WWE SmackDown Preview 9/1: John Cena Returns, More
Tonight's episode of "WWE SmackDown" is the final stop before tomorrow night's Payback premium live event. A big go-home show is planned, with John Cena appearing for the first time since Money in the Bank on July 1. Although it's currently unclear what WWE has lined up for Cena later, we do know that he is scheduled to make more appearances on the blue brand in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Uso will address the ongoing turmoil involving his family. In the aftermath of Jimmy costing his brother Jey Uso his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, Jey opted to quit WWE on "SmackDown" after laying out Solo Sikoa, Reigns, and Jimmy. Notably, tonight's segment with Jimmy was penciled in for last week's broadcast; however, plans for the Friday night show were altered due to the deaths of Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda, who was known to WWE fans as Bray Wyatt.
And lastly, LWO's Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar are set to face Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Mysterio is scheduled to defend the WWE United States Championship against Theory tomorrow night at Payback. "The Master of the 619" defeated Theory to become a three-time WWE U.S. Champion on the August 11 episode of "SmackDown"; Mysterio had replaced Escobar, who won the WWE United States Championship Invitational Tournament in July for a shot at the gold, in that match following an attack by Theory.