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Roman Reigns kicked off SmackDown after a short recap of Royal Rumble and said that he kept his word by beating Kevin Owens. He then moved to the topic of Edge and was not happy that he was making Reigns wait. Roman told Heyman to call him out and a stagehand let him know that Edge wasn't there.
Roman was furious, asking why Edge was playing games with him on SmackDown. Roman made a threat and said that Edge had to give him his decision by the end of the night, before leaving.
Dominik Mysterio vs. King Corbin on SmackDown
Dominik and Rey Mysterio were making their entrance when King Corbin attacked them from behind and threw Rey off the stage before the show headed for commercials. We returned to SmackDown to see that the match was underway and Dominik hit a big basement dropkick before Corbin got a near fall.
Dominik hit a big dive over the ropes before Rey recovered and joined him at ringside. After another break, Corbin was about to take the 619 but managed to reverse it into a Deep six.
Corbin was stuck on the apron and distracted when Dominik came in with an awkward 619 and followed up with the splash for the win.
Result: Dominik Mysterio def. King Corbin
Match rating: B
Big E was backstage and said he was going to fight Apollo and Sami tonight.
Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro on SmackDown
Daniel Bryan took control early, unloading on Cesaro and hit a dropkick from up high before going for the Yes kicks but Cesaro countered out of it. Bryan managed to get a near fall off a Roundhouse kick.
Cesaro countered a running knee and trapped Bryan in a torture rack before hitting him with a backbreaker. The Swiss Cyborg hit the Cesaro Swing and locked in the Sharpshooter, making Bryan tap out.
Result: Cesaro def. Daniel Bryan
Match rating: B+
Bianca Belair was backstage on SmackDown and fans saw footage of her parents celebrating her Royal Rumble win. She was asked who she wished to face at WrestleMania and the SmackDown Superstar said that she will make her decision soon.
Seth Rollins was set to return to SmackDown next week.
Bayley vs. Ruby Riott on SmackDown
Ruby was in trouble as the SmackDown match began and Bayley taunted her as she took her to the mat and hit elbows and kicks before locking in a submission. Ruby managed to send Bayley into the buckles before Riott countered the Belly to Bayley suplex.
Bayley missed the powerbomb off the apron and locked in a submission move when Billie Kay rushed to help her. Bayley pinned Riott off the distraction from Kay and picked up the win.
Result: Bayley def. Ruby Riott
Match rating: B
Bianca Belair was out next and was about to announce who she wanted to face at WrestleMania when Reginald interrupted her, saying that she can't beat Sasha. Carmella came out and was gloating when Sasha Banks joined them in the ring.
SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks said she had been watching Belair and was not sure if she was 'the best.' Reginald was now on Sasha's side it looked like and made fun of Belair before she attacked him with her hair.
Backstage on SmackDown, Roman was notified that Edge was there in the arena.
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. Otis & Chad Gable on SmackDown
This was Robert Roode's return to WWE television after being absent from televised content for quite some time.
Gable and Dolph Ziggler kicked off the match and the Street Profits were on commentary. Roode tagged in and hit a big Suplex for a near fall before dodging an ankle lock. Otis was tagged in and wiped out Ziggler and Roode before hitting the Caterpillar on Roode.
Gable was tagged in and was about to finish it but Ziggler interfered. Roode recovered and used Ziggler's distraction to get the Glorious DDT and picked up the win.
Result: Ziggler & Roode def. Otis & Chad Gable
Match rating: C
Hulk Hogan was backstage at SmackDown with Jimmy Hart to talk about his legendary match against Andre the Giant before saying that Edge will be a future champ at WrestleMania.
Big E (c) vs. Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn - Intercontinental Championship match on SmackDown
Sami Zayn left the SmackDown ring right off the bat, leaving Apollo and Big E to duke it out. Apollo hit a few big Suplexes before Sami rushed in and tried to capitalize. Big E hit splashed in the corner before being dragged to the outside by Sami.
Crews hit a dive over the ropes, taking out the champ before hitting a moonsault off the apron. E hit a big Belly to Belly suplex on Apollo before hitting a combined splash on Crews and Sami.
Apollo got a near fall on Sami off the splash before Big E hit a huge combined suplex on both men. Sami nearly pinned Big E with the Helluva Kick but Crews dragged him out of the ring. Crews sent Zayn into the timekeeper's area before Big E hit the Big Ending in the ring and picked up the win.
Result: Big E def. Apollo Crews & Sami Zayn
Match rating: B+
Edge was out on SmackDown next and said throughout his time away he was dreaming of coming back to the WWE and winning the Royal Rumble, going to WrestleMania, and being a champion again.
SmackDown: Edge faces off with Roman Reigns (continued)
As SmackDown continued, the Rated-R Superstar revealed that Edge's dreams were coming true but he still had to choose which champ to challenge at WrestleMania. He said he was having trouble deciding when Roman and his crew crashed the party.
Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Paul Heyman walked up to the ring and Edge asked Roman if he really needed backup. Roman got on the mic and said that without his instruction, neither of them would attack Edge.
Roman sent Uso and Heyman off and they left. Roman said that Edge disrespected him and had to make up for it by 'acknowledging the tribal chief.'
The situation was tense as both Superstars stared each other down but then Kevin Owens came out of nowhere and hit a stunner and walked out. Edge was surprised but kept his composure as he too walked out of the ring slowly as SmackDown ended.
Episode rating: B+
We got a great SmackDown after Royal Rumble with a visit from Edge and great matches from Daniel Bryan and Big E. Banks and Belair put on a great promo and Roman kicked off a feud with the legendary Edge.
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