Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 25, 2023

In memory of Terry Funk, 1944 - 2023. In memory of Rotunda Windham "Bray Wyatt", 1987 - 2023.

A ten-bell salute is held in memoriam of Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda, the latter known better as Bray Wyatt. Erick Rowan is seen standing next to Triple H.

We see a video package chronicling the career of Bray Wyatt. After the video package, the arena goes dark, save for a spotlight centered on a lone wooden rocking chair.

We see celebrity posts on X (formerly Twitter) paying tribute to Terry Funk.

Rey Mysterio beats Grayson Waller. During the match, Austin Theory shows up and distracts Rey, allowing Grayson to nearly win on a schoolkid pin. Santos Escobar soon shows up and brawls with Theory, and Grayson takes advantage when Rey gets a piece of Theory, clotheslining him and throwing him back into the ring. Grayson then punches Escobar in the face, but when he rolls back into the ring, Rey hits him with the 619 for the win.

We see posts on X (formerly Twitter) of WWE Superstars' memories of Bray Wyatt.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai). Bayley says Zelina Vega's wins over Iyo Sky were flukes and that Iyo Sky is a once-in-a-generation talent. She says that we are all in Iyo's era and that everyone should buckle up and enjoy the ride.

We look back on the debut of The Fiend.

Iyo Sky retains the WWE Women's Championship against Zelina Vega.

We see more posts on X (formerly Twitter) of WWE Superstars' memories of Bray Wyatt.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody Rhodes talks about a time when he was in the airport with his father Dusty Rhodes when somebody called Dusty "an egg-suckin' dog" and have some choice words for his grandmother, and how he soon caught his eyes on Terry Funk. He talks about how so many can call themselves Superstars and how few can call themselves "cowboys," then says that Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt were cowboys in the best of ways. He also talks about how Terry Funk actually took classes in West Texas State and how he had been a constant in professional wrestling for half a century, and how Terry Funk gave a chance to so many others in the business. After a video package memorializing Terry Funk's career, Cody talks about how extremely passionate and hardcore Terry was, Cody then announces that the next match is a Terry Funk Hardcore Tag Team Match.

We look back on Bray Wyatt's WWE Championship win.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat The Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland) in the Terry Funk Hardcore Match. Despite being billed as a hardcore match, only one table is used as a weapon. Bobby Lashley shows up during the match to watch from ringside, and when Dunne pulls the table out from underneath the ring, he accidentally runs into Lashley, who has to collect himself. Near the end of the match, Butch goes up top to put Dawkins through the table, but Lashley shoves Butch down to the outside, and that allows The Street Profits to put Ridge Holland through the table for the win.

We look back on the very first edition of Firefly Fun House.

We see even more posts on X (formerly Twitter) of WWE Superstars' memories of Bray Wyatt.

We see footage from TMZ Sports of The Miz calling LA Knight a fad like Napster or Vanilla Ice, and says that if LA Knight keeps messing with him, he will not make it to next year's WrestleMania.

Before the next match, LA Knight says tonight is about Bray Wyatt and how one's greatest foes can turn out to be one's greatest helpers, and says that as he and Bray put each other through hell, Bray was making him ready for anything. He says that his heart breaks for Bray's family, but as he looks around, he knows that everyone can feel Bray's spirit in this building. LA Knight then thanks Bray Wyatt before addressing The Miz calling him a fad, saying that Miz "never was" and that even when he had a stunt double, the stunt double was the star, and that he was third wheel to The Rock and John Cena. LA Knight then tells The Miz that he can show him it is his game on Raw, SmackDown or even on TMZ, and tells Miz that a wise man once told him "The next time you see me...run."

We look back on Bray Wyatt's 2022 return.

We look back on Bray Wyatt's return promo.

LA Knight beats Finn Balor. After the match, the show ends with the lights going out gradually, Bray Wyatt-style, with a lit lantern left in the middle on the ring. A screenshot of Bray Wyatt in a darkened ring is seen on the TitanTron as the crowd chants "Thank you, Bray."

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar! Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai)! LA Knight!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!