WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, News And Notes As Zelina Vega Returns

Edge returns to address Roman Reigns on SmackDown.

Credit: WWE.com

Zelina Vega returned on WWE SmackDown after a bitter divorce from the promotion regarding third-party deals. Vega was announced as the second participant in the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match as Liv Morgan continues to be snubbed.

WWE SmackDown also advertised Edge addressing Roman Reigns after returning last week in the final segment. SmackDown also advertised a Last-Man Standing Match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the right to qualify for the Men’s Money in the Bank.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown, with a surprise return by Edge, garnered 1.971 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown—Key Competition

Vince McMahon Scouting WWE NXT Talent (Pro Wrestling Bits)

WWE SmackDown Total YouTube Viewership Last Friday: 8,536,399 (Up from 4,823,052 )

WWE SmackDown Results—Friday, July 2, 2021 Edge Opens WWE SmackDown

Edge used Roman Reigns’ eyes at WrestleMania to try to convince people that he has a chance at Money in the Bank. He probably won’t, but it’s good to see a credible challenger with a Hall of Fame resume challenge Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns has been the Thanos of WWE—right down to the golden glove—yet Edge used the Thanos catchphrase of “I am inevitable.”

Jimmy went from “Nobody’s B—h” to lap dog with zero notice.

Jimmy Uso wore a hoodie that simply read “YEET,” and if this is a WWEShop.com hoodie, WWE will have gained a full point of street cred.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Big E def. Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews

This week, Pat McAffee twerked on Michael Cole’s head during Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme music as he continues to find new and exciting ways to get hype for this man.

I wonder if WWE has trademarked “Kingsuke” yet.

King Corbin losing all his money would mean so much more if he actually had a gimmick where he was rich, instead of making a series of passing remarks to all the money he makes.

WWE is destined to run this joke into the ground, but it was still funny when announcer Greg Hamilton “accidentally” called Baron Corbin King Corbin before having to correct himself.

Baron Corbin is committed to this downfall as he grew out his balding hair and patchy beard.

This match’s finish was a car being towed, which of course distracted Corbin.

I remain curious as to if—and how—this will lead to a Happy Corbin gimmick.

Bianca Belair Calls out Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair accused Bayley of being obsessed with her, yet still admitted that Bayley was in her head, so I guess two things can be true.

You could almost hear this feud’s expiration date coming and going during these promos.

An “I Quit” Match is so fitting for this feud because, at some point, somebody is going to need to give up on this rivalry and move on.

Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn

After a week of speculation as to whether or not he would return after saying he was taking a break, Kevin Break officially did just that after just a small handful of days with his family.

This match got the two-commercial treatment.

Kevin Owens doing a front flip through a double table looked more fun than it did painful.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have all the chemistry in the world, and this match was very good as it should have been, but a Last Man Standing match for this feud felt like they had finally squeezed the last drop out of this peach.

Zelina Vega Returns as Money in the Bank Participant; Liv Morgan def. Zelina Vega

WWE has now set a precedent that its women do not necessarily have to compete for a spot in one of its most important matches. Instead, their fate comes down to the whims of Sonya Deville. Given the backstage politics and posturing in pro wrestling, I guess this is a realistic storyline?

Sonya Deville has now booked “the most beautiful woman” and a former manager as participants in Money in the Bank like the heel authority figure she is.

Though I don’t agree with filling Money in the Bank with undeserving contenders, I do like the fact that it is being used as a vehicle to build up Liv Morgan as a babyface.

Otis def. Angelo Dawkins

Poor Otis.

I don’t care how many people they put Heel Otis over, this clean-shaven, short-hair Otis thing just isn’t going to work. Just ask his partner.

Edge Destroys Jimmy Uso

The good news is, Edge looks like a really strong challenger for Roman Reigns for a change. The bad news is Jimmy Uso has officially defaulted to the Jey Uso role.

Roman Reigns was off the show and I could only unginr he was out looking for Jey.

This segment ended poetically with Edge choking Jimmy Uso with a pipe the same way he did Roman at WrestleMania as was mentioned early. The segment also made me realize that Jimmy Uso has his cousin’s eyes.

It’ll be interesting to see what the rating is with Edge advertised and all over the show, fresh off a return. His numbers during his prior run were lukewarm at best.