We saw Roman Reigns refuse to acknowledge John Cena’s challenge for Summerslam last week. Then we saw Finn Balor step up to the Tribal Chief and tonight they sign the contract.
We began Smackdown with the entrance of the 16-time World Champion, John Cena! As Cena was in the ring we got a recap of his return to Smackdown and challenge to Roman Reigns.
Cena called the video played interesting and then said if you can find someone who makes missionary entertaining for 20 years, well keep em around it will be worth it. With that out of the way he welcomed the Twin Cities to Smackdown.
Cena talked about the contract signing between Reigns and Finn Balor that will take place later tonight. It’s half bad according to Cena because it proves his point that Roman Reigns absolutely sucks. Reigns is just a scared little kid. He’ll accept Balor’s challenge, Cena has been rejected before but it’s the reasons behind it. Cena didn’t change his music, his look, or his heart. It’s stupid; it would be like asking Stone Cold Steve Austin to come back to WWE as Sasquatch Steve Houston. Or The Rock coming back suddenly as Dwayne “Too Small” Johnson and having completely different catch phrases. It would be ridiculous.
It isn’t who those guys are because they stood proud in the ring every night as who they were and didn’t beg for acknowledgement. They simply did they’re best every night. Reigns wants Cena to change because that is what he has to do. Reigns has to change every two years because the fans stop caring about him. The WWE Universe stops caring about Reigns because they don’t believe in him. They don’t believe in him because Reigns doesn’t believe in himself…Believe that.
Cena went on to say that Roman Reigns is nothing more than a lazy stooge named Joe. He coasts by and is nothing more than a blood sucking product of a machine that is so afraid to fail. Cena said he would have embarassed Reigns at Summerslam, but Reigns knew that. Reigns didn’t reject him because of how he looks, but of how Cena will make him look.
Enter in Baron Corbin?
Corbin with his stained dress shirt is still looking as sad as ever. Cena didn’t recognize Corbin at all, until he got close enough. He was about to say Corbin looked horrible, until Corbin said it himself and said he was in a bad way. Corbin said he was desperate for help because his life was falling apart. He said he lost his house, his crown, his cars, and someone stole his identity! After last week, Corbin sustained an injury to a pretty sensitive body part.
Of course this led to Cena listing off things Corbin may not be able to do and Corbin said he was unable to perform. Because of this, Corbin’s wife left him! Yikes. Corbin knows of Cena’s charitable acts and asked for his help. Cena then called upon the WWE Universe if he should help Cena. Cena pulled out some money from his pocket and Corbin seemed offended at how little it was.
Corbin then said it didn’t have to be cash right now and that he would work for it. He asked Cena to put him in The Suicide Squad movie, ya know the one coming out next weekend? Cena said it would have been a good idea if the movie wasn’t already wrapped. Corbin tried again and said he would be Cena’s stunt double in the sequel (a reach man). Then Corbin called Cena a self absorbed tightwad and a Hollywood sellout. Bad move.
Cena decided it was time for an…Attitude Adjustment!
After Cena left the ring, we saw a Progressive Match Flo of what has been going on between the Mysterios and The Usos.
Backstage Dominik Mysterio told his dad that he would have his eyes on Jey Uso. Rey told him to keep one eye on Jey, but the other on him. He told Dominik he needs to step his game up if they want to regain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.
The Usos made their entrance to the ring as we went to commercial break.
Rey Mysterio defeated Jimmy Uso via Pinfall
We got to see a pretty quality match as the rivalry between The Usos and Mysterios continue. Jimmy at one point got sent to the floor and Rey went for his baseball slide to the outside, which he missed. Uso then delivered a superkick to gain back control of the match.
Of course Jey did also try to get involved in the match, but he wasn’t off much help. In the end Rey got Jimmy in a pin attempt and just like The Usos have done, Dominik gave his dad a little extra leverage for the victory! The Usos did try to argue the decision, but the referee upheld his call.
We then saw highlights of Bianca Belair versus Carmella from Rolling Loud last week. Bianca Belair made her entrance to the ring as we took another commercial break.
When we returned from break Belair was being interviewed about her 111 day reign as Smackdown Women’s Champion. Belair spoke about how cool it has been to defend her title at Rolling Loud, winning an ESPY, and main eventing Wrestlemania. She began to speak about how grateful she was for things when Carmella interrupted.
Carmella congratulated her on her title reign and said she loved it for her. Then she said Belair should give her another title shot seeing as how she held the Smackdown Women’s Championship for 130 days. Carmella said Belair knew she deserved it and then tried to make excuses for the match at Rolling Loud.
Enter Zelina Vega.
Vega said we know Carmella is too pretty to be a third time loser. As Vega got into the ring she told Belair that the WWE Universe wants to see Belair challenge a rising star like Vega. According to Vega no one is more deserving than her and Belair should accept the challenge. It seemed Belair did or was going to when Carmella attacked her from behind.
Vega and Carmella were working together to take down Belair when….SASHA BANKS made the save!!! Banks helped up Belair and gave her a hug, which seemed to throw Belair off a little but she was definitely grateful for the save.
Banks and Belair had a little moment with the crowd. Then we saw how Reginald became the 24/7 Champion. Apparently when we return from commercial Reginald will defend the title.
