Detailed Results
As both RAW and SmackDown LIVE prepare for WWE Money-in-the-Bank next month, SmackDown LIVE would kick off with SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige. After welcoming everyone to SmackDown LIVE, Paige said that Backlash was a “smashing success” before addressing the WWE Title match at Backlash, saying that she didn’t foresee the double count-out conclusion when she made it a no disqualification match. The GM then turns her attention to WWE Money-in-the-Bank, saying that this year’s Money-in-the-Bank will feature a Men’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match and a Women’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, featuring Superstars from both RAW and SmackDown LIVE. Paige explains that, whoever wins the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase will take the contract with them to their brand before saying that she needs the “best that SmackDown LIVE has to offer” to compete in the two Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Matches. This segues into Paige getting the night’s action started with the first of three Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Matches.
The opening match of the night would be a Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Match as United States Champion Jeff Hardy would go one-on-one with “The A-Lister” The Miz in a non-title match. In the end, it was Jeff Hardy hitting The Miz with the Twist of Fate and connecting with the Swanton Bomb but, somehow, The Miz was able to counter Jeff’s pinfall attempt into a roll-up, scoring the three-count to pick up the win and qualify for the Men’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, joining RAW’s Braun Strowman and Finn Balor.
After coming up short in her rematch against Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Title, Charlotte Flair would go one-on-one with The IIconics’ Peyton Royce, with Billie Kay in her corner, in a Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Match. During the match, Billie Kay would get involved behind the back of the referee, draping the neck of Charlotte Flair over the top rope before Peyton Royce connects with a heel kick, but Charlotte kicks out. In the end, it was Charlotte Flair locking in the Figure-Eight, making Peyton Royce tap out as Charlotte joins RAW’s Ember Moon in the Women’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match.
After Xavier Woods was able to pick up an upset victory over Sheamus last week, Cesaro would try his luck at defeating Xavier Woods as Cesaro, with Sheamus in his corner, would go one-on-one with The New Day’s Xavier Woods, with Big E & Kofi Kingston in his corner. During the match, Kofi Kingston would take out Sheamus on the outside as, in the ring, Xavier Woods would go for the Up, Up, Down, Down but Cesaro would catch Xavier on the way down with a European uppercut, pinning Xavier to pick up the win.
Mandy Rose would then make her SmackDown LIVE in-ring debut as Mandy would go one-on-one with Becky Lynch with Paige informing Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville prior to the match that Sonya is banned from ringside! In the end, it was Mandy Rose surprising Becky Lynch with a roll-up, scoring the three-count to pick up the win.
Then it was time for the main event as Daniel Bryan would go one-on-one with “The Lion of Bulgaria” Rusev, with Aiden English in his corner, in a Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Match. In the end, it was Rusev avoiding the knee from Daniel Bryan before connecting with the Machka Kick, pinning Bryan to pick up a surprising win as Rusev qualifies for the Men’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, joining Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, and The Miz.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown LIVE? Post your comments in the box below.
