Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for October 20, 2023

Paul Heyman is in the ring to start tonight's show. Heyman brags about Jimmy Uso single-handedly costing "Main Event" Jey Uso and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes the tag team championships. He also brags about Roman Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Championship at Crown Jewel against LA Knight, which was recently broken earlier today in The Los Angeles Times. Heyman admits that he is a huge admirer of LA Knight and tells the fans to watch Crown Jewel, for it will be the last time they will ever see LA Knight inside a wrestling ring after Roman Reigns smashes him. LA Knight suddenly heads to the ring and tells Heyman he has done nothing but make noise before calling out Roman Reigns. When Roman does not immediately show up, Knight confronts Heyman regarding what he said Roman will do to him. When Heyman tries to leave, Knight threatens to hit him so hard that his hair will turn back to gray before telling him he does not do warning shots and that he will not stop until he owns Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Championship. He then tells Heyman to say Roman is scared if Roman is scared, as Roman has never seen someone like him before and he will take Roman's title in an instant. Knight then mentions that their contract signing is next week, and he tells Heyman to tell Roman that this is his game.

Backstage, Bobby Lashley tells The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to fight with pride and take their opponents down tonight.

Montez Ford beats Santos Escobar after Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde attack Angelo Dawkins for pushing Escobar into the ring post and Montez Ford grabs the tights on the pinfall attempt when Escobar gets back into the ring. After the match, Dawkins and Ford attack Escobar, but retreat when Carlito runs into the ring with a chair.

Backstage, The Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro, Zelina Vega) thanks Carlito for his help earlier, then Rey Mysterio says that he is going out to the ring to face Logan Paul. Zelina Vega asks Rey if he needs back-up, but Rey tells Zelina he is riding solo.

We see footage of Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) celebrating their return and the fact that they will never see The Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland) at the spa. Suddenly, then get beaten up by The Brawling Brutes.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso brags to Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa about what he did last week when everyone sees that John Cena has arrived at the arena.

John Cena heads to the ring. Cena says he has been hit with some pretty harsh truths, and that he should be honest with himself as well as the fans. Cena says it has been 2,002 days since he won a one-on-one match on television, with his last win being in 2018. He also says he has been talking about retirement, and that it is time to face facts, as he has not had a win in a long time. Cena then says he believes in himself and in the fans, and that he believes in "the beauty that is all this madness" and that he can still go and that he can still bring it, and the time is now to turn the math around. He says it will be a bad night for the next idiot who walks through the curtains, as they are going to get smoked. His challenge is answered by Solo Sikoa. Cena and Solo brawl, then Jimmy Uso runs into the ring and superkicks Cena. Suddenly, a masked man clad in black attacks Jimmy, and it happens to be "Main Event" Jey Uso. Security and officials show up to stop Jey Uso. Back in the ring, Solo Sikoa goes for the Samoan Spike on John Cena, but Cena ducks and hits the Attitude Adjustment.

Logan Paul is seen entering the arena.

We hear from Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre. Fyre says it is one thing to ignore a warning, but it is another to meddle with a curse, and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven are meddling. Fyre says it is only a matter of time before she and Isla take what belongs to them.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis tells Jey Uso that he has been fined $10,000 as Raw General Manager Adam Pearce argues with Aldis. Aldis then has Jey Uso and Adam Pearce escorted out of the building, and a surprised Pearce says "Let the games begin."

Logan Paul heads to the ring. Logan Paul brags about his victory against Dillon Danis last week, calling Danis "a scumbag," and says that if he wanted real competition, he would have just had another WWE match. Logan Paul says he beat Rey Mysterio the last time he faced, and back then, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio was still Rey's son, Roman Reigns showed up to wrestle, and LA Knight did not even have a job. He then says things have changed since then and that he has figured out who he is: a WWE Superstar. Logan says he is not here for Rey Mysterio, but Rey has something he needs. He says that Rey has respect and legacy, which he needs neither of, and the WWE United States Championship, which he does, then says he will have to beat up another deadbeat dad at Crown Jewel. Rey shows up and says Logan reminds him a lot of Dominik: amazing, natural ability and dripping with passion, but runs his mouth. Nevertheless, since Logan Paul wants the title so badly, Rey gives Logan an opportunity to face him for the United States Championship at Crown Jewel. Logan wishes Rey good luck in Spanish as he extends his hand, and the two men slowly shake hands.

Austin Theory and Grayson Waller beat Cameron Grimes and Dragon Lee.

SmackDown is on FS1 next Friday!

In footage from earlier today, Cathy Kelley interviews Kevin Owens. Owens says he and Sami Owens worked hard to get to where they have this year, so to be separated after losing the tag team titles is hard, with being back in SmackDown bittersweet. He has the feeling he will cross paths with The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman) again, and he wants a one-on-one match with Rey Mysterio and Sheamus, to name a few. Owens says that no matter what brand he is on, he hopes to prove to fans that this is "The Kevin Owens Show."

Iyo Sky retains the WWE Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair after Bayley puts Iyo Sky's foot on the bottom rope during a pinfall attempt, causing Charlotte to attack Bayley on the outside. This allows Iyo Sky to protect herself with the WWE Women's Championship when Charlotte goes for another Spear, allowing her to retain. After the match, Bayley and Iyo Sky attack Charlotte, but Bianca Belair shows up and makes the save.

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

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: L.A. Knight! The Latino World Order! Austin Theory and Grayson Waller!