SmackDown in 2021 had its share of great matches and moments. From Roman Reigns sending Daniel Bryan packing to Seth Rollins and Edge putting on a clinic, the blue brand delivered when it came to in-ring action ad psychology.
Of course, it would take WWE until July to see jam-packed arenas. Nonetheless, the sports entertainment juggernaut continued to present some stellar matches featuring a plethora of popular superstars.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five best SmackDown matches of 2021:
10-man Tag Team Match (WWE SmackDown – May 7, 2021)
The main event of this SmackDown was a 10-man tag team match between the team of Apollo Crews, Chad Gable, King Corbin, Otis, and Sami Zayn against the team of Big E, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, and The Street Profits.
This was chaotic yet fun match that saw all performers brought their energy to the ring. The idea of a 10-man tag team match might seem convoluted on paper, but it delivered inside the ring – at least in the case of this particular match.
Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (October 15, 2021)
Action was nothing but guaranteed when two of the WWE’s Four Horsewomen met for singles action on WWE SmackDown. The pair hadn’t collided one-on-one since their critically-acclaimed Hell in a Cell bout in 2019.
The SmackDown match in question saw Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks put on a PPV-quality performance that had the crowd on the edge of their seats for most part. In the end, the Boss triumphed over The Man to earn herself a SmackDown Women’s Championship opportunity at Crown Jewel 2021.
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (WWE SmackDown – July 2, 2021)
This was an all-out war between two best friends-turned-rivals. The Last Man Standing Match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn carried much higher stakes, with the winner earning the opportunity to participate in the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
It would be an understatement to call this match brutal. It featured some of the most violent bumps in KO’s career up to that point. The incredible action lasted for nearly 24 minutes before the Prizefighter hit his former best friend a third powerbomb on the apron for the win.
The match clinched the 16th spot for WWE’s official match ranking for the 25 best bouts of 2021.
Edge vs. Seth Rollins (September 10, 2021)
Seth Rollins cost Edge his WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank 2021. The pair worked a critically-acclaimed match at SummerSlam 2021, which was followed by another PPV-qualify performance from both men at WWE SmackDown.
The match perfectly encapsulated the raw emotions from both men as they tried to outdo each other in the middle of their deeply personal feud. The Messiah showed a far more ruthless side in this match compared to his previous outing against the Rated R Superstar.
They would have another great match inside Hell in a Cell at Crown Jewel 2021.
Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (April 30, 2021)
After failing to beat Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37, Daniel Bryan got another opportunity at the Head of the Table on WWE SmackDown. However, the stakes were much, much higher with Reigns telling Bryan to put his career on the line.
The match in question turned out to be one of the best in the fabled rivalry between Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns. The American Dragon showed his unwavering determination against the extremely ruthless and manipulative Tribal Chief.
Both men demonstrated unparalleled character work and in-ring psychology, with Reigns finally sending his longtime opponent packing for good.
Also read: Bryan Danielson’s 5 Best WWE Feuds
