WWE SmackDown Score (09/17/21): Fear
The word of the night for the Sept. 17, 2021 edition of Friday Night SmackDown was fear.
Let’s get right to the action from last night’s blue brand telecast from the University of Tennessee.
Brock Lesnar Fears Roman Reigns?
Much like he has done every Friday night during his 380 day title reign, the Universal Champion — along with his cousins and “Special Counsel” — opened up SmackDown. Reigns asked the Knoxville crowd to acknowledge him, and they obliged with heavy boos. A befuddled “Head of the Table” asked his “Special Counsel” to educate the crowd on what acknowledging the Universal Champion means.
For the first time in what felt like forever, at the request of the “Tribal Chief”, Heyman cut a decently long promo about how for the first time in Brock Lesnar’s career, he has fear. Lesnar fears Reigns, which is why he made up the fact Heyman knew he was coming to the “Biggest Party of the Summer”. Heyman also claimed Balor fears the Universal Champion, hence the reason why he needs to resort to the “Demon” at Extreme Rules.
Once the “Special Counsel” finishes his rant on fear, the new WWE Champion made his way to the ring. Both champions hold up their championships in an intense staredown without any words being uttered besides the crowd chanting, “YOU DESERVE IT!” towards the WWE Champion. As the staredown ends, outcomes Balor, and SmackDown goes to its first commercial of the evening.
Back from the break, and we learn Adam Pearce made a tag match between RAW’s new top dog and Balor vs the Usos. The match wasn’t anything special. Balor delivered a Coup De Grace to Jey Uso as Big E was hitting Jimmy with the Big Ending. E picked up the victory, and he and Balor celebrated afterwards. It was a decent opening contest.
The story was the commentary Michael Cole and Pat McAfee told during the match. McAfee made the point E may be the champion of WWE, but Reigns is the champion of the universe (I thought that was a nice spin to differentiate the titles that only McAfee could do!). McAfee also made the point E and Balor had never teamed together before. Do they even get along or are they just fighting common foes? Plus, now that E and Balor were victorious, after the Street Profits at Extreme Rules, are they next in line for a tag title match? McAfee: You are the best my man!
While E and Balor were celebrating their victory, the camera cuts to Reigns and Heyman backstage. Reigns asked Heyman if there was any secret he needs to tell him. Heyman emphatically tells his client no. Reigns responds by saying, “What if I know?” Heyman again reiterates he has no secrets to tell the “Head of the Table”, and that he was completely telling the truth when he said he had no idea Lesnar was showing up at SummerSlam, and that for the first time in his career, Lesnar fears an opponent.
Reigns responds by asking Heyman if Lesnar is going to be at Extreme Rules. Heyman quickly answers no. Reigns says, “How do you know?” Heyman says it’s an educated guess. Reigns says he doesn’t pay Heyman to make educated guesses. He pays him to tell the “Tribal Chief” ahead of time what’s up, so he can prepare.
Reigns Fears Balor and Big E?
Later in the night, Kayla Braxton chases down Heyman in the hallway. Heyman almost has a heart attack and is completely annoyed with the crafty journalist. Braxton says she heard from her sources Lesnar is moving to RAW in the draft, and she wants a comment from his advocate. Heyman screams at Braxton he is no longer Lesnar’s advocate; he is the “Special Counsel” to the “Tribal Chief” and that’s it.
All of a sudden, Heyman breaks away from Braxton and runs into the new kingpin of Monday nights. Just like he has done the last few weeks, E laughs in Heyman’s face. Heyman tells E he is glad he is WWE Champion because he has more respect for E than anybody on the SmackDown roster besides the “Bloodline”. Then, just like the three most destructive letters in sports entertainment, from outta nowhere, the Usos attack E all over the backstage area, setting up a BANGER of a main event on RAW when New Day will take on the “Bloodline” in a MASSIVE six-man tag team match.
I thought this was the match that was going to main event Survivor Series, but I’m not against putting this match on free television at all. Hopefully the Lions-Packers game will be a blowout, not only for my fantasy purposes of Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones, but because this match will be a match of the year candidate. It also looks like E vs Reigns mono y mono will be going down in Brooklyn on Nov. 21. That is a big time matchup for a Big Four Pay-Per-View.
However, if the Usos attacked E backstage, I’m assuming Reigns sent the Usos after him, which can only mean one thing: Reigns fears the WWE Champion.
Balor also cut a promo backstage later in the night, reminding us how the “Demon” is used when he needs to go to that different place, and Reigns should fear the “Demon” because the “Demon” is no ordinary man, and the “Demon” will be walking out of the Nationwide Arena in two weeks with the biggest prize on SmackDown.
There’s a lot to unpack here, but here’s the gist: Reigns already has his next three feuds set up. First, he’ll slay the “Demon” at Extreme Rules. Next, he’ll take on the “Beast Incarnate” in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 21. Then, he’ll take on Big E at Survivor Series.
