The return of Vince McMahon to the creative side of WWE has sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling industry, and it seems that his influence is not limited to just “WWE Raw.” Recent reports from Fightful Select indicate that the Executive Chairman has made significant changes to the Friday Night Smackdown, causing a stir among fans and backstage personnel alike.
According to Fightful’s sources, the changes made to SmackDown were so drastic that one person backstage even wondered, “Did Smackdown get Vinced?” This statement speaks volumes about the magnitude of alterations that took place. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful confirmed these reports, taking to Twitter to reveal that “Smackdown got Vinced tonight. A lot of changes.”
The impact of McMahon’s decision reverberated through the night’s matches, leaving many wrestlers frustrated. Several bouts that had been previously advertised were either modified or completely removed from the show’s lineup. One such match affected was the highly anticipated triple threat match between LA Knight, Santos Escobar, and Butch. Instead, the show kicked off with a singles match between Knight and the legendary Rey Mysterio, which saw Knight emerge victorious. This unexpected change disappointed fans who had been looking forward to the triple threat encounter.
Another casualty of McMahon’s alterations was the match between Bayley and Shotzi, which was supposed to determine Bayley’s spot in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The match had been set up and announced in a backstage segment the previous week, but it mysteriously vanished from the show without any explanation or mention. This sudden omission left fans puzzled and disappointed, especially those eager to witness the outcome of this significant storyline development.
Additionally, a scheduled bout between Baron Corbin and Cameron Grimes failed to materialize as advertised, further adding to the sense of confusion and frustration among fans and wrestlers alike.
Smackdown got Vinced tonight. A lot of changes.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 24, 2023
