Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida

In-Ring Segment: Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Jey Uso
Heyman says Reigns asked him to eulogize the career of Daniel Bryan with a ten-bell salute. Heyman tells the timekeeper that they don’t need his help. They can take care of this on their own. Heyman yells ding into a microphone ten times as Reigns chuckles.

credit: wrestlezone.com

Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida

We open with Cesaro in the ring who wants to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Title. Seth comes out to interrupt followed by Jey Uso. Both men try to surround the ring in order to beat up Cesaro but Daniel Bryan comes out. Bryan hasn’t done this for Rollins or Jey because he has an infinite amount of respect for Cesaro, because he’s worked harder than everybody, including Bryan, Jey, Rollins and even Reigns.

Rollins watches from half-way down the ramp as Jey joins Reigns and Heyman on the stage. Reigns taunts Bryan for the beating he delivered at WrestleMania 37, to Bryan and WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Reigns shows off his new t-shirt that featured the stacked pin. Reigns says Bryan is the guy on the bottom, meaning he’s a loser, and Cesaro is a loser for letting Bryan speak for him. He goes on and calls the top tier losers, main event losers. The boos get louder as Reigns goes on talking trash. Reigns says they’re dumb losers for talking trash while surrounded by people that want to kick their ass. Reigns wishes good luck and walks off as his music starts back up. Rollins and Uso look to be heading to the ring as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Daniel Bryan approaches Adam Pearce in the back about getting the Universal Title shot set up for Cesaro. Pearce says it’s not that easy but he will try. Bryan tells him to do more than try.

Kayla is backstage with Paul Heyman, asking if Roman Reigns will accept Cesaro’s challenge tonight. Heyman goes on about admiring and respecting Cesaro, and loving him, in a professional way. Heyman goes on and doesn’t answer the question but says we will hear from Reigns before the night is over. We go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Cesaro is in the ring with Daniel Bryan.

Cesaro takes the mic and says he’s ready for an answer from WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Reigns isn’t coming out. Cesaro says they can come back there and get an answer from Reigns if they have to, it’s up to him. They wait and the music hits as Reigns makes his way out with Jey Uso and Paul Heyman.

Reigns enters the ring and raises the title in the air as fans boo. He raises it in Cesaro’s face as the boos get louder. A “you suck!” chant starts up. Reigns can’t believe Cesaro is going to challenge him. He says Cesaro doesn’t deserve it and hasn’t earned it. Reigns says this will always be his because Cesaro can’t get on his level. Reigns says the champ issues the challenges around here and he challenges… he looks over at Bryan and says the challenge goes to him.

Reigns doesn’t like Bryan, has never liked him and never will, but will give him one more opportunity. He tells Bryan he will get one more title opportunity next week on SmackDown. What do you have to say? Cesaro tells Bryan he has to take the title shot, you can do this, you have to. Reigns tells Cesaro to shut up as he steps to him. Reigns says when Bryan loses, he never wants to see Bryan again. He wants Bryan to disappear, vanish, never to be seen on SmackDown again. Do you understand me? Bryan steps to Reigns and accepts the challenge. Fans pop.

A “yes!” chant starts up as Reigns and Bryan face off. Reigns raises the title in his face and taunts him with it. Reigns says Bryan will never have this, it’ll always be his. He keeps the title in the air and makes his exit as the music hits, still taunting Bryan. Cole says Bryan will be banished from SmackDown forever if he loses next week. The match is confirmed for next Friday with Bryan’s career on the line, but for just SmackDown? Bryan and Cesaro look on from the ring as Reigns, Uso and Heyman march up the ramp. SmackDown goes off the air.

credit: wrestlinginc.com

St Petersburg, Florida – Tropicana Field

Roman Reigns promo

The show kicks off with none other than Roman Reigns, who comes out with Paul Heyman and Jey Uso. We get a video package going over what happened at WWE Elimination Chamber on Sunday. Reigns says that as the head of the table he steps up and saves this place. He did just that by defending his WWE Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan, who he smashed. Roman says it was the “most exciting ass whooping of the year, maybe the decade.”

However, his defense wasn’t perfect due to Edge showing up. He tells Edge to back out since he has a beautiful family, and Reigns doesn’t want to hurt him. “Get it through that thick head of yours. This is why a man like you just doesn’t stand a chance against a man like me,” Reigns proclaims.

Reigns is then interrupted by Daniel Bryan. “The Leader of the Yes Movement” takes umbrage with Reigns’ description of their match. Bryan mockingly says that Reigns deserves to be celebrated, but he’s heard rumblings that other people found Roman’s actions cowardly. Bryan says the head of the table should’ve faced him in the main event rather than right after the Elimination Chamber and that it shows he isn’t a true champion. Bryan offers Roman a chance to prove everyone wrong by facing him for the belt at WWE Fastlane on March 21.

