SmackDown welcomes the WWE Universe back in a big way!

Money in the Bank Weekend kicks off with a stacked SmackDown, finally back in front of live fans! But will Bianca Belair still reign after facing Carmella?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Roman Reigns & The Usos VS Edge & The Mysterios; Roman & The Usos win.
• Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox VS Natalya & Tamina; Shotzi & Tegan win and become the new #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
• SmackDown Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Carmella; Bianca wins and retains the title.
• Cesaro VS Otis w/ Chad Gable; Cesaro wins, by disqualification.
• Fatal 4 Way: Big E VS Kevin Owens VS Seth Rollins VS Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rick Boogs; Rollins wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

For a year and a half, something’s been missing.

Superstars look at an empty arena, and highlights from the last 40 years of WWE play, and even of WrestleMania 37. What did all those classic moments, the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, have in common? THE FANS! So, WWELCOME BACK to the show!

Vince McMahon is here!!

The Chairman of WWE is opens the first SmackDown back in front of the WWE Universe, and a sold-out Toyota Center in Houston, Texas! And he asks, “Where the hell have you been?” Good night! Aw c’mon, really? Well, Mr. McMahon doesn’t want to overstay his welcome, because the Tribal Chief is here! Fans again get to give their mixed reactions to the Reigns-ing, Defending, Undisputed, Uncontroverted, Universal Heavyweight Champion on his 320th day as champion, Roman…! Reigns! Paul Heyman gives him the belt to hold up, and the pyro goes off from the new super titantron LED stage! Roman then hands the belt back to make his way down the ramp.

The Usos already wait for Roman in the ring, and Roman again raises the belt for even more pyro! Heyman and the Usos shake hands, and we’re about to open with a HUGE 3v3!!

Six Man Tag: Roman Reigns & The Usos VS Edge & The Mysterios!

While the Head of the Table defends his Universal Championship against the Rated R Superstar, Jimmy & Jey are once again going after the SmackDown Tag Team Championships! Will the Bloodline be strong going into Money in the Bank this Sunday? Or will Edge, Rey and Dominik make sure Roman does NOT get his way?

Houston comes alive for Edge’s entrance, and HIS pyro! Roman isn’t intimidated, despite Edge having put both him, Jimmy and Jey in a full metal crossface at one time or another since his return. The energy is already electric, but this opening match begins after the break!

SmackDown returns and the Bloodline takes their time plotting. They’ve flanked the ring, and Jey gets in to blindside Edge! The bell rings, fans boo as Jey stomps Edge, and Jey whips Edge to ropes. Edge reverses and FLAPJACKS Jey! Fans fire up as Edge glares at Roman. Edge gets Jey up, wrenches an arm, and tags Dom in! Dom is finally in front of fans, and he wrenches Jey, kicks low, then tags Rey. Rey drops ax handles on the arm! Rey wrenches but Jey DECKS Rey to tag Jimmy! Jimmy runs in but into an arm-drag! Edge tags in, Rey gets Jimmy up for Edge to kick the arm. Edge wrenches, hits an elbow breaker, then another, then wrenches again.

Edge wrenches, wristlocks, tags back to Rey, and Edge whips to get Jimmy up, for Rey’s springboard seated senton! Fans fire up again as Rey covers, TWO! Rey tags in Dom, Rey holds Jimmy for Dom to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO, but Dom arm-drags Jimmy right back down! Dom has the armlock and grinds the shoulder, but Jimmy fights up. Jimmy throws forearms, Dom throws them back! Dom fires off but Jey tags in. Jimmy whips Dom, Dom dodges but Jey GAMANGIRIS! Jimmy DECKS Dom with an uppercut, and Jey runs in to SPLASH Dom at the corner. Roman holds out a hand and Jey tags him in! Roman drags Dom out of the ring and THROWS him down!

Roman gets Dom up and into the ring now, facelocks and snap suplexes! Cover as Heyman holds up the belt, TWO! Roman shoves Dom out of the ring, goes out after him, and fans boo as the Usos fire up. Roman gets Dom up to bounce him off the desk! Roman refreshes the count to then fetch Dom, reel him in, and POWERBOMB him onto the desk! Rey rushes over in a fury but the ref has him stay back! Roman shouts at the crowd, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” as we go to break!

