WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - October 8th, 2021

https://i.imgur.com/Aul80fx.jpg



The Man, The Boss and The EST of WWE make their title match official for WWE Crown Jewel

SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair make their SmackDown Women’s Title Triple Threat Match official for WWE Crown Jewel, Liv Morgan clashes with Carmella in a first-round of the first-ever Queen’s Crown Tournament and Rey Mysterio takes on Sami Zayn in the first-round of the King of the Ring Tournament.


:smackdown:

– The WWE SmackDown on FOX season 24 premiere episode opens live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Pat McAfee. Bianca Belair’s music is playing as she dances in the ring. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are standing there with a table for a contract signing. Sasha Banks is standing on top of the announce table. Pearce says we’re here to make the Triple Threat for the SmackDown Women’s Title official for WWE Crown Jewel. Deville does the introductions as we see what happened last Friday with Banks defeating Belair thanks to an assist by SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Deville introduces Lynch next and out she comes as the music hits. Cole shows us how Lynch stopped Belair from defeating RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair in a non-title match on RAW, and was then attacked by Banks.

Lynch takes a seat at her own table, which is set up at the entrance-way, and says San Jose loves her, but who wouldn’t? She starts taunting Banks and Belair. Becky warns that there will be payback. Banks asks if Lynch missed her, because she knows the fans do. Some fans pop. Banks taunts them for her spotlight being bigger. Belair interrupts and says the only conversation we should be having is Banks signing the contract. Belair goes on and says Becky wasn’t prepared at SummerSlam, just lucky. Belair brags about how every big moment in 2021 has her name on it. Belair challenges Banks and Lynch to come get in the ring now.

Lynch and Banks aren’t moving. Belair seethes in the ring and starts tossing furniture out of the ring. Lynch brings up the 26 second win, tips her own table over, and starts marching to the ring. Banks takes advantage and attacks Belair from behind. Lynch and Banks double team Belair until they go at it now. Becky takes Belair down again. Banks unloads on Becky with kicks but Becky turns it around. Belair grabs Becky from behind and unloads. Belair scoops them both for a double KOD as fans pop but Banks slides out of the move and is up on her own feet now. Belair kicks Banks onto the table, and then puts Becky and Banks through the table with a big KOD on top of Banks. Belair celebrates as her music hits and we get replays. Belair dances around the ring now, spinning her hair, while Banks and Lynch try to recover on the mat.

– Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio are backstage with Kayla Braxton. She asks what it would mean to win the King of the Ring tournament. Rey says other than being WWE Universal Champion, being King of the Ring is the next best thing. He goes on and says it would make him sick if Sami Zayn became King. Dominik tells Rey he’s going to stay in the back and watch the match tonight. Rey nods and heads out as his music starts up.

King of the Ring Tournament First Round Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Sami Zayn

We go back to the ring and out comes Rey Mysterio for the first match in the 2021 King of the Ring Tournament. Rey hits the corners to pose as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Sami Zayn approaches Dominik Mysterio backstage. Sami says while Rey is a great man, it’s time for Dominik to be his own man, and if you ask Sami, he thinks Dominik is better than his father. Sami walks off and heads to the ring as his music hits. The bell hits and Sami goes for a Helluva Kick early on. They go at it and Rey nails a big hurricanrana to send Sami across the ring.

Sami comes right back with a sitdown powerbomb for a close 2 count. Sami works Rey over with right hands now. Rey counters and drops Sami for 619 but Sami rolls to the floor and fans boo him. Rey runs the ropes and leaps over the top, taking Sami down with a big hurricanrana. Fans cheer Rey on as the referee counts. Rey goes to the top and hits the big splash in the middle of the ring for a close 2 count. Rey keeps control and mounts Sami in the corner with right hands now.

