WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Analysis from February 18
Less than 24 hours before their titanic clash for the Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber, Roman Reigns and Goldberg came face-to-face in a blockbuster segment on WWE SmackDown.
The show put the final touches on the hype for the premium live event with a card that also featured Sami Zayn challenging Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship and a contract signing featuring 2022 Royal Rumble winner Ronda Rousey.
What went down and who emerged with momentum on their side? Find out now with this recap of the February 18 Fox presentation.
Elimination Chamber Contract Signing
WWE official Adam Pearce introduced SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair, Sonya Deville, Naomi and Ronda Rousey ahead of their contract signing for the blockbuster tag team match Saturday at Elimination Chamber.
Back-and-forth bickering gave way to the heels signing the contract. Deville then revealed that in their match, Rousey will compete with one arm tied behind her back following comments made in a recent interview.
Rousey, unaffected by the stipulation, tossed the contract at Flair and slammed her head into the table. The heels cleared out of the ring, and the babyfaces stood tall to close out the segment.
Grade
B
Analysis
Short, sweet and to the point.
This did not adhere to the tropes of contract signings, with chaos reigning supreme and someone going through the table. Sure, the table was turned over on the heels, but the urge to go full-chaos as we have seen in years past was resisted.
Could the bickering and talking over each other have been cut back a bit? Sure, but this served its purpose: hype the tag match and reveal the new stipulation.
Whether it was wise to book Rousey's first match in nearly three years to have such a stipulation is a question that will be answered Saturday afternoon.
Ricochet vs. Sheamus
Sheamus and Ricochet continued their seemingly unending rivalry, clashing in singles competition in the night's opening contest.
The One and Only threw himself through the air, looking to negate the strength advantage of his opponent. Sheamus would utilize his fury and power to down Ricochet and seize control of the bout midway through, but the babyface's resilience kept him in the match.
The Celtic Warrior delivered the Alabama Slam, and Ricochet answered with a Spanish Fly, neither able to keep the other man down. As Sheamus set up for the Brogue Kick, his opponent caught him coming in and delivered the Recoil for the upset victory.
After the match, a frustrated Sheamus shoved Ridge Holland to the mat, teasing dissension between mentor and protege.
Result
Ricochet defeated Sheamus
Grade
B+
Analysis
Ricochet and Sheamus are not going to have a bad match. They have consistently shown up and shown out anytime they have shared the ring, and this was no different. A fantastic match that highlighted each competitor's strengths, it proved their ability to steal the show even when there is a decided lack of creative behind them.
The most interesting development, besides Ricochet's newfound winning streak, was the tease of a split between Sheamus and Holland. If that is the direction things are heading, it is almost certainly a bad thing for the younger competitor, who has appeared to still need seasoning as an in-ring performer before he can really hang with the competitors he has been paired with since his call-up.
Ivar vs. Jey Uso
Ahead of their SmackDown Tag Team Championship clash Saturday in Jeddah, Jey Uso battled Ivar of The Viking Raiders, with their respective partners accompanying them at ringside.
Ivar used his size and strength advantage to overwhelm Uso, but a superkick by the heel kept him in the match. Uso grounded the big man and worked him over, applying a chin lock.
A big clothesline from Ivar allowed him to recover, then mount a comeback. Just as it appeared as though he was closing in on the win, Jimmy Uso attacked, drawing a disqualification. Erik made the save, rocking him with his headgear before the top contenders to the tag titles stood tall.
Result
Ivar defeated Uso via disqualification
Grade
C
Analysis
There was not much to this one. Despite the talent involved, it was a formulaic match that served only to remind fans that the tag titles are on the line tomorrow.
Would it really have hurt for Ivar to get the win in this one? Especially considering Jimmy beat Erik so decisively two weeks earlier?
It will be an uphill climb to convince fans The Viking Raiders have a chance of winning the gold, even if the match Saturday afternoon should be superb.
The big man soaring through the air, his index finger pointed to the sky in a callback to Jimmy's showboating from the previous encounter was clever.
Drew McIntyre on His Match with Madcap Moss at Elimination Chamber
Prior to his Falls Count Anywhere bout with Madcap Moss at Elimination Chamber, Drew McIntyre made his way to the ring and recalled his prior days in New Orleans, where he ended up in the back of a police car and whatnot.
After promising a Madcap Mauling, Moss and Happy Corbin appeared, and a verbal back-and-forth ensued.
McIntyre got the last word, ominously pointed Angela at his rivals, and the segment came to an end.
Grade
C-
Analysis
This was certainly a segment that happened.
McIntyre is a charismatic speaker and engaging presence, but he did not have much of note to say here. Ditto for Moss as the feud limps to what one can only hope will be a definitive conclusion Saturday.
Moss has been an underrated in-ring performer for the company, and the match with McIntyre will likely be a dark-horse candidate for the best match of Elimination Chamber.
The same cannot be said of the feud in its entirety.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn earned the right to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship by way of his win in the 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet Match in December, and Friday, he finally got his opportunity to battle Shinsuke Nakamura for the title.
Zayn controlled through the commercial break, wearing Nakamura down and slowing the pace while doing so. The champion fought his way back into the match, but Zayn immediately halted his momentum, driving him to the mat with a Michinoku Driver for a near-fall.
Outside, Nakamura charged at Zayn, only to collide knee-first with the steel steps as the show headed to another commercial break.
Shaking off the pain, The Artist set up for Kinshasa, but Zayn avoided and downed the champion. He disrespected his opponent, stomping him in the corner. Nakamura returned the favor as the challenger was draped on the ropes.
Nakamura set up for Kinshasa one more time, but Zayn bailed to the floor and once again targeted the knee of his opponent, wrapping it around the ring post repeatedly. Back in the ring, Zayn kicked Nakamura's leg out from underneath him and scored the title off a rollup.
Result
Zayn defeated Nakamura to win the title
Grade
B
Analysis
Nakamura and Zayn have had some classic matches in the past, and while this may not have been up to the level of those, it was still a fun, competitive, physical match that replaced raw athleticism with in-ring psychology.
Zayn targeting the knee helped take his opponent's greatest weapon away from him and led to a clever finish that may not have been explosive but was in-line with the story that preceded it.
Nakamura deserved a greater title reign than he received, but this was a reminder to the world that there is more to him than a great theme song and a super charismatic sidekick.
With that said, the title is in the right hands, as Zayn is red-hot and doing some of the best work of his career.
Roman Reigns and Goldberg's Face-to-Face
Universal champion Roman Reigns demanded New Orleans acknowledge him, then told special counsel Paul Heyman to celebrate him. Heyman went into hype mode, really putting The Tribal Chief over ahead of his championship defense against Goldberg Saturday in Jeddah.
Then, the familiar drums of Goldberg's theme song exploded over the PA system, and the Hall of Famer entered the arena to a thunderous ovation.
He approached Reigns and exclaimed, "When it comes to the Universal Championship...I'M NEXT!"
The show went off the air with a tense staredown between the two.
Grade
D
Analysis
Like most Goldberg matches in this new century, this was short and amounted to little.
Heyman was great, Reigns was a star and Goldberg still presents an imposing presence. It is just unfortunate that a match that fans have been waiting for since 2020 was reduced to such an ineffective, uneventful final bit of hype.