SmackDown grants a rematch but ups the ante!

Daniel Bryan either wins in a rematch with Jey Uso IN A STEEL CAGE and goes to Fastlane, or he will ACKNOWLEDGE the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• The Street Profits VS Sami Zayn & King Corbin; changed to…
• Montez Ford w/ Angelo Dawkins VS King Corbin; Corbin wins.
• Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Sami Zayn; Dawkins wins.
• Dominik Mysterio w/ Rey Mysterio VS Chad Gable w/ Otis; Dominik wins.
• Bianca Belair w/ Sasha Banks VS Shayna Baszler w/ Nia Jax; Belair wins.
• Buddy Murphy VS Cesaro; Cesaro wins.
• Steel Cage Match: Daniel Bryan VS Jey Uso; Bryan wins and will challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at Fastlane.

PLAY BY PLAY

Michael Cole opens SmackDown in the ring!

As it stands, the WrestleMania main event for the Universal Championship will be Roman Reigns VS Edge. But that could change if the man who started the Yes Movement gets his way! Daniel Bryan heads to the ring! Fans cheer with the Yes Fingers on their ThunderDome screens as Bryan gets a mic and Cole reminds us Bryan will face Roman’s “unhinged cousin” inside the Steel Cage. And if Bryan wins, he gets another chance at the Universal Championship at Fastlane! That would throw a wrench in the plans WWE had in the works of a tag team match, Bryan & Edge VS Roman & Jey. So then why is Bryan forgoing that tag match? Why has he turned his focus on Roman and the title?

Bryan says Cole is making a lot of assumptions, the biggest being that Bryan was even asked to be in a tag match. Not a single person told Bryan about this “great” idea to fight Roman & Jey at Fastlane. No one ran anything by him because they know Bryan “rolls with the punches,” does whatever is asked of him, shows up and works his ass off. So Bryan understands why no one asked him. Edge is the ultimate opportunist, and Roman doesn’t want to defend his title at Fastlane. But the thing is, Bryan is making a change to not be the old Bryan. Bryan sees there’s the dream match, Roman VS Edge. And Bryan gets it, Attitude Era VS The ThunderDome, everyone wants to see that, except for Bryan. And Bryan will do his damnedest to stop it from happening!

So Bryan takes this from here, and throws a video package for himself. It was the SmackDown Elimination Chamber, where Daniel Bryan ran the marathon and made it from start to finish to earn his opportunity at Roman’s title, only for Roman to pounce right then and there. Bryan came close but couldn’t defeat a fresh Roman, and then Edge pounced on Roman. In the present, Bryan says he has lost a lot in his career, and has gotten beaten up a lot in his career. So you think after winning his third Elimination Chamber match, and fighting valiantly against Roman, that loss wouldn’t be a big deal.

But rolling out of the ring, and Edge rolling in to Spear Roman and point at the WrestleMania sign, “never in my life have I ever felt like such a failure.” Bryan knows not everyone knows this, but he doesn’t have a lot of ambition. WWE did personality tests and they found that Bryan had the lowest ambition score they’d ever seen. How is it possible that Bryan is still successful? He isn’t sure, other than that he LOVES pro-wrestling. And if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life, and he’s never had to “work” a day for the last 21 years!

But for the last year, Bryan’s had in the back of his head that he’ll go from wrestler to dad, and put others ahead of him. He let those he saw as the future get opportunities and not him. But Edge hitting Roman and Bryan feeling like an absolute failure is because Bryan failed himself. In that moment, Bryan had a lot more ambition in him than any test could ever show! He looked at the WrestleMania sign and decided HE should be there! Not Roman, not Edge, but BRYAN! Roman and Edge are in the main event because BRYAN loves this! In the last three WEEKS, he’s wrestled more than Edge and Roman in the last three MONTHS!

