Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for September 15, 2023

Pat McAfee returns, showing up for the first time since WrestleMania to start tonight's show. McAfee says that when SmackDown was an hour away from College GameDay, he had to be here. He then welcomes everyone to tonight's show before Austin Theory shows up. Theory says this is not SmackDown, but "Austin Theory Live," then makes fun of him having a mugshot at his age before saying he will dropkick him in a couple of seconds and send him back to ESPN unable to do anything like Aaron Rodgers. Pat McAfee, who does not seem impressed, says he does not want to fight him, then says Theory is disrespectful to the fans and to the business as a whole, and that the show belongs to the people. When McAfee asks Theory if he knows what that means, The Rock suddenly shows up and heads to the ring. Theory asks The Rock if he knows whose ring he is in, then says it has been a long time before Rock tells Theory "Shut your bitch ass up." He tells Theory he has no idea how all of this works, hands his microphone to Pat McAfee, takes off his jacket, throws it into the front row, takes his microphone back, then proclaims that he has come back to Denver, Colorado. Theory says that everyone gets to see them both in the ring one last time, but instead of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, it is a "real ass kicker" who will "become the entire Mount Rushmore." After interrupting The Rock by telling him it does not matter what he says, The Rock tells him it does matter and that it also matters what the fans think, and that he and Stone Cold would agree that he should kick Theory's ass. This leads to The Rock calling Theory as asshole before getting one side of the arena to call him an asshole and then getting the other side to do it, which enrages Theory. The Rock then says he may not know who Theory is, but he and the fans know what he is, and he is about to kick his ass in three seconds. Theory strikes first, but The Rock hits him with the Spinebuster followed by The People's Elbow. Afterwards, Pat McAfee hits Theory with a People's Elbow of his own before The Rock throws one of Theory's shoes into the audience.

Finn Balor beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles with a crucifix pin after Jimmy Uso shows up and attacks Styles as he goes for the Phenomenal Forearm while Damian Priest and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio get ejected from ringside.

Backstage, Pat McAfee and The Rock are met by John Cena, who welcomes The Rock back.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso is met by Finn Balor, who thanks him for the assist. Jimmy Uso says he is just returning the favor to everyone who did him wrong, then Finn says he talked to Jey earlier this week and proposes they both join The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio). Finn reminds Jimmy that there are no leaders in The Judgment Day, which means no Roman Reigns. Finn leaves, then Paul Heyman shows up having overheard the conversation.

The Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro, Zelina Vega) are in the ring. Rey talks about how his career was a crossroad and how he was in one of the hardest periods of his life until The Latino World Order reminded him of who he was and what true family represents. Rey says that since then, he is now United States Champion and he has a family who is more united and stronger than ever. Santos Escobar says that their family are champions, and when Theory stopped him from taking his title, Rey took his place and took Theory out. He says that Rey took Theory out like the legend that he is, and mentions that his dream is to take Rey on in a match with a title on the line, and asks Rey if he will defend the United States Championship. Rey is taken aback, but Escobar says he has nothing but love and respect for him. Rey accepts, then Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) show up. Lashley says that they have tag teams falling apart and having "awkward lovefests," then says that they will be taking over and it will be even easier than he ever imagined. As The Street Profits make fun of Rey and Escobar, Cruz del Toro tells them to go away if they're going to talk to them from 50 feet away, then Joaquin Wilde says The Latino World Order is always down for a fight. This leads to a tag team match.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat The Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro). After the match, The Street Profits attack Wilde and del Toro, then Lashley attacks Escobar from behind. When Rey confronts Lashley, the numbers game quickly catches up.

LA Knight beats The Miz. After the match, LA Knight says that from the day he set foot in SmackDown, he said he would be coming for gold, and it doesn't matter who he has to beat because he is always top two and not number two, and this is his game.

Backstage, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa are watching. Solo wants a piece of LA Knight, but Heyman tells him to wait for the order from Roman Reigns and that he should be concentrating on Jimmy Uso or else he will have to fight The Bloodline's battles. Solo Sikoa says he already knows what he needs to do and that he will finish it tonight. A frustrated Heyman wants to know who gave this order, and calls Roman Reigns.

Backstage, Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) meet with WWE official Adam Pearce. When they find out that they will be back before, Elton Prince is alarmed at first, but Kit Wilson brings his confidence back. Adam Pearce also questions why Prince is in a wheelchair when he only injured his shoulder, to which Prince responds that some scars just cannot be seen.

Backstage, Bayley talks with Dakota Kai about Iyo Sky's match with Asuka next week and hopes she is ready for her, and Dakota Kai says that Bayley has to beat Asuka tonight before asking her if she truly ready for Asuka after being distracted by Shotzi Blackheart.

Asuka beats Bayley after Shotzi Blackheart pops up from out of the front row and spooks Bayley. After the match, Shotzi chases Bayley out of the ring, then she and Asuka fist bump.

It's time for The Grayson Waller Effect. Tonight's guest is John Cena. Grayson says that Cena needs help and needs to be more like him, and just sit back and let the stars shine. He then says Cena could not help himself and had to make it about himself one more time at Payback. He then says that Cena is lying to the people and that he does not want to be an in-ring competitor, and while there is no doubt Cena is the greatest of all time, he is not the greatest right now and has not been the same since Austin Theory beat him at WrestleMania. Cena takes off his hat and T-shirt, and before he can speak, Jimmy Uso suddenly shows up. Jimmy and Cena have a staredown, and takes Cena's microphone before Cena can say anything, saying Grayson has a point and that nobody wants to see Cena, and that everybody came to see him. He warns Cena not to embarrass him like he did two weeks ago, then tells him to get out of his ring. Suddenly, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman show up. Cena and Solo have a staredown, and Jimmy asks Cena what he is going to do when Solo grabs Jimmy by the throat. He goes for the Samoan Spike on Jimmy at first, but turns around and superkicks Cena instead. As Jimmy and Solo gang up on Cena, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles runs into the ring and brawls with Jimmy. Cena and Styles soon finish the job, but Solo saves Jimmy from an Attitude Adjustment.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Asuka! Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)! "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!

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