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WWE SmackDown Outcomes: Winners, Grades, Response and Highlights from February 17
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Drew McIntye and Sheamus regarded to settle their feud with the Viking Raiders.Credit score: WWE.com
On the eve of WWE’s Elimination Chamber premium dwell occasion, SmackDown emanated from Montréal, headlined by a titanic conflict between The Viking Raiders and the crew of Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.
The Intercontinental Championship was up for grabs, Ronda Rousey returned to the squared circle in tag crew motion and the model put the ultimate touches on the construct to Saturday’s extravaganza.
Who emerged victoriously from in-ring motion, and who constructed much-needed momentum?
Discover out on this recap of Friday’s Fox broadcast.
Match Card
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- Intercontinental Championship Match: Madcap Moss vs. Gunther (c)
- Natalya and Shotzi vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
- Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders
- Asuka vs. Liv Morgan
Shotzi and Natalya vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
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Credit score: WWE.com
Ronda Rousey returned to the squared circle for the primary time since shedding her SmackDown Girls’s Championship, partnering with Shayna Baszler to battle Shotzi and Natalya within the evening’s show-opening contest.
A red-hot begin by the babyfaces gave strategy to Rousey and Baszler isolating Shotzi. The Ballsy Badass fought from beneath, created separation and made the tag to home-country hero Natalya.
Baszler halted The Queen of Harts’ momentum, although, leaving Rousey to faucet Shotzi out with the armbar.
One factor was abundantly clear early and infrequently right here: Rousey will excel at this specific level in her profession as a tag crew wrestler. When not confronted with the duty of carrying the match, she will be able to explode right into a bout and hit her signature stuff whereas counting on the extra seasoned Baszler to shoulder the vast majority of the work.
It’s a formulation that labored right here and, frankly, led to a significantly better match than we had turn into accustomed to from The Baddest Girls on the Planet over the past yr.
Shotzi shined early, drawing a powerful response heading into the break, whereas Natalya was the clear fan-favorite.
This did every part it wanted to and helped current the heels as a authentic risk in a tag crew division that wants stars and renewed focus.
End result
Rousey and Baszler defeated Shotzi and Natalya
Grade
B
High Moments
- The Montréal viewers greeted Natalya with a giant pop only one evening earlier than she competes within the girls’s Elimination Chamber match.
- That very same crowd showered Rousey with chants of “you’ll be able to’t wrestle.”
- Shotzi worn out Rousey and Baszler coming into the break.
- The Ballsy Badass delivered a DDT on the ring apron, wiping Rousey out in a spot that went much better Friday evening than it did final November at Survivor Sequence.
Bray Wyatt’s Brazen WrestleMania Problem
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Credit score: WWE.com
Hit Row’s High Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis and B-Fab carried out an in-ring rap during which they insulted Canada, Montréal particularly, to a refrain of boos.
Then, the lights went out, and once they got here again on, the sector was cloaked in blue. Bray Wyatt and Uncle Howdy stood on the apron, then proceeded to put waste to the heel faction.
Wyatt grabbed a microphone and issued a problem to the winner of the Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley match Saturday evening at Elimination Chamber.
And with that, Triple H and the inventive crew took what may have been a throwaway section and made it newsworthy, saying to the world the WrestleMania plans for some of the over acts on the roster.
Wyatt vs. Lashley could be a recent matchup, however one would determine that The Eater of Worlds vs. Lesnar could be a high-profile match befitting an occasion the magnitude of WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
If that’s the course the corporate heads, it might be a hell of a press release from Triple H that he views, and values, Wyatt in a better place than his predecessor did.
Grade
C+
High Moments
- “You are welcome, Montréal,” Wyatt mentioned following his interruption of the rap section.
- “Tomorrow evening, Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar…whichever walks out alive. Whichever is the victor. You…ought to…run.”
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders
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Credit score: WWE.com
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus battled The Viking Raiders within the evening’s subsequent match, the end result of a weeks-long feud that started with Erik and Ivar focusing on the previous WWE champions on a number of events, even costing them a shot on the Undisputed WWE Tag Workforce Championship.
It was the Raiders’ incapability to maintain offense, and profit from interference from supervisor Valhalla, that value them the win.
Late, Ivar delivered a middle-rope splash to McIntyre that ought to have confirmed to be the conclusion. As a substitute, The Scottish Warrior kicked out. Moments later, a recovered Sheamus broke up an tried Ragnarok and McIntyre mustered sufficient vitality to ship a Claymore to Erik for the win.
