Friday, July 23rd, 2021 – Cleveland, Ohio
SmackDown
Friday Night SmackDown was fresh off of a successful Pay-Per-View event in which the WWE Universe saw Ced defeat John Cena and stamp his path to SummerSlam. The main event of Unforgiven saw Roman Reigns successfully defeat Edge and retain his title thanks to interference from Seth Rollins.
And now it was official at SummerSlam in Allegiant Stadium, the main event would be Ced vs Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship.
"Cleveland," Roman said on the mic as the fans booed as he looked on with a smirk, "Acknowledge me!"
"You there, sitting at home," He said as he turned to face the camera, "acknowledge me! You might as well, everybody's acknowledging me. As a matter of fact, Edge acknowledged me."
"Edge acknowledged me at Unforgiven. And Paul, to be honest, it felt good forcing him to do so. And that brings me to the main event of SummerSlam," Roman said as he looked around the arena with a smirk on his face.
"I'm not gonna lie Hollywood fooled me. They put a whole new paint job on John. I thought John was gonna be different. I thought he was gonna be a new challenge for The Tribal Chief. But he failed. He failed and now I have to face Ced once again for my title. Paul, this kid is not even in my league," Roman said as he turned to face Paul Heyman.
"It's the same freaking thing all over again. It's the same music, the same insults, the same taunts, the same moves. It's the same damn Ced that I put down earlier this year at the Royal Rumble. It's the same thing over and over and over, it's like missionary position every single night," Roman said on the microphone as WWE Universe cheered while Paul simply raised the title in the air.
"And Ced thinks that just trading a few petty insults, that saying that the only reason I am Champion is because of Triple H. Ced, I don't have to prove anything to you," Roman said as he looked on with a smirk on his face.
"The Tribal Chief, The Head of the Table, we're not interested in that, no, no, no. We don't get motivated by that; we don't get inspired by that."
"So Ced, sure you got me in the main event of SummerSlam, but when it comes to me and you, I'm on a whole 'nother level that you just can't compare to. The Tribal Chief is held and shoulders above everyone on the roster. Hell, I'm the Greatest of All-Time. There isn't anyone better than me, there isn't a damn person who can compare to my greatness. Ced just isn't-" Roman was saying until he heard Ced's music hit the sound system of the Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse
"Icon" Hits
The music of one of the WWE's biggest rising stars hit the sound system as nearly 19,000 WWE fans rose up to their feet to cheer the young stud while the lights initially lowered before going around in a frenzy of color. The young star walked out onto the stage with a frown on his face as he looked down at the arena floor. He looked up from the floor and spat out mist before starting to make his descent down the ramp as he locked eyes with Roman.
The WWE Champion stared down the young star as Ced had gotten around to the ringside area. He walked around to the steps and ran up the steps, stepping onto the apron as he continued to keep his gaze on the Champion. A member of the ring crew handed him a microphone as he stepped into the ring while his music faded away.
"Roman, Roman, Roman. I can't help but feel like I'm stuck in some case of déjà vu. Every week you come out here to these fans, you tell them to acknowledge you and sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Then you proceed to sit here in this ring and waste everybody's time talking shit."
"Roman, they didn't come here to hear you talk. They came to see a fight," Ced said on the mic as the fans cheered while Roman simply scoffed and looked at his special counsel.
"I was sitting in the back and I heard you talking about missionary and I just couldn't sit back there any longer. I, for one, do not have a problem with missionary. I'm more of doggy type guy myself but-" Ced was saying on the mic as he heard a wave of laughter and cheers throughout the arena making him turn to look at the crowd with a smirk.
"Look at this guy in the front row, he knows what I'm talking about," The camera turned to face the guy that Ced pointed out seeing him laughing with a cup of beer in his hand, "Sorry to break the news to you kid but that's probably how you got here," he said pointing out the young kid that sat next to him as he could hear the gentlemen he pointed out earlier laughing.
Roman himself looked on with a smirk on his face as he raised the mic up to his lips.
"You know, Ced, you remind me of that one guy that peeked in high school. You're the guy that made everyone laugh, the clown that did any and everything it took just to get everyone to like him. You're the guy that had these big plans but couldn't cash in on them. The reason they like you so much is because you're just like them."
"You're the guy who writes a big ole check that his ass simply can't cash," Roman said as the fans booed, "get a good look people this is as close to greatness as you're ever gonna get." Roman said as the fans booed once more while Paul Heyman raised the titles in the air.
"And Ced, it's not your fault. No, it's not. You were just the unlucky bastard who happened to be born in the Tribal Chief's era. It's not your fault that you can't cut in the ring with the Greatest of All-Time, The Main Event, The Head of the Table, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns!"
