Is this the last SmackDown for Daniel Bryan?

Roman Reigns is giving Daniel Bryan one last chance at the WWE Universal Championship. But if the Goat doesn’t win it this time, he is BANISHED from SmackDown!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Person Tag: Bianca Belair & The Street Profits VS Bayley & The Dirty Dawgs; Belair & the Profits win.
• Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina; Natalya & Tamina win.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship: Apollo Crews w/ Commander Azeez VS Big E; Big E wins by disqualification, Crews retains the title.
• WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Daniel Bryan; Reigns wins and retains the title, Bryan must leave SmackDown.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bianca Belair is here!

The strongest, the fastest, the roughest, the toughest and the newest SmackDown Women’s Champion is opening the show and has the fans fired up on their ThunderDome screens. “Ladies and gentlemen! As the EST of WWE, and your SmackDown Women’s Champion, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the coolEST, the dopEST, the hottEST show on Fox, Friday Night SmackDown!” And now, put your hands together for- The Dirty Dawgs? Dolph Ziggler says they need to kick the night off right! Robert Roode says the SmackDown Tag Team Champions will take it from here! They are the best at what they do, and that’s- get interrupted by the Street Profits!

Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins walk out and they know this is SmackDown, but did the Dirty Dawgs just interrupt THE main event of WrestleMania? They most definitely did, fam. But you know what that means, right? It means BAYLEY interrupts the Profits! Bayley doesn’t care who’s the champion or the main event, she gets in the ring and in Bianca’s face to snatch her mic away! Bayley laughs at the looks on everyone’s faces, and then Bianca SLAPS her! Bayley tackles Bianca, the Dawgs and the Profits start brawling! We’re about to have a Six Person Tag, but it’s chaos as SmackDown goes to break!

Next week, SmackDown goes back in time!

Fox is putting on a #ThrowbackWeek so WWE is getting in on the act! What will Friday Night SmackDown look like after traveling back over 30 years?!

Six Person Tag: Bianca Belair & The Street Profits VS Bayley & The Dirty Dawgs!

SmackDown returns and Bianca is throwing hands on Bayley! Bayley hits back, they trade shots, and Bianca ROCKS Bayley! Bianca then catches Bayley for chicken wings but Bayley fights with elbows. Bayley stomps Bianca’s foot, but Bianca scoops! Bayley slips out, shoves and CLOBBERS Bianca! Bayley talks smack but slides into a ghost pin! TWO, and Bianca CLOBBERS Bayley! Bianca says kiss this, then runs and handsprings. Bayley deflects the dropkick to then drop elbows and fists! Cover, ONE! Bayley gets Bianca up, whips her to a corner, but Bianca goes up and over and comes back to dropkick Bayley down! Bianca kips up and dares Bayley to come back, but Bayley tags Ziggler.

Ziggler and Bianca circle, but this is still a Mixed Six so Dawkins POUNCES Ziggler! Tag to Ford, the Profits whip and dropkick Ziggler down! Then Roode runs in, for a DOUBLE FLAPJACK! Dawkins clotheslines himself and Roode out, Bianca intercepts Bayley, and Ford builds speed! Ford FLIES and takes out the Dawgs! Bianca coaches her husband on and he gets Ziggler in the ring. But Bayley RAMS Bianca into steel steps! Ford is concerned for his wife and turns around into a SUPERKICK from Ziggler! Ziggler hurries after Ford but Ford falls out of the ring! Ziggler fetches Ford, gets him up and in, and stalks him to the corner.

Tag to Roode, the Dawgs double whip Ford to a corner, then Ziggler whips for Roode to whip him, BIG corner splash! Feed to Roode for a GLORIOUS URENAGE! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives but Roode drops elbows and stomps Ford down. Roode taunts Ford’s corner, then puts Ford on ropes to choke and go after the eyes! The ref counts, Roode backs off, but Bayley gets a cheap shot in! Roode stomps Ford at the ropes, then tags in Ziggler. The Dawgs double suplex, Ziggler covers, TWO! Ford is still in this but Ziggler smothers him with a sleeper hold! Ford endures, crawls around, and Dawkins coaches him while fans rally.

