WWE SmackDown February 14, 2014: 5 Talking Points

With Elimination Chamber pay-per-view just 9 days away, this episode of SmackDown did exactly what was needed. The show had Randy Orton wrestle Antonio Cesaro, with three other Elimination Chamber contestants, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and Christian, involved in a 6-man tag team match with The Shield, a fatal 4-way match was contested to determine the #1 contender for Big E’s Intercontinental Championship, and much more. All of which increased the excitement for the upcoming ppv.

1. Jack Swagger winning the #1 contender match

It was a (great) fatal 4-way match between talented individuals like Jack Swagger, Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry and Kofi Kingston to determine who would face Big E. Langston for his Intercontinental Championship at Elimination Chamber. After a string of defeats in singles competitions, Swagger finally scored big as he came almost on par with his fellow Real American, Antonio Cesaro (who is in the Elimination Chamber match), by getting a step closer to win WWE gold, nearly a year after his Elimination Chamber victory. With guys like Swagger and Langston competing for the Intercontinental Championship, the title is going to look more significant just like the good old days, when it was the ticket to push in the WWE.

2. The Shield gaining much needed momentum with a big win

The Shield will be facing the Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber in a match which is possibly the most important match of their WWE career so far. Their team is strong but some recent hints of dissension aren’t going to work in their favor at all. To prove that they are still a strong unit they had to win against the strong team of three Elimination Chamber participants: Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and Christian. And they did so as Ambrose pinned Christian who was accidentally brogue kicked by his own teammate, Sheamus, who in turn was speared by Reigns, giving his partner time to register a win. It was a great opening match with a great execution and ending. Unlike last couple of weeks, there was no Wyatt Family promo. The match saw another (important) win for The Shield and what can be an upcoming feud between Christian and Sheamus, because they both need something to go on with after their Elimination Chamber match, which probably neither of them will win.

3. The Usos getting better and better

It was a good 8-man tag team match, The Usos were involved in on SmackDown, as they teamed up with former tag champs, Cody Rhodes and Goldust, to take on the team of two other tag teams: Rybaxel and the tag champs, The New Age Outlaws. The winners were WWE’s two best tag teams, with one of the Usos pinning Road Dogg for the win. A pinfall victory over the current tag team champions makes The Usos look stronger than ever, in addition to their recent run of great performances and wins. The Usos are now clearly the favorites to win The Outlaws’ tag titles, which they fully deserve. Even Michael Cole hinted towards a rising team of The Usos who deserve a shot at the tag titles as much as Goldust and Cody Rhodes. The tag team division is going to be even greater from now on.

4. The exciting (if not great) feud between Darren Young and Titus O’Neil

Darren Young faced Damien Sandow in a match that was short but did its work of making Young look good and heat up the feud between him and his former Prime Time Players partner, Titus O’Neil, who was doing some great commentary on ringside. He attacked Young after the match ended, but it turned out to be a bad idea as Young hit him back in the head and then ripped his pants off. Not one of the best feuds but it’s really good to see a rivalry between two former tag team partners, and it’s really exciting and fun to watch.

5. Cesaro winning the main event match against Randy Orton

It was the fourth match in a series of five matches where the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Randy Orton, has to face all five of his Elimination Chamber opponents, and this time it was Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro won the match clean with a great ending as he delivered a sunset flip powerbomb, followed by a running uppercut and pinned the champion after the Neutralizer. Appreciation also goes for Orton who made Cesaro look so good, even when it meant that he himself would look weak heading into the Elimination Chamber match. Orton looked really good even in a defeat as he pushed the young talent which is Antonio Cesaro. Does this match mark the beginning of Cesaro’s promising career? Only time will tell. With both Swagger and Cesaro winning big on SmackDown, the night definitely belonged to Zeb Colter. We The People!!!