10 Things You Might Have Missed On The WWE SmackDown Live! Superstar Shake-Up (April 17)
9. The List
Daniel Bryan nailed his colours to the Cody Rhodes mast on SmackDown Live!, paying tribute to his now-iconic post-WWE baby-step as well as subtly throwing shade at 'Best Bout Machine' and Bullet Club leadership rival Kenny Omega.
Discussing with Renee Young how he felt to be back amongst the rank-and-file on Tuesday nights (more on that later), Bryan noted that over the last three years he'd made a list of talent to work with should he ever win the fight for his dreams, with AJ Styles predictably placed atop it as the best in the world.
The line had to be inspired by Cody's famous departure tweet that memorably covered a gamut of wrestling greatness in a way Bryan presumably would have done later this year had he not returned under Vince McMahon's auspices just before WrestleMania.
It tied nicely into the 'American Nightmare's current rivalry too. It can be well argued that AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the world, but Omega would probably be the first in line for most as an NJPW comparison point. Scripting Bryan to his audience whilst presenting him as a heroic returning WWE Superstar will ultimately get the best out of the 'YES! Man', even if the revived gimmick might take a little while to ease itself in.