Credit: WINC
We go right to the ring and out comes WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman as fans start booing. Greg Hamilton does the introductions. Reigns stops and raises the title as the pyro goes off. We get a video package showing how Daniel Bryan won the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match last Sunday and then lost his title shot to Reigns. We also see Reigns being attacked by WWE Hall of Famer Edge.
We come back to “you suck!” chants from the crowd. Reigns says it’s not a secret… SmackDown needs him, and the same thing can be said about Elimination Chamber, it needed him so he answered the call. Reigns goes on about the win and how he operates at a higher level than anyone else in the ring, but this wasn’t perfect because of one man – Edge. Fans pop at Edge’s name. Reigns admits Edge got one, he hit a Spear in Reigns’ ring, on Reigns’ night. And then Edge pointed at the sign to make it official for WrestleMania 37. Fans cheer for the match.
Reigns says Edge doesn’t want it, and doesn’t need it in his life. So Reigns is going to give Edge the chance to back out of the match, scram, go back home to his beautiful family. He’s a father and a husband, Reigns doesn’t want to hurt him. Reigns appreciates his comeback and his legacy, but doesn’t want to hurt him. Reigns tells Edge to get it through his thick head – a man like Edge just doesn’t stand a chance against a man like Reigns. Fans boo. The music interrupts and out comes Bryan to a pop and a “yes!” chant from the crowd.
Bryan says Reigns really described his title defense on Sunday as nearly perfect. Bryan just had to come out and say, from his perspective, he agrees. Bryan mocks Reigns and says some people think it was cowardly to come out and defend right after the Chamber match ended, and it makes him not a real champion at all. Bryan says he’s not one of those people, he doesn’t come out and complain, those are just rumors he’s heard, but he was baffled by The Head of The Table defending his title in the second match of the night instead of the main event, or would that have given him too much time? Bryan goes on about Reigns wanting to leave a legacy and says here’s a chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, to prove there’s no comparison between Reigns and Bryan. Bryan proposes that they do battle at WWE Fastlane for the title, one-on-one.
Jey steps to Bryan and asks why he’s out here. All he hears is a bunch of excuses. Jey says Bryan lost to the Best of the Best and if he wants to get another shot, he has to go through Jey. Jey warns Bryan to be careful or he’s going to get got. Fans boo Uso now. Uso backs off and Reigns steps to Bryan closer. Reigns asks if Bryan really wants him to hurt him again. Bryan goes to respond but Uso attacks him out of nowhere. Uso sends Bryan to the floor and follows, then sends him over the barrier as the boos get louder. Uso struts away and Reigns joins him as the music starts up. Heyman joins them as Reigns raises the title and laughs at Bryan being out of sight now. Reigns, Uso and Heyman march up the ramp.
– Still to come, Bianca Belair will make her WrestleMania 37 decision. Also, The Street Profits vs. Sami Zayn and King Corbin.
Sonya Deville is backstage with Adam Pearce, talking about being excited for their options. Edge walks up and mentions Daniel Bryan possibly getting a title shot at WWE Fastlane. Edge says they need to talk. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see Roman Reigns talking to Jey Uso backstage. Jey apologizes and says he couldn’t just let Daniel Bryan disrespect him out there. Reigns says there’s nothing to apologize for as long as Uso gets the job done, that’s all that matters. Reigns tells him to handle it, then walks off.
– Edge is backstage with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville. Edge mentions how he thought they wanted he and Daniel Bryan to face Roman Reigns and Jey Uso at WWE Fastlane. Pearce says that was tentative and before Bryan made the challenge to Reigns. He brings up how Bryan could beat Jey to get in a Fastlane title match tonight and then they have a bigger spectacle, but the Universal Title will still be more important. Pearce means no disrespect. Edge says none taken and walks off.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio vs. Otis and Chad Gable
Otis wins the match with a splash on Rey.
Winners: Otis and Chad Gable
Back from the break and out comes Apollo Crews. Tonight’s Progressive Match Flo replay shows us how Crews injured WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E last week with the steel ring steps. Crews stands in the ring and smiles as fans boo him. He’s wearing new ring attire, and a scarf that he raises and puts around his neck. He takes the mic and says a lot of people have been wondering what’s going on with him lately, why the sudden change, this isn’t the Apollo we know. Crews says to be honest we know nothing about him. He’s been humble, nice and respectful for far too long but he’s not receiving the same respect in return. Being who he is and who his family is, that’s not acceptable. He’s not from the hood or the suburbs, he’s from Nigeria. He’s a real African American. This is who he is, this is the real Apollo.
His ancestors are Nigerian royalty. He goes on about his great grandfather ruling lands in Nigeria. He explains how the colors in his gear represent wealth, dominance, and power. Big E found that out first hand last week. Big E told him to go back to catering but he went back to his roots instead, handled it like his grandfather would. Crews speaks with a bit of an accent now, saying he showed Big E the steel last week and he guarantees Big E will never disrespect him again and as far as Shinsuke Nakamura tonight, he will suffer the same… the music interrupts and out comes Nakamura to a pop.
