WWE SmackDown RECAP – May 21, 2021

*Sonya in the ring…give the in case you missed it news about WWE back on the road soon & introduces (almost) all the Champions, who have gathered at the top of the ramp…Roman (absent) is introduced last, but Paul Heyman comes out instead, “these people are all just ‘title holders’…the only true champion is your Tribal Chief, who will grace you later…at his leisure”…Heyman leaves…back to round of applause for the champs…Bayley interrupts Sonya in the ring, calls Bianca a cheater & criminal…Bianca to the ring to confront Bayley…Nia & Shaynaattack out of nowhere, Bayley joins in…Natty & Tamina in, attempt to help Bianca, but the heels hold the ring as we go to commercial…

(1)  Nia/Shayna/Bayley defeat Natty/Tamina/Bianca…Natty kicks Bayley off the apron but the distraction allows Shayna to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission win (>10:17…match started during commercial).

*Baron Corbin furious about pics of Nakamura on the ‘tron with the crown during Corbin’s entrance…demands Nakamura to the ring NOW…Rik Boogs comes out to play Nakamura to the ring live (who? yeah…apparently the former NXT’er Eric Bugenhagen…McAfee pops like he’s the resurrected Randy Rhoads)…unlike Elias, it sounds like this guy can actually play.

(2)  Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Baron Corbin…Nakamura avoids End of Days & rolls Corbin into a small package for the win (>05:22…again, match starts during commercial)…AFTER…Nakamura & Boogs retreat up ramp, still in possession of Corbin’s crown.

*Jimmy Uso in Sonya’s office…Usos “want the smoke”…Sonya “a match of that caliber must be properly advertised, how about next week?”…Jimmy is pleased. 

*Kevin Owens backstage promo…tonight he returns to being a ‘prize fighter’ & becomes 3x Intercontinental Champion

*Roman to the ring with Heyman/Jey…“I’m a humble man…so I’ll allow my special counsel to celebrate me”…Heyman lauds Roman for a few minutes…next Roman asks for Jimmy…Cesaro’s music plays instead, his arm in a sling…Cesaro challenges Roman again for a match at Hell in a Cell…Rollins attacks out of nowhere, stomps Cesaro on the floor…refs/agents separate them…Rollins breaks free, stomps Cesaro on the diamondplate.

*Rollins backstage with Megan, “I don’t know what happened, I blacked out”…inexplicably, Cesaro’s stretcher is rolled right past them…Rollins grabs Cesaro by the lapels & screams “why do you make me do this…when are you going to learn?!”

(3)  Dom Mysterio defeats Bobby Roode…Dom hits 619, Frog Splash for the win (02:42).

*Jimmy runs into Jey backstage…tells him about their match next week…Jey not pleased…gotta run it by Roman…LATER…Jey breaks the news to Roman, Roman not pleased, delivers secret message into Jey’s ear…Jey seems conflicted.

*Street Profits backstage…run down Jey for being Roman’s sidekick…oh, and they still ‘want the smoke’

(4)  Apollo Crews defeats Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn/Big E…in a Fatal 4-Way for the Intercontinental Championship…when, after 21 minutes of beautiful violence, the ThunderDome fills with smoke…Aleister Black emerges from the smoke, delivers Black Mass to Big E…Apollo covers Big E for the win (21:54).