Bryan wrestles every chance he can because he loves this! And so putting himself on the back burner was a disservice to himself! Bryan knows he can be the absolute BEST! Bryan steps into a steel cage with Jey Uso, and if he wins, eh goes on to Fastlane to face Roman for the Universal Championship! And beating Roman is the only way to main event WrestleMania, and this could be his last chance! But before Bryan can continue his passionate speech, Roman interrupts! Jey and Paul Heyman follow Roman, of course, but the confrontation will be face to face after the break.

SmackDown returns and Roman is now in the ring.

Roman has a mic to say, “I’m looking at the same guy. But you don’t sound like the same guy.” The way Bryan is talking is confusing. And if it’s confusing Roman, than it’s confusing the fans. Bryan is ambitious now? Driven now? No. Bryan is the underdog, the “little guy,” the lottery winner. The one who waits on the opportunity and sometimes it works out. Bryan isn’t ambitious. Men like Roman, and they’re rare, they’re ambitious. Roman has been driven since he was a child. If he wanted it, he takes it. Roman loves the business, too. Bryan doesn’t love this, he NEEDS this. Bryan has nothing else, and that’s not love. Love isn’t based off need but off service and what you’ll do for others.

Roman, for example, loves the WWE. Roman doesn’t need it, it’s everyone who needs him! SmackDown needs Roman! The crew and the cameramen need Roman! Heyman needs Roman, Jey needs Roman, Bryan needs Roman. And after Jey whoops Bryan, Bryan will understand that and know it in his heart. And then, Bryan will acknowledge Roman. If Bryan- Jey snatches Bryan’s mic to tell him not to worry about the title. This is as close as Bryan gets to it! Bryan has to get through Jey and that won’t happen! Bryan wanted the cage, but it isn’t locking Roman out, it’s locking Jey in! And tonight, Jey’s gonna get you! Jey tries to sucker punch Bryan but Bryan throws him out!

Bryan stares Roman down, and Roman sighs. Will Bryan be unstoppable as he goes back down the road to WrestleMania?

The Street Profits VS Sami Zayn & King Corbin!

Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are up and they want the smoke! But will this rematch with the Great Liberator and Wolf King be a speedbump on the road to WrestleMania and the SmackDown Tag Team Championships?

SmackDown returns and the Profits have mics as Sami makes his entrance. Sami admits, the Profits pulled off a “fluke” over him and Corbin. But tonight, Sami and Corbin will prove it was just luck. Corbin tells Sami that it’s enough. They’re not tag team partners! They’re not friends! Corbin doesn’t even like Sami! Corbin is a SINGLES competitor, so he’ll take on just one of the Profits. Oh, well, their schedules are free. Roode & Ziggler are dodging them so there is a lot of time. So if that’s what Corbin wants, how about he get in the ring to do that thing? Ford wants Corbin, so Dawkins gets Sami? Yep! Sweet, Dawkins gets to be in Sami’s movie!

Dawkins gives a quick shout-out to his boy, JZH, but Sami tries to sort things out. Is this a set up? Is Corbin in on this or something? Sami agreed to a TAG match, you can’t do this to him at the last second! So then it’s one? Tell ’em, fam! The Profits are up, and they want the smoke! Sami is upset, but the first of the now two singles matches begins!

Montez Ford w/ Angelo Dawkins VS King Corbin!

Ford and Corbin circle, tie up, and Corbin knees low! Corbin whips Ford to a corner, Ford goes up and over and handsprings to then dropkick Corbin! And dropkick again! Corbin staggers to ropes., Ford runs in but Corbin gets a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Corbin is upset with the ref but the count is the count. Corbin wants Sami to watch this as he drags Ford up. Corbin puts Ford in the corner, traps his arms and fires off body shots! The ref backs Corbin off, he drags Ford back up to whip corner to corner hard! Ford bounces off buckles, Corbin drags him back up and taunts Dawkins as he ripcord back suplexes for a yoyo SLAM!