Ford gets up, arm-drags Ziggler away, but staggers to an open corner to get another SPLASH! Ziggler gets cocky and takes aim, but Ford SUPERKICKS first! Both men are down and while Bayley panics, Bianca is fired up! Fans rally on their screens as both men crawl to get past each other. Hot tags to Roode and Dawkins! Dawkins ROCKS Roode, ducks and dodges to hit a FLYING ELBOW! Ziggler returns to get an EXPLODER! Dawkins hits the CYCLONE on Roode, then hits the BULLDOG! Double underhooks for the CASH OUT! Cover, Ziggler breaks it! Bianca gets in and stalks Ziggler, to fireman’s carry him! Ziggler flails but Bianca tosses him to DECK Bayley!

Bianca gets Bayley up, torture rack for the KISS OF DEATH! Dawkins runs at Roode but Roode BOOTS him! Roode runs to O’Conner roll, with tights! Bianca gives Roode a WHIPLASH! The ANOINTING from Dawkins, tag to Ford,  springboard FROM THE HEAVENS!! Cover, Bianca & The Profits win!

Winners: Bianca Belair & The Street Profits, by pinfall

It’s takeback season, but you best bet Bianca won’t let Bayley get the gold at Backlash! Will the Profits be up and get the tag titles back from Ziggler & Roode?

Backstage interview with Daniel Bryan!

Tonight, he gambles being banned from SmackDown in order to get the WWE Universal Championship. How does that weigh on his mind? Bryan is at peace, but maybe Roman is worried. It’s Roman’s title on the line. But this is what Bryan has always wanted: a fair fight 1v1 with Roman. Bryan tapped Roman out before, he’ll do it again. And if Bryan wins and gets to put the belt on the line, he’ll face someone who has waited far, far, FAR too long in Cesaro. Will Bryan win it all when it’s all on the line?

SmackDown superstars speak on tonight’s huge main event!

Seth Rollins laughs and says, “Isn’t that sweet? Little Daniel Bryan thinks he’s gonna beat Roman Reigns, and give his buddy, Cesaro, first crack at the Universal Championship.” Rollins’ prediction is very simple. Or, well, he does have history with Roman Reigns, but his prediction for the match IS that Bryan win sin one of the biggest upsets of all time. And as far as Cesaro goes, he won’t get a crack at the title because he won’t make it past next week! That is a challenge from Rollins to the Swiss Cyborg! Is Cesaro ready to take another swing?

Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, and Reginald, arrive backstage.

Megan walks over and brings up that they’re facing- They know who they’re facing, Megan! Oh, then how do they feel about Tamina & Natalya getting wins over them in singles matches? What does she not get about the words “singles competition?” These two are the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and if you don’t know the difference, you’re going to see what it means. Nia is sick of the disrespect- Natty jumps Shayna and throws her into pipes, then Tamina does the same to Nia! Their match is NEXT!

Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina!

The Irresistible Force and Queen of Spades were about to say they are fed up with the disrespect from the would-be contenders on Raw and SmackDown, but there’s little “would-be” when it comes to the Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly! Will Natty & Tamina make it clear who’s coming for the belts next?

The teams sort out, Tamina starts with Nia and the two rush each other! Tamina sends Nia into buckles then SUPERKICKS her in the back! Nia is in the drop zone and Tamina climbs! Shayna rushes over but Tamina DECKS her! Tamina is up top, for the SUPERFLY!! ONTO KNEES! Nia tags Shayna and drags Tamina up, they combine for a KNEE SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Tamina gets up, Shayna kicks her back down! Shayna drags Tamina up to CLUB her down and rain down fists! Shayna drags Tamina back up, Tamina shoves her away but Shayna ROCKS her! Tag to Nia, Shayna KNEES Tamina then Nia SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Tamina isn’t giving up just yet!

Nia drags Tamina up by her hair to throw her back down. Nia vents about being attacked from behind, and then stands on Tamina’s head at the ropes. Nia lets off as the ref counts, and she drags Tamina back up. Tamina throws forearms and ROCKS Nia! Tamina shoves and scoops but falls over! Nia makes it a cover, TWO! Nia drags Tamina back up, talks trash, and then tags Shayna. Tamina fights both champs off, throwing big elbows and forearms! Shayna gest around, spins Tamina and goes after the arm with a double wristlock! But Tamina scoops and SLAMS Shayna down! Both women crawl, but Nia isn’t there! Hot tag to Natty!

