WWE SmackDown Notes: WWE Pays Tribute to Bray Wyatt & Terry Funk, New Match Added to Payback 2023

Aug 25, 2023

WWE Pays Tribute to Bray Wyatt & Terry Funk

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Louisville, Kentucky featured WWE paying tribute to the life and wrestling legacies of Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk.

WWE opened the show with a double tribute graphic for Wyatt and Funk with members of the SmackDown locker room, WWE officials, and Erick Rowan on the stage. A ten bell salute was held in honor of Wyatt and Funk’s memory. Following a video tribute to Wyatt featuring his accomplishments, memories, and lasting images in WWE, the segment ended with Wyatt’s rocking chair under a spotlight.

In regards to Wyatt, WWE aired a full tribute video and also smaller tribute videos that featured moments from his career and social media messages from WWE superstars both present and past throughout the show.

He’s got the whole world in his hands…

Thank you, Bray Wyatt. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aLSay3lYh1
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023

In regards to Funk, WWE aired two tribute videos and Cody Rhodes gave a tribute speech honoring Funk. Rhodes also announced that in memory of Funk, WWE would be holding a Terry Funk Hardcore Tag Team tribute match featuring the Street Profits and Brawling Brutes, which was won by the Street Profits.

We’re celebrating the amazing career of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk on #SmackDown!

Thanks to @CodyRhodes, we’re keeping the celebration going with a Terry Funk Hardcore Match TONIGHT! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/MQr4tiK9V0
— WWE (@WWE) August 26, 2023

LA Knight vs. The Miz Announced for WWE Payback 2023, Updated Card

Friday’s SmackDown show in Louisville also featured one new match officially announced for the card of WWE Payback 2023, which takes place on September 2nd in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This is a singles match of LA Knight vs. The Miz.

This match was setup over the past couple weeks and in a promo segment on tonight’s show, Knight stated that if the Miz wanted to end Knight, then he would welcome that challenge. Following Knight’s promo, SmackDown commentator Michael Cole announced that Knight vs. The Miz has been officially added to the card of Payback 2023.