WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Season 23
2021 season of WWE SmackDown
Season 23 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 22.
- 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
2021 season of WWE SmackDown
Episode Guide
Season 23 Progress Shield
January 1, 2021
Jan 1, 2021 · 85 min
Kevin Owens seeks to finish Jey Uso once and for all. Intercontinental Champion Big E & Apollo Crews face Sami Zayn & King Corbin. The Street Profits celebrate the new year. The Ri
January 8, 2021
Jan 8, 2021 · 85 min
A Gauntlet Match determines who will challenge Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble. Big E defends the Intercontinental Title against Apollo Crews. The Street Profits fa
January 15, 2021
Jan 15, 2021 · 86 min
WWE Official Adam Pearce outmaneuvers Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. Bayley hosts the first edition of her new talk show, "Ding Dong, Hello!" with special guest Bianca Belair. Shins
January 22, 2021
Jan 22, 2021 · 85 min
Paul Heyman manipulates WWE Official Adam Pearce into a match. Bianca Belair accepts Bayley's Ultimate Athlete Obstacle Course Challenge. SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks bat
January 29, 2021
Jan 29, 2021 · 86 min
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens escalate their very personal war of words. Daniel Bryan faces AJ Styles. Bianca Belair takes on Bayley. Dominik Mysterio goes one-on
February 5, 2021
Feb 5, 2021 · 85 min
Royal Rumble Match winner Edge confronts Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Bianca Belair celebrates her Royal Rumble Match victory. Ruby Riott faces Bayley. Daniel Bryan goes one-on
February 12, 2021
Feb 12, 2021 · 86 min
Several Superstars compete in Elimination Chamber Qualification Matches. SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair confront WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Sh
February 19, 2021
Feb 19, 2021 · 86 min
The six Superstars competing in the Elimination Chamber battle in a high-stakes, Six-Man Tag Team Match. Seth Rollins makes a statement. The Mysterios take on Otis & Chad Gable. Ba
February 26, 2021
Feb 26, 2021 · 85 min
Daniel Bryan has a challenge for Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Royal Rumble Match winner Bianca Belair reveals her WrestleMania choice. Seth Rollins invites Cesaro to “embrace t
March 5, 2021
Mar 5, 2021 · 85 min
Daniel Bryan battles Jey Uso in a Steel Cage Match with a Universal Championship opportunity on the line. Apollo Crews issues a challenge to Intercontinental Champion Big E. Cesaro
March 12, 2021
Mar 12, 2021 · 85 min
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan sign their Title Match Contract for Fastlane. Big E issues an Open Challenge for his Intercontinental Championship. SmackDown Women
March 19, 2021
Mar 19, 2021 · 87 min
Edge competes in his first match on SmackDown in more than a decade, facing Jey Uso to become the Special Enforcer at WWE Fastlane. Intercontinental Champion Big E sits down to tal
March 26, 2021
Mar 26, 2021 · 85 min
Daniel Bryan fights his way into the main event of WrestleMania 37. Seth Rollins battles Shinsuke Nakamura and feels Cesaro's wrath. Bianca Belair takes on Natalya. Rey Mysterio go
April 2, 2021
Apr 2, 2021 · 85 min
Daniel Bryan battles Jey Uso in a Street Fight while Bryan's WrestleMania opponents Edge and Universal Champion Roman Reigns observe. Sami Zayn hosts YouTube sensation Logan Paul f
April 9, 2021
Apr 9, 2021 · 86 min
WrestleMania SmackDown features a pair of colossal matches: The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and a Fatal 4-Way Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
April 16, 2021
Apr 16, 2021 · 84 min
Cesaro rides his WrestleMania victory to a confrontation with Universal Champion Roman Reigns and a match against Jey Uso. New SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair celebrates h
April 23, 2021
Apr 23, 2021 · 84 min
Cesaro issues a challenge to Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Kevin Owens challenges Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews. Tamina goes one-on-one with Nia Jax. Rey & Dominik Myst
April 30, 2021
Apr 30, 2021 · 84 min
Daniel Bryan puts his SmackDown career on the line as he challenges Roman Reigns for the Universal Title. Apollo Crews defends the Intercontinental Championship against Big E. Smac
May 7, 2021
May 7, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1133 A special Throwback SmackDown sees Cesaro seek an opportunity at Roman Reigns' Universal Title at WrestleMania Backlash when he faces Seth Rollins. Questions surro
May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1134 Natalya & Tamina challenge Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Cesaro sends Universal Champion Roman Reigns a message ahead of Wres
May 21, 2021
May 21, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1135 Apollo Crews defends the Intercontinental Championship against Big E, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Dominik Mysterio faces Robert Roode. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bi
May 28, 2021
May 28, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1136 Rey & Dominik Mysterio defend the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode. The Usos compete together for the first time in a year agai
June 4, 2021
Jun 4, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1137 The Usos challenge Rey & Dominik Mysterio for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. Apollo Crews defends the Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens. Smac
June 11, 2021
Jun 11, 2021 · 86 min
SmackDown #1138 Rey Mysterio seeks retribution on Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins joins Bayley on "Ding Dong, Hello!" Shinsuke Nakamura faces King Corbin. Kevin Owen
June 18, 2021
Jun 18, 2021 · 87 min
SmackDown #1139 Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Rey Mysterio collide in a brutal Hell in a Cell Match. Bayley sends a message to SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair. Inte
June 25, 2021
Jun 25, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1140 As Jimmy Uso steps up to take his brother's place as "The Right Hand Man," Universal Champion Roman Reigns suffers the wrath of an opportunistic Superstar's return
July 2, 2021
Jul 2, 2021 · 85 min
Edge sends a message to Universal Champion Roman Reigns. SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair has a challenge for Bayley. Kevin Owens battles Sami Zayn in a Last Man Standing M
July 9, 2021
Jul 9, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1142 Ahead of WWE Money in the Bank, Edge fends off Universal Champion Roman Reigns & The Usos. NXT Superstars debut against WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Natalya & Ta
July 16, 2021
Jul 16, 2021 · 86 min
SmackDown #1143 The WWE Universe returns to witness all the action as The Bloodline face Edge & The Mysterios. Bianca Belair defends the SmackDown Women's Title against Carmella.
