WWE SmackDown: Reigns raises the SummerSlam stakes

WWE SmackDown results just 24 hours before SummerSlam which takes place Saturday August 21 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Announced for the show, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and John Cena will make their final statements before their huge Universal Championship clash. Edge returns ahead of his match with Seth Rollins. Plus, Rey Mysterio battles Jey Uso ahead of their SmackDown Tag Team title match this weekend.

WWE SmackDown results August 20 2021

A shot of the WWE Universe in Phoenix is shown, as Edge kicks off the show making his entrance. A recap of Seth Rollins promo from last week is shown before Edge begins to speak as he sits on a steel chair in the middle of the ring. Edge gets emotional and reflects on 2014 when Seth almost stomped his neck. He focuses his promo on The Stomp that could alter Edge’s career and re-injure him.

Edge reaffirms that Rollins has pushed him into a dark place and that he doesn’t like to go because it is so hard for him to come back. He says he likes it and Rollins has found a place in his heart where the blood runs black. Edge says he doesn’t have to beat Rollins, he has to break him and burn him down. That promo reminded me of the promo Mick Foley did leading into ECW One Night Stand in 2006. Full of emotion with Edge ending the promo looking angrily into the camera.

Backstage, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio are talking. Rey reminds Dominik just how much he wants the SmackDown Tag Team Championships back. Rey asks Dominik to watch his back tonight.

Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio vs. Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso 

Rey Mysterio showing that he just doesn’t age with his performance in this match. Even pulling off a flip from the top rope outside of the ring onto The Uso’s below. Mysterio mostly dominates the match. Dominik tried to interfere and assist with Rey pinning Jimmy Uso using his feet, shades of a few weeks ago. Referee Charles Robinson sends Dominik to the back after catching Dominik in the act, but The Uso’s attack both Mysterio’s. Jimmy Uso then delivers an Uso Splash back in the ring to pick up the win.

Winner: One-half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso

A recap of Baron Corbin stealing the Money in the Bank briefcase is shown, as Baron Corbin then makes his way to the ring. Corbin is holding the briefcase close to him. He faces Kevin Owens next.

Kevin Owens vs. Baron Corbin

Chant of the night: “You’re still broke!” to Baron Corbin. Mid way through the match, Big E makes his way down to the ring. Corbin runs to save his Money in the Bank briefcase, and the referee rings the bell and ends the match. Big E takes back his briefcase until Corbin shoves Big E into the ring post. Corbin grabs the briefcase and runs off into the WWE Universe in Phoenix.

Winner: Ends in a no contest

Backstage, Kayla Braxton is with SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. A recap of what happened last week at the contract signing is shown. Kayla claims that Sasha has had her number. Bianca gets angry and says Sasha makes her skin crawl. Bianca discusses Carmella and Zelina Vega who she will compete against tonight. It will be two separate matches. She claims we will see the meanEST, nastiEST and badEST superstar in all of WWE.

Shotzi & Nox vs. Natalya & Nia Jax in a SmackDown Women’s Tag Team Championship Contenders match

Natalya is back just three weeks after surgery. Late in the match, Nox does a dive out of the ring to take out Nia Jax. In the ring, Shotzi rolls up Natalya for the win after reversing the Sharpshooter. Shotzi and Nox will now become No.1 Contenders for the SmackDown Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Winners: Shozi and Nox

A recap of Edge’s promo from earlier in the night is recapped. Seth Rollins is coming up next. Seth makes his way to the ring to a chorus of boos. The fans immediately ‘We want Edge!’ as he begins to speak. Rollins says Edge spouted off every excuse in the book as to why he’s going to lose to Seth at SummerSlam tomorrow. Rollins claims the blackness in Edge’s heart he will never find it. The Broods music then hits. Edge appears on the titantron and tells Rollins he’ll never see it coming. A tonne of black liquid falls from the ceiling and covers Seth! It immediately ruins his white suit. That was a random moment, but Rollins is embarrassed. The commentators call it a ‘Brood bath’.

Montez Ford w/ Angelo Dawkins vs. Otis w/ Chad Gable

Otis was completely unstoppable and finished the match off fairly quickly. He delivered a splash from the top-rope to squash Montez Ford below to win the match. Montez tried to get in some offense but couldn’t knock the big man down.

Winner: Otis w/ Chad Gable

Rick Boogs is on the stage and he introduces the new Intercontinental Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura. Boogs is making his debut tonight teaming up with Nakamura. Pat McAfee is dancing on the announce table once again.

Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez

Boogs starts the match with plenty of confidence against Apollo Crews. He attempts to play guitar on Apollo’s leg. Boogs has got some power here. Impressive start before Apollo takes control. Late in the match, Boogs plants Apollo with a powerslam to pick up the win. What a performance from Boogs!

Winners: Rick Boogs and Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1428891105291034632

Up next, SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair, will have back-to-back matches against Carmella and Zelina Vega.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega

Carmella and Zelina Vega argued about who would face Bianca first. Carmella threw Vega in the ring so she will be up first. Zelina almost picks up the win after delivering a sunset flip. Bianca then uses her strength to take control of the match and delivers a KOD to beat Zelina Vega.

Winner: SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair

SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Carmella

Bianca takes early control, but Carmella manages to get herself back into the match. Late in the match, on the outside of the ring, Carmella delivers a superkick as Bianca was stuck behind the ring apron. Back in the ring, Bianca immediately turns it around and delivers another KOD to pick up the win.

Winner: SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair

They are still advertising Belair vs. Banks tomorrow night for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. No change so far in regards to that match going ahead, but there is no sign of Banks tonight. Up next, Roman Reigns and John Cena go face-to-face 24 hours before their huge Universal Championship match.

The ‘Head of the Table’ and Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, makes his way to the ring first with Paul Heyman. John Cena then follows to a huge ovation. Reigns starts the talking by saying Cena came out saying a lot of dumb stuff last week. Reigns asks Cena the last time he lost. Heyman pipes in and says that nobody has beaten ‘this’ Roman Reigns. Cena gets to talking. Cena says Reigns has no idea what he’s in for tomorrow night. Cena says he’s here to take the championship and go do the movies whilst Roman stays here embarrassed and a shell of himself. He says all it will take is 1,2,3 to bring Reigns back down to earth to demote him. Cena bigs up breaking the 17-time world championship record tomorrow night.

Reigns gets agitated and questions what makes John Cena so special. Reigns says he wants to raise the stakes and says he’s either leaving SummerSlam the Universal Champion or walking away from WWE. Roman tries to get Cena up to attack him, but Cena rolls Reigns up as the fans count 1,2,3. The stakes have certainly been raised.

Final thoughts

This episode felt very repetitive. Although the final segment really hyped up tomorrow night’s SummerSlam. Baron Corbin is also still carrying the Money in the Bank briefcase, could he have a say in tomorrow’s main event? We’ll find out in just 24 hours.

Once again, we didn’t see Toni Storm or Liv Morgan on this week’s episode, despite not seeing Storm since her debut and Morgan since her push last month. Finn Balor was also absent and hasn’t been seen since his attack from The Uso’s and Roman Reigns.

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