7 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (May 7)
5. The 10-Bell Salute
Tremendous heel sh*thousery.
That's what this was. Roman Reigns passed the mic to Paul Heyman and let him "eulogise" Daniel Bryan's SmackDown career by giving the now-departed baby a cheeky 10-bell salute. Some might not appreciate the sentiment (such salutes are normally reserved for sad deaths, after all), but this wasn't too close to the bone.
Besides, Heyman delivered each "DING" with a loathsome smile, and Reigns couldn't stop himself from slightly corpsing the longer he went on. It's important to remember that Roman is supposed to be unlikable, tyrannical and the kind of heel who'd beat you up then demand you acknowledge he did it well.
So, ripping Bryan for failing to remain on Friday nights is totally in-character and acceptable. This is the sort of smart-arsed behaviour Heyman was made for too - he's the mirthful side of this act, which lets Reigns pull the strings and remain serious.