'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Welcome to the go-home edition of things WWE subtly told us on the SmackDown before WrestleMania Backlash. It was a good episode that concluded with what was a solid build to the pay-per-view - at least from the SmackDown side of things.
It's hard to make an argument against the job that the blue brand is doing, and there's a lot to look forward to. For example, we saw an Aleister Black promo again, where he said "you chose the architect" - possibly hinting at a feud with Seth Rollins.
The Messiah was perhaps the biggest name absent from SmackDown this week, but he wasn't needed since Cesaro's focus was on Roman Reigns and the Universal Championship.
Trending
Here are a few things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown this week:
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
#5 Shinsuke Nakamura and King Corbin's new rivalry on SmackDown
For the second week now, King Corbin has pinned Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown. While it seems to be a match made from nothing, there's an actual storyline that has started now.
King Corbin picked up a clean victory over Shinsuke Nakamura, after which the Japanese star attacked him from behind and slowly went to put Corbin's crown on. The storyline is now that the babyface Shinsuke Nakamura couldn't bear losing clean so he attacked the heel from behind and stole his crown.
As ridiculous as the storyline on SmackDown sounds, it seems to be working so far. Shinsuke Nakamura and King Corbin have good chemistry and that might translate well to the screen.
For a start, it's good to see Shinsuke Nakamura getting a storyline on SmackDown. He's one of the select few superstars in WWE who has never left one brand since his main roster debut.
It will be interesting to see how things go, but a double-turn seems unlikely, especially since nothing about King Corbin screams "babyface". Perhaps this is WWE's way of slowly phasing out the "King Corbin" character.
#4 The possible reason why Tamina won her first Title on SmackDown
We're a bit surprised that this Title change happened on SmackDown and not WrestleMania Backlash. On the latest episode of SmackDown, we had a WrestleMania 37 rematch as Tamina and Natalya challenged Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
In a historic win, Tamina pinned Nia Jax to pick up her first major championship in a decade with WWE. It was a well-deserved victory, especially for the veteran whose previous title win was when she held the 24/7 Championship.
There could be a few reasons why WWE decided to have a Title change. While Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler were doing ok, this might be one of those "thank you for your years of service" victories for Tamina.
It was believed that Mark Henry's Heavyweight Championship in 2011 was for the same reason, and it's hard to deny that Tamina deserves it.
For all we know, this could even be a short Title reign. If it is, hopefully, there's a long-term plan in mind on RAW or SmackDown.
#3 A Fatal Four-Way direction cemented on SmackDown
We're a bit surprised that this match wasn't announced for WrestleMania Backlash on SmackDown. Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews was supposed to give out a medal of honor to Commander Azeez, but Big E interrupted on the screen before Sami Zayn did so in person.
It didn't take long for Kevin Owens to get in the mix, and soon enough, it was chaos all around. While many expected the Fatal Four-Way match to take place at WrestleMania Backlash, that wasn't the case.
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville were confronted backstage by Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez. After Deville threw in the idea of a Fatal Four-Way, Pearce agreed and made the match official.
Next week, Apollo Crews will put the Intercontinental Championship on the line in a Fatal Four-Way bout. It seems as though television is king for WWE, and they've held back on quite a few pay-per-view matches so they can have it on free TV.
It makes sense given the value of the FOX deal. Either way, there was a subtle tense moment between Pearce and Deville in the above-mentioned segment on SmackDown, where the former told the latter not to undermine him in front of the talent.
#2 The Mysterios are on course for SmackDown Tag Team Title gold...or are they?
Dolph Ziggler was in action for the second week in a row on SmackDown. Last week, he faced and was defeated by Dominik Mysterio. This week, it was his father Rey Mysterio who he lost to.
Usually, this would be an indicator that the Mysterios won't win the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania Backlash. However, the whole match has been advertised as Rey and Dominik Mysterio potentially becoming the first father-son Tag Team Champions in WWE history.
It's never happened before, and WWE loves to use such opportunities. More than anything, the timing of the Title change would be good. The Street Profits and Alpha Academy have quietly taken a back seat, but we assume that will change from next Friday onwards.
It will be an interesting match, and despite the victory for Rey Mysterio on SmackDown, a Tag Team Title win on Sunday seems all but guaranteed.
#1 Cesaro has momentum on his side from SmackDown, but is that enough?
SmackDown started with Roman Reigns as it almost always does, and the tension between him and Jimmy Uso seemed to reach a boiling point. It was Jimmy who got a big introduction, and he still refused to acknowledge Roman Reigns despite seemingly wanting an alliance.
The former tag team champ was away from the ring for more than a year, and in his big return match, he faced the Universal Title contender Cesaro. The bout, unfortunately, ended in a DQ after Roman Reigns' interference.
Ultimately, Cesaro stood tall on the night after attacking Roman Reigns and The Usos and hitting the neutralizer on Jey. Cesaro stood tall on the go-home episode of SmackDown to WrestleMania Backlash, which means that his loss is a guarantee.
We're not sure as to whether this match will headline the upcoming pay-per-view, but given how much better the build has been on SmackDown, the brand deserves the main event spot.
Cesaro is a great Title challenger, but he will ultimately fall to Roman Reigns as others have before on SmackDown.