SmackDown returns again and Dom climbs up. Dom boots Jimmy away, leaps and TORNADO DDT’s Jimmy down! Fans fire up as both men crawl for their corners, hot tags to Jey and Edge! Edge rallies on the Usos, swings on Roman, but has to FLAPJACK Jey again! Edge BOOTS him down, then WRECKS Jimmy and CLOBBERS Roman! Edge gets in, Jey fireman’s carries but Edge slips out! Rey tags in, Jey SUPERKICKS Edge, but Rey seated sentons Jey! Rey runs, tilt-o-whirls and DDT’s Jey! Cover, but Jimmy breaks it in time! Dom gets in, wheelbarrow tosses Jimmy out, then SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODIES him down! But Roman POSTS Dom!

Rey focuses on Jey but Jey ROCKS him with an uppercut! Rey RANAS Jey onto ropes! Rey dials it up and fans go nuts, but Roman intercepts the call to RAM Rey into apron! And then tosses him into the ring! Roman talks trash, but Edge SPEARS Roman down!! Fans are thunderous as Jey gets Rey up, but Rey switches, O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Rey gets a SUCKER PUNCH from Jimmy! Jey rolls Rey up with tights, and the Bloodline wins!!

Winners: Roman Reigns & The Usos, by pinfall

Jey attacks Rey to add on, and he POSTS Rey! Dom fires off on Jey but Jimmy CLUBS Dom down! The Usos mug Dom, but Edge gets in with a chair! Edge JAMS and SMACKS Jimmy, then JAMS and SMACKS Jey! Roman returns with a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Fans boo but Roman soaks up all the heat. Roman gets the belt to hold it up, and he walks all around Edge. Edge is still moving, and Roman sees the chair. Roman wants to cash in a receipt as he breaks off a crossbar! Roman picks it up, but turns around into a SPEAR!! Twice, Edge has gotten Roman with their shared signature move, and Edge gets the crossbar! Fans go nuts as Edge puts Roman in the CROSSBAR CROSSFACE!!!

Roman has the same look on his face as from WrestleMania 37!! Roman is TAPPING!! Edge lets Roman go, having made his point! But as Edge picks up the Universal Championship and holds it over head, will Edge give the world a repeat performance at Money in the Bank?

Edge, Rey and Dom regroup backstage.

They’re obviously still upset over the loss. First, Rey gets hit with a cheap shot, then the roll up with tights! Edge says it’s fine, they’ll get payback at MITB. Kayla Braxton comes by to interview Edge and the Mysterios say they’ll meet up again later. Kayla says that though his team lost, Edge is still one step closer to defeating Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Well Edge wishes he could say that after “making Roman Reigns tap out like a bitch,” but this will not be easy. Edge has to go to a place he’s never gone before. He has to go to a part of his soul he hasn’t gone to before, and he isn’t sure if he wants to do that.

But in order to beat Roman, Edge has to become “the most selfish, manipulative son of a bitch,” and he will do that! Winning the Universal Championship is the one last thing he has to do in this industry- But then laughing as he enters is Seth Rollins in a literally star-studded suit. Rollins says Edge can’t beat Roman! Roman may be the most self-absorbed, megalomaniacal person he’s ever met, but Rollins says Roman has Edge’s number. But look, at Sunday, MITB, Rollins will be Edge’s biggest fan. Edge will be there with a “GO EDGE GO” sign. Rollins hopes Edge wins the title, because Rollins will do his job: go into the MITB match, climb the ladder, get the briefcase, and then finish what he started seven years ago when he had his boot on Edge’s neck.

Rollins sincerely hopes Edge becomes the new Universal Champion, because then Rollins will get to cash in on the man who made the match famous. “Good luck. HAHAHAHA!” Rollins is laughing now, but will someone else in the Men’s MITB match have the last laugh?

Sami Zayn is here!

The Great Liberator heads to the ring, but he tells all of the fans to stop! See that? Everyone is talking about the MITB match, but no one has the courage to talk about how Sami is PURPOSEFULLY being excluded! Fans boo but Sami says this is because “they” want us to focus on the happy things~! Oh~! Look! The fans are back! Look! Giant new titantron! All a distraction from the fact that for over a YEAR, there has been a conspiracy targeting Sami Zayn!! But that’s fine! Sami says tonight, for the first time in forever, he has something in his corner that he hasn’t had: the fans! Yes, the people! They’ve seen it all! They’ve seen the victimization and persecution!