Apollo Crews vs. Shinsuke Nakamaura
Crews wins with the Angle Slam.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Paul Heyman tells Roman Reigns about Daniel Bryan possibly getting a title shot at Fastlane, if he beats Jey Uso tonight. Reigns says so the tag match is scrapped. If Bryan wins tonight, Heyman says. Reigns thinks it over and we go back to commercial.
Tamina Snuka vs. Liv Morgan
Tamina wins with the tilt a whirl side slam.
Winner: Tamina Snuka
After the match, Natalya joins Tamina in the middle of the ring and they stand tall as the music hits.
– We see Bianca Belair walking backstage. Back to commercial.
Fans chant “EST!” as Belair hits the ring. She mentions the Royal Rumble win changing her life. Deville asks Belair who will it be. She asks if it will be RAW Women’s Champion Asuka and we get a video package on her. We come back and Deville asks if it will be SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks. We get a video package on Banks next. Belair says she knows everyone has been patiently waiting on her to make her decision. She talks about how her mother told her life is all about making the right decision. She goes son and is about to make her decision but the music interrupts and out comes Reginald, Carmella’s sommelier.
Reginald says Belair’s mother is right because this decision will impact her future in WWE. He talks about how Belair got an up close look at Banks and how she works when she teamed with her last week. Reginald goes on about how Belair’s journey has been inspiring and she is special. Reginald knows deep in his heart that Belair’s dream will dissolve quickly into a horrible nightmare if she chooses to face Banks. He goes on and Belair gets in his face as fans boo him. The music interrupts and out comes Banks.
Banks tells Reginald how she already told him to never speak for her. She pushes him out of the way. She tells Belair she’s more than the champion, she’s the standard and if Belair wants to make history and be the topic of conversation, she should choose The Boss. Banks doesn’t think Belair is The EST of WWE because she is the best and #1, which makes Belair second best. Banks laughs and drops the mic, raising the title up at Belair. Belair says she’s going to make Banks eat her words on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Belair is going to take the title and show the whole entire world how she’s the strongest, fastest and everything else. Belair points up at the WrestleMania 37 sign and tells Banks it’s on. Belair’s music starts up as the fireworks go off. Banks raises the title at her. Belair keeps pointing up at the sign to end the segment.
– Still to come, Uso vs. Bryan. Also, Corbin and Zayn vs. The Street Profits. We see King Corbin warming up in the back now. Sami Zayn and his film crew appear. Sami interviews Corbin and asks what he thinks about the conspiracy against Sami. Corbin just wants to know why they’re teaming up tonight. Sami says it was his idea. Sami says he needs a big win and they have chemistry. Sami believes they can eventually be champions if they work together. They have a few more words and Corbin isn’t interested.
Street Profits vs. King Corbin and Sami Zayn
Ford wins the tag team match with the frog splash on Zayn.
Winners: Street Profits
Daniel Bryan is asked backstage about his opportunity to face Roman at Fastlane. He says that he believes his chances of defeating Roman for the Universal Title is greater than Edge’s. He’s always been honest with Edge and respects the hell out of him for what he did to get back. But he also says 9 years away from the ring can cause ring rust and he doesn’t know if he can beat Roman. But none of that matters unless he beats Jey Uso tonight.
Edge comes by and he acknowledges he’d face Bryan at WrestleMania if he wins at Fastlane. And then he asks if that were to happen, who would win that match. Bryan says he’ll keep that answer to himself.
Out comes Seth Rollins. He says that the request he made to WWE back was met with a huge response everywhere on social media. Cesaro comes out. Seth says he was the one he wanted to talk about and he wants him to hear him out. He calls what happened two weeks ago an accident and he didn’t call him a loser and it was blown out of proportion. What he said was he was a loser because of the situation was in.
He tells Cesaro to stand in the middle of the ring like the star he’s in. Who says he can’t grab the brass ring and break that glass ceiling? He’s got it all and is one of the most talented superstars ever. So the question is why does he always seem to come up short? What is it that you are missing?
Seth will tell him what it is because he has it. It’s killer instinct and he can give it to him. He came back to SmackDown to lead it in the future and he can start by leading him. He’s grabbed the brass ring and accomplished everything Cesaro’s dreamed of, and he wants to give it to him. Seth and Cesaro working side by side on SmackDown would be unstoppable. They wouldn’t have this conversation if he didn’t turn his back on him two weeks ago because he’d have won the Elimination Chamber match and then the Universal Championship. Be strong and embrace the vision.
Seth tells Cesaro to take a week or two to pend his offer, before Cesaro grabs Seth and tells him to put him down before he swings him around and then uppercuts him.
Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso – If Bryan Wins, He Gets Universal Title Match at Fastlane
Jey Uso continuously attacks Bryan on the outside and the match ends in a double countout.
After the match, Bryan gets Jey in the YES Lock until Roman comes out and jumps him. He eventually gets Roman in the YES Lock as well before Jey super kicks him. Roman gets the front face lock and knocks Bryan out as SmackDown goes off the air.
