SmackDown Results: Tributes to Bray Wyatt & Terry Funk

August 25, 2023 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE on FOX

August 25, 2023
KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY

By: John Kleinchester

A Tribute to Bray & Terry

SmackDown started with a double “In Memory” card in tribute to Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. We then cut to the arena and the roster was gathered on the stage including Erick Rowan. Michael Cole announced that tonight they would be honoring their legacies and then they did the traditional ten-bell salute.

They cut to a tribute video to Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt. Afterward, the crowd chanted “Thank You Bray” and sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” as an empty rocking chair was placed on the stage under a spotlight and the show went to its first commercial break.

After the break, a short tribute video to Terry Funk aired. Michael Cole then said Cody Rhodes would be out later to honor Terry Funk whom his father Dusty Rhodes had a great rivalry. Cole also went on to say that both Bray & Terry wanted to do nothing more than entertain the fans.

The Show Must Go On

With that, United States Champion Rey Mysterio came down to the ring for some reason without his championship belt for a match against Grayson Waller.

During the match, the following was announced for Payback next Saturday on Peacock:

  • United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory 
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with Guest Cody Rhodes

Mysterio had Waller set up for the 619 when Austin Theory’s music hit and distracted Rey almost leading to him getting pinned. Santos Escobar then jumped Theory. Escobar was still selling his leg injury but was able to stop Theory from interfering further and Mysterio picked up the win (and his U.S. title magically appeared at ringside).

A quick Bray Wyatt video appeared with a QR code as a nice nod to his White Rabbit-related return that linked to this video:

This would continue through the night with QR codes pointing to WWE YouTube videos of major Bray Wyatt moments. After the break, A video highlighting WWE Superstars reacting to Bray Wyatt’s passing on Twitter aired. 

WWE Women’s Championship: Zelina Vega vs. Iyo Sky

Before the match, two instances were shown over the last few weeks of Zelina Vega beating Iyo Sky before Iyo was champion. Damage CTRL was interviewed in the back and Bayley said that we are in “Iyo’s Era” and asked Kayla Braxton if she was going to join the LWO because she’s short just like everyone in that group. Sky picked up the win with the Over the Moonsault. 

After that match, another Twitter tribute video aired:

Cody Talks Funk

Cody Rhodes came out to the ring and said he knew what he wanted to talk about tonight and talked about how at 11 years old he overheard a man calling his father “an egg-sucking dog” and that man ended up being Terry Funk. He called Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt “cowboys in the best of ways”. Cody then threw to a tribute video.

After the video, Cody announced that the next tag team match would be a “Terry Funk Hardcore Match”. With that, The Brawling Brutes came down to the ring to face The Street Profits. 

 

The Terry Funk “Hardcore” Match

Outside of no tags and a lot of out-of-the-ring action, the beginning of the Terry Funk Hardcore Match was decidedly not very hardcore with the crowd incessantly chanting “We want tables”. Bobby Lashley came out and just stood at ringside not getting involved. Finally Butch pulled a table out from underneath the ring but Butch ran right into Bobby Lashley. Lashley then pushed Butch off the top rope and speared him. The Street Profits hit what the announcers dubbed “The Revelation” through the table for the victory. 

Knight on Wyatt

A video from TMZ Sports of The Miz aired where he essentially just cut a promo on Knight. Knight came out to the ring and cut a promo saying that tonight is about Bray Wyatt. He said they went through hell together and through that, he was getting him ready for anything. Knight then went in on Miz saying that he’s always been second fiddle, including when he had a stunt double. He then finished by quoting Bray, saying “A wise one once told me – the next time you see me…run.”

Finn Balor then came out to face LA Knight to which Michael Cole explained that these two performers had long histories with Bray Wyatt. The announcers then said it was made official that Knight would take on Miz next Saturday at Payback. LA Knight picked up the victory with a superplex followed by the BFT, pinning Finn Balor clean. 

After LA Knight left the arena, the lights shorted out in Fiend fashion, and a Bray’s lantern was placed in the middle of the ring with the audience full of “Fireflies” chanting “Thank You Bray”.

Announced for Payback:

  • United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory 
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with Guest Cody Rhodes
  • LA Knight vs. The Miz

Announced for SmackDown Next Week in Hershey, PA:

  • John Cena Returns
  • Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
  • Jimmy Uso Returns

Friday Night SmackDown Results:

  • Rey Mysterio over Grayson Waller in 11:53
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Iyo Sky over Zelina Vega in 6:13
  • The Street Profits over The Brawling Brutes in 12:33
  • LA Knight over Finn Balor in 10:50
About John Kleinchester 157 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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