Tuesday night is upon us, and that means we’re in store for another exciting edition of SmackDown Live. Here is everything you need to know heading into tonight’s episode:
As a result of her controversial win over Becky Lynch, Mickie James has managed to even the score with her rival. A tie-breaker is certainly on the horizon, as both women are out to prove they’re the top female athlete on SmackDown Live
Last week, Randy Orton shocked the world when he refused to face Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania. Throwing away a WWE Championship opportunity is very unlike the Viper, and one has to wonder where his direction goes from here.
Because of Orton’s announcement, SmackDown Live will host a battle royal to determine a new number one contender. There hasn’t been much talk as to who will be competing in the match, but expect all of the Blue Brand’s top stars to participate.
After months of heated words and backstage brawls, Nikki Bella and Natalya will look to settle it all tonight. These two women will be competing in a Falls Count Anywhere match, so anything can happen in this environment.
Assaulting Dean Ambrose backstage last week, Baron Corbin has managed to send yet another message to the Intercontinental Champion. Sooner or later the Lunatic Fringe will gain his revenge, the only question is when will it happen?
Despite suffering a minor injury at Elimination Chamber, Naomi seems poised to defend her newly won championship against Alexa Bliss. The former champion still considers her loss to be a fluke, and tonight she has the opportunity to prove it.
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So without further ado, here is the live results and analysis for the February 21st episode of SmackDown Live.
A Heartbreaking Moment
Normally, when Daniel Bryan makes an appearance on SmackDown Live, it’s usually to create matches or stick it to the heels on the Blue Brand. Tonight things took a more somber route, as the Women’s Champion Naomi was called to the ring. Informing both her and the live audience that her injury would keep her from competing for 30 days, he expressed regret in telling her that she needed to relinquish the title. Although he was proud of what the young competitor has accomplished as of late, there must be a champion who can consistently compete.
Handling the situation with as much class as she could muster, Naomi hugged the General Manager and went on to address the fans. Clearly emotional over the fact that WrestleMania is probably out of reach for her now, she apologized to the fans who had followed her on this journey. Promising to return better than ever, Naomi was preparing to leave the ring when a familiar rival appeared.
Happy as can be over the fact that Naomi was vacating the championship, Alexa Bliss took time to ridicule the former champion for the injury. Offering to solve this new dilemma, the arrogant superstar suggested that Bryan awards her with the championship. While Bryan teased agreeing with Bliss, he ultimately decided that a match needed to take place. Effective immediately, Becky Lynch would come out and face Bliss right then and there to crown a new champion.
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Alexa Bliss vs Becky Lynch
Result: Alexa Bliss wins via pinfall (New Women’s Champion)
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Displaying their usual chemistry, Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss delivered an impactful and compelling match. In the early going the action was back and forth, with both women showcasing their familiarity with the other’s offense. Eventually, Lynch takes the advantage and drops Bliss a few powerful moves as another commercial break interferes with the action.
When we returned, Bliss had finally managed to fight her way back into the match. Her offense didn’t last long, however, as a clearly determined Lynch fought tooth and nail to win her second championship. The action continued to intensify and control shifted back and forth, but towards the closing moments, Lynch seemed to finally have the match won. At the end of the day though it wasn’t her destiny to emerge victoriously, and a cheap shot to the throat would end her night for good. Bliss would go on to score the three count, earning her second Women’s Championship.
As Lynch tried to recover inside the ring, Bliss would go on to celebrate on top of the ramp with Mickie James by her side. The cameras would then shift to the backstage area, and Dean Ambrose, Kalisto, and The Miz would give promos about the battle royal, later on, tonight. Our next interview occurred courtesy of Renee Young, who was set to interview Natalya. The veteran went on to talk trash about Nikki Bella before hyping their Falls Count Anywhere match.
