Tonight, SmackDown Live continues to look ahead towards Money in the Bank. While the only advertised match for this episode is a Fatal Five-Way #1 Contender’s match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, it is an action packed night. The tag division gets some build, the Fashion Files returns, and AJ Styles takes on Dolph Ziggler in the main event.
Kevin Owens’ Highlight Reel
For the second week in a row, Kevin Owens kicks off SmackDown with his version of the Highlight Reel. Owens was the last man put in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and he says that he will win the briefcase and not only stay the Face of America, but he will also become the face of WWE. He then introduces his guest, Shinsuke Nakamura, who is also in the Money in the Bank ladder match and who pinned Owens last week.
As soon as Nakamura starts talking, he is interrupted by Baron Corbin. Corbin starts bragging about beating up Sami Zayn last week and Owens just wants Corbin to stop interrupting his show. Nakamura starts addressing both men, then Corbin and Owens attack him. The King of Strong Style is outnumbered until Zayn shows up out of nowhere to even the odds. Zayn grabs a microphone and suggests a tag team match up next.
Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin
Since this is WWE, of course the tag team match is going to happen. Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn are friends who had one of the best matches of last year in Nakamura’s NXT debut. Just based on the Highlight Reel segment, Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin are going to have a harder time getting along.
Zayn Irish whips Owens into Corbin and Corbin gets mad at his partner. After punching Owens, Nakamura hits the Face of America with Kinshasa to pick up the win and to pin Owens for the second week in a row. Winners: Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura
In-ring Segment
The Usos enter the ring to brag about how they have defeated American Alpha and Breezango and they are interrupted by The New Day. This is the first time that the former Raw Tag Team Champions have shown up no SmackDown Live since the Superstar Shake-up, and they inform the Usos that they are the new challengers and that both teams will face off for the titles at Money in the Bank.
The Fashion Files
After losing a title match to the Usos last week, Fandango and Tyler Breeze are back on the case with the Fashion Files. This episode is shot in a film noir style, but the style change doesn’t change the fact that they are hilarious.
Charlotte vs. Natalya vs. Tamina vs. Becky Lynch vs. Carmella (w/James Ellsworth) – #1 Contender’s Match (SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Before the match starts, all five women brawl all over the place. It is complete chaos and every woman gets a good amount of offense in until Charlotte ends everything by powerbombing Natalya through a table. SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon shows up to turn this into a historic opportunity. All five of these women will compete in the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Breezango vs. The Colons
Thankfully, losing a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match does not mean that Breezango goes away for a while. Not too long ago, SmackDown Live’s Tag Team Division was in purgatory, so them building a division is a nice change.
Tyler Breeze quick changes into a janitor for no reason and Primo tries to steal Breeze’s mop. Breeze takes advantage of Primo playing tug-of-war with Fandango to hit the Killswitch for the win. Winners: Breezango
AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler
Like the four men in the tag match that opened the show, AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler are competing in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match in a few weeks. Both Styles and Ziggler need a win tonight since they lost their respective matches at Backlash a couple weeks ago. Styles lost to Kevin Owens by count-out, failing to capture the United States (of America) Championship and Ziggler lost to the debuting Shinsuke Nakamura.
Styles sets up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Ziggler knocks him off of the ropes. After hitting a superkick on Styles, Ziggler pins the Face that Runs the Place for a surprise victory. It seemed like Styles was supposed to have his foot on the bottom rope, but he didn’t. Winner: Dolph Ziggler
