Smackdown Live Superstars deal with the fallout of an exceptional Money in the Bank. Paige plans to determine a new number one contender for the WWE Championship. Who has what it takes to challenge AJ Styles?
Paige opens Smackdown Live to announce a five man gauntlet match. The winner will get their title shot at Extreme Rules less than four weeks away. Daniel Bryan, Big E, Samoa Joe, Rusev and The Miz must brawl for a championship opportunity. All superstars seem like viable candidates to emerge victorious.
Toledo, OH will witness the major contest this 19th of June, 2018.
The Band Is Back Together
The phrase “Mella is money” reigns supreme following Money in the Bank. Carmella now has nuclear heat with the crowd following her upset victory over Asuka. She continues to retain her title with shady tactics. The most recent of which involves the return of her estranged partner in crime James Ellsworth. Not only did this booking further legitimize Carmella as a credible heel, it produced a shocking moment when Ellsworth randomly distracted Asuka during her Smackdown Live Women’s Championship match.
Carmella celebrates her victory in Toledo, OH to a visceral crowd reaction. The boo’s are magnified as Ellsworth appears dawning a faux Asuka disguise complete with war mask. Ellsworth announces he is back in the corner of Carmella. Even more so than before these two work well as a heel team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evmrzS30FJI]
Asuka interrupts the gloating duo by storming to the ring to exact revenge. Ellsworth serves as a great punching bag for Asuka and other future challengers for Carmella’s title. Although Asuka runs through Ellsworth with no issue Carmella knocks her out with a kick to the face.
It is probable that this will continue to be the strategy used by Carmella and Ellsworth to keep the belt on The Princess of Stanton Island. This will provide for great booking opportunities and continue to build a great heel champion.
Lynch Gains Momentum
The IIconics waste no time bad mouthing Becky Lynch before she faces Billie Kay. Although the IIconics are not yet ring veterans they do two things well: talk smack and cheat. Lynch has a hard time overcoming the unashamed interference of Peyton Royce.
Becky continues to struggle to find a compelling story or momentum. She previously scored a high profile victory which landed her in the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Unfortunately she failed to capture the briefcase and came away without a fresh feud or angle.
Lynch is able to score the victory over the Kay with the Disarm-Her. This victory is too expected and it would be infinitely more interesting to see Lynch continue her previous “slump”. This direction could see Lynch struggle, becoming increasingly erratic and volatile. At that point it is easy to see her turning heel and using her new attitude to become a major threat.
It seems for now she will wander through the mid card towards her next feud.
Chaos Arrives
The most unconventional NXT call ups to date finally arrive on Smackdown Live. Sanity wastes no time in showing the WWE Universe that they are not to be taken lightly.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYvs1bkcrnA]
This is smart booking. In place of their scheduled match The Usos suffer a senseless beat down at the hands of Sanity. WWE fans who may not know who Sanity now know that the trio care little about matches and more about wreaking havoc in WWE. This is truly in line with the character of their stable. A unique group such as Sanity can ill afford to lose anytime soon in WWE. This is what will separate a gimmick from a legitimate force to be reckoned with.
Perhaps after a series of failed match attempts resulting in the same carnage, Sanity will start winning matches. Later they can provide a solution to The Bludgeon Brothers potentially.
Try Try Again
Gallows and Anderson receive another tag team title shot following their loss at Money in the Bank. The Bludgeon Brothers immediately dominate the Good Brothers in a rematch for the Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships. Rowan successfully superplexes Luke Gallows mere minutes into the match. Both Harper and Rowan neutralize Karl Anderson and continue their double team assault on Gallows.
For a brief moment Anderson seems to mount a come back but is quickly destroyed. the Bludgeon Brothers continue their reign of terror over the Smackdown Live tag team division.
5 Man gauntlet Match
Daniel Bryan’s music hits and signals the first entrant into the gauntlet match. Of the competitors, Bryan certainly possesses the stamina to outlast his opponents. Big E will also starts off the match while his New Day comrades observe from the locker room.
Big E absolutely manhandles Bryan during the first part of the match. A series of vicious moves culminate in an absolutely grotesque spear through the ropes to the outside by Big E. Somehow Bryan finds an opportunity to hit his flying knee to eliminate Big E. The crowd responds to the efforts of the initial competitors with “this is awesome” chants.
Unfortunately for Bryan, Samoa Joe hastily makes his way to the ring just after Big E is eliminated.
Although he fairs better against Joe, Bryan continues to suffer big power moves and now technical wrestling that rivals his own skills. Joe seamlessly transitions through multiple submission maneuvers but Bryan is able to break free. Bryan goes for the legs of Joe in an attempt to level the playing field.
Bryan miraculously eliminates Joe by countering a Coquina Clutch on the outside of the ring. Before Joe realizes what is going on Bryan dives back into the ring just before the ref counts to ten. Joe is stunned but returns to the locker room.
At this point the Bludgeon Brothers emerge from the crowd and power bomb the near lifeless Bryan in the middle of the ring. Bryan had made an early entrance while Harper and Rowan were returning to the locker after their previous match. The Bludgeon Brothers must have taken offense to being upstaged by Bryan.
Ever the opportunist, The Miz sprints to the ring to supplement the attack of Harper and Rowan with a Skull Crushing Finale. The Miz eliminates Daniel Bryan. WWE wisely continues to hold off on a showdown between The Miz and Bryan. This latest interaction between the two saves that confrontation while building nuclear heat against the Miz. Bryan will certainly seek revenge once he recovers from the near forty minutes he spent in the ring.
The Finale
The Miz and Rusev start their portion of the match fresh. Neither bear the fatigue of the gauntlet match. The crowd audibly supports both competitors despite the previous elimination of Daniel Bryan.
While Rusev demonstrates overwhelming power The Miz takes shortcuts and utilizes effective heel strategies. Both competitors seem to have an answer for each offensive maneuver they throw at each other.
Ironically, The Miz attempts several Daniel Bryan moves and is countered. Rusev is able to sweep The Miz into position for The Accolade. The Miz submits to Rusev in a stunning upset victory. Rusev moves on to his first WWE Championship opportunity at Extreme Rules.
This move makes sense for the upcoming Extreme Rules pay per view. The pay per view and time of year is not notorious for producing consequential story arches. This booking gives Rusev the opportunity to wrestle in a high profile match. Meanwhile WWE can start building The Miz angle with Daniel Bryan. This should be a slow build that culminates at a Big Four pay per view.
The steps WWE are taking could make for a surprisingly interesting Extreme Rules this year.