July 23, 2021
Jul 23, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1144 John Cena returns to SmackDown with a challenge for Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Toni Storm joins the blue brand. Jimmy Uso faces Dominik Mysterio. SmackDown W
July 30, 2021
Jul 30, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1145 The contract signing for Roman Reigns' Universal Championship Match at SummerSlam goes awry. SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair gets help from an unexpected
August 6, 2021
Aug 6, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1146 Finn Bálor seeks retribution after being robbed of his Universal Title opportunity. After backstabbing SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair, Sasha Banks reigni
August 13, 2021
Aug 13, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1147 Universal Champion Roman Reigns and John Cena come face-to-face ahead of their collision at SummerSlam. Sasha Banks ambushes SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Bela
August 20, 2021
Aug 20, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1148 Universal Champion Roman Reigns and John Cena come face-to-face before their collision at SummerSlam. Edge issues a brooding warning to Seth Rollins. SmackDown Wom
August 27, 2021
Aug 27, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1149 Finn Bálor and The Street Profits bring chaos to The Bloodline's Family Celebration. New SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch sees several challengers emerge. Ha
September 3, 2021
Sep 3, 2021 · 83 min
SmackDown #1150 Universal Champion Roman Reigns looks to extend his yearlong reign as he faces Finn Bálor. Bianca Belair issues a challenge to Becky Lynch. Happy Corbin and Logan
September 10, 2021
Sep 10, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1151 WWE returns home to Madison Square Garden, where Brock Lesnar and "The Demon" Finn Bálor confront Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Edge battles Seth Rollins in a S
September 17, 2021
Sep 17, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1152 Bianca Belair makes a triumphant return to her hometown. New WWE Champion Big E confronts Universal Champion Roman Reigns before teaming with Finn Bálor to battle
September 24, 2021
Sep 24, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1153 Roman Reigns battles Montez Ford as "The Demon" Finn Bálor lurks in the background. Kevin Owens interrupts Happy Corbin's new talk show "Happy Talk." Zelina Vega f
October 1, 2021
Oct 1, 2021 · 81 min
SmackDown #1154 The 2021 WWE Draft kicks off. Brock Lesnar sends a message to Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Usos. Bianca Belair battles Sasha Banks in a WrestleMania rem
October 8, 2021
Oct 8, 2021 · 83 min
SmackDown #1155 Edge looks for payback on Seth Rollins. The 2021 King of the Ring and Queen's Crown Tournaments begin. Roman Reigns demands answers from Paul Heyman. SmackDown Wom
October 15, 2021
Oct 15, 2021 · 117 min
SmackDown #1156 Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar sign their contract for WWE Crown Jewel. The King of the Ring and Queen's Crown Tournaments continue with semifina
October 22, 2021
Oct 22, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1157 In the aftermath of WWE Crown Jewel, Brock Lesnar looks for payback on Roman Reigns. Controversy surrounds a WWE Women's Title exchange. King Woods celebrates his
October 29, 2021
Oct 29, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1158 The New Day's King Woods & Knight Kofi Kingston collide with longtime rivals The Usos. SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair chooses Shotzi as her latest oppo
November 5, 2021
Nov 5, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1159 The Bloodline send a devastating message to King Woods & Sir Kofi. Drew McIntyre battles Ricochet. The Viking Raiders make their SmackDown debut against Happy Corb
November 12, 2021
Nov 12, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1160 Universal Champion Roman Reigns battles King Woods in a match to determine the true ruler of SmackDown. SmackDown's Survivor Series teams face upheaval. Toni Storm
November 19, 2021
Nov 19, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1161 The Bloodline attempt to overthrow King Woods. Sasha Banks battles Shotzi. Superstars compete in a Fatal 4-Way Match to capture a spot on the SmackDown Survivor Se
November 26, 2021
Nov 26, 2021 · 84 min
SmackDown #1162 As rumors surrounding Brock Lesnar swirl around the blue brand, several Superstars compete in a Black Friday Battle Royal to determine Roman Reigns' next challenge
December 3, 2021
Dec 3, 2021 · 83 min
SmackDown #1163 Brock Lesnar returns to the blue brand with a plan to ensure he will get an opportunity at Roman Reigns' Universal Championship. Kofi Kingston & King Woods send a
December 10, 2021
Dec 10, 2021 · 85 min
The New Day, The Usos and RK-Bro vie for the title of WWE's best tag team. Xia Li makes her SmackDown debut. Brock Lesnar sends Sami Zayn a message. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs
December 17, 2021
Dec 17, 2021 · 85 min
SmackDown #1165 Roman Reigns confronts Paul Heyman over Brock Lesnar. Drew McIntyre seeks to recover his sword from Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss. The New Day face The Usos. Toni Sto
December 24, 2021
Dec 24, 2021 · 86 min
SmackDown #1166 SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair defends the title against Toni Storm. Drew McIntyre teams with The New Day to battle Madcap Moss & The Usos in a Christm
December 31, 2021
Dec 31, 2021 · 89 min
SmackDown #1167 Michael Cole, Pat McAfee and Becky Lynch count down WWE's top 10 greatest matches and moments from 2021.