Shinsuke Nakamura’s build up to Money in the Bank has been nothing short of stellar, clearly enjoying the upper hand over the US Champion, Kevin Owens. But it hasn’t been quite so smooth sailing for the other men involved in the MITB Ladder match.
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AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler have traded victories, while the bad blood between Baron Corbin and Sami Zayn has only worsened with each passing week. How will the six men fare when they’re thrust into tag team action on SmackDown?
Also, Charlotte has a golden opportunity to engender some momentum going into the historic, first ever all-Women MITB Ladder match this weekend when she takes on Natalya in single’s competition, as does Tamina when she squares up to SmackDown Live! Women’s Champion Naomi for the second week running.
And will this be Jinder Mahal’s final week as WWE Champion, as he comes face to face with the Viper, before doing battle for the Title this weekend at MITB?
For the rundown on all this and more, here is out preview of this week’s episode of SmackDown Live!
#1 New fish in the pond?
Till now the WWE SmackDown Live! Tag Title picture has comprised the Usos, Breezango and of course, the New Day.
But just short of one week before the Money in the Bank pay-per-view that plays host to New Day’s date with the Usos, the Colons have been called up to partner the champions in 8-man tag team action against the New Day and Breezango.
While all eyes will naturally be strained on the Usos and New Day, Breezango do have an unsettled score with the Champions and will be looking to advance their claims for a future title shot with a strong showing.
The biggest question, however, would be how telling a role in all of this the wild cards, the Colons, end up playing.
#2 The rise of Tamina
Out of nowhere, Tamina Snuka has risen from the mire to stake a claim as a major player on the SmackDown Live! roster. Although Lana’s sabotage attempt played a part in the outcome of her match against Naomi last week, pinning the WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion is no mean feat.
And as one of the participants in the MITB Ladder match this weekend, another shot at the Champion is exactly what Tamina would have desired.
She has the perfect opportunity to display that her win over Naomi on the previous episode of SmackDown Live wasn’t a fluke and to also engender bags of momentum going into the all-important match at the weekend.
Will she grab the opportunity afforded her with both hands? Will the Champion get her own back after suffering an unfortunate loss last week? Or will history repeat itself with Lana showing up unannounced again?
#3 Charlotte settles the score
Ever since the Queen waltzed into the Blue brand, she’s been met with nothing less than hostility and adversity at every turn from Natalya and her Welcoming Committee.
Not only have they prevented Charlotte from obtaining the Title shot that she deserves, but they’ve also managed to create so much ruckus in the Women’s division that Shane McMahon was forced to announce the first ever all-women MITB ladder match to decide the number one contender to Naomi’s Championship.
Before the big day, however, Charlotte has a golden opportunity to pay Natalya back in kind when they square off in singles competition on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live!
Will the Queen enjoy a measure of retribution before heading into battle this weekend or will Natalya’s committee intervene to ensure that the Queen of Harts prevails again?
#4 The Final Countdown
After pulling off the mother of all upsets at WWE BackLash (with a generous assist from his entourage, of course) Jinder Mahal has looked every bit the part of WWE Champion.
Randy Orton, however, would be itching to change all of that in his hometown this weekend.
As the Champion and former Champion gear up to do battle for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank this Sunday, how will their face-off on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live shape up?
Will Orton send a message, loud and clear, of what Jinder can expect this weekend or will the WWE Champion manage to stand tall and assert himself against the Viper?
Of course, you can bet that the nefarious Bollywood Boyz would be in close attendance, with a trick or two up their sleeves no less.
Also read: 5 reasons the smarks will never accept Jinder Mahal
#5 Six of the best
Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura are the six men that will be vying tooth and nail for the Money in the Bank briefcase that is suspended high above the ring, this Sunday.
But before they set their sights on loftier goals, they have to first brave the anarchic six-man tag team match that sees all of them cross paths on SmackDown Live!
Teeming with sub-plots and inter-woven rivalries, it is dangerous enough to have any two of these men go at it inside the ring. One can only expect the worst, then, when all six are in such proximity.
Although there are defined teams, expect any and all affiliations to go out of the window when the match breaks down, and the men are functioning on pure instinct. It’s each man for himself this weekend...and SmackDown Live could be the explosive dress rehearsal that we’re all hoping for.
Also read: 5 best Money in the Bank Ladder Matches of all-time
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