Friday Night Smackdown
June 18th 2021
Winter Park, Florida
[Cold Open]
The camera pans around the Smackdown Hotel arena showing the fans in attendance. The mood lighting is bright and energetic, with the stage showing a crisp look. Fans are cheering like crazy as a small burst of pyro goes off.
[** HEAD OF THE TABLE **]
The idle chatter and cheering is displayed by a feeling of awe and silence as this music can only mean that the Tribal Chief, the reigning Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, is making his way down the aisle. Roman stands atop the entrance way and canvases his new surroundings. He turns his head behind him, waiting impatiently. Boos start up when it’s revealed that Reigns is being flanked by his advisor, Paul Heyman, who is carrying the championship in his hands. Reigns enters the ring as pyro shoots off, and Heyman grabs a mic
Heyman: Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman, and I am the special council to your tribal chief, your Undisputed Universal Champion, ROMAN....REIGNS
Reigns takes the title and holds it up high with his right hand, before placing it back over his shoulder
Heyman: Now even though the WWE was on a hiatus, your tribal chief did nothing of the sorts. He went back to Samoa and conquered all before him. He still commands your respect and demands that you acknowledge him
Reigns smirks, and gives the championship a slight readjustment
Heyman: Now, out of curiosity, we happened to be watching the relaunch of Raw on Monday night, and well, it was mildly impressive. That said, we’re not going to be following the demands of anybody. Roman Reigns MAKES the demands. So I am naturally assuming that Triple H has a nice new shiny championship belt ready to adorn the head of the table. So, Mr Helmsley, if you will – let’s not carry this on for much longer, and give Roman what is rightfully his
Boos ring out through the arena for Heyman’s arrogance.
[** THE GAME **]
Triple H emerges from the curtain with a mischievous grin, carrying a similar briefcase that was seen on Monday. He stares a hole through Heyman, and eyes Roman directly. Triple H acknowledges the fans as he makes his way into the ring
Triple H: Geez Heyman, some things just never change. You’re still a whinging, sulking, pathetic mouthpiece who loves to stir up shit
The crowd gushes whilst Reigns returns the title belt to Heyman, and walks towards Triple H
Triple H: Oh and let’s not forget about our chief either, Mr Big Dog, standing there looking like a statue waiting for his next command. C’mon Roman, do you really need this piece of crap waddling after you? You were once the muscle in a group that changed WWE how we know it. Now...now you’re a Lesnar clone
Reigns scoffs at that remark, goes to Heyman to get the title belt, and then shoves it right in Triple H’s face
Reigns: I’m no clone. I am the tribal chief. WWE may have undergone change but the constant remains that I am the bread winner around here. I am the measuring stick. And I don’t have time to sit here and trade insults. Just give me what is mine and let’s move on
Triple H smirks at the brashness of Reigns
Triple H: Roman, Roman, Roman. I admire your schtick, but now is not the time. You’re right, I do have something for you. But not just you. I also have something for our Smackdown Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. So, without further ado, Bianca, if you could join us
Bianca enters the arena to a huge pop. She swings around her hair and shows off her title proudly. She skips down to the ring, then climbs in and shakes Triple H’s hand. Bianca stops momentarily to stare at Roman Reigns, who just turns his back on her.
Triple H: Now, thank you for joining me. At this time, I would like for both of you to hand over those championship belts to me, in order for you to receive your new designs.
Bianca jumps at the chance. She unhooks her title and quickly gives it to Triple H. She is beaming with excitement. Roman looks at her with disgust, then back to Triple H
Reigns: Why can’t I have both? Nobody has beaten me for this title, I’m not going to hand it over.
Triple H: Roman, don’t be difficult. If you’re not going to hand it over, fine, I’ll just vacate the championship and award it to somebody....
Roman: You wouldn’t DARE
Triple H: TRY ME
Both men get nose to nose, an intense stare emerging, both men grimacing their mouths. The only break is Bianca clapping to the fans in excitement at her new title. Reigns ushers for Heyman, then mutters the word ‘fine’ to Triple H, and he hands the title over. Triple H makes a sigh of relief, then places both former titles into a bag. He goes to the briefcase, and collects the 2 new championship designs.
Triple H: From hereon after, the Smackdown Women’s Championship is no more. In its place, is the WWE Universal Women’s Championship. The Men’s Universal Championship will retain its branding.
