WWE SmackDown live results: Bryan vs. Uso steel cage match
A steel cage match with Fastlane implications headlines tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso will face off inside of a steel cage tonight. If Bryan wins, he challenges Universal Champion Roman Reigns for the title at Fastlane. Bryan confronted Reigns and demanded a title shot last week. Bryan had to defeat Uso to earn the Fastlane title shot, but they went to a double countout.
Edge was frustrated that Bryan could get a title shot before Edge challenges Reigns at WrestleMania 37. Originally, it was said that Edge & Bryan were to team up against Reigns & Uso at Fastlane until Bryan demanded the title shot.
If Uso wins tonight, Bryan must acknowledge Reigns as the tribal chief, the head of the table, and the best wrestler on the planet.
Bianca Belair goes one-on-one with Shayna Baszler tonight. Belair chose SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks as her WrestleMania 37 opponent last week. At Fastlane, Belair & Banks team up to challenge Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Baszler in a rematch from Elimination Chamber.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They recapped Edge winning the Royal Rumble and choosing Universal Champion Roman Reigns as his opponent at WrestleMania 37.
Michael Cole was standing in the ring and introduced his guest Daniel Bryan. Cole noted that Reigns and Edge is the current main event, but that could change. He explained that if Bryan wins tonight, he gets a title shot at Fastlane.
Cole pointed out the original main event was Bryan & Edge against Reigns & Uso. He wondered why Bryan would rather have a title shot than being in a tag team match. Bryan responded that nobody asked him to be in a tag match.
Bryan knows that the dream match is Edge against Reigns. He described it as the Attitude Era versus The Thunderdome. Bryan promised to be the one to ruin everyone’s dream match.
Bryan then showed a video package recapping his Elimination Chamber win and loss to Reigns. It also included Edge spearing Reigns after his victory.
Bryan noted that he’s lost a lot in his career but losing at the Elimination Chamber still hurt. After losing to Reigns, Bryan rolled to the floor. He felt like a failure as he watched Edge spear Reigns and pointed to the WrestleMania sign.
Bryan talked about scoring low on a personality test. He said that he loves wrestling and that drives him. Bryan put himself on the back burner because he felt other guys were ready to be a star.
Bryan regrets putting himself on the back burner. He wrestled more times in the last three weeks than Edge and Reigns wrestled in the previous three months.
Bryan promised that he’s going to headline WrestleMania, and this might be his last chance.
This was an awesome Bryan promo.
Roman Reigns’ music hit and made his way to the ring with Jey Uso and Paul Heyman.
Back from the break, Reigns, Heyman, and Uso were in the ring facing Bryan. Reigns mocked Bryan for being driven and ambitious. Reigns noted Bryan is the little guy and the underdog.
Reigns insisted Bryan doesn’t love wrestling. He needs wrestling.
Reigns pointed out that he loves this business. He doesn’t need this business, but everyone needs him. Reigns claimed that even Bryan needs him.
Reigns promised that Bryan wouldn’t win against Uso tonight. Bryan tried to speak, but Uso grabbed the mic. He got in Bryan’s face and told him not to worry about the champion.
Uso tried to jump Bryan like he did last week. Bryan was ready for Uso this time and fought back. He sent Uso to the floor and had a brief staredown with Reigns.
This was a good opening segment. Bryan was great in his role and gave a fiery promo.
King Corbin (w/Sami Zayn) defeated Montez Ford (w/Angelo Dawkins)
Corbin and Ford had a fine match, although it dragged a bit.
They recapped The Street Profits beating King Corbin & Sami Zayn last week after Corbin yelled at Zayn’s documentary crew.
Sami Zayn walked out on the ramp and briefly mentioned losing last week. Before Zayn could continue, King Corbin interrupted. He noted they’re not a tag team, and he’s a singles competitor.
Corbin demanded a singles match with either member of Street Profits. Zayn was upset because he prepared for a tag match.
