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Credit: WWE.com
Tensions between Edge, Daniel Bryan and Universal champion Roman Reigns escalated on the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 37 performed on SmackDown on Friday night when WWE delivered the latest version of the Triple Threat main event of this year’s Showcase of the Immortals has.
The latest developments between the blue brand’s top dog and its challengers have cited a performance featuring an appearance by YouTube celebrity Logan Paul and the latest in the rivalry between Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks, SmackDown women’s champion.
What went down, who came up with momentum on their side, and what did it mean for the brand that offered the biggest show of the year?
Discover it with this summary of the April 2 broadcast.
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Announced for tonight’s show are:
- The latest between Edge, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns
- Logan Paul attends Sami Zayn’s world premiere
Coverage starts at 20:00
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Credit: WWE
Royal Rumble winner of 2021, Edge, kicked off this week’s show and discussed the ‘chaos’ that has arisen over the past few weeks before thanking Daniel Bryan for denying the Rated R Superstar,’ the man who does everything he has to do. ‘
He said his opponents of WrestleMania did not understand the consequences of what they did, nor did Adam Pearce. He admitted that he cracked and ‘woke up hell’. He’s a Hall of Famer, An Ultimate Chance, and The Rated R Superstar. He is what they want to be, he exclaimed.
He ended the promotion and headed up the ramp.
Grade
B
Analysis
When Edge leaves the arena, he looks almost relieved as if a giant weight has been lifted from his chest.
This is also not particularly surprising.
He has always been at his most comfortable as a heel and now it is no different. His promotion on this show, with the announcement of the resurgence of The Rated R Superstar, was the best he has cut since this latest return, giving him the chance to cheat and steal his way to the Universal Championships on April 11th. .
Of course, his whole story arc is much like that of Batista in 2014, who made the former world champion return, 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 stop the emerging leader of the YES! Movement and Tribal Chief to win the top prize at SmackDown.
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Credit: WWE
Ahead of next week’s special WrestleMania version of SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode will defend the blue trademark title 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 play the Mysterios, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in a big game with eight men.
After an energetic series to start, the game came back from the commercial break with Dawkins, a ball fire. A laundry suit from Otis halted his momentum and allowed the heels to take control of the match.
Dawkins eventually created separation and tagged Ford into the game. The former champion exploded in the match and took the fight to the opposition. The action broke, and the Mysterios led the battle to champions Ziggler and Roode.
Back in the ring, Gable and Otis teamed up to end Ford’s onslaught, and the latter closed him off with a flying splash from the middle rope.
Behind the scenes, Paul Heyman has approached Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville over a harmless deal for Jey Uso so he can not be held accountable later tonight for what he does to Daniel Bryan. Deville agreed, to Pearce’s dismay.
Outcome
Alpha Academy, Ziggler and Roode defeated Street Profits and the Mysterios
Grade
C +
Analysis
There was little in the way of narration or actual flow to this one, as half of it took place during the commercial break. The action that was there, however, was explosive and highlighted what has been a solid division over the past two months.
Gable and Otis appear to be the hottest team in the division to compete in the title race next week, but it feels a lot like an opportunity for WWE to discuss Rey and Dominik to make history and become the first father-and-son duo to become the winner of the team’s gold.
After all, the company wants to beat its own back when it comes to making events that make history.
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Credit: WWE
Corey Graves presented a promotion with Cesaro and Seth Rollins ahead of their WrestleMania game next Saturday night.
Rollins insisted he was steadfast and tried to sell off the effects of the humiliating swing behind the stage, thanks to Cesaro. The Swiss Superman reacts and teases his opponent by mentioning the swing.
“He may be unshakable, but he is certainly not unshakable,” Cesaro said.
Rollins threatened to end Cesaro in front of WrestleMania, whereupon his opponent dared him to “make a turn.” ‘
The segment ends with Rollins retreating, thus saving face.
Grade
D
Analysis
Cesaro is over, just one of the most interesting Superstars before WrestleMania. The surest way to kill his momentum is to discuss promotions like these, full of cheesy “swing” lines and no real remedy.
We know nothing more or less about Cesaro than we did before this promo, except for his penchant for puns that elementary students would not find funny.
Rollins did his best to deliver a cash promotion, but it just did not click.
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Credit: WWE.com
Natalya, seconded by partner Tamina, accompanied the women’s champion, Shayna Baszler, accompanied by Nia Jax and Reginald.
Before the match could really get underway, The Queen of Harts put up a small package and claimed the victory.
After the match, champion beat Natalya before The Riott Squad made the save. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke joined the fight, followed by Naomi and Lana. Eventually, Tamina joined Nattie for a heart attack on Lana before standing for long.