Returning from break Reginald, Reggie, was interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Reggie said he would have done anything to get to WWE, but he saw the perfect opportunity in becoming the 24/7 Champion. He said he is always looking over his shoulders and even has a rearview mirror for his shopping cart. Whoever challenges him tonight should expect the unexpected.
Reginald (Reggie) defeated Chad Gable via DQ
When Alpha Academy made their entrance, Reggie seemed to think Otis was going to be his opponent and got nervous. Otis got the mic and said he wasn’t the opponent, but Gable was. Then Otis smashed Reggie before the bell rang. Gable then took advantage.
Soon Reggie used his speed and acrobatics to put a halt to Gable’s momentum even for just a short time. Reggie rolled through a tope rope German Suplex attempt and looked to put the match away, but Otis made his presence felt.
Backstage we saw Adam Pearce looking a few things over when Sonya Deville walked in. Deville said it is official that the main event tonight will be Carmella & Zelina Vega versus Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks. Then we took a commercial break.
Returning from break it was contract signing time! Pearce and Deville asked for Roman Reigns and Finn Balor to make their way to the ring. Balor of course was the first to make his way to the ring. Reigns of course did not come alone as Paul Heyman joined him.
Once Reigns and Heyman finally got to the ring and moved the chairs around so Reigns was at the head of the table, we got the signing underway. Before Reigns decided to sign the contract he signaled for a mic as the WWE Universe chanted for Cena.
“We’ve already seen Mr. Missionary tonight.” Reigns then asked if Balor heard Cena’s promo. He said that Cena thinks Balor is less than him apparently. Reigns thought it was a jerk thing to say because he believes Balor is worthy…worthy of catching a beat down at Summerslam. He said Balor isn’t anything like Cena. Balor doesn’t have to come out to the ring and use other people’s catchphrases or the same tired gimmick. Reigns said Balor is hungry and he likes that, but if he signs this contract he will send him right back to NXT.
Balor enjoyed the crowd telling Reigns that he sucks and then asked him if he thinks that highly of himself. Then he said it would be his privilege to return to NXT as the Universal Champion. Before Balor could sign the contract though, Baron Corbin attacked him from behind.
The contract and Balor got tossed out of the ring. Corbin continued to beat Balor down and tossed him into the time keeper’s area. He then picked up the contract and rolled back in the ring. Just when it seemed like Corbin was going to sign the contract, John Cena ran down the entrance ramp. Cena took out Corbin and grabbed the contract himself. JOHN CENA SIGNED THE CONTRACT.
Then we took another commercial break.
When we returned from commercial break, Paul Heyman was trying to discuss what just happened with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville. Heyman was trying to make a case for it being ridiculous that Cena would get the match, when Reigns said no. Pearce said he saw Roman Reigns’ signature and John Cena’s signature and that is good enough for him. Deville agreed and said it was a done deal: Reings versus Cena at Summerslam in three weeks.
Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, and Big E defeated Apollo Crews and The Dirty Dawgs via Pinfall (Kinshasa)
Crews and E began the match. E started off strong with a belly-to-belly suplex, but Crews was able to avoid further damage by hitting E with a knee. As the referee wasn’t totally paying attention, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode hit a double team move on the outside to E.
Soon Ziggler was able to avoid the Kinshasa with a Zig Zag! He then tagged back in Crews. Cesaro broke up a pin attempt and then all hell broke loose. Boogs distracted Crews by playing his guitar. Commander Azeez took Boogs out and then got hit by Cesaro. This was enough distraction to allow Nakamura to get the win.
After the match we took a look back at the confrontation between Seth Rollins and Edge from last Friday.
We went to commercial break after Edge made his entrance.
Returning from commercial we see that Seth Rollins attacked Edge during the break! Rollins came up from behind Edge. He just stomped him down and threw him into the barricade. Then Rollins took the ambush back up the entrance ramp and grabbed a television camera to take Edge out.
Rollins said Edge has continuously taken from him and he is sick of it. He said he is the revolution. We then saw footage from last month when Rollins confronted Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville about the Universal Championship match. Then footage from Rollins interfering at Money in the Bank was shown.
After the video package, Rollins said he is not ashamed of anything he has done, basically Edge had it coming guys. He said he was proud of what he did and it was the right thing to do. Rollins said he is the rightful heir to the Universal Championship. If he can’t be champion, neither can Edge.
Rollins dropped the mic and left the ring. Then we took another commercial break.
Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair defeated Carmella and Zelina Vega via Submission (Bank Statement)
Of course the match was important, but it is what happened after the match that you should pay attention to. After working together pretty well in this tag match, Banks decided that wasn’t enough. During their celebration, Banks flipped and attacked Belair!
Things looked good between the two, but Banks was done dancing around. BACK STABBER! Banks then picked up the Smackdown Women’s Championship for a moment before continuing the beat down of Belair.
Banks hit a Tornado DDT and then BANK STATEMENT! The referee tried to get Banks to let go, but it took awhile. Banks picked up the championship again and posed with it.
Of course Banks wasn’t done and she put Belair back in the Bank Statement. She told Belair she is the reason Belair is where she is. We ended Smackdown with Banks enjoying putting Belair in the Bank Statement.