Here are my Smackdown Thoughts:
Fun Grayson Waller Effect with Santos Escobar, Rey Mysterio, Austin Theory, & LA Knight. The fans were going nuts for Knight. Knight VS Theory will be awesome. FACT: Rey Mysterio last held the United States Championship on December 26, 2019, making his 1325 Days between United States Championship Reigns the 7th Longest Gap between United States Championship Reigns after Bobby Lashley (7/14/06 β 8/30/20, 5162 Days), John Cena (3/3/05 β 3/29/15, 3679 Days), R-Truth (6/14/10 β 1/29/19, 3152 Days), Seth Rollins (9/20/15 β 10/10/22, 2578 Days), Sheamus (11/3/14 β 4/11/21, 2352 Days), & Dolph Ziggler (12/11/11 β 12/17/17, 2199 Days).
LA Knight VS Austin Theory was a fun match. I didn't mind the finish with The Miz getting involved since it continues Knight VS Miz & gives Theory his US Title Re-Match against Rey Mysterio. FACT: This was the 1st time Theory was in a 1-on-1 Match without being US Champ since he defeated Mustafa Ali on Raw on 11/21/22.
Awesome video package on everyone talking about Edge. I am already tearing up if this is going to be his final match.
What an incredible video package on Edge. I was sad when he retired the first time. I was so happy when he came back in the Royal Rumble and now it looks he's done again. My tears are flowing as I type this.
Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair VS Damage CTRL was a fun match. Some of Flair's chops were bad, but besides that I enjoyed the match & the 2nd match of the team of BelFlair. FACT: Tonight is the 1st time Bianca Belair teamed with someone twice in consecutive 2-on-2 Tag Team Matches since she & Liv Morgan lost to Doudrop & Becky Lynch on Raw on 1/17/22 & they defeated Carmella & Natalya on Raw on 7/4/22. Tonight is the 1st time Charlotte Flair teamed with someone twice in consecutive 2-on-2 Tag Team Matches since she & Asuka wrestled Lacey Evans & Peyton Royce to a No Contest on Raw on 2/15/21 & lost to Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax on Raw on 2/22/21.
I stopped crying and then the minute these videos play, the tears come back. Wow. Thank you Edge.
Damn, what an attack on Bianca Belair by Damage CTRL.
The O.C. VS The Street Profits was short but good. I love the new finisher. I like Bobby Lashley coming out again. FACT: This was The Street Profits' 1st match since they lost to Pretty Deadly on Smackdown on 6/23 & was their 1st 2-on-2 Match against The O.C. since Raw on 12/30/19. They also wrestled on Raw on 10/21/19 & at Starrcade on 12/1/19.
Kayla Braxton & Paul Heyman have such great chemistry going back to the Smackdown Lowdown days. Fun segment.
Damn, WWE should have brought back Tony Chimel to do one more Rated-R-SUUUUUPERSTAR for Edge's Intro. I am bawling seeing him hug his daughters & Beth Phoenix in the crowd.
Edge VS Sheamus reeked of Awesomeness & it was a Banger. I can't believe Edge will be turning 50 in October. If this is his final match, what a way to go out. FACTS: Edge is the 1st time that Sheamus wrestled a fellow 1-named wrestler since he lost to GUNTHER on Smackdown on 10/7/22. Sheamus is the 1st time that Edge wrestled a fellow 1-named wrestler since he defeated Kane to retain the World Heavyweight Title in a Last Man Standing Match on Smackdown on 1/7/11. As of now, 2023 is the 1st time in his career Edge didnβt wrestle someone twice in the same calendar year, as he only wrestled Austin Theory, Finn Balor, Grayson Waller, & Sheamus. Edge's Televised WWE History in Toronto: 1) W/Christian def Hardy Boyz (2/13/99 Shotgun) 2) Defeated Lance Storm (9/3/01 Raw) 3) Defeated Booker T (3/17/02 WrestleMania 17) 4) With Rey Mysterio defeated D-Von Dudley & Ron Simmons (10/17/02 SD) 5) Defeated Batista & Chris Jericho in a Triple Threat Match (8/15/04 SummerSlam) 6) Lost to John Cena (9/17/06 Unforgiven) 7) With MVP lost to Batista & Chris Benoit (6/2/07 Saturday Night's Main Event) 8) Defeated Christian (5/17/10 RAW) 9) Lost to Undertaker by Count Out (5/17/10 RAW) 10) Defeated Damian Priest (8/22/22 RAW) 11) VS Sheamus (8/18/23 Smackdown) Edge's Televised W/L Record in Toronto: 7-3
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) Edge VS Sheamus
2) LA Knight VS Austin Theory
3) Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair VS Damage CTRL
4) The O.C. VS The Street Profits
Here are my Level Up Thoughts:
Karmen Petrovic VS Jacy Jayne as decent. Not bad for Petrovic's 2nd match on Level Up. Oops, they didn't update the commentary for Level Up. They said the last time we saw Jacy was in her loss to Lyra Valkyria, ignoring her match against Thea Hail on NXT this week. This match was taped last week.
BS. It hasn't been a year since Brooklyn Barlow has been out. She was in a Battle Royal on NXT on 6/6. Stupid promo.
Dani Palmer VS Brooklyn Barlow wasn't good at all. Both men worked hard & I appreciate that especially Palmer's finisher, but that's all I can say about that.
Ikemen Jiro VS Oro Mensah was pretty good but Jiro's punch with his jacket is stupid. Of course I didn't like you know who getting involved with the match.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Ikemen Jiro VS Oro Mensah
2) Karmen Petrovic VS Jacy Jayne
3) Dani Palmer VS Brooklyn Barlow
Ends an emotional Smackdown. The matches were all solid & there was some storyline building, but it was basically an Edge Appreciation Show which he deserved & a great way for him to celebrate his career. Level Up wasn't anything special.
And finally, if this is the end, then I want to say Thank You Edge for 25 Years that Reeked of Awesomeness & was Rated-R. You will be missed. Enjoy the retirement which is now on your terms & not because of a doctor.