So now, please stand up and make your voices heard to let “them” know that this will not stand! “Justice for Sami! Justice for Sami!” Fans do get into it. Well, not that many. But Sami says that’s not surprising. The Heehaws of Texas aren’t on Sami’s side. That’s fine, he doesn’t need you! He just needs JUSTICE! nd if there was anything like that in this world, Sami would be in the MITB match! No, better! The briefcase would be lowered to him right now and he’d be handed the contract on a silver platter! That would be justice. Sami will not let this show go on until- FINN BALOR is here?! The Prince is back on SmackDown and Sami is in shock!

Fans fire up as Balor stands in the ring with Sami, and Sami gives him an introduction for the very few who don’t know him. Sami welcomes Finn back, then swings on him! Finn gets Sami for an elbow drop DDT! And then a SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Sami flounders about and Finn goes up top! COUP DE GRACE! Fans are thunderous now that the Balor Club returns to the blue brand, but will Sami make him the new target for his tirades?

Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox VS Natalya & Tamina!

They defeated the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions last week, but the upstarts from NXT are back to TCB again! And this time, if Shotzi ‘n’ Nox win again, they’ll get a tag title match! Will the Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly make sure this time is the last time they have to worry about the new kids on the block?

SmackDown returns and the champions make their entrances. Breaking news on the Women’s MITB, too: Tamina has been named the final entrant for SmackDown! That said, Liv Morgan and Zelina Vega have appeared on commentary to watch this very closely. Liv is very confident she’ll win the contract this Sunday, but Zelina laughs at her. Meanwhile, the teams sort out and Tamina starts with Shotzi for this all or nothing rematch!

Tamina kicks Shotzi, fires off hands, then scoops her to slam her! Shotzi gets to a corner but Tamina drags her back up to throw her to the champs’ corner. Tamina shoulders Tegan off the apron, runs in and fires off on Shotzi, then tags in Natty. The champs double whip Shotzi hard into the buckles, and Natty stomps a mudhole into her! The ref backs Natty off, Natty gets Shotzi up to scoop but Shotzi slips out to roll her up! ONE, and Shotzi ENZIGURIS Natty right down! Shotzi keeps moving, she trips Natty and drags her around to welcome her to the ball pit! Leg splitting leg drop a la Jeff Hardy! Jackknife cover, TWO!

Shotzi gets Natty up, whips her to a corner, but Natty reverses. Natty runs in but into an elbow! Shotzi hurries up top but Tamina distracts her! Shotzi drops down but Natty clobbers her! Natty tags Tamina, the champs stomp away on Shotzi while Vega and Liv argue. Tag back to Natty, Natty gets Shotzi up for forearms. Fans rally for Shotzi as the ref backs Natty off. Shotzi kicks back, elbows Tamina then kicks Natty again. Shotzi goes under Natty, Natty CLOBBERS Shotzi! Natty grabs at Shotzi but she kicks Natty away! Hot tag to Tegan! Tegan fires off CHOPS and EuroUppers! Then she dropkicks Tamina, to then CANNONBALL her down!

Tegan dodges Natty, runs in to uppercut, and fans fire up as she goes corner to corner to CANNONBALL again! Tegan puts Natty in center, SHINIEST WIZARD!! Cover but Tamina breaks it! Tamina attacks Shotzi, the ref reprimands, but the arguing on commentary stops and it’s just a scrap! Liv and Vega are brawling and fans go nuts! Things end up in the ring? The ref is distracted, so is Natty, and Liv LEAPS to clobber Vega! Tegan rolls Natty, she and Shotzi win again!!

Winners: Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)

The new kids have done it again! Tegan & Shotzi now have a title match in their future! Will they continue to Take Care o’ Business and take over the tag division?

Meanwhile, Tamina CLOBBERS Liv for costing her and Natty! Natty stalks Vega and drags her up! Natty feeds her to Tamina’s SUPERKICK! Tamina then runs at Liv but Liv dodges to send her into the steps! Liv bounces Natty off the desk, puts her in the ring, and fans fire up with her as she goes after Natty. Natty kicks back but runs into a CODE BREAKER! Liv points to the briefcase and fans are fired up, will we be living in Morgan’s world?

Bianca Belair is headed to gorilla position!

She’s ready to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship, but the Dirty Dawgs see her passing by. Dolph Ziggler wants her to tell Mella they said hi. Yeah, no. Then can she at least ask if Mella has a sister? Bianca shrugs those two off and is ready for her match, will the EST prove there’s so much more to this than meets the eye?

