WWE SmackDown: 2 Superstars who flopped and 3 who impressed – Mistake with Seth Rollins’ return, second Elimination Chamber match confirmed (Feb 12th, 2021)

#3 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Shinsuke Nakamura

This week on WWE SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura got an opportunity to challenge Big E for the Intercontinental Championship. Unfortunately, this match ended in a disqualification, but Nakamura looked like his old self on the Blue brand. It all started with Big E issuing an open challenge to the rest of the roster.

Unsurprisingly, Apollo Crews was the first to answer, and he insisted that he get another shot at Big E’s title. However, the champion did not agree with that claim and the two Superstars were involved in a heated exchange of words on WWE SmackDown. Soon after that, Big E demanded his ‘actual’ challenger to walk out, and Nakamura obliged.

Look who just shut down all of Tony Khan's critics! More HERE.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Big E then locked horns in an entertaining bout with Crews lurking at the ringside. Despite being a face now, Nakamura looked vicious with his hard-hitting signature kicks as he asserted his dominance over the champion on WWE SmackDown. Big E also got his fair chance to look like a strong champion during this title defense.

The match was then cut short on WWE SmackDown following interference from Crews. The end was underwhelming, but it was great to see Nakamura in his classic form. It reminded us of his performance in the recent Gauntlet Match. We wonder why he was not included in the Elimination Chamber match, but he will be the perfect challenger for Big E at the upcoming pay-per-view.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

Know More

Edited by Kaushik Das