WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 17
On the eve of WWE's Elimination Chamber premium live event, SmackDown emanated from Montréal, headlined by a titanic clash between The Viking Raiders and the team of Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.
The Intercontinental Championship was up for grabs, Ronda Rousey returned to the squared circle in tag team action and the brand put the final touches on the build to Saturday's extravaganza.
Who emerged victoriously from in-ring action, and who built much-needed momentum?
Find out in this recap of Friday's Fox broadcast.
Match Card
1 of 7- Intercontinental Championship Match: Madcap Moss vs. Gunther (c)
- Natalya and Shotzi vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
- Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders
- Asuka vs. Liv Morgan
Shotzi and Natalya vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
2 of 7
Ronda Rousey returned to the squared circle for the first time since losing her SmackDown Women's Championship, partnering with Shayna Baszler to battle Shotzi and Natalya in the night's show-opening contest.
A red-hot start by the babyfaces gave way to Rousey and Baszler isolating Shotzi. The Ballsy Badass fought from underneath, created separation and made the tag to home-country hero Natalya.
Baszler halted The Queen of Harts' momentum, though, leaving Rousey to tap Shotzi out with the armbar.
One thing was abundantly clear early and often here: Rousey will excel at this particular point in her career as a tag team wrestler. When not faced with the task of carrying the match, she can explode into a bout and hit her signature stuff while relying on the more seasoned Baszler to shoulder the majority of the work.
It is a formula that worked here and, frankly, led to a much better match than we had become accustomed to from The Baddest Women on the Planet over the last year.
Shotzi shined early, drawing a strong reaction heading into the break, while Natalya was the clear fan-favorite.
This did everything it needed to and helped present the heels as a legitimate threat in a tag team division that needs stars and renewed focus.
Result
Rousey and Baszler defeated Shotzi and Natalya
Grade
B
Top Moments
- The Montréal audience greeted Natalya with a big pop just one night before she competes in the women's Elimination Chamber match.
- That same crowd showered Rousey with chants of "you can't wrestle."
- Shotzi wiped out Rousey and Baszler entering the break.
- The Ballsy Badass delivered a DDT on the ring apron, wiping Rousey out in a spot that went far better Friday night than it did last November at Survivor Series.
Bray Wyatt's Brazen WrestleMania Challenge
3 of 7
Hit Row's Top Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis and B-Fab performed an in-ring rap in which they insulted Canada, Montréal specifically, to a chorus of boos.
Then, the lights went out, and when they came back on, the arena was cloaked in blue. Bray Wyatt and Uncle Howdy stood on the apron, then proceeded to lay waste to the heel faction.
Wyatt grabbed a microphone and issued a challenge to the winner of the Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley match Saturday night at Elimination Chamber.
And with that, Triple H and the creative team took what could have been a throwaway segment and made it newsworthy, announcing to the world the WrestleMania plans for one of the most over acts on the roster.
Wyatt vs. Lashley would be a fresh matchup, but one would figure that The Eater of Worlds vs. Lesnar would be a high-profile match befitting an event the magnitude of WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
If that is the direction the company heads, it would be a hell of a statement from Triple H that he views, and values, Wyatt in a greater position than his predecessor did.
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- "You're welcome, Montréal," Wyatt said following his interruption of the rap segment.
- "Tomorrow night, Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar...whichever walks out alive. Whichever is the victor. You...should...run."
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders
4 of 7
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus battled The Viking Raiders in the night's next match, the culmination of a weeks-long feud that began with Erik and Ivar targeting the former WWE champions on multiple occasions, even costing them a shot at the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
It was the Raiders' inability to sustain offense, and benefit from interference from manager Valhalla, that cost them the win.
Late, Ivar delivered a middle-rope splash to McIntyre that should have proven to be the conclusion. Instead, The Scottish Warrior kicked out. Moments later, a recovered Sheamus broke up an attempted Ragnarok and McIntyre mustered enough energy to deliver a Claymore to Erik for the win.
