Will Money in the Bank have a king or a Baron?

SmackDown has two more spots open in the Men’s Money in the Bank match, and they will be filled! But will it be Nakamura or Corbin? Rollins or Cesaro?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Match: Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rick Boogs VS Baron Corbin; Nakamura wins and advances to the Men’s MITB Ladder Match.
• Natalya & Tamina VS ???; Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox win.
• Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Match: Seth Rollins VS Cesaro; Rollins wins and advances to the Men’s MITB Ladder Match.

PLAY BY PLAY

Paul Heyman is outside Roman Reigns’ room.

Jimmy Uso walks up and says hey, but Heyman won’t let him in the room? Heyman wants Jimmy to understand that the Tribal Chief has so much on his plate, and Roman’s about to go handle something, but that’s not as important to him as Jimmy. Jimmy deserves Roman’s full attention, and Heyman promises Jimmy will get it tonight. Really? Yes, Heyman assures him. Jimmy nods and heads back to his room, but what exactly will Roman have for Jimmy later tonight?

Roman Reigns heads to the ring!

Just as Heyman said, the Head of the Table, with Heyman by his side of course, holds up the Universal Championship to cue the pyro. Then they go to the ring, Roman again holds up the belt, and again pyro goes off. Heyman then holds onto the title for Roman as he takes a moment to think. The ThunderDome chants “Roman Sucks!” but Heyman hands Roman the mic so he may speak. “I know a lot of you at home didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t present last week. There’s a lot about last week I didn’t like, either.” But one thing that stuck out, one thing that Roman will not stand for is a liar like Edge coming out here and saying that Roman fears him. That Edge is in Roman’s head.

Roman is an honest man so he will tell the truth. “In our main event WrestleMania match, maybe for like one moment, and you ask any fighter, ask Brock, they’ll all tell you, fear can sometimes happen.” So maybe 10, maybe 20 seconds, in that crossface with the bar in his mouth, there was a little fear. But what did that fear do? It propelled Roman! Like every bit of adversity, Roman fought through it and what happened? Smashed ’em, stacked ’em and pinned ’em, then made a sure about it! So don’t come out and say you’re in Roman’s head, that’s not true. Edge only got to Roman not because of fear, but because of Roman’s split focus!

Roman has so much to deal with, from Jey to Jimmy, that he wasn’t even thinking about Edge! Edge wasn’t a worry in Roman’s mind! But if we’re talking family, this might be a good point to handle some business. Heyman agrees there. Roman waits, and here comes Jimmy. Jimmy goes to the ring and stands with Roman, the moment Heyman mentioned happening now. “Yo, Uce, why do you think I got in Edge’s face last week? It wasn’t for me. It was for us, just like you said, Uce.” Jimmy doesn’t remember seeing Roman. Roman must’ve been on vacation. Jimmy showed up. First off, when did Roman say anything about doing this for them? To make decisions for them?

And secondly, vacation? Roman laughs at that idea. If anyone earned a vacation, it’s Roman, but he doesn’t take vacations! Roman was busy doing what Jimmy couldn’t! And by that, he means here’s JEY! Both Usos are back on the show again, and Jey joins his family. “Yes, sir. Uce, I’m back. But not for you, not for anyone of us, but for all of us.” Jey the Right Hand Man is back! As for Jimmy, Jey always has his back. They going through these hard times now, but just keep your head up, and they can get back to work doing what they do. And that means becoming seven time WWE tag team champions, Uce! The Usos hug it out and Roman smiles.

Roman’s been saying this all along. This is al he’s ever wanted. They choose what they want to hear but Roman’s been saying it. Seven time tag team champions! Universal Champion for however long he wants to be! And the way they do it is together. On the same page, all of them working together. No one can touch them, if they do it Roman’s way. Roman has the Usos come in for a big family hug. Has Roman finally united the tribe under his banner? Is there any stopping the Bloodline now?

Backstage interview with Baron Corbin.