Triple H hands one to Reigns, and one to Belair. Both Reigns and Belair look very pleased, and triumphantly hold up the championship belts to the hard camera
Triple H: But....that’s no guarantee that you remain champion...tonight. Now, as a little twist, I’m going to reward both of you. You will get to choose your opponent tonight. But, in making that choice, I want that person to be a strong competitor who is worthy of the honour of a championship match. Failure to heed this directive with be met with strict discipline
The crowd applauds these announcements
Bianca grabs the mic before Heyman can get it, and Reigns just stares a hole through her
Belair: Well, Triple H, I know exactly who I want to defend MY championship against – an idol of mine, a woman who deserves an opportunity. I choose....Naomi
The crowd cheers this match, as Reigns shakes his head. He snatches the mic from Belair
Reigns: You know, Bianca, your mouth is one day going to bury you under a boulder. You’ve done nothing but piss me off since you walked out here. Now....a noble chief won’t take his action out on you...directly. You see, I’m going to teach you a lesson in humility and honour. Tonight, I defend MY Universal Championship against Montez Ford
The crowd are stunned. Heyman has a shit eating grin and Reigns grabs his title and walks off. Belair stays standing in the ring looking bewildered.
[** GLOW **]
Naomi dances her way out to the ring. Belair still seems stunned at Reigns’ announcement. Naomi claps up some fan support.
Match 1: Bianca Belair (c) vs Naomi
Women’s Universal Championship Match
Summary: Naomi gets off to a quick start with a quick roll up, catching Belair by surprise as she still seems in shock at the Reigns announcement. Naomi executes some flips and moonsaults, followed by a standing dropkick for 2. Belair finally gains some momentum, allowing her power and athletic skills to take over. She delivers some clotheslines, followed by a suplex. Naomi attempts her rear-end, but Belair catches her and lifts her up to deliver the KOD for the pin and win.
Winner via pinfall and STILL Women’s Universal Champion: Bianca Belair (6:10)
[** SKY’S THE LIMIT **]
The crowd erupts as the music of The Boss, The Blueprint, The Standard, Sasha Banks, echoes out throughout the arena. Sasha is dressed in a blue and black jumpsuit adorned with sequined diamonds. Sasha flashes a smile towards Bianca, then gives her a wave. Sasha then motions for the title around her waist.
<=================COMMERCIAL BREAK=================>
[Video package that looks back on the TV Championship battle royal from Monday night, mainly focusing on Roode hitting Ziggler with the title to help eliminate him from the match]
Roode: Monday night was absolutely glorious. I rid myself of dead weight that was holding me down, and I reclaimed championship gold. With this Television Championship, I can appear on any show that I want. So, next Friday night, I’m going to come back here to Smackdown to defend this championship against anybody.................except Ziggler.
[Video package highlighting the Intercontinental Champion, Apollo Crews. The video shows his athletic skill, his aerial arsenal and his power moves. The video ends saying that Crews will defend his title tonight]
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are backstage with plates of pancakes. They’re singing along and talking about the unified tag team championship that is happening. They continue to crack jokes and then Woods does his routine about the champions. Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo enter the screen shot, both shaking their heads
Angel: Wow. Multiple time tag team champions who choose their first night back to play with food rather than seek the trophy
Humberto: They’re harlequins. Jokes. A shell of what they used to be. To think that these fools are in contention for those unified titles. It’s an insult to true tag teams
Woods and Kingston look up at the men who are taking shots at them
Kofi: Angel...Humberto...do not mistake our jovial nature for weakness. Yeah, Woods and I like to have fun, play with food, dance, but when that bell rings, we’re ass kickers. Look at our resume. You still don’t believe us? Then we’ll see you in the ring next week, where we’ll give you a free lesson
[** TO THE TOP **]
Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring, the Intercontinental Championship belt adorned around his waist.
<=================COMMERCIAL BREAK=================>
Back from break and Crews is running the ropes ready for his match. The crowd murmurs with muffled anticipation for whomever the opponent is going to be
[** FIGHT **]
The roof nearly lifts off the Smackdown Hotel as this music can only mean one thing – it’s the Canadian Prized Fighter, Kevin Owens
Match 2: Apollo Crews (c) vs Kevin Owens
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Summary: Crews starts circling Owens, but Owens charges in and starts unloading with lefts and rights. Owens whips Crews into the ropes and knocks him down with a shoulder block for a quick 1 count. Crews gets to his feet a little taken aback. They lock up in a collar & elbow tie-up, but Owens gets the upper hand, with another whip to the ropes, but this time, Crews ducks a clothesline, and as Owens turns around, Crews drops him with a standing dropkick. Crews follows this up with a standing moonsault for a quick 2. Crews begins to continue mounting offence, until Owens makes a comeback. The two men exchange back and forth shots for a minute, then Crews kicks Owens in the knee, dropping him to one leg, then hits another standing dropkick. Crews attempts his elevated backbreaker, but Owens counters and drops a STUNNER. Owens crawls over for the cover – 1...2...3!!!!
