WWE Friday Night SmackDown continues, we’re in the home stretch of this show which will be headlined by Braun Strowman taking on Shinsuke Nakamura. Sheamus, who was surprisingly absent from WrestleMania but is here tonight, makes his way out for a very obvious squash match.
Sheamus vs. Cal Bloom
Sheamus just kicks the guy around, a very lengthy Ten Beats of the Bowery. Nails him with the Brogue Kick and gets the quick victory.
Winner: Sheamus
As commentary talks up the upcoming video package detailing the career of Jeff Hardy, Sheamus seems to hear them and stares them down, looking a little cross. Teasing a feud with Jeff there. We then see that video, part 1 of a documentary style series that I guess they’ll be airing over the course of the next few weeks, talking a little about Jeff’s younger years as a backyarder before briefly touching on the debut of the Hardy Boyz back in the late 90s. Jeff’s been saying that when he appears again it will be with his No More Words theme again, which is something of a lyrical upgrade to the classic Hardy Boyz theme.
Some things are being advertised for next week, including Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro in a MITB qualifying match and Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose will finally be able to clear the air. Given what we’ve already heard promised, kinda seems like next week is gonna be bigger than this one, which is a little funny. Now, out comes Braun Strowman to face off with Shinsuke Nakamura. Thought this was gonna be a title defense but I guess not.
WWE Universal Championship Braun Strowman vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Non-title)
Nak with some leg kicks out of the gate, seem to make a mark. Braun blocks a high kick, spins him around and ducks the Dragon Whip, big boot takes him down! Headbutt nailed. Tosses him from the ring. Pursues, chases Cesaro away. Nakamura wants to attack but Braun blocks it and throws him into the ring. Strowman again distracts himself by staring at Cesaro, Shinsuke gets him with a baseball slide, but then a back body drop slams him into the table! Commercial break. We come back to see Braun power whipping Shinsuke into the corner, pop-up and just lets him fall to the mat.
Clothesline in the corner, hoists him up for a Powerslam but he escapes, Cesaro with an uppercut from the apron behind the ref’s back, Nakamura with a charging knee for a nearfall! Braun fights back, knocks Cesaro off the apron and gets Shinsuke with a big clothesline! Nakamura rolls to the outside. Braun rolls outside and plows through Shinsuke, throws him into the ring, plows through Cesaro and he takes the bump into the crowd area. Back into the ring though Shinsuke surprises him with the Kinshasa for a nearfall! Shinsuke charges for another, but Strowman counters into the Running Powerslam and that is that.
Winner: Braun Strowman
As Braun celebrates, the Firefly Funhouse theme plays and we see a whiteboard with “The History of John Cena and Bray Wyatt” written on it. Bray says he just has to rewrite a little history. As he erases the word ‘history’ and literally rewrites it with much bigger lettering, we briefly see the Fiend toppling Cena. Bray says he guess Cena was right all along, we really can’t see him! Congratulates Braun and says he’s so happy for him! The Bray lantern whispers. Bray says no, that was a long time ago, he’s sure he’s learned his lesson by now. Flashes of Strowman with the black sheep mask. Bray says he took Braun from the swamp and he turned on him. But he thinks he can forgive him… the puppets disagree, aside from Ramblin’ Rabbit of course. Bray says he should just tell him he’s sorry. “Come on son, make me proud!” Braun says he’s not playing these games.
Bray says since he’s taught him so much already, why not now? Next lesson is about sharing, since he wants something back and it’s right there on his shoulder. Starts to grimace and say as one circle closes another begins again. He’s gonna have to take him out. Smiles and waves goodbye. But Braun tells him before he goes, he wants him to know that anytime he wants, he’s ready to let him in. Bray scowls at that. Braun then says “Bye, see you later!” with a smile.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
