chest. Sky sends Flair into the corner. Flair flips out to the apron. Sky runs into a knee from Flair. Flair lands a crossbody off the top. Springboard dropkick by Sky. The fight spills out of the ring. Sky sends Flair flying with a rana off the apron. After the break, Sky and Flair trade strikes. Flair spears Sky. Sky kicks out.
After a distraction from Bayley, Sky sunset flip powerbomb Flair. Flair kicks out. Shotzi appears on the ‘tron screaming for Bayley. Bayley freaks out and runs away. Sky yells for Bayley to come back. Flair rolls out of the way to avoid the Over the Moonsault. Flair tries a moonsault of her own. Sky gets a boot up. Sky traps Flair in the crossface. Flair escapes and traps Sky in an elevated crab. Sky turns it into a pin. Flair kicks out. Spear by Flair. Sky kicks out. After a series of reversals, Flair hits Natural Selection for the win.
Winner- Charlotte Flair
After the match, Asuka hits the ring and kicks Flair in the head. Asuka traps Flair in a cross-armbar.

Backstage, Roman Reigns is clutching and fiddling with his Tribal Chief lei. Paul Heyman looks concerned; Solo Sikoa ill-grills.

Austin Theory vs. Santos Escobar
After a bit of back and forth, Escobar lands his patented tope. Theory is sent crashing over the commentary desk. Escobar gets a near fall after a crossbody. Escobar and Theory trade big moves. Theory gets a near fall after a modified patella brainbuster. Escobar escapes Theory’s finish and lands a dropkick. Theory goes up top. Escboar cuts him off. Theory lands a few strikes and takes a moment to yell at Escobar. Escobar leaps off the top and sends Theory flying with an avalanche rana. Phantom Driver by Escobar. Escobar pins Theory.
Winner- Santos Escobar

Backstage, Bobby Lashley meets up with Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. Lashley was hoping he would run into them tonight. The camera cuts before Lashley starts to elaborate.

North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (c) w/Rhea Ripley vs. Butch
Butch forces Dominik into the ropes. Clean break by Butch. Dominik cheapshots Butch. Butch takes Dominik down and manipulates his fingers in directions they shouldn’t bend. Butch stomps on Dominik’s elbow. Dominik screams in pain. Butch snaps Dominik’s fingers and drops into an armbar. Dominik gets to the ropes. Dominik stuns Butch on the top rope. Ripley hands Dominik a chain. Ripley distracts the referee. Ridge Holland runs down to ringside and yanks the chain out of Dominik’s hand.
Dropkick by Butch. Butch lands the X-plex. Dominik kicks out. After the break, Holland is at ringside. Pretty Deadly makes their way to ringside. Wilson is pushing Prince in a wheelchair. Butch counters the 619 with a snap German suplex. Holland gets into it with Wilson. Wilson clocks Holland. Butch rolls out of the ring and attacks Wilson. Prince is left alone. Prince runs away. In all the confusion, Ripley chop blocks Butch. Dominik sends Butch head-first into the ring post. Dominik pins Butch.
Winner and STILL NXT North American Champion, Dominik Mysterio!

Rules of Engagement
Jey Uso makes his entrance first. After the break, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring. Reigns is flanked by Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Jey doesn’t look in Reigns direction. He quietly contemplates the situation in the opposite corner of the ring. Sikoa moves the chair in the ring to the head of the table. Reigns tells Orlando to acknowledge him. Both Reigns and Jey have a seat at the table. Reigns asks Jey if he still wants to do this. Jey says he still wants to do this. He’s supposed to do this. Reigns is making him do this. He called the shot, and Jimmy is in the hospital, so Jey has to get him.
Reigns tells Jey he isn’t going to get him because he doesn’t get it. Reigns laughs and signs the contract. Jey rips the contract in half. Why? Because the contract is in the blood. This right here is Tribal Combat now. Reigns frowns and asks if the elders know about this. Jey says it was their idea. That means anything goes. He can grab a chair or put Reigns through a table. The crowd goes nuts. Reigns tells Orlando and Jey to shut their mouth. He goes on a rant about running this business for a decade now.
Reigns takes off the title and puts it on the table. Reigns says let’s go. Jey reminds Reigns that it’s Tribal Combat now. Reigns reluctantly takes off his Tribal Chief Lei and lays it on the championship. Jey and Reigns shake hands. Reigns starts to leave. Sikoa stares at Reigns like he’s confused. Sikoa turns over the table in the ring and grabs Jey for a Samoan Spike. Reigns grabs Sikoa’s arm to stop it. Jey superkicks Sikoa. Reigns and Jey stare each other down. Reigns slowly leaves the ring.