Corbin taunts Ford, drags him up, but Ford gets around to hop on and be a sleeper hold backpack! Corbin RAMS Ford into buckles, but Ford holds on tight! Corbin pries free, snapmares but Ford handsprings through to mule kick, front kick and dropkick! Ford has Corbin in a corner, hits a splash, then runs, into a pop-up! But Ford turns that into a DDT! Ford kips up to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ford keeps his cool as he heads for a corner. Ford hops up, Sami shouts at Dawkins but Ford shouts at Sami. Corbin rolls Ford, Ford rolls through to ENZIGURI! But Corbin still gets Ford for the END OF DAYS!! Cover, Corbin wins!!

Winner: King Corbin, by pinfall

Sami tells Corbin he just helped him so now Corbin has to help Sami! Dawkins wants after Sami, Sami gets on the apron, Dawkins BLASTS Sami off and Sami hits Corbin! Corbin gets mad at Sami but Sami explains that was because of Dawkins! Corbin doesn’t care, he’s leaving Sami behind! Will the Champion of the People be able to do this by himself? We’ll find out, after the break!

Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Sami Zayn!

SmackDown returns and the match is underway as Dawkins clubs and bumps Sami off buckles and in corners. Sami grabs ropes, Dawkins has a leg but the ref calls for the break. Sami clubs Dawkins, headlocks, but Dawkins powers out to run him over! Dawkins keeps moving, Sami hurdles but Dawkins hurdles back. Dawkins ducks to dropkick Sami down! Cover, TWO! Dawkins grabs a leg but Sami still holds ropes. The ref counts, Dawkins lets go and Sami goes out. Dawkins pursues, Sami kicks and elbows Dawkins then bumps him off barriers, then bumps him off the apron. Sami puts Dawkins in, gets in and CLOBBERS Dawkins from behind! Cover, TWO!

Sami keeps his cool as he looms over Dawkins. Sami stomps Dawkins, drags him up and throws haymakers. Sami puts Dawkins on the ropes and chokes him! The ref counts, Sami taunts Ford, but Sami lets off at 4. “This is what you get!” Sami drags Dawkins up, whips him and CLOBBERS him again! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another, TWO! Sami argues the count but the ref says it was the same as the other times. Sami drags Dawkins up, throws more haymakers, then whips Dawkins to ropes again. Dawkins CLOBBERS Sami this time! Ford fires up as Dawkins rallies and hits the LEAPING ELBOW!

Sami ends up in a corner, Dawkins hits the CYCLONE SPLASH! BIG BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Ford coaches Dawkins and he drags Sami up. Dawkins has the hooks but Sami fights the exploder off. Sami swings but into Dawkins’ SILENCER! Cover, TWO! The butterfly corkscrew suplex didn’t work, and Sami gets to the apron. Dawkins pursues but Sami hotshots him! Sami reels Dawkins in, but he can’t get Dawkins up. Dawkins throws elbows, runs in but the cyclone gest buckles! Sami reels Dawkins in for a CORNER EXPLODER!

Dawkins staggers as Sami goes corner to corner, but Ford gets up close on Sami’s camera crew! Sami shouts at Ford to stop that, but Dawkins rolls him up! Dawkins wins!!

Winner: Angelo Dawkins, by pinfall

Did the cameras get that? Sami still cries conspiracy and shouts, “Who’s behind this?!” Sami doesn’t recognize the second guy and asks if he’s a WWE spy! The guy doesn’t know how to answer and Sami throws knees into him! Is the documentary going to start being about Sami’s spiral into madness?

Reginald Thompson, the Fabulous sommelier, finds Carmella backstage.

She says he likes playing games, right? Of course he does. This new game is called, “Who’s the Snake?” What? Mella says one of them took a chance on a lowly sommelier and made him a star, while the other betrayed that someone and is siding with Sasha Banks. Reggie says all of that has been for Mella! Well it’s game over. Reggie’s the snake! She slaps the tray out of his hand and FIRES him! What is Reggie going to do now that he’s without a boss?

Dominik Mysterio w/ Rey Mysterio VS Chad Gable w/ Otis!

To get payback on behalf of his father, Dominik is going to take on the Alpha Academy headmaster! But with the Dozer ringside, will Dom have to worry more about Rey than Gable?

