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Credit: WWE.com
The tension between Edge, Daniel Bryan and Universal champion Roman Reigns intensified in the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 37 on Friday night at SmackDown with WWE delivering the final build for this Showcase of the Immortals Triple Threat main event. year.
The most recent developments between the head dog of the blue brand and his opponents were the main attraction of a show that also featured YouTube celebrity Logan Paul and the latest in the rivalry between Bianca Belair and the female champion of SmackDown, Sasha Banks.
What happened, who emerged with impetus at your side and what did it mean for the brand to enter the biggest show of the year?
Find out in this recap of the April 2 broadcast.
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Announced for tonight’s show are:
- The most recent between Edge, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns
- Logan Paul goes to the world premiere of Sami Zayn
Coverage starts at 8pm
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Credit: WWE
The 2021 Royal Rumble winner, Edge, kicked off this week’s program by discussing the “chaos” that followed in the past few weeks before thanking Daniel Bryan for awakening the Superstar Class R, “the guy who does everything you have to do it ”.
He said his opponents at WrestleMania did not understand the ramifications of what they did, nor did Adam Pearce. He admitted to snapping, “awake as hell”. He is a Hall of Famer, an Ultimate Opportunist and The Rated R Superstar. He is what they aspire to be, he exclaimed.
He ended the promotion and went up the ramp.
Note
B
Analysis
When Edge left the arena, he looked almost relieved, as if a giant weight had been lifted off his chest.
It is not particularly surprising either.
He was always more comfortable as a heel and now it’s no different. His promotion on this show, heralding the resurgence of The Rated R Superstar, was the best he has cut since his last comeback and sets the stage for him to cheat and steal his way to the Universal Championship on April 11th.
Of course, his entire history arc is very similar to Batista’s in 2014, who saw the return of the former world champion, only to be overshadowed by Bryan. It will be interesting to see if his return to the big stage has the same result or if he can frustrate the emerging YES leader! Movement and Tribal Chief to capture the main prize at SmackDown.
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Credit: WWE
Ahead of next week’s WrestleMania special edition of SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode will defend the blue tag team titles against The Street Profits, Alpha Academy and Rey and Dominik Mysterio in a Fatal 4-Way Match.
This week, Ziggler and Roode teamed up with Chad Gable and Otis to fight the Mysterios, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in a big eight-man duo fight.
After an energetic streak to begin, the fight returned from the commercial break with Dawkins a fireball. An Otis club clothesline interrupted his momentum and allowed his heels to take control of the match.
Dawkins finally created the split and scored Ford in the match. The former tag champion exploded in the fight and took the fight to the opponent. The action was halted, the Mysterios taking the fight to champions Ziggler and Roode.
Back in the ring, Gable and Otis teamed up to end Ford’s attack, the latter ending him with a flying splash from the middle rope.
Backstage, Paul Heyman approached Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville about a disclaimer agreement for Jey Uso so he won’t be held responsible for what he does to Daniel Bryan later tonight. Deville agreed to that, much to Pearce’s dismay.
Result
Alpha Academy, Ziggler and Roode defeated Street Profits and the Mysterios
Note
C +
Analysis
There was little in the way of narrative or actual flow to it, as half happened during the commercial break. The action, however, was explosive and highlighted what has been a solid split in the past two months.
Gable and Otis appear to be the hottest team in the division entering the fight for next week’s title, but this looks like an opportunity for WWE to hire Rey and Dominik to make history and become the first parent-child duo to win the tag gold. team.
After all, the company likes to pat itself on the back when it comes to producing events that make history.
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Credit: WWE
Corey Graves conducted a promotion in the ring with Cesaro and Seth Rollins before their fight at WrestleMania next Saturday night.
Rollins insisted that he was unwavering, trying not to sell the effects of the humiliating swing behind the scenes, courtesy of Cesaro. The Swiss Superman responded by provoking his opponent with mention of the swing.
“He may be unshakable, but he is certainly not unshakable,” said Cesaro.
Rollins threatened to end Cesaro before WrestleMania, to which his opponent challenged him to “strike a blow”.
The segment ended with Rollins retreating and thus saving face.
Note
D
Analysis
Cesaro is over, just one of the most interesting Superstars ahead of WrestleMania. The surest way to kill your momentum is to book promotions like this one, full of tacky swing phrases and without real substance.
We don’t know anything more or less about Cesaro than we did before this promotion, except for his penchant for puns that elementary school students wouldn’t find funny.
Rollins did his best to do a cash promotion, but it didn’t work out.
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Credit: WWE.com
Natalya, seconded by partner Tamina, faced female doubles champion Shayna Baszler, accompanied by Nia Jax and Reginald.
Before the match could really begin, the Queen of Harts counterattacked a small package and won the victory by pinfall.
