8/25 WWE SmackDown Results – Bray Wyatt Tribute – We begin with graphics in memory of Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda, AKA Bray Wyatt.
All of the wrestlers and staff are on the stage, Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan are near to Triple H in the front.
Michael Cole mentions that two members of the WWE family passed away, Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. He says tonight they will honor their legacy and honor their lives. Two incredible men who touched all of us with their passion, creativity and their spirit. Cole asks for a moment of silence and they do the ten bell salute.
We take a look at Bray Wyatt with an emotional video package.
Back from the video, the crowd starts loudly singing “He’s got the whole world in his hands” and we see the Superstars looking emotional standing on the stage again. The lights go down and then out and a spotlight is shown on an empty rocking chair half way down the entrance ramp.
We head to a commercial break.
– We are back with a short video package for Terry Funk. Michael says Terry and Bray wanted to entertain the fans and that is what they are here for tonight.
– The pyro hits in the KFC Yum! Center in Lexington, KY, as Rey Mysterio theme hits and he makes his way to the ring for our first match of the night. Grayson Waller is next.
Rey Mysterio vs. Grayson Waller
The match begins with a lock-up, and Waller gains the upper hand by pushing Rey down to the mat. Waller applies a wrist lock, but Rey counters with an arm drag. Rey taunts Waller and lands a forearm, but Waller responds with a knee strike. Waller locks in a side headlock and executes a shoulder tackle. He maintains control with a side headlock takedown.
Rey fights back with a head scissors takedown that sends Waller into the corner. Rey follows up with forearms and punches in the corner. Waller attempts an Alabama Slam, but Rey holds onto the ropes to prevent it. Rey counters with a head scissors that sends Waller into the ropes, and Waller answers with a back body drop that sends Rey to the apron. Waller tries to knock Rey off the ropes, but Rey counters with a head scissors that sends Waller into the ringside barrier.
The action continues as we head into a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break, Rey gains momentum with an Irish whip, but Waller counters and hits a double stomp for a near fall. Waller delivers punches to Rey’s ribs, followed by a springboard elbow drop that gets him another near fall. He then lands a leg lariat for another near fall and kicks Rey in the head as he stands up.
Waller delivers a couple of hard Irish whips, but Rey counters the power bomb attempt with punches, turning it into a rana that sends Waller into the ring post. Rey seizes the moment with a seated splash and a springboard crossbody. Waller tries to regain control with an Irish whip, but Rey floats over and hits a tornado DDT for a close near fall.
Waller with a back elbow and a boot to Rey. Waller with a flip Unprettier for a near fall. Waller gets Rey on his shoulders but Rey escapes. Rey with a clothesline and a back senton. Rey with a drop toe hold that sends Waller into the ropes.
Austin Theory’s music plays and he makes his way onto the stage and walks to the ring.
Waller with a rollup for a near fall. Rey and Waller with cross body presses at the same time and both go down.
Santos Escobar attacks Theory from behind. Theory with a clip to Escobar. Rey with a drop kick to Theory on the floor. Waller slides to the floor and hits a clothesline. Waller punches Santos and Rey avoids a slingshot rolling cutter for a head scissors and a 619. Theory holds Rey on the apron but Santos with a super kick. Rey with a springboard splash for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
We go to commercial.
– Returning from the break, we’re greeted with a collection of social media posts honoring Bray Wyatt’s memory.
– Corey highlights his experience working with Bray in a Tampa warehouse, reminiscing about the way Bray’s presence could light up a room. He fondly recalls Bray’s infectious laughter that will forever remain in his memories.
– The focus then shifts to Zelina Vega’s recent victories over Iyo Sky, showcasing their past encounters.
Backstage:
Kayla Braxton interviews Iyo Sky alongside Damage CTRL, inquiring about her upcoming match against Zelina and her previous triumphs against her. Amid the discussion, Bayley interjects, playfully accusing Kayla of favoritism and jesting about joining the LWO, a reference to the wrestling group that included shorter wrestlers. Bayley hails Iyo as an exceptional talent, listing her accolades as a former NXT Champion, Tag Team Champion, and the reigning Women’s Champion. She declares this to be Iyo’s Era, and with a mischievous chuckle, Bayley makes her way to the ring.
