WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Season 21
In 2019, SmackDown LIVE continues to change the game in sports-entertainment. As the McMahon Family retakes control of the blue brand, intense rivalries like Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston take center stage.
Season 21 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of WWE Friday Night SmackDown Season 20.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
In 2019, SmackDown LIVE continues to change the game in sports-entertainment. As the McMahon Family retakes control of the blue brand, intense rivalries like Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston take center stage.
Episode Guide
Season 21 Progress Shield
January 1, 2019 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Jan 1, 2019 · 84 min
On a monumental New Year’s Day SmackDown LIVE, AJ Styles unleashed the newfound aggression he showed Mr. McMahon last week on four other Superstars en route to earning a WWE Champi
January 8, 2019 (Jacksonville, FL)
Jan 8, 2019 · 85 min
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Carmella squared off in a Triple Threat Match to determine who would challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka at Royal Rumble. Elsewhere, WWE Cha
January 15, 2019 (Birmingham, AL)
Jan 15, 2019 · 85 min
When The Bar crashed The Miz’s “Bestie Birthday Bash” for Shane McMahon, it led to an impromptu match between Miz and Sheamus that saw The Bar covered in cake. Elsewhere, SmackDown
January 22, 2019 (Wichita, KS)
Jan 22, 2019 · 85 min
Rey Mysterio and Andrade brought the house down in another instant classic, this time a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, but Samoa Joe and Randy Orton stole some headlines by match’s end. E
January 29, 2019 (Phoenix, AZ)
Jan 29, 2019 · 84 min
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan looked to evade every single threat to his title on SmackDown LIVE, but he instead received news that he would have to face five of them inside
February 5, 2019 (Everrett, WA)
Feb 5, 2019 · 83 min
”The New” Daniel Bryan and Jeff Hardy squared off in the main event of SmackDown LIVE, but all six WWE Title Elimination Chamber Match participants couldn’t help but get involved b
February 12, 2019 (Toledo, OH)
Feb 12, 2019 · 85 min
A highly competitive Gauntlet Match determined who would be last to enter the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match this Sunday, a bout that now also has a new entrant. Elsewh
February 19, 2019 (New Orleans, LA)
Feb 19, 2019 · 84 min
Following a huge Six-Man Tag Team Match, the challenger for “The New” Daniel Bryan’s WWE Championship at WWE Fastlane was revealed. Elsewhere, NXT Superstars continued to shine bri
February 26, 2019 (Charlotte, NC)
Feb 26, 2019 · 84 min
Mr. McMahon dropped a bombshell when he announced that Kevin Owens would replace Kofi Kingston as “The New” Daniel Bryan’s challenger for the WWE Championship at WWE Fastlane. Howe
March 5, 2019 (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Mar 5, 2019 · 83 min
Charlotte Flair personally invited Becky Lynch to SmackDown LIVE and matters quickly turned physical between the two WWE Fastlane opponents. Also, tension between WWE Champion “The
March 12, 2019 (Dayton, OH)
Mar 12, 2019 · 85 min
Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship opportunity future was decided when Mr. McMahon made a major announcement regarding what The Dreadlocked Dynamo would have to do to face off agains
March 19, 2019 (Indianapolis, IN)
Mar 19, 2019 · 85 min
Kofi Kingston attempted to secure his place in the WWE Championship Match at WrestleMania, but just when he thought he was en route to The Grandest Stage of Them All, Mr. McMahon d
March 26, 2019 (Uncasville, CT)
Mar 26, 2019 · 85 min
After New Day threatened to quit WWE, Mr. McMahon gave Kofi Kingston one last chance to challenge for the WWE Title at WrestleMania … except his fate wouldn’t be in his hands. The
April 2, 2019 (Baltimore, MD)
Apr 2, 2019 · 86 min
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan railed on Kofi Kingston’s good name one too many times, as a passionate Kofi finally lashed out verbally just five days before challenging The P
April 9, 2019 (Brooklyn, NY)
Apr 9, 2019 · 85 min
Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship celebration was cut short when The Bar & Drew McIntyre crashed the party, challenging The New Day to a Six-Man Tag Team Match in the main event of
April 16, 2019 (Montreal, Canada)
Apr 16, 2019 · 85 min
