Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 23, 2024

It's time for The Grayson Waller Effect to start tonight's show. Tonight's guest is "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Grayson stops Cody's intro before it can reach its second "whoa," then tells Cody to get in the ring so they can start the show already. Grayson also interrupts Cody's "Whaddya wanna talk about?" catchphrase and accuses Cody of making everything about him, then asks what kind of friend Cody is getting all the glory while Kevin Owens and Randy Orton keep getting beaten up. Cody says Owens' championship shot is not charity, and says that Owens has not stopped fighting despite everything he has been through with The Bloodline, and that he would not be sitting here as WWE Champion without Owens. He says that he has not once even used Owens, then asks if Grayson can say the same, asking if he is really friends with Austin Theory or is just using him. Grayson takes offense to Cody trying to convince Theory, and says that he and Theory will never turn on each other before showing off a video package of Kevin Owens that makes it look like Owens is going to turn on Cody like he did others. As Grayson says that Owens does not look like a good friends to him, Owens suddenly shows up and says he cannot stand in the back any longer, and says that everyone in the video except Kofi Kingston had it coming. He says that he and Cody are already good friends, then asks General Manager Nick Aldis to come out and make a tag team match between the team of Cody and Owens and A-Town Down Under (Grayson and Theory). Aldis does just that, then Owens then asks for permission to start a brawl. Aldis tells him to make it, and A-Town Down Under get a beatdown.

LA Knight retains the WWE United States Championship after the rest of Legado del Fantasma (Angel, Berto, Elektra Lopez) after Angel and Berto attack Knight before the bell.

In footage from earlier today, Carmelo Hayes talks from the barbershop, saying that he is the only person keeping Andrade relevant. Andrade shows up and confronts Carmelo for his post-match actions last week, and says that he will get him back.

Backstage, Angel, Berto and Elektra Lopez are arguing when Santos Escobar shows up and says nothing Angel can say will make up for tonight, then Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews show up laughing at Escobar. Escobar takes offense to this and says he will sort things out with General Manager Nick Aldis for next week.

Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Naomi beat The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) and Blair Davenport in a six-woman tag match.

We see a video package of WWE's history in Germany prior to Bash In Berlin, narrated by Natalya.

Before the next match, Solo Sikoa says that "The OTC" Roman Reigns is "D-O-N-E" and "dead," and that regardless of who wins the Undisputed WWE Championship, he will take on the winner and bring the title back to his family and to himself. Solo says that there is something wrong with the WWE Tag Team titles, then tells Jacob Fatu to step up, which he does, and asks him to give him his championship belt, which he also does, before telling him to give it to Tanga Loa. Jacob Fatu complies. He says that Jacob Fatu cannot be a tag team champion if he is to be his own personal enforcer, then hugs Jacob, who thanks Solo. Suddenly, B-Fab and The Street Profits show up. B-Fab says nobody cares who Solo's bodyguard, then The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) make it clear that The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jacob Fatu) are going to be former tag team champions.

Backstage, LA Knight brags about retaining the United States Championship tonight and says he is going to go across the ocean to Berlin, Germany and retain it one more time, and issues an open challenge for anyone who wants to take the title from him.

The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) retain the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) after Solo Sikoa distracts the referee so that Jacob Fatu can take out The Street Profits. After the match, The Bloodline (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Jacob Fatu) continues to attack The Street Profts, then #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) show up and brawl with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa before taking out Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. They go for Meet In The Middle on Solo, but Jacob and Solo outsmart and outpower them.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens are confident that they can beat A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) tonight, then Owens mentions Grayson Theory's video and that he is not the turncoat that he used to be, but Cody says all he can do is take him there and see what happens next.

Backstage near the trainer's room, Byron Saxton interviews B-Fab, who says The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) are fine when Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell show up to check on #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa).

Backstage, Tiffany Stratton and Pretty Deadly are looking at Nia Jax's crown when Nia Jax shows up. Nia says that she will get "Michin" Mia Yim for touching her crown and coming for her title before asking Tiffany and Pretty Deadly to fix her crown. Nia then overhears Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, who think that Tiffany is going to ash in on Nia Jax, before scaring them off.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens beat A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory). After the match, Kevin Owens quickly runs up to Cody and gives him the Undisputed WWE Championship before daring A-Town Down Under to get back in the ring and raising Cody's hand.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin! Nia Jax! Andrade!

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