WWE Friday Night SmackDown Full Results (September 17th, 2021)

Tonight’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown is live from live from the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee and WWE announced two segments and a match for the tonight’s show.

WWE announced that Bianca Belair returns to Knoxville for Homecoming celebrations, Seth Rollins will explain his actions against WWE Hall of Famer Edge last week and Rick Boogs will battle Robert Roode in one-on-one match.

– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown opened with The Bloodline making their way to the ring along with Paul Heyman. Cole hypes Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel on October 21 and The Demon Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules on September 26. Reigns takes the mic and says Knoxville to acknowledge him but few fans boos and a few cheers. Reigns tells Heyman to educate people on how to properly acknowledge him.

Paul Heyman praises Reigns with a grand introduction and says The Tribal Chief fears no man, no Beast, no Demon, but they all fear him. Heyman tells crowd to stop booing him because they know he’s right. Heyman further says Balor fears Reigns because if not, why does he have to tap into his alter-ego? Heyman also says that Brock Lesnar fears Reigns because he’s known Lesnar for more than 20 years, more than his own family, and he’s never seen fear in Lesnar’s eyes like he does now, not in WWE, not in the Octagon, not on the operation table. Then, Heyman talks about last week’s Super SmackDown at MSG but the music interrupts and here comes new WWE Champion Big E.

Big E rushes towards ring yelling about how he did it. Reigns isn’t thrilled. Big E stares at Reigns and raises the title. A “you deserve it!” chant starts up from WWE Universe. Reigns raises his title at Big E but fans boo. Now, Big E and Reigns have a few words but we can’t hear what they’re saying. Again music interrupts and here comes The Prince Finn Balor but Reigns is still unimpressed and a little annoyed. Balor makes his way to the ringside area and stares at Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

– Big E and Finn Balor defeated The Usos via pinfall in non-title tag team match.

– We see WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at backstage with Paul Heyman and asks if there’s something Heyman wants to tell him. Heyman says no sir. Reigns asks if Heyman is sure there’s nothing he needs to know. Heyman says no. Reigns says let’s pretend he does know something and Heyman is going to tell him again. Heyman means this with all the respect in his heart and his soul – he knows what Reigns is getting at but he did not know Brock Lesnar was going to be at Summer Slam. 

Paul Heyman says Lesnar fears Reigns because why Lesnar would make false narrative about he knew Lesnar would be at Summer Slam to confront Reigns? Heyman says it’s a cover, a mask, as Lesnar is dealing with fear like this for the first time in his life, so he comes up with this cover to deal with it, and that’s how he knows Lesnar fears Reigns. Reigns asks if Lesnar is going to show up at Extreme Rules. Heyman quickly says no. Then, Reigns asks how Heyman knows. Heyman is under the impression that Lesnar wouldn’t dare show up at Extreme Rules as he fears Reigns. Reigns says he doesn’t pay Heyman to be under the impression, he pays Heyman to know in advance.

– Rick Boogs defeated Robert Roode via pinfall. After the match, Boogs stands tall and celebrates and Nakamura joins him. Then they go to the announce table to celebrate with McAfee, who is on top of table. Suddenly, Commander Azeez and Apollo Crews attacks them. Azeez sends Boogs into the steel ring steps and Crews picks Nakamura up and drops him face-first into the announce table. 

Azeez and Crews grab Nakamura and toss him into the front of the table and Crews grabs the Intercontinental Title and puts it back down. Crews and Azeez enters the ring and Crews asks if this is our king. Crews says Nakamura has made a mockery of the Intercontinental Title and demands a rematch. Nakamura looks on from the floor, trying to recover with Boogs.

– Kevin Owens at backstage preparing for his match and Megan Morant walks up. He doesn’t want to talk about Corbin, he’s tired of hearing about this guy. Owens admits he’s furious and hasn’t forgot about the cheap shot and how he recently tried to help Corbin, even though he’s a piece of trash. Owens didn’t listen to his instincts and it back-fired but that’s OK because he will beat Corbin tonight and turn his frown upside down. Owens goes on and says tonight we will see Happy Owens.

– Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring for his match against Happy Corbin but suddenly Corbin attacks him at ringside. Owens fights back as the referee warns Corbin from the ring. Corbin delivers a chokeslam onto the edge of the apron. Then, Corbin smiles and stood tall over Owens.

– Kayla Braxton stops Paul Heyman at backstage and says that her sources say Brock Lesnar may be going to Raw in the WWE Draft, and if so, what does Lesnar think about it. Heyman dismisses the idea of Kayla having sources and rants Kayla to stop flirting with him and to leave him alone. Now, WWE Champion Big E appears and Heyman congratulates Big E and goes on about how Big E picked a champion who would be vulnerable, and not WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns who he couldn’t beat. 

But Big E says we will see when he faces Reigns at Survivor Series, or will it be Lesnar or Finn Balor? Suddenly, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos attacks Big E and sends him into production cases and tells him to go back to Raw. Reigns slowly walks up from behind and gives his approval to The Usos and walk-off.

– The Messiah Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring. He mentions how it’s too bad no one was there to help WWE Champion Big E and talks about one of the best moments of his career last week when he beat Edge. He says we’ve all had a week to process our thoughts, and Rollins admits it was unfortunate and scary what happened to Edge after the match, when Rollins’ boot came down across the back of Edge’s neck Rollins heard a pop and felt a crunch, and doesn’t really know how to describe it. Rollins goes on comparing the Stomp to what it’s like when you step on a bug. Edge says he can’t do it justice so we’re going to re-live what happened. He sends us to a video package showing last week’s match and post-match attack, and how Edge was taken away in an ambulance.

Rollins says it’s that’s difficult to watch and he knows why fans are booing but he has a question to ask, that he’s been asking himself all week. It’s very simple – what did you think was going to happen? Fans boos, Rollins says that was one of the greatest moments of his career but he didn’t get a chance to enjoy it because everyone backstage and everyone on social media were looking at him and asking why. His own employer said he went too far. He asks fans if he went too far and they agree.

Rollins says he used a legal move in a legal match and won it the same way he’s won matches for the majority of his career. Did he go too far? Rollins laughs and says Edge did go too far because he’s a family man, he knew the risks, he knew the consequences and he still got in the ring with Rollins. Rollins says fans goaded Edge into goading him, and they brought this on.

Rollins says he didn’t do anything wrong, he’s not to blame, if anyone is it’s Edge and the people watching here tonight, and at home. Rollins says if we didn’t like that, we really won’t like this – he’s not done by Edge, not by a long shot. Rollins says Edge’s wife, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, said on WWE NXT 2.0 how Edge is at home recovering. Rollins is sure Edge is watching right now.

Rollins asks if Edge is physically capable of getting back in the ring, or more importantly, is he emotionally capable? Rollins says he saw the look in Edge’s eye when he was being loaded into the ambulance, and it was a look of fear. Rollins says for one second he actually felt sorry for Edge and that feeling has been eating him alive in the back of his brain for the past week and he can’t live with himself feeling sorry for someone like Edge. Rollins says he has to move on but he can’t until he finishes off Edge and says this ends in two ways – he goes to Edge’s little cabin and finishes him off in front of his family, or Edge crawls back to the ring so they can dance one more time. Rollins says for his own sanity he has to finish Edge, one way or another.

– Kayla Braxton at backstage with SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and asks if Bianca Belair’s homecoming will give her added momentum. Becky says momentum is tricky because it keeps going until it meets an opposing force. Belair had a lot of momentum until Summer Slam and the outcome will be the same after Extreme Rules. Becky changes her tune and says but this is Belair’s night. She thinks about it for a second and says she’s never been to a homecoming, so maybe she’ll check it out tonight and walks off.

– Toni Strom and Liv Morgan defeated Carmella and Zelina Vega via count-out. After the match, Liv Morgan challenges Carmella for a match at Extreme Rules.

– The Street Profits at backstage and getting ready for Bianca Belair’s homecoming and the after-party and they address The Usos and how they’re coming to take the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.

– Carmella is in trainer’s room with Zelina Vega, Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce. Carmella’s nose isn’t broken and Vega says she’s still beautiful. Carmella addresses Liv Morgan and says it’s own at Extreme Rules. Vega says Morgan must face her first.

