WWE SmackDown live results: Belair’s WrestleMania decision
SmackDown’s fallout from Elimination Chamber takes place tonight.
WWE is hyping that women’s Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair will make her WrestleMania 37 decision on tonight’s SmackDown. At Elimination Chamber, Belair and SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks unsuccessfully challenge for Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler’s Women’s Tag Team titles.
Men’s Rumble winner Edge has officially chosen Universal Champion Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania 37 opponent. Edge and Reigns had another confrontation on SmackDown last week, which ended with Reigns spearing Edge. Daniel Bryan then won SmackDown’s Elimination Chamber match on Sunday to earn an immediate title shot. Reigns dominated Bryan and beat him in a short contest. As Reigns posed, Edge jumped in the ring and hit a spear. Edge then pointed to the WrestleMania sign and challenged Reigns.
Apollo Crews viciously attacked Intercontinental Champion Big E and gave him a brutal beatdown last Friday. Crews snapped after losing to Shinsuke Nakamura and then attacked Big E with the steel steps. Earlier, Big E refused to give Crews a title shot because he’s already beaten Crews.
Two tag matches have been announced for tonight’s show. The Street Profits will face Sami Zayn & Baron Corbin. In a rematch from last week, Rey & Dominik Mysterio will take on Chad Gable & Otis. Gable & Otis got disqualified against Rey & Dominik last Friday, then Otis gave Rey a splash from the middle rope after the match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Jey Uso made their way to the ring. They recapped Daniel Bryan winning the SmackDown Elimination Chamber and challenging Reigns.
Reigns bragged about defeating Bryan at the pay-per-view. They piped in a loud “you suck” chant. He noted the night wasn’t perfect because of Edge. Reigns pointed out that Edge speared him and pointed at the WrestleMania sign.
Reigns decided to give Edge a way out of their match. He doesn’t want to hurt Edge, so he told him to back out of WrestleMania. Reigns spent weeks trying to get Edge to pick him for the main event, and now he’s telling him to back out.
Daniel Bryan interrupted and made his way to the ring. He mocked Reigns for agreeing to defend the title against him after he competed in the Chamber. Bryan pointed out that some people think Reigns defending the title right after Bryan won the Chamber is cowardly.
Bryan mocked Reigns for defending his title in the second match at the pay-per-view and not the main event. He thinks Reigns didn’t want him to have the time to get ready.
Bryan noted that there’s a lot of comparisons between them. He wants to give Reigns the chance to prove the doubters wrong. Bryan then challenged Reigns to match at Fastlane for the title.
Uso grabbed the mic and was furious that Bryan made the challenge. He screamed that Reigns already beat him on Sunday. Reigns got in Bryan’s face, and Uso jumped him. Uso sent Bryan to the floor and over the barricade.
In the back, Edge approached Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville in their office to talk.
After the break, Uso apologized to Reigns for jumping the gun. Reigns told him not to worry as long as he takes care of it.
Back in Pearce and Deville’s office, Edge claimed that Pearce told him he would tag with Bryan against Reigns and Uso at Fastlane. However, Bryan just challenged Reigns to a title match.
Peace noted the tag team match was tentative, and the title match fell in their lap. Pearce announced that Bryan takes on Uso later, and if he wins, he gets a title shot at Fastlane.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves pointed out that Bryan could get the title shot before Edge.
Otis & Chad Gable defeated Rey & Dominik Mysterio
This was a fine match, although it was kept short.
Before the match, Gable and Otis showed footage of their attack from last week. They highlighted Otis giving Rey a splash off the second turnbuckle.
The heels had the early advantage. Otis tossed Rey around the ring and backed him in the corner. Gable had to calm Otis down because he was viciously beating down Rey.
Dominik got the hot tag and ran wild on Gable. He hit a massive tornado DDT for a very close near fall. Rey then hit a seated senton onto Gable and hit the 619. Rey followed up with the frog splash on Gable, but Otis broke up the pin attempt.
Otis caught Rey and slammed him down. He knocked Dominik to the floor and hit the second rope splash on Rey for the win.
Apollo Crews defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
This was a good match.
Apollo Crews made his way down to the ring, and they recapped his attack on Big E last week.
Cole noted Big E’s at home healing up.
Crews claimed that he’s finally being the real Apollo Crews. He said he’s not from the hood or the suburbs. He’s from Nigeria. Crews comes from Royalty, and he discussed his family history. Crews highlighted his scarf and briefly talked about it.
Crews bragged about beating down Big E last week. Big E told him to go back to catering, but instead, he went back to his roots. Suddenly, Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted and made his way to the ring.
Crews jumped Nakamura before their match and threatened to drop the steps on him as they cut to break.
Back from the break, Crews was firmly in control as he beat down Nakamura in the corner. He then slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Crews attempted a German suplex, but Nakamura barely landed on his feet.
Nakamura fired back and hit a sliding knee for a near fall. Crews recovered and hit three rolling German suplexes for a near fall.
Nakamura fought back and hit a sliding German suplex. He set up for the Kinshasa, but Crews rolled to the floor.
Crews regained control and attempted a press slam, but Nakamura slipped out the back. He locked on a sleeper, but Crews grabbed onto his scarf and sent Nakamura into the turnbuckle. Crews then hit the angle slam for the win.