Natty dodges Shayna’s knee, scoops her, but Shayna slips out! Natty arm-drags to a DISCUS! Cover, TWO! Reggie checks on Nia, Natty gets Shayna up tow hip., Shayna reverses but Natty gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Natty gets the legs, steps through, but Shayna kicks her away! Shayna ROCKS Natty and fires off strikes! Shayna runs, Nia tags in, Shayna KNEES and Nia drops an elbow! Cover, TWO!! Natty scrambles away in a hurry, dodges Nia and Nia POSTS herself! Tag to Tamina and she BOOTS Nia down! Tamina climbs again, Reggie gets involved but Tamina SWATS him! Natty gets Reggie but Shayna gets Natty!

Shayna throws Natty over the desk! Shayna gets up but Tamina swipes at her! Nia HEADBUTTS Tamina, then tags Shayna in! Shayna hurries up top, gets Tamina’s arm, but Tamina resists the superplex! Tamina turns things around to HEADBUTT Shayna! Shayna is in the drop zone, Tamina stands and SUPERFLY! Cover, Tamina & Natty win!!

Winners: Natalya & Tamina, by pinfall

They’ve pinned the champions!! The titles weren’t on the line tonight, and that is the only thing that saves Nia & Shayna! Will the dominant champions be dominant no more?

More superstars share their predictions for tonight’s main event!

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T predicts that in Roman VS Bryan for the title is Roman Reigns. Can you did that, SUCKAAA?!

The King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura, says that Daniel Bryan will win! But if Roman does beat Bryan, well, he’s escaped Nakamura once. The King will be waiting.

Backstage interview with Rey & Dominik Mysterio!

The father and son of Lucha have been on quite the roll, will a tag title opportunity be in their future? Dom says it is very exciting! When he was younger, he thought Rey was a superhero! He’s a two-time world champion and four-time tag team champion. There’s no one Dom would rather fight for those tag titles with than Rey. Rey says his accomplishments are great, but nothing would be better than this chance to make history as the first-ever father-son tag team champions in the WWE! That’s legendary!

Aleister Black shares another chapter of his story.

“You look at me, you judge me, and you make assumptions. Because this is the true nature of man. And I’ve always lived in this reality.” Chapter 2: Reality. “In high school, people like school littered the halls. You were so unaware, lost in the concept of successive adoration that you had been fed. The date to the prom, the right college, the three bedroom house with a white picket fence, building your life on a foundation of lies! Imagine thinking any of that is real! Imagine falling for that trap!” Father never fed Aleister those dreams. Aleister was given the truth. “And the truth is, there is something horribly wrong with all of that, and all of you.”

Aleister takes a few breaths before he says he could help us, and give us “the keys to escape,” but he won’t. He slams the book shut. Will he slam this reality of lies shut on all of us?

Backstage interview with Big E!

Ever since losing the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, Megan is sure he’s changed his strategy. Oh, Megan. Big E’s been all around the world, and all around the world, it’s the same song! “What will you do in your rematch with Apollo Crews?! How will you ever overcome the oh-so-formidable Commander Azeez!?” Apollo and Big E have been around and around and around, but tonight it all stops! Tonight, Big E gets his baby back! He’ll sit his baby in the passenger seat, buckle her in, close the door and head north because tonight, Big E becomes the THREE-TIME Intercontinental Champion! And you’ve got to feel that!!

WWE teams up with Make A Wish once more!

Word Wish Day is coming, so donate and help someone’s wish come true at wish.org/wwe!

More superstars give their main event predictions!

Xavier Woods says “people like Roman, who had the keys to the kingdom handed to them the moment they walked in the door” have no idea about the struggle. But a guy like Bryan, who has been and is still fighting, gets that complete. That means 1v1, Bryan wins. Kofi Kingston adds that Roman VS Bryan, normally Kofi goes for Bryan because no one overcomes odds more than Bryan. But Roman has his Right Hand Man, Jey Uso, who has been a wingman since day one. Kofi goes with Roman.

WWE Intercontinental Championship: Apollo Crews w/ Commander Azeez VS Big E!