Winner via pinfall and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens (12:41)
<=================COMMERCIAL BREAK=================>
A panning shot of the hallway is shown, focusing in on a broken table and trash cans that have impact sites. Laying amongst the wreckage is Angelo Dawkins. He’s knocked out cold. The camera pans up to show The Usos standing over his body.
Match #3: Shayna Baszler vs Gina Mickelson
Summary: Baszler smashes the enhancement talent in the jaw with a stiff right to start the match. She then mounts her and starts with some more punches. Baszler lifts her to her feet and applies the Kirifuda Clutch. The local wrestler taps out almost instantly.
Winner via submission: Shayna Baszler (0:43)
Baszler keeps the hold locked in for a few moments, before rag-dolling her to the mat.
<=================COMMERCIAL BREAK=================>
Match #4: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jinder Mahal
King of the Ring Qualification Match
Summary: It’s a pretty one sided affair as Nakamura executes his full arsenal. Mahal tries to mount a counter but Nakamura’s kicks are too potent. Nakamura delivers a flurry of kicks that knock Mahal to his knees, and then a picture perfect Kinshasa closes up the match
Winner via pinfall: Shinsuke Nakamura (3:27)
[The camera cuts backstage to Montez Ford and Bianca Belair]
Ford is looking very focused and quiet. He doesn’t even have his shades on. Belair is holding her arm on his shoulder
Ford: Tonight started out so right. It was meant to be fun. New championship, hanging with Dawko, chilling out and having a good time. But that all changed when the tribal chief wanted to try and make a name at my expense. Yeah Roman, I may love to goof around, but when it’s time to shine, I stand and deliver. You think that you can get your cousins to take out Dawko to intimidate me?
Ford gets up off his chair, throwing his glasses away
Ford: He wants to try and stand over MY wife? Wow, big effort there from a supposed tribal chief. Nah, nah, that don’t feel right. You see Roman, head of the table, chief of the tribe, you want to be all high and mighty? Well you just made the biggest mistake of your life. You see Montez is up....and tonight.....I want the SMOKE!
<=================COMMERCIAL BREAK=================>
[** BRING THE SWAG **]
Montez Ford makes his way to the ring. He doesn’t even pose his signature pose with the cups. Laser focus.
The camera cuts backstage to show Bianca Belair flailing her legs in the air. She’s locked in the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler wrenches it tight and drops Belair to the ground
[** HEAD OF THE TABLE **]
Reigns makes his entrance, taking all the time he wants. He makes sure to show off the championship belt. He has a smirk on his face when he sees how angry Ford is in the ring.
Match #5: Roman Reigns (c) vs Montez Ford
Universal Championship Match
Summary: Reigns walks towards Ford, smug and pleased with himself. Ford looks down, the fires up with an almighty slap across the face of the tribal chief, which makes him stumble. Reigns looks back with amazement, and Ford replies with another almighty slap, again stumbling Reigns. Ford doesn’t relent as he starts to unleash with punches, rocking the champion and sending him back into the turnbuckle. Ford continues to hail down punches, causing the official to intervene as Ford backs off. Suddenly Reigns charges out of the corner and drops Ford with a superman punch. Reigns rubs his jaw as he burns a hole through Ford. He waits for him to get back to his feet, and comes in with another superman punch, knocking Ford down to the mat. Reigns then stomps away at his head repeatedly, until the official intervenes. Reigns backs up to the corner, and waits for Ford to get up. Reigns then charges in with a devastating SPEAR, chopping Ford in half. Reigns then mounts Ford, and starts to repeatedly strike him with elbows and forearms. Reigns doesn’t relent, continuing the barrage. He takes a momentary pause to rub his jaw again, then continues to deliver strikes to the head and jaw of Ford. This continues for a few moments before Ford’s body goes limp. The official calls for the bell
Winner via referee stoppage, and STILL Universal Champion: Roman Reigns (06:25)
Reigns eventually gets up, as Ford remains prone on the mat. He raises the championship in the air, rubbing his jaw. Reigns then drops the title and continues to beat Ford down. He throws him to the outside, before delivering a spear. Reigns drags Ford to the announce desk, lifts him up, and powerbombs him through it. Smackdown goes off the air with Reigns holding the title over Ford’s fallen body.