After the fight, the tag champions defeated Natalya before The Riott Squad made the defense. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke joined the fray, followed by Naomi and Lana. Eventually, Tamina joined Nattie for a Hart Attack on Lana before standing up.
Result
Natalya defeated Baszler
Note
Ç
Analysis
There is an argument to be made that this was a hurried mess that would have been better off not airing, but it lit up the tag division in formation and the doubles vying for a title opportunity.
Natalya and Tamina continued to gain strength here, Brooke and Rose shone, and Naomi and Lana looked as good as they have since the formation of their team.
How the WWE solves this puzzle has not yet been officially announced, but it should result in a much stronger tag team title image coming out of WrestleMania than it has been in years.
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Credit: WWE.com
Sami Zayn welcomed YouTube and podcast celebrity Logan Paul in the square circle to the red carpet debut of his documentary trailer.
Paulo seemed somewhat surprised by the host’s overzealousness. Zayn played for the trailer, a major production that promoted his conspiracy theory.
The special guest began to tell Zayn that the trailer was not particularly good, even mentioning that he had talked to Kevin Owens and knew that Sami was delusional. Before things got too hot, Owens came out of nowhere and knocked Zayn down with a stunning to end the segment.
After the commercial break, Owens told Alyse Ashton that he can stun anyone at any time. Zayn attacked out of nowhere and vowed to see KO at WrestleMania.
Note
B-
Analysis
Paul’s much vaunted appearance meant nothing, as he did not bring anything remarkable to the segment. He looked restless and uncomfortable, maybe nervous.
Zayn, on the other hand, was extraordinary. He chewed the scene, making the most of the segment and reminding fans why it has been one of the strengths of the WWE of the COVID era. He was nothing short of excellent, even when Owens abandoned him.
Their game, if allowed to reach its potential, has the potential to be a real show robber and one of the definitive fights of a crowded card.
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Credit: WWE
Before her SmackDown Women’s Championship Match against Sasha Banks at WrestleMania, the 2021 Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair fought ex-candidate Carmella.
The wine-drinking star attacked Belair before departure and worked on her during the break. Belair struggled to return to the fight after the commercial and put her on KOD.
After the match, while Belair celebrated his victory, Banks attempted a sneak attack. EST prevented it. “WrestleMania. Not tonight. “
The winner rose to end the segment, while Banks kept his title high, a reminder to his opponent who holds power in the division.
Result
Belair defeated Carmella
Note
Ç
Analysis
Like most of this show, it looked like a placeholder segment.
Belair took the win, after selling a lot to Carmella, and Banks almost got another one over his main candidate. Instead, staredown followed and nothing was really accomplished between rivals.
It was just an excuse to keep the two women on the screen, while putting Carmella in defeat as the woman who proved she could stay with the Rumble winner. WWE’s insistence on scoring 50-50, evidenced here by Carmella’s domination, only to lose and Belair continued to win, does not benefit anyone in the long run.
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Credit: WWE.com
Apollo Crews did a promotion, officially challenging Big E to a Nigerian Drum Match for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. There was no further explanation as to what this correspondence entails.
Edge joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves in the ring for the main event of the night, a street fight between Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso.
Usage rocked Bryan with a steel chair shot when he attempted a suicide hit, but the former WWE champion roared back with a chair shot of his own. Before he could do any more damage, Roman Reigns appeared at the top of the ramp with Paul Heyman as the show headed for the final commercial break of the night.
Back from the time limit, Uso produced a steel chain and gave it a clothesline. He shot Bryan in the face and shot a frog splash for a count of two while Heyman calmed Reigns on stage.
Bryan fought the match, catching Uso with a missile dropkick. He kicked Use when Edge objected to Cole, calling Bryan the best high-pressure competitor in the WWE. Bryan picked up Use on YES Lock and released it.
He rolled out of the ring and attacked Edge, stunning him with a running knee and hitting him on the ring pole. He ran the ramp and surprised Reigns with another knee, then applied the submission to the Tribal Chief.
Bryan stood upright, pointing to the sky, the momentum at his side going to a WrestleMania in which he hopes history will repeat itself.
Result
Bryan defeated Use
Note
B
Analysis
For Edge and Reigns, Bryan proved that he wasn’t just a guy who planned his way to a title fight at WrestleMania. First, he survived Uso and showed that he can fight as well as anyone. So he left both heels lying, sending a loud and clear message to anyone who doubted his ability to win the universal title on April 11.
Edge was also great in the comments, playing the role of paranoid villain. Whether he was telling Us not to look at him or berating Cole for considering Bryan a better high-pressure fighter than him, The Rated R Superstar took the opportunity to be the heel instead of the babyface returning happily to be back in wrestling. .
The story involving these three was the best thing in the weeks and months leading up to WrestleMania, so it should come as no surprise that on this night of unimaginable creativity, Bryan, Edge and Reigns stood out.