WWE SmackDown Notes: Two New Matches Added to SummerSlam 2023, Finals Set for U.S. Title Invitational Tournament

Two New Matches Announced for Card of SummerSlam 2023

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Orlando, Florida featured two new matches officially announced for the card of SummerSlam 2023, which takes place on August 5th at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

The first new match announced is a WWE Women’s Championship match of Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka (c).

Prior to the start of Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Orlando, Florida, WWE announced that they would be announcing the official challenger for Asuka for her WWE Women’s Championship at next month’s SummerSlam 2023 event in Detroit, Michigan. WWE decided to not wait for the show and instead announced that Asuka would be defending her WWE Women’s title in a Triple Threat match against Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam 2023.

BREAKING: WWE Women's Champion @WWEAsuka will defend her coveted championship against @BiancaBelairWWE AND @MsCharlotteWWE in a Triple Threat Match as #SummerSlam live at @fordfield in Detroit!

🎟️ TICKETS: https://t.co/dMdhQwemLy pic.twitter.com/eVMNUZXNt0

— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) July 21, 2023

The second new match announced is an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Tribal Combat match of Jey Uso vs. Roman Reigns (c).

This match was setup during a face-to-face match contract signing segment between Uso and Reigns. During the segment, Reigns agreed to put his Undisputed WWE Universal title on the line against Uso at SummerSlam and signed the contract but Uso tore it up afterwards. Uso stated that they already had a contract written in blood and instead added the stipulation of this match being under Tribal Combat rules, which is an Anything Goes type match. After some heated back-and-forth banter, Reigns agreed to the new stipulation making their match official for SummerSlam 2023. Following Reigns leaving the ring, Solo Sikoa tried to attack Uso only to be stopped by Reigns resulting in Solo being taken out with a superkick by Uso. Reigns and Uso then had a staredown in the ring before Reigns walked away.

😲😲😲😲😲😲#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/x3oiV5P4Fm

— WWE (@WWE) July 22, 2023

Updated card for SummerSlam 2023:

• Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Tribal Combat match – Jey Uso vs. Roman Reigns (c)
• WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat match – Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka (c)
• Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
• Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler

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Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar Set for U.S. Championship Invitational Tournament Finals

Friday’s SmackDown show in Orlando also featured Rey Mysterio defeating Cameron Grimes, Sheamus, and LA Knight in a Fatal Four-way match for the United States Championship Invitational Tournament.

The finish to this match involved Mysterio trying to go to the top rope only for Grimes to stop him leading to Sheamus stopping Grimes and putting him on his shoulders. This led to Grimes escaping only for Mysterio to leap off with a head scissors that sent both Grimes and Sheamus into the ropes. Mysterio then hit a 619 to both guys and followed it with a top rope splash to Grimes for the near fall that got broken up by Austin Theory interfering and pulling Mysterio out of the ring. Theory then shoved Mysterio into the steps leading to Santos Escobar running out and brawling with Theory in the crowd. This led to Knight hitting his version of the People’s Elbow to Grimes but then immediately got hit with a Brogue Kick by Sheamus who then got hit with a Cave In by Grimes. This led to Mysterio hitting a West Coast Pop to Grimes for the pinfall victory to advance to the Finals of the U.S. Championship Invitational tournament.

Chaotic ending results in @ReyMysterio advancing in the #USTitle Invitational 🏆

Watch #SmackDown LIVE on @FS1! pic.twitter.com/jpixv5FFdv

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 22, 2023

Mysterio will face off against Santos Escobar in the Finals of the U.S. Championship Invitation tournament at next Friday’s SmackDown show to determine the next official challenger for Austin Theory and his U.S. title.

NEXT FRIDAY on #SmackDown@reymysterio vs. @EscobarWWE in the #USTitle Invitational FINALS! pic.twitter.com/d1QFSrjSEU

— WWE (@WWE) July 22, 2023