WWE SmackDown 18th of August 2023

The Grayson Waller Effect
Waller introduces his guest tonight, the new United States Champion Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar. Escobar is limping with a knee brace on. Mysterio says it feels great to be champion again. Waller says he bet Escobar could imagine it. Mysterio says it doesn’t matter which one of them is the champion. As long as the belt is with the LWO. Waller says Mysterio stole Escobar’s opportunity. Waller rants about old timers holding on to their old glory and holding down talent. Escobar tells Waller to shut up and calls him a dog in Spanish.
The only person Escobar is angry at is Austin Theory. He gave Mysterio is blessing to face Theory last week. Escobar has nothing but respect for his mentor Mysterio. Escobar tells Waller that what he’s trying to do isn’t working. He says Theory got what he deserves, and when his knee is healed… Escobar doesn’t get to finish his thought. Austin Theory interrupts. Theory congratulates Mysterio on winning his title. Theory says he got robbed and is the greatest United Stated Champion of all time.
Mysterio wasn’t supposed to be in that match, so Adam Pearce better come to the ring and give him his title back. Pearce walks out on the stage and says he felt Theory would call him out. Before he can finish, LA Knight’s music hits. Knight walks down the ramp. The crowd goes nuts. Knight says Theory fumbled the damn ball. He doesn’t care who’s the champ, that belt is coming with him. He has no problem going through Theory to get his shot. Knight says it should be a number one contender’s match. Pearce agrees.

LA Knight vs. Austin Theory
Before the match starts, The Miz walks to the ring. While Knight is distracted, Theory attacks him. Miz joins the commentary desk. Theory works over Knight in the corner. Knight explodes out of the corner with a lariat. Second rope elbow drop by Knight. Theory kicks out. Powerslam by Knight. Theory kicks out again. Theory sends Knight out of the ring. Knight gets to his feet, but Theory is all over him. Miz stands up and claps for Theory. Knight slams Theory’s head into the commentary desk over and over again.
Knight tosses Theory into Miz. After the break, Theory and Knight trade pin attempts. Knight fires up and lands a leaping neck breaker. Theory crawls into the corner. Knight lays in a few boots before landing a running knee. Both men trade moves until Knight escapes the A Town Down and lands a Michinoku Driver. The Miz gets on the apron. Knight chases Miz. In the confusion, Theory rolls up Knight for the win.
Winner- Austin Theory

WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky and Bayley w/Dakota Kai vs. Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair
Bayley and Belair lock up. Belair tosses Bayley around. Bayley sends Belair into the corner. Leapfrog by Belair. Belair spears Bayley in the corner. Flair tags in and stomps Bayley in the corner. Flair lands a big boot. Bayley escapes a suplex from Flair and slams her head into the mat. Sky tags in and chop Flair while Bayley holds her. Flair lays both Sky and Bayley out with chops. Sky ends up on the apron. Flair lands a running boot that sends Sky flying. Flair dives off the apron and flattens Sky and Bayley with a senton.
After the break, Sky and Bayley are working over Flair. Flair finally manages to tag in Belair. Belair clears the ring. Belair sets up a handspring moonsault on both Sky and Bayley. Sky rolls out of the way, but Belair lands on Bayley. When Belair gets to her feet, Sky chop blocks her. Bayley and Sky focus their assault on Belair’s previously injured knee. Belair manages to land a neck breaker and DDT on Bayley and Sky simultaneously.
Flair gets the tag and dives off the top with a crossbody. Flair goes up top for a moonsault. Bayley pushes Flair off the top. Flair lands on the floor with a sickening thud. Flair is clutching at her ankle. Bayley and Sky work over Flair. Flair rolls out of the way of Sky’s Over the Moonsault. Belair tags Flair. Flair boots Bayley in the face. Bayley falls into Belair’s arms and hits a KOD for the win.
Winners- Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair

Backstage Damage CTL attacks Bianca Belair during an interview. Bayley wraps a chair around Belair’s leg. Sky wacks Belair’s leg with another chair.

The Street Profits vs. The OC
Gallows and Anderson beat down Ford. Ford surprises Anderson with a lariat. Ford tags in Dawkins, and that stomp Anderson out. Dawkins lands a spinning neck breaker. Frog splash by Ford. Gallows breaks up the pin. Gallows and Anderson set up the Magic Killer. Dawkins kicks his way out of it. Ford lands a dive that takes out Gallows. Ford gets a blind tag. Dawkins lifts Anderson into the Sky High as Ford lands a neck breaker simultaneously. Ford pins Anderson.
Winner- The Street Profits
After the match, Bobby Lashley joins Ford and Dawkins on the stage to celebrate.

Edge vs. Sheamus
Edge hugs his wife, Beth Phoenix, and kids before he gets in the ring. The Toronto crowd is going nuts for Edge. Sheamus and Edge lock up. Edge floors Sheamus with a shoulder block. Sheamus lands one of his own. After the break, Edge catches Sheamus with a “springboard” back elbow. Edge lands a flurry of offense but only gets a near fall. Sheamus gets to his feet. Edge sends Sheamus out to the apron. Edge slides between Sheamus’ legs and powerbomb him off the apron. Crossbody off the top by Edge. Sheamus kicks out.
Sheamus kicks his way out of the Edgucator. Powerslam by Sheamus. Sheamus tries the ten beats, but Edge blocks it. Ege unloads on Sheamus with strike after strike. Edge Spears Sheamus through the ropes. Both men fall to the mat. After the break, Sheamus has Edge in the Cloverleaf. Edge reverses it into the crossface. Sheamus eventually gets to the ropes to break the hold. Sheamus goes up top. Edge cuts him off and hits a superplex. Edge immediately transitions into the Edgecution. Sheamus kicks out! Edge goes up top. Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus crushes Edge with white noise off the top.
Before Edge can react, Sheamus immediately lifts Edge and send him flying with the Celtic Cross. Edge kicks out at two. Sheamus finally lands the ten beats. Edge turns around and tells Sheamus to bring it. Sheamus proceeds to land about 27 more beats of the bodhran. Sheamus tells Edge that he warned him. Edge responds with a vicious lariat. Edge calls for the Spear. Sheamus counters with a bicycle knee. Brogue Kick by Sheamus. Edge kicks out! Edge ducks the Brogue Kick and hits the Spear! Sheamus kicks out! Sheamus tries another Brogue Kick, only to get Speared in half by Edge. Edge pins Sheamus.
Winner- Edge
After the match, Edge and Sheamus hug.