Daniel Bryan is back
10/10
- Daniel Bryan is out to a giant ovation, and says that Shane McMahon is hurt, but he wants to talk about something else.
- He runs down the history of his injuries and how his wife, Brie Bella, encouraged him to fight for his dreams. A huge "Thank you Brie" chant broke out. Brie Bella number one babyface.
- Bryan gets more aggressive and says that if you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you. He thanks the WWE doctors for treating him as a person instead of as a wrestler first and foremost, then thanks Brie.
- Daniel Bryan doesn't know when he's getting back in the ring, but looks at the WrestleMania sign. When he asks if that sounds like a good idea, and the crowd explodes.
- Backstage Bryan is looking for Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, but finds Dolph Ziggler instead. Ziggler welcomes Bryan back and says he can't wait to beat him.
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev (w/ Aiden English)
5.25/10
- AJ Styles is at ringside as Rusev Day are in the ring. Huge Rusev Day chants ring out across the arena.
- Rusev works over Nakamura, who looks to be in much better shape ahead of WrestleMania.
- After a commercial, Rusev lands a kick that has been finding a home with regularity these days.
- A flying armbar from Shinsuke Nakamura leads to an exchange of pins until Nakamura wins.
- Rusev Day attack Nakamura. AJ Styles gets up to help, but Nakamura ends up fighting back and fending off both members of Rusev Day as Styles looks on.
- Backstage, Nakamura trolls AJ Styles with his "knee to face" promo.
Baron Corbin defeated Tye Dillinger
4/10
- This is the third Smackdown Live match for Tye Dillinger in five and a half months.
- Dillinger connects with a bicycle kick and hits another kick outside the ring.
- There was a sloppy End of Days spot and they run it back shortly after. Yikes.
Natalya defeated Charlotte Flair
6.5/10
- Natalya is excited to see Charlotte lose to Asuka, and takes exception to Charlotte saying it will be her toughest challenge. If I were Natalya, I'd bring up that she beat her in minutes in her first main roster match.
- Charlotte's go behind out of the corner isn't all that great, but her bridge is. Also, Natalya is as athletic as ever.
- I'm glad Charlotte brought back the head scissor roll. An underrated move.
- Natalya slams Charlotte into the turnbuckle.
- I just realized Charles Robinson is supposed to be watching for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to get to the arena, but he's reffing this match. Also, he should never ref a Flair match ever.
- Nattie has one of the better powerbombs in WWE. She follows up with a Sharpshooter, but Charlotte Flair makes it to the ropes.
- Charlotte hits a sick spear on the outside and applies a Figure Four.
- Carmella comes out to try to cash in, but eats a boot. Natalya rolls up Charlotte and gets a pin. Wow.
- Can't pretend I understand that one.
Luke Harper (w/ Erick Rowan) defeated Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso)
5.25/10
- The Usos cut another strong promo. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but they are still really strong.
- Jey Uso gets sent outside the ring, and Jimmy battles it out with Harper.
- There's an awesome spot where Harper eats a drop toe hold into the boards and it breaks one of the LEDs.
- Jey interferes and almost helps give Jimmy a victory. One of the first senses of vulnerability during the Bludgeon Brothers' run.
- Luke Harper wins the match with a discus lariat that was used in the middle of a match ten minutes before.
JinderRoodeOrton
- Jinder Mahal is still really, really bad. According to Gisberto Guzzo, Mahal hits the crowd with "you people" five times.
- There aren't a lot of promos I could be less interested in than Bobby Roode and Randy Orton joining the fray, which they do. MAGA Orton showing Mahal how it's done or something.
- Mahal tosses Sunil Singh to the wolves and he gets beat up. He takes a Glorious DDT as well as anyone, and Orton/Roode face off after countering each other's moves. The end of this was pretty good. If the segments are that short, I can deal with Orton/Roode/Mahal.
Becky Lynch & Naomi defeated Riott Squad (w/ Ruby Riott)
- Logan cracks Becky with a great knee. Lynch's counters are on point during this match.
- Naomi hit Liv Morgan with her ass so goddamn hard. Lynch taps out Logan.
Bryan, KO, Zayn
- Daniel Bryan is out, followed by Owens and Zayn. They say that they're happy for Bryan and would have been there much sooner, but they got pulled over by a dumb cop.
- They say that they want to team with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania, but Daniel says that he's not there for that.
- He plays the footage of Shane getting attacked, and says this is a serious deal. Daniel Bryan then fires both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
- Zayn and Owens attack Daniel Bryan, but he fights back, and nails some pretty tough dropkicks. Eventually Zayn and Owens gain the advantage and Helluva Kick him. Owens then hits a powerbomb on the apron.
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