Night Two of the Superstar Shake-up seen on SmackDown LIVE with many surprises that include the arrivals of Roman Reigns, Finn Bálor, Bayley, Ember Moon and many more. Elsewhere, T
April 23, 2019 (Lincoln, NE)
Apr 23, 2019 · 85 min
It seemed the makeshift New Day of WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Kevin Owens was flourishing … but then the newly dubbed “Big O” shocked the WWE Universe with a jaw-
April 30, 2019 (Columbus, OH)
Apr 30, 2019 · 85 min
The dilemma between The New Day and Kevin Owens intensified, as Owens continued to target WWE Champion Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Elsewhere, the SmackDown LIVE representative’
May 7, 2019 (Louisville, KY)
May 7, 2019 · 85 min
The “Wild Card Rule” brought Raw’s AJ Styles and Sami Zayn to SmackDown LIVE, but WWE Champion Kofi Kingston upped the ante when he challenged both Superstars to a Triple Threat Ma
May 14, 2019 (London, England)
May 14, 2019 · 85 min
With WWE Champion Kofi Kingston as the scheduled guest on “The Kevin Owens Show,” it seemed likely that the two WWE Money in the Bank opponents would trade blows only five nights b
May 21, 2019 (Providence, RI)
May 21, 2019 · 86 min
Roman Reigns took on Elias in a Money in the Bank rematch, with it clear that Shane McMahon would be doing everything in his power to slow The Big Dog down prior to WWE Super ShowD
May 28, 2019 (Tulsa, OK)
May 28, 2019 · 85 min
R-Truth’s journey as 24/7 Champion took another interesting turn when he accidentally interrupted Shane McMahon Appreciation Night. The mishap briefly cost him the 24/7 Title, but
June 4, 2019 (Laredo, TX)
Jun 4, 2019 · 85 min
Goldberg’s first-ever appearance on SmackDown LIVE brought the WWE Universe even more than they bargained for when his WWE Super ShowDown opponent The Undertaker arrived to create
June 11, 2019 (Sacramento, CA)
Jun 11, 2019 · 85 min
With Big E finally being cleared for in-ring competition, The New Day brought their best to the trio of Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in the SmackDown LIVE main event. E
June 18, 2019 (Ontario, CA)
Jun 18, 2019 · 85 min
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston & Universal Champion Seth Rollins teamed up to take on Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a blockbuster 2-out-of-3 Falls Match main event on SmackDown LIVE. Else
June 25, 2019 (Portland, OR)
Jun 25, 2019 · 85 min
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler amazed the WWE Universe with an incredible 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, wherein The Showoff could earn his way into the WWE Title Match at E
July 2, 2019 (San Antonio, TX)
Jul 2, 2019 · 85 min
After a chaotic set of circumstances, Kevin Owens & Dolph Ziggler collided with Heavy Machinery, and the winning team would earn their way into the SmackDown Tag Team Championship
July 9, 2019 (Manchester, NH)
Jul 9, 2019 · 85 min
Kevin Owens finally exploded on Shane McMahon, verbally assaulting The Best in the World at the start of the night and dropping him with a Stunner at the end of it, massively alter
July 16, 2019 (Worcester, MA)
Jul 16, 2019 · 83 min
The beef between Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon continued, first with Shane-O-Mac’s Town Hall Meeting quickly going south when KO abruptly arrived and then again in the main event w
July 23, 2019 (Miami, FL)
Jul 23, 2019 · 85 min
Shane McMahon thought he had backed Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns into a corner when he pitted the two in a match against one another, as Drew McIntyre, Elias and Shane were all pre
July 30, 2019 (Memphis, TN)
Jul 30, 2019 · 85 min
Tonight on SmackDown LIVE, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston overcame United States Champion AJ Styles in a non-title Champion vs. Champion Match with the members of The O.C. and The New
August 6, 2019 (Detroit, MI)
Aug 6, 2019 · 84 min
“The New” Daniel Bryan & Rowan made a statement at the conclusion of their tag team main event against Xavier Woods & Big E, and Roman Reigns got some information out of Buddy Murp
August 13, 2019 (Toronto, ON)
Aug 13, 2019 · 85 min
The New Day engaged in a drag-out battle with Randy Orton & The Revival in a major Six-Man Tag Team main event on SmackDown LIVE, but the makeshift trio’s victory over the WWE Cham
August 20, 2019 (Sioux Falls, SD)
Aug 20, 2019 · 85 min
”The New” Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan reveal who they believed to be the culprit behind the series of attacks on Roman Reigns – a man with almost identical facial features to Erick
