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On the heels of an Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in which Edge revealed his intention to challenge for Roman Reigns' Universal Championship, SmackDown hit the Fox airwaves Friday with the promise of 2021 Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair announcing her title opposition for WrestleMania 37.
The EST's big moment headlined a show that prominently featured tag team action as that particular division heats up on Friday nights.
How did Reigns react to The Rated R Superstar's spear, who did Belair opt to cash in her title opportunity against, and which teams built momentum as they sought to enter title contention?
Find out now with this recap of the February 26 show.
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- Bianca Belair makes her WrestleMania decision
- Rey and Dominik Mysterio vs. Otis and Chad Gable
- The Street Profits vs. Sami Zayn and King Corbin
Already announced for Friday's show are:
Coverage began at 8 p.m. ET.
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"I don't think it's a secret: SmackDown needs me," Roman Reigns said as he addressed the WWE Universe Friday on SmackDown. The same could be said for Elimination Chamber and like The Tribal Chief he is, he showed up and balled out.
"I show up in this ring and operate at another level," he continued.
He said Edge kept Elimination Chamber from being perfect by making their WrestleMania main event official. "You don't want it. You don't need that in your life, Edge." He reminded The Rated R Superstar he is a father, a husband and The Head of the Table doesn't want to hurt him.
"This is why a man like you just doesn't stand a chance against a man like me."
Daniel Bryan interrupted and suggested some fans called Reigns cowardly for showing up and beating him down after he won the Elimination Chamber. He issued a challenge to Reigns for a match at Fastlane before Jey Uso stepped in and denounced the idea.
Reigns began talking to Bryan before Uso blindsided him, knocking him to the floor and tossing him into the front row. The heels headed out of the arena to wrap up the segment.
Backstage, Edge interrupted Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville, seemingly taking exception to Daniel Bryan getting a Universal Championship opportunity at Fastlane before him...despite being in the same Rumble he won.
Grade
A
Analysis
Reigns is so great right now and Bryan was at his antagonistic best, too.
Reigns as the egotistical champion, propping himself up despite the circumstances under which he retained his title, was simply fantastic. Subtly threatening Edge by reminding him of his family, was equally excellent.
It was Bryan seemingly manipulating Reigns by playing to his desire to be recognized as the main event that made this even better. The leader of the YES! Movement has a history of poking and prodding to get his rivals to react the way he wants them to.
Remember The Authority?
Edge entering the office and taking exception to Bryan potentially getting a shot before him makes sense and is something we don't see explored nearly enough in WWE. It exposes a logic gap after many years of fans wondering what the point of the Rumble is when the title is defended before WrestleMania anyway.
A great start to the show that sets up a blockbuster match between Bryan and Uso in the main event, teases a pay-per-view main event and, most interestingly, hints at hostility between Bryan and Edge that can be built upon in the weeks and months to come.
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A week after Otis and Chad Gable's official heel turn, during which they were disqualified for viciously assaulting Rey Mysterio and injuring his ribs, Alpha Academy battled Rey and Dominik Mysterio in a tag team rematch.
The heels controlled early until a hot babyface comeback.
The father and son's attempted comeback failed to earn them the victory, though, as Otis crashed into Mysterio's ribs with a big splash for the win.
Result
Otis and Gable defeated the Mysterios
Grade
B
Analysis
From a match quality perspective, there was nothing particularly special about this one.
In terms of building Gable and Otis into a serious threat in the tag team division, this was exceptional.
Not only did they earn a win, they cleanly and decisively defeated a duo with extraordinary credibility. Rey and Dominik spent the last year as one of the most prominent acts in the company. Beating them means something.
Now, Gable and Otis can conceivably challenge Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode or The Street Profits and believably beat them. Something that was not the case prior to this win.
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No longer willing to be someone he is not, Apollo Crews embraced his Nigerian heritage of wealth, dominance and power prior to his match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Then, like a driven and hellbent villain, he attacked Nakamura prior to the commercial break.
Crews dominated after the break but an attempted German suplex ended with The Artist landing on his knees and rocking Apollo with a dropkick. He followed with a top-rope leg drop across the back but Crews recovered and delivered a trifecta of German suplexes.
Nakamura recovered, delivered a sliding German of his own and set up for the Kinshasa but Crews rolled to the floor. He drove The Artist into the ring steps. Back inside, Nakamura grabbed hold of a sleeper but Crews grabbed hold of his scarf and pulled his opponent face-first into the turnbuckle.
A kick to the neck and an Angle Slam earned Crews the win.
Result
Crews defeated Nakamura
Grade
B+
Analysis
We learned more about Crews and his background in one promo than WWE has given us in his four years on the main roster. He was great here, in a big moment for himself and his character, really hammering home his new persona.
The match was a competitive one against a world-renowned legend in Nakamura and Crews’ victory signifies a renewed push for the former United States champion. He is back, he is (arguably) better than ever and the new character opens doors for him to achieve the sort of success he has not been afforded on the main roster to this point.
The feud with Big E should be fantastic and produce potentially defining matches for both men.
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The newly motivated Tamina Snuka, accompanied by Natalya, squared off with Liv Morgan, seconded by Ruby Riott.
The second-generation competitor controlled the match early, overwhelming Morgan with her power and size advantage. Liv fought back, attempting a comeback that would turn the tide in her favor.
