Post by Slade on Feb 18, 2022 17:23:47 GMT -5
Live from Paycom Center in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
On Friday, February 11, 2022
WWE Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo, Tony Schiavone and Corey Graves
WWE Ring Announcer: Howard Finkel
WWE Backstage Reporter: Mean Gene Okerlund
***
The show opened with Rowdy Roddy Piper hosting the Piper’s Pit with Smackdown World Champion Sting as his guest. Sting received a warm ovation from the WWE Universe. When the cheering died down, Piper opened the Piper’s Pit by congratulating Sting on a successful title reign that approaches the half-year mark. In all that time, Piper said, he had barely seen his old ally and friend. Piper reminded us of how he and Sting teamed up to take on The Million Dollar Man and JBL at WrestleMania and then again a few months later inside Hell in a Cell. But then they drifted apart. Piper challenged Roman Reigns for the championship but lost. Two months later, Sting challenged Reigns for the championship and won it. And that was great, really it was. But then, in October at Clash of Champions, Piper fought The Fiend and lost. Two months later, Sting fought The Fiend and he won. Oh, but he didn’t just beat him, he ended The Fiend’s WWE career! And so it seems that every time Piper fails at something, the so-called “Icon” Sting decides to do it and succeeds. And that leaves Piper with one question for Sting: “Do you think you’re better than me?”
A look of intensity crossed over Piper’s face as he waited for Sting’s answer, which was that he has great respect for Piper and would never put himself on a pedestal and look down on them. Piper wasn’t satistfied with the answer and pushed Sting until he admitted that he does in fact think he’s the best wrestler in the world and the Smackdown World Championship validates his opinion. Piper thanked Sting for his honesty and then said that he had a question for himself, which was whether he thought Sting was better than him, and his own answer was “No.” Then he struck Sting with the butt end of the microphone before sending him into the turnbuckles and beating him down in the corner. He pulled Sting out of the corner and gave him a piledriver onto his Smackdown World Championship belt. Piper picked up the microphone and said that when The Fiend took him out of WWE, he let him in, and rediscovered the killer instinct that he lost when he came to WWE. It’s back, and now that it is, there is no wrestler better in the world today, and that’s why he wants a match against Sting for the title at Elimination Chamber, to show the rest of the world what he already knows – that Rowdy Roddy Piper is better than Sting!
Lucha Bros. defeated Beer Money Inc. by pinfall at 15:29. This was Rey Fénix’s first match back after a 2-month hiatus due to injury. He didn’t appear to miss a beat, exciting the WWE Universe with his incredible high-risk offense. He and his brother Penta El 0M won the match after they executed the package piledriver diving double-foot-stomp combo on “Glorious” Bobby Roode, and Fénix pinned him for the win.
Paul Heyman spoke to Mean Gene Okerlund on behalf of his client, Roman Reigns, to let the WWE Universe know that the Tribal Chief has his sights set once again on the Smackdown World Championship, which was stolen from him by the face-painted hoodlum known as Sting. It is a foregone conclusion that Reigns will secure the victory and earn his title shot because it won’t just be Reigns vying to earn the title shot for Reigns but also his cousin, Umaga, the most vicious and violent human being any god has ever put on the planet. Next week, Umaga will secure his spot in the Elimination Chamber, and after he does, this Bloodline will dominate the rest of the competition inside the Elimination Chamber in a way that no one has ever seen before. And alet there be no doubt that after he wins the Elimination Chamber, the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns will walk out of WrestleMania II as the Smackdown World Champion!
Young Bucks defeated Miguel Perez and Jesus Castillo of Los Boricuas by pinfall at 5:37. The Bucks were in control for most of the contest and got the win after Matt and Nick Jackson executed the Meltzer Driver on Castillo.
Shayna Baszler defeated Ember Moon by submission at 9:05. Moon climbed to the top rope and went for the Eclipse, but instead of landing the stunner, Baszler countered it by locking in the rear naked choke and applying a body scissors to prevent Moon from escaping.
The Smackdown Tag Team Champions Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart spoke to Mean Gene Okerlund about how they have no current challengers for their titles and it doesn’t matter who steps up to the plate because they will be beat. Rey Fénix and Penta El 0M showed up and said they were ready to challenge them. They have a title shot lined up for No Mercy two months ago and had to give it up. Now they are healthy and ready. The champs asked them what makes them think they are so sure they are ready for this title shot. Fénix replied that he feels better than he ever has and he can prove it. How about next week, if Fénix can beat Hart in his own backyard, they get their shot. Hart accepted the challenge, but told Fénix he didn’t stand a chance because he’s the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.
The IIconics defeated Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Lita by pinfall at 5:05. Lynch and Lita were doing well until Bayley, who came down to ringside unannounced to join commentary, got up from the commentary table to grab Lita from behind and throw her head-first into the steel ring steps. Lynch saw it happen and chased Bayley away. However, that left Lita vulnerable to a double-team attack from Peyton Royce and Billie Kay who executed the Sick Knee from Sydney on her to get the win.
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase came to the ring with Irwin R. Schyster, who carried two briefcases with him. DiBiase said it was time for anoint a new Million Dollar Man – a 2-Million Dollar Man. He said that he had Daniel Bryan’s richest pay-day inside of these two briefcases, and all he had to do to get it was give him the contract for the UWA Universal Men’s Championship title shot at WrestleMania II to him. Daniel Bryan came to the ring and told DiBiase that a week was a long time to think about what he was going to do and say when he came out to the ring tonight. Fortunately, he figured it out a week ago and his decision has never changed. Bryan started shouting “No! No! No!” into the mic, and the fans joined in. DiBiase told Bryan he was disappointed in him and now he was going to have to force him to give it to him. With that IRS went to hit Bryan with a briefcase. Bryan ducked and hit IRS with shoot kicks, but then DiBiase hit Bryan in the side of the head with a briefcase. Bryan fell like a ton of bricks. DiBiase drove the briefcase down into the back of Bryan’s head, then lifted the briefcase and opened it to reveal that it was full of bricks! DiBiase and IRS starred into the camera and laughed until the broadcast went into the commercial break.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin defeated John Morrison by pinfall at 9:27 to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber match. There was a moment right before the end when it seemed like The Miz was going to help Morrison steal the win, but John Cena ran out and neutralized The Miz. Austin got the win after he countered a springboard roundhouse knee attack with a spinebuster and followed it up with a Stone Cold Stunner.
John Cena defeated The Miz by pinfall at 11:16 to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber match. They jumped right into this one upon the conclusion of the previous match. Cena has to contend with outside interference from John Morrison, who remained at ringside. Austin left ringside with a 6-pack of beers in hand, leaving Cena to fend for himself against The Miz & Morrison. Cena was able to cope. When The Miz created a distraction for the ref, Morrison entered the ring but got a spin-out powerbomb. The Miz tried to attack and Cena gave him a spin-out powerbomb. He hit them both with the Five-Knuckle Shuffle at the same time, then stacked them both onto his shoulders for a double Attitude Adjustment.
***
Next week on Smackdown
Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Rey Fénix
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Johnny Gargano vs. Umaga
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Kenny Omega vs. Savio Vega
And more!
Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Rey Fénix
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Johnny Gargano vs. Umaga
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Kenny Omega vs. Savio Vega
And more!