WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
September 17, 2021
Knoxville, Tennessee
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Footage is shown of Seth Rollins superkicking and stomping Edge last week on SmackDown. We’ll find out the ramifications of those actions later tonight.
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring alongside Paul Heyman and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos. Replays are shown of Brock Lesnar going after Paul Heyman, only for Roman Reigns to make the save. Lesnar then decimated The Usos. Later in the evening, “The Demon” Finn Balor confronted Reigns.
In October, Roman Reigns will face Brock Lesnar with the WWE Universal Championship on the line at WWE Crown Jewel. Reigns will also defend the title against “The Demon” Finn Balor at Extreme Rules.
Reigns demands that Knoxville acknowledge him, but they boo him instead. Reigns shakes his head in disbelief. Reigns wants Paul Heyman to teach the people how to acknowledge him properly. Heyman says he has acknowledged Reigns’ greatness since he was a little boy, but he’s still in awe. The Tribal Chief takes no sabbath, ducks no challenger, defends his position at the Head of the Table at all times, and defends the position of Tribal Chief. Heyman asks if they want to know why. The Tribal Chief fears no man, beast, or demon, but they all fear Roman Reigns. Heyman says they know it’s true. Finn Balor fears Reigns. If Finn Balor doesn’t fear Reigns, why does he need to tap into his inner demons to challenge the Tribal Chief for the Universal Heavyweight Championship? Brock Lesnar fears Roman Reigns. Heyman has known Lesnar intimately on a professional basis, even more than his own family for 20 years. Heyman has never seen fear in the eyes of Brock Lesnar. Not in WWE, not the Brocktagon, and not on the operating table. Last week in Madison Square Garden, he saw fear in Lesnar’s eyes.
New WWE Champion Big E makes his way to the ring to a big reception. The crowd chants, “You deserve it!” Before Big E says anything, Finn Balor makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Championship Contenders Match
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) (c’s) vs. WWE Champion Big E and Finn Balor
Finn Balor will start against Jimmy Uso. Balor shoulders Jimmy in the corner before scaring Jey Uso away. Jimmy kicks and chops Balor’s chest. Balor reverses a whip, rolls through a sunset flip, and dropkicks him for a one count. Balor punches away at Jey and tags Big E in. The new WWE Champion goes after Jimmy, but Jimmy tags Jey in. Big E quickly takes Jey down and drags him to the apron. Big E clubs the chest before getting on the apron. Big E sizes Jey up and hits a big splash. Big E pushes him in the ring and picks up a two count. The Usos quickly double-team Big E. Jimmy then slaps Big E in the face. Jimmy chokes Big E on the bottom rope, and Jey gets a cheap shot in. The Usos hit Big E with a double-team suplex, and Jey picks up a one count. Jey tackles Big E into the corner and tags Jimmy back in. Jimmy chops the chest and taunts Balor. Big E sidesteps an avalanche and tags Balor in. Balor kicks Jimmy in the face before taking him down for a double stomp. Balor knocks Jey off the apron and attacks Jimmy. Balor sends Jimmy to the opposite corner and hits a running chop. Jey blind tags in and pulls Balor out of the ring before sending him into the barricade. Jimmy then hits Balor with a suicide dive.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jimmy drive Balor neck-first into the top turnbuckle. Balor fights back with a jawbreaker and forearms him in the face. Big E tags in and hits Jey with a pair of overhead belly-to-belly suplexes followed by a belly-to-belly side suplex. Big E goes for a big splash, but Jey surprises him with a Samoan Drop. Jey goes for an avalanche, but Big E hits a uranage. Jimmy runs in, but Big E clotheslines him down and hits a big splash. Big E throws Jimmy out of the ring. Jey gets on the apron, so Big E goes for a spear. Jey boots him back and comes off the top rope, but Big E moves. Jey superkicks Big E for a near fall.
Balor avoids an attack from Jimmy and hits Jey with a Sling Blade. Big E hits Jimmy with a Big Ending while Balor hits Jey with the Coup de Grace. Big E covers Jimmy for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: WWE Champion Big E and Finn Balor
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is watching in disgust backstage. Reigns asks Paul Heyman if there’s something he needs to know, but Heyman says there isn’t. Reigns says he’ll pretend to know. Heyman says he has all the respect in his heart and soul for Reigns, but he did not know that Brock Lesnar was coming to SummerSlam. Brock Lesnar fears Roman Reigns. Heyman says that because why else would Lesnar make up this preposterous false narrative that he knew he was coming to SummerSlam. It’s a cover. Lesnar is dealing with fear for the first time. The way he deals with fear is with this false narrative that Heyman knew he was coming to SummerSlam. That’s how Heyman knows Lesnar fears Reigns. Reigns doesn’t pay Heyman to be under the impression. He pays Heyman to know in advance.
Rick Boogs is playing guitar and introduces WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. Boogs will face Robert Roode next.
