WWE SmackDown aired from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Finn Balor squared off against Baron Corbin and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair responded to the attack from Sasha Banks last week. Edge also addressed Seth Rollins’ attack during tonight’s show.
SmackDown Results
- Jey Uso def. Dominik
- Shinsuke Nakamura def. Apollo Crews via DQ
- Nox def. Tamina
- Street Profits def. Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler
- Bianca Belair def. Zelina Vega
- Finn Balor def. Baron Corbin
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Bianca Belair Will Face Sasha Banks At SummerSlam
Sasha Banks kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown and made her way to the ring. Sasha Banks returned on SmackDown last week and attacked Bianca Belair after tagging with her in a match.
Banks said she will never let anyone steal her spotlight again and rolled footage of the attack on Belair last week. Sasha claimed that Bianca would be nothing without her and noted that Belair was crying before their match at WrestleMania because she was standing in the ring with the greatest of all time.
Sasha stated that she came back to SmackDown to make Bianca pay for the disrespect she has shown her. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair interrupted and told Banks that she just doesn’t want her to shine. Belair rolled into the ring and Banks retreated.
Belair joked that Sasha is about to take another four months off. Bianca said that Banks is one of the greatest but she’s the champ and if she will have to take it from her. Zelina Vega joined the party and made her way to the ring. Belair told Zelina not to think about getting into the ring with her.
Vega claimed that Banks was a “ratchet little vulture” that swooped in and took her title match. Zelina pointed out that Belair accepted her challenge for a match. Bianca told Zelina that she will fight her tonight and fight Sasha Banks at SummerSlam.
Jey Uso def. Dominik
Dominik faced Jey Uso tonight on SmackDown. Jimmy Uso and Rey Mysterio were ringside for the match.
Before the match, Rey and Dominik had a conversation backstage. Rey said that they have to be more strategic because they are in line for a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at SummerSlam. Rey noted that he beat Jimmy Uso last week with Dominik’s help and told him that he didn’t need it. Dominik laughed and told Rey that he wouldn’t need his help tonight either then.
Jey dominated the action early as Jimmy Uso cheered him on. Dominik battled back and connected with an awesome Sunset Flip Powerbomb into the barricade as SmackDown went to a break.
Jey hit a Clothesline for a two count went SmackDown returned. Jey went for a Samoan Drop but Dominik countered into a Neckbreaker for a two count. Dominik followed it up with the 619 and made his way to the top rope. Jimmy tried to interfere but Rey stopped it with a Senton off the steel steps. Jey capitalized on the distraction with a Superkick and a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory.
Nakamura def. Crews via DQ
King Nakamura faced Apollo Crews in an Intercontinental Championship Contenders Match (Nakamura would get a title shot if he pinned the champion). Boogs and Commander Azeez were ringside for the match.
Crews hit a kick to the midsection and followed it up with a shoulder tackle that knocked Nakamura to the mat. Shinsuke battled back with a Dropkick for a near fall. Apollo slammed Shinsuke’s neck across the top rope and leveled him with a Clothesline.
Apollo planted Nakamura with a Body Slam for a two count. The Intercontinental Champion made his way to the top rope but Nakamura caught him with a boot to the face. Shinsuke connected with a knee to the face for a two count. Nakamura hit another knee to the face and went for the cover but Azeez dragged him out of the ring to end the match in a DQ. Shinsuke threw Apollo onto Azeez and then posed with Boogs as he shredded on the guitar.
Big E Interrupted Paul Heyman
Kayla Braxton was standing outside Universal Champion Roman Reigns’ locker room. Paul Heyman opened the door and Kayla asked if Roman had a comment about what transpired last week. Heyman said Cena was thieving a title match at SummerSlam from Finn Balor. Paul joked that it would be like Tom Brady signing with the Buccaneers for 75 million and then Heyman hit him with a kendo stick, signed the contract and took the money. Heyman called the contract a joke, and that Roman Reigns has nothing to say about John Cena. Big E showed up with the MITB briefcase and laughed at Paul as he closed the door.
