WWE SmackDown Episode 1491 broadcast on July 21, 2024, delivered an explosive show featuring intense battles and sudden double-crosses together with surprising comebacks. Fans remained tense throughout WWE at the Amway Center in Orlando Florida where performers delivered a memorable show many people will recall over the coming years of performance. This episode showed a complete package when Roman Reigns stood by his championship and Seth Rollins introduced a heel turn. A comprehensive rundown of all events at this intense evening will be provided next.

WWE Main Event

The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship held by The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns became the focal point as he defended against The Phenomenal One AJ Styles. This match had reached a high level of anticipation because Styles obtained his position after his successful victory in a fatal four-way match from the prior week. Fans intensely awaited to see if Styles would take the championship away from Reigns following his over 1,200-day title run.

WWE Match Highlights:

• Styles entered the match with crowd-pleasing acrobatic moves that made Reigns stay alert throughout their bout.
• The fight took an unexpected turn when Paris managed to counter Styles’ aerial offensive with his devastating powerful moves such as spears and Superman punches.
• The match took an unforeseen turn when Solo Sikoa tried to help Reigns but Styles prevented it by doping him with a phenomenal forearm.
• A mid-air spear from Reigns resulted in Styles becoming trapped with a pinfall thus enabling Reigns to defend his championship.

Seth Rollins Turns on Drew McIntyre

The highlight of SmackDown Episode 1491 came when Seth Rollins chose betrayal against his teammate Drew McIntyre. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre fought against Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso from The Bloodline in what turned out to be a high-risk tag team match.

How It Happened:

• Alongside each other Rollins and McIntyre established clear teamwork which led them to a state of control during the match.
• The upcoming Claymore Kick aimed at Jimmy Uso by McIntyre received a sudden assault through a brutal stomp from Rollins.
• Because of this sudden betrayal, Jimmy Uso was able to win the match for The Bloodline.
• Rollins proceeded with his assault against McIntyre which ultimately rendered him unconscious inside the ring.

WWE Intercontinental Championship

The contest between Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn determined who would hold the Intercontinental Championship. The contest displayed technical excellence because both combatants demonstrated their remarkable skills.

Match Breakdown:

• In the first part of the fight, Zayn employed quickness with stubbornness to negate Nakamura’s strong-willed offensive techniques.
• During the contest,t Nakamura concentrated on tiring Zayn using severe kicking techniques and submission moves.
• Zayn delivered his signature Blue Thunder Bomb maneuver yet Nakamura managed to escape at the exact moment the move had him beat.
• Nakamura was locked in a brutal Kinshasa attack when he secured his victory to keep his championship belt.

Women’s Championship Match

Match Highlights:

• The performance by Belair featured her exceptional strength as she defeated Asuka’s signature submission holds throughout the match.
• Belair successfully broke out from the Asuka Lock each time Asuka attempted to apply it.
• Belair applied her KOD submission move (Kiss of Death) to Asuka which secured her victory and title keeping.

Surprise Return: Edge’s Emotional Comeback

The WWE Hall of Famer Edge shocked everyone when he appeared on SmackDown as an unexpected guest. The WWE Ratings Star had disappeared from television broadcasts for several months which generated multiple theories about his WWE career.

Edge’s Promo:

• The massive stadium audience showered Edge with continuous applause after he entered the ring.
• He produced an emotional promotional speech that conveyed the moments of his wrestling career and suggested a potential finish to his WWE story.
• A dispute developed between the two elite wrestlers while Edge was still speaking due to the surprise interruption by LA Knight.

Other Notable Matches and Segments

The Street Profits vs. The Judgment Day

• The Street Profits took on Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day in a high-energy tag team match.
• After an interference by Rhea Ripley, Bálor and Priest secured the win, continuing their dominance on SmackDown.

Austin Theory Calls Out John Cena

• Austin Theory promoted himself as the “Greatest United States Champion of All Time.”
• He then called out John Cena, setting up a potential dream match between the two in the near future.

Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar

• In a respectful battle between LWO members, Rey Mysterio faced Santos Escobar.
• Mysterio won the match, but the two shared a handshake afterward, showcasing mutual respect.

Previous Post: What is Gimkit? How to Join Gimkit Games and Tips for Winning

Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz

The WWE audience became enthusiastically engaged during Episode 1491 as fans streamed to Twitter and Reddit social media platforms to express their excitement and shock.

Trending Topics

• RollinsBetrayal: Fans were in disbelief over Seth Rollins’ heel turn against Drew McIntyre.
• EdgeReturns: Edge’s surprise return was one of the most talked-about moments.
• ReignsVsStyles: The highly competitive main event drew widespread praise.

What’s Next for SmackDown?

SmackDown Episode 1491 established multiple narratives that will drive upcoming storylines which will unfold in the next weeks.

• Seth Rollins will face off against Drew McIntyre after his treacherous turn led to an escalating feud.
• A championship match between Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair is now bound to occur after Flair’s unexpected comeback.
• The tense encounter between Edge and LA Knight suggests that their rivalry will develop into a major event in the future.
• After losing his Universal Championship match Roman Reigns now faces the difficult task of finding his next opponent to challenge his Tribal Chief status.

Final Words

WWE SmackDown Episode 1491 represented one of the greatest shows of recent times due to its remarkable matches shocking double-crosses and surprise returns. Every wrestling fan could find their satisfaction in this one episode which featured Reigns maintaining his claim to dominance and Rollins’ betrayal of McIntyre along with Edge’s shock announcement. The approaching SummerSlam has made SmackDown a must-watch TV show because this episode will establish long-lasting effects on WWE’s main narratives.