WWE SmackDown Live was in Raleigh, N.C. The road to the Money in the Bank event draws near and for some more clear.

   SmackDown kicks off with Samoa Joe as he makes a declaration that he will beat Daniel Bryan and climb the ladder and win the Money in the Bank ladder match. Joe crosses the line by talking about Daniel’s family. Daniel hears enough and comes out to ignore the main event and fight him right then and there.

   Out comes Big Cass to state that he is cleared to compete. He then states that by order from General Manager Paige, he is entered into their match later that night for the last Money in the Bank spot.

   Big Cass then attacks both men with a crutch and the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Shinsuke Nakamura v Tye Dillinger

   Shinsuke Nakamura has his mission set to knockout AJ Styles at Money in the Bank and win the WWE Championship. He used “The Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger as a prime example.

   Shinsuke won this competitive match up by knocking out Tye Dillinger with the Kinshasa for the win. After the match, he delivered another Kinshasa to the back of Tye’s head and counting Tye out for the 10 count, sending an emphatic message to the champion AJ.

Naomi v Lana (Dance-Off)

   In an entertaining dance-off between two of the women in the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.  Lana brought her husband Rusev and his tag partner Aiden English. While Naomi brought her husband Jimmy Uso and his brother Jey Uso. Each women had 60 seconds to show off their moves.

   After the dance off, both danced together in a friendly dance. Until Lana hit a neck breaker on Naomi which ensued a brawl. The brawl continues until The Usos took out Rusev and English and Naomi hit “The Rearview”

The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E & Kofi Kingston) v. The Miz & The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)

   In the match of the night, these two teams gave everything to send a message towards Money in the Bank.  Both teams showed why they are some of the best competitors on the SmackDown roster.

   With each team clearing each other out the ring, The Miz tried to get an advantage over Big E, until Big E was able to hit “The Big Ending” for the win for The New Day.

Asuka v Mandy Rose

   Before the match begins, Asuka is attacked by Mandy’s tag team partner Sonya Deville.  Mandy used the advantage to the best of her ability.

   Until, Asuka began to fight back against Mandy before hitting her in the “Asuka Lock” for the submission win.

   After the match, SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella went face to face with Asuka before their match at Money in the Bank.

Samoa Joe v. Daniel Bryan v. Big Cass

   With a huge opportunity at the doorstep for these competitors, neither man cannot let this chance slip through their grasp. Each man gave everything they had to qualify for the Money in the Bank.

   Daniel and Cass faced each other a lot through the match due to their feud stemmed from weeks prior.

   When Daniel took out Cass with the flying knee. Samoa Joe was able to hit the Coquina Clutch to choke out Daniel for the win. Samoa Joe is now the last entrant for the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

   After the match, Cass laid out a nearly conscious Daniel Bryan with a boot to the face. Thus bringing an end to SmackDown.

   The road has cleared up towards Money in the Bank. Both ladder matches have their participants. Now the anticipation builds to see who will be the ones who make that climb to win the briefcases.

David Jacobus
Intern