With Backlash in the books, SmackDown Live looks forward to the Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View in a few weeks. Tonight’s episode tries to figure out the Tag Team and Women’s Championship title scenes, while Jinder Mahal celebrates his historic title win before he defends his title against Orton at Money in the Bank.
Opening Segment
SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon enters the ring to kick off the show. McMahon addresses the next Pay-Per-View, Money in the Bank. First, he announces that Randy Orton will be cashing in his rematch clause for the WWE Championship that night. Then, he addresses the Money in the Bank ladder match itself. He announces the five participants for the match: AJ Styles, Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Kevin Owens enters the ring and complains about not being in the match. To his point, three of the participants lost their matches at Backlash while Owens retained the United States Championship. McMahon actually agrees with Owens and makes him the sixth participant in the match. Before the segment ends, two matches are made for tonight. Baron Corbin gets a rematch against Sami Zayn, while Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler to take on the team of AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Natalya & Carmella (w/Tamina & James Ellsworth) vs. Charlotte & Becky Lynch (w/Naomi)
Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Naomi have lost every possible match to the Welcoming Committee, including their six-woman tag team match at Backlash. Charlotte and Becky Lynch need this victory to help prevent the Welcoming Committee from dominating the Women’s Division.
Naomi takes care of the ringside assistance from James Ellsworth and Tamina, and Becky Lynch takes advantage to lock the Disarm-her in on Carmella. The Princess of Staten Island taps out and gives the other women their first win since before the Welcoming Committee formed. Winners: Charlotte & Becky Lynch
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
Earlier tonight, Baron Corbin called his loss to Sami Zayn at Backlash a fluke. Zayn wanted to prove him wrong, and Shane McMahon liked the idea enough to make a rematch.
Zayn shocks the WWE Universe by picking up a very quick victory over Corbin. Immediately after his second loss to Zayn in three days, Corbin attacks the Underdog from the Underground all over the stands. After Corbin repeatedly pounds Zayn into the barricade, referees manage to get Corbin to stop. Winner (kind of): Sami Zayn
Jinder Mahal’s Punjabi Celebration
As you should know be now, Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton to become the 50th (and first Indian) WWE Champion. As he should, Mahal gets a big celebration together with a bunch of Indian dancers and musicians for his accomplishments and his people. No one interrupts Mahal’s moment and he is able to celebrate alongside the Singh Brothers.
Tyler Breeze (w/Fandango) vs. Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso)
Tyler Breeze and Fandango were bummed out about their SmackDown Tag Team Championship match loss to the Usos this Sunday, so Shane McMahon gave them a chance to boost morale by giving them each singles matches against an Uso.
Almost right after the match starts, Fandango distracts Jey Uso with a water gun and Tyler Breeze takes advantage to get the roll-up victory. Winner: Tyler Breeze
Fandango (w/Tyler Breeze) vs. Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso)
Just like Breeze, Fandango picks up a quick victory. The Usos are distracted by Breeze on the outside, and Fandango picks up a roll-up victory as well. After the match, Breezango challenges The Usos for another shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and the champs accept. Winner: Fandango
The Usos (c) vs. Breezango – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Breezango is really good at playing mind games with the Usos, so they could feasibly win a match and become the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, especially if Heath Slater and Rhyno can do the same thing.
Unfortunately for Breezango, The Usos know a thing or two about good tag team wrestling. Jey Uso tags himself in while Fandango is distracted and hits him with a splash to escape with the titles. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Kevin Owens & Dolph Ziggler vs. AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura
This is quite a match. This is Shinsuke Nakamura’s first match on weekly main roster television, and he partners with AJ Styles. Nakamura and Styles competed against each other in a classic match at the Tokyo Dome right before they both signed with WWE, and this is the first time since that they compete in the same ring. On top of that, Nakamura facing Kevin Owens is a main event anywhere in the world.
Nakamura dropkicks Ziggler out of the ring, then he finishes up the match by hitting Kevin Owens with his signature Kinshasa running knee for the win. Winners: AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura
