SmackDown Results: Top Champion suffers brutal assault; Former MITB briefcase winner turns heel

Jojo
The SmackDown before Elimination Chamber did not disappoint!
The SmackDown before Elimination Chamber did not disappoint!

Edge kicked off SmackDown and was about to talk about who to challenge at WrestleMania when he was interrupted by Roman Reigns.

Reigns, Uso, and Heyman walked up to the ring and Roman said that Edge's decision should be easy since Roman was the only real main-eventer.

Edge asked Roman if he really wanted to go against a veteran who could expose his weaknesses, making him an easy target for future opponents.

Sami Zayn interrupted them and walked up with his film crew to say that he was the Master Strategist before Jey Uso took him out with a Superkick. Roman whispered something in Edge's ear before leaving the ring.


Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Apollo Crews on WWE SmackDown

Big E was at ringside with a dinner tray and was watching the match while eating. Apollo sent Nakamura outside and into Big E, who got annoyed but didn't get involved.

After a break, Nakamura locked Apollo in an armbar and turned it into a pin attempt. Nakamura picked up the win but then the former US Champion attacked him and sent him outside and into the barricades.

Result: Shinsuke Nakamura def. Apollo Crews

Crews was about to attack Nakamura with the steel ring-steps when Big E told him to walk away. Apollo pretended to back down but hit both Big E and Nakamura with the steps before sending Shinsuke over the barricades.

He sent Big E in the ring and was about to hit him with the steel steps but the IC Champion rolled out. Apollo was told to put the steps down so he dropped them on E who was lying outside.

Match rating: B


Seth Rollins was out next and talked about being betrayed by the SmackDown roster. Seth rolled the footage of what happened last week, leading up to him attacking Cesaro on SmackDown last week.

Rollins said on SmackDown that he and his lawyers were making a formal complaint because his blue brand return, which took months to plan, was ruined by the Superstars. He talked about the fans needing to 'embrace the vision' before walking to the back.


Kevin Owens and Edge were backstage on SmackDown and Owens said that he was obsessed with beating Roman. Edge wished him luck and said that he looked forward to facing him at WrestleMania.


Riott Squad vs. Tamina & Natalya on SmackDown

Tamina and Ruby were in the ring when we returned from a break and Morgan was tagged in early on. Tamina tagged in Natalya before Liv nearly got pinned off a reversal. Riott was back in and nearly managed to pin Natalya with the help of Morgan.

Billie Kay came out wearing cat ears, to show support for Natalya before Tamina wiped Riott out for the win. Kay was celebrating with Tamina and Natalya but the duo took her out as well.

Result: Tamina & Natalya def. Riott Squad

Match rating: B


Baron Corbin was backstage on SmackDown and ran into Edge. King Corbin bragged about his expensive suit and watch, but Edge shut him down and said that he used his phone to check the time.


Bayley was back with her show "Ding Dong, Hello!" and her guests were Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Nia and Shayna were getting along with Bayley and they trashed on Sasha and Bianca together before Reginald came out to defend Sasha Banks.

Reggie said that if Banks and Belair joined forces they could be the new tag team champs before Banks made her entrance. Banks was not happy with Reggie speaking for her before Bianca too joined them in the ring.

Bianca and Sasha started arguing and Reginald said that instead of them fighting each other, the three of them should join forces against Nia, Shayna, and Bayley.


Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair & Reginald vs. Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler & Bayley on SmackDown

Belair and Baszler kicked off the match and Sasha tagged herself in before they hit a double team on Shayna. Reggie tagged himself in but Banks tagged him out before Bayley joined her on SmackDown.

Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair & Reginald vs. Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler & Bayley on SmackDown (contd...)

Reginald and Jax were in the SmackDown ring when Nia overpowered and knocked him around the ring.

Jax missed the leg drop and hurt her back again before Banks and Belair took out Baszler at ringside.

Reginald was in Nia's grasp when Banks and Belair hit her with double dropkicks, letting Reginald get the pin on Jax.

Result: Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair & Reginald def. Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler & Bayley

Match rating: B


Cesaro was talking about Seth Rollins' return before Edge came in and wished him luck for the chamber match.


Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Otis & Chad Gable on SmackDown

Gable and Dom started the match and Dominik hit some dropkicks for the early advantage. Otis came in and wiped him out before Rey was tagged in. Otis was unloading on Mysterio and the referee called off the match as Gable refused to listen get out of the ring.

Mysterio was hit with a splash after the match was called and Rey looked injured. Gable hyped him up and made Otis hit another splash from the top on the defenseless WWE Legend.

Result: DNF

Match rating: C


Edge was backstage on SmackDown and thanked Daniel Bryan for inspiring him to return to the ring. They discussed potentially facing each other at WrestleMania before we headed for a break.


Bryan, Owens, and Cesaro were backstage together and they argued about what they would do at Elimination Chamber.


Carmella was not happy about Reginald helping Banks and threatened him before splashing wine in his face.


Kevin Owens, Cesaro & Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso, King Corbin & Sami Zayn on SmackDown

Edge was on commentary and Bryan started the match off with Uso. Cesaro was tagged in early and they dropped Uso before Corbin was tagged in. Sami was tagged in and was hit with the Cesaro Swing before Cesaro did the same to Corbin.

Back after a break, Heyman joined Edge on Commentary and Uso was in the ring with Cesaro. Sami and Bryan were tagged in and Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb before Cesaro broke up the pin.

Zayn was caught in a top rope suplex by Bryan and then the Yes lock before picking up the win.

Result: Kevin Owens, Cesaro & Daniel Bryan def. Jey Uso, King Corbin & Sami Zayn

Bryan took the End of days after the match and Corbin took the Stunner, Cesaro hit the uppercut on Zayn and ate a Superkick from Uso. Edge came in and hit the spear on Jey and Reigns out of nowhere hit a spear on Edge to close this week's SmackDown.

Match rating: A


Episode rating: B+

We got an action-packed SmackDown before Elimination Chamber with a huge six-man tag team main event and two shocking attacks on Big E and Rey Mysterio. Edge and Roman put on a great promo and so did Bayley, Banks, and the women's tag champs

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