The professional wrestling community was dealt two blows this week as WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt passed away within a day of each other.
Wednesday, August 23 Ric Flair announced to the world that his friend Terry Funk died. Immediately the wrestling community rallied around one another to celebrate the legacy of the famed hardcore wrestling icon. Wrestlers from all walks of life shared anecdotes and tales of a man many grew up watching.
While celebrating the life of a beloved performer, wrestling fans around the world received a second gut punch on Thursday, August 24 when WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque (better known as Triple H) took to Twitter to share the sad news of Windham Rotunda’s (Bray Wyatt) sudden and unexpected passing.
Quickly WWE changed gears for their planned night of Fox’s Friday Night SmackDown to reflect the impact both Funk and Wyatt had on the wrestling landscape enjoyed today.
10 BELL SALUTE
The show began with a somber Michael Cole breaking the news to anyone who might be unaware and quickly eulogized the fallen wrestlers from this week. Every member of the WWE roster is in attendance tonight and they all took a place on the stage to hang their heads in silence while the customary 10 bell salute sounded.
Erick Rowan was in attendance with his former colleagues of the WWE, standing in solidarity with those who lost their good friend in Windham Rotunda.
BRAY WYATT MEMORIAL VIDEO
After the 10 bell salute a memorial video was aired regarding Bray Wyatt’s career, character, and popularity. Clips of the Wyatt Family, The Fiend, promos, entrances, and feuds were remembered and honored as this history-making superstar is no longer with us.
There is then a closeup of Wyatt’s rocking chair, empty but highlighted with a single spotlight before going to the first commercial break.
REY MYSTERIO vs. GRAYSON WALLER
Continuing the feud where it was left off last week, United States Champion Rey Mysterio faced Grayson Waller in a non-title match.
It seems as though in the 21 years Rey Mysterio has wrestled in the WWE, he has never lost a step. With quickness and intensity, Mysterio flies around the ring bringing it to Waller from every corner of the ring.
Eventually, Austin Theory, the number one contender for Mysterio’s title shows up to cause a distraction.
Luckily with the help of Mysterio’s LWO teammate Santos Escobar, Rey hits the 619 on Waller for the pinfall win.
WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: IYO SKY vs. ZELINA VEGA
Vega began her championship opportunity by outwrestling the Women’s Champion. With some quick advice for Damage CTRL at ringside, Sky aggressively turned the tables on her opponent.
Zelina Vega did all she could to defeat IYO Sky but no matter what she tried, luck seemed to favor the champion tonight.
After utilizing the ring steps on the outside, IYO Sky hits her diving moonsault to retain the title.
JOHN CENA ON SMACKDOWN NEXT WEEK!
Catch John Cena’s return to Friday Night Smackdown next week! September 1, 2023, live from Hersey, PA.
CODY RHODES REMEMBERS TERRY FUNK
WWE Monday Night Raw star Cody Rhodes took to the ring to remember our second fallen brother for the night, Terry Funk. He honored the legacy of the former NWA Champion in a way only the son of Dusty Rhodes could.
In the end, Cody speaks on both Funk and Wyatt, saying “Both Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt are cowboys in the best of ways” before introducing the next match as a Terry Funk Hardcore Match!
TERRY FUNK HARDCORE MATCH: BRAWLING BRUTES vs. STREET PROFITS
The recent success of the Street Profits didn’t prepare them for the Brawling Brutes in a hardcore setting. From the ring of the bell, the Brutes brought an explosive intensity that the Profits had trouble fighting off.
Montez Ford’s top rope con grio that took all four men down and the appearance of Bobby Lashley changed the momentum of the match.
The back half of the match was incredibly even as each member of the team brought something incredible from their arsenal. Finally, the introduction of a table was the game changer. The Street Profits put Ridge Holland through that table with their new finisher “Revelation” for the victory.
LA KNIGHT HONORS BRAY WYATT
LA Knight stood in the center of the ring and unloaded all the emotion he’s built up over the last seven days in an emotional promo that will go down in history as one of his best.
LA Knight began his time speaking on Bray Wyatt. LA Knight was the last person Wyatt wrestled before his shocking passing. LA Knight credits his rivalry with Wyatt as getting him ready for anything, as you learn from your greatest foes.
Knight addressed The Miz, who attacked him the week prior. After comparing The A-Lister to a background performer when standing next to the likes of The Rock and John Cena, he told him that the next time he sees LA Knight, The Miz should run.
LA KNIGHT vs. FINN BALOR
In an interpromotional main event between Raw and SmackDown, Judgement Day’s Finn Balor took on LA Knight.
With so much animosity built up within him, Knight controlled the early part of the match and battled Balor to the outside. Utilizing the announce table as a weapon (something Terry Funk would appreciate), LA Knight seemed to have Balor’s number from the very beginning.
A shocking kickout gives Baor a short advantage, but ultimately the former WWE Universal Champion is taken out by LA Knight’s BFT!
CLOSING MOMENTS
In the closing moments of the show, the WWE presented with a final memorial shot of Bray Wyatt as Friday Night SmackDown came to a close on the misty lantern that brought every firefly that loved him right to the center of the ring.
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