Daniel Bryan got the better of both of his WrestleMania opponents on Smackdown barely a week before the trio square off for the Universal title.
In the build-up to the big show at Raymond James Stadium, each of Edge, Daniel Bryan and Universal Champion Roman Reigns have ended up standing tall over their foes, Bryan the latest to shine as he laid waste to both.
His outright battery of the pair came after he'd overcome Reigns' cousin and lackey Jey Uso in a gritty street fight for the night's main event. Edge watching at ringside was far from spared - after Bryan had forced Uso to submit, he wiped out Edge with a knee before driving him into the ringpost. Reigns had presumably felt he was safe from danger but ended up eating a knee of his own before tapping out to the Lebell Lock.
If that gave Bryan some key momentum going into WrestleMania, Kevin Owens is also in good rhythm after he again bested his Mania opponent, Sami Zayn. Owens has enjoyed a good few weeks worth of getting one up on his former best pal and did so again this week.
Zayn had enlisted the services of YouTube sensation Logan Paul to review his documentary trailer, but was left lying after Owens drilled him with a stunner before pushing past Logan, who'd confirmed he'd be on hand at WrestleMania as the battle between the pair continues. Zayn did at least gain some measure of revenge before the show itself ended, attacking his fellow Canadian backstage.
On an episode of SmackDown that saw many WrestleMania rivals getting physical, it was nice to see Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks ease off the pedal slightly ahead of their meeting for the Women's Championship.
Following their lead were Seth Rollins and Cesaro. After weeks of very much making physical contact, the two settled for an in-ring mediation of sorts with Corey Graves as Rollins belittled Cesaro's WrestleMania achievements in comparison to his own. Rollins lost his temper at the end of it, but stopped just short of taking a shot at the Swiss.
Belair had done well to overcome a pre-match attack by her opponent for the night, Carmella, to eventually down her thanks to the KOD, leading to a tense staredown between she and champ Banks after the bell, the former rightly suggesting that the two leave it to the Show of Shows before turning things up a notch.
The seemingly endless repetition of matches between the Alpha Academy, The Mysterios, The Street Profits and Smackdown tag team champions The Dirty Dawgz continued - WWE somehow managing to stumble on what is probably the only variation of such bouts yet to be aired on television with the heel pairings combining to battle their fan-favourite foes.
Proverbial evil triumphed over good this time, with sirs Otis, Gable, Ziggler and Roode triumphing thanks to a splash on Montez Ford by Otis.
Elsewhere, there was pure chaos in the Women's tag team title picture. After Natalya had picked up a surprisingly quick win over Shayna Baszler, their respective team mates all got involved before The Riott Squad, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke, Naomi and Lana all weighed into matters in an all-out brawl.
Image - WWE
댓글