-Commercial Break-
Rick Boogs w/ Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Robert Roode w/ Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler distracts Boogs immediately, and Roode takes Boogs down. Roode knees Boogs in the midsection and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Roode chops the chest and stomps him. Boogs sends Roode to the corner, but Roode boots him and hits a blockbuster for a two count. Roode continues to attack Boogs and goes for a Glorious DDT, but Boogs lifts Roode and hits a Samoan Drop. Boogs hits a pair of exploder suplexes and clotheslines him in the corner. Boogs follows up with a bulldog. Boogs connects with the Boogs Cruise for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Rick Boogs
Commander Azeez attacks Nakamura from behind before slamming Boogs into the steps. Apollo Crews attacks Nakamura and throws him into the table. Pat McAfee is devastated. Crews and Azeez get in the ring. Crews asks if this is really the king. Nakamura has made a mockery of the Intercontinental Championship and demands a rematch.
Kevin Owens faces Happy Corbin next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Happy Corbin bringing out Logan Paul and attacking Kevin Owens two weeks ago.
Kevin Owens makes his entrance, but Happy Corbin attacks him from behind and chokeslams him on the apron. Happy Corbin celebrates and walks off. This match is not happening.
Replays are shown of Edge being carted out of Madison Square Garden on a stretcher.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and is in a celebratory mood. We’ll hear from him next.
-Commercial Break-
Paul Heyman is walking backstage and is startled by Kayla Braxton. Heyman goes off on her and turns to see WWE Champion Big E. Heyman congratulates him on winning the title and for knowing he would have never defeated Roman Reigns for the title. Big E picked a vulnerable champion. Big E says we’ll see about Reigns at Survivor Series… or will he face Brock Lesnar or Finn Balor? The Usos viciously attack Big E and leave him in a heap backstage. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns walks up, looks down, and keeps walking.
Seth Rollins says that was unfortunate. Someone should’ve helped Big E out there. Last week, Rollins had one of the greatest matches of his career when he defeated the Hall of Famer Edge at Madison Square Garden. We’ve had a week to process our feeling about the end of the match. If Rollins is being honest, he thinks what happened to Edge was unfortunate, unsettling, and scary. When his boot came down across the back of Edge’s neck, he heard a pop and felt a crunch. Rollins doesn’t know how to describe it other than the feeling of stepping on a cockroach. Rollins has the footage from last week shown again.
Video Package: Seth Rollins defeats Edge on SmackDown before injuring him
The crowd is booing Rollins. Rollins knows that was difficult to watch and understands why they’re booing, but he has a question he’d like to ask. It’s the same question he’s been asking himself all week: what did you think was going to happen? Rollins wants an answer. That was one of the greatest wins of his career, and he didn’t even have a moment to enjoy it. The second he walked backstage, everyone is looking at him out of the corner of his eye, thinking he’s a monster. This company said what he did was unconscionable, and wondered if he went too far. Rollins asks the crowd if he went too far, and they cheer. Rollins says he used a legal move in a legal match and won the same way he did throughout his career.
Rollins says the person who went too far was Edge because he’s a family man. Edge knew the risks and consequences, yet he still got in the ring. The people to blame are the WWE Universe. They are to blame for what happened to Edge. They goaded Edge into goading him. When Edge ruined his $3,000 suit and beat him at SummerSlam? The crowd loved that. Rollins didn’t do anything wrong. If anyone is to blame, it’s Edge and the WWE Universe. If they didn’t like that, they won’t like this. Rollins isn’t done with Edge. This past week on NXT, Edge’s wife, Beth Phoenix, said he’s at home recuperating. Rollins knows Edge is watching right now and knows what he’s thinking. Rollins asks Edge if he’s physically capable of getting back in the ring. Is he emotionally capable? Rollins saw the look in Edge’s eyes when they had him on the stretcher and putting him in the ambulance. The look was fear. For one second, Rollins felt sorry for Edge. That feeling has been eating him alive in the back of his brain, and he cannot live with himself feeling sorry for someone like Edge. Rollins has to move on, and he can’t do that until he finishes him. Either Rollins comes to Edge’s house and beats him in front of his family, or Edge crawls back to the ring, and they dance one more time. For Rollins’ sanity, he has to finish him one way or the other.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Braxton asks about Bianca Belair’s homecoming. Lynch says momentum keeps going until it meets an opposing force. The outcome of Extreme Rules will be the same as SummerSlam. Tonight is Belair’s night, but Lynch has never been to a homecoming.
Zelina Vega makes her way to the ring along with Carmella. They’ll face Liv Storm and Toni Storm next.
-Commercial Break-
Tag Team Match
Zelina Vega and Carmella vs. Toni Storm and Liv Morgan
Toni Storm starts against Carmella. Carmella knocks Liv Morgan off the apron and taunts her. Carmella ducks a clothesline from Storm and tags Vega in. Vega blocks a kick and chops her. Storm quickly big boots her down and sizes her up. Carmella distracts her, so Vega kicks Storm in the head. Vega hits the ropes and knees her down for a two count. Vega applies a hammerlock, but Storm slams her down.
Liv Morgan and Carmella tag in. Morgan attacks Carmella but has a whip to the corner reversed. Morgan boots her back and hits a surfboard catapult. Carmella grabs her face in pain and insinuates her nose is broken. Vega checks on Carmella. The referee counts her out.