"And at SummerSlam-"
"And at SummerSlam, the Greatest of All-Time, the Head of the Table, The Main Event, The Tribal Chief is gonna get his ass kicked in the middle of the ring!" Ced said as Roman looked on with a frown while Ced stared him down as the fans cheered.
"You talk a big game Roman but you and I know there's only one man who can beat you in this company and you're looking at him. You've put down a whole list of guys with that chokehold of yours but you couldn't do it against me. You've put down a list a mile long of guys with that spear of yours but my name's not on that list. That Superman Punch of yours has knocked a lot of guys out but it didn't knock me out. Moral of the story, Roman, you can throw everything that you have in your arsenal at me and it still ain't enough."
"You've got each and every single one of the guys in the back afraid of you. Afraid to stand up to you and your family. Afraid to step foot in this ring with you. You've taken what we all love and you have tainted it with this Tribal Chief bullshit you've got going on."
"Roman Reigns, Tribal Chief, Head of the Table, Big Dog, The Guy, whatever bullshit ass name you got, I want you to hear me and hear me well," Ced said on the mic as he stepped closer to Roman Reigns getting in his face as the Champion stared him down with intensity, "At SummerSlam, I'm going to end this pathetic era of yours and I'm going to take that and I'm going to hold it high above my head and at the end you will hear, And your NEW WWE Champion: Ced!"
And with that Ced threw down the mic and walked towards the ropes as his music played on the PA system while Roman stared at him with a frown.
(!)-(!)-(!)-(!)
2 Weeks Later – August 6th, 2021 – Tampa, Florida
It was once again Friday Night and this meant it was time for Friday Night SmackDown. And currently Friday Night SmackDown was gonna kick off with the official contract signing of the WWE Championship main event between Ced and the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns.
"Head of the Table" Hits
The WWE Universe in Tampa, Florida booed as they heard the music of the WWE Champion. The epic chorus of the theme could be heard ringing throughout the arena. Once the beat dropped, Roman walked out onto the stage exuding confidence as he was flanked by his cousins, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions and Paul Heyman holding his title.
Roman looked around the arena with a smirk as he looked over at Paul. He held his hand out as Paul handed the WWE Championship off to Roman Reigns. Roman raised the title in the air as The Usos raised their titles in the air as the pyro went off on the sky showing they had all the gold on Friday Night SmackDown.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns," Greg Hamilton announced once the pyro went off.
Roman lowered his title and handed it off to his special counsel. The Champions made their descent down the ramp looking on at the ring that set up with a black canvas and table with several security guards and Adam Pearce standing by for tonight's contract signing. Roman paused around the ringside area as The Usos walked around to the steps and ran up the steps and entered the ring. Roman walked around to the steps following suit as he walked up the steps and stepped into the ring with Paul following behind and walked towards the table to take a seat.
Roman looked on with a smirk as his music faded away. He picked up the mic and raised it up to his lips as the crowd booed.
"Get his ass out here so we can get this done. The Tribal Chief has things to do," Roman said arrogantly before throwing the mic back down on the table.
"Icon" Hits
The WWE Universe cheered as Roman simply looked on in the ring with a smirk as the rest of The Bloodline looked on with frowns on their faces as the lights lowered through the arena as the strobe lights started to go around in an array of colors.
Ced walked out onto the stage eyes, glued to the stage floor as he paused momentarily as the cheers got louder. He slowly raised his head making eye contact with Roman before he spat out a mist and started to make his way down the ramp.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Ced!"
The WWE Universe cheered as Ced marched the down the ramp to the ring filled with security guards and The Bloodline and the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns. In just 3 weeks, the WWE Champion and his number 1 contender will clash in what some are dubbing as the biggest main event of the summer.
Ced walked towards the steps and walked up the steps before stepping onto the apron and entering the ring still staring down the Champion. Ced walked towards the table grabbing a hold of the business-style chair they had set up for him and lifting it up to throw it over the top rope. He walked back over to the table grabbing a mic as his music faded away while the fans cheered.
"I'm not gonna lie, I'm holding back a lot right now. Cause it's taking everything in me not to kick all their asses right now including those two dickheads that you got for cousins, and jumping across this table kick your ass," Ced said as the fans cheered while he stared at Roman who simply looked on with a smirk.
"The only thing that's stopping me right now is me, this contract and the fact that I want to save the ass-kicking I have for you, for SummerSlam. So, Adam, give me the damn pen," Ced said as he laid the mic on the table while Adam Pearce handed him the pen. Ced quickly signed it without hesitation as the fans cheered. He picked up the contract and threw it across the table at the WWE Champion. Roman chuckled as the fans cheered.