Jey Uso then takes the microphone and tells “D-Bry” that he’s at the back of the line now. Uso tells Bryan to face the right-hand man before trying to get another title shot. Reigns then stares down Bryan and says, “You really want me to hurt you again?” Uso then cheap shots Bryan and throws him over the barricade.

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St Petersburg, Florida – Tropicana Field

In-Ring Segment: Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Jey Uso and Adam Pearce

Adam Pearce is in the ring waiting for Reigns and Co. Reigns tells Pearce that he doesn’t control anything. Pearce is here to serve him. Reigns doesn’t wait on Pearce and he certainly doesn’t wait on Edge. Reigns says Edge doesn’t want it. Edge knows what Reigns will do to him. Reigns says he’s going to beat Edge so bad they will have to put him on a legends contract. Reigns ain’t waiting on him.

Edge isn’t going to pick Reigns because he’s scared. Reigns will drop this title when he wants to. Pearce says he has a contract that says Reigns will defend the title in the Elimination Chamber. Reigns laughs.

Heyman says Reigns contract says he has to defend the title at Elimination Chamber but not in the Chamber. Heyman tells Pearce to put whomever he likes in the Chamber. Whoever wins the Chamber can have a Universal Championship match on the spot. Pearce says he has a lot to think about. Pearce leaves the ring and says he can think of two people who will not have to qualify for the Chamber Match. Pearce gives Jey Uso and Kevin Owens spots in the Chamber. Reigns leaves the ring and gets in Pearce’s face. Reigns says Pearce doesn’t get it. Reigns doesn’t care about Owens or Uso. Pearce has all of his attention. Heyman tells Reigns that Pearce understands.

Backstage, Pearce runs into Sonya Deville. Deville asks Pearce what he was thinking stepping to Reigns the way he did. Pearce says he has dealt with Reigns’ consequences before. He isn’t worried. Pearce says they need to fill up the Chamber Match quickly. Deville says she has an idea. Take the tag match that is about to happen and make it so the winners get spots in the Chamber. Pearce says that’s a great idea. Deville says she already took care of it.

credit: Wrestlezone.com

St Petersburg, Florida – Tropicana Field

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman come out. Reigns stops on the ramp and raises the title as the pyro goes off. Greg Hamilton does the introductions as they march to the ring while fans boo.

Cole and Graves hype tonight’s Gauntlet Match to determine Reigns’ Royal Rumble opponent with Sami Zayn, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, King Baron Corbin, and Shinsuke Nakamura. Reigns takes his time entering the ring and stops in the middle as more pyro goes off. A big “you suck!” chant breaks out before Heyman can speak. He hands the mic to Reigns and the boos continue. Reigns says there’s been a lot of talk about what they did to Kevin Owens last week. Reigns says Owens is a pain in his ass but he likes Owens. He respects someone as ambitious as Owens, one who keeps getting up no matter how often he gets knocked down. He says Owens is like a cockroach. Reigns never wanted anything bad to happen to Owens.

Reigns goes on and says he cares about everyone in the back, cares about their families, and this is why he does what he does. He’s putting food on everyone’s tables. But now Owens doesn’t have that opportunity, he can’t come to work anymore. Reigns says people are trying to blame him but it’s not his fault. Reigns says if you want to blame someone, point the finger in the direction of WWE official Adam Pearce. Fans boo again. Reigns tells Pearce to bring his ass out here. Heyman yells at the ring announcer to get Pearce out here. Pearce finally comes marching down the ramp and into the ring.

Pearce asks Reigns what can he do for him. Reigns tells Pearce to watch this nice clip they had done. A video package plays and shows highlights from two weeks ago, when Reigns retained over Owens in the Steel Cage. We also see how Owens talked Pearce into the match with Uso last week, how Owens defeated Uso, then the post-match attack on Uso that led to Reigns and Uso destroying Owens, ending the show by tossing him off the platform through the table. We come back and Uso is staring Pearce down. Pearce asks Reigns what he wants him to say. Reigns wants Pearce to be a man. Reigns goes on about the feud being done, and them moving on, but Owens went to his friend for another match. Reigns accuses Pearce of not making the right decision for the well-being of his friend. Reigns goes on and he’s not happy about tonight’s Gauntlet to determine his Royal Rumble challenger. Pearce says he’s just trying to put the best challengers in front of Reigns. Read more