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The SmackDown episode on February 26, 2021, was interesting. The ending didn't leave a good taste in the mouth of fans, but that's not uncommon.
Either way, the build-up to Fastlane 2021 started and alongside, a second WrestleMania 37 match was made official. Let's start with that, and the possibility of a change in it, from SmackDown this week.
#3. Best: Bianca Belair's decision on SmackDown
For some reason, the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair, who was on SmackDown, was told to choose whom she'd face at WrestleMania 37 despite Fastlane being three weeks away. She came out, only to be interrupted by Reginald - something that has happened a lot lately.
What is Reginald's role exactly? He's supposed to be Carmella's right-hand-man, but he seems to be all over SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks, talking on behalf of her despite her not asking him to.
Reginald came out once again, and his purpose was to try to convince Belair that she wouldn't beat Sasha Banks.
Sasha Banks came out and told Reginald to not speak on her behalf. Urging Belair to make her choice, The EST of WWE chose the SmackDown Women's Champion as her WrestleMania opponent, pointing to the sign to make it official.
Now, Reginald's role is interesting. Why would he be involved week after week unless there's something else planned? Could he be scheming to get Carmella inserted in the SmackDown Women's title match, making it a Triple Threat bout?
#3. Worst: The finish of SmackDown
SmackDown started with Roman Reigns getting interrupted by Daniel Bryan, who challenged him to a Universal title match at Fastlane 2021. Jey Uso said he had to go through him first, and a SmackDown main event between Bryan and Uso was booked.
Edge seemed confused and insecure about his spot at WrestleMania, going to Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville to consult them. We liked this part of SmackDown, since Edge appeared to be overthinking and slightly puzzled at the situation that was unfolding. Despite being a babyface, the insecure side of his character still emerged - a subtle moment that fans may miss out on.
Either way, Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso went at each other, with the stipulation that a win for Bryan would secure him a Universal title shot against Roman Reigns at Fastlane. It ended in a double count-out, and eventually, a Roman Reigns beatdown.
Edge and Daniel Bryan had an interesting interaction of their own, where the latter said that he didn't believe Edge would beat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. That's a good enough reason for the WWE legend not to come out and help him, but we expect them to team up together at Fastlane 2021.
It was a somewhat disappointing end to SmackDown with the same finish template getting repeated multiple times.
#2. Best: Apollo Crews' new character on SmackDown
Apollo Crews fleeted for five years between RAW and SmackDown despite having the tools to play a bigger role. In 2020, he had his big break on RAW thanks to Paul Heyman. But after Heyman was relieved off his role, Crews lost the United States title and took a backseat.
Yet, his move to SmackDown has turned out better than we thought. Now that he is officially a heel, he introduced a new character. Crews is using his Royal Nigerian heritage, spouting an African accent out of nowhere.
That was the only negative part about his appearance on SmackDown since there's no need to go that far.
His character is intriguing enough though, and he picked up a huge win over Shinsuke Nakamura after attacking the Japanese star from behind before their match began.
Is it finally be Apollo Crews' time? Is a feud with Big E coming once the Intercontinental Champion returns?
#2. Worst: Rey Mysterio handled badly on SmackDown yet again
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio have moved onto a new feud on SmackDown against Otis and Chad Gable. The latter duo turned heel after attacking the Mysterios and defeating them in a Tag Team match on SmackDown.
We understand WWE trying to get over Otis' new heel character, but something about it doesn't feel natural. To add to it, WWE continues to use Rey Mysterio as a "fall guy" for other superstars.
How it will affect Dominik Mysterio in the long run? Hopefully, the father-son duo picks up a big victory soon. Otherwise, they will have no momentum (or opponents) for WrestleMania 37.
We don't expect big plans for Dominik Mysterio on SmackDown, but he deserves some momentum since this will be his debut at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Will WWE continue to push Otis and Gable at the expense of the Mysterio family?
#1. Best: Cesaro's latest feud on SmackDown
When Seth Rollins returned to SmackDown, he was appalled when the entire locker room walked out on him. They said he was the same old Seth Rollins, and Cesaro was the last to leave.
Seth Rollins assumed that he had an ally on SmackDown in Cesaro, but The Swiss Superman disagreed and walked away, only to get attacked from behind.
This week on SmackDown, Cesaro interrupted Seth Rollins. The latter tried to calm him down, asking him why he always comes up short. It was a valid question, one he used to try and recruit Cesaro.
This didn't work, and Seth Rollins' night on SmackDown ended very shortly thereafter, becoming the victim of Cesaro's swing. It was a great moment for Cesaro on SmackDown.
We hope that the match is booked for WrestleMania 37, but this could be a Fastlane bout. Since there doesn't seem like anything else for Seth Rollins, Cesaro seems like the ideal opponent.
#1. Worst: The unlikely SmackDown alliance
This week on SmackDown, Sami Zayn suggested to King Corbin that they could end up becoming Tag Team Champions if they worked together. And this probably wasn't a direction the WWE Universe was expecting.
King Corbin was flustered with Sami Zayn's documentary crew all around him. He didn't seem pleased with the idea Zayn suggested, but they had a tag team match anyway - against former Champions The Street Profits.
Ultimately, the purpose of the match was to re-build the former SmackDown and RAW Tag Team Champions, who were absent for a little while. The Street Profits comfortably defeated Corbin and Zayn on SmackDown, presumably restarting their journey to the Tag Team gold.
As for Zayn and Corbin, we hope that their alliance is temporary. There doesn't seem to be anything for either man heading into WrestleMania. Will they be omitted from the card? Or will they become a tag team and find a way to compete for the SmackDown Tag Team titles?
