Posted in SmackDown

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results (7/23/21): Roman Reigns Responds To John Cena

   July 24, 2021

WWE Friday Night SmackDown
July 23, 2021
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse & The Rolling Loud Festival
Cleveland, Ohio and Miami, Florida

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

John Cena & Paul Heyman Segment 

John Cena: Man, you are amped up tonight. And I understand, it’s been one hell of a week. Big surprise at Money In The Bank, that was fun. I was so excited, that I had to crash Monday Night Raw to do a little fan Q&A, and answers really important questions like, how did I escape that alternative universe in The Firefly Fun House? How many peacemaker costumes did I actually steal? And who’s the only guy left they can call to chin check that lifeless ego maniac, Roman Reigns? So, yes, I came back to challenge Roman Reigns at SummerSlam for the WWE Universal Championship. You see, I know you’re excited, and I know why you’re excited. Cleveland, we all know, this is SmackDown, and everybody here knows, we are a few heartbeats away from John Cena and Roman Reigns, face to face, in this very ring, right here, right now. And I could not think of a better place to do this than Cleveland.

Big news today out of Cleveland, big sports news. I don’t know if you guys heard, but I officially went to Cleveland Government Offices and changed my name. I changed my middle name to Guardians, because someone needs to protect the small amount of respect the WWE has left. Because SmackDown with Roman Reigns as its champion absolutely sucks. Now, that’s my just perspective, that’s just my opinion. I know that there are hundreds of Roman Reigns fans out there, somewhere. I think, I don’t know where they’re at, but they’re somewhere. But here’s the thing, they deserve to stand up and be heard. You all deserve to stand up and be heard. No more Thunderdome, no more LED Screens, we are live, and we are in your face, and there is noise on each and every side of this arena.

And that’s what you people understand. You see, SummerSlam is not just a match for the Universal Championship. No, no, no, it is a chance for all of us to stand up for what we believe in. What do you believe in? Who’s team are you on? Are you on Team Jorts or are you on Team Cargo Pants? Are you on Team Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect or are you on a team the fans always reject? Are you on Team Cena or are you on Team Roman Reigns? Speaking of Roman Reigns, where the hell is he? Hold up, I think he knows, that he can’t see me. And after SummerSlam, he’s gonna realize, The Champ Is Here. Let’s get fired up, let’s get him out here. Do you hear that, Roman, come on out. Let’s make this happen, let’s make history happen, right here, right now. Come out, Roman Reigns. Please come out, Roman Reigns.

Paul Heyman: Ladies and gentlemen, things that live in Cleveland. John Cena, you have it all wrong. Roman Reigns can’t see you? No, John, Roman Reigns can’t hear you because you’re simply not worth him listening to. Don’t get your panties in a bunch here, John, I, Paul Heyman, give you my word, tonight, you will get an answer to your challenge. When? Only when Roman Reigns decides to come out and show you and everyone here live tonight, that The Tribal Chief Is Here.

– Heyman sings John Cena’s theme song to close the segment.

First Match: Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Balor applies a waist lock. Zayn decks Balor with a back elbow smash. Wrist Lock Exchange. Balor goes for a Side Russian Leg Sweep, but Zayn counters with a wrist lock takedown. Zayn applies an arm-bar. Second Wrist Lock Exchange. Zayn with a straight right hand. Zayn rams Balor’s face across the top strand. Zayn punches Balor in the back. Zayn transitions into a ground and pound attack. Zayn dumps Balor out of the ring. Zayn tees off on Balor. Zayn rolls Balor back into the ring. Balor with a double leg takedown. Balor is raining down haymakers. Balor repeatedly stomps on Zayn’s chest. Balor kicks Zayn in the gut. Balor dumps Zayn out of the ring. Balor lands The SomerSault Plancha. Zayn has complete control of the match during the commercial break.

Balor decks Zayn with a JawBreaker. Balor with a straight right hand. Zayn clotheslines Balor for a two count. Zayn applies a rear chin lock. Zayn with Muay Thai Knee Strikes. Zayn poses for the crowd. Zayn sends Balor to the corner. Balor kicks Zayn in the face. Zayn with a toe kick. Zayn drops Balor with The DDT. Zayn goes for The Helluva Kick, but Balor counters with The SlingBlade. Balor ducks a clothesline from Zayn. Balor with a Spin Out Elbow Drop. Balor goes for The ShotGun Dropkick, but Zayn counters with The Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Balor denies The Exploder Suplex. Zayn hammers down on the back of Balor’s neck. Balor answers with elbow smashes of his own. Balor with clubbing shoulder blocks. Zayn goes for The Exploder Suplex, but Balor counters with The Roll Through Double Foot Stomp. Balor delivers Two ShotGun Dropkicks. Balor connects with The Coupe De Grace to pickup the victory.

