WWE SmackDown Results 6/16 - We Hear From Roman Reigns, #1 Contenders Tag Team Gauntlet Match
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on June 16, 2023, coming to you live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky!
In the midst of the chaotic ongoings within The Bloodline, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be making his return to programming tonight. Reigns has been pressuring Jey Uso to choose between himself and his brother Jimmy Uso since Jimmy turned his back on Reigns last month at WWE Night of Champions.
"The Grayson Waller Effect" will be making its return tonight, as Grayson Waller sits down with multi-time Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. Flair made her long-awaited return on last week's edition of "SmackDown", demanding a match for Asuka's Women's Championship while she was being presented with the new title.
Before they collide in the Women's Money In The Bank Ladder Match, Damage CTRL's IYO SKY will square off with Zelina Vega of LWO in one-on-one competition. The two women will join Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, Bayley, and another opponent who has yet to be determined on July 1 at the O2 Arena in London, England.
Vega's teammates Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde will also be in action as they collide with Pretty Deadly, Hit Row, The Street Profits, The O.C.'s Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and The Brawling Brutes' Sheamus and Ridge Holland in a Tag Team Gauntlet match. The winners will receive a future shot at Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's Undisputed Tag Team Championship. All five teams expressed their interest in receiving a shot last week, leading WWE official Adam Pearce to create tonight's match.
Speaking of The O.C., AJ Styles and Michin will join forces to collide with Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross and Scarlett have been targeting Styles over the past few weeks, ambushing him last week following Michin's Money In The Bank qualifying match whilst he was ringside on commentary.
We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping what happened between the members of The Bloodline last week. We then see Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa pulling up to the Rupp Arena. Kayla Braxton is standing by and asks for an update on Jey Uso's status in The Bloodline, but none of the three men provide her with an answer.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett then greet audiences at home as The Street Profits head down to the ring. The Brawling Brutes follow as all the other teams in the Tag Team Gauntlet surround ringside.
Pretty Deadly vs. Hit Row vs. The O.C. vs. The Street Profits vs. The Brawling Brutes vs. LWO in a #1 Contenders Tag Team Gauntlet Match
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn watch on from backstage as Sheamus and Ford begin the action. The bell rings and Sheamus delivers a shoulder tackle. Ford fires back with a dropkick and a chop, but Sheamus lands the Irish Curse Backbreaker and tags in Holland. Holland delivers a suplex, but Ford hits a step-up enziguri and tags in Dawkins. Dawkins delivers a flying back elbow and a splash in the corner, then delivers a right hand. Sheamus tags back in and delivers a big boot, then pins Dawkins to eliminate The Profits.
Eliminated: The Street Profits
The O.C. is next in the match. Gallows slides in the ring and delivers a right hand, then tags in Anderson. Gallows and Anderson land an assisted neckbreaker.
Back from the break, Gallows sends Sheamus crashing into the mat. He follows it up with an elbow to Sheamus' head and tags in Anderson. Anderson fires off right hands, then tags Gallows back in. Gallows delivers a kick and a right hand, then delivers a suplex and a boot. Sheamus responds with a bodyslam, but Anderson tags in. Sheamus then catches him with a boot and pins him to eliminate them.
Eliminated: The O.C.
LWO are the next team in the ring. They waste no time and go flying over the top to level The Brutes on the outside. Wilde tosses Sheamus back in the ring, then ascends to the top and lands a dropkick. Del Toro tags in and executes a moonsault off the top, then goes for a pin but Sheamus kicks out. Holland makes the blind tag before Sheamus lands a big boot on Del Toro. Holland then delivers a Yokosuka Cutter to eliminate them.
Eliminated: LWO
Hit Row slide in the ring, and Sheamus wastes no time. He lands the Brogue Kick on Top Dolla to eliminate Hit Row.
