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WWE SmackDown Results (9/15/2023): John Cena Appears, Asuka vs Bayley, AJ Styles, LA Knight & More

Wrestling WWE
Luis Pulido Sep 15, 2023 7:15PM

On September 15, 2023, WWE hosted a new episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.

The show was headlined by John Cena appearing in The Grayson Waller Effect & AJ Styles facing Finn Balor. Full results are listed below.

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WWE SmackDown (9/15/2023).

  • - Pat McAfee made his WWE to open the show after doing coverage for ESPN earlier in the night, but he was interrupted by Austin Theory. Theory ran down on McAfee before stating that McAfee should be doing broadcast duties and sitting down like Aaron Rodgers after being injured. After Theory stated that this was "Austin Theory Live", McAfee responded by saying that this was "The People's Show" which led to the return of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to WWE after four years.
    Theory tried to talk trash to Johnson, but Johnson stated the following: "Shut your bitch-ass up". The Rock & Theory then exchanged words before he orchestrated the crowd to chant at Theory "You are an Asshole". Theory & Johnson brawled before Johnson hit the Spinebuster into The People's Elbow. McAfee hit an Elbow of his own.
  • Finn Balor (w/ Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest) def. AJ Styles.
    • Jimmy Uso came to the apron to distract Styles, allowing Balor to get a Schoolboy Roll-Up for the win.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was backstage with Pat McAfee before John Cena confronted Johnson. Cena & Johnson hugged.
  • Finn Balor was with Jimmy Uso backstage, with Balor offering Jimmy Uso a spot in the Judgment Day, but Jimmy politely declined. Heyman watched from the corner.
  • The LWO (Santos Escobar, Rey Mysterio, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro & Zelina Vega) were in the ring with Mysterio thanking the crowd. Escobar then got to the side and politely challenged Mysterio for the United States Title, which Mysterio proudly accepted. Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) came to the ramp to make fun of the LWO's passive-aggressiveness, which led Wilde & Del Toro to challenge them to a tag match.
  • The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) (w/ Bobby Lashley) def. The LWO (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro) (w/ Santos Escobar, Rey Mysterio, & Zelina Vega).
    • Dawkins & Ford attacked Wilde & Del Toro after the match, which was followed by Lashley attacking Escobar. Lashley had a staredown with Mysterio, but was caught with a jab by Dawkins.
  • LA Knight def. The Miz.
    • After the match, LA Knight got a microphone to cut a promo as the crowd cheered for the former IMPACT World Champion. Knight said that he was looking for gold and it did not matter who it was, not even if it was GUNTHER, Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins or even Roman Reigns.
    • Backstage, Solo Sikoa asked Paul Heyman if he had come for Knight, but Heyman told Sikoa to focus on Jimmy Uso unless Roman Reigns gave the order. Sikoa said that he knew what to do before stating that he would end things tonight. Heyman immediately called Reigns in a panic.
  • Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) were backstage with Adam Pearce. Prince said that he still remembers the pain inflicted by Ridge Holland. Pearce asked Prince why he was on a wheelchair despite getting a shoulder injury, to which Prince & Wilson responded with a rant at Pearce. Wilson said that he would bring a training program for Prince to come back.
  • Bayley & Dakota Kai talked backstage ahead of Bayley's match against Asuka. Bayley said that Iyo Sky needs to defeat Asuka next week in her title match, but Kai responded by asking if Bayley was ready for Asuka tonight despite her focus being on Shotzi.
  • Asuka def. Bayley (w/ Dakota Kai).
    • Shotzi appeared from the crowd to scare Bayley at ringside. Bayley got back in the ring, but Asuka caught her in the Back Slide for the pinfall win on Bayley.
  • - Grayson Waller hosted a new episode of "The Grayson Waller Effect" with John Cena as his special guest. Waller ran down Cena for not being the same since losing to Austin Theory at WrestleMania 39. Cena was ready to attack Waller, but he was interrupted by Jimmy Uso. Uso called Waller "Kangaroo Jack" before telling Cena that if he was not going to fight, to get the hell out of the ring.
    - Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman came to the ring to interrupt proceedings. Sikoa immediately confronted Cena, but that was until Sikoa grabbed Uso by the throat. Sikoa teased hitting the Spike on Uso, but instead hit a thrust kick on Cena. Uso & Sikoa beat up Cena before AJ Styles made the save. Styles tossed Sikoa out of the ring before Cena hit the 5-Knuckle Shuffle on Uso. Sikoa pulled Uso out of the ring as Cena & Styles stood tall to end the broadcast.

- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.

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