We go to commercial.
WWE Women’s Championship
IYO SKY (C) vs. Zelina Vega
The action starts with a lock-up, followed by Iyo applying a waist lock and Vega responding with a wrist lock. Iyo reverses the hold, and Vega uses the ropes to flip and counter. Iyo then applies a side headlock. Demonstrating her agility, Iyo performs a cartwheel and a round-off. Vega executes a wheelbarrow into an arm drag. Iyo retreats to the ropes to discuss strategy, but Vega seizes the opportunity to grab her.
Iyo sends Vega into the ropes throat-first and follows up with a kick to the back. Iyo slams Vega and goes for a pinfall, earning a near fall. She continues her offense with forearms and another slam attempt, but Vega escapes and nearly scores a roll-up pin. Vega responds with a rolling kick, heading to the turnbuckles, but Iyo intervenes with a press slam and earns another near fall. Iyo transitions into a crossface.
Iyo counters with a knee strike, and Vega locks in a side headlock. Vega avoids a belly-to-back suplex, landing on her feet. Iyo’s splash misses, and Vega capitalizes with a kick, running Iyo into the turnbuckles. Vega follows up with a clothesline and a hammerlock DDT. Climbing the turnbuckles, Vega attempts a Meteora for a near fall and continues with a series of near falls. However, her splash misses as Iyo evades from the corner.
Iyo responds with a springboard dropkick, attempting a slam that Vega counters into a DDT. Both competitors are down. Iyo positions Vega for a moonsault, but Vega pulls her down from the turnbuckles. Vega rallies with a Code Red, but Iyo rolls out to the floor. Vega pulls Iyo back into the ring, but Iyo swiftly retaliates by sending Vega into the ring steps.
Iyo guides Vega back into the ring and lines up for her running double knee strike, connecting with precision. Capitalizing on the momentum, Iyo positions Vega and executes a moonsault, securing the three-count.
Winner: Iyo Sky
– Cody Rhodes walks in the back as we go to commercial.
– We are back with more Social Media posts about Bray.
In the Arena:
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
Cody tells Louisville he knows what he wants to talk about. He was 11 years old in Denver traveling with his father. He hears a man on the people mover yelling the most peculiar insult. He hears a man calling his father an ‘Egg Sucking Dog’. He asks if he can say that on Fox. He had choice words for his grandmother. He could not see the man yelling and he thought there might be a domestic incident. It was the proprietor of the Double Cross Ranch, it was Terry Funk.
Modern nomenclature allows people to call each other WWE superstars when we get in this ring. We have been called wrestlers, athletes, competitors, and carnies. There are few who can call themselves ‘cowboys’. Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt were cowboys in the best of ways. He says he has the privilege to talk to you about Terry Funk, a second generation star from Amarillo. He wore the ten pounds of gold proudly. He went to West Texas State and actually attended classes there. Terry was a fixture in this business for fifty years.
For fifty years, Terry Funk has constantly been changing. There is a thing called ‘the rub’ when someone with such a legacy steps in the ring with someone who does not have it and he pulls them up to his level. Terry did that for an entire company and movement.
We take a look at Terry with a video package.
Cody says from Texas to Tokyo, Terry Funk was passionate. He was extremely passionate. Table, ladders, and chairs. He was hardcore. Cody says our next tag team match is a Terry Funk Hardcore Match.
The Brawling Brutes’ Butch and Ridge Holland make their way to the ring. They will face The Stree Profits after a commercial.
– We are back with a look at Bray winning the title.