SmackDown returns and the Alpha Academy make their entrance. The bell rings and Dom ties up with Gable. They go around, Gable waistlocks and throws Dom down. Dom gets up but Gable throws him back down, then floats to a facelock. Otis says Dom is alone and that’s why he’ll lose. But Dom runs around to throw Gable out! Gable gets back in but Dom arm-drags him! Dom cranks the arm, Gable gets up but Dom wrenches to a wristlock. Gable rolls, bridges, handsprings and spins to break free and headlock to then spin and spin and drop toehold! Gable has the leg, and SMASHES it into the mat! Dom gets up, Gable gets the leg again and hits a DRAGON SCREW!

Gable jams the knee, does it again, then covers, TWO! Gable keeps on Dom with a standing toehold and he pushes down hard on the leg. Dom endures, Rey coaches him through it and Dom kicks at Gable with the free leg. Fans rally, Gable gets the foot and Dom enziguris! Gable staggers to a corner,. Dom runs in but the monkey flip is turned around. Dom boots from up top, then leaps to huricanrana! Gable is in the other corner, Dom runs in to wheelbarrow throw him into buckles! Dom goes back up, leaps, but no tornado DDT! Gable gets Dom’s arms, TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Dom escapes and Gable can’t believe it!

Gable gets the legs, drags Dom to a drop zone and goes up top. Gable talks trash to Rey, and MOONSAULTS, but has to land on his feet as Dom moves! Gable waistlocks, Dom wheelbarrows to a victory roll but Gable sit son the cover, TWO! Dom reels Gable into a La Magistrol, DOM WINS!

Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall

Otis storms onto the apron but Rey WRECKS him with a dropkick! Otis hits announce desk, Rey LEAPS and SEATED SENTONS him onto the desk! The Mysterios regroup and retreat! The Alpha Academy is raging, but are they going to learn a lesson from the King and Prince of Lucha?

Backstage interview with Seth Rollins!

Kayla Braxton brings up Cesaro’s swing that seemed to last forever, and Rollins says it sure felt that way. And do you want to know why? Because it was forever! But the question is, why? Has Cesaro done that much to anyone else? No, that was rhetorical. But then why did he do it? Because he is afraid of “us.” Cesaro doesn’t want to #EmbraceTheVision because he knows “we” are strong! Cesaro wanted to embarrass Rollins and humiliate him! Rollins promises us that he won’t forget that. And Buddy Murphy is BACK?!

Murphy says he could help Rollins with this problem. Rollins doesn’t want to see Murphy. Murphy needs to leave, now. Is Murphy really trying to be Rollins’ disciple again? Will Rollins do just fine against Cesaro without him?

Bianca Belair w/ Sasha Banks VS Shayna Baszler w/ Nia Jax!

A partial rematch from the impromptu Elimination Chamber WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match, the EST and the Queen of Spades match up again 1v1! But will Bianca earn herself and The Boss momentum towards those titles? Or will Shayna do damage to the Women’s Rumble winner before she reaches WrESTleMania?

SmackDown returns as Bianca makes her entrance, followed by Sasha’s. That seems like a surprise to Bianca’s, despite the coming Fastlane match. But another surprise, or perhaps not, is that Reggie follows Sasha out like a stray puppy. The bell rings, Bianca and Shayna tie up, and Shayna gets an arm to wrench it. Bianca scoops Shayna, Shayna slips off and headlocks. Bianca slips through to headlock back, but Shayna powers out. Bianca goes up and over in the corner, handsprings and eggs Shayna on to then run her over! Bianca is fired up and she claps at Shayna to then say kiss this. Things speed up,. Bianca handsprings but Shayna blocks the dropkick to get he foot!

