The latest episode of WWE SmackDown was pre-taped on account of the travel schedule to Saudi Arabia. Check out the results here.
WWE SmackDown came back to our lives from a pre-taped show at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The reason for the pre-taped nature of the show? WWE’s travel schedule to Saudi Arabia for their latest live event, Elimination Chamber.
Anyhow, the major issue with pre-taped shows is that they are largely placeholder in nature. And this was pretty evident in this week’s episode.
That’s not necessarily always a bad thing either. But a placeholder TV show to build to a placeholder live event is poetic in a way, even if it won’t have convinced any skeptics to tune into the show.
The show ended with a main event segment rather than a match. And of course, it featured Universal champion Roman Reigns and his opponent, Goldberg.
This segment was… okay. Reigns and special counsel Paul Heyman got a good bit of heat for shouting out recently-retired NFL great Tom Brady.
Goldberg then came out, said he would be the next Universal champion and that was that. Much like the episode, this segment failed to really hit home.
“When it comes to the Universal Championship… I’M NEXT!”#SmackDown #WWEChamber @Goldberg @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/jCmXjvw4I3
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
The match should deliver, because Goldberg’s recent performances have been top notch and Reigns is on the run of his life. But the build for this has been unederwhelming.
Look, everyone knows that contract signing segments end with all hell breaking loose. It’s something WWE wrestlers also acknowledge on TV.
This meant that a good chunk of the trash talk in this segment fell mostly flat. Everyone was waiting for the fight to start.
So it was little surprise when things went south and babyfaces Naomi and Ronda Rousey stood tall over Sonya Deville and WWE SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair.
It’s ON tomorrow at #WWEChamber!#SmackDown @RondaRousey @NaomiWWE @MsCharlotteWWE @SonyaDevilleWWE pic.twitter.com/VVWpzCt7jr
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
What was surprising was the stipulation added to the match. Rousey, who will be in her first match since her Royal Rumble return, has to wrestle with one arm tied behind her back.
One’s mileage on the stipulation may vary, but it is something I guess?
Eat your heart out, @realjknoxville! We’ve got a new Intercontinental Champion! #SamiZaynForever #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hrnmIaa9Or
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
Grade: C-