Terry Funk Hardcore Match
The Brawling Brutes vs. The Street Profits
As the bell rings, all four men engage in a flurry of punches. Butch delivers a chop to Ford, while Dawkins hurls Ridge into the ring steps. Butch follows up with a forearm to the back of Ridge’s head, and he proceeds to rake at Ridge’s face, even grabbing his ears. Dawkins then sends Ridge crashing into more steps. Inside the ring, Ford applies a side headlock and executes a shoulder tackle. Butch retaliates with a dropkick to Ford, followed by another dropkick that knocks Dawkins off the apron. Butch transitions into a spinning toe hold before Dawkins sends him to the outside. Ridge seizes the opportunity, employing a spinning front face lock and following it up with a DDT. Dawkins responds with a kick and a twisting butterfly neck breaker. Ford continues the attack with a splash, nearly securing a pinfall.
Butch delivers kicks and chops to Dawkins, while also dishing out chops to Ford. However, Ford and Dawkins collaborate to execute a double face plant on Butch, turning the tide momentarily. Ford and Dawkins take turns delivering kicks and punches to Ridge in the corner. Butch manages to halt Dawkins’ advance with a boot, and Ford faces a similar fate as he runs into Butch’s boot as well. Butch ascends the turnbuckle and successfully lands a moonsault on both Ford and Dawkins. Ridge then employs Butch as a tool, executing an airplane spin that sends Ford and Dawkins tumbling.
Ridge heads to the floor and executes a running shoulder tackle on Dawkins. He attempts a pile driver, but Dawkins counters with a back body drop. Just then, Butch charges at Dawkins with a running knee, and Ford follows up with a flip dive that targets everyone outside the ring.
Amid the action, Bobby Lashley’s music hits, and he confidently makes his way to the ring. As the tension rises, the scene transitions to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Ridge power slams Ford and pummels him with punches. Butch and Ridge deliver forearms to Ford and Dawkins on the apron. Ford enters the ring, while Dawkins falls outside. Ridge splashes into the corner, followed by Butch’s corner kick. Ridge lifts Ford for a leaping power bomb, getting a close near fall.
Dawkins returns with a forceful POUNCE on Butch, and then he and Ridge trade punches. Dawkins lands a flying back elbow, followed by a spinning splash in the corner and an enzuigiri. Dawkins attempts to lift Ridge on his shoulders, with Ford adding a blockbuster, but Butch interrupts the pin. Butch counters with an enzuigiri to both Dawkins and Ford. Ford retaliates with an enzuigiri to Butch, and then hits Ridge with a super kick. Ridge responds with a clothesline to Ford, leaving all competitors down in the ring.
Dawkins attempts to climb the turnbuckle, but Ridge halts him. Ridge positions for a superplex and successfully executes it. Ford leaps off the top rope with a Seven Star Frog Splash onto Ridge, but Butch interrupts the pin. Butch retrieves a table from under the ring but accidentally bumps into Lashley. Butch places the table in the ring as Ridge sets it up. Ford counters Ridge’s offense and sets up the table as well. Ford prepares for a uranage through the table, but Ridge blocks it with elbow strikes.
Ridge lifts Ford, executes a back drop and DDT combo, while Butch interferes with Dawkins. Ridge throws Dawkins onto the table, and Butch climbs the turnbuckle. Lashley intervenes by pushing Butch off the turnbuckle and then spearing him on the floor. Ford kicks Ridge onto the table, and Ford and Dawkins connect with the Revelation through the table for the victory.
Winners: The Street Profits
– We take a look at the first Firefly Fun House.
– LA Knight walks in the back as we go to commercial.
– We are back with more social media posts about Bray.
– We go to comments from Miz thanks to TMZ Sports where he is asked about LA Knight. He calls Knight a fad. If he keeps disrespecting him the way he has, Knight won’t make it to Wrestlemania.
In the Arena:
LA Knight makes his way to the ring and he has something to say.
Knight says he will get to the Miz in a second. He says tonight is about Bray Wyatt. He says he walked out here and saw everyone representing with the fireflies. It got him thinking because sometimes your greatest foes can be your greatest helpers. He says Bray and him went through hell and they did everything to each other. He says Bray was getting him ready for anything. He says he held himself together until he saw the photos of Bray’s family. He can see it and he can hear it. When he saw the fireflies out here, he says everyone can feel the spirit of Bray Wyatt in this building.
