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Welcome to the latest edition of things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown. This was the go-home episode before Fastlane and was better than last week's show. We also got to see Edge's in-ring return to SmackDown after a decade.
There was a lot that we learned from SmackDown this week and the subtle hints about WrestleMania 37 and Fastlane - which happens to be this Sunday. Things are heating up on the road to WrestleMania 37. Here's what happened on SmackDown this week:
#6 Apollo Crews gets his comeuppance on SmackDown, but is a title win inevitable?
Big E and Apollo Crews had a sit-down interview which had to be done in separate rooms. While this is a concept that has been in WWE for a long time, it's often used only for the most intense of rivalries.
We like the tension that Big E and Apollo Crews have created on SmackDown. Their interview was tense, and Crews provoked the current IC Champion, further emphasizing his traditional Nigerian accent and heritage.
There came a point where Big E had enough of Apollo Crews' talk and went across the arena backstage on SmackDown to chase him. Crews seemed to be anticipating that as well, but it was the challenger who was on the receiving end of a beatdown this week on SmackDown.
Big E's title reign could be in jeopardy on the road to WrestleMania 37. While it would be ideal for him to walk into the next SmackDown as the Intercontinental Champion, that may not be the case.
The New Day member has good momentum and so does Apollo Crews. However, since Big E stood tall this week, there's a high chance of Crews winning the Intercontinental Championship at Fastlane 2021.
#5 Is Shinsuke Nakamura a stepping stone for Seth Rollins on SmackDown?
A week removed from Seth Rollins' vicious attack on Cesaro, The Messiah came out to cut a promo on SmackDown. He explained why the former tag team Champion was the most disrespectful person on the roster and vented out his frustrations with The Swiss Superman.
There seemed to be no mention of Murphy, who could simply be out of the picture. Somebody who isn't, however, is SmackDown Superstar, Shinsuke Nakamura. He confronted Seth Rollins and told him to shut up before hitting him with the Kinshasa before walking away.
Soon after, Seth Rollins vs Shinsuke Nakamura was made official for Fastlane 2021.
It seems clear that Seth Rollins vs Cesaro will happen at WrestleMania 37. Unfortunately for Shinsuke Nakamura, this means that he is only a stepping stone for The Messiah on SmackDown.
Either way, it should be a good match. They met in a Champion vs Champion match at Survivor Series a few years ago, and Rollins won clean. Will he walk out victorious again?
#4 The cracks between Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax on SmackDown
SmackDown opened this week with a Women's Title match between Sasha Banks and Nia Jax. It was going well and Bianca Belair came out, seemingly to give The Boss some words of encouragement.
During the closing moments of the match, both Belair and Shayna Baszler got involved and the latter inadvertently kicked Nia Jax on the head allowing Sasha Banks to get an easy pinfall victory.
The first cracks have finally begun to show in the Women's Tag Team Champions, especially since they're facing Banks and Belair on Fastlane this Sunday. Backstage after the match, Nia Jax was furious at being deprived of the chance of becoming a double Champion.
Shayna Baszler said she would make it up to her by giving Bianca Belair the "nastiEST" beating of her life:
The match between Baszler and Belair saw the duo of Tamina and Natalya interfere. It was a statement made by the veteran duo that they wanted to be in the Tag Team Title picture - something reinforced following their win over Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair last week on SmackDown.
We assume they will get their title shot at WrestleMania.
#3 Rey & Dominik Mysterio are on the hunt for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, but they aren't alone
Last week on SmackDown, the babyface team of The Street Profits and The Mysterios joined forces to take on Tag Team Champions The Dirty Dogs, and Alpha Academy.
It was the babyface team that won after Montez Ford pinned Robert Roode - one-half of the tag team champions.
While that would normally set them up for a SmackDown Tag Team Championship shot, they still haven't gotten their rematch for what was essentially a 300-day reign with two different Titles.
Either way, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions were on commentary and witnessed Dominik Mysterio pick up a lucky but good win over The Street Profits.
After the match, The Alpha Academy came out but was taken out by The Street Profits and The Mysterios. Post-commercial break, Rey and Dominik wrestled their second consecutive match of the night against The Alpha Academy.
Due to fatigue, the Mysterios ended up losing after Otis hit a splash on Dominik. It seems like the SmackDown Tag Team Title picture is an "anyone can beat anyone" kind of a situation.
A fatal-4-way direction for WrestleMania 37 seems certain.
#2 Sami Zayn's conspiracy theories on SmackDown weren't baseless!
On SmackDown, we saw a hilarious promo package to "hype" Sami Zayn vs King Corbin - calling it the least-anticipated match in SmackDown history.
There was even a hilarious line:
"Unfortunately, there must be a winner. But thankfully, there will be a loser".
It was a decent match and Sami Zayn was on the verge of winning until the SmackDown official seemingly held him back from being able to finish off King Corbin.
This allowed Corbin to hit The End Of Days for the victory. While Kevin Owens declared that it was fair officiating from the referee, we all saw the truth. It's an interesting direction to go in - making Sami Zayn the one who is telling the truth rather than a conspiracy nut.
He ended up hitting the Helluva Kick on Kevin Owens out of frustration and that may have kickstarted a little rivalry there.
Will we finally get the long-anticipated WrestleMania match between the two this year?
#1 Will Edge's victory on SmackDown benefit Daniel Bryan?
Just as anticipated, Edge defeated Jey Uso on SmackDown and will be the Special Enforcer for the Fastlane main event between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan.
Earlier on SmackDown, The Rated-R Superstar reminisced about the all-time greats who he faced and defeated on SmackDown. He believed that if Daniel Bryan was to have a fair match, he needed to be the special enforcer. In fact, he didn't even blame Daniel Bryan for what happened last week with the running knee.
It wasn't the best match, but the fact that we got Edge back and competing on SmackDown after 10 years is a great thing in itself. Jey Uso gave the former World Champion a tough fight on the blue brand but ultimately fell short.
Edge did not get to celebrate his win, as the Tribal Chief wasn't far behind. He hit a spear on his potential WrestleMania opponent and stood tall to end the show. We believe that Roman Reigns will retain the Universal Championship at Fastlane, one way or the other.
