Jimmy Uso vs. AJ Styles
Photo credit: WWE.com
WWE SmackDown promoted AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Uso following their backstage confrontation last week. SmackDown also promoted Charlotte Flair and Shotzi vs. Damage CTRL as well as the Brawling Brutes vs. new tag team champions Judgment Day.
WWE SmackDown’s broadcast with the return of John Cena reached 2.443 million viewers last week.
WWE SmackDown Results | September 8, 2023
- Shotzi and Charlotte defeated. Damage CTRL
- LA Knight defeated. Austin theory
- Judgment Day def. Brawlers brutes
- AJ Styles def. Jimmy Uso
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- September 1, 2023 | 2.443 million
- August 25, 2023 | 2.647 million
- August 18, 2023 | 2.094 million
- August 11, 2023 | 2.097 million
- August 4, 2023 | 2.248 million
- WWE SmackDown Venue: TD Garden (Boston, Mass.)
- WWE SmackDown tickets distributed: 11,839
- Tickets available: 434
WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades
Shotzi and Charlotte Def. Damage CTRL
Iyo Sky was distracted by Asuka toying with her title, which is a silly way to set up a great match… next week.
Shotzi is quietly building a winning streak in this one-sided feud against Bayley. The problem is that it always happens in the middle of so many other things happening at the finish.
Shotzi and Charlotte vs. Damage CTRL Grade: C+
LA Knight Def. Austin Theory
LA Knight’s push is well underway. The crowd is still hot for him – especially in an A-market like Boston – and more importantly, he’s finally winning games.
I’m glad Austin Theory and Grayson Waller weren’t an isolated incident. They can be like the white street profits. The dead end profits.
Waller and Theory were called “A-Town Down Under,” which I guess makes sense, but I like my name better.
Behind the scenes, LA Knight fell in love with Paul Heyman. Heyman kissed LA Knight despite recently calling him a flash in the pan. Then Heyman got serious and told Knight never to interrupt him again. Don’t hold your breath at LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns anytime soon, but if it’s a Royal Rumble match, Knight would be like Sami Zayn in Montreal.
WWE announced that John Cena will appear at Grayson Waller Effect next week.
LA Knight vs. Austin Theory grade: B+
Judgment Day Def. Thugs brutes
Poor Mike Rome screwed up the ring introductions for Judgment Day and Corey Graves didn’t hesitate to bury him.
You could barely hear Dominik Mysterio during his promo. Boston came with me tonight.
Damian Priest disparaged both the Bloodline and Roman Reigns by saying Judgment Day did something they can’t by defeating Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The problem with that comment is that Roman Reigns has literally defeated both Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. ,
This promo made me realize that The Bloodline vs. The Judgment Day could be a great Survivor Series elimination match. Unfortunately for her, Jey Uso left the tribe.
The Brawling Brutes continue to play the role of “good game that they will inevitably lose,” especially without Sheamus.
Heel Judgment Day was confronted by the Heel Street Profits faction and Lashley, who are still acting like babyfaces. It was so confusing.
Lashley agreed that the bloodline was crumbling (a narrative WWE is far too comfortable with), but Bobby and the Street Profits would take over.
Judgment Day vs. Brawling Brutes Grade: B
AJ Styles Def. Jimmy Uso
Jimmy Uso trying to get back into the good graces of the bloodline makes the character seem so weak. If they turn against him, there may be no turning back.
WWE continues to stir up dissension within the OC as the Good Brothers are set to take action against Styles any day now.
Heyman said Solo Sikoa wasn’t here tonight, just to appear with Solo Sikoa in the main event.
Sikoa refused to make eye contact with Jimmy throughout the game until Solo literally turned his back on Jimmy.
Judgment Day, currently in his second honeymoon phase, attacked AJ Styles after the match and fed him to Solo. Once again the OK was nowhere to be found.
Jimmy Uso vs. AJ Styles Grade:
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I have been a pro wrestling columnist and video blogger for a leading national sports website since 2010 and formerly at Bleacher Report, where I was a WWE columnist and host of the nearly 100-episode digital series WWE WTF. In 2012, I was featured in Bleacher Report’s documentary “Why We Watch,” which focused on the career of Kurt Angle. I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a major in Business Administration, a concentration in Accounting, and a minor in Sports Management.
In addition to my appearances on BBC and ESPN Radio, I have been featured on NPR numerous times. My pro wrestling expertise includes live broadcasting countless WWE and independent wrestling events, including six WrestleManias.
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