Time and time again, the rising star failed to take this title from the Powerhouse of Positivity. But once Apollo stopped rising and simply stood as his true self, he got this title at WrestleMania. But will this big match be even bigger than the Grandest Stage of Them All inside the ThunderDome?

SmackDown returns as Apollo makes his entrance, with Big E waiting right on the apron. Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and one way or another, this battle for this battle ends!

The two tie up right at the bell, they go around the ring, and Big E puts Apollo in a corner, but Apollo turns it around. Apollo lets off, the two go again, and Apollo waistlocks. Big E throws Apollo off and Apollo gets right up, but Big E swivels at him. They go again, Big E waistlocks but Apollo switches. Big E pries free to throw Apollo again! Big E rushes in but Apollo headlocks. Big E powers out, things speed up, and Big E hurdles to catch Apollo to a cobra twist! Big E clamps a claw into the ribs, and Apollo endures as Big E CLUBS him in the side again and again! Big E shoves Apollo to ropes then CLOBBERS him on the return! Cover, TWO!

Apollo heads for ropes but Big E goes out to drag him to the apron by his chin! Big E has Apollo on the edge and CLUBS away on his chest! The ref counts, Big E gets in but goes right back to the apron. Big E aims, APRON SPLASH! Apollo rolls in but Big E hurries to cover, TWO! Big E stalks Apollo, whips him but Apollo reverses to lift and FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Big E staggers about, Apollo LARIATS him down! Apollo drags Big E to the apron now, for a DRAPING SUPLEX to the floor! Azeez helps Apollo stand back up as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Apollo CLUBS Big E down then hammers away with fists! Apollo drags Big E up, whips him to a corner, but Big E reverses. Big E runs but into a boot! Apollo goes up, leaps, but into Big E’s OVERHEAD suplex! And another! Big E sees Apollo coming, side steps and runs, but Apollo sends him to the apron. Apollo ENZIGURIS Big E to the floor, then goes to the apron to MOONSAULT! Direct hit and down goes Big E! The ref starts a ring count, Apollo gets Big E up and in, then goes to a corner. Apollo climbs, leaps, but Big E avoids the splash! Big E gets Apollo for the Belly2Belly! Big E runs to BIG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Apollo survives, Azeez is relieved, but Big E fires up with the clap. Fans clap along, Apollo gets up and ROCKS Big E first! Big E elbows back, but runs into a BOOT! Cover, TWO!! Big E survives and Apollo is furious! Azeez coaches Apollo and Apollo rains down more fists. Apollo KICKS Big E to a corner, then runs in to SPLASH! Apollo whips Big E corner to corner, runs in but into the Urenag-E!! Cover, TWO!! Big E works to stay calm as Apollo rolls away. Apollo is on the apron, Big E runs but into a knee! Apollo drags Big E out to join him now, fireman’s carries and APRON DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS!!

Apollo shoves Big E in, climbs up top again, and hits the FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!?! Apollo just gets Big E up but Big E slips out of the slam to roll up! TWO and Big E scoops, for the BIG ENDING!! Cover, but Azeez drags Big E out!! Azeez POSTS Big E!!

Winner: Big E, by disqualification; Apollo Crews is still WWE Intercontinental Champion

But here comes KEVIN OWENS! Kevin goes after Azeez after everything from last week! Apollo gets up, Azeez feeds Kevin to a LARIAT! Azeez gets Kevin back up, but Big E CLOBBERS Azeez! Big E runs Apollo off and so he and Kevin fire off on Azeez! Azeez HEADBUTTS Big E down! Azeez runs but into Kevin’s BOOT! Sami Zayn with a HELLUVA KICK outta nowhere?! Sami tells Azeez to get Big E, and Apollo agrees! Azeez stomps Big E, Sami kicks Kevin out of the ring, and Azeez throws Big E out of the ring. But then Sami has the Intercontinental Championship in his hands. Sami says it isn’t what it looks like, he was just fetching it for Apollo.

Apollo takes the belt back, Sami says they’re cool. Sami raises Apollo’s hand in victory to assure Azeez this is all good. Azeez still gives him a NIGERIAN NAIL!! Sami gasps and sputters, the only allies Apollo and Azeez need are each other! Will all the challengers for this championship learn to beware the steel?