Winner: Finn Balor via Pinfall 

Second Match: Angelo Dawkins w/Montez Ford and Wale vs. Chad Gable w/Otis Dozovic 

Feeling out process after the bell rings. Dozovic trips Dawkins from the outside. Gable attacks Dozovic from behind. Gable with clubbing blows to Dawkins back. Gable whips Dawkins across the ring. Dawkins leapfrogs over Gable. Dawkins with a Spinning Elbow Strike. Dawkins dropkicks Gable. Dawkins ducks a clothesline from Gable. Dawkins drops Gable with The Butterfly NeckBreaker. Dawkins goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Gable lands back on his feet. Gable nails Dawkins with a throat thrust. Gable unloads two knife edge chops. Gable with another throat thrust in the corner. Gable with the irish whip. Dawkins catches Gable in mid-air. Dawkins puts Gable on the top turnbuckle. Gable applies The Rope Assisted Arm-Bar.

Gable with The Flying Clothesline for a two count. Gable repeatedly cranks on the left shoulder of Dawkins. Gable slams the left shoulder of Dawkins on the canvas. Gable applies a hammerlock. Gable with The Bridging Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Gable applies an arm-bar. Gable with a German Suplex for a two count. Gable goes for The MoonSault, but Dawkins ducks out of the way. Dawkins dumps Gable out of the ring. Dawkins clotheslines Gable. Dawkins with The 360 Stinger Splash. Gable denies The Running Bulldog. Gable with The Rolling Capo Kick. Dawkins rocks Gable with a big haymaker for a two count. Dawkins has Gable perched on the top turnbuckle. Gable with two sharp elbow strikes. Gable with the backslide cover for a two count. Dawkins connects with The Cash Out to pickup the victory.

Winner: Angelo Dawkins via Pinfall 

Third Match: Bianca BelAir (c) vs. Carmella For The WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship 

Rollup Exchange. Carmella kicks BelAir in the gut. Carmella pulls BelAir down to the mat. Carmella pie faces BelAir. Carmella is mauling BelAir in the corner. Carmella with the irish whip. BelAir dives over Carmella. BelAir showcases her athleticism. BelAir dropkicks Carmella. BelAir pops back on her feet. BelAir taunts Carmella. Carmella slams BelAir’s head on the top rope. Carmella ducks a clothesline from BelAir. Carmella with The Tilt-A-Whirl Headscissors Takeover. BelAir drops Carmella with a shoulder tackle. Carmella denies The KOD. BelAir rocks Carmella with a forearm smash. Carmella blocks a boot from BelAir. Carmella pulls BelAir down to the mat.

Carmella hooks the outside leg for a two count. Carmella applies a rear chin lock. BelAir gets back to a vertical base. BelAir with The Pendulum BackBreaker. Carmella drives BelAir face first into the middle turnbuckle pad. BelAir launches Carmella over the top rope. Carmella rocks BelAir with a forearm smash. Carmella goes for The Flying Crossbody Block, but BelAir counters with The Fallaway Slam. BelAir with clubbing blows to Carmella’s back. BelAir repeatedly stomps on Carmella’s chest. BelAir hits The Handspring MoonSault for a two count. Carmella decks BelAir with a JawBreaker. BelAir goes for The Delayed Vertical Suplex, but Carmella counters with The X-Factor for a two count. Carmella thrust kicks the midsection of BelAir. BelAir blocks The SuperKick. Carmella dodges The Big Boot. BelAir with a forearm smash. BelAir connects with The KOD to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bianca BelAir via Pinfall 

Edge & Seth Rollins Segment 

Edge: I got a lot of history. You all know my history. You know what I’ve done. You know how hard I fought to get this back. Hell, you know how hard I fought to get all of you back. And if you watched Money In The Bank on Sunday, then you also know that I should be standing here as the Universal Champion. But I’m not, and there’s one reason why. Seth Rollins. This goes back to 2014 when we first met.

You didn’t pull the trigger then to get the job done because you never thought I’d be back here, but now I am back here and I’m in your way. Seth, you have no inkling the pandora’s box of violence and mental pain that you have opened. I learned from the most evil minds in the history of this industry. I was in The Brood. I was in The Ministry Of Darkness. You have no idea the depths that I will sink to, to get the job done. But you’re gonna find out.

Seth Rollins: I was gonna come out here and talk about how much I despise this city. Hey, I was gonna come out here and talk about how much I despise people like you, people like you and John Cena, who want to come back whenever you want, you’re going to jump the line, you want to take opportunities that you don’t deserve from people like me who’ve earned those opportunities. Hear me out, I was going to talk about all those things, but the more that I thought about it, the more I agree with the people of Cleveland, I am thrilled that you are out here standing in my ring, right now.

Give it up for Grandpa Edge, give it up for him. Nothing would make me happier than be the man to put an end to your little fairy tale comeback story. And, look, if you keep pushing me and pushing me, when they talk about the hall of fame career of Edge, they’re not going to talk about you, they’re going to talk about the man who ended you, they’re going to talk about Seth Freaking Rollins. And I’ve got my boot on the back of your surgically repaired neck, I will not hesitate to pull the trigger, BANG!  Bang, Bang. Poof, there goes your neck, up in smoke.

