June 6, 2017
Episode 929
(aired live)
#SDLive
City: Rochester, NY
Venue: Blue Cross Arena
Commentary: Tom Phillips, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Video
Clips from last week of the SD Women’s Title number one contender match that never took place.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon heads to the ring to join Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Carmella, James Ellsworth, Natalya, and Tamina who are already in the ring. Shane introduces the five women and unveils the women’s Money in the Bank briefcase. He goes on to explain the rules of the MitB contract, but Ellsworth interrupts.
Ellsworth hands the mic to Carmella who says she’s going to win the ladder match. Charlotte tells Carmella to be quiet and says she will win. Natalya then says she will win. So does Becky Lynch. And Tamina. The lights then go out and Naomi dances to the ring. She loves being champ, but she wishes she could be in the ladder match too.
As Naomi talks, Lana comes out and heads to the ring. Shane tells Lana that even though SmackDown is “the land of opportunity,” but now is not the right time. Lana wants to be in the match and everyone seems to think that that’s funny. Naomi asks Lana why she deserves to be in the match. Who has she ever beaten? Shane agrees with Naomi, telling Lana that she has to earn a title shot. Lana gets mad and storms out of the ring.
Match 1
Natalya & Tamina & Carmella w/ James Ellsworth vs Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair & Naomi (SD Women’s Champ)
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Tamina pins Naomi after a superkick
Time: 10:54
Match Thoughts
I liked this match. It was mostly Becky getting beat up until Naomi came in on the hot tag for the final part of the match, but it was fun to watch. I don’t think Charlotte ever legally tagged in, though she did get a little action when the match started breaking down towards the end. Lana also made her presence felt, attempting to take an opportunity if one won’t be handed to her.
Backstage
Mojo Rawley feels like his career is stalling, so he asks Shane for an opportunity to prove himself. He reminds Shane that he is the only person who has beaten the current WWE Champ Jinder Mahal since he came to SmackDown Live. Shane agrees to give Mojo an opportunity. If he can beat Mahal tonight, then Rawley will be added to the Money in the Bank Ladder match.
Match 2
AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall after a Styles Clash
Time: 4:24 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
It was kind of short, but it was really good. It built off of their match last week revisiting some of the counters and changing them up a bit. The action was smooth and aggressive, and the transitions were great. I imagine these two could just keep getting better and better if they let them fight every week.
Backstage
In the latest episode of “Fashion Files,” Fandango doubts that the cologne is the Colon’s. But they’re getting close. Maybe. New Day then visits Breezango’s office asks them for help. As payment, New Day gives Breezango a pair of rompers. Fandango doesn’t like being bribed, but Breeze likes his new romper, so they take the case. New Day wants help getting information on The Usos.
Match 3
Mojo Rawley vs Jinder Mahal (WWE Champ) w/ The Singh Brothers
(referee: Jason Ayers; stipulation: if Rawley wins he gets added to the Money in the Bank match)
Result: Jinder Mahal wins via pinfall after The Khallas
Time: 3:57
Match Thoughts
This was okay. It didn’t feel like a very important match even though it was a big opportunity for Mojo and the WWE Champ was fighting. A few months ago this would have been a decent Main Event match (the show, not the highest match on the card), but a Main Event match nonetheless.
Ring Area
After the match, Jinder gloats about crushing Mojo’s dream. He says he’ll do the same to Randy Orton. Jinder says everyone in the WWE Universe is sick for supporting Orton, but Mahal is the cure.
Video
Clips of Nakamura are shown juxtaposed with images of an artist painting his picture. Because Nakamura’s an artist.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Randy Orton about what Jinder Mahal said. Orton says actions speak louder than words.
Match 4
Primo & Epico Colon vs New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston)
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Xavier Woods pins Epico after Midnight Hour
Time: 7:14
Match Thoughts
Good match. I don’t think the winner of this one was ever in question, but New Day looked good beating up the Colons. I would like to see Primo and Epico get some wins now and then though.
Ring Area
The Usos come out after the match. They’re super impressed with New Day. The Usos decide to make some jokes at New Day’s expense, but they assure New Day that things are going to get serious at Money in the Bank.
Backstage
Dasha Fuentes welcomes Sami Zayn. Zayn says he’s been watching a lot of footage to prepare for Money in the Bank, but he still can’t seem to figure out Shinsuke Nakamura. As he talks, Baron Corbin walks up and punches Zayn in the face. He then uses a tiny ladder to attack Zayn and tells him that he shouldn’t be worried about Nakamura.
Backstage
Naomi tells Shane that she wants Lana at Money in the Bank so much that she’ll even put her title on the line. Shane makes the match.
Backstage
TJP says the cruiserweight division exists because of him, and tonight he finally has the opportunity to take back his title.
Match 5
Kevin Owens (US Champ) vs Shinsuke Nakamura
(referee: Mike Chioda; guest commentary: Baron Corbin)
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura wins via pinfall after Kinshasa
Time: 6:36 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was a completely clean match with no shenanigans which kind of surprised me. It was definitely a solid match, and Nakamura seems to be getting into a nice rhythm on SmackDown. He looked good and strong in this match. Owens did too of course, but this felt like a Nakamura match.
Ring Area
Baron Corbin enters the ring after the match and hits Nakamura with End of Days.
Show Impressions
This was a good show, but not one without faults. I liked the women’s stuff to open the show. I have no issues with any of it except maybe the fact that Lana is getting a title shot without wrestling a single match for her SmackDown repackage. I understand that’s part of the story, but that doesn’t make me like it.
The matches on tonight’s show were all good with the exception of Rawley versus Mahal. That was just alright. Despite Mahal having the title, they’re not booking him like a champ, and they’re not promoting the title rematch as a really big deal. At least, I’m not feeling it if they’re trying.
I’m still really liking what The Usos are doing and hope they keep the titles at Money in the Bank. It feels like New Day isn’t taking them seriously, so I think The Usos should be able to beat them. I want whoever takes the titles away from The Usos to have fought through a lot, and lost a lot, before finally wrenching the belts from them. New Day is too fresh to SmackDown to get the titles in my opinion.
Match of the Night
AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler
This was a pretty tough decision. This match felt a little short, but I think overall the action in this was better than any other match. I liked how it felt like part of a series, and I liked some of the inventiveness displayed by both men.