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The February 13th, 2018 episode of SmackDown Live featured a qualifying match between Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin to enter the WWE Championship bout at Fastlane. However, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens would interfere to ensure a more chaotic and complex night.
The New Day's Big E ate pancakes, The Viper struck once again, and the main event of Fastlane has now officially turned into a Fatal 5-way.
Here are 5 things that we have learned from tonight's show:
#5 The Bludgeon Brothers refuse to be locked down
A video package was aired featuring The Usos cutting a promo regarding their dedication and brotherhood. What followed was a broken monitor monstrously smashed by Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. No words were said yet it seemed as clear as day that The Bludgeon Brothers are targeting the current SmackDown tag team champions.
The Usos had put the whole locker room on notice ever since they were put into the tag title picture, all with the exception of the recently repackaged former Wyatt Family members.
It is safe to say this confirms the early stages of a feud between these two 'brotherhood' tag teams.
A program between these two teams at WrestleMania 34 looks to be what WWE is heading for, and what better way to legitimize the monster tag team than to dethrone the multi-time tag team champions at 'The Grandest Stage of Them All'?
#4 A not-so-Glorious United States Open Challenge
Bobby Roode welcomed any challenger with his United States Title up for grabs, while also calling out Randy Orton to address last week's attack.
A staredown between the two men was cut short as Jinder Mahal made his way down to the ring. All three men exchanged words before things turned aggressive. A Khallas to both Roode and Orton left Mahal standing tall.
Rumor has it WWE plans to have Randy Orton face Bobby Roode at WrestleMania 34 for the United States Title. However, injecting Jinder Mahal into the scene for now may also serve as a way to prolong a personal feud between Orton and Roode heading towards Mania.
A three-man feud for now may offer more time for either Orton or Roode to turn heel before WrestleMania season in order to spice things up.
As of now though, we should expect Jinder Mahal to stick his nose around the United States title scene before we get to see a one-on-one rivalry between The Viper and The Glorious One.
#3 Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin victimized by injustice
A pancake-eating record was about to be broken by Big E, before Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin marched down to the ring and told them to eat waffles instead.
A fairly good bout between the two teams ended in yet another controversy as the official failed to see the tag made to Benjamin.
Midnight Hour struck and the illegal Gable was wrongly pinned. It begs the question of why WWE gave fans a reason to sympathize for the heels.
Nonetheless, both teams have a lot more to offer in the future. Their match here was certainly held back to save up for something more special on pay-per-view.
#2 The Lone Wolf hates other bad guys too
While Baron Corbin is known for his sneak attacks, he fell victim to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens on this week's episode. That led to a rare heel versus heel matchup between The Lone Wolf and The Prizefighter.
What was interesting to see was Corbin acting as the de facto face in the match, fighting for his rights at a WWE title shot at Fastlane. Does this mark as an official face turn or was Corbin just in the way of the current top heels on SmackDown Live?
Another point worth mentioning is that Corbin won clean as whistle, countering the Pop-Up Powerbomb and hitting the End of Days for the pinfall victory.
#1 Dolph Ziggler opened up regarding his relinquishment of the US title
Before he relinquished the United States title and took a leave of absence from WWE programs momentarily, Dolph Ziggler played a heel who copied other superstars' gimmicks and entrances.
On last night's SmackDown Live, however, fans were strongly behind his back from the start of the show all the way to his victory against Sami Zayn.
Similar to Corbin's case, both men were supposedly heels who were attacked by other heels. Ziggler gained more crowd cheers than Corbin though, which was expected.
Further hints of Ziggler turning face once again were also seen in his interview with Renee Young.
He stated that his whole career had always been about climbing the very top of the mountain, in his case, that meant winning the only title he never won and headlining Mania with it around his waist.
Heading towards the Fatal 5-Way match at Fastlane, Ziggler has logically the most momentum, fueled by his passion and dream of capturing the WWE Championship and main eventing WrestleMania 34.
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