The June 24 episode WWE SmackDown aired live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Drew McIntyre and Sheamus teamed up to face The Usos in the main event. SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey appeared in a segment with Natalya. Sami Zayn battled Shinsuke Nakamura in a Money in the Bank qualifying match.
WWE SmackDown Results (6/24)
- Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura in a Money in the Bank qualifying match
- Raquel Rodriguez & Lacey Evans def. Sonya Deville in a Handicap match
- Gunther def. Ricochet to retain the Intercontinental Championship
- Sheamus & Drew McIntyre def. The Usos to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Sheamus & Drew McIntyre Have To Qualify For MITB Again
Drew McIntyre made his way to the ring with Angela the sword to begin tonight’s show. McIntyre claimed that Roman Reigns keeps ducking him and it seems like he is going to have to force his hand. McIntyre vowed to become Mr. Money in the Bank and noted how Brock Lesnar was just given one at SummerSlam. Drew stated that he hopes Lesnar and Reigns beat the hell out of each other so he can cash in and hit them with a Claymore.
Sheamus interrupted with Ridge Holland and Butch. The Brawling Brutes joined McIntyre in the ring and Sheamus claimed that McIntyre was just put in the MITB ladder match because Adam Pearce feels bad for him. Sheamus added that McIntyre’s experience with the MITB contract is watching someone else cash in and take his title.
Paul Heyman interrupted with Adam Pearce by his side. Heyman spoke about the Last Man Standing at SummerSlam and claimed that Roman Reigns will emerge victorious. He said that Pearce has a special announcement to make. Pearce noted that neither McIntyre and Sheamus won their qualifying match and after some influence by Heyman, WWE management has overruled his decision.
Pearce announced that neither Sheamus nor McIntyre will be a part of the Money in the Bank ladder match. Adam added that they can get back into the match if they defeat The Usos tonight. Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos joined the party and high-fived Paul Heyman. Sheamus and McIntyre stared at each other to end the segment.
Sami Zayn Qualified For The Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Shinsuke Nakamura faced Sami Zayn in a Money in the Bank qualifying match on tonight’s SmackDown. Sami controlled the action early and sent Shinsuke to the outside. Zayn connected with an Exploder Suplex that launched Nakamura into the barricade. Sami tried to win the match via count-out but Shinsuke got back into the ring before the ten count. Nakamura knocked Sami to the canvas as SmackDown went to a commercial.
When SmackDown returned, Sami was back in control of the match and taunting the crowd. He hopped to the middle turnbuckle but Nakamura attacked him. Sami booted Shinsuke away and leaped off the turnbuckle into a roundhouse kick from Nakamura for a two count. Zayn responded with a Michinuko Driver for a close two count.
Nakamura and Sami battled on the turnbuckle. Sami knocked him down but Shinsuke popped right back up and crotched Nakamura on the top rope. Zayn avoided the Kinshasa and rolled Shinsuke up using the ropes for leverage. The referee caught Sami and stopped counting. Nakamura capitalized with a strike for a near fall.
Shinsuke connected with a spin kick to the face and went for the Kinshasa but Sami got out of the ring. Nakamura chased Sami around the ring and caught him with the Kinshasa. Nakamura rolled Sami back into the ring but Sami caught him with a Helluva Kick for the pinfall victory. Sami Zayn has qualified for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Viking Raiders Returned
New Day competed in a dance-off with Jinder Mahal and Shanky tonight on SmackDown. Shanky was having a good time and Jinder Mahal got annoyed. Shanky shoved Jinder away and Mahal retreated. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) returned and beat New Day & Shanky down.
Sonya Deville then spoke with Adam Pearce and mocked him for the way he’s treating the women’s division right now. Deville claimed that the women’s division was saying Pearce is in over his head. Sonya wondered why she hasn’t had a match on SmackDown yet but Raquel Rodriguez gets a qualifying match. Pearce then told Sonya that she’d be facing Lacey Evans & Raquel Rodriguez in a Handicap match next.
Raquel Rodriguez & Lacey Evans Picked Up A Victory
Sonya Deville faced Lacey Evans and Raquel Rodriguez in a Handicap match. Shayna Baszler and Xia Li accompanied Deville to the ring. Evans and Rodriguez got the win after Lacey hi the Woman’s Right. After the match, Baszler and Li attacked from behind. Rodriguez and Evans held strong and knocked them out of the ring.
Natalya Dressed Up Like Ronda Rousey
Natalya came to the ring with a baby stroller and was dressed like Ronda Rousey as SmackDown went to a commercial break. Natalya spoke as if she was Rousey and claimed that she is the saddest woman on the planet.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey’s theme hit and she made her way to the ring. Ronda said that the closest Natalya will ever get to becoming a main attraction in the company is dressing up like her. A brawl then broke out and Natalya hit Ronda with the stroller. Natalya then retreated out of the ring to end the segment. Ronda Rousey will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Natalya at WWE Money in the Bank.
Gunther Retained The Intercontinental Championship
Gunther defended the Intercontinental Championship against Ricochet tonight on SmackDown. Ludwig Kaiser accompanied Gunther to the ring. Gunther dominated the action early and delivered a Body Slam to Ricochet. Gunther followed it up with a big boot to the face and then an uppercut that sent the challenger to the canvas.
Ludwig instructed Gunther to stay on Ricochet and the champion applied a Half Crab in the middle of the ring. Ricochet screamed in pain and Gunther transitioned into a Crossface. Ricochet was able to escape and reach the ropes to break the hold.
Ricochet hit an Enziguri but Gunther stayed on his feet. Ricochet hit a knee strike but Gunther responded with a big Clothesline and some chops to the chest. Gunther connected with a German Suplex and a massive Dropkick. Gunther then planted Ricochet with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Shotzi Qualified For The Women’s MITB Ladder Match
Shotzi faced Tamina Snuka tonight in a qualifying match for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Shotzi was originally supposed to face Aliyah but that match was changed for an unknown reason. Tamina controlled the match early and connected with a shoulder tackle. Snuka followed it up with a Powerslam for a near fall.
Shotzi battled back and hit Never Wake Up for the pinfall victory. Shotzi has qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. After the match, Max Dupri said that the lighting was not good enough and his client will not debut tonight.
Sheamus & Drew McIntyre Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Sheamus & Drew McIntyre faced Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos in tonight’s main event. Before the match, Pat McAfee cut a promo and challenged Happy Corbin to a match at SummerSlam.
McIntyre and Sheamus argued over who will start off the match. Jimmy attacked McIntyre but Drew shrugged it off and responded with a Clothesline. Sheamus and Jey then tagged in. Jey connected with a slam and followed it up with a Senton. Drew battled with Butch outside the ring and threw him into the barricade. The Usos hit Sheamus and McIntyre with a couple of dives through the ropes as SmackDown went to the final break of the night.
When SmackDown returned, Sheamus hit the Irish Curse Backbreaker on Jey. McIntyre tagged in and walked into a Superkick. Street Profits, Sami Zayn, Butch, and Ridge Holland all started brawling outside the ring. Back in the ring, Drew McIntyre hit Jimmy Uso with a Claymore for the pinfall victory. Sheamus & McIntyre have once again qualified for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