American Alpha vs Breezango
Result: American Alpha wins via pinfall
Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
A quick and dominate encounter, this match aided in establishing the tag team champions as the top team in the division. Making quick work of Breezango, the duo went on to celebrate their victory inside the ring before the Usos made their way to the ring. Traveling through the live audience, the brothers addressed American Alpha as the soon to be former champions. They seemed intent on attacking the champions, however, they opted to retreat back over the ring barrier.
Continuing to talk trash, the former tag team champions go on to state that they have nothing to lose. Telling American Alpha that they won’t see the attack coming, the Usos continued talking trash as they exited through the crowd to end the segment. Based upon their interactions the past few weeks, these two teams have the potential to put on an epic encounter. WWE is likely saving the match for WrestleMania, but creative could decide to provide the tag title match on SmackDown Live instead. That match would certainly increase ratings, and it would allow the Blue Brand to put on a potentially show-stealing match.
Once the segment ended, another round of interviews commenced hyping up the battle royal. This time the superstars were AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, and Mojo Rawley. The focus then shifted to the Falls Count Anywhere match, with Nikki Bella conducting yet another interview with Renee Young. Similar to Natalya earlier in the evening, she opted to talk a little smack before making it clear that she plans on emerging victorious tonight.
Natalya vs Nikki Bella
Result: Natalya wins via pinfall
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
In what turned out to be a highly entertaining match, Natalya and Nikki Bella looked to finally settle the score. Things were physical from the moment the bell rang, as Nikki floored her rival and repeatedly hit her while she was on the mat. It wasn’t long before weapons were brought into the fray, as both a table and kendo stick were used to inflict punishment. Even the announce table was used during the match, with Nikki delivering a vicious Alabama slam, which unfortunately didn’t break the table.
Later on in the match, the action progressed up the ramp and into the backstage area. It was here that the feud between Maryse and Nikki escalated, because Natalya threw Nikki into the blonde bombshell. Angry over being embarrassed yet again, Maryse would go on to cost Nikki the match. Hitting her rival when she had the match won back inside the ring, Maryse laid out the leader of the Bella Army with a lead pipe. Her interference allowed Natalya to pick up the win, and finish a match that exceeded expectations by a mile.
Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews hyped up their appearance in the battle royal tonight in separate interviews after the match. Once their promos concluded, Bray Wyatt was backstage alongside Randy Orton. Telling his brother that he has finally “earned the keys to the kingdom”, Wyatt then transitioned to the battle royal tonight. He went on to issue a warning to whoever won the match, and the promo ended with Orton looking at the screen and saying “run”.
WWE.com
Battle Royal to Determine New No. 1 Contender to WWE Championship
Result: AJ Styles and Luke Harper battle to a draw
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Before the final match of the night, Jack Gallagher hyped up his appearance on 205Live tonight. Judging by the loud reaction when he appeared on the screen, the young superstar’s popularity is on the rise.
In the main event of the evening, ten SmackDown Live superstars fought for the right to become No. 1 contender. For a good while there were no eliminations, however, things quickly heated up when Rawley was the first eliminated. Kalisto and Ziggler quickly followed suit, and Crews would be next after he was distracted by Ziggler taking his anger out on Kalisto on the outside. This allowed The Miz to take control of the action, and for a moment he had all of the men battered and beaten inside the ring.
Right when it seemed that Miz was going to begin tossing people out, Cena managed to recover and eliminate the Awesome One from the match. He wouldn’t last much longer, and Corbin’s elimination thereafter left Ambrose, Harper, and Styles in the final three. All three men would end up on the apron, which led to Ambrose being eliminated. Controversy would fill the final few moments, as Harper and Styles would fall outside the ring at the same time.
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As referees tried to figure out who was eliminated first, Daniel Bryan came out to solve the issue himself. Declaring the match a draw, he revealed that Harper and Styles will compete next week to determine the new No. 1 contender. An enraged Harper would level Styles, and then Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton would appear once more on the titantron. Entertained by the situation at hand, Wyatt laughed hysterically as SmackDown Live came to a close.