During this time, Lesnar — just like Braxtons’ sources said — will get drafted to RAW in two weeks. Lesnar and Reigns will tear the house down in Saudi, but Lesnar will not win the strap. Instead, following Survivor Series, Lesnar will focus on E and the WWE Title, and Heyman will be able to make peace with both of his clients by managing them both on separate brands until they clash again, either at Wrestlemania 38 or SummerSlam 2022.
Lesnar and Reigns have a storied history. Balor and Reigns have history. Even E and Reigns have a little history.
But this is a different Reigns. This is the “Tribal Chief”, the “Head of the Table”, a man who fears nobody. It’s actually quite the opposite. Heyman is right: Lesnar, Balor and E do fear the Universal Champion, and this is going to be quite an adventurous fall for the “Bloodline”.
Bianca Beliar Fears Becky Lynch?
The main event of the show saw Beliar host a homecoming party for her hometown of Knoxville. Before she made her entrance, MAYOR KANE made a surprise appearance to a great pop, and I loved it! The WWE Hall of Famer is definitely beloved out there!
Beliar got a huge pop from the crowd. We saw a video package of her hanging out at a local high school this week, and those kids were ecstatic to see the “EST”! She is as beloved in Knoxville as the mayor is!
Kane presented Beliar with the key to the city — which was an amazing real, genuine moment. (McAfee hilariously said on commentary she needs to only use it on the BIG doors!) It looked like Beliar was going to break down in tears, but she kept it together and thanked her high school and the University of Tennessee for making her who she is today. She led the crowd through the singing of the University of Tennessee fight song until Big Time Becks made her way to the ring.
The “Man” took one look at Beliar’s track and field pictures from her college days that surrounded the ring, and she laughingly said the “EST” looked cute. Beliar wasn’t having none of it though. She stopped Lynch right in her tracks and told her she wasn’t going to ruin her homecoming right in front of her family, friends and people, and that she was sick of hearing about her 26-second loss at SummerSlam. She is going to do whatever it takes to win back her championship at Extreme Rules.
Lynch said she wasn’t out to ruin the celebration of the “EST”. She just came out to shake her hand. She extended her hand out, and Beliar took it, but she didn’t let go. Lynch would try to take a swipe at Beliar’s face, but Beliar ducked and attempted the KOD on Lynch, but Lynch would reverse the maneuver and just like in Vegas, plant Beliar with a Manhandle Slam and hold the SmackDown’s Women’s Title up to show her dominance to end the show.
Beliar is 100% OVER with the crowd, and not just in her hometown. Even if you wrestle in your hometown, you don’t get a reaction like she did unless you are a STAR, and I feel like Beliar is on the level of Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Lynch as the cornerstones of the women’s division. At the same time, her not letting go of the “Man’s” hand, and “Big Time Becks” being so confident makes me think Beliar does indeed fear Lynch, and she truly doesn’t believe she can beat her in Columbus, OH, in two weeks. Why else would she not let go of her hand?!
I said last week after Banks didn’t return at Madison Square Garden, I feel she makes her presence known at Extreme Rules and costs Beliar the match, setting up a triple threat between the three ladies down the line, and I’m sticking to that prediction, but Lynch and Beliar will put on a fantastic bout inside Nationwide Arena.
Seth Rollins Fears Edge
Rollins came out to the ring and insisted the production truck run the footage back of him sending Edge to the hospital last week. The “Drip God” said he’s been thinking about his actions all week, and he’s come to the conclusion that what he did to Edge is not his fault… AT ALL!
Nope! In fact, he said he may have ended Edges’ career because of the WWE Universe! The WWE Universe has beloved the “Master Manipulator” for so long and hated the “Aritect” that Rollins was sick of it.
The crowd cheered for Edge when he went full BROOD on Rollins. They cheered when the “Rated-R Superstar” defeated Rollins at SummerSlam. Yet, Rollins warned the WWE Universe that all it took was one stomp to the back of Edges’ surgically repaired neck, and his career could be over, and the WWE Universe made Rollins go to that dark place he feared to go to. He didn’t want to end the career of the 11-time World Champion, but the WWE Universe pushed him too far.
Rollins then had an epiphany. He said he heard Edge’s wife Beth Phoenix on NXT 2.0 Tuesday say Edge was resting comfortably at home. Well, whenever Edge recovers, if he can get back in the ring, he wants the “Ultimate Opportunist” one more time because he can’t move on in his professional life without ending Edge. Rollins has feared Edge since he came out of retirement in 2020 and until Edge can no longer compete, Rollins fears he won’t be able to focus on recapturing the Universal Title.
