Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 12, 2021

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman head to the ring to start tonight's show. Adam Pearce is already in the ring. Roman tells Pearce that he is here to wait on him and that he is the one to call the shots, not Pearce. Roman also says that Edge looked him in the eye and got scared because he knows what he will do to him: beat him so bad that Edge will be on a Legends contract. Roman says that Edge will not pick him after Elimination Chamber because he is scared, and that he will not drop the Universal Championship until he chooses to. Pearce then announces the contract in his hand is for a Chamber match much like Drew McIntyre's. When Roman is told that he will defend the WWE Universal Championship in the Elimination Chamber, Paul Heyman says that while Elimination Chamber is built around the Universal Champion, Roman does not have to defend at the event. He tells Pearce to put anyone he wants in the match, as the last person standing can get a shot at Roman Reigns and the WWE Universal Championship. Pearce says there will be qualifying matches, and that there will also be two men in the Elimination Chamber match immediately: Jey Uso and Kevin Owens. Roman confronts Pearce outside of the ring and stares him down, and Heyman has to talk Roman out of it.

We see a vignette for Seth Rollins, who returns later tonight.

Backstage, Adam Pearce is met by Sonya Deville, who is impressed with Pearce's refusal to back down to Roman Reigns before announcing a tag team qualifying match where the winning team qualifies for the Elimination Chamber match.

Before the next match, Sami Zayn says that WWE management has not only stood by and let Big E steal the WWE Intercontinental Championship and also forced him to team with King Corbin to qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match. Sami says he and Corbin usually do not see eye to eye, but he and Corbin are on the same page and he is happy to have his documentary team to film the match, as WWE would love to see Rey and Dominik Mysterio win before saying that will not happen. Rey and Dominik knock Sami off the ring apron before the bell rings.

King Corbin and Sami Zayn beat Rey and Dominik Mysterio to qualify for the SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match.

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode meet with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville about qualifying for the Elimination Chamber match. Sonya says they can both earn spots in the match in a tag team match against Daniel Bryan and Cesaro.

Backstage, Reginald is met by Sasha Banks and Kalisto. Reginald apologizes for his recent actions, and Sasha tells Reginald to send Carmella her regards after Reginald says he meant it when he said Sasha could beat Bianca Belair.

Big E enters the ring. He talks about how he defended and retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship in a Triple Threat Match last week, and upholds his vow to be a fighting champion before Apollo Crews shows up. Apollo says he knows Big E is in the ring to issue an open challenge for the Intercontinental Championship, and accepts the challenge. Big E says he was going to issue an open challenge, but it was going to be for anyone besides Apollo. Big E tells Apollo he has given him opportunity after opportunity, then tells him to go to the back, because he is done with him. He then asks for his next challenger to be brought out, and that challenger is Shinsuke Nakamura.

Big E retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship by disqualification against Shinsuke Nakamura after he is dropkicked by Apollo Crews.

The locker room empties to fill the ringside area for Seth Rollins' return. After the commercial break, Rollins says it feels good to be back, and says a lot has changed since he sacrificed himself at Survivor Series, but in his absence, what has changed the most is him, as he has recently become a father for the first time. Seth Rollins returns to his pre-Messiah music while dressed in an all-black suit and red necktie. He says that change has given him a new perception and vision, and looking around the ring gives him a glimpse of some of the most talented people in the industry while posing where he fits in. He then says that he is the great leader that SmackDown needs to push it into the future and make it greater than it already is, as success and leadership is not about what the locker room can do for him, but what he can do for the locker room. As he continues to speak, the locker room walks out on him and heads to the back, and Rollins says that for a better SmackDown, all one has to do is embrace the vision. Rollins then notices that Cesaro is the only person left at ringside. Rollins says he knew Cesaro would understand, but even Cesaro walks out on him, telling Rollins that he has not changed one bit. Rollins changes at Cesaro and hits him with a chop block as he heads to the back. Rollins then proceeds to attack Cesaro, and as referees try to keep Rollins from Cesaro, Daniel Bryan runs to Cesaro's aid and punches Rollins in the face, forcing Rollins to retreat.

Bayley beats Liv Morgan by raking Liv Morgan's eyes while Billie Kay tries to apologize to Ruby Riott at ringside, something that Ruby Riott is not in the mood for.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Cesaro and Daniel Bryan. Cesaro will still wrestle tonight, saying Seth Rollins wasted everyone's time with his nonexistent change. Daniel Bryan goes to say that Cesaro is a tough individual.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) award NASCAR racer Chase Elliott with a WWE Championship belt. In return, they get custom race car helmets and custom orange Solo cups.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Chad Gable and Otis after stopping their spinning clothesline/Saito suplex double team cold.

Sasha Banks heads to the ring. She says that everyone is talking about Bianca Belair and her decision on who to face for a championship, and while she likes Bianca a lot, she says she is the person to face. Bianca shows up and says Sasha is not the boss of her, but as she speaks, she is interrupted by Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler. Nia says that Sasha and Bianca are insufferable due to their egos, and Shayna wants to know why she and Nia are being ignored when they won the women's tag team titles for a second time. After showing footage from Raw - including the footage where Nia Jax missed a leg drop and screamed "My hole," before being put through a table - Sasha and Bianca are forced into a brawl with Nia and Shayna, but Bianca and Sasha trip Nia on the apron again. Sasha and Bianca then make quick work of Shayna as they clean out the ring.

Daniel Bryan and Cesaro beat Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode with a Sharpshooter from Cesaro to Ziggler to qualify for the SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match. During the match, Sami Zayn and King Corbin show up to get a closer look at the match. After the match, Cesaro is hit from behind with a steel chair by Jey Uso before Sami Zayn and King Corbin attack Daniel Bryan before taking the boots to Jey Uso. Sami then attacks Corbin, then everyone brawls as Kevin Owens shows up to join in. Owens gives Stunners to just about everyone in the ring, then sits in a chair and tells Roman Reigns he is coming for him and that he is not going away to end the show.

Talking Smack: Daniel Bryan messes with Paul Heyman.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!