Sami counters a shot and slides Rey across the mat, shoulder-first into the ring post. Rey falls out on the floor and he’s down. Dominik comes walking down the ramp now. Dominik watches as the referee counts. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Rey fights Sami off from the corner as Dominik looks on at ringside. Sami counters and launches Rey into the turnbuckles with an Exploder suplex. Sami goes for a Helluva Kick but Rey takes him down with a hurricanrana for a 2 count. Rey comes back with a Destroyer for another close 2 count. Sami drops Rey from the corner. Sami goes to the top but Rey climbs up with him and delivers a big springboard hurricanrana for another close 2 count.

Sami ducks as Rey goes for a crossbody. Rey blocks the Blue Thunderbomb and lands bad on his knee, but still sends Sami into position for the 619. Sami dodges 619 and hits the Blue Thunderbomb but Rey kicks out just in time. Sami shows some frustration now, then exposes the turnbuckle as fans boo him. Sami takes Rey to the top but Dominik gets on the apron to fix the turnbuckle pad.

Rey takes advantage of the distraction and nails a senton. Rey goes over to tell Dominik to stop messing with the turnbuckle cover, but Sami takes advantage of the distraction and rolls Rey up for the pin to win and advance to the second round.

Winner: Sami Zayn

– After the match, Sami celebrates and goes to the stage to celebrate with the throne, cape and crown as his music hits. Sami will face the winner of Finn Balor vs. Cesaro next week. Rey looks disappointed with Dominik in the ring.

– We see Seth Rollins backstage with Kayla Braxton preparing to defend his action from last week where he visited the home of WWE Hall of Famer Edge. We go to commercial.

– Back from the break and we get a vignette for Hit Row. Cole and McAfee hype the WWE Draft changes that officially go into effect on the October 22 episode.

– We get a video package showing how Seth Rollins visited the home of WWE Hall of Famers Edge and Beth Phoenix last week. Kayla Braxton is backstage with Rollins, asking if he thinks he crossed the line. Rollins says that is the narrative, but let’s review the facts. He points to how Edge has mocked, ridiculed, embarrassed and humiliated him, but he still managed to beat Edge after SummerSlam. Is Rollins celebrated or venerated for that? Of course not, he’s called a monster and demonized, but that’s fine. Rollins says for the past few weeks he’s still been the bigger man, challenging Edge to figure out once and for all who’s the bigger man but we heard nothing from Edge. Rollins says he told Edge he was going to his house, and he did, to get an answer to his challenge. So, no, he hasn’t crossed any lines and more importantly, he still hasn’t received an answer to his challenge. Rollins doesn’t even know why he’s talking to Kayla about this, she has no power to do anything about it. Rollins excuses himself so he can go find someone who does have the power.

Queen’s Crown Tournament First Round Match: Zelina Vega vs. Toni Storm

We go back to the ring and out comes Zelina Vega for the opening match to the inaugural Queen’s Crown Tournament. Vega cuts a pre-recorded promo about how she will reign WWE once she wins the Queen’s Crown tournament, making everyone kiss her ring. She tells everyone to get used to calling her Queen Vega. She poses in the ring as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and out comes Toni Storm. We get a pre-recorded promo with Storm saying after she wins the Queen’s Crown Tournament, she will rule WWE with the boldness of Joan Jett, the tenacity of Bruce Springsteen, and the epicness of Madonna. She goes on and mentions how she will be crowned the Queen of Rock. The bell rings and Storm catches a kick. Storm puts the leg down calmly and stomps the foot. They stare at each other and Vega nails a Thesz Press, then right hands.

Vega works Storm over on the mat and grounds her. Vega works Storm over and stalls by posing over her. Storm gets up and unloads with lefts and right. Storm with a big stalling Atomic Drop, then a running clothesline. Storm with a running Hip Attack in the corner. Storm goes to the top but Vega crotches her by hitting the top rope. Vega slams Storm to the mat by her hair.

They tangle and Storm goes for a back-slide but Vega turns it into a Code Red out of nowhere for the pin to win and advance.

Winner: Zelina Vega

– After the match, Vega stands tall and celebrates as her music hits. She advances to the semi-finals to face the winner of Carmella vs. Liv Morgan. Vega celebrates as Storm looks on.