August 27, 2019 (Baton Rouge, LA)
Aug 27, 2019 · 85 min
Roman Reigns finally got the answer he was looking for when he confirmed that Erick Rowan was indeed responsible for attacking him. The reveal set “The New” Daniel Bryan into a fre
September 3, 2019 (Norfolk, VA)
Sep 3, 2019 · 84 min
Erick Rowan brutalized both Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan, firmly admitting to being Reigns’ attacker and then seemingly cutting ties from his former friend Bryan when he decimated
September 10, 2019 (New York, NY)
Sep 10, 2019 · 85 min
Shane McMahon thought he had it all figured out when he inserted himself into the King of the Ring Tournament Semifinals against Chad Gable and appointed Kevin Owens as the special
September 17, 2019 (Atlanta, GA)
Sep 17, 2019 · 85 min
In the wake of WWE Clash of Champions, the reunited Erick Rowan & Luke Harper took out Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns in an all-out destructive assault. Plus, Brock Lesnar made a su
September 24, 2019 (San Francisco, CA)
Sep 24, 2019 · 84 min
Shane McMahon’s attempt to resolve Kevin Owens’ lawsuit resulted in KO challenging Shane-O-Mac to a high-stakes Ladder Match with each of their WWE futures on the line. Elsewhere,
October 4, 2019 (Los Angeles, CA)
Oct 4, 2019 · 84 min
Kofi Kingston’s incredible journey as WWE Champion came crashing to a screeching halt when Brock Lesnar defeated him in mere seconds to win the title, however Lesnar’s night would
October 11, 2019 (Las Vegas, NV)
Oct 11, 2019 · 86 min
Bayley arrived on Friday Night SmackDown with a new look and new demeanor, but she left Las Vegas as the new SmackDown Women’s Champion after withstanding Charlotte Flair’s best to
October 18, 2019 (Indianapolis, IN)
Oct 18, 2019 · 86 min
Following King Corbin’s interference in the Intercontinental Title Match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Roman Reigns that incited Daniel Bryan to come to The Big Dog’s aid, Bryan an
October 25, 2019 (Kansas City, MO)
Oct 25, 2019 · 91 min
With Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair watching from ringside, members of Team Hogan and Team Flair collided in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown when Roman Reigns, Shorty G & Ali cl
November 1, 2019 (Buffalo, NY)
Nov 1, 2019 · 85 min
Adam Cole defended the NXT Championship against Daniel Bryan in an instant classic to conclude a night of surprises as the black-and-gold brand claimed a resounding victory over Sm
November 8, 2019 (Manchester, UK)
Nov 8, 2019 · 85 min
Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin collided in Manchester, England, but The Big Dog would ultimately have to deal with a lot more than just The King of the Ring by match’s end. Also, Ty
November 15, 2019 (Philadelphia, PA)
Nov 15, 2019 · 86 min
During an appearance on “Miz TV,” Daniel Bryan’s verbal altercation with Bray Wyatt and the Firefly Fun House leads to a Universal Championship showdown at Survivor Series. Plus, a
November 22, 2019 (Chicago, IL)
Nov 22, 2019 · 86 min
The battle for brand supremacy took several final shocking twists on Friday Night SmackDown, including appearances by Rhea Ripley, The Undisputed ERA, Seth Rollins and Triple H’s N
November 29, 2019 (Birmingham, AL)
Nov 29, 2019 · 85 min
SmackDown ended in unsettling fashion with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt dragging Daniel Bryan underneath the ring. Elsewhere, The Big Dog sent an emphatic message to King Corbin, and The
December 6, 2019 (Fayetteville, NC)
Dec 6, 2019 · 84 min
Roman Reigns prevailed over Dolph Ziggler in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown, but The Big Dog got more than he bargained for when King Corbin & Ziggler handcuffed Reigns t
December 13, 2019 (Milwaukee, WI)
Dec 13, 2019 · 84 min
On the final Friday Night SmackDown before WWE TLC, an “unchained” Roman Reigns lays waste to everyone in sight as he prepares to battle King Corbin in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs M
December 20, 2019 (Brooklyn, NY)
Dec 20, 2019 · 85 min
On a special holiday edition of Friday Night SmackDown, the unlikely team of Daniel Bryan & The Miz teamed up against King Corbin & Dolph Ziggler, Heavy Machinery overcame The Revi
December 27, 2019 (Detroit, MI)
Dec 27, 2019 · 85 min
Following several twists and turns, Daniel Bryan prevailed in a Triple Threat Match against both The Miz and King Corbin to earn another opportunity at "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt's Uni