"I've just about had it with your disrespect. This is just business but it seems like you want to make it personal. You're not gonna make it to SummerSlam, you're not gonna be able to hold your son when Roman Reigns is finished with you. You're not gonna be able to kiss your wife, you're gonna-" Paul was saying on the mic as Ced quickly grabbed a hold of the mic and raised it up to his lips as the fans cheered.
"I would watch it if I were you, instead kicking his ass I might come for you instead," Ced said on the mic as the WWE Unvirse in Tampa cheered. Paul was about to say something but Roman put a hand over the microphone and simply shook his head. Paul reached into his suit pocket and handed Roman Reigns the pen.
Roman signed the contract whilst making eye contact with his challenger who simply looked on with a frown. Roman handed Paul his pen and grabbed a microphone from the table to speak his mind.
"You must be confused Ced, this title is my title. You're never gonna get this cause I'm gonna smash you at SummerSlam. And it's not even your fault, you don't even have a chance. This is my show! This is my ring! This cameraman," Roman said as he stood up and pointed to the camera man, "this is my cameraman!"
"These people! These people are my people because they acknowledge me!" He said looking around the arena at the WWE Universe.
"These two right here, they work for me! This commentary team is mine because they brag and talk about me the whole time!" he said as he pointed to Michael Cole and Pat McAfee at ringside.
"That sign right there is me! Because I am SummerSlam, I am this show! I run this show!" Roman bellowed as he pointed to the SummerSlam sign that raised high above the crowd.
"And everybody works for me! Including the security in the ring!" Roman said the security guards turned to corner Ced while Paul, Adam and The Usos scurried off. Ced looked on with a frown as the crowd booed Roman.
Ced quickly went for the attack, lifting the table up and throwing it taking out 4 security guards in the process. He quickly went for another taking him out with a knee to the gut before going for a clothesline with another. He ran towards the other guard taking him out with a spear!
He popped back up as the fans cheered and ran towards another guard clotheslining him over the top rope. He looked around the ring before turning around only to be clocked in the head with the WWE Championship from Roman Reigns!
The fans immediately booed as Roman quickly mounted over Ced piling over a series of right hands over Ced's forehead. As the fans were booing, The Usos were on the outside reaching under the apron to grab a wooden table. The Usos pushed the table under the bottom rope and slid under the rope to enter the ring.
Roman grabbed Ced by the head, dragging him up to his feet as blood started to seep from the cut on his forehead. The fans booed as Roman continued to assault Ced seemingly opening the cut up even more. Roman ran to the ropes and when he rebounded off, he jumped up and clock him with a Superman Punch forcing him down to the canvas.
Roman turned to his cousins, watching as they set up a table in the center of the ring. He grabbed Ced, dragging him over to the table. He looked around the arena with a frown as he dragged him up to his feet and set him up for a slam. Roman grabbed Ced by his jeans and lifted him up in the air before slamming him through the table with a Uranage Slam!
The fans booed as Roman stood tall over his challenger for SummerSlam while the Usos raised their index fingers into the sky. Paul walked up the steps and entered the ring and handed the WWE Championship off to Roman. Roman raised the title into the air as the WWE Universe booed while Roman started mouthing off.
Next Week - August 13th, 2021 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
"Tulsa, Oklahoma," Roman said on the mic as the fans started to give a mixed reaction hearing the name of their beloved city, "Acknowledge me!"
The sound of the crowd could be heard echoing throughout the arena as Roman smirked while The Uso raised their index finger into the sky as Paul raised the WWE Championship into the air.
"There's plenty to be excited about. Tonight, is a special night. We're 2 weeks out from SummerSlam. Tonight's my cousin will be defending the Intercontinental Championship here in Tulsa. And tonight, will be the first night that I get to see Ced since I smashed him 2 weeks ago in the center of my ring," Roman said as the fans cheered hearing Ced's name.
"Oh yeah, since I smashed him in Tampa and made him bleed all over the city. And you better believe once he shows his face, I'm going to make him bleed all over Tulsa, Oklahoma as well," Roman said as the fans booed.
"Wiseman," Roman said as he turned to his Special Counsel with a smirk on his face as Paul lit up to answer his special counsel.
"What's that line you always say?" Roman asked as he waved the mic over to Paul's lips.
"It's not a prediction, it's a spoiler," Paul said as he looked at Roman with his slimy smirk on his face as the fans booed.
"A spoiler? Is that right?" He said as he looked at Paul with a small smile.
"Yes, my tribal chief." Paul said as he nodded.
