We kick off SmackDown with Edge. He says WrestleMania was supposed to be the culmination of a 10 year story, winning the Universal Championshop 10 years to the day he was forced to retire. And he knew it would happen, and then it didn’t. He didn’t see that coming, and it wasn’t in his vision.
It rocked him, so he took some time, but in that time he started to roll the match back in his brain. Roman likes to embroider the truth and many key points. He could complain about Daniel Bryan’s involvement would cost him the title, and he did.
How he pulled the ref out and stopped his submission. Or Jey Uso stopping the con-chair-to. 2006 Edge would complain about these things. But in 2021, there will always be excuses or obstacles. But he’s spent his life knocking down those obstacles and he doesn’t stop.
Now that he gets Roman one on one, he knows he can beat him. More importantly, Roman knows it because they both felt it, but he has proof. He brings up a photo of Edge’s cross face on Roman, and he asks to zoom in on both of their eyes. Roman’s eyes were the face of fear. Edge’s eyes were the eyes of a man who knows he’s in his head and will be for life.
When Roman heard Edge’s music, showed what he already knew. He has Roman’s number. He will beat you. It’s just inevitable. And he will be the Universal Champion.
Paul and Jey Uso are backstage and Jey can’t believe what he heard. Jey has Roman’s back like he has his. And when Roman gets here, they’ll put Edge in his place and stamp the family flag back. Paul says nothing and looks frustrated.
Pre-recorded segment that shows a depressed Corbin talking about the money and fame he lost along with his crown.
King Nakamura and Big E vs. Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin
Corbin’s vehicle gets towed away and Big E hits the Big Ending from behind for the win. He is despondent after.
Winners: King Nakamura and Big E
Back from the break and Bayley is in the ring for a face-off with SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. She starts ranting about Belair’s recent win being a fluke, then how she and Seth Rollins won last week. Bayley says we all know Belair is physically strong, but she’s mentally weak. She says Belair is clearly crumbling at our expectations, and she needs to get her head in the game before she falls apart in front of fans when crowds return in a few weeks. Fans continue to boo Bayley. A “you suck!” chant starts up now.
The music interrupts and out comes Belair. She says Bayley needs a crack in her mouth, because she has what Bayley wants. Belair goes on about how Bayley keeps coming for her, like she’s obsessed. This feels like the same promo we’ve had for the past 3 weeks. Belair says there’s only one way to end this – for her to embarrass Bayley to the point of no return. Belair offers to put her title on the line in an “I Quit!” match at Money In the Bank.
Bayley laughs at the idea of Belair making her quit, and says she’d probably quit SmackDown, or quit WWE, or quit competing altogether. Bayley goes on about Belair not being the champion she portrays, and says Belair has no chance to win. Bayley accepts. Belair ends up laughing at Bayley and Bayley wants to know what’s so funny. Bianca realizes how excited she was to hear the words “I Quit” now. They stare at each other to end the segment.
Paul Heyman is backstage pacing when Jimmy Uso walks up. He asks if Roman Reigns is still here and he’s not. Jimmy tells Heyman to let Reigns know that Edge is still waiting for him and he’s ready to jump on him. Jimmy wonders what Reigns is waiting for and then it dawns on him – Reigns is waiting for Jimmy to act first. Jimmy goes on and says he will approach Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville so that they can save some time for him at the end of the show, to call Edge out. Jimmy walks off as Heyman watches.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens – Last Man Standing Money In The Bank Qualifier
Owens wins after he hits Sami with a Stunner and then relentlessly powerbombs him through the announce table, another table and the apron.
Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match, Owens’ spot for Money In the Bank is confirmed. The music hits as Owens stands tall as ringside, then looks down at Zayn. Owens hits the ring and stands under the briefcases as fans cheer him on. Owens joins Big E as the only confirmed SmackDown entrant for the Men’s Money In the Bank Ladder Match. RAW entrants are Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Riddle and John Morrison. We see a dazed Zayn trying to recover on the mat to end the segment.
