WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 977
#SDLive
Original Air Date: May 8, 2018
Event Date: May 8, 2018 (aired live)
City: Baltimore, MD
Venue: Royal Farms Arena
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Ring Area
Paige heads to the ring. She talks about Backlash and what went on there. She also talks about the unfortunate ending to the Styles/Nakamura match, saying we’ll hear from both men later tonight. Paige moves on to talk about Money in the Bank. She needs the best from SmackDown to compete in the two ladder matches, so there will be qualifying matches. Starting right now.
Match 1
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Jeff Hardy (US Champ) vs The Miz
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: The Miz wins via pinfall with a crucifix pin
Time: 16:51 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This one certainly went the distance, and it got better as it went along. The last few minutes and the finish were particularly good. Miz is having a very good (and entertaining) week.
Backstage
Sheamus eats Lucky Charms because he’s still upset over losing to Xavier Woods last week. Cesaro tried to help, but they were outnumbered. Still, Cesaro thinks he probably would have won. Sheamus suggests that Cesaro take on Woods tonight. Cesaro likes the idea, so he opens his gear bag to get ready. His bag is full of pancakes. So is Sheamus’s.
Video
SAnitY is bringing chaos to SmackDown Live. Soon.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Shinsuke Nakamura if the issue between him and AJ Styles is over. Nakamura explains that he forgot how to speak English, but he also says he’s not finished with Styles.
Video
Carmella laughs about beating Charlotte Flair. Now it’s time to party, but not in Baltimore. There will be a “royal ‘Mellabration” next week.
Video
Tye Dillinger pictures himself being a perfect ten in the Money in the Bank.
Video
Naomi will be champion again once she climbs that ladder and takes the MitB briefcase.
Ring Area
After Charlotte enters the ring for a match, the Iiconics come out. Billie Kay says she’s sorry Charlotte lost the title, but Charlotte is still an inspiration. Her loss inspired Billie’s grandfather to laugh so hard his teeth fell out. Peyton Royce attempts to imitate Charlotte’s face after her loss, but it’s only funny when Charlotte does it.
Match 2
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Charlotte Flair vs Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: Charlotte wins via submission with a Figure Eight
Time: 9:05 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was a strong showing for Peyton (and Billie who got involved a little), and it was an equally strong showing for Charlotte. Coming off Charlotte’s loss to Carmella at Backlash, this was a good match match for her to bounce back. I liked it.
Backstage
Dasha Fuentes asks Daniel Bryan if he’s okay after getting attacked by Big Cass at Backlash. Bryan says you have to work through pain, so he’s ready to fight Rusev tonight.
Video
Shelton Benjamin made Money in the Bank famous, so he’ll use this year’s match to create some more highlights that will be remembered for years to come.
Video
Asuka wants to cash in on Carmella.
Match 3
Xavier Woods w/ Big E, Kofi Kingston vs Cesaro w/ Sheamus
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Cesaro wins via pinfall after a European uppercut
Time: 5:06 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Woods and Cesaro were matched well against each other. Both men pulled off some fun moves, and the finish was quite good. I really like this miniseries Woods is having against The Bar.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes AJ Styles. Styles admits that he stooped to Nakamura’s level at Backlash, but he doesn’t want to fight that way. Regardless, if Nakamura has the guts to step back into the ring with him, Styles will finish Nakamura.
Backstage
The Bludgeon Brothers play with melted and disfigured action figures, and they want to play with you (or someone).
Backstage
Paige informs Sonya Deville that she is barred from ringside during Mandy Rose’s match.
Match 4
Becky Lynch vs Mandy Rose
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Mandy Rose wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 2:23
Match Thoughts
This was okay. It was short and not a lot happened. The finish didn’t really look convincing either. This was more about the “slump” the commentators said Lynch was in than anything else.
Match 5
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Daniel Bryan vs Rusev w/ Aiden English
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Rusev wins via pinfall after the Matchka Kick
Time: 7:48 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The result was surprising, but the fact that it was totally believable is a testament to the talent of Rusev and Bryan. This match succeeded in a lot of ways. First, it was a good and entertaining match. It also fits well into both men’s stories. It also had good continuity within the match and from what Daniel Bryan went through last week, with the beatings he’s taken from Cass playing a role in how the match went along.
Show Impressions
Good show. I don’t really have any complaints here. I like where they’re heading with everything. I’ll be interested to see what Samoa Joe does when he shows back up, and I’m excited for the upcoming debuts of Andrade Almas and SAnitY.
Match of the Night
Daniel Bryan vs Rusev
All the matches tonight were good, but I think I like this one the most because of the mildly surprising finish.
Official Results: http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2018-05-08