"Should we give Tulsa and the whole world a spoiler tonight?" Roman said as the fans once gave him a mixed reaction.
"I'm like Babe Ruth around here. I call my shot. And I deliver every single time!" he said once again as the fans booed.
"Just like as WrestleMania this past year. A week before I said I was gone smash em, I'm gone stack em and I'm gone pin em. 1, 2, 3. And what did I do, huh?" Roman said as he looked around the arena at the WWE Universe, "so at SummerSlam, I'm gone call my shot again."
"At SummerSlam, in the biggest main event of all time, I'm gone smash Ced. I'm gonna pin Ced. I'm gone stand over Ced and with about 5 million dollars' worth of fireworks going off, I'm going to hold the WWE Championship and I'm gone raise it over my head," he said as the WWE Universe in Tulsa booed once more.
"And Ced's gonna have no choice but to Acknowledge me!" Roman said as the WWE Universe booed. He looked up at the crowd as he started to furrow his brow as he could hear a chant start to ring throughout the arena.
"Let's go Ced!" Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap "Let's go Ced!" Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap "Let's go Ced!" Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap "Let's go Ced!" Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap
Roman could be seen in the ring getting infuriated as he heard the crowd chant for his adversary for the biggest event of the Summer.
"ACKNOWLEDGE ME! ME! ME! ME! HE'S GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!" He said as he went around the ring facing the crowd, letting his anger pour out into his words. He ran a hand over his face as he tried to regain his composure.
"At SummerSlam, Ced will ACKNOWLEDGE ME! He said before he threw the mic down into the center of the ring as his music started to play on the PA system as he raised an index finger in the center of the ring.
(!)-(!)-(!)-(!)
It was later that night as Jey Uso was main eventing Friday Night SmackDown as he went one on one with Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Champion. Jimmy Uso, Roman Reigns, and Paul Heyman. Shinsuke was looking for his finishing move Kinsasha while Jey was down but Roman Reigns and Jimmy had different ideas. Paul hopped on the ring apron distracting the referee and Shinsuke as Roman slid into the ring while Jimmy had grabbed the Intercontinental Championship on the outside.
Jimmy threw the title to Roman, who caught it and stood behind Shinsuke waiting for him to turn around. Shinsuke turned around making Roman rush towards him with the title but Shinsuke ducked it and this allowed him to hit the official who had just turned around. The official dropped to the canvas as he stared up at the lights out cold from the impact of the metal title hitting him square in the face.
Roman dropped the title and turned around to get clocked by Shinsuke who tried to bum rush the Champion taking him out of his game. Shinsuke piled on a series of forearms forcing him to stumble back into the corner. Jimmy rushed to the aid of his "Tribal Chief" as Jey had made it up to his feet and started to do the same. Both of them rushed toward Shinsuke hitting him with a clubbing blow forcing him to fall to a knee as the two then began to pile on a series of stomps to the midsection.
Roman had regained his composure and looked on his cousins started their relentless assault on the challenger.
"Icon" Hits
Roman heard the music of Ced and looked at the stage with concern as Jimmy and Jey looked on. Ced came running down the ramp with a forwn on his face ashe slid under the bottom rope and ran towards Roman ducking his clothesline as he jumped up and took out Jimmy and Jey with a flying clothesline.
He popped right back up and ran towards Roman clocking him in the jaw with a right hand forcing the Champion to reel back into the ropes. Ced hit Roman with a flurry of right hands before clotheslining him over the top rope. Roman fell to the floor as the crowd cheered. Ced turned towards Jimmy and Jey seeing that they both were setting him up for a superkick but he ducked it and ran for the ropes instead. When he popped off the ropes, he lunged forwards at both men taking them out with a double spear!
Ced bent down, grabbing Jimmy by the hair and tossed him over the top rope as another official came running down the ramp. The official slid in the ring as Shinsuke had regained his composure and stood in the corner waiting for Jey to rise up to his feet. The number 1 contender for Roman Reigns stepped out of the ring and stood at the ringside area as Jimmy and Roman retreated back up the ramp with frowns on their faces.
The fans cheered as Shinsuke ran towards Jey clocking him with the knee for Kinsasha. Shinsuke with the cover.
1...
2...
3...
"Rising Sun" Hits
"Here is your winner and the NEW Intercontinental Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura!" Greg Hamilton announced as Roman looked on the stage with a pissed-off look as Ced looked on with a smirk as Shinsuke celebrated his title win in the ring.
A/N: So, I know I missed some days on SmackDown primarily July 30th and August 20th but it's for good reason as I want to start to focus on this match with Roman Reigns. Let me know if you enjoyed this chapter with a review.