Edge: Hey, remember what I said about not putting my hands on you? I’m a lair.

Edge gets into a massive brawl with Rollins to close the segment.

Fourth Match: Toni Storm vs. Zelina Vega 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Vega applies a side headlock. Storm whips Vega across the ring. Vega kicks Storm in the chest. Vega blocks a boot from Storm. Vega ducks a clothesline from Storm. Storm drops Vega with The Big Boot. Storm with a Sliding Lariat. Vega regroups on the outside. Vega with a drop toe hold into the announce table. Vega rolls Storm back into the ring. Vega repeatedly stomps on Storm’s chest. Vega poses for the crowd. Vega with The Pump Kick.

Vega slings Storm across the ring. Vega with The Pump Knee Strike for a two count. Storm denies The Spinning DDT. Storm HeadButts Vega. Storm with a Running Hip Attack. Storm with The Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Vega denies Storm Zero. Vega kicks the left knee of Storm. Vega drills Storm with The Canadian Destroyer for a two count. Vega is putting the boots to Storm. Vega fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Standing Switch Exchange. Vega removes Storm’s belt. Storm connects with The Storm One to pickup the victory.

Winner: Toni Storm via Pinfall 

Fifth Match: Jimmy Uso w/Jey Uso vs. Dominik Mysterio w/Rey Mysterio 

Dominik is throwing haymakers at Jimmy. Dominik with clubbing blows to Jimmy’s back. Jimmy applies a side headlock. Dominik whips Jimmy across the ring. Jimmy drops Dominik with a shoulder tackle. Dominik drops down on the canvas. Dominik leapfrogs over Jimmy. Dominik with a Hip Toss. Dominik dropkicks Jimmy. Dominik slaps Jimmy in the chest. Jimmy swipes out the legs of Dominik. Jimmy thrust kicks the midsection of Dominik. Jimmy sends Dominik chest first into the turnbuckles for a two count. Jimmy puts his knee on the back of Dominik’s neck. Jimmy applies a rear chin lock. Dominik with heavy bodyshots. Dominik kicks Jimmy in the chest. Dominik with a Cazadora Takeover. Dominik goes for The 619, but Jey gets in the way. Jimmy regroups on the outside. Rey with a Flying Seated Senton off the ring apron. Dominik with a SpringBoard Crossbody Block to the outside. Dominik is fired up.

Jimmy regains control of the match during the commercial break. Dominik ducks a clothesline from Jimmy. Dominik drops Jimmy with a NeckBreaker. Jimmy launches Dominik over the top rope. Dominik slams Jimmy’s head on the top rope. Dominik with The Slingshot Senton. Dominik kicks Jimmy in the gut. Jimmy denies The Three Amigos. Jimmy with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Dominik delivers the chop block. Dominik connects with The 619. Dominik prepares for The Frog Splash. Jey runs interference. Rey pulls Jey off the ring apron. Jimmy SuperKicks Dominik in mid-air for a two count. Jey SuperKicks Rey. Dominik denies The Samoan Drop. Dominik rolls Jimmy over for a two count. Dominik with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick to Jey. Dominik rocks Jimmy with a forearm smash. Counter Display. Dominik goes for the sunset flip, but Jimmy rolls him over with leverage from Jey to pickup the victory.

Winner: Jimmy Uso via Pinfall 

Roman Reigns & Finn Balor Segment 

Roman Reigns: Cleveland, acknowledge me. You there, sitting at home, acknowledge me. You might as well, everybody is acknowledging me. As a matter of fact, John Cena has acknowledged me. John Cena acknowledged me at Money In The Bank. John Cena acknowledged me at Monday Night Raw. He acknowledged me tonight. And, Paul, to be honest, I wanted to acknowledge, John, I really did. Hollywood fooled me. They put a whole new paint job on John. I thought we were gonna get something new, I thought we were gonna get something special, but what happened at Money In The Bank. What happened?

He came out here and he put on a nostalgia act. It’s the same the thing. He came out here, the same music, the same entrance, the same run to the ring, the same outfit, the same promo, the same insults. If I wanted that, all I had to do was search online for 2005 John Cena. It’s the same thing over and over, it’s like missionary position, every single night. And The Tribal Chief, The Head Of The Table, we’re not interested in that, no, no, no. I can’t see you. I don’t want to see you. I don’t need to see you. I have no desire to see you. And guess what? We’re not gonna see you. We’re not gonna see you in the main event of SummerSlam, because my answer to your challenge is no.

– Finn Balor walks down to the ring to interrupt Reigns.

Roman Reigns: My special counsel tells me that you’re here to follow suit. You’re here to do as John Cena does, and acknowledge me.

Finn Balor: I’m not here to acknowledge you. But if you’re not interested in Joh Cena’s challenge, maybe you’re interested in mine.

Roman Reigns: Challenge accepted.

Checkout Episode 267 of The Hoots Podcast

Author: Josh Lopez