'%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 road to WrestleMania is over. The "WrestleMania" special edition of SmackDown was a good one, but a bit problematic as it only had three matches over two hours.
This week's episode of the blue brand was pre-taped. With the build and everything behind us, here's what WWE subtly told us on SmackDown just one night before WrestleMania:
#5 The entire build to the main event feud on SmackDown was done in parts
Trending
Breaking Vince Russo and Jim Cornette update HERE.
We were a bit surprised to see that neither Roman Reigns, Edge, nor Daniel Bryan had any face-to-face confrontation on SmackDown. Last week on SmackDown, Bryan stood tall after attacking both Edge and Reigns.
While we agree that this has been one of the best-built WrestleMania main events in a while, it was an interesting decision to see the three men kept separately throughout the episode.
The episode of SmackDown started with a Daniel Bryan promo, and in between the two hours, Edge came out to send a message to his WrestleMania opponents.
The Universal Champion Roman Reigns ended SmackDown with a promo of his own, and this Sunday will be the culmination of the best run of his WWE career.
It's the first time Roman Reigns will be defending the World Championship at WrestleMania. He cut a good promo, but there was one problem. WWE made a mistake by not having him confront either of his two challengers.
We understand the appeal of keeping them apart, but since it's just two days before the match, a basic interaction would have been a great way to end the show.
Either way, Edge's promo on SmackDown was outstanding, and perhaps one of the best ones we've seen in a while.
Also, on a side note, the interaction backstage on SmackDown between Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville was odd.
Why make an issue about Daniel Bryan's involvement two days before the event. Was there a big botch with the production that led to the segment being put in?
#4 What does Jey Uso's Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal win on SmackDown mean?
The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which normally takes place at WrestleMania, happened on SmackDown. It was arguably the best-booked battle royal since 2014.
While Cesaro may still be the best winner, this was perhaps the most impressive one purely from a presentation standpoint.
Jey Uso won the Battle Royal on SmackDown after eliminating Shinsuke Nakamura right at the end.
It was a good victory for a deserving superstar, but as with every year, there isn't much purpose to it. Normally, the match (along with the Women's Battle Royal) seems to have the objective of getting as many superstars on the card as possible.
The 6-time Tag Team Champion Jey Uso won the trophy, joining the likes of Cesaro, The Big Show, King Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, and Braun Strowman. It isn't exactly the most elite list of winners, and only Braun Strowman went on to have World Championship success two years after the win.
This doesn't mean that Jey Uso will get pushed. The fact that Roman Reigns came out immediately after the match shows that it was only used to set up the main event promo on SmackDown.
#3 The Dirty Dawgs stand tall on SmackDown in a great effort
When talking about feuds on SmackDown that should have been at WrestleMania, look no further than the Tag Team Title match from the go-home show.
The Dirty Dawgs (Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler) defended the SmackDown Tag Team Titles against The Street Profits, The Alpha Academy, and The Mysterios.
While we expected a Title change to take place this week, that wasn't the case. The Dirty Dawgs retained the championships in a good and entertaining match. While Dolph Ziggler isn't the most prominent star in WWE now, both he and Roode held their own in a great bout.
It would have been a good time to put the Titles on The Mysterios, but one could argue that WrestleMania would be a better place for that.
The Street Profits had a promo in Gorilla Position before the match and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions blindsided them.
Angelo Dawkins destroyed a TV using Dolph Ziggler - who still managed to win at the end.
It looks like they will dominate the SmackDown Tag Team Title picture going forward.
#2 A weirdly small build to several matches on SmackDown
Atleast four rivalries on SmackDown were hardly featured or given minimal screentime right before WrestleMania. Those four matches were:
Big E vs Apollo Crews
Seth Rollins vs Cesaro
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn.
Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair were given a small promo each, with neither having a face-to-face confrontation. That was a bit surprising given that the SmackDown Women's Title match is set to headline WrestleMania 37 Night One.
Big E vs Apollo Crews got even lesser screen time. Crews wasn't even featured and Big E spoke about "getting back to his roots" - which was him getting a haircut and talking about his College Football life.
As it turns out, talking about Miami's heritage isn't as rich as Apollo Crews' actual Nigerian heritage.
Seth Rollins vs Cesaro was featured in a tiny "paid ad" by The Messiah's friends, which was admittedly hilarious.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn got the most build from the four matches. Zayn was seen going to meet Logan Paul while he was sparring, and his brother was featured as well.
After he was "locked out" and not allowed back in, he was furious with the "selective" footage that WWE had. Kevin Owens attacked him and stood tall on the SmackDown before WrestleMania.
#1 The Women's Tag Team Title picture heats up on SmackDown
Tamina has been getting one of the biggest pushes of her WWE career on SmackDown lately. Teaming up with Natalya, she's set to challenge for the Women's Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania.
First, she had to get through Nia Jax on SmackDown. While she looked like she was going to win clean, Shayna Baszler ensured that it would end in a DQ finish. Still, Tamina and Natalya are being presented as the favorites to win the Tag Team Turmoil match on Saturday Night.
Backstage after the match, the women who are set to compete in the Tag Team Turmoil match were interviewed, and it was revealed that Billie Kay & Carmella will be teaming up to compete in the No.1 Contender's match as well.
There was a good backstage brawl on SmackDown between the five teams and it was Natalya and Tamina who stood tall once the dust settled.
The veterans will be expected to get the victory at WrestleMania. Natalya and Tamina have served as the gatekeepers of the women's division for a long time and they should be rightfully rewarded with a title win at WrestleMania.
One wrong move ended Big E's career - Watch Here!