Kayla Braxton knows it’s been a long road, and considering the history he has with King Nakamura, what can he tell us about that match? Corbin says he needs this. His life is a mess right now! He’s trapped in a box, he’s lost his money, his crown, his car, and even some payments on his house, and the bank is starting to call. Corbin has to win, needs to win, wants to win. Corbin’s won the Money in the Bank ladder match before, he can do it again, and he must do it again. That championship opportunity is the only opportunity he has to turn his life back around. Things are dire for the former Wolf King, but will this hunger propel him back to the top?

Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Match: Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rick Boogs VS Baron Corbin!

Corbin comes out and doesn’t even have music? Can he not afford to change it to something that doesn’t remind him of his days as king? Will Corbin go for broke and redeem himself? Or will he just end up broken?

SmackDown returns and Big E makes his entrance? The Powerhouse of Positivity is already in the Men’s MITB match, but he seems like he wants to watch this grudge match for the golden ticket in person. Big E invites Pat McAfee to join him in the lounge of positivity, too, so it seems like Big E is rubbing this in. Wait, video footage plays of earlier today, Boogs and Nakamura arriving in a Mercedes Benz! The same make and model as Baron Corbin’s, too! Wait, they won this at auction? IT IS Corbin’s Mercedes!! What of Corbin’s isn’t going to go to the King of Strong Style? And then, the rockin’ bard plays his electric guitar and gives Nakamura his introduction!

Corbin goes after Nakamura at the ramp! Corbin stomps Nakamura, Boogs throws Corbin into barriers! Boogs helps Nakamura up and to the ring as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Corbin mugs Nakamura in a corner. Corbin whips Nakamura corner to corner, runs in but Nakamura dodges to KICK back! Nakamura goes up, leaps, but into a choke grip, to a half nelson GUTBUSTER! Corbin snarls as he paces, CLUBS Nakamura down, then paces more. Big E says he enjoys frivolity and nonsense as much as anyone, but this is a big moment for everyone involved. MITB can change your career and your life. Corbin stands on Nakamura’s head, lets off as the ref counts, then gets mad at the ref. Corbin drags Nakamura up, suplexes and hangs him out to dry! Nakamura falls to the mat, Corbin covers, ONE!!

Corbin keeps on Nakamura with clubbing forearms, puts him on ropes and throws heavy forearms into ribs! The ref counts, Corbin lets off and whips Nakamura to ropes. Nakamura ducks and dodges and DYNAMIC DROPKICKS! Both men are down but fight up. Big E knows how devastating that foot can be. Nakamura fires off strikes, Corbin blocks but Nakamura ENZIGURIS! Nakamura hits a forearm in the corner, puts Corbin on the rope, and runs to TOP SHELF KNEE! Nakamura gets Corbin for a BACKSTABBER, then a SLIDING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Corbin survives but Nakamura keeps his focus.

Corbin gets up as Nakamura runs in, but Corbin turns Kinshasa into takedown and HALF CRAB! Nakamura endures, reaches, and gets the ropebreak! Corbin lets go and drags Nakamura up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Nakamura is tough and Corbin’s frustration grows. Big E says he wouldn’t mind seeing Corbin spiral a bit. Corbin waistlocks, Nakamura elbows free and ENZIGURIS him out of the ring! Boogs fires up for Nakamura but Corbin DECKS him! Nakamura leaps in but is caught! Nakamura fights free but Corbin gets him for a suplex to the announce desk! Corbin hurries away and the ring count climbs as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Corbin throws hands on Nakamura in a corner. Corbin whips corner to corner hard, then runs in, but Nakamura moves! Corbin POSTS himself and Big E laughs as he says, “Hate to see it!” Nakamura gets Corbin in a sleeper but Corbin throw shim off! Corbin ducks one kick but not the LEFT! Nakamura fires up, runs, but into a DEEP SIX! And very deep at that! Cover, TWO!! Corbin grows frustrated, storms over after Nakamura, and gets him up on the apron for a suplex back into the ring! Cover, TWO! Corbin seethes, he gets Nakamura back up, and he hoists Nakamura up top.

