A special “Throwback” edition of
SmackDown airs tonight (May 7) live from the ThunderDome in the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. This is the fourth
SmackDown episode during the five week build towards the upcoming
WrestleMania Backlash event on May 16.
This is no time for 50/50 booking
Now that Daniel Bryan is banished from
SmackDown and his WWE contract is expired, the path is clear for Cesaro to ascend into the top babyface role on Friday nights. Another win in tonight’s
WrestleMania rematch against Seth Rollins is a necessary ingredient for making that happen.
But Seth Rollins is no placeholder opponent. What if he actually wins this match, perhaps with some assistance from Jey Uso? Is it out of the question that WWE might be setting up a three way match for the
SmackDown episode during the five week build towards the upcoming
WrestleMania Backlash event on May 16.
Say goodbye to Daniel Bryan
In an attempt to counter the NFL Draft, WWE has loaded tonight’s card with two championship matches. The big one is Daniel Bryan challenging Roman Reigns for the Universal championship. If Bryan fails, he faces banishment from SmackDown.
It would be strange for Reigns to lose the title on an episode of
SmackDown, so I don’t like Daniel’s chances here. That means it’s probably time to say goodbye to Bryan on Friday nights.
Reigns can’t beat anybody clean, so who will cause Bryan’s downfall here? Jey Uso is too predictable for that role - he should be intercepted by Cesaro. But that could still leave the door open for someone like Edge or a returning Jimmy Uso to screw Bryan over. If Edge is the guy, he can easily move over to
Bayley will be the first challenger for Bianca Belair s SmackDown Women s Championship.
Ahead of Friday night s episode of SmackDown, WWE announced that Belair will defend her SmackDown Women s Championship against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, May 16.
Belair became SmackDown Women s Champion by defeating Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania 37 night one. During a backstage interview on last week s post-WrestleMania edition of SmackDown, Bayley declared that she wants to challenge Belair and restore dignity to the SmackDown Women s Championship. Bayley mocked Belair, saying the reason Belair was crying before her match against Banks began is because she didn t think she could actually win.
Smackdown Women s Title Match Set For WrestleMania Backlash 411mania.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 411mania.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Not for fans of Bayley.
After watching Mania, and even as early as the Royal Rumble back in January, it was in the air like a stink you just can’t find the source of. They had nowhere to go with her, nowhere to place her. And yet we are talking about a former Women’s champion, and one who has record-breaking accomplishments. That’s no way to treat someone who has done as much as she.
A look back
VIA: 411MANIA
This is an athlete who has certainly paid her dues, as I’ve hopefully clarified. But even if it wasn’t written here in black and white, fans know…wrestling fans never forget. Case in point, I’m sure everybody remembers NXT Takeover Brooklyn, where she faced Sasha Banks. Talk about stealing the show.