More superstars give their predictions!

The Miz says “There is no one more powerful, more influential, than the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, on SmackDown, and I don’t think anyone on that entire roster can take Roman Reigns down. And Daniel Bryan definitely will not.” The A-Lister is a bit biased, though, but will his side of the poll be proven right?

Cesaro says first, of course he’ll take Rollins up on his challenge. It’s Cesaro, so he’ll do it! And as far as Roman VS Bryan, Bryan will win the title, and then Cesaro will win it off Bryan at #WrestleManiaBacklash!

Kayla Braxton calls on Paul Heyman.

Heyman exits Roman’s private room and is annoyed to see it’s Kayla. The Special Counsel will give his thoughts- or rather, spoilers, on tonight’s main event, after the break.

SmackDown returns, Roman sits in his private room with 100% focus. After a recap package of Bryan goading Roman on and Roman making the challenge that gave us tonight’s main event, we return to Kayla and Heyman. She asks him that, given how close Bryan came- “DaNiEl BrYaN~, DaNiEl BrYaN~, DaNiEl BrYaN~!” Heyman is so sick of hearing that name, “Daniel Bryan.” Bryan should never have entered the sports entertainment industry, but did he? Yes~, yes~, yes~! Did he have a hall of fame worthy career? Yes~, yes~, yes~. And did he always defy the odds? Yes, yes, yes.

Was he the ultimate underdog? Yes, yes, yes… Did he set “the peewee leagues” on fire with his passion? Yes, yes, yes… And did Bryan graduate to the big stage of NXT, SmackDown and Raw? Yes, yes, yes…! And did he achieve the ultimate by becoming THE champion in the WWE in the main event of WrestleMania? Yes, yes, yes! And did he again become the miracle kid, defy all the odds, turn back all the surgeries and get back after what was a career-ending injury for one of the greatest comebacks ever? Yes! Yes! Yes! And does everyone watching at home believe Bryan will beat Roman? YES! YES! YES!

Do they think he’ll unseat the Tribal Chief? YES! Do they think Bryan will then be Head of the Table? YES! Does the entire WWE Universe think this is Bryan’s night to solidify his legacy as the one to beat Roman? YES YES YES YES YES!! And will he!? NO!!! Bryan will NOT beat Roman, he will NOT survive the onslaught, and he will NOT be on SmackDown every again! No, no, no…!

There’s one more round of superstar predictions!

Baron Corbin says, “Who wins tonight? Well I don’t like either one of them one bit.” But at least if Roman wins, Bryan packs his bags and goes home for good.

WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Daniel Bryan!

Superstars have made their predictions, the Special Counsel has shared his “spoiler,” and we all know what is on the line! Either Bryan proves he is The Goat and adds the Universal Championship to his already legendary list of accolades, or he is defeated and removed from the SmackDown roster. Can Bryan pull off another YEStleMania level miracle on a Friday night in the ThunderDome?

SmackDown returns and Roman makes his entrance with an epic new rock opera theme. The introductions are made, the title is raised, and for the Yes Movement, it all comes down to this!

Bryan SHOTGUNS Roman at the bell! And fires off YES Kicks in the corner! Roman shoves Bryan away then DECKS him with an uppercut! Roman snarls as he drags Bryan up and grinds him with a headlock. Bryan fights back, powers out but Roman runs him over. Things speed up, Bryan leaps and fires off hands! Bryan gets Roman down and the omoplata, but Roman scrambles to avoid the hold! Bryan lets off to then WRECK Roman with a dropkick! Bryan is on the apron and he leaps for a FLYING KNEE! Roman is down and Bryan is fired up as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Bryan drives knees into Roman’s arm! Roman can only endure as Bryan drops knees on the hammerlock’d arm, then KICKS him! Roman gets up but Bryan bumps him off buckles. Bryan fires off more YES Kicks from all sides, then runs corner to corner to DROPKICK! Bryan keeps going, another DROPKICK! Bryan wants a third but Roman CLOBBERS him with a lariat! Roman seethes as he sees Bryan down. Cover, TWO! Roman stomps Bryan while he’s down, then drags him up to headbutt him back down! Roman paces, drags Bryan back up and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Roman grows annoyed but Bryan is again proving his toughness.

