There has not been much advertised going into this episode of Smackdown, but it is nevertheless important. With Money in the Bank only a couple of weeks away, every Superstar needs a chance to build some momentum. With almost all of the Money in the Bank card already set, how will tonight’s episode of Smackdown affect each Superstar?
Opening Segment
The WWE Tag Team Champions, The New Day, come to the ring to start the show. On Monday Night Raw, The New Day had a match against the Vaudevillains that was interrupted by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Gallows and Anderson attacked the New Day and left them laid out all around the ring. The New Day starts to address this situation when they are interrupted by the men that assaulted them Monday night.
AJ Styles comes out to join everybody, and after the two teams banter for a little while, Styles challenges the New Day to a match tonight.
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte (w/Dana Brooke)
On Monday Night Raw, Natalya had a rematch against Dana Brooke that quickly went sour after Charlotte interfered. Brooke would pick up the quick victory, then Charlotte would join her new ally for an assault on the second-generation Superstar. While Natalya was getting attacked, Becky Lynch, who has her own issues with Charlotte and Dana Brooke, stormed to the ring to make the save.
Becky Lynch attempts to lock in the Disarm-her on Charlotte when Dana Brook interferes to pull the Women’s Champion out of the ring. Winner (via disqualification): Becky Lynch
After the match, Natalya storms the ring and joins Lynch in attacking Charlotte and Dana Brooke, forcing them to retreat.
The Dudley Boyz vs. Golden Truth
Before the match starts, Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) is sitting in a custom-made VIP section next to the commentary table. Breezango and Golden Truth have been feuding for several weeks now, with Truth and Goldust still struggling to pick up a victory together.
An interesting to note about this match is that every single competitor involved competed for WWE at some point during the Attitude Era. Also, everyone in this match has wrestled for TNA.
Goldust has control of the match when Tyler Breeze interrupts to take a selfie on the ring apron. This distracts Golden Truth enough for D-Von Dudley to roll up Goldust for the win. This now makes Golden Truth’s record 0-3. Winners: The Dudley Boyz
Backstage Segment
Baron Corbin requests an interview with Renee Young, but refuses to enter the arena because the WWE Universe does not deserve his presence. At Extreme Rules, Corbin defeated Dolph Ziggler in a No Disqualification match with a little help from a low blow. Ziggler challenged Corbin to a “technical wrestling match” for Monday Night Raw this week and started off the match with a low blow of his own, immediately disqualifying himself. Because of this, Corbin says that the next time he enters an arena, it will be the end of Dolph Ziggler.
Dean Ambrose & Sami Zayn vs. Alberto Del Rio & Kevin Owens
All four of these men (along with Cesaro and Chris Jericho) are slated to be in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and a win for either team in this match could give them the edge.
Ambrose and Zayn have worked pretty well together in makeshift tag team matches over the past couple of months. Owens, on the other hand, tends to be a poor teammate for anyone he teams up with, which does not bode well for Del Rio.
Del Rio accidentally hits his partner with an enziguri, which stuns Del Rio enough for Sami Zayn to take advantage and hit him with the Helluva Kick for the win. Winners: Sami Zayn & Dean Ambrose
Rusev (w/Lana) vs. Jack Swagger
It has been quite some time since we have seen Jack Swagger, who had a feud with the Bulgarian Brute during Rusev’s first United States Championship title reign. In Rusev’s second reign, he has been incredibly dominant, destroying anyone in his path.
Before the match starts, Rusev attacks Swagger and sends him into the steel steps to gain the advantage. This works in Rusev’s favor for the entire match, which ends with an Accolade locked in on The Real American. Winner (via submission): Rusev
AJ Styles (w/The Club) vs. Kofi Kingston (w/The New Day)
After what happened at the start of the show, the arguable leader of The Club is set to take on the most experienced member of the New Day.
During the match, Gallows and Anderson brawl with the New Day, and Kofi Kingston turns his attention to Gallows instead of leaving it on Styles. After Kingston gets back in the ring, he is hit with the Styles Clash. Winner: AJ Styles