Snuka cut her off, delivered a Samoan Drop and put her away for the pinfall victory as Michael Cole and Corey Graves applauded the job Natalya has done in reinvigorating her.
Result
Snuka defeated Morgan
Grade
C-
Analysis
It never stops being disappointing that WWE Creative seemingly has no plans for the Riott Squad. Both Morgan and Riott have so much to give the women’s division but have repeatedly seen their momentum stunted in favor of a shinier new toy.
For the SmackDown creative team, this newly formed team is of greater importance than the Squad and as such, Snuka was rewarded the win. History tells us this will end the same way so many of the start-and-stop pushes for the veteran competitors have, but at least WWE is building talent.
Even if it is not necessarily the talent it should probably be focusing on at this point.
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The 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair joined Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville in the ring for her official choice for WrestleMania 37.
Before she could decide, Reginald interrupted and attempted to sway her. Finally, Sasha Banks struted to the ring and took exception to Belair calling herself The EST of WWE...if only because The Boss is the best.
Belair took that as a challenge and accepted, revealing she will challenge Banks for the title at WrestleMania 37.
Grade
B-
Analysis
This probably should have graded out higher than it did, but was hampered by the continued nonsense surrounding Reginald. Like James Ellsworth before him, he is in danger of becoming overexposed and overshadowing the performers around him.
Banks vs. Belair is a match that sells itself, without the added distraction of Vince McMahon’s favorite new character.
His involvement threatens what can be a historic, show-stealing match in its own right, not to mention the build to said contest.
The good news is the match still feels like a big deal and can very easily sustain that hype and excitement with continued excellence from the champion and her top contender.
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The Street Profits continued their journey back to the SmackDown tag team titles Friday as they battled the unlikely team of Sami Zayn and King Corbin.
Despite not regularly tagging before, Corbin and Zayn managed to work over the Solo-cup-raising babyfaces, cutting Montez Ford off from partner Angelo Dawkins.
A tag to Dawkins sparked a babyface comeback. At ringside, a frustrated Corbin shoved off Zayn’s documentary team, only to fall prey to a plancha from Ford.
Back in the ring, Dawkins flattened Zayn and Ford finished him with a frog splash for the win.
Result
Street Profits defeated Zayn and Corbin
Grade
B-
Analysis
This was a fairly formulaic tag team match that gave the Profits a big win as they continued to chase a rematch for the tag titles while also creating further tension between Corbin and Sayn.
What WWE’s ultimately goal with Corbin and Zayn is, if any, remains to be seen but their dissension late was as big a story as the babyface victory.
And that should not been much of a surprise given the company’s long focus on singles wrestlers at the expense of the tag team division.
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Seth Rollins brought his vision to SmackDown this week, addressing the formal complaint he filed last week and its social media traction before Cesaro interrupted.
Rollins attempted to defuse the situation, appealing to Cesaro’s desire to shatter the brass ring and achieve success at the top level in WWE. He implored Cesaro to join him, to embrace the vision, and he would deliver him the sort of success Rollins has already achieved.
The Swiss Superman’s response? A giant Cesaro Swing that left Rollins stumbling and tumbling directly into a stunning European uppercut.
Cesaro made his way up the ramp in time to wish Daniel Bryan luck in his main event match.
Grade
A
Analysis
Rollins has a history of talking the underrated and underappreciated into following his lead. He did the same with Buddy Murphy and in the process, helped him achieve the sort of success on the main roster the Aussie had only dreamed of, so it made sense that he would think he could manipulate Cesaro into accepting his offer.
Having seen that though, and Rollins’ repeated displays of self-centeredness, Cesaro rejected the offer and sent him a humiliating physical message that will only help to intensify the program.
Theirs is a match that could easily help Fastlane become one of the dark horse events of the year but a showdown with Rollins is the sort of WrestleMania match that would firmly implant Cesaro at or near the top of the SmackDown brand.
That is the route WWE should go, especially as it looks to elevate The Swiss Cyborg up the card.
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His Universal Championship prospects hinging on a win over Jey Uso, Daniel Bryan started fast and furiously in Friday’s main event, targeting the arm of his opponent.
Uso, though, attacked the left leg of Bryan like a shark smelling blood in the water. He sent him into the ring post heading into the commercial break and continued to work on the joint throughout the encounter.
Bryan momentarily fought back and set up for the running knee, but Uso caught him mid-run, taking the knee out from under him.
The battle continued until the referee had no choice but to call for the bell and declare a double count-out.
Roman Reigns hit the ring and attacked Bryan, barely escaping a LeBell Lock attempt and obliterating Bryan with a spear. The guillotine choke followed as Reigns left his potential challenger lying to close out the show.
Result
Bryan and Uso fought to a double countout
Grade
B
Analysis
The road to Fastlane became murkier with the outcome to Friday’s match.
What most assumed would be Bryan vs. Reigns following the show-long build to it is now left in limbo, with no real indication that is what will happen.
Nor is there any reason to believe Edge will team with Bryan against Uso and Reigns given the fact that he did not come to the babyface’s aid at the close of the show, despite very clearly being in attendance. That he took exception to Bryan trying to jump him in line only further serves as evidence that The Rated R Superstar and Bryan are far from on the same page.
Could all of this be heading to a multi-man match at the top of the WrestleMania card?
Maybe.
Edge, Bryan, and Uso all have unsettled business with Reigns. Whether WWE is willing to bring those pieces together instead of a more traditional singles bout remains to be seen.
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