WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Roman Reigns and Goldberg trade barbs ahead of Elimination Chamber

Reigns and Goldberg rely on catchphrases and sports references to build heat to their world championship match

Roman Reigns and Bill Goldberg exchanged their final words on WWE SmackDown ahead of Saturday's universal championship clash at the Elimination Chamber event.

This week's episode of SmackDown was pre-taped as the roster was in transit late this week for the upcoming Saudi Arabia card. The promotion was tasked with adding the final touches of drama to two major Elimination Chamber match-ups: Reigns vs. Goldberg, plus a tag team matchup between Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. SmackDown Women's champion Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville. The evening's most anticipated match-up had serious WrestleMania implications as Shinsuke Nakamura defended his Intercontinental crown against Sami Zayn.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Roman Reigns and Goldberg phone in main event promo

A face-to-face encounter between Reigns and Goldberg was hyped during the show and promoted as SmackDown's closing segment. Paul Heyman sang Reigns' praises, comparing him to Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky. Queue Golberg, who made his trademark entrance in the evening's closing promo. Reigns did not appreciate Goldberg stepping up to him. Reigns dropped his signature catchphrase to open the segment, Goldberg closed out the segment with a twist on the "Your Next" slogan and that was a wrap.

Taped shows generally don't get the treatment of a live television broadcast, but this was abysmal. WWE did such a wonderful job building a meaty storyline in just a few short weeks between Reigns and Seth Rollins. This is a total 180, an uninspired build with less than minimal effort. Props to the promotion for trying something different with its conclusion to Nakamura vs. Zayn, but it felt abrupt and deflated what was shaping up to be a fun title match. Grade: D-

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Contract signing: Ronda Rousey agrees to wrestle with one arm tied behind her back in a tag team match with Naomi against Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville. The stipulation is intended to even things out with Deville's arm injury. The segment ended with Rousey and Naomi attacking their opponents and turning over the table.

• Ricochet def. Sheamus via pinfall after landing the Recoil, doubling up on victories following last week's win over Ridge Holland. Sheamus shoved Holland to the mat post-match. Later in the evening, Ricochet expressed how his future appears as bright as Sheamus' past.

• A video package celebrated The Undertaker's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. The news was announced by WWE on Friday morning.

• Ivar def. Jey Uso via disqualification following interference by Jimmy Uso. Ivar scored a mid-rope splash on Jey, leading Jimmy to attack Ivar with one of the Viking Raiders' helmets.

• Drew McIntyre cuts a fiery promo on Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin, promising to avenge the backstage assault they executed at WWE Day 1. Moss and Corbin resorted to their usual comedy shtick, but McIntyre was not having it.

• WWE Intercontinental championship match: Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura (c) via pinfall to capture the Intercontinental title. The match presented plenty of momentum swings, including a thumping Michinoku Driver counter by Sami Zayn and rattling head kicks by Nakamura. The match ended with a quick pinfall after Zayn brutalized Nakamura's knee against the ring post.