Tonight on SmackDown Live, Daniel Bryan has promised to address the controversy surrounding the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Along with this decision, SmackDown continues to build the tag team division, Kevin Owens issues an open challenge, and Shinsuke Nakamura has another match against Dolph Ziggler.
Opening Segment
The show starts with Carmella, the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank winner, and James Ellsworth, the man who grabbed the briefcase for her, coming down to the ring. Carmella addresses the backlash for how she won the match, but she doesn’t care. She calls out other instances where outside interference was involved to back up her case of how she could not have broken a rule if there aren’t any.
Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) vs. Big E (w/Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
At Money in the Bank, The New Day seemed to have The Usos put away for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, but the Usos ran away for a purposeful count-out loss. Since The New Day technically won the match without winning the titles, they are still the #1 Contenders. Since the Usos claim that the division is the Uso Penitentiary, The New Day have decided to open their “Playpen,” with the warden, Deput E.
The Usos try to escape again, but Kofi Kingston takes out Jey Uso and Xavier Woods blocks Jimmy Uso’s exit. When Jimmy Uso gets back in the ring, he is hit with the Big Ending. Winner: Big E
Backstage Segment
Lana interrupts Naomi during an interview to demand a SmackDown Women’s Championship rematch. Naomi is either a fighting champion or too much of a risk taker, but either way, she accepts. The title match will take place next week.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
Since Shinsuke Nakamura joined SmackDown Live, his career has been intertwined with Dolph Ziggler. His debut match was a victory against Ziggler at Backlash, they battled in tag team matches for a couple weeks, and they were both involved in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Nakamura escapes from Ziggler’s sleeper hold and he regains control to hit Ziggler right on the jaw with the Kinshasa knee strike. Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
The Kevin Owens “Face of America” Open Challenge
Kevin Owens comes to the ring and challenges a local resident of Dayton, Ohio to a Unites States Championship match. Styles answers the challenge, but Owens knows that Styles is from Georgia. In a bit of a surprise, we hear American Alpha’s music. According to Chad Gable, he moved to Dayton this morning so he is eligible for the match.
Gable puts on an incredible performance, but he can’t put away the champ. Owens hits Gable with the Pop-up Powerbomb to continue being the Face of America. Winner, and STILL United States Champion: Kevin Owens
In-ring Segment
After hearing from the entire Women’s Division all night, Daniel Bryan comes down to the ring to announce his decision regarding the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. While Carmella didn’t break any rules, Daniel Bryan decides to take the briefcase away from her. Since this is such a historic moment, there will be another Money in the Bank Ladder Match next week ok SmackDown Live. After the decision is made, all of the women brawl, ending with Becky Lynch locking Carmella in the Disarm-her.
Luke Harper vs. Jinder Mahal (w/The Singh Brothers)
Even though Randy Orton is making it his mission to hunt down Jinder Mahal, he technically isn’t the #1 Contender anymore. If Luke Harper, a man who should have been involved with the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 33, wins this match, he could be in line for a championship opportunity.
Baron Corbin circles the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase in hand to distract Jinder Mahal. Luke Harper attempts a roll-up, but Mahal kicks out. The Singh Brothers distract Harper long enough for the WWE Champion to get the victory with the Khallas. Winner: Jinder Mahal
Immediately after the match ended, Randy Orton attacks Jinder Mahal. He sets Mahal up for the RKO, but the Singh Brothers attack him. Orton fends them off and by the time he takes care of Samir and Samil Singh, Jinder Mahal escaped.