Ford had the early advantage and ran wild on Corbin. Corbin took over after hitting a spine buster on Ford. He slowed the pace down, but Ford fought back.
Ford hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. He started to climb to the top rope, but Zayn caused a distraction. Corbin attempted to roll up Ford, but he rolled through and hit an enziguri.
Corbin suddenly hit the End of Days on Ford for the win.
After the match, Zayn pointed out that he helped Corbin, so Corbin has to help him. Angelo Dawkins then knocked Zayn off the apron, and he landed on Corbin.
Corbin was furious and refused to help Zayn. Corbin walked to the back as they went to a break.
Angelo Dawkins (w/Montez Ford) defeated Sami Zayn
Dawkins and Zayn had a fine match with the typical distraction finish.
Dawkins was firmly in control and hit a standing dropkick for a close near fall. Zayn took over as they fought around ringside. He rocked Dawkins with a hard clothesline for a near fall.
Dawkins fired up and hit a splash in the corner. He followed up with a bulldog for a near fall. Zayn blocked a suplex attempt, but Dawkins hit the twisting neck breaker for a near fall.
Dawkins avoided a blue thunder bomb, but Zayn hit an exploder suplex in the corner. Zayn set up for the helluva kick, but Ford began yelling at the documentary crew. This distracted Zayn, and Dawkins rolled him up for the win.
Zayn freaked out at the documentary crew and blamed them for his loss.
In the back, Reginald approached Carmella with a bottle of champagne. She yelled at Reginald for helping Sasha Banks the last few weeks. Carmella knocked the bottle out of his hands and fired him.
Dominik Mysterio (w/Rey Mysterio) defeated Chad Gable (w/Otis)
Gable and Mysterio had a fun short match.
Gable and Mysterio started with some chain wrestling. Gable got a waist lock, but Mysterio sent him to the floor. Mysterio briefly took, but Gable fought back.
Gable slowed the pace and targeted Mysterio’s leg. Mysterio fought back and hit a hurricanrana. He attempted a tornado DDT, but Gable avoided it and hit a tiger suplex for a close near fall.
Gable went for a moonsault, but Mysterio moved out of the way. The finish came when Mysterio rolled up Gable for the win.
After the match, Rey hit a sliding dropkick on Otis and a senton off the apron.
The recapped Cesaro giving Seth Rollins a giant swing last week.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Seth Rollins in the back. Rollins was furious over Cesaro’s action and his attack. Murphy showed up and offered to help Rollins with his Cesaro problem.
Rollins demanded Murphy leave and get out of his face.
Bianca Belair defeated Shayna Baszler (w/Nia Jax)
Belair and Baszler had a good match while it lasted.
They recapped Baszler kicking Asuka’s teeth out of her mouth. SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks came to ringside with Reginald following behind her.
Belair attempted a dropkick, but Baszler caught the leg. Belair fought back and regained control.
Baszler kicked Belair’s arm and hit a running knee in the corner. Baszler continued to target Belair’s arm.
Belair fought back and slammed Baszler. She followed up with a suplex and back body drop.
Belair attempted a double chicken wing, but Baszler sent her to the floor. Belair landed at Reginald’s feet and shoved him towards Nia Jax. Belair jumped back in the ring, but Baszler caught her with a knee.
Jax shoved Reginald. She attacked him, but Reginald moved, and Jax hit Banks. Belair was distracted, and Baszler went for the Kirifuda Clutch. Belair reversed into the KOD for the win.
After the match, Reginald checked on Banks. Banks stood up and slapped Reginald hard across the face.
In the back, Roman Reigns spoke with Jey Uso. Reigns noted that if Uso loses, he’s embarrassing the family. Uso promised to win.
Cesaro defeated Murphy
Cesaro and Murphy had a good hard-hitting match.
Seth Rollins joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. Rollins promised that Cesaro would never give him another giant swing.
