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Credit: WWE.com
The February 19 edition of Friday Night SmackDown was the final show before WWE Elimination Chamber 2021, and this made it one of the most important nights at Road to WrestleMania 37.
In the main event, the six men who would fight inside the Elimination Chamber to win a chance at Roman Reigns would fight. Kevin Owens joined Daniel Bryan and Cesaro to fight Jey Uso, King Corbin and Sami Zayn.
Edge wanted to make a statement before the Elimination Chamber and announced that he would open SmackDown. With two games in the Elimination Chamber determining the future champions of the red and blue brands, The Rated-R Superstar had a big decision to make.
Bayley invited Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler to the second edition of “Ding Dong, Hello!” The female WWE tag team champions had many future challengers, including Lana and Naomi, as well as Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez, but Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks of SmackDown also had a feud with the champions.
This show had a job to do in the construction of the WWE Elimination Chamber. Everyone was sure to be watching this big night.
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Credit: WWE.com
Edge talked about his future at WWE WrestleMania and the choice he still has to make. Roman Reigns interrupted to make it clear that it was the main event and deserved to be the main event. When The Rated-R Superstar and The Head of the Table approached, Sami Zayn arrived.
The Master Strategist refused to be disrespected, only to take a superkick from Jey Uso. Reigns walked over to Edge and whispered in his ear before walking away.
Backstage, Edge caught up with Kevin Owens, showing his respect for KO for continuing to fight hard. He told Owens that he was rooting for him. King Corbin tried to tell Edge to stay out of his kingdom, but The Rated-R Superstar was not impressed.
Superstar Rated-R put Cesaro after The Swiss Cyborg interview talking about Seth Rollins. Daniel Bryan asked Edge to choose him if the champion of the planet defeated Reigns on Sunday.
Grade
B
Analyze
Edge continues to provoke a decision without delivering. However, it worked because it was more about Reigns trying to convince The Rated-R Superstar to choose him. The two were really intense facing each other, selling the likely dynamic of WrestleMania.
Zayn is fun all the time. However, it didn’t make much sense for him to get involved with the segment. He had a team fight at the end of the night and didn’t want to get hurt. Playing your hand early did nothing for your WWE Elimination Chamber strategy.
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Big E joined the comments on his own couch, complaining about Apollo Crews demanding another shot. The crews ruined the WWE intercontinental champion’s dinner on TV by playing Shinsuke Nakamura on the champion. This almost triggered the Big E, but he managed to calm down and stay soaked.
Crews thought he had the Artist’s number, but Nakamura took the young star in a small package to win. After that, Crews lost him, attacking the Artist. Big E got in the way, but that only convinced Crews to attack Big E, including the fall of steel steps from the ring to the ground on top of the champion.
The intercontinental champion had to be stretched out of the ring due to the attack.
Result
Nakamura def. Crews by pinfall.
Grade
B
Analyze
Crews vs. Nakamura was a beautiful game with a limited story behind it. Although The Artist still appeared to be working at a higher level, he did not click with Crews at the same level as he did with other recent opponents. Ultimately, however, it was about the aftermath.
Crews’ brutal attack on Big E was special. It seemed like a turning point where his character was finally realized. Big E teased him by telling him to “go back to the buffet”, and it’s clear that Crews just played in the background. He finally feels ready to dethrone Big E.
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Seth Rollins arrived when Big E was being stretched out on his back. He sympathized with Big E.’s pain and betrayal. He wanted everyone to accept his view by filing a formal legal complaint against WWE for ruining his return.
He especially warned Cesaro that he would feel the Messiah’s wrath every time he stepped into a ring.
Grade
B +
Analyze
Rollins nailed his role as an arrogant cult leader since his evolution, and it’s fascinating to watch his evolution. His rhetoric is reminiscent of televangelists and even the 45th president. It works very well now that he has no help to support it. It sells your illusion.
It’s great to see that WWE is fully embracing the rivalry between Rollins and Cesaro. The two can be great together, and this is an opportunity to keep Swiss Cyborg as a major force in SmackDown, after probably losing in the Elimination Chamber.
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Tamina seemed dominant throughout the competition, but The Riott Squad managed to isolate Natalya, almost taking the win. Billie Kay arrived to provide the distraction that prepared Liv Morgan to enter a Tamina spin-out side slam to win.
Natalya and Tamina eliminated Kay after the fight to make it clear that they were not looking for a third member.
