WWE SmackDown Takeaways: Sasha Banks will take Charlotte Flair’s advice
Daniel Bryan is the clear favorite
As you would expect, the first round match of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament between Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak was next-level stuff. It’s hard to see any early-round matchup surpassing the level of technical expertise we saw in the ring between Gulak and Bryan, whose chemistry is up there with anyone in the SmackDown Men’s Division right now.
Bryan won the match and cut an excellent promo with Renee Young interviewing, speaking about how he wants to make the IC Title the biggest title on the show. But remember when The Miz increased the prestige of the title but did so as a cowardly champion? Bryan kind of hearkened back to the whole “make it prestigious” line but added that he wants to defend the title every night against anyone.
Next. Drew McIntyre is off to an incredible start as champion. dark
There isn’t a wrestler in the tournament who could do more for the IC Title than Bryan, who brought up he had to relinquish the championship when he retired. This title means everything to Bryan, in the same way that wrestling means everything to him. Because this title, as Corey Graves pointed out on commentary, carries the respect of being a workhorse and the best pure wrestler in the company. Bryan is that guy, and WWE wants you to remember that.