Bianca boots her away, dodges the knee, rolls Shayna up, ONE! Bianca yanks Shayna’s arm, steps over and hooks it to La Magistrol, ONE! Shayna has an arm, wrenches, twists the wrist, but Bianca endures. Bianca powers through to fireman’s carry, but Shayna slips out again to whip. Bianca goes up again but gets caught for a KICK to the arm! Nia cheers Shayna on while Bianca writhes. Sasha checks on her partner and coaches her up, and Bianca gets up in a corner. Shayna runs in to KNEE Bianca down! Shayna drags Bianca to a cover, ONE!! Shayna grows annoyed, she drags Bianca and wrenches the arm to a grounded wristlock. Bianca resists but Shayna twists it all the same.

Shayna stands on Bianca’s head, pulls the arm around, and TWEAKS it! Sasha grows worried but she coaches Bianca up. Shayna runs back in. Bianca dodges! Shayna knees buckles. but hurries after Bianca! Shayna gets the arm, Bianca scoops with the good one to SLAM her down! Shayna gets up but Bianca ROCKS her! Bianca runs in to RAM Shayna into the corner! Bianca rams and rams and fires off with the good arm and even some stomps! Bianca drags Shayna up to a suplex! And a kip up! Bianca shakes out the bad arm, claps at Shayna, then whips her to back drop her! Nia is the one getting upset now as Bianca chicken wings for the Glam-

NO! Shayna victory rolls Bianca out of the ring! Reggie is there and he says no hard feelings, but Bianca shoves him down! Bianca gets in, Shayna KNEES her down! Both women are down and Reggie flounders up near Nia. Nia shoves Reggie at Sasha, and runs over! Reggie moves ,Sasha gets bulldozed! Bianca is distracted, Shayna gets the KIRAFUDA! But Bianca powers to the Torture Rack, KISS OF DEATH!! Cover, Bianca wins!!

Winner: Bianca Belair, by pinfall

The EST pulled it off and KOD sealed the deal! But Bianca tells Sasha to handle things with Reggie. Tag titles or not, Bianca and Sasha need to have a fair match at Mania. Reggie helps Sasha up, and she smiles, but then SLAPS Reggie! Sasha told Reggie to stay out of her business! When it rains, it pours. Will Reggie be pouring himself a drink to drown his sorrows?

Roman talks with Jey in their suite.

Roman wants Jey to understand that if Jey wins, the Universal Championship is safe until Mania. But if Jey loses, Roman will have to defend it at Fastlane. That part is fine, but Jey losing is an embarrassment to him and the family. Jey cannot embarrass the family. Jey says he’s got this, but will he prove that when caged up with a determined Daniel Bryan?

Buddy Murphy VS Cesaro!

The former disciple might be trying to show Rollins what he can do by taking the Swiss Cyborg head-on! Will Cesaro prove that if he can defeat Rollins’ former protégé, he really doesn’t need Rollins’ vision?

But of course Rollins makes his presence known! Rollins goes ringside to watch Cesaro in person, and the bell rings. Cesaro runs at Murphy, waistlocks and SLAMS him, then dead lift gut wrenches Murphy for a suplex! Rollins joins commentary, Cesaro covers Murphy, ONE! Murphy elbows Cesaro away, runs but Cesaro follows. Murphy leaps but into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Cesaro is after Murphy’s legs but he gets to the apron. Murphy then yanks Cesaro out and stomps Cesaro’s hand away! Murphy WRECKS Cesaro with a dropkick, then builds speed to FLY! Direct hit and Murphy tumbles to the ramp. Murphy puts Cesaro in, climbs up top, and leaps for a METEORA! Cover, TWO!

Murphy grits his teeth and he digs his knee into Cesaro then KICKS him in the back! Cesaro shoves Murphy away but runs into a boot! Murphy hops up again, leaps, but into a EuroUpper! Murphy staggers back, Cesaro catches his breath, and Cesaro grits his teeth. Cesaro runs in to EuroUpper again! Cesaro whips, EuroUppers, and repeat! And repeat! Cesaro runs to BOOT Murphy down! Cesaro drags Murphy back up as Rollins vents about the swing, and Cesaro puts Murphy IN THE SWING! Cesaro swings Murphy around and around and around and around and Rollins complains and Cesaro keeps going! Cesaro stops after 20, and puts on the SHARPSHOOTER! Murphy taps, Cesaro wins!

