WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa, Florida. Roman Reigns held a State of the Universal Championship Address tonight on SmackDown. Big E squared off against Apollo Crews in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. It was also announced that Sami Zayn will face Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match Money in the Bank Qualifier next week.
SmackDown Results (6/25)
- Bayley & Seth Rollins def. Bianca Belair & Cesaro
- Big E def. Apollo Crews to qualify for the MITB Ladder Match
- Liv Morgan def. Carmella to qualify for the MITB Ladder Match
- Jimmy Uso def. Dolph Ziggler
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Jey Uso Didn’t Show Up
Paul Heyman was backstage and said that Dominik and Rey will not be here tonight but will be acknowledging the Tribal Chief from their hospital beds. Jimmy Uso arrived and Roman wondered where Jey was. Jimmy claimed that Jey is a no show. Jimmy added that he talked to Jey on the phone and he said he isn’t coming back.
Reigns got pissed off and boasted about taking him from being “one of the Usos” to “Main Event Uso”. Roman said that it was unacceptable for Jey to not show up and Jimmy noted that he is here tonight. Jimmy said he is not anybody’s bitch but will help Reigns tonight. Roman asked if Jimmy was offering to be his right hand man. Jimmy didn’t say that but did say that he can do what his brother does. Reigns told Jimmy to prove it and he walked away.
Bayley Pinned The SmackDown Women’s Champion
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair & Cesaro faced Bayley & Seth Rollins in the first match of the night. Bianca said that we are just a couple weeks away from returning to crowds before turning her attention to Bayley. Belair noted that she beat Bayley at Hell in a Cell and cannot stop smiling about it.
Seth Rollins interrupted with a grin on his face and bragged about his victory over Cesaro at Hell in a Cell. Rollins suggested that Bianca’s win over Bayley at Hell in a Cell was a fluke and then Bayley interrupted.
Bayley made her way to the ring and called Bianca Belair a “pathetic loser”. Bianca responded with a punch to the face and Bayley fell down. Bayley hid behind Rollins and then tackled Bianca. Cesaro rushed the ring and attacked Rollins. Cesaro threw Rollins to the outside and started trash talking with Bayley.
When SmackDown returned from a break, Rollins and Cesaro started off the action. Seth went for a Crossbody but Cesaro countered into a Backbreaker. Bayley and Bianca Belair then tagged in and traded shots. Bianca took control with a Backbreaker of her own and followed it up with a standing Moonsault for a near fall.
Bayley tried to buy some time and rolled out of the ring. The SmackDown Women’s Champion followed her out there and Bayley sent her into the barricade. When SmackDown returned from a break, Bayley was in control of the match and Belair was selling an arm injury.
Bayley focused her attack on the arm for a bit until Cesaro tagged in. Cesaro knocked Rollins off the apron and delivered an uppercut to his face outside the ring. Back in the ring, Cesaro hit a Crossbody off the top turnbuckle for a two count. Cesaro hit the Swing and went for a Sharpshooter but Bayley distracted him. Rollins capitalized with a roll-up for a two count.
Bianca set up for the KOD but Rollins hopped in the ring for a distraction. Bayley hit Belair with a chop block to the knee and followed it up with the Rose Plant for the pinfall victory.
Pat McAfee Hilariously Celebrated Shinsuke Nakamura
Boogs brought his guitar into the ring and introduced Nakamura as not just the King of Strong Styles but the one true king of WWE. Boogs shredded the guitar as Pat McAfee pounded a couple of water bottles as if they were beers. McAfee shouted “here’s to the king!” as Nakamura danced around.
Baron Corbin was then interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton. Corbin was devastated watching Nakamura dance around with the crown on his head. Braxton didn’t know if she should call him King Corbin or not. Corbin said that he has lost it all and not just his crown. Baron then wondered what’s the point and sulked away.
Big E Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Big E faced Apollo Crews tonight in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. Commander Azeez was ringside for the match. Big E sent Crews through the ropes and the Intercontinental Champion landed in front of Commander Azeez. Crews connected with a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, the champ was still in control and hit Big E with a Dropkick for a two count. Apollo followed it up with a Suplex for another near fall. Big E battled back with a Belly to Belly Suplex and followed it up with a Splash. Crews connected with three German Suplexes in a row and went for the cover but somehow Big E kicked out at two.
