Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 19, 2021

Edge heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Edge contemplates which championship to challenge for, and says that Roman Reigns is playing a smart game by having the challenger go through an Elimination Chamber match just to get to him, giving him thirteen possible opponents to have to contend with. After Edge says that he has to make a decision, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman show up. Roman says he is the only opponent that Edge that has to worry about, and says he can either pick a main event or "the main eventer." Edge tells Roman that what he saw in his eyes was not fear, but a man who played him like a fiddle, and says that Roman lost his cool with him last week, which confirmed that Roman is insecure and needs him to be the main event. He also says that he sees a young man in his prime firing on every cylinder, and while he respects him and his family, he is cracking to pressure he has not applied to him yet and asks if Roman really wants him to focus on him and expose his weakness. Suddenly, Sami Zayn shows up with his documentary crew and says it is one thing to be disrespected by WWE management, but it is another thing to be disrespected by two of the biggest stars in WWE. Sami says that WWE did not want him in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Universal Championship match, but he plowed his way through it, and tells both Sami and Roman that he is the real threat and the champion of the people. Sami asks his documentary crew to capture him pointing at the WrestleMania sign, for that is where he is going. Instead, Jey Uso superkicks Sami Zayn, then Roman whispers something into Edge's ear after Paul Heyman takes Roman's microphone.

Big E guests on commentary - complete with his own couch, foot bath and TV dinner - for the next match.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Apollo Crews, who says that he has always respected Big E for telling him to make his own opportunities. He then says that he is not a charity case after being told to go back to catering as Big E called for the next challenger, and that Big E never respected him and never even took the time to get to know him, and says his ancestors are Nigerian royalty. He says that if Big E talked to his ancestors like he did to him, he would have lost his tongue. Apollo then says that Big E is intimidated by him, and that he will get what he deserves.

Shinsuke Nakamura beats Apollo Crews after pinning Apollo to the mat as he goes for an arm bar. After the match, Apollo attacks Nakamura. Big E tells Apollo to "walk," and that "it is done." As Big E helps Nakamura up, Apollo attacks Big E with the ring steps and clotheslines Nakamura over the guardrail before telling Big E it is not over until he says it is over. Apollo then throws the ring steps into the ring before tossing Big E in, then grabs the ring steps again. The ref stops Apollo from attacking again as Big E rolls out of the ring, and when the ref tells him to put the steps down, he drops them on Big E. Medical staff tend to Big E as referees keep Apollo back.

Big E is taken to the back on a stretcher as Seth Rollins shows up. He says that what happened to Big E is a tragedy, as is being betrayed by one's friends, and says he knows a thing or two about that after the locker room walked out on him. He says that he understands Big E's pain, then shows the footage from last week of his return, the SmackDown locker room walking out on him and his attack on Cesaro for telling him he has not changed one bit. Rollins calls this emotional trauma, says he is still suffering and says that this is unacceptable anywhere, much less the workplace, and says he has delivered a formal complaint to WWE officials and that legal action is pending. He says that he and his legal team will win, and states that months went into his big moment, and that his return to SmackDown was ruined by "a bunch of losers and a bunch of cowards" because they are afraid and want to divide him and the fans. He says that the locker room knows that there are millions who have followed the vision for a better SmackDown and a better tomorrow, and that the biggest loser of them all is Cesaro for taking his homecoming and making it about us. Rollins says that Cesaro embarrassed and patronized him and his followers and waited until he was last to disrespect him, and says that Cesaro was asking for it. He says that what happened to Cesaro will happen to whoever stands in the way, for he and millions have already embraced the vision.

Backstage, Edge meets with Kevin Owens. Edge says he appreciates Owens for getting back up after being knocked down, and Owens says he can relate to Edge after coming close to beating Roman Roman for the Universal title three times. Owens says that all he can picture is himself beating Roman for the title, and Edge wishes him luck.