– We get a Progressive-sponsored look back at WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns being the first Draft pick for SmackDown, with hype for his Crown Jewel match against Brock Lesnar. We also see how Lesnar thanked Paul Heyman for making him a free agent last week, stirring the pot between Reigns and Heyman. We also see how Lesnar took out SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos.

– We go back to the ring and out comes The Bloodline – WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, and Paul Heyman. The music hits and they come out to a loud but mixed reaction. They all stop at the entrance-way and raise their titles in the air as the pyro goes off.

Back from the break and the announcers hype Brock Lesnar vs. Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel. Reigns is in the ring now with a mic. He gives a shout-out to San Jose and orders them to acknowledge him. Reigns says Heyman had one job to do on RAW and that was make sure his cousins stayed on SmackDown, and he did that. Heyman tells San Jose to acknowledge Heyman and they yell back. Reigns embraces Heyman. Reigns says he loves Heyman. Heyman loves him also, his Tribal Chief. Reigns says The Usos also love Heyman, and he loves them. Reigns says Heyman is the wise man to The Bloodline, and right now he needs Heyman to be wise, and come clean.

Fans chant “Suplex City!” for Lesnar now. Reigns says Silly San Jose, Suplex City doesn’t exist because this is the Island of Relevancy. Reigns wants Heyman to admit he’s responsible for Lesnar’s free agency. Heyman says he’s in a terrible position because no matter what he says it will sound like he’s spinning things. Heyman says he’s been with Reigns’ family for 40 years… Reigns stares him down. Heyman says Reigns chose him, rescued him and saved him, to be his counsel, because he knew Heyman is a wise man. Heyman has accused of many things, and is guilty of even more, but he’s never been accused of being stupid, and pulling the trigger now on a scheme to dethrone The Tribal Chief would be stupid. Why pull the trigger before Crown Jewel, wouldn’t the best thing be to stay in Reigns’ circle of trust, then leak a plan to Lesnar? Heyman goes on ranting and says only a stupid man would do that, and Reigns would never choose a stupid man to be his counsel. Heyman says Lesnar can’t stand the fact that at Crown Jewel, The Conqueror will be conquered by Roman… Reigns motions for the mic and Heyman hands it over.

Reigns doesn’t want Heyman to tell him, he wants Heyman to look into the camera and tell Brock. Reigns says don’t worry, he’ll protect Heyman, because he can. Fans chant “we want Lesnar!” now. Heyman addresses Lesnar and says he has to give him credit for teaching a lesson on this one. Heyman says Lesnar knows what will happen to him at Crown Jewel, they had this discussion years ago and Lesnar has met his match – Roman Reigns. Heyman goes on about how Reigns will walk out of Crown Jewel as the champion, and that’s not just a prediction, Brock, that’s a spoiler and you can believe that. Heyman tosses the mic and drops to his knees to present the Universal Title belt to Reigns as fans boo. Reigns raises the strap in the air and then hands it to Heyman to carry. Reigns exits the ring as The Usos march out right behind him. Heyman follows them.

– Seth Rollins approaches Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville in the back. Rollins wants to know if Edge is going to be here tonight or not. Pearce says Edge was scheduled to be here until Rollins went to his house last week. Rollins says he will be waiting in the ring at the end of the show for Edge’s answer, but it will be on Pearce and Deville if Edge doesn’t show up, and if he doesn’t, their little show won’t end well. Rollins says if Pearce and Deville do run into Edge before he does, he needs them to return something to him. He hands them a photo of Edge and Beth Phoenix kissing, which he lifted from their home last week. Pearce and Deville aren’t impressed. Rollins walks off laughing.

