WWE Friday Night SmackDown 02 03 2023

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
February 3, 2023
Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Roy Nemer and Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

WWE SmackDown kicks off with highlights from the Royal Rumble main event. We see Roman getting the win against Kevin Owens and Zayn hitting Roman with the chair. Jey Uso walking out on the Bloodline and Roman hitting Zayn with the chair.

We cut to the arena and Kayla is in the parking lot and in comes a black SUV. Solo, Jimmy, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman get out of the SUV. Kayla asks Roman if he can give an update on the status of Jey Uso with the Bloodline. Roman walks away as Heyman stops at Kayla. He tells her it’s such a cold-blooded question but from such a warm hearted lady. Heyman tells her they cannot confirm nor deny the status of Jey Uso within the Bloodline. He thanks her for wearing their colors as she is wearing red and he walks away.

In the arena, the pyro goes off and we are live! Michael Cole is live with Wade Barrett. Pat McAfee is not back on SmackDown yet.

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Contenders Tournament – Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. Imperium

The bell rings and we are under way. Strowman pushes Vinci down as Vinci gets back up. Kaiser is tagged in. Vinci throws them both away and right hands by Strowman as Imperium leave the ring. Ricochet is tagged in as Kaiser gets back into the ring. Ricochet with a drop kick. A forearm by Ricochet followed by a jaw breaker. Vinci distracts Ricochet and Kaiser hits Ricocher with an uppercut. Strowman hits Vinci with a running shoulder block on the outside of the ring. Strowman and Gunther are face to face. Kaiser with a suicide dive onto Strowman but Strowman catches him. Vinci climbs the top rope and a splash onto Strowman.

-Commercial Break-

Back from commercial, Imperium double team Strowman in the ring. Kaiser goes for the cover but Strowman kicks out. Kaiser with right hands onto Strowman and Vinci is tagged in. He grabs Strowman but Strowman with a back drop and Ricochet is tagged in. Vinci is tagged in. Ricochet with a cross body. In comes Vinci and he hits him with a head scissor. A flying forearm by Ricochet followed by a standing shooting star. He goes for the cover but Vinci kicks out.

Ricochet lifts Vinci up but Vinci lands on his feet and throws Ricochet shoulder first into the ring post. Kaiser is tagged in. Kaiser goes for a drop kick in the corner but Ricochet moves out of the way. Ricochet with a back elbow onto Kaiser. In comes Strowman who knocks Vinci off the ring apron. Ricochet runs to the ropes and Strowman launches him over the top rope onto Imperium on the outside of the ring. Gunther and Ricochet are face to face. Ricochet pushes Gunther and Gunther pushes Ricochet as Gunther is kicked out of ringside.

-Commercial Break-

Back from commercial, Strowman with the Monster Bomb onto Kaiser. Ricochet is tagged in. Ricochet climbs onto Strowman’s shoulders and Ricochet with a senton. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Braun Strowman and Ricochet

Kayla Braxton is backstage with Charlotte Flair. She says her match against Rhea Ripley is going to be epic but tonight, her focus is on Sonya. In comes Sonya who says she wants the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It will be her against Ripley and they will be in Hollywood and Hollywood needs a star. And she is a star. Flair laughs and tells her to save the trash talk for the ring.

-Commercial Break-

They air a clip of a promotional segment for Nascar. It involved The New Day and Rey Mysterio with The Judgment Day. Rey and Dominik would race with Rey winning the race.

Sonya Deville makes her way to the ring.

-Commercial Break-

This is Mike Tedesco coming in and making a hot tag from Roy Nemer!

