Opening Segment
Michael Cole asks why "all of a sudden" Daniel Bryan has become focused on the WWE Universal Title and Roman Reigns. The man would not shut up about finally winning a Royal Rumble, what is Cole talking about!? Bryan says that he scored low on the ambition aspect of a personality test, but he just loves what he's done. Bryan says he's failed himself by putting himself on the back burner. Bryan has wrestled more the last three weeks than Edge and Roman have the last three months.
Roman Reigns comes out, and I like that they went to break on his way out. We don't need this entrance every week. Reigns says Bryan is around, and just falls into circumstances, but everyone in WWE needs him. Bryan disposes of Jey Uso.
This was an outstanding set of promos and has me interested in Bryan getting to this title match.
King Corbin (w/ Sami Zayn) defeated Montez Ford
5.25/10
Oh, cool. A rematch. OR NOT! King Corbin don't WANT NO PARTNER, HE DON'T NEEEEEEEED NO PARTNER. Instead, he challenges one of Street Profts to a singles match. This is a great sprint, and Zayn helps Corbin win, which comes with the End of Days. They would write Corbin's character to not realize that Angelo Dawkins bumped Zayn into him. He won't help Zayn at all now. I do love that nobody kicks out of End of Days though.
Angelo Dawkins (w/ Montez Ford) defeated Sami Zayn
5.25/10
Montez Ford is hamming it up for the documentary cameras. I hate that's what pinned Sami Zayn instead of that bad ass double underhook neckbreaker, which Dawkins calls the Silencer. Blake Christian is serving as one of the documentary cameramen.
Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rey Mysterio) defeated Chad Gable (w/ Otis)
5.5/10
Chad Gable should not be losing one on one straight up matches with Dominik. This is Gable carrying a Dominik who is already way better than he should be at. Rey Mysterio hilariously runs into a camera man after the match while raising hell.
Bianca Belair (w/ Sasha Banks) defeated Shayna Baszler (w/ Nia Jax)
5/10
Reginald gets fired by Carmella, and she knocks the champagne out of his hands. The nerve.
Reginald comes out and follows Sasha Banks, but almost costs Bianca Belair the match. Bianca wins by countering the Kirafuda Clutch into the KOD. Bianca tells Sasha to handle the Reginald shit, and Sasha slaps him. Ha!
There is NO REASON to add NXT Women's Tag Team Titles and no reason to have Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair challenging for the WWE Tag Titles. WWE continues lazy ass booking.
Sasha Banks slams the door on Reginald backstage, and Shayna approaches to bully him, but Nia Jax thinks he's cute.
Cesaro defeated Buddy Murphy
5.25/10
Buddy Murphy approaches Rollins and says maybe he can help him with the Cesaro situation. Rollins doesn't want him around. Rollins joins commentary for this match, though. This is Buddy Murphy's first match since December 4, 2020.
Rollins says that Cesaro is humiliating Murphy by swinging Murphy. Cole oddly calls the submission before the submission happened. I thought my feed was out of sync. Rollins covered for him by saying Cole could see it coming.
Apollo Crews
Apollo comes out and cuts one of the only good ALL YOU PEOPLE promos in recent memory. He goes in and out of the accent to honor his heritage. Some people won't like the accent switch, but I like it, and it's better than everything Apollo did before. He has some heaters by his side for this, too.
Other Stuff
Bayley reads a positive tweet on a Ding Dong, Hello rehearsal. An okay way to keep her on screen.
If Bryan Wins, He Gets A WWE Universal Title Shot At Fastlan
Cage Match
Daniel Bryan defeated Jey Uso (w/ Roman Reigns & Paul Heyman)
6/10
Bryan attacked Jey Uso backstage before the match. Roman Reigns is sitting in an office chair at ringside for this match.
Uso has early success, but Roman wants more damage inflicted. Both guys being on top of the cage seems like a bad time to go to commercial. Uso bouncing off the cage during the Yes Kicks is such a great touch. Uso hits the Uso Splash! There was a lot more climbing and struggling than wrestling in a lot of spots in this match, but Bryan hitting the double underhook suplex into the Yes Lock for the finish was good. There were stakes so this was worth watching.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