Queen’s Crown Tournament First Round Match: Carmella vs. Liv Morgan

We go back to the ring for the second and final first round Queen’s Crown Tournament match for the blue brand. Carmella makes her way out as we see what happened last week in her Extreme Rules rematch against Liv Morgan. Carmella stops on the stage and checks out the crown as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Liv Morgan is out. Carmella stalls as the bell hits, going to ringside to get her makeup crew to put the sparkling face mack on her. Carmella enters the ring and Liv takes h er down for a close 2 count. Carmella goes right into the Code of Silence submission but Liv grabs the mask to escape.

Carmella yells at Liv and complains to the referee. Carmella runs into an elbow. They tangle and Liv drops Carmella with two big kicks for a close 2 count. Carmella works Liv over on the mat, pounding on her. Liv kicks out at 2. Carmella traps Liv in the ropes, hangs her neck up on the middle rope, then superkicks her for the pin to win and advance.

Winner: Carmella

– After the match, Carmella stands tall in the middle of the ring and removes her mask as the music hits. We go to replays. Carmella vs. Vega is confirmed for the semi-finals next week. Carmella continues celebrating as the referee checks on Liv on the mat.

– Kayla Braxton is backstage with MACE, asking about coming over from RAW in the WWE Draft and about competing on the blue brand. MACE says to compete implies there is competition, and he didn’t see anyone on his level when he looked in the locker room, just prey. MACE says he’s not coming to SmackDown to compete, he’s coming to annihilate. He walks off.

– We go back to the ring and out comes Happy Baron Corbin with Madcap Moss. We see last week’s backstage video where Corbin introduced Moss, and talked about how he keeps Corbin happy by always cracking jokes. Moss then cracked a bad joke. We go back to the ring now and they enter for another must see edition of Happy Talk. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Corbin is in the ring with Moss for another Happy Talk episode. Corbin has Moss crack another bad joke. The music quickly interrupts and out comes Kevin Owens. Moss meets Owens at ringside but Owens beats him up. Owens storms the ring and attacks Corbin. They brawl and Owens goes for a Stunner but Moss runs in and makes the save. Corbin and Moss double team Owens now. Owens goes down and they start cackling. Moss drives Owens into the mat with his inverted Cutter. Corbin and Moss continue laughing, standing over Owens as the music hits.

– Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are backstage. Naomi walks in and wonders why she’s not in the Queen’s Crown Tournament. Deville says Naomi isn’t worthy, not worthy of being a queen or even on the SmackDown roster. Naomi protests and they have some words. Deville says she’s not done with Naomi on SmackDown just yet. Deville says Naomi has a match next week. Naomi asks against who. Me. Naomi says it’s on as she walks off.

King of the Ring Tournament First Round Match: Finn Balor vs. Cesaro

We go back to the ring for the second and final first round King of the Ring Tournament match for the blue brand. Finn Balor makes his way out for a big pop. Fans pop as Balor heads to the ring and we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and the announcers hype the new SmackDown roster that goes into effect on October 22. We go back to the ring and out comes Cesaro for the next King of the Ring match as Greg Hamilton does the introductions. The bell rings and they lock up, going at it. Cesaro takes Balor down and works on the arm. Balor with a side headlock now. More back and forth from their feet to the mat. Balor runs the ropes but Cesaro catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a close 2 count.

Cesaro whips Balor hard into the turnbuckles and he goes down. Cesaro takes Balor down and leaps high for a leg drop. Balor kicks out at 2 again. Cesaro with chops and uppercuts in the corner. Balor dodges a shot, takes Cesaro down and nails a stomp to the chest. Balor back-drops Cesaro over the top rope to the floor.

Balor gets a pop and runs the ropes for a suicide dive but Cesaro runs in and lifts him high for a big European Uppercut. Balor kicks out at 2. Balor rolls to the floor for a breather as Cesaro has a few words with the referee.

Back from the break and Balor fights out of a corner as they trade big strikes. Balor catches Cesaro and drives him into the mat for a close 2 count. We see the crown on display at the stage. Balor charges and kicks Cesaro over, then stomps away as the referee warns him. More back and forth now. Cesaro with uppercuts. Balor comes right back with a Slingblade.

