Layin' da Throwback SmackDown - SmackDown recap for May 7, 2021

We look back on The Rock vs. Triple H for the WWF Championship from the main event of the August 26, 1999 episode of SmackDown.

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman head to the ring. Paul Heyman announces that Roman Reigns has allowed him to eulogize the career of Daniel Bryan, and that they will do so with a ten-bell salute. Heyman says he does not need the timekeeper's help, and acts as the bell. Roman says that unlike Daniel Bryan, he is a man of his word and did what he said he would do, and because of this, he should be acknowledged, celebrated and thanked for always giving everybody what they want. He says that Daniel Bryan did not want to be here, and for that, he got rid of him, and with Daniel Bryan's absence, he has been replaced with someone who will acknowledge him: Jimmy Uso, who has not been seen in over a year due to a knee injury. Jimmy and Jey embrace in the ring, then Cesaro shows up and says he speaks for everyone by stating that Daniel Bryan is irreplaceable. He also says he has Seth Rollins to focus on, the gets attacked from behind by Seth Rollins. Rollins and Cesaro brawl, and referees and officials run in to separate both men before Teddy Long suddenly shows up. Long says that as per the power of Adam Pearce, if Cesaro beats Rollins tonight, he gets a shot at the Universal Championship at WrestleMania Backlash. Rollins then attacks Cesaro from behind again, sending him into the ring steps before throwing him back into the ring.

Cesaro beats Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania Backlash after Jimmy Uso superkicks Rollins for telling Jey Uso to stay out of his way and shoving him when Jey puts his hands on him.

Backstage, Seth Rollins talks with Roman Reigns, asking if he should be pissed at him or pissed at Jimmy Uso. Roman says that by losing, Rollins screwed him over, as he now has to deal with Cesaro. He also says he will deal with his family. Rollins tells Roman to deal with Jimmy Uso, or he will.

We see the supermarket brawl between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Booker T from December 13, 2001.

Backstage, Teddy Long thanks Sonya Deville for having him tonight as well as the stipulation for tonight, and Sonya says that with Adam Pearce unavailable, it will be an honor to work with him tonight. Sami Zayn then shows up and tells Teddy Long there is a huge conspiracy against him, and asks him for an . He then finds out he will be in a tag team match with Apollo Crews against Kevin Owens, Big E, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and Shinsuke Nakamura. Sami also finds out that Chad Gable, Otis and King Corbin is on his team as well, then Teddy Long tries to get him to do the Teddy dance.

Backstage, Roman Reigns chews Jimmy Uso out for superkicking Seth Rollins and leaving him to deal with Cesaro. Jimmy says Roman will not talk to him like he does to Jey and that he is not "Roman's bitch."

Carmella beats Ruby Riott with the Code of Silence following a series of pinfall attempts.

We look back on Edge and Hulk Hogan winning the WWF World Tag Team Championships on July 4, 2002.

We look back on the ring imploding during Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar from June 12, 2003.

Bayley heads to the ring. Bayley says that to be in the WWE ring, you have to be a WWE Superstar, and that being a Superstar does not immediately make a great champion. She then pays tribute to Women's Champions throughout WWE history. Bayley pays tribute to Alundra Blayze, Jacqueline, Lita, Trish Stratus, Ivory, Beth Phoenix, Molly Holly and Bianca Belair. When Bayley gets to Bianca, she says that Bianca is full of potential but is naive to the world around her. She says that if Bianca is not careful, she will be like all the other women in the tribute and not on her level. She also says she sees insecurity in Bianca's eyes, and that she will beat Bianca for the SmackDown Women's Championship and prove she was right about her all along. Bianca shows up and says Bayley just cannot let her be SmackDown Women's Champion, and says he is living her best life, which will only get better after WrestleMania Backlash. She says that Bayley wishes she was insecure and that she is jealous of her confidence when she should be worried about herself, but Bayley laughs at her. When Bayley goes for a cheap shot, it has no effect, and Bianca goes to town on Bayley. When Bianca takes her earrings, however, Bayley grabs the other one and takes her down before standing on her ponytail and stomping on her before planting her into the mat.

Backstage, Jey Uso confronts Jimmy Uso, but Jimmy asks Jey Uso what has happened to him, telling him that he is only benefitting Roman before saying that he needs Jey and that they need each other. He tells Jey that the two of them should be representing the family by being tag team champions, then leaves.

We look back on John Cena's debut from June 27, 2002.

Before the next match, Dolph Ziggler says there are no better throwbacks than him and Robert Roode, then says that while he and Rey can go toe-to-toe all night long, Dominik Mysterio does not belong and is just Rey's "little kid." Ziggler tells Dominik to get out of his ring, but this leads Dominik challenging Ziggler instead of Rey.

Dominik Mysterio beats Dolph Ziggler with an inside cradle.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Reginald, Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler. Reginald says she has asked for this match because he was left with a sour taste in his mouth last week, and that Nia and Shayna will break Tamina and Natalya. Tonight, he will break Tamina's spirit, then drinks some spirits to drown out her sour presence.

We look back on Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance on SmackDown on November 11, 1999.

Backstage, Roman Reigns tells Paul Heyman he needs his cousin. Roman looks at Paul, and Paul says "I understand."

Reginald vs. Tamina ends with Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler getting involved. Before the match, it is announced that Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler will defend the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Natalya and Tamina next week. After the match, Nia and Shayna brawl with Tamina and Natalya and lay them both out.

We hear from Apollo Crews, who says that tonight, he will lead his team into battle with his leadership skills. He says that his team is vulnerable apart, but unbreakable together. We then hear from Big E, who says that his team is setting their differences aside tonight and that they will throw down.

Apollo Crews, King Corbin, Sami Zayn, Chad Gable and Otis beat Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kevin Owens and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) in a ten-man tag match.

Backstage, Roman Reigns tells Jey Uso that he wants to give Jimmy Uso the same opportunities that he has given him to rise to the occasion, but he needs to see where Jimmy stands.

We look back on Vince McMahon in Eddie Guerrero's low rider from July 22, 2004.

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman are in the ring. Before Roman can say much of anything, Jimmy Uso shows up. Jimmy asks Jey where he stands and brings up the "I Quit" Match between Jey and Roman from last October, and says that Jey quit for him because he did not want to see him get hurt. Jimmy then says he would have never said that he quit, and Roman chalks it up to Jimmy being stuck in the past while he and Jey have moved forward before telling Jimmy either to fall in line, stand with them and acknowledge him or go back home. Jimmy Uso leaves the ring, then Jey Uso walks up to Jimmy and asks him to acknowledge Roman so they can go back to doing their thing. Suddenly, Roman is attacked from behind by Cesaro. Jey runs to the ring but is also laid out by Cesaro. Jimmy Uso then runs to the ring and fights Cesaro only to be laid out as well, and Jey Uso is hit with a Neutralizer before Jimmy earns the same fate.