SmackDown Women’s Championship
Sonya Deville vs. Charlotte Flair (c)

The bell rings, and they lock up. Flair takes her down and connects with a shoulder tackle. Flair taunts Deville and asks where the trash-talking is. They circle the ring, and Flair applies a waistlock before hitting a takedown. Flair wrenches the arm, but Deville pulls the hair and turns it on her. Flair cartwheels out but has a whip to the corner reversed. Flair rolls up the turnbuckles and lands on the apron before big booting Deville back. Flair goes to the top rope and hits a high cross-body block for a two-count. Deville sidesteps an avalanche and charges, but Flair drops her on the apron. Flair forearms her in the face, but Deville quickly pulls her down by the hair.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Deville taking it to Flair. Flair avoids a big kick and rolls her up for a two-count. Deville quickly takes her down and picks up a two-count. Deville grounds the Queen and applies a chin lock. Flair fights up and hits a snapmare. Flair punches her back, but Deville knees her. Flair blocks a bounce into the corner and bounces Deville off the top turnbuckle. Deville responds with a kick to the knee. Deville charges, but Flair rolls under an attack and hits a pair of clotheslines. Flair chops Deville a few times and connects with a back suplex. Flair kips up and poses. The Carolina crowd gives her a nice ovation. The Flair name is widely respected in that region.

Flair hits the ropes and connects with a big boot for a near fall. Flair grabs her, but Deville elbows her back. Flair puts Deville on the apron and goes for a big boot, but Deville avoids it. Deville snaps the leg off the top rope and hits a bicycle kick for a near fall. Deville is in disbelief. Deville charges her in the corner, but Flair hits a backbreaker. Deville knocks her back and goes to the second rope. Deville connects with a flying knee for another two-count. Deville sets up for a Figure Four Leglock, but Flair counters into an inside cradle for a two-count. Deville knocks her down in the corner. Deville charges and they mistime a rolling clothesline from Flair for a two count.

Flair sets up Deville in the corner and climbs the ropes. Flair goes for a moonsault, but Deville gets her feet up. Deville rolls her up with her feet on the ropes for a near fall. Flair gets out of a Figure Four Leglock. Deville goes for a sunset flip, but Flair rolls through and applies the Figure Eight for the submission victory.

Winner by Submission and still SmackDown Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair

Video Package: Cody Rhodes announces he will be challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania

Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman, and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns are sitting backstage looking upset. Reigns asks Jimmy where Jey Uso is. Jimmy doesn’t know and hasn’t heard from him. Reigns says he finds that disrespectful. Not only did he walk out, but now he’s not communicating. Don’t they have a title match next week? You don’t walk out on your obligations. Reigns asks Jimmy again if he has talked to Jey. Jimmy sits up straight and says he has not talked to him. Jimmy assures Reigns that Jey will be there when they need him. Reigns asks if Jey will be here from the entire Bloodline. Has Solo Sikoa heard from him? Jimmy says Jey isn’t talking to anyone. Reigns asks Heyman if it’s WrestleMania season. Heyman confirms that it is. Reigns demands Jimmy and Solo find Jey now. They slowly get up and walk off.

The Brawling Brutes will battle The Viking Raiders next.

Video: WWE honors Kofi Kingston for Black History Month

-Commercial Break-

Replays are shown of The Viking Raiders viciously attacking Drew McIntyre and Sheamus last week on SmackDown.

Tag Team Match
The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) w/ Valhalla

Butch starts against Ivar. Ivar powers him to the corner and backs up. Butch punches back at him, but Ivar overpowers him and viciously beats him in the corner. Ivar whips Butch hard headfirst into the turnbuckles. Erik tags in and whips Butch hard to the corner. Butch quickly boots him back and goes for some joint manipulation. Erik fights out, so Butch chops him. Ridge Holland tags in and shoulder tackles Erik down. Erik gets out of a suplex and punches him. Erik attempts a suplex, but Holland blocks it. Holland hits a vertical suplex and tags Butch in. Holland gets Erik on the apron. Butch knocks Ivar off the apron. The Brawling Brutes then double-team Erik with the 10 Beats of the Bodhran. Butch goes for a plancha, but Erik moves. Butch goes face-to-face with Valhalla. Erik sends Butch headfirst into the barricade and hits a running forearm.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Butch snap Erik’s fingers and tag Holland in. Holland hits Erik with a pair of t-bone suplexes. Holland traps both arms and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Holland sizes Erik up, but Erik knees him in the face. Ivar tags in and kicks Holland. Ivar sets up for a piledriver, but Holland counters into an Alabama Slam for a two-count. The feed from FOX flickered for a few moments.

