WWE SmackDown results, live blog 07/21/23: Jey, Roman invoke Tribal Combat at SummerSlam

And it wasn’t LA Knight who won the Fatal 4-Way in Orlando either.

It’s getting real for The Bloodline now. Not that it wasn’t before, mind you, what with the group fracturing right down the middle and The Usos superkicking their Tribal Chief and all. But now Roman Reigns and Jey Uso are on a collision course that leads to SummerSlam in Detroit, and a big step toward that match will take place tonight on WWE SmackDown in Orlando.

At least it seems big that the segment is being promoted as a discussion about the “Rules of Engagement” for SummerSlam. What we do know is that Roman and Jey will be in the ring together, and when that’s happened recently, every time it’s happened, things have gone sideways. We’d expect nothing different on SmackDown.

Elsewhere, a number of men have their eyes on Austin Theory and his United States Championship. How to sort out the line of contenders? WWE is doing it by having a Fatal 4-Way tonight it’s calling a United States Championship Invitational. The winner will face Santos Escobar, who already won on of these. And then that winner will take on Theory (presumably at SummerSlam).

Who’s in this Invitational? That’s a very logical next question, so kudos. Rey Mysterio, Sheamus and Cameron Grimes are all involved. But the man everyone has their eyes on is the guy who makes you go “Yeah!”, the Megastar, LA Knight. Can he (finally) break through and get closer to a title shot?

We’re looking forward to what should be a good show as we draw ever closer to SummerSlam. Let’s get to FS1 and see what’s on tap.

WWE SmackDown results from Orlando:

Rey Mysterio def. Sheamus, Cameron Grimes and LA Knight by pinning Grimes in a United States Championship Invitational Fatal 4-Way

Knight is the only one who gets a microphone on his way in, though Austin Theory is ringside and scoffs at his assertion that he’ll be coming for the U.S. title.

Mysterio and Sheamus, both good guys, try to stay respectful with each other but also are definitely willing to set aside to try to win.

Grimes gets a showcase spot where he’s dishing out punishment to all three of his foes, but Sheamus eventually puts a stop to that. All four men end up in the same corner for a four-man powerbomb/superplex/whatever else Tower of Doom spot.

You just know Theory is going to take exception to something, and he does when the fight comes close to his spot near the announce table. Sheamus rallies the crowd behind him but Knight is ready for him and may have won it if not for Mysterio.

Rey looks like he might win but gets hauled out of the ring by Theory … who in turn gets rushed by Escobar, and they brawl toward the back.

Signature moves are flowing in the ring, and Mysterio is the one who takes advantage by pinning Grimes, meaning he’ll now advance to fight his own teammate for the title shot next week.

The Cavinder Twins are in the house. Waving, it appears.

Theory is upset and makes it clear to Adam Pearce that he wants Escobar in a singles match tonight. Scrap Daddy says he’ll make it happen.

A Raw recap package shows the latest brawl between Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar earlier this week, which ended with Lesnar accepting a third match at SummerSlam.

Charlotte Flair def. IYO SKY by pinfall

Bayley joins the announcers for this one, meaning Michael Cole is now being ganged up on by her and Wade Barrett. Their bickering and discussion of the Money in the Bank briefcase is sort of distracting from a pretty fun match, but hey.

Also Cole is harassing Bayley about how Damage CTRL has been treating Shotzi. Meanwhile SKY is working over Flair’s left knee, but takes a series of chops in return. With IYO in trouble on the top turnbuckle, Bayley provides a distraction that nearly helps her teammate win.

Then a somewhat disturbing Shotzi video plays on the big screen, which has Bayley shook. She takes off, missing both women miss their moonsaults and going back and forth with potential pins and counters.

Flair hits a spear but finds it’s not enough to win it. After another sequence where both women have chances to pin the other, Flair hits Natural Selection and finally gets the three. But Asuka arrives and quickly attacks The Queen, leaving her right arm in a world of hurt.

Kayla Braxton asks Dominik Mysterio what he’s doing hanging around SmackDown, and it seems to be mostly to rub his title win in his father’s face. Butch shows up and challenges him to a title match, and when Dom tries to use the excuse that there’s no one here from NXT to make it official, Shawn Michaels arrives and says he’s going to see Pearce to do just that.

Roman Reigns is in quiet contemplation in his dressing room, and neither Solo Sikoa nor Paul Heyman are disturbing it by talking.

Bayley finds her luggage has a picture of her with scissors stabbed through it, and that only makes her more frazzled and determined to leave the arena.

Santos Escobar def. Austin Theory by pinfall

Theory fires out of the gates but finds Escobar has answers for pretty much everything he can dream up. He calls for a timeout as the show breaks for commercials.

That timeout seems to have done the U.S. champ well, as he scores a two count with a nice looking dropkick. A tope suicida makes for a good response by Escobar, knocking Theory on top of the announce table.

A big left hand and a brainbuster nearly put Escobar away, but he kicks out to continue the match. Theory wants A-Town Down but gets caught with a dropkick, and the two men fight up on top of the turnbuckles. Escobar escapes a superplex and turns it into a hurricanrana; he hits a running knee, then the Phantom Driver, to pick up a big win.

Bobby Lashley is on hand again, and he says he’s glad he ran into Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams.

Hmm …

Dominik Mysterio def. Butch by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship

If Dominik had to fight truly alone, he’d probably be in big trouble here. But he’s not, as Rhea Ripley is close at hand.

Rhea slips Dom a chain and then distracts the ref, but Ridge Holland arrives to make sure he never uses it. Pretty Deadly comes to the ringside area as well, even with Elton Prince in a wheelchair.

Holland finally runs them off (Prince’s legs seem fine), but the chaos allows Ripley to intervene in the action again, chop blocking Butch on the apron, and Mysterio gladly accepts that help and gets the pinfall.

Jey Uso waits in the ring for the arrival of Reigns, flanked as usual by Sikoa and Heyman. There’s a table set up in the manner of a contract signing, but there’s no moderator — and no Jimmy Uso, as the announcers are quick to point out.

As they take their seats, Roma condescendingly asks Jey if he still wants to do this, but he says his does. “You’re just a soldier, man — a pawn in this game,” Reigns says dismissively even as the fans start an Usos chant.

Jey slams the contract down and says they don’t need it, because “this is tribal combat now.” That means no rules, apparently, and that he’ll use any weapons needed.

Reigns says he’s ready to fight now, while Jey reminds him again it’s tribal combat. Are they … fighting for leadership? While we ponder, Solo tries to spike Jey, but Roman stops him and Jey sends him out of the ring with a superkick. Reigns slowly backs out as well, but the battle lines have been drawn for SummerSlam.