Shinsuke Nakamura

‘WWE SUMMERSLAM 2021’ Recap + Review – Reigns vs. Cena, Lashley vs. Goldberg

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DATE: August 21, 2021
VENUE: Allegiant Stadium (Paradise, NV)
COMMENTATORS (RAW): Jimmy Smith, Byron Saxton, & Corey Graves
COMMENTATORS (SMACKDOWN): Michael Cole & Pat McAfee
VIEWING METHOD: Peacock (Live)

SummerSlam 2021 features the return of John Cena as he challenges the head of the table Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, with Reigns vowing to leave WWE if he loses. Also on the show Bobby Lashley defends the WWE Championship against Goldberg, Edge takes on Seth Rollins, and RK-Bro challenge AJ Styles & Omos for the RAW Tag Team Championship.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE CHAMPION: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Nikki A.S.H.
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bianca Belair
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Sheamus
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Shinsuke Nakamura
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles & Omos
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Natalya & Tamina

LINEUP

  • AJ Styles & Omos [c] vs. RK-Bro for the RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • Alexa Bliss vs. Eva Marie (DUD)
  • Sheamus [c] vs. Damian Priest for the WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)
  • The Usos [c] vs. Rey & Dominik Mysterio for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • Bianca Belair [c] vs. ??? for the SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (LAME)
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal (**)
  • Nikki A.S.H. [c] vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • Edge vs. Seth Rollins (***1/2)
  • Bobby Lashley [c] vs. Goldberg for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
  • Roman Reigns [c] vs. John Cena for the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)

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‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 02.05.2021 Recap + Thoughts – Big E vs. Crews vs. Zayn, Reigns/Edge Tease, Bryan vs. Cesaro

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

Edge continues his rounds this week on SmackDown, stopping by to potentially pick a very eager Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent. Bianca Belair also teases who she’ll end up facing, Big E defends the IC Title against Apollo Crews and Sami Zayn, and Daniel Bryan tries to avenge his loss to Cesaro.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: “The Boss” Sasha Banks
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax

LINEUP

  • Dominik Mysterio vs. King Corbin
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro
  • Ruby Riott vs. Bayley
  • Otis & Chad Gable vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
  • Big E [c] vs. Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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‘WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2021’ Recap + Thoughts – Two Rumbles, Last Man Standing, McIntyre vs. Goldberg

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DATE: January 31, 2021 VENUE: The THUNDERDOME (Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL) RAW COMMENTATORS: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, & Samoa Joe SMACKDOWN COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves The road to WrestleMania begins with the Royal Rumble, held inside the THUNDERDOME at Tropicana Field. In addition to the two Rumble matches we’ve also got both major singles championships on the line … Read more

‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 01.29.2021 Rundown + Thoughts – Lots of Rumble Hype, Belair vs. Bayley, Why’s There a Brand Split Again?

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

The final SmackDown before the Royal Rumble features a big return, a whole lot of matches being thrown out for other matches, RAW stars showing up due to some make-believe clause, and Bianca Belair taking on Bayley. Trying a new format this show for the Rundown, let me know what you think.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: “The Boss” Sasha Banks
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode)

LINEUP

  • Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
  • Dominik Mysterio vs. King Corbin
  • Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles
  • Daniel Bryan, Big E, & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, & Cesaro
  • Daniel Bryan, Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Otis, & Sheamus vs. AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, The Miz, & John Morrison

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[TV Rundown] ‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 01.15.2021 – Royal Rumble Contract Signing, Bryan vs. Cesaro, Nakamura vs. Uso

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

Roman Reigns continues imposing his will this week on SmackDown, trying to get WWE OFFICIAL Adam Pearce to agree to an added stipulation for their scheduled Royal Rumble match. Also on the show Daniel Bryan wrestles Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura looks for revenge against Jey Uso, and Bayley debuts her new talk show DING DONG, HELLO. Yeah.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Sasha Banks
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode)

LINEUP

  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jey Uso (**1/2)
  • Liv Morgan vs. Natalya (*1/2)
  • Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin (*)
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro (***)
  • Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn (*1/2)

