The May 8th edition of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD, and was the first episode after Sunday’s Backlash pay-per-view.
– Paige comes out to kick off this week’s SmackDown broadcast. She talks about WWE’s first co-branded pay-per-view Backlash being a smashing success. Paige talks about the finish to AJ vs. Nakamura, and says she didn’t forsee that finish when she made it a No DQ match. She says we will hear from AJ and Nakamura later tonight. Paige introduces the first match of the night, a Money In The Bank qualifying match between Jeff Hardy and The Miz.
– Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz: The winner of this match ears a spot in the Money In The Bank ladder match. The opening bell sounds and they lock up. They run the ropes and Jeff levels Miz down to the mat. The Miz starts fighting back, but Jeff drops him again and goes up top. The Miz scoots away from Jeff’s range and recovers. Jeff comes down and continues the offense on Miz. The Miz fires up and escapes a suplex attempt, then he throws Jeff to the outside. The Miz follows Jeff outside and slams him on the fan barricade. Jeff ducks a shot from Miz, then headbutts him and comes flying off the barricade with a flying clothesline on the floor. Back in the ring, Jeff drops Miz and hits a leg drop for a two count. Jeff looks for the Twist of Fate, but Miz escapes. They struggle, but Jeff ends up successfully hitting the Twist of Fate. Jeff goes up top, but The Miz rolls out to the apron. Jeff misses a shot, and Miz kicks him then drops Jeff’s neck on the apron. Back in the ring, Miz and Jeff trade right hands until Jeff stuns him with a Russian leg sweep. Jeff elbows Miz in the face and then goes up top and hits the Whisper In the Wind for a two count. The Miz starts to fight back, but Jeff kicks him to the outside and follows up with a suicide dive. Jeff throws Miz back in the ring and goes up top. The Miz drops Jeff over the top rope then starts pummeling on him. The Miz climbs up for a superplex, but Jeff blocks it and hits a sunset flip powerbomb off the turnbuckle for a two count. Jeff looks for the Twist of Fate but Miz escapes again. Jeff boots Miz into the corner then hits the double kick to the chest. Jeff follows up with the Twist of Fate, then he goes back to the turnbuckle. Jeff connects with the Swanton Bomb but Miz gets the shoulder up. the Miz reverses the pin into a roll-up on Jeff, and Miz steals the three count for the win.
Winner: The Miz
– The Miz recovers at ringside as we go to replays. Jeff looks like he can’t believe it. The Miz is now qualified for the men’s Money In The Bank ladder match.
– We go backstage to Sheamus and Cesaro. Sheamus is eating Lucky Charms, and he says those are the only things that comfort him after his loss to Xavier Woods last week. Cesaro thinks he would have done better, and Sheamus gets in his face. Sheamus tells Cesaro to face Woods tonight and see if he can do any better. Cesaro opens up his luggage to find that it’s full of pancakes. Sheamus laughs, but Cesaro thinks it’s not funny at all. Sheamus opens his bag next and see that it’s also filled with pancakes, and Sheamus gets mad now too. The Bar starts freaking out and saying they hate pancakes.
– Still to come: Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev, and Charlotte vs. Peyton Royce in MITB qualifying matches.
– We go backstage for an interview with Sinsuke Nakamura, who once again says he can’t speak English because he forgot. Renee asks again if there’s anything he wants to say to AJ. He says AJ is nuts, but so is he, and they’re not finished.
– The announcers introduce some footage from Backlash of Charlotte supposedly injuring her knee in her match against Carmella.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Carmella who talks about beating Charlotte and wanting to celebrate. She says she won’t celebrate here in Batlimore, she’ll celebrate in London and it will be bigger than the Royal Wedding.
– WWE airs some pre-taped selfie-style promos from Tye Dillinger and Naomi discussing their intentions to win the Money In The Bank match.
– Charlotte vs. Peyton Royce: This one is a Money In The Bank qualifying match. The Iiconics come out and cut a promom on Charlotte before the match, showing some still photos on the big screen of Charlotte’s loss on Sunday. Peyton finally gets in the ring and the opening bell sounds. Charlotte starts off strong and repeatedly suplexes Peyton down to the mat. Charlotte chops Peyton and then hits a fallaway slam. Charlotte throws Peyton outside and she crashes in front of Billie on the floor. Charlotte follows her and they brawl around ringside. Peyton sends Charlotte into the ring post, then brings her back in the ring. Peyton tries to keep Charlotte grounded, and she gets frustrated after pinning for a two count. Peyton chokes Flair in the corner now until the referee breaks it up. Flair finally starts firing up and throwing strikes at Peyton. Flair drops her and then hits a belly to belly suplex. Peyton rolls outside after an assist from Billie, and Flair goes flying with a suicide dive. Flair only hits Billie, and then Peyton comes back and beats on Flair on the floor. The referee counts, and Peyton brings Charlotte back into the ring for a two count. Billie hits a cheap shot on Charlotte behind the ref’s back, and Peyton pins for another two count. Peyton misses a shot and Charlotte starts fighting back. Charlotte comes out of the corner with a big boot, then she climbs to the top turnbuckle. Charlotte goes for a moonsault, but Peyton blocks it with her knees. Charlotte starts selling her knee injury again, and Peyton beats on her while she’s down. Peyton continues the offense until Flair hits a spear for a two count. They grapple on the mat until Charlotte locks her in the Figure Four for the win via submission.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
– Charlotte looks up at the MITB briefcase hanging above the ring, as she has now qualified for the women’s MITB ladder match.
