WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena’s SmackDown return
Tonight’s SmackDown takes place from two different locations: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami, Florida.
The Summer of Cena continues as John Cena makes his return to SmackDown tonight for an expected confrontation with Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Cena made his return to WWE programming at Money in the Bank this past Sunday and went face-to-face with Reigns. On Raw, Cena mocked Reigns and said he wanted a title shot at SummerSlam.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends her title against Carmella in a rematch from last week. Plus, Big E goes one-on-one with Apollo Crews. Both of those matches will be taking place from Rolling Loud.
Toni Storm makes her SmackDown debut tonight as well.
At Money in the Bank, Reigns defeated Edge to retain the Universal title after Seth Rollins interfered. After the match, Edge and Rollins brawled through the crowd.
In other results, Big E won the men’s Money in the Bank briefcase, and The Usos defeated Rey & Dominik Mysterio to win the SmackDown Tag Team titles.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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John Cena Segment
John Cena came out to start SmackDown and got a massive reaction. He mentioned returning at Money in the Bank and Raw the next night. He briefly talked about the Firefly Funhouse’s alternate reality and stealing Peacemaker costumes.
Cena noted he returned to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal title. He said he’s about to go face to face with Reigns. He mentioned there was huge sports news in Cleveland and the fans started booing. He said he changed his name to Guardian. Some fans booed, but others applauded.
Cena turned his attention to Reigns and said SmackDown sucks with Reigns as champion. The fans cheered. Cena asked the audience what team they’re on, and the fans erupted in a loud “Cena” chant.
He asked if the fans are on Team Jorts or Team Cargo Pants. He then asked if the fans are on Team Cena or Team Reigns. The fans were all on Team Cena. He demanded that Reigns come to the ring. The fans cheered and broke into another loud “Cena” chant.
Paul Heyman walked out. He got a huge reaction from the fans. The fans cheered wildly for a few seconds and then started booing.
Heyman said that Reigns couldn’t hear Cena because he’s not worth listening to. Heyman promised that Reigns is going to give Cena his answer later tonight. Heyman then started singing Cena’s music and walked off. Heyman’s promo was awesome, and singing Cena’s theme was hilarious.
Cena and Heyman were good in the segment. The fans reacted huge to everything and made the segment great.
They recapped Finn Balor returning last week and interrupting Sami Zayn.
They recapped Sami Zayn beating AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy to win the Intercontinental title at Clash of Champions 2020.
Finn Balor defeated Sami Zayn (9:00)
Balor and Zayn had a really good match with a hot crowd.
Zayn took over by working on Balor’s arm. Balor tried fighting back, but Zayn punched him in the face. Zayn then threw Balor outside and beat him down against the barricade.
Balor fought back and stomped Zayn. He followed up with a huge flip dive to the floor. The fans went crazy for Balor’s dive.
Back from the break, Zayn rocked Balor with a clothesline for a near fall. During the break, Zayn sent Balor into the ring post to take over.
Zayn slowed the pace down with a chin lock. The fans broke into a huge “Sami sucks” chant. Balor broke free, but Zayn hit a DDT. Zayn went for the helluva kick, but Balor countered with the sling blade.
Balor went for the shotgun dropkick, but Zayn hit the blue thunder bomb for a close near fall. The fans went crazy for the near fall and broke into a huge “Let’s go Balor” chant. Zayn went for the exploder, but Balor rolled through and hit the double foot stomp.
The finish came when Balor hit a dropkick, and the coup de grace for the win.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Baron Corbin. He noted the guy that made the Go Fund me page stole his money and identity. He noted he had to take the bus to SmackDown and that it smelt really bad.
Big E segment
It was originally announced that Big E would take on Apollo Crews at Rolling Loud, but the match was apparently changed.
This was a typical segment where everyone interrupted each other. The fans gave each of them a big reaction, which helped the segment.
They recapped Big E winning the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Big E came to the ring to a huge reaction. The fans broke into a loud “You deserve it” chant. He noted he wouldn’t forget Money In The Bank. He talked about winning the ladder match, but Apollo Crews interrupted.
Crews pointed out that Big E won a contract, but he won the Intercontinental title. Suddenly, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode interrupted. They started speaking when Rick Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura walked out. The fans sang Nakamura’s music when Cesaro interrupted.
Cesaro said there’s enough talking and that it’s swing time in Cleveland. The fans gave Cesaro a big reaction.
Everyone started brawling in the ring. Azeez tried to chokeslam Nakamura and Cesaro. The faces broke free, and Big E gave Azeez a clothesline to the floor. The fans popped big for Big E knocking Azeez to the floor.
They went to Rolling Loud in Miami.
Wale walked out to a huge crowd. He got the crowd chanting, “We want the smoke.” Wale then introduced The Street Profits.
It’s hard to tell how the fans are reacting. The setup at Rolling Loud looks awesome, with the Sun setting in the background and the massive crowd.
Angelo Dawkins (w/Montez Ford & Wale) defeated Chad Gable (w/ Otis) (3:58)
Dawkins and Gable had a fine match.
Dawkins had the early advantage, but Gable caught Dawkins in an armbar. Gable followed up with a clothesline off the top for a near fall.
Gable used a Northern lights suplex for another near fall. He slowed the pace down and worked over Dawkins’s arm. Gable then hit a German suplex for a two-count.
Gable missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. Dawkins fired up and hit a twisting splash in the corner. Gable recovered and used a backslide for a near fall. Dawkins rolled to his feet and hit a spinebuster for the win.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defeated Carmella (4:45)
Belair and Carmella had a good short match. They showed several shots of the crowd, and they didn’t seem into the matches.