SmackDown Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair VS Carmella!

The strongEST, the fastEST, the roughEST and the toughEST champion is going to take on the (self-proclaimed) Most Beautiful Woman in the WWE Today, in a match that came about after Bayley unfortunately injured herself while training. Will Mella be money even without the MITB contract? Or will she learn to never doubt Bianca’s bonafides?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the first title match back in front of fans since WrestleMania 37 looks to make this the hottEST SmackDown in a long time!

Mella and Biacna circle, but then Mella shoves Bianca. Bianca shoves Mella down! Mella gets up in a huff and SLAPS Bianca! Bianca chases Mella out of the ring, around the way, and back inside the ring. Mella runs and wheelbarrows, to arm-drag Bianca, only for Bianca to run her over! Bianca says kiss this, and she dropkicks Mella back down! Bianca kips up as Mella gets to a corner, but Mella boots back! Bianca comes back in but Mella dodges and digs Bianca into buckles. Mella fires off back elbows, lets off as the ref counts, but then adds one last elbow! Fans boo, Mella soaks up the heat, and hits a FABULOUS Bronco Buster! Cover, ONE!!

Mella keeps her cool, gets Bianca up, and whips her to a corner. Bianca goes up, over and handsprings to RAM back in! Bianca digs her shoulder in, rolls back, then returns, only for Mella to put her on the apron. Bianca DECKS Mella, gets her on the other side of the corner and brings her through. But Mella YANKS Bianca into the POST! Bianca falls to the ring, clutching her arm. Mella goes out to get Bianca and RAM her into barriers! Mella gets Bianca up and into the ring, covers, TWO! Mella is annoyed but she drags Bianca out to RAM her back into barriers! Mella throws Bianca around again, then soaks up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Bianca CLOBBERS Mella! Bianca fires up, and fires off CLUBBING forearms! Fans fire up as Bianca bumps Mella off buckle after buckle, then scoops her for a SLAM! Mella grabs at Bianca’s feet but Bianca kicks her away to handspring and moonsault! Mella even moved but couldn’t get away! Cover, TWO! Bianca drags Mella to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Mella trips her up! Mella climbs up, throws elbows, then goes corner to corner to be denied her steiner! Bianca boots Mella, drags her up to reel her in, but Mella fights back. Mella clubs Bianca, gets up even higher, SUPER STEINER! Mella scrambles to get the cover, TWO!

Mella is beside herself but Bianca isn’t the toughEST for nothing. Bianca tries to get away but Mella gets her up. Fans rally for “E S T! E S T!” Mella swings but into Bianca’s chicken wings! Mella victory rolls through, TWO! Bianca has the cover, TWO and she’s sent into buckles! Mella runs in, guillotine! Bianca endures, stays up on her feet, reaches around, but she is fading! Fans rally as Mella drags Bianca down! But Bianca gets a second wind! Bianca powers up to stand, and pops Mella to a stalling suplex! She IS the strongEST for a reason, too! Cover, TWO!! Mella survives, still tough in her own right! Bianca keeps her cool but Mella gets to the apron.

Bianca swings but Mella grabs the ponytail! Bianca uses that to reel Mella in and DECK her! Bianca goes out, Mella dodges the hair whip! FABULOUS KICK! Mella puts Bianca in, covers, TWO! Mella is losing her cool but she drags Bianca around by the ponytail. She uses that to reel Bianca in for kicks! Bianca gets free, dodges Mella, and HAIR WHIPS!! Torture rack, KISS OF DEATH!! Cover, Bianca wins!

Winner: Bianca Belair, by pinfall (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)

The KOD seals the deal, and the EST is still the top woman on the blue brand! But with MITB on the horizon, will Bianca have the biggEST target on her back?

The Alpha Academy speaks.

Chad Gable says he teaches “the importance of all five senses.” When Otis and Gable walk through the locker room, they take it all in. They see grown men ducking in fear. They feel the tension and hear the whispers in awe, “Otis…” And Gable can already taste Otis’ win over Cesaro tonight! And Otis, what is that smell that they smell? “We smell fear.” But Cesaro walks in to say he smells a bunch of bull. Just like last week when Otis had a list of people he’d destroy. At least Gable didn’t make the bonehead mistake of having Cesaro on the list. Well, that’s because they weren’t thinking of him. But congrats, you have earned Otis’ full attention.

