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SmackDown continued the build to SummerSlam 2021 this week with an action-packed episode. While there were quite a few flaws that will be highlighted in Best & Worst, the overall pace of the show was light and easy to keep up with.
Important storylines got the limelight and SmackDown seems to be following the "less is more" policy. With that said, here's what WWE subtly told us on SmackDown this week.
#5 SmackDown has the funniest contract signing in WWE history?
Just like last week, SmackDown opened with a John Cena promo. He continued to trash Roman Reigns and made some clever and not-so-clever comebacks.
Baron Corbin, who has been one of the highlights of SmackDown lately, interfered and John Cena couldn't even recognize him. It was only when Corbin went up close that he realized it was his SummerSlam 2017 opponent. Not wanting to kick a man while he was down, he gave Corbin whatever little cash he had in his pocket.
Corbin insulted John Cena for giving him so little, calling him a 'low life' before getting an Attitude Adjustment.
While we assumed at first that Roman Reigns vs Finn Balor would happen on SmackDown, WWE announced that they would have a contract signing to make their match official for SummerSlam. When Roman Reigns sat by Finn Balor, he indicated that he had a bit more respect for him than he did for John Cena.
Ultimately, Roman Reigns said he would be happy to lay the beatdown on Finn Balor at SummerSlam and proceeded to sign the contract. When threatening to send Finn Balor back from SmackDown to NXT, The Prince simply responded that he would be glad to return to the black and gold brand as the Universal Champion again.
However, right as he was about to put the pen on the dotted line, Baron Corbin came out and attacked him. John Cena then ran in for the save and signed his name on the contract, all while Roman Reigns looked on bewildered.
Backstage on SmackDown, a furious Paul Heyman demanded to know how it was even legal to book Reigns vs Cena when Finn Balor's name was on the bonded contract. Adam Pearce explained that a signature was good enough for him and the match was made official.
Meanwhile, Finn Balor vs Baron Corbin was announced for next week. Not only has Corbin's face turn seemingly been canceled, but Finn Balor may have to wait another month for a Universal Title shot.
#4 The Mysterios to get the SmackDown Tag Team titles back this summer?
This week on SmackDown, Rey Mysterio took on Jimmy Uso, while Dominik was on the lookout for Jey. It was a fun match to watch and the finish was a good one as well.
The Usos have been getting the better of The Mysterios via cheap pinfalls. On SmackDown this week, Dominik provided a similar assist as he stuck his leg on Rey Mysterio's back to secure the pin for his father.
It's clear that The Usos vs Mysterios will be the SmackDown Tag Team title feud heading into SummerSlam 2021. Hopefully, it's a main card match this time because it will be over a year after Dominik Mysterio's WWE debut.
Moreover, it's going to be a huge crowd at the Biggest Party Of The Summer and it will finally be time for The Mysterios to have their moment in front of the fans.
Perhaps the only reason why The Usos became SmackDown Tag Team Champions again is that Rey and Dominik can regain the gold on a big stage like SummerSlam.
#3 Sasha Banks returns to SmackDown after nearly four months as a face....at first
Bianca Belair was interviewed by Kayla Braxton on SmackDown following another successful defense of her title. It seemed like a segment to set up her next SmackDown Women's title challenger, so it was admittedly underwhelming when Carmella was the one that came out.
Zelina Vega, who hasn't won since her SmackDown return, came out as well and things didn't make much sense. She challenged Belair for the SmackDown Women's title and it was accepted. Immediately after, both of the heels began an attack, prompting the return of Sasha Banks after nearly four months.
She was immediately positioned as a face upon her return and hugged the woman who beat her for the SmackDown Women's Title at WrestleMania this year. In the main event, Sasha Banks teamed up with Bianca Belair and The Boss submitted Carmella, who teamed up with Zelina Vega.
While Belair and Sasha Banks were celebrating, the latter hit a Backstabber and turned heel once again before applying the Bank Statement. She ended the show by lifting the SmackDown Women's Championship up, indicating that she is, in fact, next in line for the title at SummerSlam.
#2 A new Intercontinental title challenger on SmackDown
There was a bit of a throwaway six-man tag team match on SmackDown. Mr. Money in the Bank, Big E, teamed up with Cesaro and King Nakamura to face Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode.
It was a quick match on SmackDown and given that WWE had to squeeze it between the Edge segment and the main event, it isn't surprising to see why. Apollo Crews has gotten a bit stale as the Intercontinental Champion, but that isn't really his fault.
In the six-man tag team match on SmackDown, King Nakamura picked up the victory for his team as he hit a short-run Kinshasa to pin Crews.
It's clear now that Shinsuke Nakamura is potentially challenging for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. Nakamura vs Apollo Crews isn't a feud that's going to set SmackDown on fire, but a title change at SummerSlam might be what's needed to freshen things up. Apollo Crews needs to be utilized more on SmackDown.
#1 A stipulation match after the Edge-Seth Rollins segment on SmackDown?
Edge made his entrance on SmackDown and it cut to commercial break quickly. When we came back, it was slightly bizarre. Seth Rollins had already executed an attack from behind on the Rated-R Superstar, proceeding to hit him with a camera as well.
Edge was taken back and in the ring, Seth Rollins was standing. It was odd to think that WWE pulled off the attack during a commercial break. Either way, Rollins said that he was the rightful heir to the Universal Championship throne and that if he couldn't hold the title, neither could Edge.
The intensity of the rivalry on SmackDown undoubtedly amped up a bit, but this was one of the least exciting parts of the night. Seth Rollins got a lot of heat from it, but the use of the camera indicates that there will likely be some version of a No Disqualification stipulation match at SummerSlam.
With only a few weeks of SmackDown left until SummerSlam, hopefully, WWE does better than that heading into the biggest pay-per-view of the year.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