Backstage, Big E is placed in an ambulance by Sonya Deville, Adam Pearce and a medical worker.

Tamina and Natalya beat The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan) after Billie Kay shows up wearing cat ears, proving to be a distraction to The Riott Squad. After the match, Billie celebrates with Tamina and Natalya only to get superkicked by Tamina.

We see footage of Sasha Banks at the Daytona 500.

Backstage, Edge is met by King Corbin, who says that it feels like the main event of WrestleMania before telling Edge that SmackDown is his kingdom. He says that the next time he sees someone in a $10,000 shirt and a $39,000 watch, he should bow down. Edge then brags about his smartphone as he refuses to take Corbin seriously.

It's time for Ding Dong, Hello! Tonight's guests are Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler. Bayley says that Nia and Shayna taking the women's tag team titles from her allowed her to get rid of Sasha Banks and become her own person, and says she might get Ellen DeGeneres' show. Nia and Shayna then proceed to mock Sasha and Bianca Belair. As they do, Reginald shows up and says he will not let them slander Sasha's good name, comparing Sasha to a fine wine while comparing Nia and Shayna to box wine, and says that Sasha is the best champion in the world. After Reginald tells Nia and Shayna that they would be former tag champions if they were to take on Sasha and Bianca, Sasha shows up and tells Reginald not to speak for her before telling Nia and Sasha that she is the boss and that she makes the rules. After Sasha says that Bianca will challenge her at WrestleMania because the world revolves around her, Bianca shows up and tells Reginald she is nobody's side chick before telling Sasha that she is the star of this division and that people get beat by her. Reginald gets between Bianca and Sasha that they are all on the same team and that they should be facing Bayley, Nia and Shayna, and proposes a six-person tag match. Nia calls for a referee, and the show goes to break.

Reginald, Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair beats Nia Jax, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Bayley following a double drop kick on Nia, who has Reginald caught following a cross body attempt.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Cesaro, who says that he was respecting Seth Rollins and was hoping that he would make a big comeback, but in the end, Rollins was the same guy as he was before he left. Cesaro says that he will win tonight's six-man tag match and then face Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. Suddenly, Edge shows up and says that Cesaro has grit, and Cesaro tells him that he will see him in the main event at WrestleMania.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode guest on commentary for the next match.

Rey and Dominik Mysterio beat Chad Gable and Otis by disqualification when Chad Gable refuses to leave the ring while Otis squashes Rey Mysterio. After the match, Otis hits Rey with a splash from the second rope.

Backstage, Edge meets with Daniel Bryan, saying that Daniel getting his wheels spinning got his wheels spinning. Daniel asks Edge to face him for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania when he wins it, with both men agreeing it is a long overdue dream match.

Dominik Mysterio and a referee helps Rey Mysterio to the back.

Backstage, Kevin Owens meets up with Daniel Bryan and Cesaro, who bring up Owens' history of turning on people. Owens says he saw Daniel Bryan and Cesaro come at him last week and decided to strike first. Owens says that he wants to win tonight's match and that they should not worry about a Stunner or three until Sunday.

Backstage, Carmella chews out Reginald for being in the ring and partnering with Sasha Banks, then tells Reginald that she knows he will do the right thing and hopes it does not come to what happens if he doesn't. She then spits out her wine and tells Reginald to get her another glass after saying that the taste is disgusting.

Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships is official for Elimination Chamber.

Edge guests on commentary for the next match. Paul Heyman guests on commentary for the match after the commercial break.

Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan and Cesaro beat Sami Zayn, King Corbin and Jey Uso in a six-man tag match with a top rope double underhook suplex into the Yes Lock from Daniel Bryan to Sami Zayn. After the match, everyone in the match attacks each other. Edge hits Jey Uso with a Spear, but he is soon laid out himself by a Spear from Roman Reigns to end the show.

Talking Smack: Paul Heyman tries to get answers out of Apollo Crews.

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