This was a superb, hard-hitting tag crew match that suckered followers into pondering the Viking Raiders may truly win on a couple of event. The babyfaces stayed within the match simply lengthy sufficient to attain the win, which was most likely the result.
Regardless of the result, Erik and Ivar regarded just like the equals of the real major occasion opposition, which is able to solely profit them in the long term. That’s, if Triple H and the inventive crew can discover one thing to maintain them featured constantly.
End result
McIntyre and Sheamus defeated The Viking Raiders
Grade
B+
High Moments
- Sheamus delivered a large Crucifix Bomb from the center rope to Ivar.
- Erik tried to counter a Brogue Kick right into a powerbomb however failed. Nonetheless, he saved the spot and delivered the transfer anyway.
- McIntyre flew by way of the air, wiping the heels out on the ground.
- Valhalla supplied a distraction that led to a near-fall.
Liv Morgan vs. Asuka
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Credit score: WWE.com
In a preview of Saturday’s Girls’s Elimination Chamber Match, former girls’s champions collided as Asuka battled Liv Morgan one-on-one.
The match itself was hotly contested, with every lady countering and reversing the opposite’s signature offense. Sadly, it was overshadowed by the presence of Raquel Rodriguez, Carmella, Nikki Cross and Natalya at ringside.
Finally, Morgan tried a rollup, however Asuka countered right into a submission, tapping her out for the submission win.
All hell broke unfastened after the bell, however Asuka and Morgan cleared the ring, standing tall forward of their alternative to earn a shot at Bianca Belair’s Uncooked Girls’s Championship.
End result
Asuka submitted Morgan
Grade
C+
High Moments
- Cross appeared from out of nowhere and, at one level, sat straight on commentator Wade Barrett’s lap. At one other, she requested Michael Cole if he could be her buddy.
- Morgan delivered ObLIVion from the center rope for a two-count.
- “By marriage, I am higher than you at your job,” Carmella informed Barrett, referencing her husband Corey Graves.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Madcap Moss vs. Gunther
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Credit score: WWE.com
Why are we nonetheless referring to Moss as “Madcap?”
Regardless, the No. 1 contender battled Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship in a match that netted the precise reverse response anticipated because the Montréal followers had been solidly behind The Ring Normal.
Gunther lower Moss off at each flip early, establishing dominance and setting the stage for a one-sided title bout. The challenger fought again and rolled late, delivering a fallaway slam from the center rope for a detailed two-count.
The champion countered a head of steam, utilized the sleeper and added the powerbomb to deliver Moss’ title hopes and aspirations to a sudden, screeching halt.
The match was stable sufficient, and Moss put within the effort, however the structure did him little favor.
First, the Montréal crowd was in opposition to him. Then, once they turned much less vocal, he was nonetheless countered at each flip by the champion. Regardless of getting some offense in, it felt very very similar to a one-sided title protection by Gunther, who by no means seemed to be in any actual hazard of shedding his belt.
End result
Gunther defeated Moss
Grade
B-
High Moments
- Cole wrongly said this was Moss’ first title alternative. Moss is a former WWE 24/7 champion, and whereas that should not rely, it kinda does.
- Gunther kicked out of the Punchline, a second Barrett put over very strongly as a giant deal.
- The Montréal followers chanted “ole!” in anticipation of Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn’s Homecoming
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Credit score: WWE.com
Sami Zayn returned residence to Montréal within the closing section of Friday’s present, to an ovation as loud as any in latest reminiscence. Emotion painted his face because the followers greeted him with chants of “OLE!” in an ode to his El Generico character, then transitioned to chants of “Sami!”
For minutes, he stood within the heart of the ring, soaking within the second because the followers rained down on him with a deafening present of appreciation and love.
When he lastly spoke, he exclaimed that it was Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and your complete metropolis of Montréal tomorrow evening at Elimination Chamber.
It was quick, candy and fan-frickin-tastic.
In an period during which “deserved” is usually thrown round, Zayn epitomizes it. He has earned and deserved the second right here and Saturday evening. The most effective wrestlers on the roster and some of the beloved performers of his era, that is every part that ought to be his and extra.
In case you are a fan {of professional} wrestling and will not be excited for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber occasion after this, nothing will get you there.
Grade
A+
High Moments
- Zayn wore emotion on his face, the enormity of the second clearly attending to him.
- Chants of “you deserve it.”
- “Tomorrow evening is Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and your complete metropolis of Montréal!”