Roman sits Bryan up to wrap on a chinlock. Roman grinds Bryan down but fans rally for him on their screens. Bryan endures, fights his way up, and Roman shifts to a cravat. Bryan throws body shots but Roman knees Bryan down! Roman looms over Bryan in a corner, stands him up and ROCKS him with a right hand! Roman whips Bryan corner to corner, Bryan goes up and over and builds speed to duck and dodge, only for Roman to CLOBBER him again! Cover, TWO! Roman is annoyed again but the fans haven’t given up. Roman DECKS Bryan, but Bryan sits up. Roman DECKS Bryan again, but again Bryan gets up!

Roman watches Bryan stand, and Bryan throws a EuroUpper! And another! And another! Roman shoves Bryan to a corner, runs in but Bryan drop toeholds him into buckles! Roman checks his face, Bryan KICKS him! And KICKS, and hoists Roman up top! Bryan climbs up to join Roman, and SUPER- NO! Roman blocks the steiner and drags Bryan back up, for a SUPER POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Roman is shocked that Bryan survives, but SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Roman fires off point-blank lariats on Bryan against the apron! Then Roman RAMS Bryan into barriers and puts him back in the ring. Cover, TWO! Roman is again annoyed with Bryan but Bryan’s tougher than that! Roman scuffs Bryan and toys with him. Roman drags Bryan up to KNEE him to a corner! Bryan gets up but Roman gives him knee after knee! The ref counts, Roman lets off and gets in the ref’s face! Fans boo Roman but Roman drags Bryan up to the top rope. Roman climbs up now, stands on the very top, but Bryan slips out to trip Roman up!

Fans fire up as Bryan climbs up behind Roman. Bryan stands Roman up for a SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Both men are down and the ThunderDome is thunderous! Bryan crawls his way over to Roman, pushes him to a cover, TWO!! Roman is still in this and Heyman is relieved. Bryan drags Roman back up, and throws a EuroUpper! Then a YES KICK! And another! And another! And another! Bryan fires from all sides, aims but the buzzsaw misses! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Bryan goes to a corner but so does Roman. Roman locks and loads, runs in but into a KICK! Bryan KICKS the legs out, then aims and PENALTY KICKS the arm!

Roman writhes, Bryan is after that golden hand! Arm wrench to ELBOW BREAKER! Roman CLUBS Bryan, but Bryan dumps Roman out of the ring! Bryan builds speed and DIVES! But into Roman’s arms for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! The ring count climbs as Roman aims at Bryan. Roman runs in and SPEARS through the barriers as Bryan dodges! Both men are down and out as SmackDown goes to one more break!

SmackDown returns yet again, and Bryan is up top! Heyman is freaking out as Bryan leaps for the DIVING HEADBUTT!! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives but Bryan is not deterred! Bryan aims from a corner and powers up with the Yes Fingers! Fans join in, Bryan runs but into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO!! Roman is beside himself as Bryan survives, but he grits his teeth as he goes to a corner. Bryan stands, Roman aims, but he runs into a cradle takedown!! TWO!!! Bryan dodges the clothesline and runs in, KNEE PLUS!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!! Roman saves himself by just mere inches! Bryan is stunned, but he gets Roman’s arms, for DANIELSON STOMPS!

Heyman winces with every stomp to Roman’s head and shoulders! Bryan drags Roman around to the omoplata, and then the YES LOCK!! Roman endures, Bryan pulls him back, but Roman makes it a cover! TWO, and Roman returns to SPEAR!! Cover, TWO?!?! Bryan survives and Roman is in disbelief! “This is Awesome!” and far from over! Roman slowly sits up, Bryan slowly follows, and Roman drags Bryan up into the facelock. Roman wants the Guillotine, and drags Bryan down into body scissors! Bryan pushes up with his legs to avoid the scissors and then pops out of the hold! ARMBAR!! Roman shifts around, Bryan gets another omoplata!

Heyman is panicking again as Bryan shifts around, to the YES LOCK!! Roman endures again, the hands blind him for only a moment, and Roman sees ropes! Roman claws his way over, reaches out, but Bryan gets that arm to shift Roman around! YES LOCK AGAIN!! Roman is stuck in the center of the ring!! Roman fights to get free from underneath! Roman starts to ground ‘n’ pound Bryan with big forearms and elbows! Roman high stacks to get the dead lift for a POWERBOMB! Roman glares, and throws even more forearms down on Bryan now! He lets off to get Bryan back up, for another POWERBOMB!!