They traded pin attempts at the start of the match. Belair avoided Carmella with a backflip and hit Carmella with a dropkick. Belair rocked Carmella with a shoulder tackle. She set up for the KOD, but Carmella grabbed the ropes to break free.
Carmella took over and slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Carmella attempted a flying crossbody, but Belair rolled through and hit a fallaway slam. She followed up with a headspring splash for a near fall.
Carmella briefly took over, but Belair fought back and hit the KOD for the win.
Back in Cleveland, Kevin Owens spoke with Shotzi and Nox as they worked on their tank. Baron Corbin approached Kevin Owens and tried apologizing for being a jerk. Owens accepted his apology and gave Corbin a few dollars.
Owens walked off. Suddenly, the tank’s missile went off and hit Corbin low. Corbin went down, and Ziggler and Roode ran over. They stole the money, but Owens ran back with a chair.
Edge Segment
Edge made his way to the ring to a massive pop. They recapped Seth Rollins costing Edge the Universal title.
Back from the break, the fans were going crazy for Edge. He noted he should be the Universal Champion, but he’s not because of Seth Rollins. Edge turned his attention to Rollins and discussed their history.
Edge noted he learned from the evilest minds. He mentioned being in The Brood and Ministry of Darkness. The fans popped big for the mention of Ministry of Darkness.
Seth Rollins interrupted. He called Edge grandpa and mocked him. Edge told him to shut up and told him to come to the ring for a face-to-face. He promised not to attack him.
Rollins noted he would talk about how much he hates this city and people like Edge and Cena returning. Instead, he’s thrilled that grandpa Edge is in his ring. He called Edge a scumbag and admitted nothing would make him happier than crushing Edge’s dreams.
Rollins noted he had the chance to end Edge’s career seven years ago, but he hesitated. The fans erupted in massive “you suck” chants. He promised that he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger this time.
Edge admitted he’s a liar and attacked Rollins. Rollins fought back, but Edge hit a DDT to a huge pop. Edge set up for the spear, and the fans went crazy. Rollins avoided the spear and rolled out of the ring. The fans erupted in boos.
Edge and Rollins were good in this segment, but it was the fans that made it great. They gave Edge a massive pop and reacted to everything.
Toni Storm defeated Zelina Vega (2:35)
Storm and Vega had a fine short match. The fans gave Storm a good reaction.
Storm had the early advantage and knocked Vega to the floor. Vega recovered and slammed Storm on the announce table. Vega hit a running knee for a near fall. Storm fought back and caught Vega with a head butt. Storm followed up with a splash and German suplex for a near fall.
Vega used a sunset flip for a two-count, but Storm recovered. She then hit Storm One for the win.
They recapped The Usos winning the SmackDown tag team titles at Money in the bank.
Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) defeated Dominik Mysterio (w/Rey Mysterio) (7:50)
Jimmy and Dominik had a good, fun match. The fans gave them a good reaction, but Dominik could probably use the win.
Dominik attacked Jimmy at the bell. He used a hip toss and standing dropkick on Jimmy. Dominik tried climbing the turnbuckle, but Jimmy tripped him up. He followed up with a superkick.
Jimmy slowed the pace down with a headlock, but Dominik broke free. He set up for the 619, but Jey pulled Jimmy out of the ring. Rey dove off the apron onto Jey, and Dominik hit a crossbody onto Jimmy.
Back from the break, Dominik went for the Three Amigos suplex, but Jimmy countered. The fans booed.
Dominik fought back and hit the 619. He climbed to the top rope, but Jey tried to interfere. Rey pulled down Jey. Dominik lost his balance, and Jimmy rocked Dominik with a superkick for a very close near fall.
They badly messed up the finish. Dominik took out Jey with a dropkick to the floor. He then attempted to springboard into the ring, and Jimmy was supposed to catch him in a Samoan drop.
Instead, Jimmy dropped Dominik, and they stumbled around for a few seconds. They recovered, and Jimmy got Dominik in the Samoan drop. Dominik tried to rolling through, but Jimmy dropped down, and Jey helped Jimmy score the win.
Roman Reigns made his entrance and posed with The Usos on the ramp.
Roman Reigns Answers John Cena
Reigns and the fans were awesome in this segment. However, Cena seemed to disappear and didn’t care that Reigns turned down his challenge. It was a good ending to a fun SmackDown with another hot crowd all night.
Before Reigns spoke, the fans erupted in boos and a loud “you suck” chant. Reigns told Cleveland to acknowledge him, and the fans booed. He told the fans at home to acknowledge him too.
The fans broke into a “What?” chant. Reigns didn’t let the chants bother him and kept going. He thought Hollywood would give Cena a new paint job, and he’d come back different.
Instead, Cena’s just a nostalgia act. It’s the same thing over and over. Reigns said it’s just like doing missionary every single night. That was a great line, and the fans gave it a big reaction. Reigns noted he couldn’t see Cena, and he won’t see him in the main event of SummerSlam. Reigns then said his answer is no. The fans erupted in boos again.
Suddenly, Finn Balor’s music hit. Reigns assumed Balor’s out there to acknowledge him. Balor noted if Reigns won’t accept Cena’s challenge, maybe he’ll accept Balor’s. The fans popped huge for Balor’s challenge and erupted in a “Yes” chant. Reigns smirked and laughed it off. The fans then started chanting, “Roman’s scared.” Reigns didn’t appreciate that chant.
Reigns accepted the challenge. The fans cheered. Balor and Reigns faced off to end SmackDown.