Although the blue brand—Smackdown Live—was unable to take home either briefcase at this past Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view event, Smackdown Live had plenty of storylines to follow up and continue to evolve.
With AJ Style retaining the WWE Championship, who will be his next opponent? Did WWE follow up on Jeff Hardy after not having a match at the pay-per-view? What’s next for the men and women who participated in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match?
Read the recap below to see how Smackdown Live did in following up on these pressing questions.
Paige Promo Backstage
To kick off the show, Smackdown Live general manager Paige was backstage talking about the Money in the Bank event.
She mentions how they weren’t able to win either briefcase, but addressed the WWE Championship right away.
With Extreme Rules coming up in mid-July, Paige booked a match for who will be Styles’ next opponent.
The match? A 5-man gauntlet match featuring Samoa Joe, The Miz, Big E, Daniel Bryan, and Rusev.
Analysis: Not really much to be said about this. It’s essentially all the men that lost (minus Kofi Kingston, insert Big E) in the Money in the Bank match and Bryan who defeated Big Cass.
Carmella In-Ring Promo
After successfully defending her championship at Money in the Bank against Asuka with the help of a James Ellsworth distraction, Carmella came to the ring to cut a promo.
She talked about how growing up she had self-confidence issues.
She then requested that all the kids in the crowd take a look in the mirror and say the words “Mella is Money”. After that, she told the kids to give up on their dreams because they’ll never amount to anything near what she has become.
After that, she talks about how she’s better than both Charlotte and Asuka.
Then, Asuka’s music hits and comes to the ring.
However, it’s not Asuka, it’s Ellsworth once again dressed up as her.
Ellsworth announces to the crowd that he is back to serve Carmella and says she’s better than a myriad of women, including Mother Theresa.
Then Asuka actually comes out looking for a fight.
Ellsworth stands in between her and Carmella and takes a spinning kick to the midsection, only for Carmella to superkick Asuka afterward.
They both leave the ring afterward.
Analysis: Not bad, besides Carmella misspeaking saying “Did you really ever think I had self-confidence”—believe she meant self-conscious issues, or something similar. Can’t stand Ellsworth, but hey, maybe that’s a good thing. I still don’t like the music playing for someone like Asuka who is coming out seemingly on her own free will. What is she doing backstage? Telling someone to play her music. Just more realistic if she came out there without music.
Smackdown Live Tag Team Title Graphic and Becky Lynch Backstage
We get a graphic letting us know that the Bludgeon Brothers will be defending their titles again against Gallows and Anderson.
We also get Lynch backstage getting ready for her match against Billie Kay.
Analysis: Why are they defending their titles against them again after they won? Makes no sense to me.
Becky Lynch vs. Billie Kay
Before the match, The Iiconics—Billie Kay and Peyton Royce—cut a promo making fun of both Lynch and the city of Toledo talking about the lack of things to do in the town.
Lynch then comes out, is aggressive in the match and defeats Kay via submission.
Analysis: There’s absolutely nothing here for me that I’m interested in besides Royce’s physical appearance. Also, WWE needs to stop the whole “small box on the left during the commercial” gimmick—looks horrid.
Jeff Hardy Vignette
Faced away from the camera, Hardy talks about Shinsuke Nakamura.
He mentions his loss to Style and how last week, Nakamura cheap shotted him.
He then says his “eyes are now open” after the assault and is coming from Nakamura.
When Hardy turns toward the camera, though, he has face paint on similar to that of which he wore while with TNA.
Analysis: Looks like we’re getting Nakamura and Hardy at Extreme Rules for the United States Championship
SAnitY Vignette
Prior to a graphic showing that SAnitY will be taking on The Usos later on in the night, we get a highly produced vignette for SAnitY to further introduce us to the characters.
Analysis: They introduced SAnitY correctly. They built anticipation for this team over a period of months.
Renee Young Backstage with Daniel Bryan
This was a backstage interview talking with Bryan about the Gauntlet Match coming up.
He then says he’ll be taking on the three best superstars in WWE.
Young asks about why he didn’t say anything about The Miz and basically says that Miz isn’t one of the best.
Bryan then poses as the interviewer and asks Young a question that results in the answer “yes”.
Analysis: So corny it hurts.
SAnitY vs. The Usos
Before the match, The Usos talk about their role on Smackdown Live and take shots at SAnitY saying they’re not as crazy at The Usos.
SAnitY then comes out.
Before the match can even begin, the teams get into an altercation and the match never begins.
Instead, SAnitY—Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, and Eric Young—make fairly quick work of The Usos.
Analysis: Good. We meet SAnitY and The Usos stay strong because they got taken out by three guys against just the two of them and it was a sneak attack of some kind. SAnitY also gets some solid heat.
Anderson and Gallow Backstage, Bludgeon Brothers Shot
Prior to the commercial break, Gallows and Anderson are seen backstage working out with elastic bands. Anderson comments on his six-pack and asks Gallows to show his. However, Gallows decides against it (because he doesn’t have one).
We’re left with a shot of the Bludgeon Brothers looking toward the camera prior to the commercial break.
Analysis: OK.
Shinsuke Nakamura Backstage Interview
In an interview backstage, Young asks Nakamura about his loss to Styles. Nakamura says he lost because the referee didn’t count to 10 in Japanese in the Last Man Standing Match.
Young then references what Hardy said.
Nakamura acts as if he doesn’t know who he is at first, but then warns Hardy should he come after him.
Analysis: Interested in a program with these two. We’ll see.
Gallows and Anderson vs. Bludgeon Brothers
Bludgeon Brothers win.
Analysis: Like I said before, have no idea why they had a rematch after losing, but OK.
5-Man Gauntlet Match
Here’s how the order of the Gauntlet Match went, and the results.
Danie Bryan vs. Big E: Daniel Bryan wins via pinfall.
Daniel Bryan vs. Samoa Joe: Daniel Bryan wins via Joe count out.
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz: The Miz wins via pinfall after The Bludgeon Brothers come out and attack Bryan.
The Miz vs. Rusev: Rusev wins via submission.
Result: Rusev will face Styles at Extreme Rules for the WWE Championship.
After the match, Styles came to the ring to shake Rusev’s hand. Rusev obliges. Aiden English then puts out his hand but removes it before Styles can shake it.
Styles then punches English out and Rusev even wonders why English did what he did.
Then the show ends.
Analysis: Curious as to why Bludgeon Brothers would attack Bryan for almost no reason. Glad to see Rusev in the title picture. We’re definitely getting Miz and Bryan for Summerslam, it seems. The biggest question after this episode? Where was Big Cass?