Corbin climbs but Nakamura throws forearms! Nakamura grabs Corbin for an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN, into the TRIANGLE! Corbin endures, powers up, and POWERBOMBS Nakamura down! But Nakamura holds on!? Nakamura squeezes tighter, Corbin fades, but Corbin gets a second wind! Corbin fights up but Nakamura drags him back down! Corbin uses his leg to get a ropebreak! Nakamura lets go but makes it a cover, TWO!! Big E thought this was over but Nakamura aims form the corner! “YAO~!” Nakamura runs in, but into a LARIAT!! Both men are down again and McAfee is stunned by that one! Corbin looks to the briefcase as inspiration, but Nakamura kicks back!

Nakamura kicks and knees Corbin, then aims from a corner. “YAO~!” KINSHASA!! Cover, Nakamura wins!!

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall (advances to the Men’s MITB Ladder match)

Boogs celebrates with his guitar, because the King is in! Will Nakamura leave Houston as the King in the Bank? And just how much lower will Corbin fall after this?

The Usos talk backstage.

Jey and Jimmy are happy to be back together. Jimmy apologizes for what he said but Jey says it’s alright. They fight and make up, ever since they were kids. A common enemy like Edge will bring a family together. But Jey asks Jimmy if he wants to handle some business so Roman doesn’t have to. Really? For the family. Just think about it, Uce. What does Jey mean? Does it mean something bad for the Rated R Superstar?

Natalya & Tamina VS ???

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions have been called out by a brand new team making their debut! Will the Queen of Harts & Daughter of Superfly be ready for whoever is coming?

SmackDown returns and Natty has a mic to say, “So we were told before we even got out here that we have a tag team match. But not for the titles. But with two women that nobody’s ever seen before on SmackDown, Tamina.” Big surprise, they want after the tag team champions! Tamina says she knows, this is a lot of ish and gall. Whoever they are, they better get out here so this can be done already. Wait, it’s NXT’s Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox?! Normally, Shotzi teams with Ember Moon, but either way, these two look ready to run wild on SmackDown! Will they #TCB, Take Care o’ Business, against the second generation superstars?

The teams sort out and Nox starts with Natty. They tie up, Natty wrenches but Nox wrenches, bridges, handsprings and wristlocks. Natty waistlocks to slam Nox, but Nox kips up to arm-drag! Nox wrenches, Shotzi tags in, they double whip and trip Natty for a camel clutch and basement dropkick! Shotzi then body scissors to a clutch, TWO! Shotzi facelocks, brings Natty over, and Nox tags back in. Shotzi whips Nox out then in to uppercut Natty down! Shotzi tags back in, Nox gives her a boost into the CANNONBALL! Cover, Tamina breaks it! Tamina is fuming but Natty gets a waistlock. Shotzi switches, Natty bucks her off and Tamina tags in!

Natty throws Shotzi into the ropes, then Tamina BOOTS her down! Cover, ONE!! Tamina keeps on Shotzi, whips her into a corner and clotheslines her! Tamina reels Shotzi in for a BIG clothesline! And then she drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Tamina gets mad but she brings Shotzi back up to choke on ropes. The ref counts, Tamina lets off and CLUBS away on Shotzi’s back. Tamina throws Shotzi down, sucker punches Nox, then tags in Natty. Natty catapults Shotzi into the SUPERKICK! Cover, Tamina intercepts Nox, but Nox slips off to break up the pin! Nox BOOTS Tamina and CANNONBALLS! Natty runs in to DISCUS Nox, but Shotzi CLOBBERS Natty!

Shotzi gets Natty in the drop zone, goes up top, and SUPER SENTONS!! Cover, Shotzi & Nox win!!

Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox, by pinfall

Welcome to the Ball Pit, SmackDown! These upstarts from NXT just won against the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! Will they use this to get a second round and take the gold?

Backstage interview with Edge.