Winner: Cesaro, by submission

Rollins applauds Cesaro despite all he was just saying. But Cesaro smiles back just as mockingly. Will Cesaro do more than just embarrass and humiliate Rollins when they get in the ring together?

Reggie sulks as he packs up his things and heads out.

But he spots Sasha’s private room and decides to knock on the door. Sasha answers, and Reggie tries to apologize, but she says NO! Well, guess that’s that. But then Reggie sees the tag champions and Shayna says, “Smell that?” Reggie reeks of failure! But where’s wine boy going? Thirsty for a fight? Nia says Shayna should chill. Doesn’t she see what Nia sees? Reggie’s kinda cute. Huh? Is the sommelier about to go from bully bosses to boss bullies?

Apollo Crews is here!

And he is further representing his Nigerian royal heritage by having bodyguards by his side, and a spear in his hand! Apollo has his guards lead the way into the ring first, then he follows. Apollo fetches a mic and he says everyone is telling him how they don’t like the new Apollo. But the good news is, this isn’t the “new” Apollo, this is the REAL Apollo! This is who he is, how he talks, and he is a descendant of Nigerian royalty! He is a REAL African American! This is his Nigerian Elite Guard, the protector of his family for many generations. Apollo remembers being a young boy hearing stories about these men, about his heritage.

At the time, he was too ashamed to accept his heritage because he would be made fun of. He wanted to fit in, and be just like “you.” But “you” never accepted him! Even his own “friends” just wanted to mock him. “Did you live in a jungle? Did you ride lions to school?” Apollo was ashamed, but the truth is, these stories about his ancestors, some of the most feared and respected men in all of Nigeria, who would dominate and conquer anyone. The more Apollo went into his roots, the more he realized things were repeating themselves. Big E was disrespecting him, and Apollo would hear his ancestors telling him to stand up and claim his birthright. So Apollo did what he had to do.

“Big E, I know you’re at home, nursing your injury. And I know you fear walking in the sight of me.” But Big E is coming back next week, and that makes Apollo happy! Apollo is no longer the man Big E once knew and dismissed. Apollo won’t fit in, he’ll proudly stand out! He will DEMAND a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship!! Big E will fall before Apollo’s feet, and Apollo will leave Big E a broken man for life! And Big E will be hunted for Apollo’s complete and total victory! The Nigerian Prince has issued his ultimatum, but will Big E be coming back only bigger and stronger?

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville try to reason with Natalya and Tamina.

They’re clearly upset that Sasha & Bianca are getting a title match over them! Have Pearce & Sonya not seen how dominant Natty & Tamina have been? Of course they have! But that’s not the match that was made. Pearce apologizes and dismisses himself. Sonya says Pearce simply made a different decision. Will the Queen of Harts and the Daughter of Superfly force Pearce to reconsider?

Backstage interview with Jey Uso.

Does he perhaps feel any extra pressure- There’s no pressure! Jey thrives off of this! “DB shouldn’t have popped off on Big Uce!” Now they’re in the Uso Penitentiary! But then Bryan CLOBBERS Jey from behind! Bryan doesn’t say anything, but that was clearly a taste of Jey’s own medicine. Will Jey start to crack under the pressure of defending the family? Will Bryan force Roman to defend his title?

SmackDown has a special bonus DING DONG, HELLO~!

Bayley walks in through the door to say that tonight is a special rehearsal for a new segment. Other shows do “Mean Tweets,” but Bayley is loved by everyone so she has something she’s calling Sweet Tweets! RoleModel1452 says “Bayley can truly do it all! They’d never give a talk show to someone like Sasha banks!” Then EllenDegeneres1 says “Forget about Edge and Roman Reigns, the Ding Dong Hello Show should be the main event of WrestleMania!” And lastly, WWESuperfan says “Ding Dong Hello is…” Wait, wait, wait. How did this one get in here? Bayley doesn’t even finish it and throws the card away. She SLAMS the door, but will she have something to say to that supposed superfan?

