This Sunday, SmackDown hosts its last exclusive Pay-Per-View before WrestleMania: Elimination Chamber. With one episode of SmackDown Live to go before the big event, we find out the rest of the show’s card and we get a huge main event in John Cena vs. Randy Orton.
Opening Segment
SmackDown is in General Manager Daniel Bryan’s home state of Washington, and the last time WWE came to Washington, Bryan announced his retirement. Bryan talks about how his is grateful for being the GM of SmackDown Live, and he is grateful that he is about to be a father. His promo is cut short, however, when The Miz decides to come to the ring.
Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, and AJ Styles come down to the ring to talk about how they’re going to win the Elimination Chamber match (which also includes John Cena and Bray Wyatt). Things start to get heated, and Daniel Bryan decides to give the audience a preview of this Sunday with a Fatal Four Way match.
AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz (w/Maryse)
All four of these men have a good chance of winning the Elimination Chamber match. AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, and The Miz are all former WWE World Champions, and Baron Corbin has been in the main event scene for over a month now. Also to note, Corbin was the only person to successfully eliminate Braun Strowman from the Royal Rumble this year.
AJ Styles hits the Phenomenal Forearm on The Miz, but Maryse pulls the A-Lister out of the ring to prevent the pinfall. Styles turns around right into the End of Days from Baron Corbin, giving the Lone Wolf a win. Winner: Baron Corbin
Backstage Promo
We get a promo from Luke Harper, of all people. Harper accuses Randy Orton of stealing his family, and he will “eliminate” The Viper at the Elimination Chamber.
Interview
Nikki Bella and Natalya have had a heated rivalry over the past several weeks, and Tom Philips decided to interview both women at the same time. Since the rivalry has gotten so violent, both women are being simultaneously interviewed via satellite. The same old insults are thrown back and forth in a segment that drags on for way too long. They face each other this Sunday at Elimination Chamber.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews
When Dolph Ziggler turned on Kalisto several weeks ago, Apollo Crews had his back. Crews stood up to Ziggler, and he did so again when Ziggler tried to assault Kalisto with a steel chair. The Showoff defeated Kalisto in quick fashion over the past two weeks, so this time, he faces the Lucha Dragon’s friend.
Crews counters a superkick attempt, then rolls up Ziggler for the surprise win. Following his loss, Dolph Ziggler grabs a steel chair and starts to attack Crews. In a turn of events, Kalisto is the one making the save, but he ultimately fails. Winner: Apollo Crews
Daniel Bryan catches Ziggler backstage after the match, and The Showoff says that if he wanted to, he could beat Apollo Crews and Kalisto at the same time. This intrigues the General Manager, so on Sunday, there will be a 2-on-1 handicap match.
Dual Contract Signing (feat. Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Naomi, & Alexa Bliss)
As far as I know, this is the first-ever dual contract signing. It was announced last week that Naomi would get a SmackDown Women’s Championship match, since she has pinned Alexa Bliss twice over the past couple weeks. Earlier today, WWE announced on Twitter that it is adding a third women’s match to the Elimination Chamber card, with Becky Lynch taking on Mickie James, who screwed her out of the SmackDown Women’s Championship a couple weeks ago.
While it’s not surprising at all that a fight breaks out, it might be surprising that Naomi was the one to start it. Naomi dives over the top rope to take out Mickie James and Alexa Bliss, leaving the faces standing tall in the ring.
The Usos, The Ascension, & The Vaudevillains vs. American Alpha, Breezango, Heath Slater, & Rhyno
Since SmackDown’s Tag Team Division has no direction, the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match this Sunday will be a Tag Team Turmoil match. This means that although only two teams will be competing at one time, every team in the division is involved. Tonight, we get a little preview with an unnecessarily large 12-man tag team match.
Rhyno gets ready for the Gore, and in all the excitement, he hits the wrong member of the Ascension. After hitting Konnor, Viktor takes advantage with a knee from the second rope, pinning the ECW legend. Winners: The Usos, The Ascension, & The Vaudevillains
John Cena vs. Randy Orton (w/Bray Wyatt)
By now, you probably know that Randy Orton won this year’s Royal Rumble match, where he earned a championship main event match at WrestleMania 33. Earlier that same night, John Cena defeated AJ Styles to capture his 16th WWE World Championship, so if Cena walks out of the Elimination Chamber with the gold still around his waist, this could be a sneak peek of WrestleMania.
Orton and Cena kick out of each other’s finishing moves, and with no other options, the WWE World Champion goes for a second Attitude Adjustment. Cena accidentally knocks out the referee with Orton, and Bray Wyatt immediately interferes. Luke Harper runs down to the ring, hits Wyatt with his signature discus clothesline, and counters an RKO. Cena takes advantage, hitting the second AA on Orton just in time for the referee to come back into the ring and count to three. Winner: John Cena
