5 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 8)

2. Rusev Takes Bryan's Scalp

SmackDown's second men's Money In The Bank qualifier featured two of the brand's most popular wrestlers. Though miscast as a heel, the "Rusev Day" gimmick is still over as hell, and the devotion that Daniel Bryan inspires second to none. This all but ensured an excellent atmosphere for the night's main event, which wasn't quite the best thing on the show, but came mighty close.

Bryan continues to impress since returning. He hasn't yet been put in a position to have the all-out 'Match Of The Year' contender many fans are pining for, but he hasn't put a foot wrong either. He meshed well with the domineering Rusev (a fantastic in-ring mechanic himself), and it's clear that his time away from the ring hasn't blunted his tools at all.

The outcome may prove divisive, as Rusev scored a clean victory following the Machka Kick. On one hand, it's great to see 'The Bulgarian Brute' score such a huge victory, particularly if this is the start of a greater push, but it's a shame it had to come at Bryan's expense.

Still, Daniel is an underdog. Losses are inevitable, and he's probably better off not competing in a high-risk ladder match anyway. We've no doubt he'll rebound before long, but for now, Rusev is the one pushing forward.