The Rated R Superstar is here and Megan asks if he has anything to say about Roman and the Usos reuniting. He does, actually. But he will save it for when goes out to the ring and once again calls Roman out. Edge is interested to see if Roman has a “big enough set of jewels to come out by himself, or if he needs Dumb & Dumber with him.” Either way, the family reunion won’t be a happy one. And that’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler. Edge is ready to turn the tables on the Head of the Table once again, but will giving that much away only come back to bite him?

Sonya Deville heads to the ring.

Sadly, Bayley got injured during training and will be out at least nine MONTHS! Sonya must now figure out who challenges Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank! We’ll hear who she chooses, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Sonya says this is the kind of announcement she hoped she’d never have to give. It is true, Bayley has sustained an injury and be out for nine months at least. She will not be competing at Money in the Bank, but she did have words for the WWE Universe. Footage plays of Bayley sitting in her Hall of Bayley, and she knows some out there feel this sucks. They wanted to see her, the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion in history, regain what was rightfully hers when she beat Bianca Belair once and for all. But she’s hurt. And now that she thinks about it, that’s NOT what fans are thinking! Because fans don’t care!

The fans don’t care that Bayley did this while trying to get better for MITB, to be the best she can be, and be there for us. This is OUR fault! She doesn’t care who is put in her place, they’re not as good as her! Sonya says the WWE wishes Bayley a speedy recovery, and with that all said, there has to be something done about this situation. Obviously, the stipulation will be changing, and after careful consideration, Sonya has chosen that Bianca will NOT be defending her title at MITB. Instead, Bianca will be defending it next Friday on the first-ever SmackDown back in front of a live audience! And her opponent for that match is a former champion, a two-time MITB winner, it will be… Carmella!

Carmella makes her entrance and gets a mic to say fans are just mad that she’s hot and we’re not. But she thanks Sonya for this overdue and much deserved honor. Once again, Sonya forgot to add something to the introduction. On top of being a two-time MITB winner and the next SmackDown Women’s Champion, she is the most beautiful woman in ALL the WWE! Wait, here comes Liv Morgan! “Are you kidding me?!” Liv just doesn’t understand! Sonya just appoints people? First Mella is appointed to the MITB match, and then Mella is appointed as Bayley’s replacement? Mella hasn’t earned anything! Talk about favoritism! You can’t just do this!

Mella thinks Liv is obsessed, but Liv tells her if she keeps talking, Liv’s gonna slap the smile right off her pretty little face. Again. Liv gets in the ring now and asks Sonya how many times Liv has to beat Mella to get her opportunity!? This is blatant favoritism, it is absurd, and she’s sick of it! Sonya tells Liv that next time, she should wait and listen to everything Sonya has to say. Because while she was giving Mella next week’s title opportunity, Sonya was going to appoint Mella’s replacement in the Women’s MITB! And it’s Liv. Mella is out, Liv is in, now she has 30 seconds to get out of here before Sonya changes her mind and makes it so Liv never gets another opportunity in the WWE! Understood? Yes.

Before she goes, Liv tells Mella, “I hope you win the title next week. Because when I win Money in the Bank, I’m cashing in on you!” An ultimatum has been issued, but here comes Bianca Belair to respond to it all! Bianca sees Liv on the ramp, and Liv points to the briefcase. Bianca likes that and lets her move on. Bianca then tells Mella that she’ll gladly accept this change. But Bayley, is this injury real? If it isn’t, shame on her for stooping this low. But if it is, then Bianca respects the competitive skills. She doesn’t like Bayley, but she respects her, and looks forward to finishing this when Bayley’s back. Bianca then holds up the belt and tells Mella, “I’ll see you next week.”

The first SmackDown back in front of fans might be the greatEST in a long, long time! Will Bianca make it the BEST SmackDown when she retains? Or will Mella be a three-time SmackDown Women’s Champion for the summer?

Roman Reigns sits in his room.

