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What's the story?
In the wake of their firings by SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan, WWE.com has removed the profiles of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens already.
In case you didn't know...
Due to medical reasons, Bryan was forced to retire after an emotional speech in February of 2016. WWE broke the news on Tuesday afternoon that their doctors officially cleared Bryan to wrestle, hours before SmackDown Live went on air.
The heart of the matter...
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On this week's edition of SmackDown Live, Bryan led off the show with the great news that he has been cleared to return to in-ring competition by the WWE. Unfortunately that enabled the "best friend" duo of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to brutally attack the GM after he informed them that they were fired.
The final straw was the attack of SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon by Owens and Zayn last week. Bryan even mentioned that he's been fired twice and this doesn't always mean the end, and Owens and Zayn even shook hands with Bryan before the brutal attack.
Don't expect the firings to stick as it widely expected that Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon will team up to face Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans on April 8th.
What's next?
There are two editions of SmackDown Live before WrestleMania. I fully expect Vince McMahon to appear next week to announce the tag match; while Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon return on the go-home show to get a little revenge and set the stage for their match.
Author's take...
First and foremost, I am beyond excited at the news of Daniel Bryan being cleared to compete in a WWE ring once again. It was truly an emotional moment to start off SmackDown Live this week and it will be amazing to see the Superdome exploding with YES! chants like it did after he won the title at WrestleMania XXX.
As for the ending segment of SmackDown, it's odd to say, but it was so cool to see Bryan get beat up by Zayn and Owens only to come back and get some of his trademark offense in. It'll be a moment remembered for many years to come.
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