The number one contender’s spot on Smackdown tag titles was vacant for quite sometimes.
This is why Daniel Bryan announced a tag team match for last night’s Smackdown to fill up the spot. It was a forceful decision due to the altercations that happened at a recent live event. Complaints were filed against the Smackdown authority by two superstars.
Last week, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin competed in a tag team match against The New Day. The latter won it owing to the utter chaos created by the unicorns by the ringside. Xavier Woods constantly created distractions, and also pancakes were flying everywhere.
YOU get a pancake… and you get ANOTHER pancake… and you get ANOTHER pancake… and you get ANOTHER pancake… and you get ANOTHER pancake!#TheNewDay arrives to #SDLive NEXT! @WWEBigE @XavierWoodsPhD @TrueKofi pic.twitter.com/L676zL3QbZ
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2018
Apparently, the victims were irate about this in a recent Smackdown-exclusive house show. They questioned the integrity of the referee in charge and demanded another opportunity. A rant was created by Gable and Benjamin that led the Smackdown General Manager to address the situation.
So, this tag team match was made into a contender’s match with the winner getting a shot at the Fastlane PPV. The early going in the matchup witnessed Xavier Woods and Benjamin starting off and going back-and-forth. Woods was dropped on the ring apron after Benjamin downed him with huge spinebuster, as we headed to the commercial.
A trip to #WWEFastlane is at stake for #TheNewDay and @WWEGable & @Sheltyb803!
Which duo will challenge the @WWEUsos for the #SDLive #TagTeamTitles?! pic.twitter.com/DxxSUUPxuE
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2018
Afterwards, Big E was tagged by Woods who brought the momentum by the side of his team with consecutive moves. He delivered some belly-to-belly suplexes on Gable and then hit the final splash but failed to get the pinfall. Gable sent Big E to the ring post and somehow managed to get the tag on Benjamin.
This calls for a celebration! #TheNewDay will challenge @WWEUsos for the #SDLive #TagTeamTitles at #WWEFastlane! @XavierWoodsPhD @WWEBigE @TrueKofi pic.twitter.com/Hx81P7V2eZ
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2018
E was put down with their pinning combination. But, Woods broke it down and hit a knee-to-the-face of Benjamin to win the match on behalf of his team.
By virtue of this win, they are now the number one contenders for the Smackdown tag team championships. They will receive the opportunity to challenge The Usos in a title match in this upcoming Fastlane PPV.
The match has now been made official to take place on March 11th when the Smackdown-exclusive PPV gets hosted in Cleveland.