Tonight, SmackDown Live hails from the hosting city of WrestleMania 34: New Orleans, LA. There is both an 8-man tag and a 6-man tag match tonight, so Shane McMahon is trying to get as much as the roster as possible for the Money in the Bank “go-home” show.
The New Day & Breezango vs. The Usos & The Colons
The New Day kick off the show with a Dixieland jazz group and they are interrupted by The Usos, who they face for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships this Sunday. Breezango interrupts the Usos, and The Colons join the rest of the division for no real reason other than to insult the Fashion Police.
Fandango clears the Usos from the ring, and Kofi Kingston combines a backbreaker with Xavier Woods’ double stomp to pick up the victory. The New Day built momentum towards their title match, but they did not pin a member of the Usos to do so. While The New Day are the longest reigning Tag Team Champions of all time, the Usos have improved tremendously since both teams last squared off. Winners: The New Day & Breezango
Interview Segment
Dasha Fuentes interviews Mojo Rawley about his match last week against Jinder Mahal. Rawley had to defeat Mahal to become another Money in the Bank Ladder Match participant but he ultimately came up short. Fuentes asks him what is next when he is approached by Zack Ryder. Ryder has been sidelined for a couple months with an injury, but he has been cleared to return. It looks like the Hype Bros are back to being a team.
Naomi vs. Tamina
Before the match gets underway, Lana makes her way down to ringside. Lana has her in-ring debut at Money in the Bank, where she challenges Naomi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Naomi willing decided to put her title on the line after Lana cost her a victory last week.
Tamina goes to the top rope for a splash, but Naomi is able to pull herself together to hit Tamina with a kick. After pulling Tamina off of the turnbuckle, Naomi hits her signature split-legged moonsault to get the win. Lana attacks Naomi while the champ is celebrating her victory, and a sit-out slam puts her away. Lana holds up the SmackDown Women’s Championship before the segment fades. Winner: Naomi
In-ring Segment
For the last time before Money in the Bank, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton goes face-to-face. Mahal cuts a pretty lengthy promo insulting Randy Orton before speaking to “his people” in Punjabi. Orton’s music hits, and the Viper hits the WWE Champion with an RKO out of nowhere before escaping to the crowd.
Natalya vs. Charlotte
Along with Tamina, Carmella, and Becky Lynch, both of these women are involved in the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match on Sunday. Natalya and Charlotte have a storied past with each other, starting with an NXT Women’s Championship match several years ago. Since then, Charlotte has become the defining woman of this generation, while Natalya has struggled to find success.
Even though Natalya hits Charlotte with a powerbomb, the Queen is able to gain the advantage. Charlotte hits Natalya with Natural Selection, building much-needed momentum towards Money in the Bank. Winner: Charlotte
Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, & Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, & Sami Zayn
We already got a preview of the Women’s Money in the Bank tonight, and now it’s time to preview the men’s version. Outside of John Cena, these are the six biggest stars that SmackDown Live has to offer, and it could lead to the most star-studded ladder match of all time.
Sami Zayn looks to tag his partners, but Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler take AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura off of the apron. Zayn has to fight the rest of the match by himself, and he manages to hit Corbin with a Helluva Kick for the victory. Winners: AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, & Sami Zayn
After the match, Owens and Ziggler start attacking the other team to keep them out of the upcoming ladder match. After hitting Zayn and Styles with a ladder, they start arguing with each other. Corbin cleans house, attacking his own team. Corbin goes to grab the briefcase, but Shinsuke Nakamura knocks him off the ladder and hits him with the Kinshasa knee strike. The King of Strong Style then climbs up the ladder and grabs the briefcase as a possible preview of this Sunday.
