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It was the go-home episode of SmackDown to Fastlane 2021, and that will mark the final pay-per-view stop on the road to WrestleMania 37. There are three episodes of SmackDown left until WrestleMania, and many felt that it was a big improvement from the week before.
The defining moment of SmackDown this week was Edge's in-ring return. But a lot happened around that as well:
#3. Best: An entertaining SmackDown tag team title picture
We have to admit, the "overcrowding" of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship picture hasn't been bad. Looking back at the past year, there have been little to no feuds for the SmackDown tag team titles that have been memorable.
The Street Profits dominated the uneventful RAW tag team title scene throughout 2020, and when they were drafted to SmackDown, they simply exchanged titles with The New Day.
It was Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode who eventually dethroned The Street Profits after a combined 300+ day reign with two titles. After that, things have gotten entertaining. Last week, we saw Montez Ford pin Roode in an eight-man tag team match, indicating that The Street Profits are back in the title picture.
One could argue that they never should have been out of it, in the first place. This week on SmackDown, the argument was made that they never got a rematch for the titles.
Either way, The Street Profits lost a friendly but competitive match to Dominik and Rey Mysterio. After that, The Alpha Academy came out and were thrown out of the ring, but managed to beat the worn-down Mysterios.
The indication here seems to be that "anybody can beat anybody" and thus, there are four teams (eight men) involved in the SmackDown tag team title picture. All this requires is an exciting stipulation and we have a potential WrestleMania classic in our hands.
#3. Worst: Sami Zayn's continuous downfall on SmackDown
Sami Zayn faced King Corbin in what was hilariously advertised as "the least-anticipated match in SmackDown history". Comedy aside, it was an interesting match from a storyline perspective.
For a while now, we've been seeing Zayn roam around SmackDown with his camera crew trying to film what he claims are conspiracies against him. We all thought it was just Zayn being a bit crazy, but this week, it was revealed to be true.
We put this under the "worst" category because of Zayn's defeat to Corbin. However, we understand that a loss was needed to fuel the storyline. Sami Zayn promptly delivered a Helluva Kick to Kevin Owens for claiming that it was "fair refereeing" when it actually wasn't.
The SmackDown official held Zayn back and prevented him from winning the match. Only Corey Graves seemed to acknowledge it at ringside. We wonder whether this could lead to a WrestleMania match between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. If so, it would be an instant classic.
#2. Best: Apollo Crews and Big E's rivalry on SmackDown
Big E and Apollo Crews have quietly had one of the best rivalries this WrestleMania season on SmackDown. While they're scheduled for a match at Fastlane 2021, this could be the one that steals the show.
It's an exciting feud featuring two relatively young and hungry superstars. They had an excellent sit-down interview on SmackDown, where they tried to verbally tear each other apart. Big E started to show an edge to his character that we haven't seen on SmackDown before, and it provoked him to go seek Crews.
Not wanting to wait for Fastlane, Big E got a small measure of revenge on Crews, who had been tormenting him this past month on SmackDown. But there's no guarantee that Big E will walk out of Fastlane with the Intercontinental Championship.
Usually when you have superstars changing their characters and taking it to the next level, it can often come with a big push. Will Apollo Crews finally win the Intercontinental Championship at Fastlane?
#2. Worst: Using Shinsuke Nakamura as a stepping stone on SmackDown
Seth Rollins hasn't been in a good mood on SmackDown lately. He cut a promo berating Cesaro for his inability to grab the brass ring, and declared that The Swiss Superman was jealous of him.
Cesaro's former tag team partner Shinsuke Nakamura came out instead and told Rollins to shut up. He hit the Kinshasa on SmackDown's Messiah and it instantly set up a singles match between the two at Fastlane.
It's an exciting match-up, especially since it happened before at Survivor Series when both men were Champions. However, what it seems to be is WWE using Nakamura as a stepping stone on SmackDown.
Seth Rollins winning seems like an obvious outcome at Fastlane, and in the process, it would also set up Cesaro's return on SmackDown and a WrestleMania match. We like that WrestleMania match, but it doesn't help Nakamura to simply be used as a stepping stone.
It's a shame because it was just two months ago when Shinsuke Nakamura put on his best performance in five years in the SmackDown Gauntlet match.
#1. Best: Edge in the SmackDown main event
Edge vs. Jey Uso on SmackDown was by no means a spectacular match. To begin with, they only got the last 10 minutes on SmackDown to deliver, so there wasn't too much to work with.
Edge had his first match on SmackDown in 10 years and he ended up winning the contest to become the special enforcer for the Universal title match at Fastlane.
Edge knows that he is Daniel Bryan's only chance at Fastlane 2021, but the latter doesn't seem to fully trust him. There's an interesting dynamic between the men on SmackDown, and the stage is now set for Fastlane 2021.
Seeing Edge back on SmackDown brings back a lot of memories for fans. Even The Rated-R Superstar reminisced about the superstars he has faced and defeated, from the likes of The Undertaker to Batista.
Will Edge end up helping Daniel Bryan? Or will he follow through and go with his choice of facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37 instead?
#1. Worst: More over-complication in the SmackDown Women's title picture
There needs to be more straightforwardness in the SmackDown Women's title picture as well as in the WWE Women's tag team title picture. They're both intertwined on SmackDown as Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair will team up to try to capture the tag team gold this Sunday before facing off at WrestleMania 37.
The SmackDown Women's title match ended after Shayna Baszler accidentally kicked Nia Jax in the face. To make up for it, she vowed to defeat Belair. The match ended after Natalya and Tamina interfered to announce their intention of challenging for the tag team titles.
While we expect them to get their shot at WrestleMania, it further proves how complicated and over-the-top the women's division has been on SmackDown lately.
It serves to benefit no one in the end. Since WWE wants to protect all four superstars in the Women's tag team title match, there's a high chance that the Fastlane title match may end with a dusty finish involving Natalya and Tamina.