Heyman walks in and says they may have a problem. It’s Edge. “Edge intends on going out to the ring tonight and pulling your punk card, calling your bluff, and… calling you out to the ring tonight.” What else did Edge say? Heyman sighs as he apologizes. Edge also questioned Roman’s manhood… Roman starts to scowl, but how will he respond to the Rated R Superstar’s disrespect?

SmackDown, there’s a storm on the horizon!

It’s NXT’s Toni Storm that’s coming soon! Will the Lightning From Down Under look to shock SmackDown this summer?

Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Match: Seth Rollins VS Cesaro!

The Architect is another former Mr. MITB winner and perpetrated the #HeistoftheCentury with the contract. However, the Swiss Superman is hungrier than ever before, especially after the nail-bitingly close loss at Hell in a Cell. Will Cesaro be back on the upswing with one more win in the ThunderDome? Or will Seth Freakin’ Rollins look to #BurnItDown one more time?

SmackDown returns and Cesaro makes his entrance. Kevin Owens has joined commentary much like Big E did earlier, he says these two here are two of the best. Even if Rollins is a jerk. But Kevin has beaten Rollins, too, and at WrestleMania. Cesaro and Rollins tie up at the bell, Cesaro waistlocks and slams Rollins then  rolls to a cover. ONE, Cesaro tries again, ONE! Rollins gets up, fights the waistlock, gets a headlock, but Cesaro powers up to back suplex. Rollins lands on his feet, rolls Cesaro, ONE! Rollins tries an Oklahoma Roll, ONE! Cesaro headlocks, Rollins powers out but Cesaro runs him over! Cover, ONE!

Cesaro headlocks again but Rollins endures the grind. Rollins fights to a cover, ONE, but Cesaro holds on. Rollins fights up, powers out, things speed up and Cesaro catches Rollins for a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Cesaro runs in at the corner but Rollins puts him on the apron. Cesaro ROCKS Rollins with a right, then climbs up the corner. Rollins runs over, springs up top but Cesaro knocks him back down! Cesaro CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Cesaro reels Rollins in, Rollins slips under and out of the ring! Rollins throws a fit, Kevin says be careful with the desk. “What an attitude problem. Yeah, stomp the thing, that’ll help.” Rollins is furious but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Cesaro fires EuroUppers in a corner! Cesaro whips, Rollins kicks back, but Cesaro clotheslines Rollins out of the ring! Cesaro fires up while Rollins gets up. Cesaro goes out after him but Rollins gives him a Complete Shot to the desk! Rollins RAMS Cesaro into steel steps, then drags him up into the ring at 6 of 10. Rollins pushes Cesaro to a cover, TWO! Rollins grows annoyed with Cesaro but he cravats for a neck wrench. Rollins snapmares, KICKS and then drops a knee! Cover, TWO! Cesaro gets to a corner but Rollins storms in to whip him to ropes. Rollins KNEES Cesaro low, then whips to KNEE him again. Then he WRINGS Cesaro’s arm out! Cover, TWO!

Rollins keeps on Cesaro with a fish hook to the face and a chinlock to grind him down. Cesaro endures, fights up, and Kevin lists the gripes he has with both current champions, Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley. Kevin also does take possible champions into consideration, such as Edge and Kofi Kingston. Cesaro throws EuroUppers but Rollins tries a backslide! Cesaro blocks, turns things around, and he backslides, but Rollins flips through! Rollins kicks low, runs, BOOMERANGE HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Cesaro goes back to a corner, Rollins keeps his cool, but Rollins digs his boots into Cesaro! The ref counts, Rollins stomps as he lets off, and Rollins “apologizes” to the ref.

Rollins tells the ref, “Do you know how much this contract means to me?” Rollins goes back to Cesaro but Cesaro fires EuroUppers! Rollins throws forearms, Cesaro EuroUppers, repeat! Cesaro throws uppercuts from all sides, then whips to a corner for another uppercut! And then back the other way! Cesaro runs the ropes but Rollins ducks the discus to turn, but no elbow! Torture rack, POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro goes to the apron and climbs up the corner. Rollins stands, gets up top in a flash, and hits a SUPERPLEX! Roll through to Cesaro’s suplex, and the FALL OUT OF THE RING!! Both men crash and burn as SmackDown goes to another break!

