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The rivalry between Edge, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns was got even more heated on the penultimate WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 37.
Edge opened up the show after which an eight-man tag team match took place on SmackDown. WWE has booked a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match for next week’s episode rather than WrestleMania. The Andre The Giant Battle Royal will also take place on the same night.
Apollo Crews cut a promo, officially challenging Big E to a Nigerian Drum Match for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. Natalya picked up a big victory over Shayna Baszler this week.
Cesaro and Seth Rollins had a face-off, while Sami Zayn hosted the red carpet premiere of his documentary trailer. Things did not go as smoothly as Zayn had hoped they would.
Let’s take a look at the five things WWE got right on SmackDown this week.
#5 The Rated-R Superstar returned on WWE SmackDown
WWE SmackDown opened up with Edge appearing in the ring to address the Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania. Edge believed the events from Fastlane and last week’s SmackDown could have been avoided.
Edge continued to accuse Bryan of weaseling his way into the match at WrestleMania. He claimed he was intrigued by the possibility of teaming up with Bryan at Fastlane to take on Jey Uso and Roman Reigns. However, he said that it was just not enough for The Yes Man.
He continued to talk on SmackDown about how Bryan tried his best to somehow make his way into the match at WrestleMania without truly proving himself. He then thanked Bryan for awakening The Rated-R Superstar on the road to WrestleMania.
“The guy who does whatever he has to do” is ready to compete in the Universal Championship match at The Show of Shows. He said that Pearce, Bryan and Reigns do not understand the ramifications of what they’d done. He admitted to snapping and waking up to the reality he was in.
The Hall of Famer was proud of his accomplishments and left the ring to walk up the ramp. It seemed as though a huge weight had been taken off his chest. This was a great promo from Edge who now looks like the favorite to win at WrestleMania.
While Edge’s current storyline is somewhat like Batista’s in 2014, it looks like he will make a bigger impact at WrestleMania than Batista did.
#4 Cesaro and Seth Rollins built their match for WWE WrestleMania on SmackDown
Corey Graves conducted an in-ring face-off between Seth Rollins and Cesaro on WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania. Cesaro claimed the match at WrestleMania will be the biggest match of his career.
Rollins appeared in a purple suit and tried to no-sell the effects of last week’s backstage swing by Cesaro. He was over-confident as always and looked to talk down The Swiss Superman.
Cesaro kept taunting Rollins with mentions of the swing. The two superstars traded some heated words but did not come to blows on SmackDown.
From taking a loss to Mansoor at WWE Crown Jewel in 2019 to getting a singles match against a former WWE Champion at WrestleMania, Cesaro has come a long way. The segment wasn’t great, but it did enough to remind fans that the two men will be ready to burn down the house next week at The Show of Shows.
A victory for Cesaro will allow him to get ahead on SmackDown where he should be in the picture for the top title sooner rather than later.
#3 Logan Paul witnessed a Stunner on WWE SmackDown
The much-awaited trailer for Sami Zayn’s conspiracy documentary was set to be released on WWE SmackDown. Logan Paul was invited as the Special Guest for the event by Zayn.
Zayn welcomed the YouTube celebrity to the ring for the red carpet premiere. The YouTube sensation seemed taken aback by the overzealousness of the former Intercontinental Champion.
The Conspiracy Theorist asked Paul to be his guest once again at WrestleMania during his match against Kevin Owens. Paul accepted the invitation. Zayn unveiled the trailer of the documentary that will reveal the conspiracy against him.
Paul then broke it down to Zayn that the trailer wasn’t too good and that Owens had told him Zayn was delusional.
Zayn wasn’t too pleased with Paul’s words, and KO arrived to deliver a Stunner to his former friend before shoving Paul and walking away. The segment was good enough to build towards this much-anticipated match for WrestleMania.
It’s unclear whose side Paul will take at WrestleMania. However, fans can expect some big spots from both Zayn and KO during the match. Later, backstage on SmackDown, Owens was giving an interview when Zayn attacked him out of nowhere.
#2 Bianca Belair defeated Carmella on WWE SmackDown
Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair are scheduled to do battle for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WWE WrestleMania next week. The 2021 Royal Rumble winner Belair battled former top contender Carmella on this week’s SmackDown.
Carmella attacked Belair before the match and talked trash to her. Belair found an opening and got back in the match by showing her strength. Carmella tried to tie Belair’s hair to the bottom rope, ticking off the number one contender in the process.
The EST fought back and caught Carmella with the K.O.D. to pick up the victory. It was good to see Belair compete against a superstar who was in the running for the SmackDown Women’s title not too long ago.
After the match, Banks attempted a sneak attack as Belair celebrated. The EST stopped her and warned her ahead of WrestleMania. The two superstars haven’t had the best build for their match at the Show of Shows.
However, the two SmackDown Superstars will likely have a good match which will help Belair get over.
#1 Daniel Bryan made the WWE Universe believe again on SmackDown
Daniel Bryan competed in a Street Fight against Jey Uso on WWE SmackDown. Edge came out to join the commentary team. Soon after, Roman Reigns walked out to take a seat at the top of the ramp to watch the match up close.
Uso was good as a heel once again as he looked to take down Bryan early on. He brought a steel chair into the match and rocked Bryan with a few thunderous shots. Once Bryan turned the tides around, he grabbed hold of the steel chair and delivered a few shots of his own to Uso.
Bryan punished Uso and then locked in the Yes Lock to pick up the victory on SmackDown. After the match, Bryan turned his attention to his two opponents for WrestleMania.
The Yes Man hit a running knee to Edge at the commentary table and then repeatedly bounced his head against the ring post. Bryan then headed up the ramp and hit Reigns with a running knee before locking in the Yes Lock on the Universal Champion.
The angle helped Bryan get back on top just like he did in 2014. Fans can't really point out who’s the favorite for the match at WrestleMania following this segment.
SmackDown has done outstandingly well in building this rivalry for WrestleMania. Will Bryan overcome the odds once again to win the Universal Championship? Or will The Rated-R Superstar take down Reigns and Bryan at The Show of Shows?
