SmackDown Review: Daniel Bryan Returns to the Ring

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Dean Ambrose backstage

Ambrose said that he was the kid who other kids avoided, and that he was always told he doesn’t play well with others. He said that will serve him well in the Royal Rumble Match.

Ambrose said that the winner of the Royal Rumble will not be somebody who’s looking out for others and trying to do the “right thing,” and that suits him perfectly.

He said that his teammates tonight will be his opponents in the Royal Rumble, but that they are bonded together by one thing, the fact that they hate The Authority.

Ambrose said that nobody tells him what to do, he just goes out there and does it.

Just when Rollins goes out there and proves himself to be a star, Ambrose comes back with an awesome counter.

Seth Rollins, Big Show and Kane vs. Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns

Ambrose started the match by controlling Rollins, then he tagged out to Reigns, who kept the offense up. Rollins really took a beating, getting in very little offense of his own, until he came off the ropes and kicked Reigns in the chest, as Reigns prematurely set up for a back drop.

Rollins tagged out to Kane, who did get a bit of offense on Reigns, until Reigns ducked a clothesline and went for a flying clothesline of his own, before he tagged to Bryan.

Bryan delivered a bunch of kicks to Kane in one corner, before moving him to another and delivering a few uppercuts, before Kane caught him with a big uppercut slap.

Kane had control and threw Bryan to ringside. Show and Rollins went to join Kane in surrounding Bryan, but Ambrose and Reigns came to even the numbers, then the three faces dominate a short six-man brawl, and they stood tall as SmackDown went to commercial.

When SmackDown returned, Bryan was dominating Rollins, and tagged out to Ambrose. Ambrose continued the attack, until he went to the top rope, and Rollins knocked his feet out, catching Ambrose in the tree of woe. Rollins tagged out to Show, who worked on Ambrose’s injured knee, as they started to really pick him apart.

Ambrose used Kane to try and get back into the match, but Kane was able to make the tag to Rollins, who kept Ambrose in the ring. Ambrose threw a charging Rollins over the top rope, but a distraction from Joey Mercury allowed Show to take Ambrose out, but Show immediately took a Superman Punch from Reigns.

Rollins got back in the ring, but Ambrose got up, and Rollins couldn’t keep him from making the tag to Bryan.

Bryan got on a roll, taking out Rollins, and Kane. Rollins was able to make a tag to Kane, though, and Kane almost won the match with a chokeslam, but Reigns made the save, then him and Show took each other out at ringside.

Bryan then tried to get back into it against Kane, when Rollins tried to get involved. Ambrose came running in and knocked Rollins to ringside with a dropkick, then took out Team Authority with a dive to the outside from the top rope.

Bryan hit a running knee for the win.

Bryan, Ambrose and Reigns defeat Kane, Rollins and Show via pinfall.

3 out of 5 stars – Bryan continued to look more and more comfortable as he spent more time in the ring.

This match suffered a little bit from the fact that Bryan, Ambrose, Reigns, Rollins, and for some strange reason, Show, all are being protected right now.

Triple H promo

Triple H said that Kane will get a rematch next Thursday night. He said that when Bryan loses, he will not only lose the match, he will lose his opportunity to participate in the Royal Rumble Match.