SmackDown Live 15/05/2020
- LDR
- May 16, 2020
- 6 min read
Source: wwe.com
SmackDown Live promised some interesting situations following Money in the Bank. What would Otis’ first night as Mr Money in the Bank bring? Who would take their first steps to becoming the new Intercontinental Champion? NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair was slated to appear as part of the Brand-to-Brand Invitation and someone needed to step up to challenge Universal Champion Braun Strowman. Let’s find out what WWE’s blue brand had in store for us this week.
MizTV featuring Mr Money in the Bank Otis
This week’s show opened with Miz and Morrison (hey hey ho ho) in the ring, ready to welcome Otis down for an interview. Before the opening spiel was out the way, Otis came out, celebrating his victory from Sunday night. The Miz congratulated the Heavy Machinery man on his victory, but Otis claimed his biggest victory was winning the heart of Mandy Rose. This opened Otis up to mockery from Miz and Morrison, who made fun of Otis for his weight, told him that Mandy must have felt sorry for him and called the big man an embarrassment. As Miz got more and more fired up, he eventually demanded that Tucker come to the ring and join them for a tag team match. As Tucker wasn’t available, Miz and Morrison told Otis to find a partner before the end of the night – seriously, what is it with WWE and not booking main events until the show has already started?
Source: wwe.com
Elias v King Corbin (Intercontinental Championship Tournament)
The opening match of the tournament to crown a new Intercontinental champion brought two long-time rivals back together, with Corbin looking for vengeance after Elias used his guitar to stop The King from winning the Money in the Bank briefcase. This was a fairly standard affair, with Elias showing some early babyface fire before Corbin took over for the heat spots. Elias managed to fight his way clean of Corbin and sent him to the outside, enabling Elias to take a breather. After the break, Corbin managed to regain control, before each man exchanged some big hits for a few nearfalls. Corbin’s frustration took over and he smashed Elias’ guitar into the ring post, which seemed to switch something on in Elias. As Corbin rolled back into the ring, Elias jumped to his feet and hit Corbin with a huge jumping knee and then a roll-up to advance in the tournament. The reaction to Corbin going after the guitar was used earlier in the match as well, and seems to open up something more violent in Elias. This could be an interesting new facet to Elias’ character going forward.
Naomi v Dana Brooke
After failing to qualify for the Money in the Bank match, Naomi had a point to prove in a rematch against the woman who beat her for the spot. Both of these women are incredibly athletic and Naomi had the experience advantage going in, but Dana had the edge having previously beaten Naomi as mentioned. This was a short match, fairly polite between the two face competitors, before Naomi went for the Rear View, which Dana reversed into a pinning situation. Naomi kicked out and managed to hit the Rear View, but Dana kicked out, leaving Naomi nonplussed. Trying to finish off her opponent, Naomi went for a top rope moonsault which Dana dodged, allowing her to pull Naomi into a sitdown pin cover and take another shocking win. Dana was delighted with her success and, from the look of things, may have more to be happy about down the line if this push continues.
Source: wwe.com
The Queen is Back on SmackDown Live
As part of the Brand-to-Brand Invitation, NXT Women’s Champion and RAW Superstar Charlotte Flair appeared on this week’s SmackDown Live – is this confusing yet? She made her way down to the ring, but was swiftly interrupted by Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. The SmackDown duo ran down Flair, telling her that she had no business on their brand, that the last time she was there Bayley took her championship and to get out of their ring. The Queen responded with confidence, as always, and tried to stir things up between Banks and Bayley. Bayley shot her down and, after a few more harsh words, challenged Flair to a champion versus champion match for next week’s show. Flair accepted and turned her attention back to Banks, asking if she was her own woman or if she was happy just being Bayley’s lackey. Sasha stood quietly as Charlotte left, with intrigue building between Banks and Bayley. Let’s hope that WWE actually pull the trigger this time, rather than having a weird will they/won’t they/potential lesbian angle like they did last time these two were teasing dissension.
Daniel Bryan v Drew Gulak (Intercontinental Championship Tournament)
This match had been presented in the brackets earlier in the night and had been touted as a potential masterclass of technical wrestling at its finest. These two did not disappoint. Bryan and Gulak had a few great matches recently before joining forces and helping each other sharpen their game. As expected, the start of this match was full of technical holds and counters, with Drew going for his Gu-Lock early on. Bryan managed to escape and they went back at it. The back and forth pin attempts and counter holds continued throughout, with a great sequence of Bryan countering a Dragon Sleeper into an attempted Yes Lock leading to a cover by Gulak which Bryan quickly kicked out of, hit a Dragon Whip and locked in a brutal looking Heel Hook to finally make Gulak tap out. The two shook hands after the match in a great show of respect after the night’s best in-ring showing. Bryan will go on to face the winner of Jeff Hardy v Sheamus, while Elias will face the winner of Shinsuke Nakamura v AJ Styles – who is entering the tournament in pursuit of the one title he hasn’t managed to win.
Source: wwe.com
The Miz and John Morrison v Otis and a Partner of His Choice
After trying to unsuccessfully talk Sheamus into being his partner earlier in the night, Mandy Rose had suggested that Otis ask Universal Champion Braun Strowman. Strowman was reluctant, thinking that Otis may just be looking for a way to cash in his briefcase, and didn’t give an answer, but was seen working out backstage later on. He claimed that this was just how he thinks, but would we see him join Otis in the main event? After the former tag champs and the current Mr Money in the Bank came down to the ring, it took Strowman a little while to make his decision, but he came down to the ring in the end. The action was fairly tame here but very entertaining in parts, with Otis managing to convince Strowman to join him in hitting a double Caterpillar on Morrison. Strowman’s technique wasn’t quite up to Otis’ silky-smooth standard, but it was a funny moment nonetheless. Miz and Morrison took control for a while until Otis managed to tag in Strowman. The Universal Champion managed to take Morrison up for a Running Powerslam and the 1-2-3 before Mandy Rose came out to celebrate with her beau. Mandy’s entrance cause Strowman to turn to the ramp, with Otis sneaking up behind the champion, but Strowman turned around before anything could go down. Otis laughed it off, saying he was kidding, and offered a fist bump to the champ, who returned the gesture. Otis seemed like a strange choice for Money in the Bank winner, but this was fun and if this kind of thing can continue, we could be in for a good time. Otis is charismatic in a way that many people could only dream of and his in-ring style is actually very impressive for a big man. He reminds me somewhat of a certain New Day member, what with all the overhead throws and gyrating.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? Who do you think will claim the Intercontinental Championship? Will Otis cash in on Braun any time soon? Will Mandy and Otis manage to defeat Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler next week after their challenge? Who is the hacker? Are the Forgotten Sons about to take over the SmackDown tag division? Let me know what you think on these points and more down below
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