Steel Cage Match: Daniel Bryan VS Jey Uso!

Last week’s count-out was neither win or loss, so a deal was struck on Talking Smack: Bryan and Jey have a rematch, and if Bryan wins, he gets his Fastlane title match; if Bryan loses, he must ACKNOWLEDGE Roman! But it was Bryan who raised the stakes even higher by wanting the steel cage to be the stipulation! Will the Goat’s gamble pay off and get him his golden ticket? Or will Jey leave Bryan in WrestleMania lockdown?

Jey steps inside the cage, but Roman and Heyman make their entrance! The Tribal Chief already put pressure on Jey, but he’s really digging in the screws now. Heyman makes sure to get Roman a chair so that he can have a seat at the ramp. Will Roman be here to personally congratulate his cousin? Or personally accept Bryan’s challenge? We’ll find that out, after the break!

SmackDown returns, the bell rings and Bryan rushes Jey with forearms! Jey hits back and it is a brawl! Bryan ROCKS Jey with a EuroUpper, then KICKS a leg to whip. Jey reverses and RAMS Bryan into the steel! Jey drags Bryan up, clubs him and RAMS Him into the steel again! And again! Jey tells Bryan to acknowledge Roman! He digs Bryan’s face into the steel and Roman is there to stare at Bryan. Bryan refuses to say anything so Jey clubs him down. Roman tells Jey to do more and Jey hauls Roman up to fireman’s carry and LAWN DART Bryan into steel! Jey calls for the door and walks over but Bryan catches him in the ropes!

Jey fires off on Bryan but he goes back in to ROCK Bryan with an uppercut! Jey climbs the side but Bryan pursues! Bryan gets a foot, drags Jey back down and then smashes him off the steel! Jey smashes Bryan again, then hops down to trip Bryan! Bryan is stuck on the top, Jey DECKS him off it! Jey drags Bryan up, RAMS him into the corner, then tells Roman he’s got this as he goes side to side. Bryan blocks to SMASH Jey off the steel, off the buckles, then YANKS him into the wall! Heyman watches Roman closely as Bryan climbs up. Bryan leaps to missile dropkick Jey down! Jey writhes and crawls, he sees the door! Jey heads that way but Bryan PENALTY KICKS an arm!

Bryan wrenches Jey to elbow breakers! And then RAMS Jey into more steel! And then brings Jey around for another elbow breaker, and another RAM into steel! Jey flops down but Bryan drags him up to wrench and whip,. Jey reverses, Bryan goes up and over and dodges to go up again! Bryan heads for the top but Jey hurries to bring him down! Bryan lands on his billy goat again, and Jey stomps away on the knees! Jey winces for a moment before he stomps more. Jey climbs, but Bryan sits up! Bryan anchors Jey, climbs up to join him, and then headbutts him! Bryan headbutts Jey to send him back to the top rope, but Jey fireman’s carries Bryan for a SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Both men are down as SmackDown goes to another break!

SmackDown returns one more time, and both men are up on top of the cage! They’re brawling with haymakers and headbutts! Bryan rocks Jey, tries to slip to the outside, but Jey holds on with a facelock! Jey drags Bryan back inside and they’re on the top rope. Bryan smashes Jey off steel, and gives him YES KICKS up there! Jey wobbles but he manages to SUPERKICK Bryan down! Jey adjusts to USO SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Bryan survives and Jey is too sore to be frustrated! Jey crawls to the door and it opens for him. Bryan crawls after Jey and anchors a foot. Jey grabs at the frame, gets up, but Bryan spins him around, only to get the DRAGON WHIP KICK!