SmackDown returns yet again, and Cesaro has Rollins in the swing! A dozen rotations, then the SHARPSHOOTER! Rollins scrambles to the ropebreak! Cesaro turns it around, but Rollins gets a cradle! TWO, and Cesaro pops Rollins up for an uppercut! Cover, TWO!! Rollins survives and Kevin says this IS for the last spot, so that explains how hard they’re fighting. Cesaro gets Rollins up, reels him in and has the Gotch hold, but Rollins back drops! Cesaro sunset flips, ONE! Cesaro wants the legs, Rollins drags himself up the corner, but Cesaro YANKS him into a POWEBOMB!  The ref is distracted by how a buckle pad came flying off! He finally counts the cover, TWO!!

Cesaro is annoyed, kicks the pad out of the ring, then drags Rollins’ dead weight back up. Cesaro wants the Neutralizer but Rollins back drops free! Cesaro dodges, springboards, but into a BIG forearm! Both men are down and Cesaro is in a daze! Rollins gets to a corner, takes aim, and runs in, but into another pop-up, but Rollins huricanranas and sends Cesaro into the bare buckle!! Cover, TWO!! Rollins tries another cover, and even has ropes! TWO!!! Cesaro isn’t giving up, but he is busted open! And then Rollins hits the DREAM SMASHER ELBOW!! Cover, TOW?!?! Cesaro flops out of the ring, but how is he still in this?!

Rollins is furious, and he storms out after Cesaro. Rollins whips Cesaro hard into barriers! And then bounces him off the desk! Rollins leaves Cesaro behind this time, the ring count climbs, but somehow Cesaro crawls over! Cesaro gets up and in at 7! Rollins is after him again, another DREAM SMASHER ELBOW!! Cesaro flops out of the ring and Rollins wants the count to be faster! It isn’t good enough for him, he goes out to get Cesaro to the ramp, for a DDT!! Bloody head to steel panel, and Rollins leaves Cesaro behind! The ring count restarts, Cesaro still moves?! Cesaro is at ringside at 8, and in at 9.99!! Rollins is beside himself, runs in, but Cesaro rolls him up! TWO!!

SHARP- NO, Rollins BOOTS free! But Cesaro ROCKS him with a EuroUpper! CURB STOMP!!! Cover, Rollins wins!!!

Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall (advances to the Men’s MITB Ladder Match)

The Savior of SmackDown shouts, “I TOLD YOU!” He is back in the MITB match, but look at how much it took just to stop the Swiss Superman! Will Rollins be able to do enough to overcome seven opponents at once?

The Usos find Edge’s dressing room.

They’re ready, but Jey doesn’t want Jimmy knocking on the door. Wait for Edge to come out, then they jump him! Jimmy sees what Jey means, and they wait. Will the Rated R Superstar be on the bad end of an ambush?

SmackDown returns, the Usos still wait, but Jimmy is getting impatient. He just barges in, Jey follows, but Edge isn’t in here anyway. Well he’s lucky he ain’t in here! The Usos start a search for Edge, but will they get him before he gets Roman?

Seth Rollins celebrates backstage.

“I DID IT!” Kayla comes over and he hugs her. She congratulates him, and he thanks her for it. Congratulations are in order, but knew that that idiot, “that nincompoop, Zazaro,” didn’t stand a chance! Rollins admits Cesaro put up a hell of a fight, he is a great competitor, but he’s just not on Rollins’ level! Rollins is the present and future Mr. MITB! And the last time he did that, who did he cash in on? Oh that’s right! The Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, the current Universal champion, Roman Reigns! And last time, Rollins waited and waited, bided his time, and waited for the perfect moment. Maybe this time, Rollins won’t wait? Maybe when Rollins wins this time, he’ll cash in AT MITB!