In the back, Paul Heyman informed Reigns it’s official that if Bryan wins, he gets a title shot at Fastlane. Reigns wondered if that means the tag match between Reigns & Uso against Edge & Bryan is off.
Heyman clarified that the tag team match is off if Bryan wins.
Tamina (w/Natayla) defeated Liv Morgan (w/Ruby Riott)
This was kept short but still felt like it dragged. Tamina pretty much squashed Morgan.
Tamina dominated Morgan and tossed her across the ring. She followed up with a splash in the corner for a near fall.
Morgan fought back and hit an enziguri and second rope dropkick for a near fall.
Tamina recovered and hit a Samoan drop. She then slammed down Morgan for the win.
Bianca Belair Makes Her Decision
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville praised Belair and introduced her to make her announcement. They showed two separate video packages on Raw Women’s Champion Asuka and SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks.
Belair knows that everyone’s been waiting a long time for her decision. She finally knows who she wants to face at WrestleMania. Of course, Reginald interrupted and mocked Belair. He said that she shouldn’t pick Sasha Banks because she can’t beat Banks. He then called her a loser, so Belair got in Reginald’s face.
Banks interrupted and made her way to the ring. She warned Reginald not to speak for her again.
Banks mocked Belair and noted she’s the best. Belair is only second best to her.
Belair got in Banks’ face and announced that she’d take on Banks at WrestleMania 37. She pointed at the sign, and they both posed.
In the back, Sami Zayn approached King Corbin. He wants to know what Corbin thinks about the conspiracies against him. Corbin wondered why they’re partners tonight. Zayn believes they make a great team and can take over the division. Corbin eventually agreed but demanded the documentary crew to stop filming him. There’s been a lot of talking tonight.
The Street Profits defeated King Corbin & Sami Zayn (w/ The Documentary Crew)
This was a good match.
They showed SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode watching in the back and drinking out of solo cups.
The faces had the early advantage, but the heels quickly took over. Corbin knocked Dawkins down with a shoulder block. Zayn started talking to the documentary crew, so they came closer to the ring.
Corbin attempted the around-the-ring post clothesline, but the documentary crew was in the way. Corbin was furious and yelled at them. Dawkins regained control as they went to break.
Back from the break, the heels were back in control. They isolated Ford on their side of the ring and cut him off from Dawkins. Dawkins got the hot tag and ran wild on Zayn.
Dawkins hit the twisting splash in the corner and a bulldog for a near fall. Dawkins then sent Corbin to the floor. Zayn fought back and hit a DDT for a near fall.
Corbin started yelling at the documentary crew at ringside. Ford jumped over Zayn and hit a dive on Corbin. Dawkins hit a neck breaker on Zayn, and Ford hit the frog splash for the win.
Corbin yelled at Zayn after the match.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Daniel Bryan. Bryan doesn’t think Edge can beat Roman Reigns. He thinks he’s got a better shot. Edge approached and noted if Bryan beat Reigns, they’d face each other at Mania.
Seth Rollins made his way to the ring. He noted there’d been a huge reaction to the letter he wrote to management. Cesaro’s music interrupted, and he charged to the ring.
Rollins backed down and apologized to Cesaro. He praised Cesaro and called him a star.
Rollins noted Cesaro’s one of the strongest stars in the ring. He pointed out the Cesaro can’t grab the brass ring.
Rollins noted it’s because he has a killer instinct. He could teach Cesaro. Rollins told Cesaro all he has to do is embrace his vision.
Rollins gave Cesaro a week to think about it. Instead, Cesaro gave Rollins the giant swing and an uppercut.
Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso ended in a double count-out
This was a good match until the weak finish.
Bryan had the early advantage as he worked over Uso’s arm. Cole noted Bryan has his injured knee heavily taped.
Bryan ran up the corner and landed on his bad knee. He caught Uso with a clothesline and running dropkick in the corner. Bryan followed up with a hurricanrana off the top rope.
Bryan sent Uso to the floor and attempted a suicide dive, but Uso cut him off. Uso then attacked Bryan’s leg on the floor. He slammed Bryan’s knee into the announce table and then the ring post.
Back from the break, Uso was firmly in control as he continued to target the injured leg. Uso hit a Samoan drop for a near fall. Bryan regained control after Uso missed a splash.
Bryan sent Uso to the floor and followed up with a sliding dropkick. Bryan then rocked Uso with a knee off the apron. Uso avoided a missile dropkick and went back to Bryan’s leg.
Uso slowed the pace down with a half-crab. Bryan broke free and rocked Uso with a kick to the head.
Bryan attempted the running knee, but Uso hit a chop block to the injured knee. Uso climbed to the top, but Bryan cut him off. Bryan hit a butterfly superplex into the Yes lock.
Uso got to the ropes to break the hold. The finish came when Uso and Bryan fought on the floor, and the referee counted them both out.
After the match, Bryan sent Uso in the ring and applied the Yes Lock. Roman Reigns jumped in the ring and beat down Bryan.
Bryan fought back and applied the Yes Lock on Reigns. Uso recovered and attacked Bryan.
Reigns got back to his feet and hit a spear on Bryan. He then locked on the guillotine submission. Reigns posed with the title as they went off the air.