WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa, Florida. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn competed in a Last Man Standing Money in the Bank Qualifier. Edge appeared on tonight’s show to address Roman Reigns ahead of their Universal Championship Match at Money in the Bank.
SmackDown Results (7/2)
- Big E & Shinsuke Nakamura def. Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews
- Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn in a Last Man Standing match to qualify for the MITB Ladder Match
- Liv Morgan def. Carmella
- Otis def. Angelo Dawkins
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Edge Claimed He Can Beat Roman Reigns
Edge kicked off the show and marched down to the ring. He said he wanted to win the title badly at WrestleMania and what a great story it would of been, but it didn’t happen. He didn’t see the loss coming and it took some time for him to look back at the match.
Edge noted that Daniel Bryan’s presence in the match cost him the title multiple times and that Jey Uso also interfered in the match. He said he could complain about all of these things and the 2006 version of himself would have, but the 2021 version will not.
He claimed that he can beat Roman Reigns 1 vs. 1 and that the proof of that is Reigns’ face while he was locked in the Crossface at WrestleMania. Edge said it was a look of fear and that he lives in Reigns’ head for life now. He vowed to win the Universal Championship as Jimmy Uso was shown backstage.
Jimmy approached Paul Heyman and said that he is going to tell Reigns that he has his back. Jimmy said that when Reigns gets here, they are going to put Edge down and stomp their flag in his back.
Big E & Nakamura Picked Up A Win
Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews teamed up with Baron Corbin to face Big E and Shinsuke Nakamura in the first match of the night. Nakamura and Crews started off the contest and Shinsuke took control. Corbin tagged in and beat Shinsuke down as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Corbin was still in control and hit Big E with some elbows to the face in the corner of the ring. Corbin slammed him to the mat and went for the cover but Big E was able to kick out at two. Crews tagged in and hit Big E leveled him with a Dropkick
Corbin tagged in and connected with a Powerslam. Corbin went for the cover but Nakamura hopped in the ring to break it up. Crews joined the party as the match broke down. Boogs grabbed a microphone and shouted that Corbin’s car was being towed. Footage of the car being towed was shown on the Jumbotron and Big E took advantage of the distraction with the Big Ending on Corbin for the pinfall victory.
Bianca Belair & Bayley Will Be An I Quit Match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and Bayley met Face-to-Face tonight on SmackDown. Bayley came to the ring first and claimed that Belair was mentally weak for beating her last week. Bianca Belair interrupted and said Bayley needs a crack in the mouth.
Belair laughed at the idea what Bayley thinks she is in her head, when all she has done is beat her over and over again. Bianca said that only way to end this is to embarrass Bayley to the point of no return. Belair suggested that she defend her title against Bayley in an I Quit match at Money in the Bank.
Bayley claimed to have never quit anything in her life and if Belair can make it happen on Sunday, Bayley will quit the WWE entirely. Bayley then accepted the challenge and Belair said she is excited to hear Bayley say “I Quit”.
Kevin Owens Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Kevin Owens faced Sami Zayn in a Last Man Standing Money in the Bank Qualifier. Owens went right after Sami and beat him down in the corner to start off the action. Owens connected with a Cannonball and Sami fell to the floor outside the ring. Sami got up at the count of 6 and got launched into the barricade by Owens.
The action spilled over the barricade and Sami sent Owens into the ThunderDome screens. Owens battled back with a Senton and followed it up with a slam on the announce table. Sami slammed Owens on top of the announce table as well but it just wouldn’t break as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Owens hit Zayn with a bunch of headbutts but Sami made it back up at 5. Owens brought Sami to the outside and hurled him into the ring post a couple times. Owens stacked two tables on top of each other as Sami stumbled to his feet.
Owens brought Zayn up to the top rope hovering over the tables but Sami broke free. Sami hit a Suicide Dive and brought him back into the ring. Zayn connected with an Exploder Suplex that sent Owens into the turnbuckle. Owens got up at 6 and Sami brought him to the top rope.
Zayn went for a Superplex but Owens blocked it and hit a Brainbuster. Owens booted Sami in the face and made his way back to the top rope. Sami hopped up and shoved Owens off the turnbuckle and through the two tables he set up earlier. Owens somehow got back up at 9 as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Sami was in control and hit a Helluva Kick but couldn’t keep Owens down. Sami hit two more Helluva Kicks but Owens rolled out of the ring and landed on his feet at the count of 9 and the match continued. Sami went for a Tornado DDT but Owens countered with a Superkick.
Owens connected with a Pop-Up Powerbomb through a table and then dragged Zayn to the apron by his beard. Owens delivered another Powerbomb on the apron and Sami was unable to get up. Kevin Owens qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Liv Morgan def. Zelina Vega
Sonya Deville announced the returning Zelina Vega as the next superstar in the MITB Ladder Match. Vega came to the ring and claimed that she was going to grab the briefcase and hold onto it until whatever champion she chooses is beaten and down. Liv Morgan interrupted and said it was unfair that Carmella and Vega have just been given spots in the match. Morgan noted that Vega hasn’t competed on SmackDown all year. Zelina said she hasn’t competed in rings like this in years but can still run circles around Liv. Morgan responded with a slap and then Sonya made the match official as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Vega had an Octopus hold applied as Carmella was shown watching backstage. Vega went for a roll-up while using the tights for leverage but the referee saw it. Liv then rolled up Vega for the pinfall victory.
Otis Destroyed Angelo Dawkins
Angelo Dawkins faced Otis tonight on SmackDown. Dawkins knocked Gable off the ring apron but Otis leveled him with a shoulder tackle. Otis hit a Back Body Drop and followed it up with the Vader Bomb for the pinfall victory.
Edge Attacked Jimmy Uso
Jimmy and Heyman were shown backstage again and Jimmy was going on about how Reigns needs to hear about what Edge said earlier. Paul told Jimmy that the Tribal Chief operates on his own schedule and that Jimmy should head to the ring and be Main Event Jimmy Uso.
When SmackDown returned, Jimmy made his way to the ring and called Edge out. Edge came to the ramp and told Jimmy that Reigns is using him just like he did his entire family. Edge noted that Reigns used Jey up and quickly turned Jimmy into another one of his bitches.
Edge rushed the ring and attacked Jimmy Uso. Edge bashed Jimmy into the ring post and grabbed the steel steps. Jimmy caught Edge with a Superkick and returned to the ring. Edge locked in a Sleeper Hold before leveling Jimmy with a Spear. Edge broke off a leg of a steel chair and locked in a Crossface with the steel across Jimmy’s face. Jimmy taps out to close the show.