– Finn Balor at backstage and says everyone wants to know where The Demon comes from. Balor says unlike Roman Reigns he wasn’t born into a wrestling family and doesn’t have a Bloodline. He was born into a family of railroad workers and wasn’t supposed to be here but this is what he chose. He fought and clawed his way, and here he is. The Demon comes from inside, and is a manifestation of everyone who told him no, doubted him or disrespected him. 

The Demon unlocks a rage inside of Balor that cannot be controlled. Balor does not summon The Demon, it summons him. Balor says the disrespect from The Bloodline is just adding fuel to the fire but Reigns will see the fire that burns inside of him burns brighter than the fires burning around him. He says we’re looking at the face of Finn Balor, the challenger, and at Extreme Rules we will see the face of The Demon, the Universal Champion. WWE uses graphics over Balor’s face and body as he looks to be heating up with red and yellow to make him briefly transform into The Demon.

– Sonya Deville at backstage on the phone and Naomi walks up. Naomi is losing her patience and wants to know when her return match is. Deville says there’s not a lot of time left on tonight’s show, so get with her after it’s over. Naomi isn’t happy, she’s been more than patient and respectful. Naomi says she doesn’t know what Deville’s problem with her, and doesn’t care, but she’s done more and been here longer than Deville. Naomi says it’s bizarre how Deville is acting like she doesn’t deserve to be here and goes on about her accomplishments and says she never quits. So, one way or the other she will get her match. Naomi went face-to-face with Deville and asks if she feels that? Naomi walks off as Deville stares at her.

– Sami Zyan defeated Dominik Mysterio via pinfall. After the match, Sami stood tall and goes to ringside to taunts Rey. He says Dominik isn’t on his level and walks off as Rey enters the ring and checks on his son.

– WWE Hall of Famer Kane makes his way to the ring wearing a suit and receives a big pop as he heads to the ring for Bianca Belair’s Homecoming Celebration. Kane takes the mic and says his entrance never gets old and says as Mayor of Knox County it is his pleasure to welcome back The EST of WWE to her hometown. The music hits and here comes Bianca Belair to a big pop. We see her family celebrating in the front row.

The ring is set up with a red apron cover and large balloon structures in each corner, and a black table that has a cover over it. Fans chant “EST!”. Kane asks Belair how it feels to be back and she says it’s amazing, there’s no place like home. She gives a shout-out to all her friends and family in the crowd. She talks about how her past shaped her future and made her into The EST. She recalls how her dad told her if someone starts something with you, you better finish it. Then, She brings up SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and says she’s going to take the title back at Extreme Rules.

Kane says after Belair wins the title back at Extreme Rules, she has to bring the title back to Knoxville so they can have a huge celebration in her honor. Now, Kane says it’s his honor to present Belair with the key to Knox County and reveals a large gold key on the table. Belair hugs him and raises the key in the air. Belair gives some more thanks and says enough about her, she wants to celebrate Knoxville now. She leads everyone in a singing of “Rocky Top” now. But music interrupts and Becky Lynch makes her way out, mocking “Rocky Top” from the stage.

Becky says this is awesome and congratulates Belair. Lynch says Kane lied to her because she won’t be champion after Extreme Rules, but she will be Knoxville’s champion. Lynch sarcastically points out some of Belair’s high school photos at ringside. Lynch is in the ring now and says she didn’t come to steal Belair’s thunder. Becky says Summer Slam was her night, Extreme Rules will probably be her night, but tonight is Belair’s night. Becky says she came to show Belair some respect. She offers her hand for a shake but Belair isn’t interested.

Becky says she’s being the bigger man here and Belair has all these boys and girls looking up to her, so why not shake? Belair shakes. Becky holds her hand and goes to leave but Belair isn’t letting go. Becky swings but Belair ducks and goes for a KOD in the middle of the ring. But Becky slides out and drops Belair with The Manhandle Slam. Becky exits the ring and Belair quickly gets back up. Belair stumbles around the ring and looks on as Becky raises the title in the air and SmackDown goes off the air.