SmackDown Live opens with quick promos from all five women in the number one contender’s match tonight. They all say they will win the match and go on to face Naomi for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.
.@MsCharlotteWWE. @CarmellaWWE. @NatByNature. @BeckyLynchWWE. @TaminaSnuka.
Who will win the 5-Way #EliminationMatch TONIGHT on #SDLive? pic.twitter.com/IjyLKBgV0y— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
After the intro package we come to the ring, where Kevin Owens is in the ring, hosting the Highlight Reel.
The United States Champion welcomes us to the show. Owens says the former host of the show, Chris Jericho, invented the Money in the Bank ladder match but he never won one. The fans starts chanting for AJ Styles. Owens says he will do what Y2J never could: climb every rung of the ladder and grab the briefcase that gives him the chance to cash-in anytime, anywhere. Owens says when that happens, when he wins the WWE World Championship, he will become the face of WWE.
Owens introduces us to his guest, “the rockstar”, the artist known as Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style comes to the ring and the fans sing his music. Owens wants to get one thing straight: this isn’t America’s Got Talent, Nakamura can drop the stupid dancing. Owens says he’s here because he is shrouded in mystery and everyone wants to know where he is going.
The #NewFaceOfAmerica @FightOwensFight says he will provide @ShinsukeN with the same fate he provided @IAmJericho! #SDLive #HighlightReel pic.twitter.com/JitBBVi1wC
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
Owens says the only thing that matters though is that Shinsuke know what happened to the last rockstar who walked around here – he sent him and his stupid little scarf packing. Owens says that on Sunday he will beat Nakamura and everyone else and Sunday will be known as the day the music died.
Before Nakamura can retort, Baron Corbin comes out. On his way to the ring Corbin says that nobody cares what Shinsuke has to say. He tells Owens that this is the Highlight Reel and he should some highlights of a real star. We see a clip of last week when Corbin attacked Zayn after losing. Owens asks “did you really just interrupt my show to show highlights of you beating up Sami Zayn? Buddy I’ve been doing that for 15 years.” Owens then tells Corbin to get the hell out of his ring.
Corbin calls Owens “Cartman” and then Shinsuke finally speaks. Nakamura says these guys have short memories because he’s beaten both of them. Corbin climbs into the ring and Nakamura attacks him. Shinsuke gets beaten down by Corbin and Owens, only for Sami Zayn to run down and make the save. They clear the ring, then Sami takes the mic and says that the fight between him and Corbin is far from over. He then says the fight between him and Kevin Owens is never over. Sami books himself and Shinsuke in a tag team match set to take place after the break.
*Commercial Break*
It’s always kind of frustrating that we’re supposed to believe the GM’s of Raw and SmackDown never have all the matches scheduled for a show, like had Sami not showed-up we wouldn’t have had a match for the first 40 minutes tonight.
Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin
We start with Nakamura and Corbin. Nakamura messes around with Corbin and throws a knee, kick to the head and Corbin falls to the corner. Nakamura pins down Corbin in the corner with his boot. Tag to Zayn and Corbin quickly tags in Owens. Zayn with a head scissors takedown on Owens. Owens rolls out. Zayn chases him down.
Back inside, Owens cuts off Zayn with a kick and tags in Corbin who throws rights. Zayn with rights to Corbin in the corner. Owens with a kick to the back of Zayn’s head when Corbin distracts the referee. Tag to Owens who stomps away at Zayn. Tag back to Corbin who props Zayn up on the top corner. Zayn attempts a tornado DDT, but Corbin counters into a big powerslam.
The tension always grows a bit thicker when #USChampion @FightOwensFight & @iLikeSamiZayn are in the ring… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/LmjkkoQ2o9
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
*Commercial Break*
Back live, Owens has Zayn in a headlock. Zayn connects with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Tag to Corbin who runs across the ring and knocks Nakamura off the corner. Zayn with a roll up on Corbin for a close two count. Corbin with a big spinebuster on Zayn. Tag to Nakamura and Owens. Nakamura levels Owens with a big boot.
Nakamura with more kicks and knees to Owens. Nakamura with a running corner knee, props Owens up on the corner and throws his running high knee to the gut for a two count. Nakamura with a spin kick and Corbin breaks up the pinfall attempt. Zayn is in attacking Corbin in the corner throwing lefts and rights. Zayn tosses Owens into Corbin in the corner. Corbin asks what he is doing.
We now present: STRONG STYLE in motion! @ShinsukeN #SDLive pic.twitter.com/3m991cSY1C
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 31, 2017
Owens shoves Corbin. Corbin with a big right hand to Owens. Zayn clotheslines Corbin over the top rope and goes along with. Nakamura with his Kinshasa on Owens to get the pinfall.
Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn
After the match, Nakamura and Zayn stare at each other then up at the briefcase.
The Uso’s are on their way to the ring as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
#SDLive #TagTeamChampions @WWEUsos have a feeling that the @WWEUniverse is a little “salty” towards them tonight… pic.twitter.com/kCzxcWKrsw
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 31, 2017
Back live, WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Usos are already in the ring. They talk about the fans looking salty because they are still the champions after last week. Jimmy and Jey say the fans thought American Alpha would beat them but they couldn’t. Neither could Breezango. The duo say there isn’t a team in the division..
The New Day come out! Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods dance their way to the ring with a great pop, then get in the ring as The Usos exit. “Your boys are back,” yells Woods. He talks about Atlanta being his hometown. Kingston said they had to bring the world class hips here when The Usos interrupt at ringside.
Who? Who? WHO could #SDLive #TagTeamChampions @WWEUsos be defending their titles against at #MITB?! @TrueKofi @WWEBigE @XavierWoodsPhD pic.twitter.com/12LcZF5nYk
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
The Usos say they have the tag team division on lock. Big E says they like those Smackdown Tag Team titles and they want them. Woods mocks the hats and hoodies that The Usos wear. He says Shane McMcMahon actually runs this show to be specific.
Woods reveals Shane has named some new No. 1 Contenders for the Smackdown Tag Team Champoinships. Kingston says they better get ready for New Day to become the new champions as they shake the hips. Big E leads a New Day Rocks chant. It’s good to see The New Day back and they seem rejuvenated.
After the break we will look back at last week’s Punjabi Celebration with Jinder Mahal.
*Commercial Break*
We return and get a long look back at Jinder’s title win, celebration, and recent representation in the Indian media.
Next, we get a new episode of the Fashion Files, and this one is filmed in a noir-style and I couldn’t be happier!
It appears that The #FashionPolice @mmmgorgeous and @WWEFandango have found their next case… #FashionFiles #SDLive pic.twitter.com/8zB22HhBx4
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
Charlotte makes her way to the ring for the Fatal 5-Way match and we go to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
During Tamina’s entrance, we hear from Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi. She doesn’t care who wins tonight because she plans to retain at Money in the Bank.
5-Way Elimination Match
Charlotte Vs. Becky Lynch Vs. Carmella Vs. Tamina Snuka Vs. Natalya
Before the bell can ring Tamina lands a cheap shot on Charlotte. All hell breaks loose and the referee is trying to get things in order. Carmella dumps Becky Lynch out of the ring and Lynch throws her back into the ring. Natalya with a snap suplex on Charlotte. Natalya with a second snap suplex and mounts Charlotte throwing right hands. Charlotte counters and throws rights of her own. Tamina with a samoan drop on Charlotte.
The bell has yet to ring… but this #1Contender‘s 5-Way #EliminationMatch has broken into sheer CHAOS! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/MVDVRLP356
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
The referee leaves the ring and is trying to regain order. Lynch has Carmella and throws her over the timekeepers barricade at ringside. Lynch jumps off the barricade and catches Carmella with a flying forearm throwing more rights. Tamina starts clearing off the announce table. Charlotte sends Tamina face first into the ring post. Charlotte dumps Natalya with an overhead suplex on the floor at ringside.
Charlotte gets up on the top turnbuckle and connects with a moonsault over Natalya and Tamina! Carmella is up on the barricade and takes out Charlotte with a dive. Lynch with an overhead suplex on Carmella. Tamina with a superkick to Lynch. Charlotte with a big boot to Tamina. Natalya clotheslines Charlotte. Charlotte counters Natalya and tosses her into the steel ring steps shoulder first.
The match still hasn’t officially started but who cares?! Natalya grabs Charlotte and looks to put her through the announce table but Charlotte reverses with a powerbomb on Natalya crashing her through the announce table! All the women are down and the fans are showering them in adoration.
No Contest
.@CarmellaWWE, @TaminaSnuka, @NatByNature, @MsCharlotteWWE & @BeckyLynchWWE will clash in the FIRST-EVER WOMEN’S #MITB #LadderMatch! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/fRPemSBHlU
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
Here comes Shane McMahon. He says the Smackdown Women’s Division is on fire. Shane says since the match didn’t officially begin, he is going to do some thinking and come up with a solution. He wants to do a first and something historic. Shane books a first ever Women’s “Money in the Bank” ladder match for June 18!
We will hear from Randy Orton later tonight.
#Breezango @MmmGorgeous & @WWEFandango go head-to-head with #TheColons @WWE_Primo & @WWEEpico NEXT on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/15zcnUz27a
— WWE (@WWE) May 31, 2017
*Commercial Break*