AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura sign the contract for their upcoming championship match. Meanwhile, The New Day teases who will represent them at Money in the Bank.
The Superstars of Tuesday night seem to be settling into the card ahead of Money in the Bank but questions remain. What is next for Daniel Bryan following his loss to Samoa Joe? The New Day must choose which one of their stable will complete the Smackdown Live ladder match lineup. Who will bear the glory and responsibility of winning at Money in the Bank?
Smackdown Live comes to us for Corpus Christi, TX this 5th of June, 2018.
Absolution vs Asuka
Carmella kicks things off with a gloating promo in which she continues to claim she is better than Asuka. After beating Charlotte Flair, Carmella claims to have beaten Asuka by proxy. A video package plays mid-segment to further drive home this point. This false equivalence is brilliantly flaunted by Carmella a she garners significant heat wherever she goes.
Asuka attempts to confront Carmella only to be interrupted by Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. Rose almost defeated Asuka on the previous Smackdown Live in a solid match. Both Rose and her former Absolution stablemate are certainly pulling their weight in the ring as of late but it is Deville who challenges Asuka this evening.
Goaded by Carmella, Asuka prefers to fight both women in an impromptu handicap match.
Although the main story here is Asuka challenging for the Smackdown Live Women’s Championship, Rose and Deville are truly shining both in the ring and on the mic. Both Superstars are dynamic enough to stand out and continuously prove to be good workers. Deville’s power and previous fighting experience make her a credible threat even to a her once undefeated opponent. Meanwhile, Rose utilizes classic heel moves and tactics effectively.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Je36HIO80]
Asuka struggles against these two opponents but her endurance garners her a win via tap out. Carmella attacks Asuka during the post match celebration. It is great to see Absolution sharing the limelight. While Asuka remains dominant in the ring, her spotlight seems to have diminished even in the title scene. Absolution could potentially be working with Carmella to ensure the champion retains at Money in the Bank.
Brother to Brother
Karl Anderson bravely takes on Luke Harper in a one on one preview of The Good Brothers vs The Bludgeon Brothers. At Money in the Bank one of these teams will emerge with the Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships. Accompanied by his partner Luke Gallows, Anderson is dominated by Harper throughout the match.
It is only when Harper misses a clothesline that Anderson is able to score a shocking roll up victory. Gallows and Anderson celebrate while retreating to the back as Harper and Rowan remain in the ring incensed.
Anderson absolutely needs this victory ahead of his team’s title shot. Gallows and Anderson have been in creative limbo until recently. Although they can certainly gain some momentum challenging for the titles their opponents happen to be dominating the entire tag team division right now. It is unlikely Gallows and Anderson come away with the championships at Money in the Bank.
Mixed Tag Madness
After their failed dance off, Naomi and Lana attempt to settle their differences in a mixed tag match. Both are set to compete in the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Naomi enlists her husband Jimmy to wrestle with her while Lana and Aiden English represent Rusev day.
The majority of the match features the female Superstars who coordinate some interesting spots including a double Enziguri with the men and a suicide dive from Naomi. Lana shows great improvement in the ring during this latest run in WWE. Rusev Day spend too much time mocking their opponents and fall victim to superkicks and hip attacks. The Usos win but in the process injure English’s throat.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoQ_ngBtCL4]
The singing of English is at the center of the recent success and popularity of Rusev Day. This evolving rivalry with the Uso clan can certainly maintain the interest of the WWE Universe. Lana continues to viciously attack Naomi while collateral damage is suffered such as the voice of English. This angles becomes more interesting as a rare inter gender feud incorporating multiple story lines.
The Queen Plays With Fire
It is unclear whether Becky Lynch continues her slump heading into her match with Charlotte Flair. Lynch is coming off of a much needed victory previously on Smackdown Live. Lynch will have to prove she has what it takes to defeat arguably the best Women’s wrestler in WWE today.
Flair and Lynch tear it up tonight. This refreshing wrestling clinic is exciting and showcases the ability of each Superstar. Lynch certainly looks like Flair’s equal during the match. The incredible finish features Lynch countering Flair’s moonsault and executing the Disarm-Her for a huge upset win. Lynch definitively shatters her slump in a well deserved and timely victory.
In another reality it would be interesting to see a desperate, bitter heel character payed by Lynch. Her previous slump seemed to point to Lynch finally snapping and turning on her more successful friends. This move completely abandons that premise.
WWE Championship Contract Signing
There is something to be said about Shinsuke Nakamura’s heel persona. He plays the best mind games and AJ Styles feeds right into this. In the fourth installment of this feud it seems that Nakamura has the mental edge going into this match.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9Ov0_j9GM]
MITB Six Man Tag
The New Day teased The Miz earlier, promising to reveal which one of them would compete in the ladder match at Money in the Bank. Instead The Miz ended up with a handful of pancake batter. Rusev and Samoa Joe join The Miz in challenging the positive trio.
The New Day continue to gain momentum with several recent victories. Can they maintain this momentum and the element of surprise over their opponents to potentially obtain the briefcase? It is likely this close to the pay per view that The New Day will save their selection for the last minute for both strategy and entertainment purposes.
Whereas Samoa Joe looks monstrous most days he and his teammates struggle against the quick and powerful New Day. Later on in the match The Miz uses a distraction to shift the momentum of the match. All three heels work together to throw The New Day off of their game. At one point Joe and Rusev hold Big E as The MIz grabs some ringside pancakes to throw at his opponent.
Unfortunately The Miz misses and in the process showers Joe and Rusev with pancakes. The two big men do not take to kindly to this and proceed to pummel their partner, leaving The Miz to finish the match solo. The New Day effortlessly gain the win with the advantage. The show closes without the mystery Money in the Bank participant being revealed.
The suspense of who the chosen one will be and how they will be determined is a great build for the already stacked Money in the Bank Ladder match. Perhaps this angle will bleed over into the match itself. The many layers of the match contain great story lines and The New Day’s is stirring up the most drama at this point.