Big E locked in a Stretch Muffler submission but Crews reached the ropes with help from Azeez. Apollo hit an Enziguri and then a Frog Splash for a near fall. The action spilled to the outside and Big E planted Crews with a Uranage. Commander Azeez tried to hit Big E with the Nigerian Nail but the referee caught him.
The referee kicked Commander Azeez out from ringside but Apollo capitalized on the distraction with a roll-up for a two count. Big E got up and hit the Big Ending for the pinfall victory. Big E has qualified for the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Seth Rollins Wants A Universal Title Shot
Seth Rollins approached Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce backstage. Rollins brought up Reigns’ State of the Universal Championship Address later and said he wanted to be the Tribal Chief’s next challenger.
Rollins added that he has never been more prepared in his life and claimed that nobody else on the roster deserves a title shot more than him. Pearce told Seth that they are not ready to make a decision yet but Deville added that they will take it under advisement.
Liv Morgan Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Sonya Deville introduced Carmella as the first selection for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Carmella bragged that she is a two time MITB winner and claimed that she is the most beautiful woman in WWE. Carmella offered Sonya a redo on her intro but Liv Morgan interrupted.
Liv noted that she defeated Carmella last week and that she should be in the ladder match. Carmella joked that the Money in the Bank Ladder Match is for real stars and Liv got angry. Liv slapped Carmella in the face and the two superstars were about to brawl but Sonya Deville broke it up. Sonya said that Liv Morgan can prove that she deserves to be in the match by facing Carmella now. Carmella got annoyed but Deville said she will not be removing Carmella from the Ladder Match as SmackDown went to a break.
Carmella was in control of the match when SmackDown returned. Carmella connected with some kicks to the face in the corner of the ring as Women’s Tag Team Champions Tamina & Natalya were shown watching backstage. Liv exploded out of the corner with a Clothesline for a two count. Carmella got Liv in a head scissors but Morgan countered into a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Carmella demanded to be announced as the most beautiful girl in WWE after the loss.
Jimmy Uso def. Dolph Ziggler
Jimmy Uso squared off against Dolph Ziggler tonight on SmackDown. Earlier on the show, Jimmy was pacing around backstage trying to figure out what Roman Reigns meant by telling him to “prove it”. Heyman told Jimmy that they will pick an opponent for him tonight and Jimmy vowed to win. Paul told Jimmy that he better win now or it could be very bad for him.
Jimmy controlled the action early and leveled Dolph with a shoulder tackle. Jimmy followed it up with an Enziguri and went for the cover but Dolph kicked out at two. Ziggler booted Jimmy in the face and then a Dropkick for a two count. Dolph slowed things down and applied a Sleeper Hold in the middle of the ring.
Uso escaped but Ziggler connected with a kick and an Elbow Drop for another two count. Jimmy sent Ziggler out of the ring and delivered a Suicide Dive to Robert Roode that sent him over the announce desk. Dolph capitalized with a Zig Zag on the steel steps as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Ziggler went for a Neckbreaker but Jimmy countered with a Clothesline. Jimmy went for a Superkick but Dolph got out of the way and hit another Zig Zag for a near fall. Jimmy then connected with a big Superkick for the pinfall victory.
Edge Returned & Attacked Roman Reigns
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman were shown watching Jimmy’s victory. Jimmy made his way backstage and wanted Reigns’ thoughts on the victory. Roman smirked but didn’t say a damn thing. Reigns started to head to the ring and Jimmy followed him. Paul stopped him and said to let Reigns have the spotlight. Heyman then patted Jimmy on the chest and said “you did great” several times as if Jimmy were a child.
Roman Reigns made his way to the ring with Heyman for the State of the Universal Title Address. Heyman rolled highlights of Reigns destroying Dominik and Rey Mysterio on recent episodes of SmackDown and ran down the list of superstars Reigns has defeated (Kevin Owens, The Fiend, Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Edge, Cesaro, The Mysterios).
Paul said that Roman Reigns has taken out the entire division in less than a year and that they now have to do something that has never been done on network TV. Heyman handed Reigns the microphone but Edge’s music hit. Edge made his return and rushed the ring.
Edge sent Reigns to the apron and hit him with a Clothesline. Edge bounced Roman’s face off the announce table a few times but Reigns responded with a Superman Punch. Roman grabbed a chair but turned around into a Spear from Edge. Jimmy then got Speared through the barricade by Edge as Reigns retreated up the ramp. Edge shouted that he is right here if Reigns wants a fight to close the show.