SmackDown In A Nutshell: Who Next For Roman Reigns

Well, it’s the final SmackDown In A Nutshell for June, which sounds crazy…but it’s time once again to ask: who next for Roman Reigns?

Hell In A Cell was last week, and we got a special Cell on last week’s SmackDown. In that Nutshell, Reigns dispatched Rey Mysterio.

So, who is next for Roman Reigns?

We’ve heard of some bigger names rumored, but nothing concrete yet. Besides, all those rumors point toward SummerSlam…which is still more than a month and a half away.

So, who next for Roman Reigns?

Will WWE recycle Rey once again? We can hope not, but time will tell.

Beyond the Roman Reigns saga…the focus is certainly shifting toward Money In The Bank.

And, since we do not know who is next for Reigns…could we actually see a second straight PPV where the Head of the Table doesn’t actually wrestle?

Stranger things have happened…

So, without any more banter…it is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Who Next For Roman Reigns

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Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

Dolph Zigger and Jimmy Uso, without a doubt.

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Perhaps overshadowed by his impressive tag team career, we can forget that Jimmy (and Jey) can work well as a singles talent.

And then there is Ziggler.,.who reminds us again just how good he can be.

Worst match of the night:

I could have done without the mixed tag match.

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Star of the Night

Jimmy?

Dolph?

Edge?

I am in on all three.

Spot of the Night:

If you like spears, then we had a few of them.

Reigns got one…and then Jimmy got one through the barrier too.

Nice return for Edge.

Jobber of the Night:

How about Jimmy, for eating the spear through the barrier?

Upset of the Night:

Liv Morgan beating Carmella, after Carmella was given a MITB spot.

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Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Well, if you have not watched the show…stop reading if you want to be surprised.

If you don’t care…then this one is the return of Edge.

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EVERYONE knew Edge was coming back. We all just figured he was going to be returning on the first SmackDown in front of live fans since 2020…and that’s still a few weeks away.

Probably should have guessed that the “State of the Universal Championship” address tonight was the perfect excuse to show up and cause craziness.

And sure enough, mid-speech, queue the music and he’s back.

Now, the major question? Will we see them battle at Money In The Bank?

Or will this be saved until August?

Botch of the night:

As much as the return was excellent…there was a botch.

I don’t know if it was in the trailer, with what camera angles they were using…or if it was with Edge (or I guess, possibly, Roman).

See, after Edge speared Jimmy through the barrier, he climbed into the ring…and he screamed at the camera at Reigns.

Problem? Or, problems, rather….

First, they did a pan shot where we saw Reigns and Heyman on the ramp, with Edge in the ring-but not looking at Reigns, instead at the hard camera.

Then, with all of us KNOWING that Reigns was still on the ramp…Edge screamed at the camera, at Reigns, as if Reigns had run away.

“You want me?! I’m right here!!!”#SmackDown @EdgeRatedR @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/Q22WkRZcX5

— WWE (@WWE) June 26, 2021

Like, don’t give us the angle showing Reigns still out there. Make us think he actually ran away.

Noteworthy Moment:

Could go with Edge returning…that is pretty big.

But I am going to take the chance to acknowledge the blue brand MITB qualifiers and what’s going on.

We know Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will battle next week, Last Man Standing, for a spot.

Big E claimed another, beating Apollo Crews. I like Big E in the match, but I disagree having him beat the IC champ.

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Like, at that point…have Big E beat someone else, no?

Overall lowlights:

Non SmackDown…another significant day for WWE releases.

Overall highlights:

Very curious to see what WWE has planned next for the Reigns/Uso story line.

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Jey must have wanted some time off, as that is what he’s getting…while Jimmy is now playing Jey.

Ziggler and Jimmy was the best part, wrestling-wise, of the night. Honestly, matches like that remind us that Ziggler is honestly one of the best of this generation.

After the final bell:

Well, Edge came back a few weeks earlier than most expected. Made for quite the SmackDown In A Nutshell this week.

It makes me wonder…do we get Edge/Reigns at MITB, and then pivot to someone much bigger and more formidable?

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I mean, that’s the constant question, right? Who next for Roman Reigns?

That was the theme for this SmackDown In A Nutshell…and I’d bet it will be a theme in future Nutshells as well.