This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Ricochet defended the Intercontinental Championship against Gunther tonight. There were two Money in the Bank qualifying matches and Sami Zayn battled Riddle with a title shot on the line in the main event.
SmackDown Results (6/10)
- MITB Qualifier: Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus ended in a double DQ
- MITB Qualifier: Lacey Evans def. Xia Li
- Ronda Rousey def. Shotzi via submission
- Gunther def. Ricochet to become the new Intercontinental Champion
- Riddle def. Sami Zayn to earn a title shot against Roman Reigns next week
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
McIntyre vs. Sheamus Ended In A Double Disqualification
Sami Zayn versus Riddle was announced for tonight’s main event. Riddle will get a title shot against Roman Reigns if he wins but will be removed from the SmackDown roster if he loses.
Drew McIntyre squared off against Sheamus in a MITB Qualifier. Butch attempted to attack McIntyre backstage before the match but Drew swatted him away. Butch then angrily accompanied Sheamus down the ramp and was ringside for the match. McIntyre dominated the action early and lit up the Celtic Warrior’s chest with some chops.
Sheamus shrugged them off and leveled Drew with a shoulder tackle. McIntyre hopped right up and planted Sheamus with a Michinoku Driver for a one count. Sheamus went for 10 Beats of the Bodhran but McIntyre cut him off at 5. Drew then clubbed Sheamus across the chest several times before bringing him to the apron. Sheamus shoved McIntyre into the ring post and hit White Noise on the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Sheamus planted McIntyre with an Alabama Slam for a two count. Sheamus applied a Crossface as Butch watched on. McIntyre battled to his feet and hit Sheamus with a couple Clotheslines. McIntyre followed it up with a throw across the ring and a Neckbreaker.
McIntyre went for the Future Shock DDT but Sheamus escaped. Drew caught him with a Spinebuster but Sheamus powered out at two and the qualifying match continued. Drew lifted Sheamus up in a Fireman’s Carry but Sheamus countered into a DDT of his own for a two count.
Drew and Sheamus battled on the turnbuckle and McIntyre hit White Noise but Sheamus was able to kick out at two. McIntyre set up for the Claymore but Sheamus countered with a running knee to the face for another near fall. Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick but McIntyre countered into a Powerbomb for a two count.
Butch ran into the ring and McIntyre hit him with a Claymore. Sheamus capitalized on the distraction and Clotheslined Drew out of the ring. Sheamus followed that up with a flying Clothesline off the top rope and then sent him over the barricade. McIntyre and Sheamus hit each other with steel chairs at the same time to end the match in a double disqualification.
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre were still brawling outside the ring when SmackDown returned. Butch jumped on McIntyre but he got slammed to the floor. McIntyre launched Sheamus over the barricade and they battled through the crowd. McIntyre and Sheamus both approached Adam Pearce throughout the show and asked to be put into the MITB Ladder match.
Lacey Evans Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Lacey Evans finally returned to the ring tonight to battle Xia Li in a MITB Qualifying match. Xia Li controlled the action early and applied a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Lacey Evans escaped and hit the Woman’s Right for the easy pinfall victory.
Natalya Attacked Ronda Rousey
WWE aired a “coming soon” to SmackDown vignette for Viking Raiders. SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey came down to the ring and cut a promo on Natalya. Rousey will be defending the title against Natalya at Money in the Bank. Rousey claimed that her Armbar is better than Natalya’s Sharpshooter. Shotzi interrupted and challenged Ronda to a match as SmackDown went to a break.
Shotzi got in some offense early and planted Ronda Rousey with a DDT on the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring, Shotzi connected with a boot to the side of the head and went for the cover but the SmackDown Women’s Champion kicked out at two. Shotzi stomped on Rousey’s arm before applying a submission hold.
Rousey battled through the pain and eventually was able to escape. Shotzi connected with a Suplex for a two count before delivering another one that sent Rousey flying into the turnbuckle. Shotzi kneed Rousey in the face and went for a kick but Ronda caught her. Shotzi started smacking Ronda in the face but Rousey wouldn’t let go.
Rousey hit some judo throws and some strikes to the midsection. Ronda followed it up with Piper’s Pit and then the armbar for the submission victory. After the match, Natalya attacked Ronda from behind and applied the Sharpshooter for an extended period of time before finally letting go.
Gunther Captured The Intercontinental Championship
Ricochet defended his Intercontinental Championship against Gunther tonight on SmackDown. Ludwig Kaiser was ringside for the match. Ricochet went for a Hurricanrana but Gunther blocked it and connected with a chop to the chest. Gunther choked Ricochet against the ropes as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Ricochet battled back and sent Gunther to the corner. The champ went for a Clothesline but Gunther countered into a Sleeper Hold. Ricochet escaped but Gunther leveled him with a massive Clothesline for a two count. Ricochet responded with a springboard Moonsault and made his way to the top turnbuckle.
Gunther avoided the 630 Splash but Ricochet caught him with a Dropkick. Gunther exploded out of the corner with a Dropkick of his own and then followed it up with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. Gunther is the new Intercontinental Champion.
Riddle Earned A Title Shot Against Roman Reigns Next Week
Sami Zayn squared off against Riddle in tonight’s main event. Before the match, Paul Heyman warned Sami not to lose tonight.
Riddle dominated the match early and connected with an Exploder Suplex for a near fall. Paul Heyman joined commentary for the match and noted that if Riddle wins tonight, Roman Reigns must defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against him next week. Heyman stated that Reigns will be very angry with Sami Zayn if he has to do that.
Sami battled back and got Riddle in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Riddle broke free and connected with another Exploder Suplex. Riddle followed it up with a running kick to the face and went for the cover but Sami was able to kick out at two. The action spilled to the outside and Zayn bounced Riddle’s head off the ring post.
Riddle made it back in the ring to beat the referee’s count and Sami greeted him with some punches to the face. Sami climbed to the top rope but Riddle joined him up there. Riddle went for an RKO but Sami blocked it. Zayn went for a Crossbody but Riddle countered with a knee to the face for a two count.
Zayn then caught Riddle in the ropes and hit the draping DDT as Heyman smirked. Sami started firing up the crowd and Paul was getting pissed on commentary. Zayn went for the RKO but Riddle blocked it and sent Sami to the corner. Riddle hit Sami with a kick to the face and then a springboard Floating Bro on the outside.
Back in the ring, Riddle connected with a Powerslam and followed it up with the draping DDT. Riddle went for the RKO but Sami countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Riddle went for the Bro Derek but Sami escaped. Zayn hit an Exploder Suplex and set up for an RKO but Riddle countered into an RKO for the pinfall victory.
The Usos attacked Riddle after the match and posed for the crowd. Riddle regrouped and attacked The Usos with a kendo stick. Riddle beat Jimmy and Jey down and stood tall in the ring to close the show. Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Riddle on next week’s show.
