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WWE Smackdown Recap & Reaction (2/21)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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Daniel Bryan opened up the show and called Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi to the ring. Naomi came down to the ring wearing a knee brace. Daniel Bryan stated that this is the hardest thing he has ever had to do as Smackdown General Managaer. Bryan said that he and Shane have reviewed the medical records and that it has become clear that Naomi will not be able to defend her title within the mandatory 30 days. Daniel Bryan asked Naomi to relinquish her title and the crowd booed.

Naomi said that she knew that this was difficult for Bryan to do, given the fact that it had happened to him. Naomi said that she felt like she was on top of the mountain when she defeated Alexa Bliss, but now feels like she is in a free fall. Naomi began to get emotional when discussing Wrestlemania 33 and that the oppurtunity for her to defend the title in front of her hometown is probably now impossible. Naomi handed the title to Daniel Bryan and then the two hugged. Naomi vowed to recapture the Smackdown Women’s Championship when she makes her return.

Alexa Bliss stormed down to the ring just as Naomi was leaving. Alexa told Daniel Bryan that she had an idea and that idea was for him to just give her the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Daniel Bryan came up with a different idea and made a match between Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch to determine the Smackdown Women’s Champion.

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Alexa Bliss vs Becky Lynch

Lynch controlled this match early. Becky hit a Dropkick off the top turnbuckle but Alexa kicked out at two. Alexa pulled the apron skirt into the ring and the referee became distracted by it. While the referee was fixing that, Alexa Bliss hit Becky Lynch in the throat with a cheap shot. Alexa then rolled up Becky while grabbing her tights for leverage. The referee didn’t see it and counted to three. After the match, Mickie James tried to attack Becky Lynch but Becky fought her off and knocked her out of the ring.

Winner & New Smackdown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss

Renee Young interviewed Natalya backstage. Natalya called Nikki Bella a fraud and claimed that she would win their match tonight.

Breezango vs American Alpha

American Alpha defeated Breezango easily. After the match, The Usos called out American Alpha and challenged them to a fight. American Alpha were ready but The Usos said that the fight wouldn’t happen tonight.

Winners: American Alpha

Five quick backstage segments were shown in in a row. AJ Styles screamed at someone backstage that he is going to main event Wrestlemania. Dolph Ziggler cut a promo in front of a green screen. Ziggler said that he is irreplaceable and then Superkicked the green screen and it changed to a backstage area. Mojo Rawley had a backstage promo and said that he will win tonight’s Battle Royal and main event Wrestlemania. Luke Harper cut a backstage promo and stated that he is now free. Harper said that the years of following Bray Wyatt will not prevent him from winning the Battle Royal and facing Bray at Wrestlemania. Finally, Nikki Bella cut a promo and vowed to shut Natalya up during their match tonight.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: Nikki Bella vs Natalya

The match started out back and forth. Nikki and Natalya quickly went over the barricade and started fighting in the crowd. They made their way back to the ring area and Nikki hit Natalya with an Alabama Slam on the announce table. The action then goes to the production area backstage. Maryse was walking by and Nikki was launched into her by Natalya. Maryse fell hard to the floor and the match continued. The fight returns to the entrance ramp and Natalya tries to apply the Sharpshooter. Nikki reverses it into the Fearless Lock and was about to win the match but Maryse broke up the hold. Maryse then beat the hell out of Nikki with a pipe. The Miz eventually came down to the ring and stopped her. Natalya then simply pinned Nikki for the victory.

Winner: Natalya

Battle Royal To Determine The #1 Contender For The WWE Championship: Luke Harper vs Mojo Rawley vs The Miz vs Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler vs Apollo Crews vs Kalisto vs AJ Styles vs John Cena vs Baron Corbin

The match started out slow and nobody was eliminated before the first commercial break in the match. When Smackdown returned, Baron Corbin launched Mojo Rawley over the top rope to eliminate him. Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto battled on the ring apron. Ziggler connected with a Superkick and Kalisto was eliminated. Crews then immediately kicked Ziggler while he was still on the apron. Ziggler fell to the ground and he was eliminated. Ziggler then grabbed a chair and hit Kalisto with it. Crews was shouting at Ziggler when Corbin threw Crews out of the ring from behind and eliminated him. Crews then chased Ziggler backstage.

The Miz then had control of the match as everyone was leaning against the turnbuckle. The Miz mocked Daniel Bryan by doing the “yes!” chant and connecting with a series of Dropkicks. Miz then hit a series of “yes!” kicks on Cena. The Miz went for one more and Cena ducked and threw The Miz out of the ring and eliminated. Smackdown then went to a commercial break with The Miz in shock outside the ring.

When Smackdown returned, Cena connected with a double German Suplex onto Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles. Baron Corbin then planted Cena with the End of Days. Corbin celebrated the move but lost track of Ambrose who then came up from behind him and eliminated him. Corbin lost it and dragged Ambrose outside the ring. Corbin then hit the End of Days onto Ambrose outside the ring. From behind, The Miz got back into the ring and thew Cena out to eliminate him. Cena couldn’t believe that it was legal for The Miz to eliminate someone after he was no longer a part of the match. Cena walked backstage but was very annoyed at what just happened.

Ambrose was still recovering from the End of Days while Styles and Harper battled in the ring. Styles and Harper battled for a minute and Ambrose finally re-entered the match. Ambrose tried to eliminate them both at the same time, but Styles and Harper caught themselves on the ring apron. Ambrose then joins them on the ring apron and all three Superstars battled on the apron. Harper connected with a kick to the chest of Ambrose and he fell forward and was eliminated. It was now down to AJ Styles and Luke Harper. Styles and Harper battled for the next several minutes. The end of the match came when Harper tried to Suplex Styles off the ring apron and they both fell to the ground. The referees argued for a bit but could not determine who won the Battle Royal. Daniel Bryan came down to the ring and announced that they will figure out who will become the #1 contender next week on Smackdown. Harper leveled Styles with a Clothesline and pointed to the Wrestlemania sign hanging above the ring. Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton then appeared on the titantron. Smackdown went off the air with Bray Wyatt laughing and Randy Orton looking on.

Reaction: Tonight’s episode of Smackdown was decent. It was unfortunate to see Naomi have to relinquish the Smackdown Women’s Championship so quickly after winning it. Alexa Bliss now holds the title once again but she doesn’t have a feud at the moment. Becky Lynch has a feud with Mickie James so it will be interesting to see who the WWE decides to have challenge Bliss for the title. With Maryse attacking Nikki Bella and The Miz screwing over Cena in the Battle Royal, it appears that the Wrestlemania rumors are true. It has been rumored that John Cena and Nikki Bella will face The Miz and Maryse at Wrestlemania. It seems like that is definitely going to happen after tonight’s events.

The finish to the Battle Royal was clunky. I thought Styles hit the floor before Harper but obviously the storyline was that they both hit at the same time. I still believe that Randy Orton will be in the WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania, so I’m not sure where this is all heading. Luke Harper got a solid reaction tonight from the crowd, but I find it hard to believe that the WWE would place Harper in the main event of Wrestlemania. It could somehow lead to a Triple Threat match at Wrestlemania between Harper, Orton and Wyatt for the WWE Championship. Styles versus Bray Wyatt would also be an interesting match but there have been a ton of rumors that Styles will be facing Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania. Overall, tonight’s episode of Smackdown wasn’t anything special. There were a ton of pre-taped interviews/promos on this show. Some were great and others were goofy like Dolph Ziggler booting an image that wasn’t there.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.

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