WWE SmackDown results, live blog (Aug. 20, 2021): SummerSlam go home

WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Aug. 20, 2021) with a show emanating from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the go home show for the SummerSlam pay-per-view event that is scheduled to take place tomorrow night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WWE doesn’t have much advertised for tonight, but John Cena should be in the building. Will he come to blows with Roman Reigns before their main event match at SummerSlam?

Elsewhere on the card, we’ll hopefully get some answers about the status of Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks after they missed weekend house shows due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Come right back here at 8 pm ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on FOX. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)

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WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR AUG. 20

Edge is out to open the show. He’s seated in the ring, recaps his issues with Seth Rollins. Rollins has pushed him into a dark place, a place he’s not sure he can come back from. It scares him because he likes this place, where his blood runs back. He does see clearly, because on this day he knows at SummerSlam he doesn’t just have to beat Rollins, he has to break him. At SummerSlam, Edge will Burn. Seth. Down.

Dominik is hyping up his dad backstage, and says he knows Rey’s going to beat Jey tonight, and they’ll beat the Usos tomorrow. Rey says he has to not get ahead of himself, or let his emotions get the better of him. Last week, it cost their match. Dom bristles, but agrees and they head to the ring.

Rey Mysterio vs. Jey Uso

Jey gets the early advantage, so Rey rolls out. Dom back Jimmy off and dad reminds him to stay cool. Mysterio gets the advantage back in the ring and gives a little Eddie Guerrero shoulder shuffle after punches in the corner, but gets caught with a big right hand in the middle of the ring. Jimmy hypes the crowd as his brother takes control, but neither man can stay in the driver’s seat for long. A moonsault to the floor flattens both Usos, Dominik gets in the ring all fired up as we head to commercial.

Jey’s in control when we return. Enziguri from Rey creates space, but a Samoan Drop quickly ends that for a two count. He tries for another from the top, but Mysterio elbows free and hits a super-rana for a nearfall. He gets another with a crossbody, but Jey counters and nails a pop-up neckbreaker. Rey answers with a seated senton off the top, then hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT for two. Sunset flip after countering a 6-1-9, and Dom tries to ensure his dad gets the pin by putting his boots on Jey’s back, but Charles Robinson sees it and throws Dominik out! Things break down when Rey confronts his boy, and a splash off the top ends it seconds later.

Jey Uso def. Rey Mysterio via pinfall

We get a recap of Baron Corbin stealing Big E’s briefcase last Friday. He heads to the ring clutching it.

Baron Corbin vs. Kevin Owens

The case is on the announce desk, where Pat McAfee is reminding us what a scumbag Corbs is. Pat’s not happy the producers keep showing shots of the stolen property.

KO is fired up and jumps all over the former King, but Corbin slips out of the ring and slides back in for a big lariat. They go back and forth until Big E’s music hit and he stomps down the ramp. Corbin runs to retrieve the case, but E catches up to him and starts clobbering.

Baron Corbin def. Kevin Owens by disqualification

Corbin shoves E into the barricade and runs into the crowd with the case. McAfee tells us there’s a six foot tall garbage bag running loose in the arena.

Kayla Braxton catches up with Bianca Belair, and they’re still talking about her match with Sasha Banks at SummerSlam. We get a recap of last Friday’s contract signing. The SmackDown Women’s champ is disgusted watching it, and tells Braxton not to mention her name. Just hearing it makes her furious. Belair hopes The Boss is watching, because tonight she’s gonna snap Zelina Vega in two and turn Carmella into the ugliest Superstar in WWE. Kayla’s worried about her taking on two singles matches before her title defense tomorrow, but Bianca doesn’t care. She’s gonna show us her Mean-EST, Nasti-EST side tonight.

Jake Paul will be on Moist TV this Monday.

Shotzi & Nox vs. Tamina & Natalya

This is a Championship Contender’s Match. Tegan gets taken out in the corner immediately by Tamina. Natalya dominates Shotzi with her partner out of the picture. She gets some separation at times but has no one to tag. Then Nox recovers to take out Tamina, Shotzi rolls up Nattie, and we have new #1 contenders.

Shotzi & Nox def. Tamina & Natalya via pinfall

Highlights of Edge’s promo. Seth is getting ready to respond, but first a word from our sponsors.