– Daniel Bryan is backstage for an interview about his MITB qualifying match against Rusev. Bryan talks about his feud with Cass, and then he reminisces about cashing in a Money In The Bank briefcase on The Big Show years ago. Bryan says he has a history of defying the odds, and tonight will be no different. He says he’ll find a way to win, and the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
– Still to come: Cesaro vs. Xavier Woods
– We see some pre-taped selfie videos from Shelton Benjamin and Asuka talking about the upcoming Money In the Bank pay-per-view.
– Xavier Woods vs. Cesaro: Kofi and Big E are at ringside in Woods’ corner, and Sheamus is at ringside in Cesaro’s corner. The opening bell sounds and they lock up. They trade holds as the crowd chants “we want pancakes.” Big E and Kofi start tossing pancakes int othe crowd from ringside. Cesaro drops Woods with a shoulder tackle off the ropes. They run the ropes again, but this time Woods drops Cesaro with a hurricanrana and then beats on him in the corner. Cesaro comes back with a gutwrench suplex and controls the next few moments of the match. Woods fights back with some kicks and he pins for a two count. Cesaro and Woods brawl back and forth now until Woods drives Cesaro face-first into the canvas for a near-fall. Sheamus gets on the apron to distract the ref, but Kofi gets involved too and evens the odds. Woods hits a Shining Wizard on Cesaro, while the ref is still distracted. Big E and Kofi team up to drop Sheamus at ringside, then Woods goes up to the top rope. Woods leaps, but Cesaro knocks him out of mid-air with an uppercut. Cesaro covers and scores the three count.
Winner: Cesaro
– Sheamus and Cesaro celebrate their win, while Kofi and Big E check on Woods in the ring.
– AJ Styles is backstage for an interview. We’re told AJ is not cleared to wrestle again yet after Backlash. Renee Young mentions that Nakamura said earlier tonight that he’s not done with AJ. AJ cuts her off and says he stooped to Nakamura’s level, and he doesn’t want to fight dirty, but he will if he has to and especially if his WWE Title is on the line. AJ says he will finish “the king of low-blows” Nakamura.
– Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville are shown backstage. Becky Lynch is also shown walking towards the gorilla position.
– We see a backstage segment with several WWE action figures laying around. The Bludgeon Brothers appear, and they cut a promo about people wanting to play with them and their toys.
– Mandy and Sonya are backstage talking about how this is a new start, and they can both be in Money In The Bank. Paige walks in and reminds them that Absolution is over, and she bans Sonya from ringside for Mandy’s match tonight. Paige walks off, and Mandy and Sonya aren’t happy.
– Becky Lynch vs. Mandy Rose: The opening bell sounds, and Becky and Mandy lock up and go back and forth with holds early on. Rose decks Becky with a dropkick and beats on her while she’s down. Rose keeps Becky grounded now and tosses her around the ring. Becky tries to get back in the game, but rose slams her back down and talks some trash. Becky finally starts fighting back and unloads with strikes. Becky hits an uppercut, then goes for the Disarm Her, but Rose escapes. Becky connects with a t-bone suplex, then lays into Rose with right hands. Becky looks for the springboard kick, but Rose counters and is able to roll up Becky for the three count. Becky and Mandy both look surprised by the win.
Winner: Mandy Rose
– Mandy immediately leaves the ring after the match and stands tall on the floor. She heads up the ramp as Becky looks on from the mat.
– We see a look back at Daniel Bryan cashing in his MITB contract against The Big Show in 2011 to become World Heavyweight Champion.
– Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vegas are advertised to make their SmackDown debuts next week in London.
– Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev: This one is a qualifying match for the MITB ladder match. Aiden English comes out to sing Rusev’s introduction. The bell sounds and Rusev and Bryan have a test of strength early on. They trade holds as the fans duel chants for both competitors. Rusev drops Bryan with a shoulder, then Bryan comes back with a single leg takedown. Bryan starts working over Rusev’s knees, then leys into him with kicks in the corner. Rusev fires up and slams Bryan down, then stomps a mud hole in him. Rusev charges, but Bryan ducks and Rusev falls out of the ring, crashing on the ringside floor. Bryan goes flying for a suicide dive, but Rusev catches him and throws him over the announce table. Rusev brings Bryan back in the ring and continues beating on him. Bryan finally comes back with a knee strike, then he hits some corner dropkicks. Bryan takes Rusev to the top turnbuckle and hits a hurricnarana. Bryan hits the “yes kicks,” but Rusev ducks one and drops Bryan. They grapple back and forth until Rusev hits a big boot for a two count. Fans continue to chant for both Rusev and Bryan, as Rusev looks for the Accolade. Bryan counters and puts Rusev in the Yes Lock, but Rusev grabs the ropes to break the hold. They trade strikes now until Bryan gets the better of things and stuns Rusev with a kicks. Aiden English now pulls Rusev outside to safety, so Bryan charges and kicks both of them through the ropes. Bryan goes flying off the apron and takes down Rusev at ringside. Bryan brings him back in the ring for a missile dropkick. Bryan is selling his ribs, but he gets up and waits in the corner as the “yes” chants start up. Bryan charges, but Rusev catches him and hits a gut buster. Rusev follows up with the Machka Kick for the three count.
Winner: Rusev
– Rusev has now earned a spot in the Money In the Bank ladder match. English hits the ring to celebrate with Rusev as we go to replays. Rusev and English start to head backstage and talk trash to Bryan from the ramp. Bryan looks disappointed in the ring as he sells a rib injury and SmackDown goes off the air.