This was a fantastic promo by Rollins. It was one of the best promos he’s cut in a long time, and the crowd was all over him. The promo served its purpose. Whenever he recovers from the injuries he suffered last week, Edge and Rollins will duke it out one more time, this time presumably with a stipulation. The stipulation chosen will be another interesting aspect to look out for. What Rollins does in the meantime? Who knows, but next to Reigns and his wife, he’s the best heel on Friday nights.
Apollo Crews Fears Shinsuke Nakamura
It is SO GREAT to see McAfee dancing on the announce table again! It will never get old! Please don’t let this end anytime soon WWE!
I digress… BOOGSSSSSSSSSSS quickly puts away Robert Roode with his powerslam finisher, which now has a name — the Boogs Cruise! Afterwards, the “King of Strongstyle”, McAfee and BOOGSSSSSSSSSSS were celebrating on the announce table when Crews and Commander Azeez came from nowhere. McAfee shouted, “GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE! WHERE DID THEY COME FROM” (Again, NEVER take McAfee away, WWE!)?! as the two men were brutalizing Nakamura and his rockstar partner (Crews had to attack Nakamura because he fears him). After the beatdown, Crews grabbed a microphone and challenged the champion to an Intercontinental Title match next week, which Sonya Deville and Pearce confirmed.
I see Nakamura going over here easily in what should be a fun match. Crews had a little bit of a good heel run in early 2021, but it quickly died in my estimation when Azeez came aboard at Wrestlemania and helped Crews defeat E for the IC strap in a Nigerian Drum Fight. Nakamura needs a new challenger for his belt. Even Ziggler or Roode would be more fresh than Crews.
“Happy Corbin” Fears Kevin Owens
“Happy Corbin” and Owens were about to square off, but as Owens made his way to the ring, the former “BUM ASS BARON CORBIN” attacked him from behind and set him into the LED screen, forcing the match to never take place, due to the fact “Happy Corbin” fears KO because he’s never beaten him.
McAfee is right. “Happy Corbin” is “BUM ASS BARON CORBIN” with money. I still love the gimmick, and this pre-match attack sets up a KO-”Happy Corbin” match right before they split ways during the draft.
I would keep Corbin on SmackDown and move KO back to RAW and turn him back into the heel prizefighter. He’s done all he can do as a face on both brands over the last two years. It’s time to make him a top heel again and send him after E and the WWE Title on Monday nights during the winter. “Happy Corbin” has a long-term trajectory planted out on Fridays.
Carmella Fears Liv Morgan Broke her Nose
Liv Morgan teamed with Toni Storm to take on Zelina Vega and Carmella. Early in the match, Morgan kicked Carmella in the back and sent the “Most Beautiful Women in WWE” face first into the turnbuckle. Fearing her nose was broken, Carmella screamed as she ran out of the ring, and she and Vega headed towards the back, taking the countout loss.
Backstage later in the night, while in the trainer’s room, Morgan challenged Carmella to a match at Extreme Rules and Vega to a match next week on SmackDown. Both matches were made official by Deville and Pearce.
I feel this feud between Morgan and Carmella will not conclude at Extreme Rules, but I hope so. It’s a little bit of a weird match to put on a Pay-Per-View, considering it hasn’t really been pushed, but maybe WWE fears the Extreme Rules card is too short.
Rey Mysterio Fears his son Isn’t Listening to him
Dominik Mysterio once again took on Sami Zayn. Rey didn’t listen to his son’s request to stay in the back. Instead, Rey was on commentary, doing his best to coach up his son, but Dominik wouldn’t listen.
Dominik would hit the 619 on Zayn, but he took too much time getting to the top rope for the splash. Rey told Dominik to climb faster, fearing Zayn would recover soon. Zayn would get his knees up and rollup Rey’s little boy for the win.
I fear these two are going to break up in the draft, and I hope not. Like I said a few weeks ago, this storyline feels a bit premature. These two needed to team for about six more months and break up just in time for a one-on-one match at Wrestlemania 38 in Jerry’s World. The story is there. I just don’t want to see a potential great Wrestlemania feud wasted because of the draft.
Deville Fears Naomi
Naomi once again asked Deville for a match to prove her worth. Deville said there wasn’t enough time in the show again. Naomi was done taking the BS and told Naomi she was a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, and she better give her a match. Cowering in fear, Deville told her to get back to her next week.
I can’t wait till Naomi gets so sick and tired of Deville’s crap that she goes to her husband Jimmy Uso, and then by default, the “Special Counsel” and the “Tribal Chief” for help. Just hang in here folks! This story has only just begun.
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Next Week
Shinsuke Nakamura defends the Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews. Liv Morgan takes on Zelina Vega in an attempt to gain more momentum towards her Extreme Rules showdown with Carmella. We should also find out the stipulations for the top matches going into next Sunday.
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There was nothing too special about this episode. Storylines progressed, fear was put into opponents. and it got the job done. It was a typical, good Friday night of wrasslin’!
GRADE: B