Rollins doesn’t look fazed by his opponent’s threats (he’s also dressed in a relatively low key all white suit). He’s laughing it up, and says he likes Edge’s style. He covered all his excuses for why he’s going to lose to Seth tomorrow. The crowd keeps chanting for Edge, so Seth plays upset. He says there’s no shame in needing to go to his darkest place, because it’s the only way Edge can get on his level. But he won’t find it... some familiar creepy music plays, fire comes on the ‘tron, and Edge comes on the screen to tell him the freaks come out at night. “Blood” drops on Seth from above (explains the white suit), and Edge is channeling his Brood days with Gangrel for SummerSlam!

We’re reminded that Otis took Montez Ford out a couple months ago, and Street Profits head to the ring as we go to commercial so they can clean up the ring.

After the ads, we get a rundown of the SummerSlam card as clean-up continues. It also still includes Sasha.

Otis vs. Montez Ford

Tez with big slaps at the bell, but Otis lands a punch to the ribs. Scuffle in the corner, then Ford fails to take Dozer down with a pair of lariats. Otis turns his opponent inside out with a spinning back elbow, then throws him to the floor. Ford flips loose on a back body drop to start his comeback, Angelo Dawkins pounces Gable when he tries to get involved. Frog Splash from the Profit, 1 - 2 - NO! Scramble, Otis puts Tez down for the same splash that injured him, and that’s it.

Otis def. Montez Ford via pinfall

Recap of last week’s Intercontinental title change. Rick Boogs is out for the new champ’s entrance. McAfee hits the desk for some fresh moves as Michael Cole informs us that Boogs will be making his SmackDown in-ring debut after the break.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez

Boogs starts with Crews. He shows off some skills with an early takedown so he can play glute guitar. He tosses Apollo but celebrates too soon and the former IC champ takes control. Rick turns things around and throws Crews to get the tag. Azeez also tags in and jumps over the top rope. The big man runs into a kick pretty quickly, but does eventually counter a Kinshasa attempt into a side slam and gets the tag. Boogs also in, stretches Apollo for a few abdominal guitar licks. That segues into a slam and a three count.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs def. Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez via pinfall

Boogs, The King & Pat celebrate, then we get another recap of the Women’s title contact signing last week.

Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega

Carmella and Zelina entered together and then fought over who would go first. Mella acted like she would, then threw Vega into the ring.

Zelina gets a two count after a unique sunset flip enabled by a Carmella distraction. A flying enziguri follow-up attempt is caught though. A pair of powerbombs and K.O.D. ends it.

Bianca Belair def. Zelina Vega via pinfall

Mella hits a blindside superkick while Belair celebrates, then another as we get more ads.

Bianca Belair vs. Carmella

The referee checks on the champ, who insists she can go. Mella’s in control. The EST powers up while in a rear choke, slamming Carmella into the corner, then turning her around on her body to get her up for the delayed vertical suplex. Trash talk leads to scuffle. Carmella helds a choke in the ropes for five then clobbers Bianca while she’s tied up in the ring skirt, but moments later she falls victim to a K.O.D.

Bianca Belair def. Carmella via pinfall

Time for the final face-to-face between SummerSlam’s Universal title opponents. The champion is out first. His rival’s music kicks in before Roman can finish his pose with the belt, and Reigns just laughs. The crowd is hot for Jeeeern Cena. There’s dueling “Let’s Go Cena” “Let’s Go Roman” chants until the Head of the Table quiets them.

Reigns says Cena did what a lot of people do last week, said some dumb stuff to him. The crowd popped because he said it with energy, and the champ likes that. But he’s not gonna let Cena lie to the people. Cena’s not gonna beat him 1 - 2 - 3. He asks his “wise man” Paul Heyman who’s beaten him, and Heyman says no one has beaten “this” Reigns.

Cena’s not gonna let that continue. He hypes the fight and thanks the crowd, and says when he came back everyone assumed he was losing because he has to go film a movie. That part is true, but the losing part isn’t. He’s hear to humble Reigns. And 1 - 2 - 3 he’s gonna do that, go film his movie, and leave Roman an embarrassed shell of himself. He’s going to win his 17th WWE World title... thanks to Roman Reigns. And all it takes is 1 - 2 - 3.

Reigns is heated, thinking Cena thinks he’s better than him. But he catches himself, and decides to raise the stakes for SummerSlam since its Vegas. Either he leaves the show as champ or he’s leaving WWE! Roman goes for an attack, but Cena counters and covers him for 1 - 2 - 3. Roman can’t believe it!

That’s the show, folks.