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Gossip Burst Report

SmackDown Winners and Losers: Usos Dump The Bloodline

Author

James Stevens

Published Mar 27, 2026

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On Friday's episode of SmackDown, Jey Uso surprised everyone with a swerve in his and The Bloodline's storyline. Teasing that he might stick with the family, he instead joined forces with his brother Jimmy Uso and turned against Roman Reigns, signaling a definitive split from the Tribal Chief. That was the close of SmackDown which included several noteworthy moments. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens extended their congratulations to Pretty Deadly, while Zelina Vega stepped into the ring against Iyo Sky. The Grayson Waller Effect showcased the involvement of Charlotte Flair, plus AJ Styles, and "Michin" Mia Yim squared off against Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Additionally, Santos Escobar faced off against LA Knight in an exciting matchup.

Here are your winners and losers for SmackDown, June 16, 2023:

Winner: Pretty Deadly Earns Tag Team Title Opportunity

It might seem quick, but clearly, WWE is pushing Pretty Deadly as a formidable tag team. At the beginning of Friday's show, a Gauntlet Match took place to determine the top contenders for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. That match consisted of The Brawling Brutes, Sheamus and Ridge Holland, The Street Profits, and Hit Row. In a back-and-forth match, Elton Prince secured a pinfall when Sheamus got confused as to whom the legal competitor was in the matchup. This is another big step in Pretty Deadly's meteoric rise through the tag team ranks. They are talented, so the push is deserved, but it's coming quickly.

They will now move on to take on Zayn and Owens, which is a big opportunity. All the while, it appears they will continue their program with The Brawling Brutes. It won't be long before Pretty Deadly is considered among the top teams in the division. Pretty Deadly cut a brief promo segment with Zayn and Owens after the match.

Winner/Loser: Bayley Costs Iyo Sky A Win

As has happened in the past, Bayley's interference had unintended consequences, as it ultimately led to Iyo Sky's defeat against Zelina Vega. Friction is growing between the members of Damage CTRL as Bayley has been negatively instrumental in Sky's unfortunate losses of late. The argument between Bayley and Sky escalated backstage, during which Shotzi challenged Bayley to put her Money in the Bank spot on the line in an upcoming match. Sky, assuming on Bayley's behalf, accepted the challenge. Clearly, Bayley won't appreciate the gesture or vote of confidence.

Fans should expect that his friction will continue on, eventually turning into a full-blown feud. This may not be for a title, but WWE has ignored storylines that don't involve the titles for females for some time. What they're building with Bayley and Sky is a step in the right direction to fixing that.

Winner: Flair and Belair Have a Verbal Battle

During the Grayson Waller Effect, Bianca Belair didn't hold back when going after Charlotte Flair verbally. She first took a shot at Flair's departure after WrestleMania. She then suggested she didn't need to win a championship 14 times to make history. Charlotte responded, "I am a champion with or without the title. Are you a champion with or without a title?"

The verbal exchange was well done, and Waller only added to it as a background character. Belair said she would be at ringside to watch the Asuka vs Flair match in two weeks. The hint here is that she might be up to something.

Loser: Styles and Michin vs. Karrion Kross and Scarlett

In a match that didn't serve the storyline between Styles and Kross very well, Kross and Scarlett managed to secure a somewhat sneaky win over Michin and The Phenomenal One. Unfortunately, the win didn't do much for Kross and Scarlett. The feud between Styles and Kross needs some work for fans to take it seriously. This mixed-tag match didn't really help.

Winner/Loser: Escobar vs. LA Knight

The match featuring Santos Escobar and LA Knight was commendable, but once again, it was hampered by insufficient time allocated. When Knight tried to cheat and use the ropes to secure a pinfall win, Escobar versed it for the three count. It was a big win for Escobar but the segment was stolen by Knight initiating a post-match assault, eventually prompting Rey Mysterio to rush to the aid of Escobar. Knight versus Mysterio makes a lot of sense, especially if Knight picks up the win.

It's still not clear where WWE is going with the Knight character. Fans are worried the company is missing a golden opportunity to capitalize on the talented performer and there are thoughts that they are wasting him. A win over Rey and a Money in the Bank win will erase all of that.

Winner: Jey Uso Turns on Roman Reigns

In a moment of defiance, Jey Uso resisted Roman Reigns and joined forces with his brother, Jimmy. Solo Sikoa tried to get even but was unsuccessful to close the show. Paul Heyman stood in shock, dumbfounded by what was unfolding in front of him. The fans were clearly behind The Usos who finally stood up for themselves. Jey made his choice and opted to stand by his sibling, seemingly bringing The Bloodline to the most weakened state it's been in since the group's formation.

As has been the case with so many Bloodline segments, this was masterful theater. Everything that unfolded on Friday is bound to end in a tag match featuring The Usos versus Sola Sikoa and Roman Reigns, but the story they are telling to get there is magnificent. It's not entirely clear if this is the impactful ending of The Bloodline fans have been anticipating, but there's certainly a tease that this group is no more.

Jey expressed his solidarity with Jimmy by saying, "If you're out, then I'm out too," before delivering a powerful superkick to Roman Reigns. Both brothers then kicked him again to prove a point. The once unshakable Roman Empire now appears to be crumbling, as evidenced by the crowd chanting "You deserve it" toward Roman Reigns after the show.