Roman backs off for just a moment, but gets Bryan back up, into the facelock! Bryan fights off the Guillotine?! Bryan still has power, but Roman shifts to a GUILLOTINE with the left!! Bryan is stuck in the body scissors now! Bryan flails, reaches, but he’s fading! Roman squeezes tighter, Bryan is OUT!! Roman wins!!

Winner: Roman Reigns, by submission (still WWE Universal Champion)

The Tribal Chief just squeezed the life out of Bryan’s hopes and dreams! No cheating, no controversy, no questioning it, Roman won and defended his title on his show! But wait, Roman isn’t done with Bryan here! Roman brings two chairs into the ring! Roman is copying Edge, but here comes CESARO! The Swiss Superman BLASTS Roman with a EuroUpper! Cesaro saves Bryan rom a fate worse than losing, and then CLOBBERS Roman with more EuroUppers! The ref tries to stop Cesaro but he puts Roman back in the ring, only for JEY USO to attack! Jey stayed away the whole main event but now he SUPERKICKS Cesaro!!

Jey puts Cesaro in the ring and ties him up in the ropes! Jey makes Cesaro watch as Roman sets Bryan up, and hits a CON-CHAIR-TO!!! Roman glares at Cesaro and tells him that this will be HIS fate, too! Will the Tribal Chief continue to reign with an iron fist?

My Thoughts:

This was an awesome episode! Though, they clearly tried to get as much done in the first hour so they could devote the second hour to the title matches. The Six Person Tag was a pretty good opening segment, with there being so many interruptions that of course a brawl broke out. The Faces win to get big momentum towards Backlash, and while Bianca will surely get through Bayley to put her first defense under her belt, I still feel like Profits VS Dawgs is up in the air. Having Bianca and the Profits all holding gold would be a big moment and mean big things for SmackDown, but even with the PPV called WrestleMania Backlash this year, it’s still Backlash. How many big moments have happened on Backlash?

Natty & Tamina getting the jump on Nia & Shayna before the match was a great way of taking the fight to them, and I’m rather surprised Natty & Tamina won tonight. They’ll definitely get the title match at Backlash, maybe be part of it with Naomi & Lana joining in as Raw’s representatives, but there’s a lot that still needs to happen to make it seem like Tamina & Natty are getting the belts. Rey & Dom had a decent promo to keep their tag title chase in our minds, but that was about all it did. Aleister’s second chapter was stronger than the first, because the title at least fit what was going on. Maybe last chapter should’ve been titled “monster,” not “dragon.”

The Intercontinental Championship match was awesome, but I should’ve figured Champion’s Advantage would be how Apollo retains here. Kevin going after Azeez and then Sami going after Kevin made sense, and for a second I thought Sami was going to join Apollo, but it also makes sense that they’d knock him down, too. I’m hoping Backlash gives us a Fatal 4 Way, get all these guys involved and have a way for the challengers to take out Azeez together. I won’t expect Kevin or Sami to win the title in the Fatal 4, but maybe if those two get on the same page again, they can enter the tag division and finally win belts together.

The prediction promos were all pretty good, but it was Heyman’s that was the best. The set up of “Yes Yes Yes” into the “No No No” was a given, but he had a masterful way of building it up. Roman VS Bryan was an awesome match, I just wish SmackDown would’ve brought back picture in picture so we could’ve gotten even more of it. I did not think Roman would win cleanly, but that was the only way things would end between him and Bryan. Cesaro coming to the rescue only to be made to watch what happened next was good stuff, and I am sure Cesaro will take out all his anger on Rollins in their rematch.

If WWE is insisting on Roman VS Cesaro at Backlash, fine, but it seems a waste of Cesaro’s big moment when he finally wins a top title. At the same time, that moment could make Backlash something we’ll actually care about, so maybe WWE will surprise us in a good way. As for Bryan, maybe after some time off, we see him return to television on Raw and see what he can do over there. Their ratings could use it, really.

My Score: 8.7/10