Otis sucker punches Cesaro! Then RAMS him into road cases!! The Dozer knocked the Swiss Superman over, but will Cesaro get up and uppercut Otis back with interest?

Toni Storm is on her way!

The Lightning From Down Under has been NXT UK Women’s Champion, but she’s ready to strike SmackDown! She’ll be here next Friday!

Cesaro VS Otis w/ Chad Gable!

We just saw the Alpha Academy’s number one (and only) student try to punk out Cesaro backstage, but now it’s time to put up or shut up in the ring! Will an unstoppable force crash into an immovable object right here in Houston?

The bell rings and the two tie up right away. Otis powers Cesaro to a corner, rams into him, but lets off as the ref counts. Otis CLUBS Cesaro, CLUBS him again, and Cesaro is dazed! Otis has Cesaro against ropes and CLUBS him in the chest. Otis whips Cesaro, Cesaro ducks and dodges to EuroUpper! And again! And again! Gable freaks out, gets on the apron, but Cesaro swipes at him! Otis throws hard hands in the distraction! Then he scoops and hits a POWERSLAM! Fans boo as Otis snarls at Cesaro and runs in, Cesaro dodges to POST Otis! Cesaro then dropkicks Otis into the post! Otis falls out, but Gable gets in!? Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES Cesaro!!

Winner: Cesaro, by disqualification

Gable still shouts, “FOR THE ACADEMY!” despite him ruining this for Otis! But Gable says this is what happens, only for Cesaro to shove, pop-up and UPPERCUT Gable down! Fans fire up and want the swing! Cesaro obliges, and gets Gable for the SWING! They go around and around and around but Otis get sin, to CLOBBER Cesaro! Otis then RAMS Cesaro in the corner! “No swingin’ tonight!” Otis stomps Cesaro, goes up the corner, “FOR THE ACADEMY!” VADER BOMB!! Gable and Otis celebrate what they did to Cesaro, will they keep mowing down the SmackDown roster like a runaway bus?

Kayla goes to Roman Reigns’ private suite.

She knocks on the door but Paul Heyman answers. He says she’s overdoing the knock a little. Kayla asks about the situation with Edge, but Heyman cuts her off. “The situation with EdGe~, who sinned tonight against your Tribal Chief. Who will confess and atone for those sins, or this Sunday at Money in the Bank, eDgE~ will have those sins beaten out of him by the defending Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns…!? That Edge? Don’t ask me about that Edge. Because what I just offered you is not a prediction.” AWWWW HEYMAAAN~! Big E is here, and says don’t you DAAARE be sour! CLAP, for the man who will WIN the Money in the Bank Contraaact… and FEEL~ the POWAAAH~! YES!

Oh, sorry, but there was something Big E wanted to talk with Heyman about. It appears that Edge has a hold of Roman Reigns. Get it!? He got hold with the hold! He put Roman in the deal! Big E would be SHOOK if he were Heyman! Big E heads for gorilla position, will he be gaining big momentum going into MITB?

BREAKING NEWS!

Next week’s SmackDown will be it’s own historic event! For the first time in the brand’s history, action will emanate from TWO cities on ONE night! SmackDown will be live both in Cleveland, Ohio AND the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami, Florida!! What a way to heat up the summer!

Baron Corbin walks out on stage.

He is even more disheveled then he was last week, and the fans booing isn’t helping. He apparently has a request, and we’ll hear what he wants to ask, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Corbin has made it to the ring. He is forced to relive his failures with a quick recap package, and then he gets a mic. “Look, it’s no secret. Just look at me. These last few weeks have been the most difficult time of my life.” He’s lost his crown, his car, his investments and his savings. Now the bank is calling and threatening to foreclose on his house! Fans “WHAT?!” him, but Corbin says his two-year-old little girl is sick from eating spaghetti from a can and not with Wagyu beef meatballs. They had to fire the maids, the house is a mess, and if this continues the way it’s going… Corbin and the family might have to move in with the in-laws. Can you imagine that?