But Bryan ROUNDHOUSES Jey! Jey SUPERKICKS again! Cover, TWO!! Jey is beside himself, but Roman is like stone as usual. Jey sits up and wants the door to open again, but Bryan GHOST PINS! TWO, and he has Jey caught for endless elbows! And then, a turn to the omoplata, but Jey moves around to ground ‘n’ pound wildly! Jey wants to hurt Bryan more than anything! Jey lets off to catch his breath, and he looks to Roman. Jey grabs Bryan’s legs, and catapults him into steel! Bryan flops down, but Jey again looks to Roman. Jey says he’ll end this, and he goes up the side of the steel. But Bryan pursues again! Bryan catches up to Jey and anchors him as he climbs up again!

Bryan throws headbutts, Jey goes back to the ropes, and Bryan adjusts on top. Bryan is going to the outside, but Jey grabs his head with a cravat! Jey drags Bryan back in but Bryan headbutts Jey again! Bryan has Jey and RAMS him into the steel again and again! Bryan underhooks for a SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!! Roll through, to the YES LOCK!! Jey endures, flails, crawls, and gets the ropebreak, BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER! No ropebreaks or disqualifications in a cage match! Bryan pulls back even harder!! Jey taps, BRYAN WINS!!

Winner: Daniel Bryan, by submission (faces Roman Reigns for the title at Fastlane)

The Universal Championship is taking a detour! Bryan is taking a stand against the establishment again, can he repeat what he did for WrestleMania 30 and make it into YEStleMania?

My Thoughts:

A pretty great episode for SmackDown, but there is a lot I do not like for the build to Fastlane and other stories from this. Firstly, Buddy Murphy trying to reconnect with Rollins. Obviously, the stuff with Aaliyah Mysterio wasn’t working, wasn’t going to work, and was a bit dumb to do in the first place. But you can’t just reset Murphy to before all of that. Don’t have Murphy reach out to Rollins at all, just have him return by surprise here against Cesaro. That match was still okay, because Rollins was on commentary and Cesaro did the swing to get at Rollins and all of that. But I am annoyed that WWE (Vince) is throwing Murphy back in just because they don’t know what else to do with Murphy. Rollins VS Cesaro is just fine on its own, have someone else #EmbraceTheVision instead of Murphy relapsing back to being the disciple.

Then the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship developments are very odd. It’s fine that the champions are defending the belts at all, but announcing that it’s just going to be the Elimination Chamber match-up again is odd. I did appreciate that another team was upset by this, so there might be more story to it than what we got. Pearce sure seems really close to these titles given what we saw on NXT. If this all turns out to be a huge story between all three brands, then I’ll be all for it, but it is hard to see that from where we are. And while Reggie being fired by Mella and rejected by Sasha is following what I expected, I’m not sure how I feel about Nia suddenly taking interest in him. Whenever it is that Shayna and Nia split, I don’t think Nia needs a sidekick, so it’s just odd she’d care about Reggie at all.

The Profits having singles matches was a good way to both fill time but also have more story with Corbin and Sami. Corbin puts a stop to the tag team with Sami, the Profits get to go 1-1 on the night, keeping things a bit even for them as we head for Mania. The SmackDown Tag Team Championships story will certainly have something for Mania, so the slow burn isn’t so bad. Gable VS Dom was good, and it works that Dom gets a quick victory. Another tag match is coming, and though the Profits will protest, I bet Sonya sets up the winner of that against the Dirty Dawgs. That can be for Fastlane, then Profits getting their rematch can be for Mania to make it even bigger.

Apollo’s promo was very good, though I’m surprised he’s got bodyguards now. The spear is cool, though. Big E’s return is in time for Fastlane, so that could be the match for the Intercontinental Championship. And with how this Apollo is, it could go either way. Then the main story, once again the Universal Championship with Roman, is going great. Bryan’s promo to start the night is a bit recycled from Talking Smack but still just as strong and passionate, and then his thwarting Jey’s sneak attack to then come back with one of his own is great stuff. Bryan is taking the fight to the establishment again, and Fastlane is going to be great with Roman VS Bryan fair and square, both guys at 100%. I still feel like Roman wins in the end, because WWE can’t resist Spear VS Spear, but Bryan’s going to make it one hell of a match.

My Score: 8.3/10