Winners by Count-Out: Toni Storm and Liv Morgan
Liv Morgan sarcastically apologizes for breaking Carmella’s nose. Morgan actually isn’t sorry because she’s tired of her running her mouth and running away. Morgan challenges her to a match at Extreme Rules. If Carmella accepts, she’ll make her as ugly on the outside as she is on the inside.
The Street Profits are backstage hyping up Bianca Belair’s homecoming.
-Commercial Break-
Carmella is in the trainer’s room. Her nose is fine. Carmella is furious Liv Morgan wanted to turn her into a 5 and accepts the challenge.
Finn Balor talks about his background. The Demon unlocks a rage inside of him that cannot be controlled. Balor doesn’t summon the Demon. The Demon summons him. The disrespect of Roman Reigns and his cousin fuel the fires. They are looking at the face of Finn Balor, the challenger. At Extreme Rules, they will see the face of The Demon, the Universal Champion. Camera effects turn him into The Demon.
Rey and Dominik Mysterio make their entrance.
-Commercial Break-
This Monday on Raw, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will team with SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos to take on The New Day.
WWE Official Sonya Deville is talking backstage when a furious Naomi walks up to her. Naomi has been more than patient and respectful, but she’s done. When is her match? Deville says they’re out of time and to come back next week. Naomi says she’s been here longer and accomplished more than Deville. Naomi says she never quits. One way or another, she will get her match.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Sami Zayn
Rey Mysterio is on commentary for the match.
Sami Zayn goes outside to taunt Rey. Dominik chases, so Zayn gets in the ring. Zayn kicks Mysterio coming in the ring and picks up a two count. Zayn punches away at him and goes for a powerbomb, but Mysterio gets out. Mysterio hits some forearms and a climbing hurricanrana. Zayn quickly boots him and slaps him in the face. Zayn goes for a rope climb, but Mysterio crotches him and hits a dropkick out of the ring. Mysterio hits a springboard plancha to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Zayn going for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Mysterio elbows out of it. Mysterio goes for the ropes, but Zayn pulls him in for a Blue Thunder Bomb. Mysterio counters into a head-scissor takeover for a two count. Mysterio follows up with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Mysterio knocks him into the ropes and hits a 619. Mysterio slowly climbs to the top rope, and his father shouts, “Faster!” Zayn gets the knees up on a Frog Splash and rolls Mysterio up for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Zayn gets in Rey Mysterio’s face and says he’s not the coach he thought he was.
Video Package: Bianca Belair in Knoxville
Glenn Jacobs, aka WWE Hall of Famer Kane, the Mayor of Knox County, makes his way to the ring for Bianca Belair’s homecoming.
-Commercial Break-
Mayor Kane is in the ring and makes the ring posts explode with fire.
Next Friday, King Nakamura defends the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews. Liv Morgan will also battle Zelina Vega.
Kane says that feeling never gets old. Kane says it is his great pleasure to welcome the EST of WWE back to her hometown, Bianca Belair!
Bianca Belair comes out to a big reception from her hometown crowd! A loud “EST” chant picks up for Belair. Her family is going wild at ringside. Kane asks how it feels to be back in Knoxville. Belair says it’s amazing. There’s no place like home. Belair gives a shoutout to all her family and friends that came to see her tonight. Everything that happens in your past shapes your future. Knoxville made her into the EST. Belair’s father told her if someone starts with you, then you finish it. Becky Lynch caught her off-guard at SummerSlam, but she’ll fight her way to the top. At Extreme Rules, she’ll take back her SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Kane says when she wins the title back, they’ll have a huge celebration for Belair in her honor. Kane then presents her with the key to their county! Kane reveals a large key and embraces Belair. Belair holds it up. Belair thanks everyone in her family, her high school, and the University of Tennessee. She is proud to be Knoxville-made.
Enough about her. She wants to celebrate Knoxville by singing “Rocky Top.” The crowd starts to sing, but SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch interrupts. Lynch says Kane lied. Belair won’t be champion after Extreme Rules. She’s Knoxville’s champion, but not THE champion. Lynch gets in the ring. Kane has disappeared into thin air. Belair asks why Lynch is here when she doesn’t even go here. Lynch knows that she doesn’t go here and didn’t come out to steal Belair’s thunder. Lynch says SummerSlam was her night. Extreme Rules will probably be her night as well, but tonight belongs to Belair. Lynch is here to show respect. Lynch goes for a handshake, but Belair shakes her head. Lynch says she’s being the bigger man. Belair shakes her hand, but won’t let go. Lynch gets mad and goes after her, but Belair ducks. Belair goes for the KOD, but Lynch slides off and hits the Manhandle Slam. Lynch walks off.
Quick Match Results
- WWE Champion Big E and Finn Balor def. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) in a Championship Contenders Match
- Rick Boogs def. Robert Roode
- Toni Storm and Liv Morgan def. Zelina Vega and Carmella via CO
- Sami Zayn def. Dominik Mysterio
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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