Result
Tamina and Natalya def. Riott Squad by pinfall.
Grade
D-
Analyze
This was an ugly marriage from the beginning. It was only a few minutes long, but Tamina didn’t seem to be working at the same pace as Morgan. Natalya was clearly running with limited time, and Kay’s appearance was wired so frustratingly.
Kay is fun. Riott Squad can be a solid team for WWE. However, this story is not working. It’s time to find someone else Kay can work with. Natalya and Tamina don’t exactly cut it.
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Bayley introduced his guests Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. The female WWE tag team champions immediately started talking badly about Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair, which surprisingly sent Reginald into the ring. He defended The Boss and The EST as being better than the doubles champions.
Banks arrived to remind Reginald that she could speak for herself, and Belair criticized Reginald and Banks’ comments about her. Reggie convinced them to work together, preparing a surprise match for six men.
After the jumps isolated Banks to defeat her, Reginald had to attack. Against the Irresistible Force, Reginald was unable to do anything until The Boss and The EST dropped Reginald on top of Jax to catch a surprise pinfall.
Carmella questioned Reginald, telling his sommelier to do the right thing. She yelled at him for giving him a bad glass of wine.
Result
Reginald, Banks and Belair def. Jax, Baszler and Bayley by pinfall.
Grade
C +
Analyze
This was a strange segment, especially because of Reginald’s involvement. In just a few months, he stopped helping Carmella to become a strange crush on Banks. It didn’t make sense for him to get involved without The Untouchable getting into the action.
The WWE avoided gender struggles almost entirely in the WWE, but Reginald is only played in random women’s fights. This would make sense in other wrestling promotions, but WWE has apparently created a division that is breaking without explanation.
Bayley was the best part of it all. She makes every inch of her talk show set work. She sold insanity with her frustration.
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While Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode watched the comments with solo cups, this appeared to be a friendly competition between two developing teams until Otis snapped. He attacked Rey Mysterio until the referee asked for the bell.
Chad Gable encouraged the aggression, making Otis take a dip in Rey with Dominik Mysterio already out of the way. Dominik had to help his father back off, gasping in pain.
Result
Rey and Dominik defeated. Alpha Academy by disqualification.
Grade
C +
Analyze
This could have been done better, especially with more time, but it served its purpose. Gable and Otis have not worked fully until now. The reason was because it was not clear where he was going. Gable seemed to be going for a beating when Otis saw him through.
Instead, it moved in a more interesting direction. Otis is really learning from Gable. He’s clearly in better shape. Now, your attitude is also evolving. The two can be a good tag team if the two can work in sync, and that adds an interesting team to the division.
However, it is a pity that Heavy Machinery was dismembered just so that Otis could join Gable. Tucker was more or less dismissed.
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Just before the match, Daniel Bryan and Cesaro questioned whether Kevin Owens would turn against them as he did with all his previous partners. Edge joined the comments to explore the potential competition.
Cesaro showed up early, beating Sami Zayn and King Corbin for minutes. Jey Uso grabbed the Swiss Cyborg and threw it on the advertisers table. Paul Heyman arrived to join the comments to come and go with The Rated-R Superstar.
The Master Strategist talked happily about garbage when Cesaro was defeated, but was silenced by Daniel Bryan’s hot tag. Kevin Owens slid out to take Corbin with a cannonball from his apron.
Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb and went to the upper rope. However, this was the Master Strategist’s last mistake. Bryan took him with a superplex to Yes Lock for a quick touch from Zayn to preserve his health.
Everyone in the fight went after the bell until Uso spear Edge followed by Reigns taking The Rated-R Superstar with his own spear.
Result
Bryan, Cesaro and Owens def. Zayn, Corbin and Use by pinfall.
Grade
C +
Analyze
This was far from the level of impact we had on Monday Night Raw with the gauntlet fight. However, it was a solid game thanks to Cesaro. He did the heavy lifting in this competition physically, showing himself in style, before the others had great moments at the end.
The action seemed a little choreographed at times, especially considering the fighters involved. All of this made Bryan gain some momentum that was immediately overshadowed by Edge and Reigns building their rivalry between the fighters in the Elimination Chamber.
While WWE was supposed to be turning to WrestleMania, it was a mistake to let the show back home end with a moment that wasn’t about immediate pay-per-view. This makes it very clear that Reigns will retain.