WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, and Grades For May 22, 2018

Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy

Samoa Joe is on commentary for this match, and my eardrums couldn’t be more ecstatic about that. Joe was tremendous on the kick-off panel for NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia earlier this year, and he was just as good tonight. He delved into the psychology of the match, praising Daniel Bryan for keeping Jeff Hardy grounded, noting that Hardy is a momentum wrestler who will start flying around with big moves if he’s given the opportunity to build momentum.

Hardy hit a “Twist of Fate”, but Bryan blocked the Swanton Bomb with his knees to stay in the match. Bryan went for the running knee and a stiff kick, but both were countered into roll-ups back-to-back. However, Bryan kicked out of both.

Bryan countered a second “Twist of Fate” attempt, hitting him with a Dragon Screw. He then stuck Hardy into a Heel Hook, which he used to great effect in a beatdown of Big Cass last week, and forced the Charismatic Enigma to tap out.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/999106539410542592

I love that Bryan is using the Heel Hook as a finisher. It’s a great move, and it fits his character as a savvy in-ring technician who works a body part well. Furthermore, I love seeing legit submission moves used as finishers in WWE.

This win for Bryan means that he’ll face Samoa Joe next week for an opportunity to enter the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Joe should be deemed the favorite, but Bryan could just as easily score the victory.

Next: Could Kevin Owens Win Money in the Bank?

Joe called out Bryan after the match, and he was asked by Renee Young why he feels so confident about netting a win over Bryan. The Samoan Submission Machine explains that it’s confidence and it’s the truth. He proclaims that he will put Bryan to sleep.

Match Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars, great stuff, and it really is a treat watching Daniel Bryan compete every week.