'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The final episode of WWE SmackDown before Royal Rumble delivered a fairly decent show. While there weren’t any flops this week, the show did not boast of many memorable moments either. That said, the creative did manage to deliver a few pleasant surprises that did just enough to keep the fans interested in the latest developments leading into Royal Rumble 2021.
In this article, we will take a look at five Superstars who managed to impress us on WWE SmackDown this week. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Trending
#1 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: AJ Styles
It is always great to see AJ Styles back on WWE SmackDown. After all, it is the house that he built. This week, he came back on the show to lock horns with Daniel Bryan – a match that was modified twice and ended up being a part of an extended main event. Overall, Styles was one of the best parts of the show tonight, and he indirectly orchestrated a big brawl.
It all started in the opening segment of WWE SmackDown when Daniel Bryan walked out to address the fans. He claimed that he is entirely focused on winning the Royal Rumble as he wants an opportunity to main event WrestleMania and thinks that this might be his last chance. Bryan also added that he has never won the Royal Rumble match in WWE and is looking forward to creating a personal history at the pay-per-view.
He was soon interrupted by Styles who arrived on WWE SmackDown as a part of the brand-to-brand invitation. The two Superstars got involved in a heated exchange that eventually led to a match being booked between them. Given both these Superstars' collective in-ring caliber, it quickly had the fans invested in their impending bout.
Both Styles and Bryan engaged in a highly technical match on WWE SmackDown that saw them bring out their best inside the squared circle. From sly mind games to jaw-dropping counters, this match featured it all. Finally, Styles tried to deliver a Phenomenal Forearm before Bryan managed to respond with a Yes Lock.
Their match ended in disqualification after Sami Zayn decided to interfere. Eventually, it turned into a ten-man tag team match on WWE SmackDown. It should be noted that Bryan is one of the clear favorites to win the Royal Rumble on Sunday. Thus, it was good to see AJ Styles going above and beyond to ensure that Bryan appears to have a lot of momentum on his side ahead of the pay-per-view.
#2 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Braun Strowman
In one of the biggest surprises of the night, Braun Strowman returned on WWE SmackDown and laid a brutal attack on several Superstars. The show's main event featured a ten-man tag team match with Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Big E, Otis, and Shinsuke Nakamura joining forces to face AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, The Miz, and John Morrison.
Right at the end of this match on WWE SmackDown, Braun Strowman made his return. It would be fair to say that he was looking he has ever looked before. He assaulted almost everyone present inside the ring, including Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura. In fact, the manner in which he destroyed Cesaro inside the ring truly made him seem like a monster.
While the fans were expecting to see Braun Strowman return from his suspension, they mostly assumed that he would directly come at Royal Rumble. However, The Monster Among Men wanted to make a strong statement on WWE SmackDown’s go-home show before the pay-per-view, and he managed to stand tall while everyone else on the Blue brand stood shell-shocked.
#3 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Bianca Belair
Last week on WWE SmackDown, Bianca Belair defeated Bayley in an obstacle course challenge. An irked Bayley then attacked Belair that led to singles match being booked between the two Superstars for the final show of the Blue brand ahead of Royal Rumble. This bout between the Bayley and Belair ended with the latter picking up her career's biggest win so far.
Bayley and Belair shared great chemistry inside the ring during their match on WWE SmackDown this week. They did well in keeping the in-ring encounter well-balanced. Bayley relied on mind games to gain the upper hand while Belair used her strength to counter every attack. During one of the spots in the match, it appeared as though Belair has seriously injured her arm.
In the closing moments of the match, Belair turned the tables in her favor by hitting her opponent with one devastating blow after another. Finally, she pinned Bayley to pick a huge victory on WWE SmackDown, and this would certainly be great for her momentum ahead of Royal Rumble. We hope to see her deliver a memorable performance at the upcoming pay-per-view on Sunday night.
#4 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Dominik Mysterio
This week on WWE SmackDown, Dominik Mysterio locked horns with King Corbin in a singles match. After an underwhelming performance last week, Dominik Mysterio leveled up as he prepared to face one of the most cunning heels in the business. Right before their match, Dominik Mysterio attacked Corbin while the latter was making his way to the ring.
Following that, both Superstars locked horns in an engaging encounter and played to their respective strengths. Dominik Mysterio looked like his usual self as he sought his opportunities to gain dominance over his opponent. Despite the fact that Dominik Mysterio could not win his match on WWE SmackDown, he managed to deliver an extremely solid performance.
After spending several weeks on the sideline, Dominik Mysterio deserved to be booked in a good match that would push him to deliver his best inside the ring. Corbin also deserves credit for working exceptionally well with Dominik Mysterio inside the squared circle.
Following the match, King Corbin tried to attack Rey Mysterio, but the latter managed to respond with sneaky blows. It now appears that the feud between Corbin and the Mysterio family will continue on WWE SmackDown even after Royal Rumble.
#5 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Kevin Owens
This week on WWE SmackDown, Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens were scheduled to engage in the 'Final Showdown' ahead of their Universal Championship match at Royal Rumble. While The Tribal Chief deserves a lot of praise for improving his mic skills over the last few months, it should now be a known fact that Kevin Owens is merely unbeatable on the mic.
The ‘War of Words’ between Owens and Reigns ended in favor of the challenger who touched the right nerves during his passionate promo. He labeled The Tribal Chief as a ‘scared bully’ and called him out for his ‘community theatre level performance’ when acting as a compassionate leader. In fact, Owens’ statements made Reigns visibly uncomfortable, and he ended up turning off the monitor even before KO could finish.
It is clear that the fans wanted more out of this interaction between Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns, especially since it was the final meeting the two Superstars before their match. Even though we could not see Reigns and KO engage in another physical altercation on WWE SmackDown, this segment successfully showed us just how intense their upcoming title match could get at Royal Rumble 2021.
