May 30, 2017
Episode 928
(aired live)
#SDLive
City: Atlanta, GA
Venue: Philips Arena
Commentary: Tom Phillips, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Backstage
The women involved in the fatal five way each take turns talking about the match in brief backstage clips.
- Charlotte says she is genetically superior and will become #1 contender tonight.
- Carmella (with James Ellsworth) says she is full of class and will take her opponents to school tonight.
- Tonight, Natalya will one again prove she is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.
- Becky Lynch doesn’t need the luck of the Irish tonight.
- Tamina’s time is tonight.
Intro Video
“Take a Chance” by CFO$
Ring Area
Already in the ring Kevin Owens welcomes everyone to the “Highlight Reel.” Owens points out the Jericho claims to have invented the Money in the Bank match, but he never won it. Owens will do what Jericho never could and take the championship contract. He then welcomes his guest, Shinsuke Nakamura.
Owens has had enough of Nakamura’s “dancing.” Owens calls Nakamura a rock star, then points out that Owens ran the last rock star out of the WWE. Nakamura starts to speak when Baron Corbin’s music interrupts. Corbin suggests that they watch some actual highlights on the “Highlight Reel,” so he shows footage of the beating he gave Sami Zayn last week. Owens isn’t impressed. He says he’s been beating up Sami Zayn for fifteen years. He also tells Corbin to leave his show since he wasn’t invited. Corbin calls Owens “Cartman,” then says he’ll win Money in the Bank.
Nakamura finally gets a chance to speak and points out that he pinned Owens last week and Zayn has beaten Corbin twice. Owens and Corbin both start beating on Nakamura when Sami Zayn shows up to even the odds. Owens and Corbin are forced out of the ring. Zayn gets on the mic and suggests a tag team match.
Match 1
Kevin Owens (UC Champ) & Baron Corbin vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura pins Kevin Owens after Kinshasa
Time: 7:51 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The feuds and personalities were made very clear and affected the action in the match, but the match also worked as a whole. This was a nice opener for the show and a simple, but entertaining, tag match.
Ring Area
The Usos are in the ring. They think it’s funny that the fans don’t like that The Usos are still the champs. Just as they’re getting warmed up, New Day interrupts and heads to the ring.
Xavier Woods is excited to be in his hometown, but The Usos don’t care. They welcome New Day to “The Usos Penitentiary.” Big E isn’t impressed, but he does express his desire for the SmackDown tag titles. New Day also informs The Usos that Shane McMahon has given them a title match at Money in the Bank.
Video
Clips from last week’s Punjabi Celebration.
Video
In the latest episode of “Fashion Files,” Fandango wonders where he’ll go after failing to apprehend The Uggos. He discovers his and Breeze’s office has been trashed. Breeze, who is still undercover, points out a clue and the beginning of their next case.
Ring Area
Charlotte, Carmella, Tamina, and Natalya make their way to the ring for a fatal five way match. Becky Lynch comes out last, and as she enters the ring all five women start brawling. The referee never gets a chance to start the match before the action spills outside. Everyone hits some big moves at ringside culminating with Charlotte powerbombing Natalya through the announce table.
Shane McMahon comes out and seems really happy about the match that just got ruined. In the ring, McMahon loves the competitiveness he’s just seen. He wants to do something historic, so he puts all five women in the first ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Match 2
The Colons vs Breezango
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Tyler Breeze pins Primo after an Unprettier
Time: 5:00 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Breezango is almost a pure comedy team now, but they still have some good action in their matches. This was pretty fun, but not the best match they’ve had lately.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes AJ Styles. Styles says he’s going to build momentum towards MitB tonight against Ziggler. Ziggler interrupts and reminds Styles that Ziggler has already won and cashed in Money in the Bank.
Ring Area
Randy Orton heads to the ring. Orton reminds everyone of his name and that he has beaten the best in the business. He says that wrestling is in his blood and that if his grandfather were around, he would smack Randy for losing his title to Jinder Mahal. Orton says that Mahal hasn’t earned his respect. All he’s earned is a beating.
As Orton finishes his promo, Jinder Mahal’s music plays and Mahal appears on the tron. Mahal calls Orton an ignorant American. He says Orton is a symbol of the past, but Mahal is the present and the future of WWE. Orton doesn’t respond, he simply poses.
Backstage
Sasha Banks and Rich Swann say they will both be on 205 Live tonight in preparation for their mixed tag match with Noam Dar and Alicia Fox at Extreme Rules.
Match 3
Dolph Ziggler vs AJ Styles
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Dolph Ziggler wins via pinfall after a superkick
Time: 9:18 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It wasn’t always the prettiest, but both guys were attempting new variations on some of their own moves and countering a lot of their opponent’s signatures. I think it showed that both guys are on a similar level which they both consider to be above other people. I also like the clean and slightly surprising finish.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. The few matches they had were good and varied, and I liked how they set up the women’s ladder match. This was a nice buildup show for Money in the Bank.
Match of the Night
Dolph Ziggler vs AJ Styles
Good action and a quietly memorable finish. At least for me it was. I think this match did more to reestablish some credibility for Ziggler than a lot of other things he’s done over the past few months.