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[TV Rundown] ‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 01.08.2021 – #1 Contender’s Gauntlet, Profits vs. Dirty Dawgs

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

This week’s SmackDown features two championship matches, as Big E defends the Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews and The Street Profits defend their Tag Team gold against The Dirty Dawgs. The next #1 contender to the Universal Championship is also decided in a special Gauntlet match with a very…interesting ending.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Sasha Banks
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)

LINEUP

  • Big E [c] vs. Apollo Crews for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • The Street Profits [c] vs. The Dirty Dawgs for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • #1 Contender’s Gauntlet (***1/2)

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[TV Rundown] ‘WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN’ 01.01.2021 – Owens vs. Uso, Bryan & Otis vs. Cesaro & Nakamura

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

The first SmackDown of 2021 features a man hell bent on revenge as Kevin Owens looks to dismantle Jey Uso in the main event. Also on the show new Intercontinental Champion Big E sees action, Daniel Bryan teams with Otis to take on Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura, and Billie Kay tries to endear herself to not one but two different tag teams.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: “The Boss” Sasha Banks
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Big E
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Charlotte Flair & Asuka

LINEUP

  • Big E vs. King Corbin (NR)
  • Big E & Apollo Crews vs. King Corbin & Sami Zayn (**)
  • The Riott Squad vs. Natalya & Tamina (*3/4)
  • Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair vs. Bayley & Carmella (**1/4)
  • Daniel Bryan & Otis vs. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura (**1/2)
  • Kevin Owens vs. Jey Uso (**1/2)

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[TV Recap] ‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 10.23.2020 – Murphy vs. Rollins, Law & Otis, Tribal Consequences

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

SmackDown this week features “Messiah vs. Disciple” as Seth Rollins takes on Murphy in the main event. Also on the show Otis goes to court with The Miz, Daniel Bryan returns to the ring, Bianca Belair debuts, and Roman Reigns offers up some tribal consequences for Jey Uso heading into Hell in a Cell.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bayley
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Sami Zayn
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)

LINEUP

  • Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, & The Street Profits vs. Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Cesaro, & Shinsuke Nakamura (***)
  • Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega (**)
  • Shorty G vs. Lars Sullivan (NR)
  • Murphy vs. Seth Rollins (**3/4)

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[TV Review] ‘WWE SMACKDOWN’ 10.16.2020 – Season Premiere, Reigns vs. Braun, New Day Farewell, Daniel Bryan Returns

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

The season premiere of SmackDown features two championship matches, as The Street Profits defend against Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode and Roman Reigns defends the Universal Championship against RAW draftee Braun Strowman. Also on the show The New Day say “farewell” to the blue brand in one final six-man tag team match, Sasha Banks and Bayley have a contract signing that in no way goes off the rails, and Daniel Bryan makes his first appearance in the WWE THUNDAHDOOOOME.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Sami Zayn
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bayley
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)

LINEUP

  • Jeff Hardy vs. Lars Sullivan (**1/4)
  • The New Day vs. Sheamus, Cesaro, & Shinsuke Nakamura (****)
  • The Street Profits [c] vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (NR)
  • Roman Reigns [c] vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)

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[TV Review] ‘WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN’ 10.09.2020 – WWE Draft Night 1, Owens vs. Fiend

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COMMENTATORS: Michael Cole & Corey Graves

This week’s Friday Night SmackDown features the beginning of the 2020 WWE Draft. Who will go where? What will go why? We find out SOME of that. Also on the show The Fiend makes his first in-ring appearance on the show against Kevin Owens, Big E battles Sheamus in a Falls Count Anywhere match, and Sasha Banks challenges for Bayley’s Women’s Championship.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Roman Reigns
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Sami Zayn
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Bayley
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura

LINEUP

  • FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE: Big E vs. Sheamus (***1/4)
  • Jeff Hardy & Matt Riddle vs. The Miz & John Morrison (*1/2)
  • Bayley [c] vs. Sasha Banks for the SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura [c] vs. The New Day for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Kevin Owens vs. The Fiend (***)

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