Fans are laughing at Corbin! And they chant, “You Deserve It!” for all the bullying he’s done. But Corbin says there is good news. All the fans here and those watching at home can help him out of his dark financial times. He’s started a GoFundMe website, the Corbin Fund. His target goal of $100,000 is just enough to pay a few bills and get back on his feet. So please, everyone, go to CorbinFund.com and donate today. Every little bit helps. Please, please, please, don’t tell him that everyone here in Texas is as cheap as everyone else in the world. Fans boo but Corbin pleads with the fans on bended knee! Corbin begs with us, please help him!

But instead, here comes Kevin Owens! The Prizefighter is so fired up to have fans in front of him again! Kevin sees Corbin still in the ring, and fans want to see him throw Corbin out! Corbin hopes Kevin is out here for the right reasons. Kevin must be here to help Corbin. Kevin has influence in the locker room, so maybe if Kevin and a few others throw their support behind Corbin, the fans will “fall in line.” Corbin and Kevin are the same. They have a heart, and Kevin sympathizes with the less fortunate. Kevin, Corbin knows Kevin has money. Just look at him! Do not take this the wrong way, but we know that Kevin isn’t spending that money on his clothing.

No, no, please! Find it in your- STUNNER! That’s what fans wanted! And now, Big E makes his entrance! The big Fatal 4 main event is about to begin!

Fatal 4 Way: Big E VS Kevin Owens VS Seth Rollins VS Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rick Boogs!

The four men representing the blue brand at MITB are about to throw down! But will it be the Powerhouse of Positivity, the Prizefighter, the Architect, or the One True KING of Strong Style that leads the way into Sunday?

SmackDown returns and the rockin’ bard is here to shred the guitar and introduce Shinsuke… NakamurAAAAAA~! The King makes his entrance, fans sing along, and then Seth Freakin’ Rollins makes his entrance. The bell rings and the four stare down. Rollins says the other three can fight it out, he’s going to leave and come back Sunday. But Big E SPEARS Rollins off the apron! Then Kevin FLIES to take out Big E! Nakamura FLYING KNEES Kevin down! Everyone is down on the outside, but Nakamura gets Kevin up and into the ring! The fans are fired up as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Big E throws body shots. Big E whips and CLOBBERS Kevin, but Nakamura gets in to go after Big E. Big E whips Nakamura out, he throws hands on Kevin but Kevin ROCKS him back! Kevin climbs but Big E throws big hands! Big E and Kevin brawl, fans rally with “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” and Big E climbs up. But Kevin resists the superplex, and Nakamura gets up! Nakamura helps Big E to DOUBLE SUPERPLEX Kevin! But Rollins FROG SPLASHES, and FLOPS as everyone gets away! Nakamura fires a strike fest on Big E, then an ax kick! Rollins kicks and whips Nakamura to knee him in the corner.

Nakamura knees back, puts Rollins up top, and comes back with a TOP SHELF KNEE! Kevin kicks Nakamura, whips but Nakamura reverses. Kevin ducks one kick but not the WHEEL KICK! Nakamura gives Kevin an INVERTED EXPLODER! Nakamura fire sup, but he runs into Big E’s scoop for a BIG ENDING! Cover, Rollins breaks it! Rollins gets Big E up, throws him out, then soaks up the cheers and jeers as he goes for a ladder! No Disqualifications in Fatal 4 Ways, and this is becoming a true sampler of MITB! Rollins has the ladder and he RAMS Nakamura out of the ring! Rollins throws the ladder down, goes out after Nakamura, and then decides to clear off the desk!

Fans fire up as Rollins puts Nakamura on the table with haymakers! Rollins climbs a nearby ladder, but Kevin drag shim down! Kevin SMACKS Rollins off the ladder, then he climbs up! Kevin aims at Nakamura, for a SUPER MACHO ELBOW through the table!! The cameraman gets taken out by debris!! Fans are losing their minds but Rollins is after Big E in the corner! Big E CLOBBERS Rollins, scoops him, but Rollins rakes eyes! Rollins kicks a leg out, then CURB STOMPS Big E onto the ladder!! Cover, Rollins wins!!

Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall

The Architect took advantage of all the openings and has a massive win in Houston! Then he sets the ladder up under the briefcase, to climb up in a teaser for MITB. Rollins grabs the briefcase and takes it off the hook, claiming it’s already his! But will this only be a curse upon his chances when it’s a field of eight?