This was a good, hard-hitting tag team match that suckered fans into thinking the Viking Raiders might actually win on more than one occasion. The babyfaces stayed in the match just long enough to score the win, which was probably the outcome.
Despite the outcome, Erik and Ivar looked like the equals of the genuine main event opposition, which will only benefit them in the long run. That is, if Triple H and the creative team can find something to keep them featured consistently.
Result
McIntyre and Sheamus defeated The Viking Raiders
Grade
B+
Top Moments
- Sheamus delivered a massive Crucifix Bomb from the middle rope to Ivar.
- Erik attempted to counter a Brogue Kick into a powerbomb but failed. Still, he saved the spot and delivered the move anyway.
- McIntyre flew through the air, wiping the heels out on the floor.
- Valhalla provided a distraction that led to a near-fall.
Liv Morgan vs. Asuka
5 of 7
In a preview of Saturday's Women's Elimination Chamber Match, former women's champions collided as Asuka battled Liv Morgan one-on-one.
The match itself was hotly contested, with each woman countering and reversing the other's signature offense. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the presence of Raquel Rodriguez, Carmella, Nikki Cross and Natalya at ringside.
Ultimately, Morgan attempted a rollup, but Asuka countered into a submission, tapping her out for the submission win.
All hell broke loose after the bell, but Asuka and Morgan cleared the ring, standing tall ahead of their opportunity to earn a shot at Bianca Belair's Raw Women's Championship.
Result
Asuka submitted Morgan
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Cross appeared from out of nowhere and, at one point, sat directly on commentator Wade Barrett's lap. At another, she asked Michael Cole if he would be her friend.
- Morgan delivered ObLIVion from the middle rope for a two-count.
- "By marriage, I'm better than you at your job," Carmella told Barrett, referencing her husband Corey Graves.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Madcap Moss vs. Gunther
6 of 7
Why are we still referring to Moss as "Madcap?"
Regardless, the No. 1 contender battled Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship in a match that netted the exact opposite reaction expected as the Montréal fans were solidly behind The Ring General.
Gunther cut Moss off at every turn early, establishing dominance and setting the stage for a one-sided title bout. The challenger fought back and rolled late, delivering a fallaway slam from the middle rope for a close two-count.
The champion countered a head of steam, applied the sleeper and added the powerbomb to bring Moss' title hopes and aspirations to a sudden, screeching halt.
The match was solid enough, and Moss put in the effort, but the layout did him little favor.
First, the Montréal crowd was against him. Then, when they became less vocal, he was still countered at every turn by the champion. Despite getting some offense in, it felt very much like a one-sided title defense by Gunther, who never appeared to be in any real danger of losing his belt.
Result
Gunther defeated Moss
Grade
B-
Top Moments
- Cole wrongly stated this was Moss' first title opportunity. Moss is a former WWE 24/7 champion, and while that shouldn't count, it kinda does.
- Gunther kicked out of the Punchline, a moment Barrett put over very strongly as a big deal.
- The Montréal fans chanted "ole!" in anticipation of Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn's Homecoming
7 of 7
Sami Zayn returned home to Montréal in the closing segment of Friday's show, to an ovation as loud as any in recent memory. Emotion painted his face as the fans greeted him with chants of "OLE!" in an ode to his El Generico character, then transitioned to chants of "Sami!"
For minutes, he stood in the center of the ring, soaking in the moment as the fans rained down on him with a deafening show of appreciation and love.
When he finally spoke, he exclaimed that it was Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and the entire city of Montréal tomorrow night at Elimination Chamber.
It was short, sweet and fan-frickin-tastic.
In an era in which "deserved" is regularly thrown around, Zayn epitomizes it. He has earned and deserved the moment here and Saturday night. One of the best wrestlers on the roster and one of the most beloved performers of his generation, this is everything that should be his and more.
If you are a fan of professional wrestling and are not excited for Saturday's Elimination Chamber event after this, nothing will get you there.
Grade
A+
Top Moments
- Zayn wore emotion on his face, the enormity of the moment clearly getting to him.
- Chants of "you deserve it."
- "Tomorrow night is Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and the entire city of Montréal!"
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