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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown. A lot of the show on SmackDown was centered around the build to the Elimination Chamber match - one that has a slight twist. Here's what WWE subtly told us this week on SmackDown:
#5. Seth Rollins welcoming back feud on SmackDown
Seth Rollins' hadn't been on SmackDown since pre-Survivor Series 2020. When Rollins was drafted to SmackDown for the first time in four years, it was a big deal.
However, at Survivor Series, he "sacrificed" himself and was eliminated right at the beginning. It was a way to write him off SmackDown programming as he went on a paternity leave.
Seth Rollins' original return to SmackDown was delayed by a month, and when it finally happened, a good chunk of the Blue brand roster came out to welcome back one of the most accomplished Superstars in WWE today. Seth Rollins even brought back his old music.
Seth Rollins took the center stage, seemingly humbled by the reception from the SmackDown roster. He began to talk about how his daughter changed his life in ways he couldn't even imagine, before proceeding to reveal that he actually hadn't changed at all.
In Seth Rollins' mind, he probably did, but the whole SmackDown locker room could see that he didn't. After making a declaration that SmackDown needs a great leader, the locker room left him at ringside.
Seth Rollins was so engrossed in his own speech that he didn't realize that everyone had left and returned backstage. There was one Superstar who hadn't left - Cesaro.
Assuming that Cesaro was the only one who agreed with him, Rollins seemed ready to embrace him, only for The Swiss Superman to reveal that he wasn't on his side either.
Rollins attacked Cesaro from behind before his Elimination Chamber qualifying match. In the main event, Cesaro teamed up with Daniel Bryan to face the SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.
It was a great match, and Cesaro made Ziggler tap out to the Sharpshooter in the end. Cesaro is red hot right now, and the SmackDown commentators acknowledged that there isn't any star in WWE hotter than The Swiss Superman at the moment.
A qualification spot confirmed for the Elimination Chamber, a feud with Seth Rollins on SmackDown, and multiple big victories. It seems as though WWE's main event push of Cesaro might finally be coming to fruition.
#4. Apollo Crews' character status on SmackDown
Big E came out on SmackDown, seemingly ready to make an open challenge for the Intercontinental title. He specifically said "Now that I'm done with Apollo Crews", but it was none other than the former United States Champion who made his presence known.
As you may know, Big E's last title defense on SmackDown saw him pick up a win over Sami Zayn and Apollo Crews by pinning the latter. Apollo Crews once again made the challenge on SmackDown, and Big E said he wanted to face anyone but him.
They had a tense verbal back-and-forth, and Shinsuke Nakamura ultimately stepped up to the challenge.
While it was a good match on SmackDown, Apollo Crews played the spoilsport and attacked the Champion, causing a DQ. Apollo Crews didn't seem like a heel, but a man desperate to get the gold at all cost.
What it did seem to indicate, however, is that Apollo Crews isn't a babyface either. He has lost his babyface status and is now a "tweener" as they're called. He might be Big E's primary challenger next, presumably at Elimination Chamber.
#3. Billie Kay continues to disrupt The Riott Squad on SmackDown
It's good that several women are getting frequent spots on WWE SmackDown. Some of the names include SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks, Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair, former Champion Bayley, and then we have the likes of Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Billie Kay.
The story of the last few weeks on SmackDown has been that of Billie Kay attempting to help Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan, only to constantly cost them their matches.
The same happened this week on SmackDown when Liv Morgan had Bayley beat. However, she had a tug of war with Riott, and the forms and photos she was holding went into the ring. The distracted referee cleared the ring, and Bayley wasted no time in raking Morgan's eyes to pick up the win.
Where is this story on SmackDown going? Is the payoff going to be Billie Kay helping them win the WWE Women's tag team titles? We certainly hope so. Billie Kay has been a fun comedic part of SmackDown since her arrival.
#2. Is Rey Mysterio losing out on big spots on SmackDown because of Dominik Mysterio?
It's not often that we see Dominik and Rey Mysterio team together, but we did on SmackDown. They took on the duo of Sami Zayn and King Corbin - with the winning team taking two slots in the Elimination Chamber match.
While the babyface team did well, it was ultimately Sami Zayn who picked up the win for his team by pinning Dominik Mysterio. While we understand that some people might get upset watching that, there's no rush for Dominik Mysterio to be in that spot.
We have to wonder, however, if Dominik Mysterio not being ready means that Rey Mysterio should have to lose out on that spot. Rey Mysterio would have made for a great addition inside the Chamber, rather than a SmackDown star like King Corbin.
Either way, Rey Mysterio may be losing out on some top spots as a result. For Dominik Mysterio, it isn't such a bad thing since he is still just 23 years old.
#1. The Roman Reigns situation on SmackDown and the Elimination Chamber
Roman Reigns has been butting heads with RAW/SmackDown authority figure Adam Pearce for a while now. It began months ago, and they were close to facing off at the Royal Rumble.
Adam Pearce, like any normal authority figure, informed Roman Reigns on SmackDown that he would be defending his Universal title inside the Elimination Chamber. Instead, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman had a different idea - that six competitors from SmackDown face-off, with the winner getting a Universal Championship opportunity later that same night.
So the opening match of Elimination Chamber will presumably be this. Adam Pearce, in a moment of slight revenge, booked Reigns' cousin Jey Uso in the match, and Kevin Owens as well.
King Corbin, Sami Zayn, Daniel Bryan, and Cesaro will now make up the rest of the field. It's a major disadvantage, and Roman Reigns is virtually guaranteed a victory - and he will likely return to SmackDown still Universal Champion.