Holland grabs Ivar, but Ivar powers him to the corner and viciously elbows away at him. Butch blind tags in and knees Ivar. Butch kicks him back, and Erik tags in. Butch hits him with an enzuigiri, but Erik responds by turning him inside out with a clothesline. Erik knees him in the face for a near fall. Ivar tags in. Holland pulls Erik out of the ring. Butch fights Ivar on the top rope and hits a super hurricanrana for a near fall. Butch goes to the second rope for a moonsault, but Ivar catches him (sort of) and powers him up. Butch slides into a sleeper hold. Erik tags in and knocks Butch down. Holland charges Ivar at ringside, but Ivar drops him with a spin kick. Ivar tags in. The Viking Raiders stare at Valhalla before hitting Butch with the Ragnarok for the victory.

Winners by Pinfall: The Viking Raiders

The Viking Raiders go up the ramp until Drew McIntyre and Sheamus come out. They attack The Viking Raiders and brawl on the stage. McIntyre sends Ivar into the LED wall. Ivar shoves him off, but McIntyre big boots him to the back. McIntyre and Sheamus celebrate.

Video Package: Bray Wyatt beats LA Knight in the Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match at the Royal Rumble event this past Saturday. Wyatt put on a new mask and became invincible after the match. Uncle Howdy then did a stage dive.

We go backstage to see Bray Wyatt in a rocking chair watching highlights. Uncle Howdy walks up, and the screen breaks away.

Shotzi makes her way to the ring in the Taking Care of Business tank. The Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Fatal 4-Way Match is next.

-Commercial Break-

Photos from the Royal Rumble event are shown.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Fatal 4-Way Match
Shotzi vs. Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya

The match begins, and Natalya quickly goes after Baszler. Shotzi pulls Natalya off and punches away at Baszler. Natalya knocks Shotzi back and stomps Baszler out of the ring. Shotzi attacks Natalya and hits a shoulder tackle. Vega pulls Shotzi out of the ring and sends her into the barricade. Vega squares off against Natalya in the ring and rolls her up.

Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan are watching backstage. Both are already in the Elimination Chamber.

Vega hits Natalya with Code Red, but Baszler breaks up the pin. Baszler slams Vega and attacks Shotzi. Baszler hits Shotzi with a backbreaker and grabs the arm. Natalya attacks Baszler from behind and throws her to the apron. Baszler avoids a shoulder and kicks Natalya back. Vega pulls Baszler off the apron, but Baszler clotheslines her down. Baszler gets in the ring and knees Natalya in the face, which is the same move that broke Natalya’s move three months ago. Baszler covers for a near fall.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Shotzi fighting out of Baszler’s chin lock. Baszler punches her down and goes to stomp the arm, but Shotzi avoids it. Shotzi kicks and knees Baszler in the face before avalanching her against the ropes. Baszler falls to the floor. Shotzi hits the ropes and hits Baszler with a suicide dive. Vega goes to the second rope and hits a moonsault block on Baszler and Shotzi on the floor. Natalya grabs Shozi and gets her in the ring. Natalya applies the Sharpshooter, but Vega hits her with a bulldog to break it up. Shotzi hits a scary German Suplex on Vega. Baszler hits Shotzi with a German Suplex before putting Vega in the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler releases to avoid a Discus Clothesline from Natalya. Baszler goes for a Kirifuda Clutch on Natalya, but Natalya knocks her out of the ring. Natalya then applies the Sharpshooter to the fallen Vega for the submission.

Winner by Submission: Natalya

Natalya joins Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Asuka, and Nikki Cross in the Elimination Chamber Match. The winner will face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.

The final woman in the Elimination Chamber will be decided on Monday Night Raw. Candice LeRae, Michin, Carmella, and Piper Niven will battle for that last spot.

