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Credit: WWE.com
With just one week before WWE Fastlane 2021 and WrestleMania 37 were less than a month away, the road to WrestleMania was heating up. The March 12 issue of Friday Night SmackDown promised big promises among top stars.
Daniel Bryan got the chance to fight Roman Reigns at WWE Fastlane by defeating Jey Uso last week. He and The Head of the Table had to sign the contract for their match this week and enter the same ring with hatred between them.
Kevin Owens invited the two women to fight at WrestleMania 37 for ‘The KO Show’, Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair. Before their fight at The Show of Shows and even before they teamed up to face Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax on Fastlane, the two women had the chance to talk about their future.
Apollo Crews allowed his true colors to shine through and embrace his heritage, but also a relentless, selfish lead. His first act was to seriously injure Big E, and the WWE intercontinental champion returned this week with plans for revenge.
The blue brand did not promise any important matches for the night, but anything can happen. Each of these segments provided the opportunity to lay the groundwork for some of the biggest clashes of the year for WWE.
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Edge arrived to address Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan. The Rated-R Superstar told The Leader of the Yes Movement that he should never question his love of professional wrestling. This brought Bryan to the fore, who wanted to set the record.
He explained that he respects Edge, but he will do anything to get his last shot at WrestleMania. The Rated-R Superstar showed his own respect for The Leader of the Yes Movement, but he said Bryan was better than this tactic at winning the world title. Edge walked away in disgust.
Grade
A
Analysis
This segment was almost too good for the sake of WrestleMania, unless WWE wants to create a surprise force. Bryan is currently a better face than Edge, and this is evident from their interactions. The fans are behind The Leader of the Yes Movement, and The Rated-R Superstar comes from a heel working with him.
While Reigns vs Edge is a game that needs to happen at some point, SmackDown should get going with the build for the game if that’s still the plan. It sells a tighter sale than the main event of WrestleMania offered each week with a better option.
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The heels attacked the face on the way to the ring, and the dirty tactics continued into the match. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode did everything in their power to keep one man isolated in the game. Dominik Mysterio was the victim of that tactic.
Rey Mysterio got a big hot tag and helped clean up the ring. The Mysterios hit a double 619 on The Glorious One, which sneaked in a blind label from Otis. Montez Ford concluded it with an emphatic From the Heaven.
Outcome
Street Profits and Mysterios def. Roode, Ziggler and Alpha Academy by pinfall.
Grade
B-
Analysis
Everyone worked hard in this game to make it work, although it was still too clear that WWE needed to do more to determine the characters of the talent involved. This is especially important for Chad Gable and Otis. The Alpha Academy gave Otis guidance, but it is unclear who he is as a heel.
Street wins are kept away from Roode and Ziggler for two months, which is long enough to set up a final game between the teams. Holding out longer will not work. The two teams fought too many times to make it work as the WrestleMania corner.
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Seth Rollins was asked two weeks ago about Cesaro’s swinging at him, and he lost his cool.
The Messiah watched The Swiss Superman Murphy throw around at the top of the driveway. Murphy jumps straight into the giant swing of Cesaro, which Rollins has launched. The Messiah attacked Cesaro to cause a disqualification.
Rollins planted Cesaro with The Stomp and then trapped his head in a steel chair, ready to bump him again, but officials got involved to save him. Rollins meets Shinsuke Nakamura behind the stage, who glares at him.
Outcome
Cesaro defeats Murphy by disqualification.
Grade
C +
Analysis
It’s a shame Murphy was sacrificed to Cesaro again, but he got some nice moves first. He’s way too talented for this, and it’s unfortunate that he’ll have to help Rollins get any kind of attention.
The positive is that Cesaro remains dominant and that Nakamura will apparently work with his former partner to some extent. Since both are faces, they can be friends by WWE standards, and that could lead to some good matches on the way to WrestleMania.
Rollins vs. Cesaro was built as a big match for The Grandest Stage of Them All. To save it for that moment, we can get Rollins against Nakamura at WWE Fastlane.
