WWE Smackdown Live 8/25/23 August 25th 2023
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WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights from Aug. 25
The professional wrestling world was stunned Thursday with news of the passing of Windham Rotunda, known better to fans as Bray Wyatt, at the age of 36.
Friday night, WWE paid tribute to its former champion and his many unforgettable moments.
Find out how with this recap of the August 25 Fox presentation.
Bray Wyatt Tribute
- Michael Cole introduced a 10-bell salute for both Wyatt and the great Terry Funk, who the wrestling world lost Wednesday.
- Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman joined Triple H and the rest of the WWE Superstars on the roster. As two members of the Wyatt Family, they absolutely belonged there.
- Enough cannot be said about WWE's production team and their work on the video package presented here. It was befitting a man as eclectic, charismatic and captivating as Wyatt.
WWE honored the life and legacy of Bray Wyatt at the top of Friday's show, with his friends and wrestling family gathered on the entrance ramp.
A beautiful video package highlighting his best moments, the relationships he formed in and out of the ring, and his family aired before the rocking chair that was such a key part of his presentation was spotlighted to close the segment.
Top Moments and Takeaways
Non-Title Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Grayson Waller
- Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick revealed on commentary that Mysterio will defend the United States against Austin Theory at Payback on September 2 while Waller will host Cody Rhodes on his talk show segment.
- Theory interrupted the match and Escobar followed as the action broke down late.
- One of the early Wyatt Family vignettes aired after the match as the celebration of the former WWE champion continued.
Michael Cole addressed the WWE Universe, telling fans that there is nothing Wyatt and Funk wanted more than to entertain them. With that, he threw it to the night's first match, saw United States champion Rey Mysterio battle the brash, arrogant Grayson Waller non-title action.
A solid, competitive match saw Mysterio in control until Austin Theory interrupted and Santos Escobar made the save. The action broke down, with both outside influencers impacting the match but, ultimately, Mysterio scored the win.
Based on the staredown between the LWO, Theory, and Waller that concluded the segment, it would certainly appear as though we are headed for a tag team match on next Friday's show. Considering the talent involved, that is hardly a bad thing.
As for Payback, expect a solid match between Mysterio and Theory that ends, most likely, with the heel regaining a title he probably never should have lost.
Result
Mysterio defeated Waller
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
WWE Women's Championship Match: Zelina Vega vs. Iyo Sky
- Graves put over Vega's background in the indies, something that has flown under the radar in the company's portrayal of the veteran in-ring competitor.
- Sky narrowly survived the Meteora while Vega kicked out of a sunset flip bomb.
- This was a hell of a showing from Vega, who has impressed every time she has had the opportunity and has earned this push as an in-ring competitor here in 2023.
The women's division is in good hands with Iyo Sky as its champion on Friday nights, as evidenced by her first title defense against Zelina Vega.
Sky and Vega tore the house down in a really fun, energetic title bout that demonstrated how good the champion is and how underrated an in-ring worker the spunky underdog Vega is.
Damage CTRL retained its control over the division by way of Sky's victory but Vega proved she is a legitimate contender and someone who should be in the hunt more consistently, especially given the fans' reaction to her in Louisville.
Result
Sky defeated Vega to retain
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Terry Funk Hardcore Tag Team Match: The Brawling Brutes vs. The Street Profits
- Holland hoisted Butch up on his shoulders and used him as a battering ram, like Funk famously utilized a ladder in ECW.
- "Bobby Lashley lost his smile," Graves said on commentary after Butch disrespected him and grabbed a table from under the ring, an unintentional (?) dig at Shawn Michaels losing his smile back in 1997.
- With Butch down and out at ringside, Ford and Dawkins drove Holland through a table with The Revelation.
- This was action-packed but not necessarily what one would call hardcore in the same vein as something Funk would have been involved in. Still, who knows how short the notice was and, to be honest, the talent involved can have a strong match even without the bells and whistles. They did just that, with a table spot to boot.
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins continued their recent roll, defeating Butch and Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes in a special Terry Funk Hardcore match.
The match was hard-hitting and physical and, while it may not have featured the chairs and ladders of an ECW-era Funker brawl, it was a good match between two great tag teams that continued the upward momentum of Ford and Dawkins as they prepared for their Hurt Business partnership with Bobby Lashley.
Look for more of this for the victors as they build momentum for whatever the finished product will ultimately look like. A continuation of this feud would hardly be a bad thing if the quality of this match was any indication.
Result
Street Profits defeated Brawling Brutes
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
LA Knight vs. Finn Balor
- Knight credited Wyatt for preparing him for the push that was to come here in 2023 while preserving the feud that the two engaged in entering the year.
- "Sometimes our greatest foes can be our greatest helpers."
- "He was getting me ready for ANYTHING."
- "And Miz, as a wise man once told me, the next time you see me...RUN."
- Cole, Graves and Patrick revealed Knight will battle Miz at next Saturday's Payback.
LA Knight kicked off his career year by feuding with Bray Wyatt.
Friday night, he paid homage to his rival, thanking him for getting him ready for the position he finds himself in before battling fellow Wyatt foe, Finn Balor.
The main event was a good, solid pro wrestling match that highlighted Knight against a top heel and allowed him to score a definitive victory over a former Universal champion.
His tribute to Wyatt, promo on The Miz ahead of their match at Payback, and the crowd's reaction to all of it came together to result in the most significant utilization of Knight as a potential main event star in WWE yet.
He was the guy on this episode and the crowd accepted him in that role, even under the difficult circumstances surrounding the broadcast. On a tough night, he rose to the occasion and that is something the backstage powers that be absolutely took notice to.
Result
Knight defeated Balor
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
