Daniel Bryan Relinquishes The I-C Title
As noted, as we headed to another commercial break, we were told that WWE Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan will be out next to address the WWE Universe. We are now just waiting for the commercial break to end.
We’re back from the break and Daniel Bryan’s music hits. Out comes the I-C champ. He enters the ring to a ton of “Yes!” chants. He gets on the mic and begins his speech.
Bryan looks sad in the face, with his head kind of drooping down as he begins talking. He said the past several weeks he’s been in and out of doctors offices.
Bryan says it’s been years now that the fans have been treating him way better than anyone in the back has ever treated him. He says that’s why it was so crushing to him, almost a year to the day ago, where Stephanie McMahon came out and stripped him of the WWE title.
He says it wasn’t just him that was upset about it because he let all of the fans down. He says “they” in the back where never gonna give him an opportunity. He says the fans gave it to him.
He says even as fans are “Yes’ing” right now, Steph did the right thing. He said there was no indication as to how long he would be out and that the fans deserve a fighting champion. He says that’s why he asked to come out here tonight.
The fans start chantig “No! No! No!” Bryan pauses and then says he had an MRI last week and they don’t know how long he’ll be out. He said they told him maybe weeks, maybe months, he said they told him he may never be able to wrestle again. Bryan got choked up when saying that last line.
He says despite the uncertainy in his own personal career, that makes it clear what he needs to do with his I-C title. He says they deserve someone fighting for this I-C championship on a regular basis. He names a bunch of names that should be fighting for this championship. He says this belt belongs in this ring and in this ring is where he is going to leave this title. He says tonight he officially relinqushes his Intercontinental Championship.
The fans break out in “Thank You Daniel! Thank You Daniel” as Bryan looks emotional in the eys. He says you’ve got it all wrong. He says for everything you’ve ever done for me, I’ve got one thing left to say — thank you. He lays the I-C title down on the ground. The fans chant “Thank You Daniel!” again. He leaves the ring and walks to the back almost in tears. He stops at the top of the stage, turns to the fans and begins leading them in a big “Yes!” chant as his music plays and he leaves.
Cesaro (with Tyson Kidd & Natalya) vs. Big E. (with Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
When we return from the commercial break, The New Day’s theme music hits and out they come. They try and lead the fans in a clapping “New Day ..rocks! New Day …rocks!” chant. Of course, however, the fans chant “New Day ..sucks!” “New Day …sucks!” instead.
New Day makes their way to the ring and out next come Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Natalya. With all six people at ringside we find out that this is a one-on-one match between Big E. and Cesaro.
For the first several minutes of the match, it was a power display. Cesaro doing some ungodly power move to Big E., and Big E. doing his own version right back to him.
Cesaro calls for the big swing. As he goes to do it, Woods jumps up on the apron and distracts him. Kidd knocks Woods down but then Kingston attacks him from behind. While all of this is going on, Cesaro rolls up Big E. 1-2-3. Cesaro wins. We head to a break.
Winner: Cesaro
Backstage: Prime Time Players Promo
When we return from the break, backstage, Titus O’Neil and Darren Young — dressed up in goofy outfits — cut a typical “wannabe comedy” promo. It ends with their “Millions of Dollars, Millions of Dollars” chant.