Winners And Grades With John Cena Travel Delays

WWE SmackDown advertised Rey Mysterio defending the WWE United States Championship against Santos Escobar, Bobby Lashley on the “Grayson Waller Effect” and Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair. SmackDown also advertised John Cena, who experienced travel delays that caused him to be late. Cena appeared on the show just before it went off the air. As Cena searches for a new tag team partner to face the Bloodline, and LA Knight recovers from COVID, Knight emerged as the mystery partner.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown, with the return of The Rock, garnered 2.227 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown Results | September 29, 2023

• Jimmy Uso def. Karl Anderson
• Austin Theory def. Cameron Grimes
• Rey Mysterio def. Santos Escobar | WWE United States Championship
• Charlotte Flair def. Bayley

WWE SmackDown Ratings

• September 22, 2023 | 2.227 million
• September 15, 2023 | 2.569 million
• September 8, 2023 | 2.094 million
• September 1, 2023 | 2.443 million
• August 25, 2023 | 2.647 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, Calif.)
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 12,648
• Available Tickets: 18

Christian Cage’s Dead Dad Gimmick | Pro Wrestling Bits

WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades

Jimmy Uso Def. Karl Anderson

John Cena was not in the building yet due to travel delays. Micael Cole updated Cena’s travel status throughout the show, ultimately vowing that Cena would make it onto the broadcast before they went off the air.

Jimmy Uso continues to overstep his boundaries, once again snatching the microphone from Paul Heyman. Jimmy later threw his weight around backstage, leading to Heyman calling Reigns.

Karl Anderson crashed the segment by attacking Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, leading to the first “O.C.” chant I’ve ever heard in my life.

Solo Sikoa urged Jimmy Uso to handle Karl Anderson, and when Jimmy went to dap Solo up, Sikoa left him hanging.

Karl Anderson looked about as strong as he’s ever looked in the opening segment, only for Jimmy Uso to essentially beat Anderson in his street clothes.

Jimmy Uso vs. Karl Anderson Grade: B

The Grayson Waller Effect With Bobby Lashley

Grayson Waller on John Cena: “He may be the greatest of all time, but he’s not the greatest at being on time.”

There was a comment on the Grayson Waller Effect scroll, suggesting Taylor Swift was going to leave Travis Kelce for Waller, only for Corey Graves to make the same joke about Swift leaving Kelce for Austin Theory.

Grayson Waller suggested Bobby Lashley dump the Street Profits and instead manage the Cul de Sac Profits (Waller and Theory).

The Street Profits showed up in cream-colored suits. Standing next to Bobby Lashley, they looked like Boyz II Men. Still, Lashley gave them the cold shoulder and told them to “prove it.” It seems WWE is telling a long-term story of the Street Profits going fully heel, thank God.

Grayson Waller Effect Grade: B-

Austin Theory Def. Cameron Grimes

WWE aired a video package for Dragon Lee, which ticked off A-Town Down Under. It looks like Lee’s days in NXT
XT
are numbered if there are any days left. After his breakout match against Dominik Mysterio, that’s a good call.

Theory beat Cameron Grimes handily, only to have words with Dragon Lee, who figures to be Theory’s next feud.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa beat down Ashante Adonis and B-Fab pleaded with them to stop.

Austin Theory vs. Cameron Grimes Grade: C+

Rey Mysterio Def. Santos Escobar

The “Student vs. Mentor” relationship was (predictably) the story of this entire match.

Santos Escobar grew more and more frustrated through this match. At the same time, Escobar showed concern for Mysterio as Santos took control of the match. Zelina Vega’s facials throughout were also perfect.

The Bloodline continued to run roughshod backstage during this match.

This was the luchador version of the great Asuka vs. Iyo Sky match from last week.

Mysterio won via rollup, and before Santos Escobar could even think about turning heel, the Street Profits did it for them.

Legado del Fantasma ran down to make the save, only for Joaquin Wilde to eat an elbow from Lashley and Cruz del Toro to be dumped out of the ring by the Street Profits. Dragon Lee was furious.

Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar Grade: A

Charlotte Flair Def. Bayley

Two of SmackDown’s biggest segments happened during this entrance. First, Cena finally touched down. Then, WWE cut to a hilarious Pretty Deadly segment of Elton Prince recovering from his shoulder injury by learning how to walk.

Charlotte told Bayley that she is a stepping stone while Charlotte is still the measuring stick. Charlotte said she’d challenge Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship, but fans didn’t seem to enthusiastic about that.

Charlotte proved her point as The Opportunity beat the Stepping Stone.

Bayley hilariously announced Charlotte vs. Asuka vs. Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship and Iyo was none too pleased.

Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair Grade: B+

The GOAT Has Landed, John Cena Battles Travel Delays

Cena made it just in time for the main event and fans in Sacramento couldn’t be happier.

Fans, who had clearly been reading online rumors, were chanting “yeah” during Cena’s promo.

Fans went wild for LA Knight’s inevitable save, and Cena and LA Knight vs. The Bloodline is official.

John Cena Segment: A