We go backstage to see Paul Heyman informing Roman Reigns that Jey Uso’s phone goes straight to voicemail. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa come back in and say they couldn’t get ahold of Jey. Reigns shakes his head and says he doesn’t understand. Of all the times of the year for this to happen. They were doing so good. No problems, no hiccups… Reigns says he has a lot on his plate. They understand the stress and burden of this position. Reigns says he feels like he’s being spread too thin right now. Reigns says he loves them and apologizes for speaking to them the way he does. Jimmy tells him not to worry about it. Reigns says he needs them to be as strong as they ever were. If they’re not, there’s no more of this. Reigns says he has a good dinner for them on the bus. Reigns wants Jimmy and Solo to go on the bus. Reigns has to go into the arena to handle some business. Reigns tells them to eat and enjoy. They agree.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will address the state of The Bloodline next.

-Commercial Break-

Next week on SmackDown:

— Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) (c’s) vs. Braun Strowman and Ricochet
— Fatal 4-Way #1 Contender’s Match (Winner faces Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar vs. Karrion Kross vs. Madcap Moss

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring alongside “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman. Reigns is on Day 887 as champion.

Reigns gets in the ring, and a “Sami” chant fires up. Reigns says, “Greenville, South Carolina… acknowledge me!” The crowd is mixed but buzzing loudly. Another LOUD “Sami” chant fires up. Reigns paces the ring. Reigns was going to ask what they want to talk about, but it’s pretty obvious. Reigns would rather sit here and talk about Cody Rhodes, the guy that won the Royal Rumble and is the #1 Contender. That’s a guy that deserves his attention. Instead, these simple folks have reduced him to talking about the past.

There are two sides to every story, so we’re going to hear his. In order to hear Reigns’ side, they have to go back to WarGames. That’s the night that he looked into Sami Zayn’s eyes and told the world he’s seen everything he needs to see. Reigns saw greed that night. Reigns saw the same thing he’s seen in everyone he interacts with nowadays. If a restaurant was lucky enough to have him, the hostess, people in the kitchen, waiters, and waitresses all ask him for something… like he hasn’t done enough already. Reigns gave Zayn the opportunity of a lifetime. Instead, Zayn used him, his Bloodline, and his Island of Relevancy. The crowd boos. This is no different from anyone in the crowd. They all want, want, want, and never give back.

All of a sudden, Sami Zayn attacks Reigns from behind to a HUGE ovation! Zayn yells at Reigns, but Reigns fights back with some knees to the face. Reigns stomps Zayn down, and the crowd loudly boos him. Reigns tells Paul Heyman to get him a chair. Reigns takes the chair, but Zayn gives Reigns a spear! A loud “Sami” chant starts up as Zayn picks up the steel chair. Zayn goes to hit him, but Reigns immediately rolls out of the ring with a look of shock and horror on his face.

Zayn grabs a microphone and says Reigns is wrong about him. Zayn never wanted anything from Reigns… until now. Zayn wants something from Reigns, and he’s going to take it. Zayn is coming after Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship! The crowd loudly cheers.

Suddenly, Jimmy Uso superkicks him down. Solo Sikoa head-butts Zayn a number of times and hits a Samoan Spike. Sikoa punches away at Zayn in the corner. Jimmy puts a steel chair around his head. Sikoa goes for a running hip attack to end Zayn once and for all, but Reigns stops him! Reigns looks down at Zayn and takes the chair off his neck. A “We want Jey” chant picks up. Reigns says he doesn’t have Jey because Zayn broke up his Bloodline. Reigns says he gave him an opportunity, but instead he broke up his family. Reigns says he wants Zayn in Montreal at Elimination Chamber so he can break Zayn in front of his entire family, his wife, kid, parents, and friends. Reigns says he’ll see him soon!

Reigns holds up the titles and shouts this is simple to him. Zayn should have stayed in the Bloodline. Now it’s done. Reigns holds the titles up to end the show.