'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The latest episode of SmackDown saw Edge making an appearance to address his WrestleMania 37 plans. Apollo Crews and Shinsuke Nakamura faced off in a singles encounter in hopes of finding their way into the Intercontinental Championship picture.
Apart from that, Seth Rollins kick-started a feud that is sure to dominate SmackDown programming on the road to WrestleMania 37. WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax also made an appearance this week that resulted in a match that had a shocking outcome.
In the main event of SmackDown, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, and Kevin Owens teamed up to take on King Corbin, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso in a preview of their collision inside the Elimination Chamber this weekend.
That said, let's look at all the developments from this week's WWE SmackDown. Do share your opinions and thoughts in the comments section below.
#5 Roman Reigns lays down Edge with a Spear on SmackDown
In the opening segment of this week's SmackDown, Royal Rumble 2021 winner Edge came out to the ring and appreciated Universal Champion Roman Reigns for doing the smart thing of not defending his title inside the Elimination Chamber. Soon, The Tribal Chief, accompanied by Paul Heyman and Jey Uso, made his way out and yet again demanded The Rated-R Superstar to accept him as his WrestleMania 37 opponent.
Edge said Reigns is crumbling under the pressure of him facing a legend like him. However, when an angered Reigns was about to respond, Sami Zayn interrupted. The Great Liberator said that the two should be worrying about what happens if he becomes the Universal Champion. Zayn was quickly taken out by Uso with a Superkick.
During the rest of the night, Edge was backstage having small talks with Kevin Owens, Cesaro, and Daniel Bryan, who were scheduled to face King Corbin, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso in the main event of SmackDown.
In the six-man tag team match, the babyface trio came up victorious after Bryan executed a top rope Suplex followed by the Yes Lock on Zayn. Post-match, things became chaotic on SmackDown when all the Superstars started laying down each other. Edge, who was in the commentary box during the bout, made his presence felt by hitting a Spear on Jey Uso. However, he was quickly taken down by Reigns, who showed up and hit a Spear of his own on The Rated-R Superstar.
Despite Edge saying he's still figuring out who to challenge at WrestleMania 37, it is becoming abundantly clear we are heading towards a clash between him and Reigns after what transpired in the show-closing segment. As for Elimination Chamber, whoever wins in the demonic structure, is bound to lose later to Reigns, rendering the clash completely predictable.
#4 Seth Rollins kick starts his feud with Cesaro on SmackDown
Seth Rollins came out on this week's SmackDown and spoke about how he was disrespected last week by everyone at ringside who walked out on him. He said he spoke to his lawyers, who have officially filed a complaint against all those present during his return.
He further said that while all of them were losers and nobodies, Cesaro was the biggest loser and deserved the beating he received from him last week on SmackDown. Now that Rollins has made intentions clear, the feud between him and Cesaro can further intensify on the road to WrestleMania 37.
Considering many are predicting Cesaro to win the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match and go on to face Universal Champion Roman Reigns later in the night, an interference from Rollins that allows Reigns to win would bring a lot of heat on The Messiah. Not only Cesaro would have a legitimate reason to lay his hands on Rollins, but also keep the doors open for a Universal Championship shot open for him sometime after WrestleMania 37.
#3 Apollo Crews finally turns towards the dark side by brutalizing Big E on SmackDown
On last week's WWE SmackDown, Apollo Crews interfered in the title match between Intercontinental Champion Big E and Shinsuke Nakamura to end it on a non-conclusive note. Hoping to find his way back into the title picture, he squared off against Nakamura in singles competition this week. The fun little bout ended with The King of Strong Style rolling up the former US Champion for the victory.
However, it was the post-match developments that have gotten the fans buzzing. Crews embraced his darker side by attacking Big E, who was at ringside during the match, by attacking him with steel steps. Crews' heel turn has been long overdue, and it might just be the thing that he needs to find his momentum on SmackDown.
While his association with Universal Champion Roman Reigns never materialized, now that both of them are full-fledged heels, the creative team can find a way to align the two in the future. As for Nakamura, he still hasn't received a fair shot at the Intercontinental title, and it seems like we heading towards a three-way feud for the title in the future.
#2 Reginald scores a pinfall over Nia Jax on SmackDown
Carmella's sommelier Reginald earning a pinfall over one-half of WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, Nia Jax on SmackDown, was a head-scratching development that undermines the tag team titles to a huge extent. It makes no sense for Reginald to be involved with the women's tag team champions, and scoring a pinfall over one of the title-holders is even worse.
It came during the tag team match pitting SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair, and Reginald against Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, and Bayley. While the suspense around Belair challenging Banks is still there, it's quite predictable as to what will happen.
The two will also challenge Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the tag team titles at Elimination Chamber, but then, what about Reginald who, just scored such a vital pinfall? Instead of this, WWE should have built Belair's momentum by having her score a win over someone like Bayley or Carmella. WWE has booked itself into a corner here, and the only way out of this is to book the tag team champions go over at the pay-per-view and let The EST of WWE have some decisive victories in one-on-one bouts on SmackDown.
#1 Otis and Chad Gable turn heel on SmackDown after viciously attacking Rey Mysterio
In what was seemingly the second heel turn on this week's WWE SmackDown, Otis and Gable lost to Rey and Dominik Mysterio via DQ and then brutalized the injured Rey. The match hardly lasted for a couple of minutes and ended with Otis repeatedly attacking the Lucha Libre legend despite the referee warning him against it.
While Dominik Mysterio was taken out earlier in the bout by a diving splash from Otis, Rey Mysterio became a victim of the onslaught. It seems like the rivalry Rey and Dominik Mysterio had with King Corbin has been kept aside for now, and instead, the focus would be on Dominik finding his way on SmackDown without the help of his father.
As for Otis and Gable, the added streak of aggression might help them in the long-term, as they were just floundering around as faces in the lower mid-card. While they have a long way to go before they contend for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, until then, they can run through other lower card acts to build momentum.
