WWE SmackDown results, grades: Roman Reigns screws everyone with Elimination Chamber announcement

Roman Reigns laid waste to Adam Pearce’s WWE Elimination Chamber plans with a blockbuster announcement on SmackDown.

The Tribal Chief started the show, making his way down the ramp with Paul Heyman and Jey Uso as they met the authority figure in the ring.

The Universal Champion promised to put Edge into retirement and on a Legends contract if he fought the Royal Rumble winner at WrestleMania 37, before also vowing to keep his title for as long as he wants.

Attention turned to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, with Pearce noting he had a contract stipulating Reigns will put his championship on the line inside the unforgiving steel.

Heyman disagreed, noting that Roman will defend his title at the event against the winner of the gruesome match immediately after their victory – but not in the match itself.

Jey Uso and Kevin Owens were named as automatic entrants into the six-man bout next weekend, with qualifying matches set for SmackDown.

Sonya Deville transformed a tag team match pitting Rey and Dominik Mysterio against Sami Zayn – who cut a typically brilliant promo before the bell – and Baron Corbin into a chamber qualifier.

This was a fine bout, with Zayn’s Helluva Kick on Dominik picking up the win and putting the heels in a major match on February 21.

The other qualifier was the main event, pitting SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode against Daniel Bryan and Cesaro, with the latter attacking by a returning Seth Rollins earlier on (more on that later).

Not surprisingly, this match was the best of the night with four of the best and most consistent in-ring performers putting on a fine bout.

In the end, Cesaro made Ziggler tap out to the Sharpshooter to earn him and Bryan their chamber spots, which led to Jey Uso, Corbin and Zayn leaping on the attack.

However, there was one final twist with Kevin Owens storming the ring and channelling ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in his prime by dropping Stunners all over the place.

He was left standing tall and warned Reigns he was coming for him.

Apollo Crews turns on Big E, Street Profits win and Seth Rollins returns

Outside of the Elimination Chamber qualifier bubble, the rest of SmackDown did a good job of showcasing other divisions and storylines across the blue brand.

Apollo Crews joined Big E in the ring in an attempt to answer the Intercontinental Champion’s open challenge, but the New Day man refused, pointing to his many losses for the gold.

Instead, Shinsuke Nakamura got the title shot, with Crews at ringside – allowing him to distract Big E at one point to let the Rockstar take control.

The brief match came to a fine but predictable ending, with Apollo hitting a dropkick on the champ to truly complete his heel turn and cause a DQ.

Seth Rollins returned with his Burn It Down theme music with seemingly the whole roster at ringside in a nice callback to the Raw after Survivor Series 2019 which started his Messiah character.

He revealed becoming a dad has changed him, and he realises his responsibility to be the great leader SmackDown needs – which prompted the roster to walk away.

When the lights came up, only Cesaro remained but he too left, leading to Rollins attacking him from behind before the aforementioned main event, with Daniel Bryan making the save.

Elsewhere, Bayley beat Liv Morgan in a really fun match with Billie Kay again causing a distraction when she gave her headshot and resume to Ruby Riott.

We also saw some fantastic tag team action, with The Street Profits’ Angel Dawkins and Montez Ford pushing on with their quest to get back the gold.

They defeated the team of Chad Gable and Otis in a cracking match with made both teams look strong.

Finally, Sasha Banks – who demanded an apology from Reginald the sommelier earlier in the night – came down to address Bianca Belair, who came out and insisted she wasn’t rushing her WrestleMania decision on the Legit Boss’ watch.

Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax interrupted them, after their Women’s Tag Team Title victory was overshadowing by the EST of WWE’s big Rumble win.

Banks threw to some footage from Raw, including Naomi pinning Baszler and then the infamous clip of Nia injuring her hole.

This led to a scrap between the four women, before Sasha and Bianca dropped Jax onto the apron for a repeat and took out Shayna to stand tall.

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