Balor levels Cesaro from the apron with a shot to the jaw. Balor goes to the top but Cesaro leaps up with a stiff uppercut. More back and forth now. Cesaro ends up hitting a huge superplex from the corner. Balor kicks out at 2. Cesaro goes into the Crossface submission now. Balor drags Cesaro to the ropes to break it. Balor instead rolls into a pin attempt. Cesaro comes right back with a right hand.

Balor avoids the Cesaro Swing. Cesaro charges into the corner and knocks the ring post as Balor moves. Cesaro rolls to the floor for a breather. Balor runs the ropes and leaps out, taking Cesaro down. Balor brings it back in and dropkicks Cesaro into the turnbuckles. Fans pop as Balor goes to the top, nailing the Coup de Grace. Balor covers for the pin to win and advance.

Winner: Finn Balor

– After the match, Balor stands tall as the music hits. Balor vs. Zayn is confirmed for the King of the Ring semi-finals next Friday. We go to replays as fans cheer for Balor.

– We see what happened earlier tonight as the Crown Jewel contract signing ended in chaos. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are backstage with SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch now. Becky is ranting about how Brock Lesnar and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns haven’t changed the game like she has. She says SmackDown is her domain, and Pearce and Deville need to put some respect on her name. She’s not happy with Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair getting a title shot at Crown Jewel. She goes on about responding to every thing asked of her, and being the best. Deville gets upset, says they know how good Lynch is, and says all Lynch has to do is prove it to the rest of the world by beating them both at once, and sign the contract. Becky signs the contract and shoves it back, apparently barely hitting Pearce below the belt. Lynch storms off.

– We go back to the ring and out comes Seth Rollins. Rollins is all smiles as he bounces to the ring to wait for WWE Hall of Famer Edge to answer his challenge. We go back to commercial.

Back from the break and announced for next week’s Super Sized SmackDown on FS1 is the Queen’s Crown and King of the Ring semi-finals, an appearance by Brock Lesnar, and Sasha Banks vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks in a non-title match. We go back to the ring and Rollins is in the ring. He says the time has come. Rollins starts calling Edge to the ring to answer his challenge. Rollins says Edge can name the time and place, even the stipulation. Ladder Match? Whatever you want, we can even have the match in your living room so your wife and daughters can cheer you on.

Fans boo Rollins and chant Edge’s name. Rollins tells Edge to come on. What happened to The Rated R Superstar and The Ultimate Opportunist? Rollins laughs and says he knows what happened to that guy – Rollins ended him with one stomp at Madison Square Garden, and if you won’t show up and answer the challenge, then Rollins is going to take that as an admission that Rollins is not Edge Lite, and is better than Edge is every possible way. The boos get louder.

Rollins says Edge is not only disappointing him, but he’s disappointing his fans and more importantly, his family. Rollins can’t imagine what it’s like for Edge’s daughters to know he’s no longer an inspiration, he’s a coward. It must break their little hearts into tiny pieces. The big screen shows Edge arriving in the back now. He hops out of a car and is seething. The music hits as Edge marches through the backstage area. Rollins readies for a fight in the ring. Edge appears in the arena and the crowd goes wild. Rollins goes to ringside and brings a steel chair in. Edge rushes the ring and takes Rollins down with a Spear for a big pop.

Rollins goes right to the floor but Edge follows, beating him over the announce table and beating him around the ringside area. Rollins has the headset wires wrapped around him and Edge uses it against him. Edge brings Rollins in the ring, then stops to break the bottom steel rod off the chair. Edge brings it in the ring and tries to use it with the Crossface but Rollins elbows him in the neck. Rollins retreats to the floor as fans boo. Edge takes the mic and proposes a Hell In a Cell match against Rollins. Fans pop big time. Rollins and Edge stare each other down with Rollins looking on from the entrance-way. We go to replays. The announcers hype the Edge vs. Rollins Hell In a Cell match but never say when or where it will take place. The SmackDown season premiere episode goes off the air with Edge staring Rollins down.