He says he isn’t going to say that they are best friends, but he says Thank You Bray. Just like you are feeling the spirit, he is feeling the same spirit to say let me talk to ya.
Miz gets on the screen and he says the same tired material all the time. He repeats what the Miz said. He says if he is just a fad, he is okay about that because Miz never was. When you had a stunt double, he was the star. When you were champion twelve years ago, you were the background for a story between Rock and John Cena. If you are looking to end LA Knight, we can do it anywhere.
Knight says he has one more thing. He tells Miz a wise man once told him the next time you see him… RUN.
– We take a look back at Bray’s return to WWE.
We go to commercial.
– We are back and next week, John Cena returns to Smackdown. We will also see Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar face Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. Jimmy Uso returns to Smackdown.
LA Knight vs. Finn Balor
Finn executes a waist lock takedown and transitions into a float over. They engage in a lock-up, and Knight responds with a hammerlock before delivering a slap to the back of Finn’s head. Knight prevents a kick and evades a clothesline. Finn applies a side headlock, but Knight counters with a shoulder tackle. Finn exits to the floor, prompting Knight to chase him. Finn re-enters the ring and misses an elbow drop. Knight targets Finn’s hand, stomping on it and then sending him into the announce table repeatedly.
After tossing Finn back into the ring, Knight executes a slingshot shoulder tackle for a near fall. Knight follows with a kick and shoulders Finn in the corner. He delivers an Irish whip, and Finn maneuvers over, but Knight’s elbow finds its mark. Finn pulls Knight off the turnbuckles, causing Knight to collide with the turnbuckles.
We go to a commercial break with a promo by Bray Wyatt from a past SmackDown episode in Tampa last December.
We return to the action, and Finn has Knight in a reverse chin lock. After a knee to the midsection, Finn attempts an Irish whip but misses an elbow. Knight counters with a neckbreaker. He follows up with punches and a kick, concluding with a DDT for a near fall. Knight forcefully sends Finn face-first into the mat and lands a boot to the head for another near fall. Finn retaliates with a series of midsection kicks, followed by a sling blade. However, Knight counters Finn’s offense with a clothesline.
Knight capitalizes with a running hip into the corner, then attempts a Torture Rack. Finn manages to escape and hits Knight with a chest-booting kick. Finn executes a running dropkick, propelling Knight into the turnbuckles. Finn ascends the turnbuckles, but his Coup de Grace attempt misses. Knight seizes the opportunity and hits a power slam.
Knight surveys the situation before delivering the YEAHple’s Elbow, but Finn narrowly kicks out for a near fall. Finn reverses Knight’s BFT into a rollup, also earning a near fall. Finn executes an elevated elbow drop and ascends the turnbuckles. However, Knight counters Finn’s move by crotching him on the ropes. Knight then positions himself for a superplex, but Finn counters with an elbow, sending Knight crashing down from the turnbuckles.
Nonetheless, Knight recovers and manages to hit a superplex from the top rope. Without skipping a beat, Knight follows up with his finishing move, BFT, securing the three-count victory.
Winner: LA Knight
As the lights go out, the arena fills with chants of “Thank you, Bray!” The signature “Fireflies” light up the crowd, creating a mesmerizing sight captured by a sweeping camera shot.
Inside the ring, Bray Wyatt’s lantern illuminates, casting an eerie glow. A silhouette of Wyatt appears on the large screen, accompanied by the ongoing chorus of appreciation from the fans: “Thank you, Bray!” Gradually, the light from the lantern fades, followed by the image on the screen, bringing the broadcast to a close.
Thank You Bray Wyatt…
–– WWE has unveiled the following lineup for tonight’s show ––
- Special tributes to honor the legacies of Bray Wyatt and WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk.
- An anticipated clash between 2023 WWE Hall of Famer & WWE United States Champion Rey Mysterio and Grayson Waller in a non-title match.
- The WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defending her title against the formidable Zelina Vega.
Stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude, WA.Com On Twitter and Google News for more.
8/25 WWE SmackDown Results – Bray Wyatt Tribute