Nox Picked Up A Win
Tamina faced Nox tonight and Shotzi was ringside for the match. Nox ran into a big Clothesline from Tamina and then got sent to the corner. Tamina went for a Splash but Nox got out of the way. Nox booted Tamina to the canvas and stomped on her in the corner of the ring. Nox connected with a Bronco Buster and went for the cover but Tamina kicked out at two. Tamina hit a Superkick and went for a Samoan Drop. Shotzi shot something out of the tank and it distracted Tamina. Nox capitalized with a roll-up for the victory.
Edge vs. Rollins Is Official For SummerSlam
Edge began the 2nd hour of this week’s SmackDown and got a great reaction from the crowd. Edge said that Seth Rollins isn’t here tonight and he doesn’t blame him for not showing up. Edge stated that Rollins cost him the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank. He added that things would have ended tonight if Rollins showed up.
Seth Rollins appeared via satellite in a suit that resembled a couch. Rollins laughed and noted that they are a lot a like. Seth claimed that Edge would have done the same thing if he were in his shoes. Edge challenged Seth Rollins to a match at SummerSlam and Rollins said he will think about it. Rollins brought up Edge’s family and suggested that he should retire. Edge flipped out that Rollins brought up his family and called Seth “Edge lite”. Rollins got pissed off and accepted the match. Edge will battle Seth Rollins for the first time at SummerSlam.
Street Profits Picked Up A Win
Street Profits faced Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode tonight on SmackDown. Ziggler and Roode isolated Montez Ford in the ring to start off the action. Dawkins tagged in and planted Ziggler with a DDT but Roode broke up the cover. Ziggler sent Ford out of the ring and hit Dawkins with a Fameasser for a near fall. Dawkins hit a Spinebuster and tagged in Montez Ford. Montez climbed to the top rope and connected with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory.
Bianca Belair def. Zelina Vega
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair faced Zelina Vega in a non-title match. Vega would earn a future title shot if she was able to defeat the champion. Zelina got in some offense but Belair put an end to it by slamming Vega’s head on the turnbuckle. Vega responded with an elbow to the face and rolled up Belair for a near fall.
Belair showed off her power and lifted Vega up. Zelina escaped and grabbed Bianca’s hair. The referee broke it up and Bianca hit a Dropkick that sent Vega to the outside. Bianca lifted up Vega again but Sasha Banks’ music hit. The Boss distracted Belair on the apron and Vega connected with a Hurricanrana. Back in the ring, Zelina went for the cover but Belair kicked out at one. Sasha laughed as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Vega connected with a DDT for a two count. Zelina booted the SmackDown Women’s Champion out of the ring and leaped onto her. Belair caught her and slammed Vega into the barricade. Back in the ring, Belair hit the KOD for the pinfall victory.
Roman Reigns Sent A Message To Finn Balor
Finn Balor battled Baron Corbin tonight on SmackDown. Corbin pleaded for mercy at the beginning but then attacked Balor. Corbin connected with a Suplex and beat Finn down in the corner of the ring. Balor battled back and Dropkicked Corbin into the turnbuckle. Corbin fell to the canvas and Balor made his way to the top rope. Finn hit the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Finn Balor said that he’s not smiling about what happened last week and still wants to face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Balor added that he is willing to go through John Cena to get his title match.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns interrupted with Paul Heyman and posed with the title as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Reigns said that Heyman has already addressed what John Cena did last week. Roman told Balor that he tried to help him and told Finn to keep the Head of the Table’s name out of his mouth. Roman threw the mic at Balor and went to leave the ring. Balor shoved Reigns to the outside and posed in the middle of the ring.
Roman Reigns hopped on the ring apron and had a stare down with Finn. The Usos attacked Balor from behind and beat him down as Reigns made his way up the entrance ramp. Finn battled back as Reigns took notice on the top of the entrance ramp. Balor threw The Usos to the outside and flipped onto them before posing once again in the ring. Reigns took off his jacket and marched down the entrance ramp. Roman got into the ring and Balor hit him with a knee to the face.
Balor followed it up with a Slingbalde and set up for a Dropkick but The Usos broke it up. Jimmy and Jey attacked Balor once again and Roman hit a Superman Punch. Uso followed it up with a Frog Splash and Reigns hit Balor with several punches and then applied the Guillotine choke. Reigns then raised the Universal Championship to close the show.