Megan Morant stops Edge backstage and asks him about Jimmy Uso calling him out later. Edge talks about how he knows he’s walking into a trap tonight, and that Roman Reigns will be nearby waiting. Edge doesn’t care – he’s tired of Reigns, tired of their family, tired of excuses. He goes on and says if they want to set this trap, that’s fine because they’re going to get an angry, vindictive son of a b—h. Edge walks off.
The music interrupts and out comes Liv Morgan. She’s still upset about Carmella being put into the MITB Ladder Match, when she feels like she deserves a spot, and now Vega is being given an opportunity. Liv enters the ring and goes on about how Vega doesn’t deserve to be in the match, saying she hasn’t even competed on SmackDown all year. How is that fair? Vega says she’s competed in rings like this one for years, and is one of the most popular WWE Superstars in history, and can run circles around Liv, embarrassing her and showing what an amateur Liv is.
Liv smacks Vega and tells her to prove it. Liv asks Deville is Liv can prove it in a match right now. Deville apparently makes the match as we go to commercial with Liv and Vega arguing.
Zelina Vega vs. Liv Morgan
Morgan rolls Vega up with a tight grab for the win.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Back to the ring, where Otis heads to the ring and will meet Angelo Dawkins in a match after this break.
We come back and get a video recap of the Alpha Academy ruining the lives of the Street Profits. Dawkins heads out after that, you’d think he’d be pissed off after getting physically mauled for a few weeks but he still does the little dance on the entrance ramp.
Otis vs. Angelo Dawkins
Otis wins a squash with a flying frog splash.
Winner: Otis
– After the match, Otis stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Gable praises Otis and shows him off to end the segment.
– There was an earlier backstage segment with Rick Boogs taunting Baron Corbin with “king” jokes. Corbin calmly knocked Boogs for making fun of people and said that’s not funny. A sad and somber Corbin told Boogs to screw himself, then walked off.
Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman are backstage. Jimmy is hyped up and saying Edge is asking for it tonight. He still wonders where his cousin is. Heyman says Roman Reigns operates on his own time but he does do for those who do for him. Heyman tells Jimmy to be “Main Event Jimmy” and go out there, and do what he needs to do.
– We go back to the ring and out comes Jimmy Uso to call out WWE Hall of Famer Edge. He hits the ring and we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Jimmy is in the ring with a mic, taunting Edge. Jimmy says he doesn’t need his brother Jey Uso or anyone else tonight because he can handle Edge all by himself. Jimmy says it seems like Edge isn’t man enough to step into the ring and face off with him. Jimmy goes on about how this isn’t a trap, it’s just Jimmy calling him out. Let’s do this. The music finally hits and out comes Edge to a pop as pyro goes off on the stage.
Edge asks Jimmy if he thinks he’s smart, acting all tough with his cousin waiting in the wings. Edge goes on about how WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is using Jimmy and the rest of his family. Edge asks what happened to Jimmy and “Nobody’s B—h” because now he’s just another one of Roman’s b—h. Edge says this is a pretty good trap, but not one for Edge, one for Jimmy. Edge marches to the ring as Jimmy paces and looks around.
Jimmy attacks Edge as he enters the ring at the apron. Edge fights back and launches Jimmy into the ring post. Edge drops Jimmy again and goes to take the steel ring steps apart. Jimmy comes out and drops Edge with a superkick. Jimmy beats Edge up and brings him back into the ring. Jimmy mounts Edge with right hands in the middle of the ring as fans boo. Edge turns it back around and applies the Crossface in the middle of the ring, making Jimmy tap out.
Edge finally lets go of the submission. Jimmy gasps for air as Edge waits for him to get back up. Edge delivers a big Spear in the middle of the ring. Edge ends up going to ringside and breaking a steel chair. He grabs the steel bar from the chair, like he did at WrestleMania, and brings it back in the ring. Edge uses that bar to pull back on a Crossface, like he did to Reigns at WrestleMania. Jimmy yells out and taps. Edge finally breaks the hold and drops the bar.
Edge lets up off Jimmy and addresses the camera to send a message to Reigns. Edge yells, “I don’t stop!” SmackDown goes off the air as Edge send the warning to Reigns, who did not appear all night.
