6 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jun 26)

2. Harper's Singles Showcase

Mark "Good-to-Great Daniel Bryan Singles Match" off your SmackDown bingo cards, because the brand's favourite underdog was at it again last night, working a fun David vs. Goliath main event against one of the company's best big men.

Harper is a gem. Smart, athletic, and impactful, he's no lumbering stiff, and a clear cut above the average wrestling giant. He was in typically great form against Bryan, whose unparalleled ability to draw crowd sympathy makes him the perfect opponent for a guy like Harper. This meant the match was never dull. Even the heel control segments, the most tedious part of many a WWE bout, were strong.

Harper demonstrated an offensive range far beyond what he's allowed to show in Bludgeon Brothers tag beatdowns, and though he went to ground a couple of times, his onslaught largely revolved around big slams and hits. It's a shame we don't get to see this side of him more often, but such is the nature of his tag team.

Bryan's comebacks were well-timed, and he had Harper on the verge of tapping by the end. This prompted Rowan to dash in for the DQ finish, thus setting up a memorable show-closing angle...