My Thoughts:

What a great way for SmackDown to return to having fans in the live audience! And there was no tricks of the camera this time, the arena was legitimately sold out tonight. We fans may not like 100% of the product right now, but obviously, no one wanted to miss this one. And for the most part, it worked out for the best. I both like and am disappointed Vince didn’t stick around a little longer. On one hand, he leaves it to the show to speak for itself. But on the other, I feel like he could’ve done a good job of giving us an opening speech. Then the new set looks great, that titantron upgraded to like, a Galvatron. I hope Transformers fans at least appreciate that one.

Opening with the Six Man was quite the surprise, but at the same time, it was just the thing for fans to get fired right up. The Six Man was a great match, and while the cheating roll-up win might’ve bummed the crowd out, this and Edge attacking Roman works for the math on both matches. Rey takes the pin but that’s because he and Dom are surely winning in the MITB kickoff. Jimmy Uso’s punishment for his newest DUI is surely the loss on PPV, so the Bloodline gets the win here. Conversely, Edge gets to stand tall because he’s not winning at MITB. Rollins interacting with Edge could imply Rollins screwing Edge over one way or another, and they could have a match for SummerSlam.

Speaking of which, Rollins winning in that awesome but fast Fatal 4, then taking the contract down, all that means he’s not winning. I already pegged Raw as not winning the Men’s MITB because of who is on SmackDown’s side, and my frontrunners are Big E and Kevin Owens. They have so much going for them, especially towards a story with Roman Reigns. Kevin’s had his past matches with Roman where he’s been screwed out over and over, but that’s because Roman can prepare his contingency plans. Kevin with MITB will be unpredictable, so Roman either always has the Usos with him or he tries to get the briefcase off Kevin. Big E has been saying on Talking Smack that he’ll get to Roman one way or another by WrestleMania 38, but maybe Big E uses that as a fake-out to get a championship before then.

Honestly, everything they’re doing with Baron Corbin right now is hilarious and brilliant. His arrogant, selfish way of asking for help from fans and fellow superstars was exactly the right next step, though I wouldn’t have had those moments where Boogs was rubbing it in before. And turns out, that crowdfund site is REAL! I don’t think it lets you actually give money to anyone, but the dedication to kayfabe to get the URL is great. I hope they rub in that it gets nothing week to week, and then it can make Corbin even more desperate and depressed in this “ultimate first world problems” gimmick.

Finn Balor, back on RawDown? Aw hell. I’m 51-49 in favor of being very concerned. Why couldn’t Finn stay in NXT to go after the other titles he’s never had? Two-time NXT Champion, inaugural Universal Champion, and  Intercontinental Champion, why not add the North American or Cruiserweight Championship for a unique resume all his own? At the same time, Finn VS Sami is going to be a great match, and since he seems to be keeping his Prince gimmick, seeing that Finn take on some old foes like Roman Reigns would be too sweet. Also, Otis was great tonight, but I wish we got a bit more out of that match. Cesaro VS Otis is lowkey a barnburner if they get to really let loose.

The Women’s MITB sure has had a sadder road to putting people in. Natty and Tamina get named to the match on social media, and it was barely a mystery since who else is even on SmackDown now? And to that point, Shotzi & Tegan had to win their right to a title match off the champions. They should’ve already had that from last week’s win, but at least now it’s official. And while Zelina Vega is great in the ring, her arguing with Liv Morgan on commentary just came off as awkward. Liv standing tall among the SmackDown four, I feel like that takes her out of the running now. If SmackDown wins the men’s, I’m pretty sure that means Raw wins the women’s again.

The SmackDown Women’s Championship match not being the main event was a bit of a surprise, but it was a great match. I figured Bianca would win, both here and even when it was the I Quit match at MITB with Bayley. If the plan is for the Raw Women’s Championship to have a same night cash-in, it’s fine that the SmackDown title wasn’t involved. Plus, it gave the fans live something great to see in person. Even without the MITB contract, I want to see Vega get a feud with Bianca. They can reference their history from being on Raw together and really give fans a look at what Vega can really do.

Also, I do need to say, trying a two city/site broadcast for SmackDown next week sounds great, but I really hope it doesn’t end up going as poorly as Raw’s 25th anniversary episode went. They were at both the Hammerstein Ballroom aka Manhattan Center and the Barclays Center. Though, being at a musical festival, the fans won’t be bored when there aren’t matches happening, but I just feel like they might not care about the matches happening between musical performances. And what about the fans in Cleveland when the matches in Miami are happening? Will they at least get good reception on the Galvatron?

My Score: 8.6/10