Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 20, 2021

Edge heads to the ring to start tonight's show. He says that he heard what Seth Rollins what he had to say last week, and says it sat with him to the point that he worried about his family while Rollins threatened everything in his life. Edge says he knows what The Stomp can do to him and that it can probably end his career and affect his way of life, and while Seth Rollins' mind games are supposed to hit him in the heart, he knows they are mind games. However, he knows that Rollins means what he says, and while he cannot take away the fact that Rollins is "an all-time talent," Rollins has pushed him to a place that he does not like to go because it is so hard to come back from. He also admits that he likes being in that dark place, and that Rollins has made him find the place in his heart where his blood runs black. Edge says he sees clearly on this day and that at SummerSlam, he doesn't just have to beat Rollins, he has to break him, humble him and burn him down.

Backstage, Rey Mysterio talks with Dominik Mysterio. Rey says he has been hard on Dominik the last couple of weeks, but he wants the SmackDown tag titles back on their waists. He then asks Dominik to watch his back and stay alert.

Jimmy Uso beats Rey Mysterio after Dominik Mysterio gets caught putting his feet on Rey's back for leverage during a pinfall attempt and The Usos strike Rey and Dominik as Rey talks to Dominik.

Baron Corbin heads to the ring with the Money In The Bank Briefcase before the next match.

Baron Corbin beats Kevin Owens by disqualification. During the match, Big E shows up and Baron Corbin before he can grab the Money In The Bank briefcase, but when Big E tries to leave with the briefcase, Corbin attacks from behind and runs to the back with it.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Bianca Belair. Bianca does not even want to hear Sasha Banks' name again, as it makes her skin crawl and think about what she will do to her at SummerSlam. She hopes Sasha is watching tonight to see what she will do to Carmella and Zelina Vega in back-to-back matches. She plans on snapping Zelina Vega like a twig and making Carmella look like the most hideous woman on Earth, and says she is done playing nice and is ready to show "the meanest, nastiest, baddest chick in WWE."

Shotzi and Nox beat Natalya and Tamina in a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Contender's Match after Shotzi kicks the Sharpshooter away and pins Natalya with a schoolkid pin.

Seth Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins says that while he likes Edge's style and has heard what he has to say, Edge is going to lose tomorrow. He also says there is no shame in Edge's shortcomings, being beaten by the business, being a family man and not being able to find the darkness that guided him. He says that part of Edge is gone and that he will never find it again. All of a sudden, the arena goes dark, the lights around the ring go red and Gangrel's theme plays. Edge appears on the TitanTron, telling Rollins to beware as the freaks come out at night, for he will never see it coming. Suddenly, a very dark liquid drops onto Rollins from the top of the arena. Rollins is livid.

Otis beats Montez Ford.

Rick Boogs and King Nakamura beat Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez.

Bianca Belair beats Zelina Vega, then gets attacked from behind by Carmella before the next match.

Bianca Belair beats Carmella.

Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns head to the ring, followed by John Cena. Roman says a lot of people say a lot of stupid things to him and that John Cena was no different last week, and that the fans got excited and he dug that, but he will not allow Cena to lie to and misinform the fans. He says that Cena cannot pin him for the three count, and according to Paul Heyman, nobody has beaten Roman Reigns since his return. Cena says he cannot let this go on and that there is too much excitement in the room, and while everyone is picking a team, the impossible has become possible and Roman has no idea what he is in for tomorrow night. He says that a month ago, everybody would have picked Roman to win against him, but now he is here to take the Universal Championship and leave Roman with a shell of his former self. He admits that Roman is great, but says that Roman has lost control of his ego and needs a loss to be brought back down to earth, saying he is here not to promote movies, but to "demote [his] ass." Cena also goes on to say that tomorrow night's match is made for him, and that if Roman gets distracted, makes a mistake or is not perfect, he will lose, and he will be a record-breaking 17-time world champion, leaving SmackDown with no resident champion until WrestleMania. Roman tells Cena he should have smartened up before he came back, as he has smashed people up so badly that WWE does not even have a use for them anymore, and tells Cena he is not special or better than him for being a Hollywood movie star, as he can go over there and do the same thing. Roman, noting that SummerSlam will be in Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow night, then raises the stakes and goes on to say that he will either leave as Universal Champion or leave WWE. Both men shake hands, and Roman goes for an Attitude Adjustment only for Cena to turn it into a schoolkid pin.

Talking Smack: Finn Balor is done smiling, and Chad Gable revels in Otis' success.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!