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Credit: WWE.com
Nia Jax was taking Reginald on a shopping spree when the two approached and Shayna Baszler almost fell asleep in the background. Sami Zayn tried to join Kevin Owens in his documentary to expose WWE from within. KO was more focused on his performance.
‘The KO Show’ hosted Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair, who put each other in the face as they tried to make it clear who was the best. Baszler and Jax arrived with Reggie to watch their future opponents Natalya and Tamina face.
Reginald got involved to prevent the referee from getting a clear victory from the faces, and Tamina set up the EST in the ensuing action for three counts. After that, Banks and Belair argued at the back about Banks’ treatment of Reginald that led to this moment.
Outcome
Tamina and Natalya def. Belair and Banks through the fall.
Grade
C
Analysis
As a whole, this segment worked for the story that unfolded. Banks and Belair had been friendly for a while, but there had to be more conflict for the WrestleMania game. Although Reginald should not be involved in it, it is a small inconvenience that will be forgotten in the long run.
What could leave a more lasting impact is that Tamina Belair pinned. The EST has been so protected lately. Even with the many circumstances surrounding it, it is difficult to justify the result. The only way to make it work is if Natalya and Tamina are legally added to the WWE Fastlane game.
The two veterans have been doing so for WWE for so long. It can be a rare opportunity to reward their work by giving them a fresh element in a famous match.
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Big E cut a passionate promo on Apollo Crews and told him he would give Crews one more title shot, but only to give him what he deserves. He offered him the ring, but the heel did not show up for the challenge.
E decided to set up an open challenge, which was answered by King Corbin. The big man took a while to get out to the ring and talk down the champion. Sami Zayn showed up, accepted the challenge and ran the ring in front of The King.
The master strategist had an early plan to go after E’s ribs, but it delayed the champion just as long. As soon as E is on the move, he throws Zayn around with ease. The former champion tried to escape, but E caught him and planted him in the ring again.
While Zayn looked out of his sight, he managed to regain control. He hit a power bomb at sunset that almost sealed it. When E kicks out, the master strategy loses the heads and beats the champion repeatedly. It tackled E, which hit a stressed Big Ending.
Then Crews’ theme song hit, and he attacked the champion from behind. He hit an impressive pair of Olympic victims and brought the champion to the stage with steel stairs.
Outcome
E def. Zayn through the fall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Grade
A
Analysis
It was a perfect segment from the moment Big E spoke. He cut one of the best promotions of his career at Crews and asked him to unlock a dark side in the championship. This again sets the scene for how special this rivalry can be.
The match that followed was really good work from two great artists. While The Master Strategist is treated as a joke outside the ring, he may always bring it into the ring. He made the motivated champion look unstoppable, especially when he was motivated.
Eventually, Crews regained its momentum. The heel has had the upper hand on E. for weeks. He had to remain dominant. He and E can fight at any time, and this will be their best match to date.
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Jey Uso wanted to talk to Roman Reigns, but Paul Heyman told him not to walk into the locker room. Edge got Uso behind the scenes and told him he was wasting his talent by working under The Head of the Table.
Reigns immediately told Daniel Bryan that he had changed his mind. He did not want to give Bryan a game on Fastlane. The leader of the Yes movement exclaimed The Head of the Table’s cowardice, and Reigns could not be calm. He signed the contract.
Uso throws the table out of the ring, not happy with Bryan calling his name. Edge showed up and challenged Uso to a game next week. The winner would be a special guest in Fastlane. A quarrel arose where Bryan took out Edge with a running knee.
Grade
B +
Analysis
It was shorter than expected, but it’s not bad. Bryan and Reigns did so much in just a few words. The way the leader of the Yes movement rattled the head of the table was incredible. It showed how well both were selling a rival.
Just like earlier in the night, The Rated-R Superstar feels like the weak element of this segment. This segment could have been even better if Reigns had lost it on Uso as promised earlier in the evening. Instead, we received a general announcement for next week and an argument.