Backlash concludes in a stalemate between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura. Are these two heading towards another confrontation? Meanwhile Daniel Bryan and The Miz attempt to qualify for Money in the Bank.
The interesting fallout from Backlash does little to settle feuds. Smackdown Live now prepares their Superstars for Money in the Bank with qualifying matches. Paige is organizing the match ups to determine who will represent her brand. Who will qualify to represent Smackdown Live?
Smack down live kicks off with a barn burner.
Jeff Hardy vs The Miz
Paige is playing more of active role as general manager onscreen and announces this first match to kick off the show.
Although The Miz fails to reclaim his Intercontinental Championship at Backlash, his performance continues to earn praise from fans and the WWE announcers. Tonight he Faces Jeff Hardy to earn a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. This match should be Miz’s silver lining from his recent loss. It is exciting to see The Miz slowly begin focusing on the WWE Championship.
Hardy and Miz are able to put together an uptempo match. Both competitors keep up with one another but it is Miz who is able to dictate the pace of the match. Hardy utilizes his classic offense before being tricked into the ropes and kicked in the face. No cheap trick is unused by The Miz as the match continues to change momentum.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twXGcJUPW5I]
Hardy dishes out major punishment and ascend the turnbuckle to successfully deliver a Swanton Bomb. The Miz immediately counters Hardy into a pin upon impact for a successful pinfall victory. This is an amazing, cheap ending generating both heat and momentum for The Miz. This is the right move on the part of WWE as The Miz’s character remains hungry for gold. He can easily concoct a genius plan to steal the briefcase at Money in the Bank.
The Queen, The Iconics
Carmella successfully retains her title against Charlotte at Backlash in a surprisingly clean victory. The queen of Stanton Island is shockingly calculated and vicious during the match. She plans to continue to gloat in Europe on the WWE tour next week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRQus4Ta-S4]
The less than savory tactics employed by Carmella end up injuring the knee of Charlotte. The former WWE Women’s Champion faces Peyton Royce for a chance at a to once again regain gold via the Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase.
Royce and her associate Billie Kay continue to execute biting prematch promos, attacking Charlotte for her failure. Royce is able to stay in step with Charlotte but has trouble getting in any offense. It is only with the help of Kay on the outside that Royce almost pins Charlotte several times. Charlotte remains resilient and applies the Figure Eight, making Royce submit.
Charlotte will certainly make for some highlights in the women’s ladder match at Money in the Bank. It is unlikely she will win as a former women’s champion and her character is above an opportunistic cash in.
Pancakes And Kilts
The New Day continue their feud with The Bar. Xavier woods heads into his match with Cesaro having obtained a victory over Sheamus.
Earlier in the night, it was discovered that The New Day filled The Bar’s gym bags with pancakes as a practical joke. Cesaro is not laughing has he levies some intense strikes upon Woods. The Swiss Superman continues to impose power moves early on in the match. Both competitors work in an almost independent-style, high risk offense style tonight. This match would fit into any Ring of Honor show and featured moves not normal used in the realm of WWE.
Sheamus and the rest of The New day inevitably have an impact on the match. The perfect execution of interference psychology eventually leaves Woods open to attempt his top rope elbow drop. Cesaro counters this with a European uppercut, knocking out Woods in midair. Cesaro gains the victory but it does not seem like these two teams have settled anything.
Lynch Spirals Downward
Becky Lynch is endeavoring to end her “slump” which is now acknowledged by the announcers. This remains the angle Lynch continues to fight out of. As wrestling often mirrors reality, this is actually and interesting story arch. Lynch needs to light a fire under her character to avoid getting lost in the shuffle of the growing women’s roster.
Lynch’s opponent, Mandy Rose, has finally branched off from Absolution . Rose has a new entrance and has embraced her attractiveness as a gimmick. This is highlight by the blurry periphery of the camera during her entrance so as to only focus on her and evoke being drunk on her looks.
The two wrestle a quick match which concludes in a surprise roll up by Rose. Lynch continues to descend into obscurity with this upset. this is excellent booking in that Rose needs singles momentum while WWE can advance the Lynch failure angle, hopefully leading her to snap. If Lynch loses her mind and is forced to become more vicious or even heel she would be much more interesting.
Rusev vs Daniel Bryan
Bryan is attempting to repeat a Money in the Bank ladder match victory but he first faces Rusev to qualify. With the recent popularity of Rusev, the crowd almost does not know who to cheer.
Rusev executes power moves in the early going, injuring Bryans ribs. Bryan fires back with kicks and a hurricanrana, clutching his wounds from the match. Rusev attempts to apply the Accolade but is unable to complete the hold due to damage done to his arm earlier on. Bryan goes for the flying knee only to be countered with a knee to his gut. Rusev nails a Machka Kick for the victory and moves on to enter the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Bryan is visibly heartbroken as he sits on the ring apron after the match. It seems as though he will resume his latest feud with Big Cass. Bryan continues to be attacked backstage at WWE events. Although it is assumed Big Cass is behind the attacks it is never expressly confirmed on camera. This detail leads to the potential that the backstage assailant may not be Big Cass, who is more than willing to attack Bryan head on.
As for Rusev, obtaining the briefcase would be a much welcomed jolt of momentum. Although he has become wildly popular with the fans he has not achieved the same status in terms of booking. This victory is a step in the right direction. The fact that Rusev remains heel yet is over with the fans makes him an exciting candidate to hold the briefcase.
The story essentially writes itself. Rusev will undoubtedly only cash in the MITB contract on Rusev day.
