WWE SmackDown Results: Unexpected title change; Stipulation added to Elimination Chamber match last-minute

Adam Pearce kicked off SmackDown and was getting ready for the match contract signing between Sonya Deville & Charlotte Flair, and Naomi & Ronda Rousey.

The four women joined him in the ring and started quarreling before Deville and Flair mentioned that there would be a special stipulation for the match tomorrow: Rousey will have to fight with one arm tied behind her back.

Ronda Rousey was unfazed and said that she could beat Sonya Deville with no hands and so with one hand, it should be easy. Rousey and Naomi attacked their challengers and flipped the table before walking out.

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WWE SmackDown Results (February 18th, 2022): Sheamus vs. Ricochet

Ricochet had the early advantage and sent Sheamus outside for a big dive before dragging him back to the ring. Back inside, The Celtic Warrior got a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before dragging Ricochet into the corner for some big moves.

After a break on SmackDown, Ricochet got a big DDT off a counter and hit a springboard elbow drop for a near fall. Sheamus got the Alabama slam for a near fall before Ricochet nearly got the pin with a top rope Spanish Fly.

Ridge Holland ran the distraction and Sheamus went for the Brogue kick from behind but Ricochet sidestepped it. The Irish superstar nearly hit the move on Holland before Ricochet came in with the Recoil and picked up the win.

Result: Ricochet def. Sheamus

After the match, Sheamus shoved Holland to the ground and was angry about causing him the loss.

Grade: B-

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Backstage, Sami Zayn said that he was going to beat Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental title tonight.

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We got a short video about The Undertaker who is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year before the show moved on.

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We got a recap of the Goldberg - Roman Reigns feud leading to the Universal Title match at Elimination Chamber.

Ivar vs. Jey Uso on SmackDown

Ivar and Jey kicked off the match and the former was in control early as he tossed Uso around and hit a big side slam. Jey recovered and hit a superkick before locking in a hold. Ivar got out and hit a clothesline and a splash in the corner.

He got a top rope splash and was about to pick up the win but Jimmy Uso ran a distraction and attacked him with the Viking headgear. The Raiders fought them off and the referee called the match in Ivar's favor after the DQ.

Result: Ivar def. Jey Uso via DQ

Grade: C

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Drew McIntyre was out next on SmackDown and said that his career nearly ended thanks to Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin's backstage attack on him.

McIntyre said that it was personal and he could do anything to Moss at Elimination Chamber. He then started a hashtag Madcap Mauling before Corbin and Moss walked out.

Moss said that McIntyre couldn't be at 100% yet and said that he too would use the environment at Elimination Chamber. He then made a joke about crunchy serial before The Scottish Warrior called Corbin names and threatened the duo and the segment was over.

Nakamura was backstage on SmackDown and said that he was going to kick Zayn in the face.

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Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Sami Zayn - Intercontinental Championship match on SmackDown

Sami Zayn managed to take the champion into the corner early on and got some big moves in before taking a knee to the face. Nakamura got some big kicks in before setting Zayn up on the ropes for a knee to the midsection and on the apron for a running knee.

After a break on the blue brand, Sami Zayn got a few near falls and locked in a submission move before Shinsuke Nakamura reversed it and tried for an armbar. He got another big series of kicks before getting reverse exploder suplex on the ropes.

Zayn got a big neckbreaker for a near fall before the match headed outside the ring and Nakamura got a big kick on the ropes. The champion tried for a knee drop but Sami Zayn rolled out of the way and Shinsuke Nakamura hurt his knee.

Back in the ring after a break, Nakamura took the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall before he unloaded on Sami but Zayn rolled out of the ring.

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Sami Zayn - Intercontinental Championship match on SmackDown (contd...)

As SmackDown continued, Zayn used the ring post to damage Nakamura's knee and rolled him up for the big win!

Result: Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura to become the new Intercontinental Champion

Grade: B

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Roman Reigns was out next on SmackDown with Paul Heyman and after the typical introduction from Heyman, Goldberg's music hit and he joined Reigns in the ring. The Tribal Chief got on the mic to exclaim about Goldberg 'running up on him' said that it was 'his' ring before handing him the mic.

Goldberg said that he needed to apologize and said that Roman Reigns was not 'next' but on the subject of the Universal Championship, 'he [Goldberg] was next', as SmackDown went off the air.

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Episode rating: B

We got the last-minute announcement for a new stipulation in the Charlotte Flair-Ronda Rousey tag match while Sami Zayn picked up a big title win on tonight's SmackDown. We also got a face-to-face between Goldberg and Roman Reigns on the SmackDown before Elimination Chamber.