This week’s episode of SmackDown opened up with the five quick pre-taped promos from all of the women competing in the Fatal 5-Way elimination match later tonight. They take turns explaining why they should win the match and go on to face Naomi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Highlight Reel w/ Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens begins this episode of the Highlight Reel by taking shots at it’s former host, Chris Jericho. Owens stated that he is going to do something that Jericho never did and win the Money in the Bank ladder match. Shinsuke Nakamura is announced as the guest on the highlight reel and gets a great reaction from the crowd. Owens tells Nakamura that he is sick of his stupid dancing. Owens said that Chris Jericho was the last Superstar who liked to refer to himself as a “rockstar” and that he forced him into an early retirement by attacking him.
Baron Corbin then interrupted and stated that nobody wants to hear what Owens and Nakamura have to say. Corbin then rolled highlights of his post-match beatdown of Sami Zayn last week. Owens scolded Corbin for bragging about beating up Sami Zayn. Owens then bragged about beating up Sami Zayn for the last 15 years. Corbin called Owens Eric Cartman and vowed to be the Superstar that will win the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Nakamura then grabbed the mic and reminded Corbin that he has lost to Sami Zayn several times recently, including last week. Owens and Corbin then start beating the hell out of Shinsuke Nakamura as the crowd boos. Sami Zayn comes down to the ring and helps fight off Corbin and Owens. Sami Zayn then issued a challenge for a tag team match right now as the crowd chanted “ole'”.
Talk about a HIGHLIGHT… @iLikeSamiZayn comes to the aid of @ShinsukeN on The #HighlightReel! @FightOwensFight @BaronCorbinWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/Bgr7X5K2JI
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin vs Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura and Corbin started off the the match in the ring. Nakamura connected with a series of kicks and knocked Corbin to his knees. Sami Zayn then entered the match and Corbin chickened out and tagged in Kevin Owens. Sami was in control of Owens early but he quickly became isolated in the corner. Owens and Corbin took turns beating the hell out of Zayn in the corner. SmackDown went to a commercial break after Corbin planted Zayn with a giant Powerslam.
When SmackDown returned, Sami Zayn was still trapped in the ring. Zayn was close to tagging in Shinsuke but Corbin saw it coming and knocked Nakamura off the apron. Nakamura was finally tagged in and he cleaned house. Owens and Corbin starting fighting as Owens accidentally bumped into Corbin. Zayn Clotheslined Corbin out of the ring. Shinsuke Nakamura then connected with the Kinshasa on Owens for the victory.
Winners: Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura
Reaction: SmackDown started off well this week. The Highlight Reel segment was funny and the tag match to kick off the show was very entertaining.
A destructive KINSHASA spells VICTORY for the team of @ShinsukeN & @iLikeSamiZayn! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/mPvEcJwASu
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
The Usos came down to the ring and cut a heel promo about being Tag Team Champions. The Usos also poked fun at the Falcons losing to the Patriots in the Super Bowl and the Atlanta crowd booed. They were then quickly interrupted by The New Day. The Usos and New Day then took turns interrupting each other and trading insults. Xavier Woods said that it was good to be back in his hometown of Atlanta and gave a shout out to his mother in the crowd. The Usos once again interrupted and claimed that they had SmackDown on lockdown. The New Day announced that Shane McMahon has given them a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at Money in the Bank.
Reaction:Â I grew tired of the New Day on RAW but I am glad they are back. The SmackDown tag division desperately needs new teams. I have no idea why American Alpha isn’t on SmackDown regularly anymore. Maybe working with a team like New Day will help get American Alpha over with the general audience in the near future.
Good to have you back, #NewDay. @TrueKofi @XavierWoodsPhD @WWEBigE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/QTW6O1LDvN
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 31, 2017
Charlotte Flair vs Natalya vs Tamina Snuka vs Carmella vs Becky Lynch
Everyone started brawling before the match even started. Natalya went after Charlotte and planted her with a Suplex. Tamina then hit Charlotte with a Samoan Drop. The battle spilled out of the ring and Charlotte slammed Tamina into the ring post. Charlotte then climbed to the top turnbuckle and connected with a Moonsault onto Natalya and Tamina. Carmella hopped up on the barricade and hit a Crossbody onto Charlotte.
