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A pre-taped episode of WWE SmackDown aired on Friday night before Elimination Chamber. With the shows taking place just hours away on two different continents, the creative team had to book some solid spots to build hype around Elimination Chamber.
Goldberg was set to appear face-to-face with Roman Reigns on Friday. The Icon did just that to cap off the show.
Meanwhile, a contract signing segment was booked between the teams of Noami & Ronda Rousey and Sonya Deville & Charlotte Flair. Drew McIntyre appeared to talk about his match against Madcap Moss in Saudi Arabia.
Ricochet and Sheamus competed in arguably the best match of the night. Sami Zayn finally got his Intercontinental title match against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Take a look at the five things WWE SmackDown got right before Elimination Chamber.
#5. Ronda Rousey agreed to compete with one arm tied behind her back on WWE SmackDown
WWE official Adam Pearce kicked off SmackDown. He introduced Charlotte Flair, Sonya Deville, Naomi, and Ronda Rousey ahead of their contract signing for the tag team match at Elimination Chamber.
All four women took verbal shots at their opponents to hype the match. Deville revealed that Rousey will compete with one arm tied behind her back following comments made in a recent interview.
The Baddest Woman on the Planet accepted the stipulation and tossed the contract at Flair before slamming her head into the table. Naomi and Rousey stood tall to end the segment.
The creative team did well to take this rivalry forward without making things too physical. The match will be the first step towards an iconic contest between Flair and Rousey for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
Interestingly, Rousey will have one hand tied behind her back instead of Naomi because Deville's in a rivalry with the latter. WWE could've booked a more solid stipulation for Rousey's first match back in the ring after three years.
Nonetheless, the contest will be good, and it will likely lead to a win for the disadvantaged babyfaces.
#4. Ricochet defeated Sheamus on WWE SmackDown
Sheamus and Ricochet competed in one of the best matches on SmackDown. Ricochet worked around The Celtic Warrior and used his speed to get the better of the big man.
Sheamus exploded back into the match and hit an Alabama Slam. As he prepared for the Brogue Kick, his opponent delivered the Recoil for the win.
After the match, Sheamus shoved Ridge Holland to the mat to end the segment. It was a good contest allowing both the mid-carders to perform well. It's good to see Ricochet pick up a win on SmackDown.
WWE also teased a split between Sheamus and Holland at the end of the contest. That could be bad news for The Bothercauser, who still has a long way to get over.
#3. The Usos got the better of The Viking Raiders before Elimination Chamber
Jey Uso and Ivar competed in a singles match on SmackDown. Both were looking to gain the advantage for their respective teams before heading to Jeddah for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
Ivar used his size and strength to stay on top in the match. He nearly put Jey away before Jimmy Uso attacked him to draw a disqualification. Erik made the save and leveled the heels to end the segment.
It looks like The Usos will be retaining their titles at Elimination Chamber. It was the right move to protect Jey from a clean loss at the hands of Ivar.
#2. Roman Reigns and Goldberg delivered the final blows before Elimination Chamber
Universal Champion Roman Reigns demanded New Orleans acknowledge on SmackDown. He allowed special counsel Paul Heyman to hype him ahead of his match against Goldberg at Elimination Chamber.
Goldberg’s theme played as he made his signature entrance. The Hall of Famer twisted his catchphrase according to the situation before ending the segment on a high.
Not a single punch was thrown during the final segment before Elimination Chamber. It was the right call as WWE needed to keep the two superstars apart with the premium live event taking place just hours later.
#1. Sami Zayn won the Intercontinental Championship on WWE SmackDown
Sami Zayn earned a shot at the Intercontinental Championship back in December. The Conspiracy Theorist finally got a shot at the title on this week’s SmackDown.
Shinsuke Nakamura put up a good defense, but Zayn was determined to win. Nakamura collided knee-first into the steel steps while charging at Zayn. The Conspiracy Theorist kept the pressure on throughout the contest and targeted Nakamura’s knees.
The heel ended the contest with a roll-up to pin the champion and win the title. It was a good contest that could have had a better ending. However, it was the right decision to take the title off The Artist and put it on Zayn.
Nakamura had a forgettable reign as the Intercontinental Champion. Meanwhile, Zayn deserved to be rewarded after an excellent storyline with Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.
