Carlito brutally assaulted on SmackDown return to set up a first-time match against 9-time Champion

Carlito made his highly-anticipated return to WWE as a full-time star after 13 years away at Fastlane 2023. In his first SmackDown appearance back, he suffered a brutal assault to set up a first-time-ever match against a certain 9-time Champion.

That superstar, of course, is Bobby Lashley. While Carlito was being interviewed about his return to WWE by Kayla Braxton, he was confronted by Bobby Lashley. What started as a little verbal back-and-forth ended in a beatdown, with The Street Profits jumping him from behind and brutally assaulting him upon the orders of Lashley.

This is likely going to set up a match between them for an upcoming episode of SmackDown:

What it also did was set up a match between Zelina Vega and Bayley. LWO were seen checking in on Carlito a bit later while Adam Pearce was present, and Bayley, who was walking by, took a little dig and was annoying Adam Pearce before Vega stopped her.

Unfortunately for Zelina Vega, Bayley would beat her, but Charlotte Flair prevented a post-match beatdown by Damage CTRL.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the former US and Intercontinental Champions collide on SmackDown.

Who do you expect to pick up the Win? Let us know in the comments section below.