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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown. It was the penultimate episode of the blue brand before Fastlane 2021, and next week promises to be a big one.
Looking at it now, we're only three SmackDown episodes away from WrestleMania 37. Just like RAW, there was little to no progress made on the Fastlane card, which makes us wonder why the PPV is even happening in the first place.
The two matches that have been announced so far would likely have been better off on free television instead. Either way, Fastlane is happening, but next week's episode of SmackDown feels so much bigger.
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Let's begin with the things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown:
#5 Edge crosses paths with Daniel Bryan on SmackDown
Daniel Bryan and Edge were the two men to open the show. They had a tense exchange with each other. The Rated-R Superstar had a presence throughout this week's SmackDown.
He was even backstage asking Jey Uso why he is obeying the orders of with Roman Reigns. He credited The Usos for lighting a fire under him six years ago with one of their matches, but Jey Uso told Edge to stop pretending he knew him.
The main event of SmackDown featured a contract signing segment, and we all know how those go in WWE. It was a tense exchange, and Roman Reigns refused to sign at first.
Daniel Bryan provoked The Tribal Chief enough to make him sign, but it was Edge who ultimately came out and made the difference.
The 2021 Men's Royal Rumble winner challenged Jey Uso to a high-stakes match on SmackDown next week. In his first bout on the blue brand in almost a decade, Edge will face the former Tag Team Champion to determine the special guest enforcer at Fastlane 2021 for the Universal Championship match.
Given that Edge is getting ready for WrestleMania 37, we fully expect him to win next week so that he has a big role in the Fastlane main event.
#4 The SmackDown Tag Team Title picture could have an interesting WrestleMania direction
One of the big problems with both RAW and SmackDown is the lack of tag teams. When people backstage say that WWE doesn't care about the Tag Team division, there seems to be some element of truth in it.
Currently there are four teams in the SmackDown Tag Team title picture.The Mysterios, The Street Profits, Alpha Academy, and the Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode are dominating the division on the blue brand.
On SmackDown this week, we saw the Champions team up with the Alpha Academy to take on The Mysterios and The Street Profits.
It was Montez Ford of The Street Profits who picked up the win in the eight-man Tag Team Match, pinning one-half of the Champions, Robert Roode.
While we expect The Street Profits to face the Champions at Fastlane (and potentially even reclaim the titles), the WrestleMania direction could be interesting for the tag team division on Friday Nights. It's the perfect set-up to have a Fatal-4-Way Ladder Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 37.
#3 Seth Rollins' trigger and another pending SmackDown feud
In a backstage interview on SmackDown, Seth Rollins declared that he was no longer interested in Cesaro. This was, of course, until he heard that there would be a rematch between The Swiss Cyborg and [Buddy] Murphy.
He took interest and watched the match from a distance. However, The Messiah didn't Cesaro to finish the match this week. When he saw The Swiss Superstar begin the swing, he got triggered and attacked him - causing a disqualification.
It's interesting how Rollins got triggered by the signature move and Murphy wasn't even in the picture. Rollins nearly tried to end Cesaro's career, teasing a stomp while placing a steel chair around his neck.
Luckily, Jamie Noble saved the former Tag Team Champion from further damage. After Seth Rollins went backstage, he came face-to-face with Cesaro's former partner Shinsuke Nakamura.
It was a tense confrontation, teasing another potential feud. It will be interesting to see how Seth Rollins is handled heading into WrestleMania 37. We hope that the feud with Cesaro is leading there and it will not be a random Fastlane match.
Either way, it's good that the feud on SmackDown has some substance to it, and we hope that the ultimate objective is to eventually elevate Cesaro.
#2 Two more names enter the Women's Tag Team Title picture on SmackDown
Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair will compete for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37. But before that, they have to team up at Fastlane.
The two competitors will join forces to challenge Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team titles at the PPV. Their chances of winning seem to be bleak after the latest episode of SmackDown.
Interestingly, Natalya and Tamina were vouching for Tag Team title shots, and they may have earned a future opportunity. Reginald, who is now fully aligned with Nia Jax (and Shayna Baszler) played a role in ensuring that Banks and Belair lost.
Belair and Banks argued ringside post-match on SmackDown, and it continued backstage as well. There was no unity, but what's interesting was the Reginald segment earlier on SmackDown with Nia Jax.
Nia Jax took Reggie shopping and upgraded his wardrobe in return for a favor. We presume that this may have been it. Either way, the chances of Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair winning the Women's Tag Team titles seem slim.
In a segment before the main event, Reginald suggested that Nia Jax should challenge Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women's Title. The match was made official soon after for next week.
#1 Big E returns to SmackDown, but Apollo has taken it to the next level
Big E made his return to SmackDown, furious and ready to destroy Apollo Crews. He called out the former US Champion but got no response. He then issued an open challenge for his Intercontinental Title.
King Corbin and Sami Zayn answered the challenge. The Great Liberator described it as the perfect ending for his documentary, but he fell short to Big E in a solid match.
After the match, the IC Champion continued to call out Apollo Crews and was attacked from behind.
While it wasn't an outright brutalization like their last interaction together, it was a big statement made on SmackDown by Apollo Crews. A change in attitude has taken him far and he will be the next in line to challenge for the Intercontinental Title.
We can only hope that the feud pours on to WrestleMania 37 rather than Fastlane. It's a feud that has a lot of steam, and both men deserve that spot on this year's Show Of Shows. It will be interesting to see, but we expect Big E to eventually come out on top.