Eliminated: Hit Row
Back from another break, Pretty Deadly are going at it with The Brutes in the ring. Prince sends Holland crashing into the mat before Wilson tags in and delivers a running uppercut in the corner. He follows it up with a neckbreaker and rains down right hands. Prince tags in and delivers clotheslines in the corner, then whips Holland into the opposite corner. Wilson tags in and Pretty Deadly looks to double team on Holland, but Holland plants them both with simultaneous back body drops and tags in Sheamus. Sheamus delivers splashes to Pretty Deadly in the corner, then delivers an Irish Curse Backbreaker to them before planting Prince on top of Wilson. He then delivers an Alabama Slam to Wilson and sets up for The Ten Beats of the Bodhran. Prince tries saving his tag team partner, but Sheamus stacks him on top of Wilson and executes the move on both men. He gets Wilson up on his shoulders, but Prince makes the blind tag. Sheamus delivers Razor's Edge to Wilson and pins him, not realizing he isn't the legal man. Prince ascends to the top and lands a leg drop, then pins Sheamus for the win.
Eliminated: The Brawling Brutes
Winners (and new number one contenders): Pretty Deadly
Back from the break, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens appear on the ramp.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Confront Pretty Deadly
Zayn congratulates Pretty Deadly on winning and says he didn't expect that to happen. He says they've overstayed their welcome for five minutes by celebrating in the ring and invites them to head backstage. Prince says that was cute, and says their hair is somehow drier than Zayn's after beating five teams. Prince says they had no right interrupting him and Wilson. Wilson says despite what Zayn said, he and Prince will stay as long as they want in the ring when they become new Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
Zayn asks Owens if what they're saying is bothering them, and Owens becomes angered. He says he wants to punch Pretty Deadly in the face and Zayn agrees. The two run down the ramp and slide in the ring, but Pretty Deadly retreat before a brawl ensues.
We then head backstage to Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman. Heyman asks Reigns if he's talked to Jey Uso. Reigns says he hasn't and says Jey should've reached out to him. He then demands that Heyman go find him to do so.
Back at ringside, IYO SKY and Bayley head down. Zelina Vega follows.
IYO SKY (w/ Bayley) vs. Zelina Vega
The bell rings and Vega wastes no time. She fires off right hands and lands a hurricanrana, but SKY fires back with a dropkick and rains down right hands. Vega rolls up SKY, but SKY kicks out. Vega then looks to run the ropes, but Bayley hops up and distracts her. SKY rolls up Vega, but the referee is occupied with Bayley and doesn't see the fall. He takes notice and counts to three, but Vega kicks out. SKY asks Bayley what she just did, allowing Vega to surprise her with the 619 and pin her for the win.
Winner: Zelina Vega
We then head backstage to Adam Pearce. Bianca Belair walks in and demands to know where her rematch is. Pearce says it's being talked about, and Belair tells him that she went about getting the rematch the right way but she's taking matters into her own hands now.
Grayson Waller Hosts Charlotte Flair On The Grayson Waller Effect
Waller welcomes fans to "The Grayson Waller Effect" and introduces Charlotte Flair.
Flair's music hits and she makes her way down to the ring.
Waller asks Flair about her upcoming Women's Championship match against Asuka two weeks from now and says she's not going up against the Asuka she faced in the past. Waller asks if she'll become a fifteen time champion, and Flair says she has Asuka's number. However, before she can continue, Bianca Belair's music and she makes her way down to the ring.
Belair says Flair's accolades speak for themself, but questions why Flair gets to cut the line despite her not being the one who lost the title. Flair says she didn't write the rules and refuses to apologize. She says the line starts with her and says she never got a rematch against Rhea Ripley after losing to her at WrestleMania 39. Belair says she tried doing things the right way and she stayed around to do so. She says she didn't hide for three months like Flair did, but Flair objects and says she's picked herself up after every championship loss. She says she's a champion with or without the title, and asks Belair if the same can be said for her.
Belair reminds Flair she's the longest reigning Women's Champion of the modern era and demands Flair put some respect on her name. She says she'll be ringside when Flair takes on Asuka in their title match and says she'll face the winner face-to-face because the title is coming back to her.
We head backstage to Jey Uso. Paul Heyman approaches him and apologizes for telling the truth and being right last week. He apologizes for Jimmy superkicking him in the face last week and says it was intentional. He says he meant to kick Roman Reigns at Night of Champions and meant what he did last week. He says Jey deserves better than that before Jey apologizes for having Heyman kicked out if he remains in The Bloodline.
Back at ringside, AJ Styles and Michin head down. Karrion Kross and Scarlett follow.