Outcome
Natalya defeated Baszler
Grade
C
Analysis
There is an argument to be made that it was a hectic mess that would have been better than not being broadcast, but it did shed a light on the emerging marker division and the duos that had a title opportunity.
Natalya and Tamina continued to build momentum here, Brooke and Rose shone, and Naomi and Lana looked as good as they have since founding their team.
How WWE solves this mystery has yet to be officially announced, but it would result in a title photo picture coming out of WrestleMania much stronger than it was years ago.
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Credit: WWE.com
Sami Zayn welcomes YouTube and podcast celebrity Logan Paul in the square circle for the premiere of the red carpet of his documentary trailer.
Paul seemed somewhat surprised by the excessive zeal of the host. Zayn throws to the trailer, a major production that promotes his conspiracy theory.
The special guest begins to break it to Zayn that the trailer is not particularly good, and even mentions that he spoke to Kevin Owens and knew that Sami had gone astray. Before things got too hot, Owens came out of nowhere and dropped Zayn with a spectacle to end the segment.
After the commercial break, Owens told Alyse Ashton that he could stun anyone at any time. Zayn attacks out of nowhere and promises to see KO at WrestleMania.
Grade
B-
Analysis
Paul’s much hyped appearance is nothing, because he brings nothing noticeable to the segment. He looks uncomfortable and awkward, maybe nervous.
Zayn, on the other hand, was extraordinary. He chewed the scenery and made optimal use of the segment, reminding fans why he was one of the highlights of the WWE of the COVID era. He was nothing short of outstanding, even though Owens dropped him.
Their match, if allowed to realize its potential, could be a true show-stealer and be one of the defining consequences for a jam-packed card.
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Credit: WWE
Ahead of her SmackDown women’s championship game against Sasha Banks at WrestleMania, 2021 Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair defeated former top candidate Carmella.
The wine-drinking star attacked Belair before the match and worked her out during the break. Belair fought her back to the ad and put her away with the KOD.
After the match, when Belair celebrated her victory, Banks tried to make a sneak attack. The EST stopped her. “WrestleMania. Not tonight. “
The winner was high to end the segment while Banks held her title high, a reminder of her challenger holding the power in the division.
Outcome
Belair defeated Carmella
Grade
C
Analysis
Like most of this program, it feels like a placeholder segment.
Belair claimed the victory, after selling way too much for Carmella, and Banks almost got one more than her best competitor. Instead, the dismissal followed and nothing could really be achieved between the competitors.
It was merely an excuse to keep both women on screen, while Carmella was in defeat at the same time as the woman who proved she could hang out with the Rumble winner. WWE’s insistence on a 50-50 discussion, as evidenced here by Carmella’s dominance, only to lose, so that Belair continued her winning streak, does not benefit anyone in the long run.
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Credit: WWE.com
Apollo Crews cut a promotion and officially challenged Big E to a Nigerian drum match for the intercontinental championship at WrestleMania. There was no further explanation of what the match entailed.
Edge chatted with Michael Cole and Corey Graves on the outside of the evening’s main event, a street fight between Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso.
Uso shook Bryan with a steel chair while the latter attempted a top suicide, but the former WWE champion shot with his own chair. Before he could do any more damage, Roman Reigns appeared with Paul Heyman at the top of the driveway as the show was heading to the last commercial break of the night.
Back at the timeout, Uso manufactured a steel chain and supplied a washing line with it. He shoots Bryan with a shot to the face and delivers a frog for a double when Heyman Reigns calms down on stage.
Bryan fights back into the game and catches Uso with a missile kick. He eliminated Uso as Edge took exception to calling Cole Bryan the best competitor for high pressure in WWE. Bryan catches Uso in the YES lock and taps him out.
He rolled out of the ring and attacked Edge, stunned him with a running knee and hit him in the ring post. He stormed the driveway and stunned Reigns with another knee and then applied the submission to The Tribal Chief.
Bryan stands tall and points to the sky, with momentum on his side on his way to a WrestleMania in which he hopes history repeats itself.
Outcome
Bryan defeats Uso
Grade
B
Analysis
For Edge and Reigns, Bryan proved that he was not just a guy who shot a title at WrestleMania. First, he survived Uso and showed that he can fight as well as anyone. Then he let both heels lie and sent a message loud and clear to anyone who doubted his ability to win the universal title on April 11th.
Edge was also great in commentary and filled the role of the paranoid bad guy. Whether he told Uso not to look at him or to discipline Cole for considering Bryan a better high-pressure wrestler than he was, The Rated R Superstar enjoyed the opportunity to be the heel rather than the baby- face returning but only continuing to wrestle again.
The story about these three was the best thing in the weeks and months leading up in WrestleMania, so it should come as no surprise that Bryan, Edge and Reigns excelled during this night of overwhelming creativity.