Cesaro had the early advantage and hit a backbreaker for a near fall. Murphy sent Cesaro to the floor and hit a huge dive. He followed up with a Meteora for another near fall.
Cesaro fought back and rocked Murphy with an uppercut as he came off the top. Cesaro followed up with a series of uppercuts in the corner. The finish came when Cesaro used the giant swing into the sharpshooter for the win.
Rollins applauded Cesaro for his win after the match.
In the back, Reginald tried to make up with Sasha Banks. She yelled at him to leave and slammed to door on him.
He walked past Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax as he was leaving. Baszler mocked Reginald and said he smells like failure. Jax told Baszler to chill because she thinks he’s cute.
They recapped Apollo Crews injuring Intercontinental Champion Big E a few weeks ago.
Apollo Crews came to the ring with two soldiers. He noted people don’t like the new Apollo Crews. He said he’s being the real Apollo Crews and called himself a real African American.
Crews said this is how he really talks and who he really is. He admitted that he felt ashamed of his Nigerian heritage when he was younger. However, Crews understands everything his family taught him. He’s proud of his ancestors.
Crews knows Big E is returning next week. He mocked Big E and promised to defeat him for the title.
Crews was awesome again in this segment.
In the back, Natalya and Tamina spoke with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville. Natalya and Tamina were upset that they’re not getting a title shot at Fastlane against Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. Pearce noted that’s the match they decided on. Pearce left. Deville then pointed out she’d make a different decision.
Kayla Braxton tried to interview Jey Uso, but Bryan attacked him.
Ding Dong Hello
Bayley decided to work on a new segment for her talk show.
Bayley noted some shows read mean tweets. Instead, she’s going to read sweet tweets. Bayley read two tweets praising her and her talk show. However, she stopped reading the third one. She became upset and stormed out of her fake door.
Corey Graves went into the cage and ran down the rules for the match. He noted three ways to win: pin, submission, or escape the cage. This was a nice touch and gave more importance to the match.
Steel Cage Match: Daniel Bryan defeated Jey Uso
Bryan and Uso had a really good cage match. They both worked hard and told a good story.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman walked to ringside. Reigns suddenly stopped and looked down. Heyman looked down at the same spot. He then ran and grabbed a chair for Reigns to sit on.
Bryan and Uso charged at each other at the bell and traded shots in the middle of the ring. Uso took over and drove Bryan head-first into the cage. He attempted to walk out the door, but Bryan cut him off.
Uso tried to climb out, but Bryan went up after him. Bryan slammed Uso’s head into the cage. Uso fought back and dropped Bryan on the top rope.
Bryan fired back and hit a missile dropkick. He kicked Uso’s arm and began to work on it. Bryan ran up the corner and avoided Uso. He tried to climb out of the cage, but Uso cut him off.
Uso caught Bryan in the tree of woe and stomped on his bad knee. They fought on the top rope, with both trying to escape.
Uso regained control and gave Bryan a Samoan Drop off the top rope.
Back from the break, Bryan and Uso fought on the top of the cage. They climbed back in and fought on the top rope. Bryan hit a series of kicks standing on the top rope.
Uso fought back and hit a superkick, which knocked Bryan down. Uso followed up with a splash off the top for a near fall.
Uso tried to crawl out the door, but Bryan stopped him. Uso fought back and scored a near fall. Bryan recovered and rolled up Uso for a near fall. Bryan then rocked Uso with a series of elbows.
Uso gave Bryan a slingshot into the side of the cage. Uso tried to climb out of the cage, but Bryan cut him off. Bryan tried to escape, but Uso dragged him back in.
Bryan slammed Uso’s arm against the cage. Bryan then gave Uso a butterfly superplex into the Yes Lock.
Uso got to the ropes, but there’s no rope break in a cage match. Uso finally tapped out as Roman Reigns watched from ringside.
Bryan takes on Universal Champion Roman Reigns for the title at Fastlane.
Bryan celebrated on top of the cage to end SmackDown.