WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Jey Uso quits WWE, Jimmy Uso pleads his case for SummerSlam betrayal

Jey Uso needs a change in scenery. Uso announced his storyline departure from SmackDown and WWE in the aftermath of twin brother Jimmy Uso’s unforgivable betrayal at SummerSlam.

Jey Uso was licking his wounds after losing a match to Roman Reigns at SummerSlam last Saturday. At stake was the undisputed WWE universal champion and status as “Tribal Chief” of The Bloodline. Jey Uso looked primed to take over the family business but Jimmy Uso betrayed him. Jimmy Uso answered for his actions on SmackDown but the family turmoil is more than Jey Uso can tolerate.

SmackDown also featured the crowning of a new United States champion. Santos Escobar was set to challenge Austin Theory for the title after winning a U.S. Championship Invitational, but a storyline injury allowed another superstar to take advantage and win gold.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

A rare series of misses for The Bloodline

Jimmy Uso entered the ring to convene with Reigns, Sikoa and Heyman in the aftermath of SummerSlam. The Calgary crowd chanted “You sold out” at Uso, but Reigns urged him to ignore them. Reigns confessed that he owed Jimmy Uso for helping him defeat Jey Uso at SummerSlam and asked Jimmy Uso to name his price. Reigns offered his cousin a car, yacht or check. Jimmy Uso cut off Reigns, telling Reigns that his actions at SummerSlam had nothing to do with Reigns and that he didn’t want anything from The Bloodline’s “Tribal Chief.” Reigns offered Jimmy Uso power and status as his right-hand man. Queue Jey Uso’s theme music.

Jey Uso demanded answers from Jimmy Uso for his betrayal at SummerSlam. Jimmy Uso said he cost Jey Uso to save him and The Usos tandem. Jimmy Uso said that becoming “Tribal Chief” could corrupt Jey Uso as it did the ego-driven Reigns. Jimmy Uso said he understood if Jey Uso could not forgive him but insisted that his actions were done out of love. Jimmy Uso offered his twin brother a free shot to make amends but Jey Uso simply turned his back. 

Reigns laughed at The Usos’ inner turmoil and said that their problems did not matter. The only thing that mattered was Jey Uso finally acknowledging Reigns. Before Reigns could finish his catchphrase, Jey Uso planted a superkick to his chin. A brawl broke out between Jey Uso and the duo of Reigns and Sikoa. Jey Uso eventually got the better of both enemies while Jimmy Uso somberly strolled up the stage. Jey Uso invited Jimmy Uso back towards the ring after clearing out Reigns and Sikoa. It appeared as if the twin brothers would embrace but Jey Uso instead laid out Jimmy Uso with a superkick. Jey Uso ended the show by telling the camera he was leaving The Bloodline, leaving SmackDown and leaving the WWE.

Earlier in the evening, Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits drank some wine and mulled over their unit’s debut last week. Lashley said it was time for new “blood” to run SmackDown and Angelo Dawkins said people need to fall in “line,” teasing a takeover of The Bloodline’s business.

There was a lot of uproar regarding the booking of Reigns vs. Jey Uso at SummerSlam. Many felt Jimmy Uso turning on his twin brother after The Bloodline hospitalized Jimmy Uso was a leap logically. I gave WWE the benefit of the doubt based on the strength of the story’s booking to date. But this was a major miss. Jimmy Uso’s conviction almost convinced me to buy into it, but the idea of Jimmy Uso laying out his brother to save him from potential corruption is overly dramatic. What evidence is there to show in history that this power corrupts? It feels like lazy patchwork to extend the story’s lifeline. On the plus side, Jey Uso looked very strong and his faux-departing the WWE is an interesting angle to take. We’ll see where this goes but it’s a rough start. Finally, the union between Lashley and Street Profits is peaking my interest. Grade: C+

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