AJ Styles and Michin vs. Karrion Kross and Scarlett
Styles and Kross begin the action. The bell rings and Styles wastes no time. He fires off kicks, then lands a sliding forearm. Michin tags in and catches Kross with a DDT before Scarlett gets in the ring and plants her. Michin delivers a series of chops and kicks, then hits a release German suplex. Kross and Styles tag in. Styles lands a Pele Kick before hitting the Styles Clash and goes for a pin. Scarlett breaks the fall and gets in Styles' face, but Michin drags her to the outside and plants her. This allows Kross to lock in the Kross Jacket. He then lands the Kross Hammer and plants Styles for the win.
Winners: Karrion Kross and Scarlett
We head backstage to Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa. Reigns asks Heyman how his conversation with Jey went, and Heyman shakes his head. Sikoa intimidates him into leaving the room before asking Reigns if he wants him to handle things. Reigns tells him to take it easy and says they have plenty of time.
Back from the break, Rey Mysterio heads down.
Santos Escobar Shows His Appreciation For Rey Mysterio
Rey says he's had many accomplishments throughout his career, but the one he's most proud of is reforming LWO. He says the person he's about to introduce represents the essence of the faction, and welcomes Santos Escobar to the ring.
LWO's music hits and Escobar makes his way out.
Escobar says he's worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices to receive the opportunity of a lifetime when he competes in the Men's Money In The Bank Ladder match. He then tells Rey and thanks him before saying he's fighting for Rey, his family, and anyone in the WWE Universe who has a dream.
LA Knight's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Knight shoves Rey before Escobar catches him with a clothesline and a dropkick. He sends Knight into the ropes and Rey looks for the 619, but Knight slides out of the ring.
LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar
Back from the break, the bell has rung and Escobar delivers a pair of flying back elbows. He follows it up with a backbreaker, but Knight responds with a kick to his head. Escobar ascends to the top and lands a crossbody, then delivers a running knee. Knight fires back with a bodyslam and follows it up with an elbow drop before rolling up Escobar. Escobar reverses the momentum and pins Knight for the win.
Winner: Santos Escobar
After the match, Knight blindsides Escobar and rains down right hands. Rey Mysterio runs down to ringside to provide Escobar with a hand.
Back from the break, we see Jey Uso heading to the ring. He runs into Sami Zayn, and Zayn gives him a nod.
Back at ringside, Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa head down.
Will Jey Uso Remain Part Of The Bloodline?
Reigns tells Lexington to acknowledge him, but before he can continue, The Usos' music hits and Jey makes his way down to ringside.
Reigns says he knows what fans want and says they want answers. He asks him if he's in or out of The Bloodline, and Jey demands that Reigns be the one to tell him. He says it's either Heyman or himself, and Reigns tells Jey he can pick anyone to be his Wise Man when he's Tribal Chief. He says Heyman is his Wise Man, not The Bloodline's. He says he was meant to get his family to the promise land, and Jey is meant to keep them there. He says they've put three years into getting Jey ready to assume the position of Tribal Chief and says he's meant to lead but not yet. Reigns tells Jey his problem is his brother.
Jimmy appears and cuts off Reigns. He tells Jey that Reigns is the real problem and he's just using him. He asks Jey if he really believes what Reigns is saying.
Reigns says it took 10 years for The Usos to get on WrestleMania, but they've main evented each Premium Live Event since they've been with him. He says Jey can't be a Tribal Chief and a twin at the same time and says as much as Jimmy wants to beg, the truth is that Jimmy was the only one who had a problem with Jey being named the right hand man.
Jey looks over at Jimmy and stares him down. Jimmy has trouble meeting his gaze and Jey asks Jimmy if what Reigns just said was true. Jimmy says it was, and Jey starts pacing. He asks Jimmy if he's been doubting him this whole time. He says he expected that from Reigns but not him. He says all heard growing up was listen to your older brother and says he's been trying to keep up with Jimmy. He says Jimmy was prom king, player of the year, and most likely to succeed. Jey says he stepped up when Jimmy got hurt and has been in countless main events thanks to Reigns. He tells Jimmy that he's out out of The Bloodline and stares him down. He then says he's out too and superkicks Reigns. Sikoa charges at them, but Jimmy and Jey catch him with a double superkick. The Usos look to leave, but Reigns begins to yell at him. Jimmy and Jey then catch him with a double superkick and put their ones to the sky as the show goes off the air.