It is all a formality, anyway! He should just be competing against Roman at MITB for the title, because he earned it! Wait, Edge sneaks up behind him! Edge smiles as Rollins turns around. Edge heard this nasally whine and was wondering where it was coming from. Seems Rollins hasn’t changed since 2014. Or did Rollins forget? The difference between them is that Rollins bitches, moans and complains, while Edge just takes his shot. So Edge is going to go out to the ring an call Roman out. Edge leaves Rollins behind, but will Rollins get after Edge with the MITB briefcase?

The Alpha Academy talks backstage.

Chad Gable says, “There’s something beautiful about a demolition video, isn’t there? Especially when it features my prized pupil, my number one guy, the human wrecking ball, Otis.” It doesn’t matter if it’s Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Big E, Edge or even Roman Reigns. You step to the Alpha Academy, the result is the same. Otis says he will destroy anyone. Will he get to do just that as the WWE returns to the road?

Edge goes to the ring!

The Rated R Superstar is doing as he promised, but will Roman respond in kind? Or will the Uso Penitentiary show up to put Edge on lockdown? We’ll see, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Edge has the mic. “So I guess congratulations are in order. Roman reunited his family. They came out here, they had a nice group hug. Bless your hearts. Are you guys registered anywhere? Maybe I can get you matching leis.” But the thing is, Edge doesn’t care how many minions Roman has brainwashed, because he’s “exposed the cracks in the table.” At MITB, Edge promises to take the Universal Championship. And anyone who gets in his way will end up like this: the picture of Roman AND Jimmy taking the crossbar to the mouth while in the crossface. “The eyes don’t lie, and those eyes, they scream fear.”

Roman, Heyman and the Usos are watching from the private suite as Edge says he feeds off their fear. Edge vows to take the title at MITB, and without that title, Roman’s island isn’t relevant anymore! Can Roman deal with that? Edge will roam inside Roman’s head until the job is done. So it’s real simple: Edge is throwing down the punk card! Get your ass out here, Roman!! Edge paces, and Roman stands up from his chair. He tells the Usos to stay here so he can handle this on his own. The Usos nod and Roman heads out, Heyman right behind him. Edge gets impatient and shouts, “Where you at?!” Roman arrives at gorilla, and then stops. He has Heyman hold onto the belt, and then he goes through the curtain.

Edge smiles as he sees Roman on stage. Roman takes his time, the Usos watch from the suite, and Jey says something doesn’t feel right. He and Jimmy sense a trap, so they go out there, despite what Roman told them. Roman and Edge stare down as Roman makes it to ringside. The Usos make their entrance, and that upsets Roman. Roman tells them to stay put, “What’d I say? He’s calling me out one-on-one, I’m going to handle this.” The Usos accept, Roman walks up to the ring and takes off his tracksuit jacket. Edge is ready as Roman gets on the apron, and Edge even gives Roman space to enter. Roman does enter, and the two get face to face.

Edge throws the first punch but Roman responds! They’re fast and furious with the haymakers, but Edge gets the edge! Edge has Roman in a corner, and here come the Mysterios! Rey and Dominik come in from the crowd side and have chairs! They SMACK away on Jimmy & Jey!! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Dom down, Edge bumps Roman off buckles! Edge throws hands, forearms, then more. Rey JAMS Jimmy, Roman headbutts Edge! Rey sets the chair up but Jey SUPERKICKS him down to save Jimmy! Edge escapes a powerbomb to hit an IMPALER! The Usos mug the Mysterios then look to the ring. Edge aims from a corner but they grab at him! SUPERKICK!!

Rey gets in to RANA Jimmy onto ropes! Dom trips up Jey to add him on! Rey holds the Usos for Dom to dial it up, 619! SPEAR from Edge to Jey!! The Rated R Superstar sees Roman has run away to the ramp, so Edge gets himself some chairs! Rey and Dom keep Jey down and Edge breaks off another crossbar! Edge wants to complete the trifecta! Roman stays away as Edge creeps up on Jey! “Watch, Roman!” CROSSBAR CROSSFACE!!! Roman seethes but he doesn’t rush back to help Jey! The Tribal Chief lets his pawn take the pain again, and Edge finally lets Jey go. Edge glares at Roman, and Roman talks some smack, but that isn’t doing anything to help the Usos.

