WWE SmackDown Grades: AJ Styles Gets Two Challengers At Fastlane
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3. Opening Segment Featuring Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan, and AJ Styles
The often disagreeing figureheads of SmackDown have been at each other for weeks with disagreement after disagreement. Commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Daniel Bryan haven’t seen eye-to-eye lately thanks in large part because of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Shane O’Mac has been feuding with Owens and Zayn for months, but Bryan has joined the picture over the past several weeks often sympathizing with the heelish duo. Last night saw Shane and Bryan open the show up with a promo in the ring that was later joined by AJ Styles.
The blue brand’s authority figures made a lot of great points and unlike many of their other promos in recent weeks, this one felt genuine and real. Shane mentioned how Bryan wants to still be in the ring wrestling and insinuated that he is living vicariously through Owens and Zayn. It was very well-done, and Styles added more to the segment when he joined.
The WWE Champion talked about the grind of being on the road and being away from your family, but how he can handle it because he loves being a wrestler and he will be a fighting champion no matter what. Most opening segments of SmackDown tend to drag on, but this one had a much different feel to it and should be considered a high point of the show last night.
Last night started off with some real emotion and a genuine segment that could even potentially lead to the in-ring return of Bryan down the line.