The brawl continued for the next few minutes. Charlotte Powerbombed Natalya through the announce table and SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon made his way down the entrance ramp. Shane McMahon said that they were going to make history at Money in the Bank. Shane announced that the first ever Women’s Money in the Bank l;adder match will take place at the PPV on June 18th.
Reaction: This match was supposed to determine the #1 contender but I’m glad things played out the way that they did. I’m looking forward to the Women’s MITB ladder match. I thought the Hell in a Cell match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks was solid. However, I think this match can be great with all of the athleticism in the ring. I’m already looking forward to seeing a gigantic Moonsault from Charlotte off a ladder.
In light of tonight's chaos, #SDLive Commissioner @shanemcmahon has just announced the FIRST-EVER Women's #MITB #LadderMatch! pic.twitter.com/jeBhup2rlT
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
Breezango vs The Colons
Tyler Breeze made his way to the ring in another costume that required a dress and a wig. Primo immediately removed the costume once the match started. Fandango then brought out a squirt gun and started distracting Primo. Epico was tagged in and knocked Breeze out of the ring and planted Fandango with a Backbreaker for a two count. Tyler Breeze then emerged again with a bald cap and a fake mustache. Everything broke down and Fandango and Epico started battling over a mop on the ring apron. Breeze then connected with the Unprettier on Primo for the victory.
Winners: Breezango
Reaction: I don’t understand why dressing up as fake police officers wasn’t enough. I don’t find squirt guns and janitor disguises all that amusing. I’m just hoping that New Day doesn’t start dressing like Old Day again. If that happens, we could be in for a bunch of terrible skits from Breezango and New Day on SmackDown in the future.
Nothing causes a distraction quite like a… mop?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/owX9050z57
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 31, 2017
Randy Orton came down to the ring to discuss losing the WWE Championship to Jinder Mahal. Orton stated that if his grandfather was still alive, he would Smack Orton in the face for losing the title to Mahal. Orton stated that at Money in the Bank, Orton is going to hand Jinder Mahal an “American, Orton-family” beating and become the 14 time World Champion.
Orton begins to exit but is interrupted by Jinder Mahal on the jumbotron. Mahal claimed that Orton was just another ignorant American. Jinder Mahal then cut the same promo you’ve heard for the past couple of weeks about being the future of the WWE and the modern day Maharaja. Jinder’s promo ended and Orton posed in the corner to end the segment.
Reaction:Â I get that some people may find this entertaining, but I don’t. I’m not just going to cheer for Orton because he is American and boo Jinder Mahal because he is not. It just feels lazy and uncreative to me. Money in the Bank cannot come soon enough if this is the kind of lazy storyline we are going to get for the WWE Championship.
#WWEChampion @JinderMahal says that he is the PRESENT… the FUTURE… the modern-day MAHARAJA! #SDLive @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/rP6lUy8p5u
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler
The match started off with Ziggler taking a cheap shot and launching Styles into the turnbuckle as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Ziggler was still in control of the match and had Styles in a Chin Lock. Styles battled out of the hold and planted Ziggler with a Suplex. Styles followed it up with a Facebuster for a two count.
AJ then hit a kick to Ziggler’s head for another two count. Both Superstars then battled on the turnbuckle. Ziggler got the upper-hand and planted Styles with a DDT from the second turnbuckle. Styles was then able to apply the Calf Crusher but Ziggler was able to make it to the bottom rope to break the hold. Dolph then immediately hit a Zig Zag for a two count. Styles then went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Dolph launched himself into the ropes and Styles fell crotch-first onto the top rope. Ziggler then hit a Superkick for the victory.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Reaction:Â I figured if Ziggler was going to get the win it would be because someone attacked AJ Styles. That wasn’t the case and Ziggler simply won this match. I was surprised by that and the match itself was solid. Overall, SmackDown was another hit or miss show this week. I liked the opening of the show, the women’s segment and the main- event. The Breezango stuff doesn’t entertain me at all and I’m disappointed that this is the direction they are going in with the WWE Championship feud. I’d rather see Mahal turn into a real heel and start attacking Orton every week. As of now, I think the Mahal and Orton storyline is lazy and I hope that changes in the next few weeks. Although, I highly doubt that will be the case.
In his home state of Georgia, @AJStylesOrg suffers a crushing DEFEAT at the hands of The #Showoff @HEELZiggler! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/2KvP3kw2As
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
What did you think of this week’s episode of SmackDown? Let us know in the comments below.