Edge even puts Jey BACK in the CROSSBAR CROSSFACE! Then he switches to put Jimmy in it, just like last week!! And then back to Jey!! Roman just leaves!! Is this proof that Roman fears the Rated R Superstar?!?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for SmackDown, especially as their own good-bye to the ThunderDome. Obviously, Raw has the final episode in the ThunderDome, and it has been confirmed that 7/12/21 has been taped. Though from what they were advertising, it all feels like go-home filler. Exciting filler, but still filler. SmackDown tonight was not filler, and it works almost like a go-home to both MITB and to next week’s return to live fans. Though Bianca threw some kayfabe shade on it, Bayley’s injury is certainly legit. Not even her Heel persona would give up a chance at the title like this. It’s a bit of a bummer that the title won’t be on PPV, but this does work to make next week’s SmackDown a great return to live fans and the road, and fans will have a lot of fun seeing Bianca retaining against Mella.

The rest of the segment with Sonya, Mella and Liv was also really good. Yes, Mella is just being named the challenger but in return, Liv is being named the MITB replacement, Sonya still gets to use her authority arbitrarily as we’ve seen, and she might even have her first authority VS superstar feud with Liv at this rate. There’s still one spot, who knows who that goes to, but with them bringing in some NXT superstars to SmackDown, maybe it’s Toni Storm? Toni did put Raquel Gonzalez, the NXT Women’s Champion, on notice, but maybe she has that match with Sarray after all, and then Toni loses to move over to SmackDown.

When Natty & Tamina were taking on surprise opponents, I knew it’d be a duo from NXT, I just didn’t see it being Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox. Or as the graphic and ring announcer said, “Shotzi & Nox.” I already hate this, because 1) Shotzi usually teams with Ember Moon in NXT, 2) Vince is already doing the name shortening garbage and 3) we literally just saw Nox make her return and go after Candice LeRae. The only saving grace would be if they got Kevin Owens deals where they can do double-duty for a time. He did it, why can’t these two do it? I do like that they’re going right after the titles so that Shotzi can be the first woman history to have held both women’s tag titles for for Nox to get her first title period, but this seemed more out of desperation than a well-made plan.

We did get really good MITB qualifier matches for the men tonight, though. I said this last week but they sure love piling on Corbin. His repossessed car is now Nakamura’s, and now Nakamura is in the MITB and Corbin isn’t. Nakamura does make a great addition to the MITB match and so far, they have done a good job of writing Corbin becoming this sad, disheveled form of himself, so the next bit should be really good, too. Rollins VS Cesaro was awesome stuff, they really pulled out all the stops for it. It has been quite some time since I’ve seen “suplex falls out of ring” spot, let alone someone in WWE get busted open by a bare buckle.

Rollins winning makes sense, the MITB match needs more Heels, and with how things are developing between Rollins, Edge and Roman, Rollins might try and recreate the Heist of the Century during Roman VS Edge. I could see that backfiring, and that is how Roman retains. Especially after what happened to the Usos tonight. Great stuff from them and Roman with their reunion, but also with the Usos not really listening to Roman since they went out there at the end. At the same time, they did have a point, because the Mysterios returning to attack the Usos was the trap. I also think they realized there was time to fill, which is why Edge kept going after the Usos with the crossface.

There can definitely be a big Six Man Tag for the go-home in front of the live fans, but I guess things with Jimmy in real life haven’t really affected story too much. I still couldn’t be sure if today’s episode was live or taped as the coming Raw is going to be, because wouldn’t you think Jimmy would be kept off TV as punishment? Or was getting another crossbar to the mouth the punishment? I would think that at the very least, this means the Usos lose to the Mysterios when they fight for the titles.

My Score: 8.5/10