As Raw hones in on Extreme Rules this Sunday, SmackDown Live! is very much still in the process of building up towards their next pay-per-view event in three weeks, Money in the Bank.
Shane McMahon, however, did get the ball rolling with his good and early announcement of the six men who would be battling for the MITB suitcase in the traditional ladder match. There is already much bad blood between some of these men and this week’s episode of SmackDown Live! promises yet another combustible encounter featuring them.
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Jinder Mahal had his moment in the sun when he spared no expense in organising a grand Punjabi celebration for his WWE title victory last week, but is it high time that The Viper plays party-pooper?
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And we also look forward to the Fatal 5-Way Elimination match to crown the number one contender for Naomi’s WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship. After much posturing and side-picking, it’s finally each woman for herself.
Read on as we run through all this and more, on this week’s SmackDown Live! preview.
#1 Will Orton hinder Jinder?
Randy Orton hasn’t been seen since his defeat to Jinder Mahal at WWE Backlash, but if The Viper is voluntarily drawing back, you can be sure that he’s plotting his next strike meticulously.
Jinder Mahal, meanwhile, uncorked the festivities with a grand Punjabi celebration on SmackDown Live! with his loyal aides, the Singh Brothers, by his side.
Will Jinder’s glorious revolution progress unhindered? Or will Randy Orton choose this week’s episode of SmackDown Live! to show up again and knock Jinder down a couple of notches?
Either way, Jinder Mahal better start counting down his days as champion as Shane McMahon confirmed that Orton has evoked his rematch clause for the WWE Championship at Money In The Bank.
Tick tock.
#2 The challenger emerges
As Charlotte reminded everyone on last week’s episode of SmackDown Live!, the Welcoming Committee was only formed because the girls of the Blue brand couldn’t digest the fact that Charlotte walked right into a WWE Women’s Championship spot after the Superstar Shakeup.
But their temporary alliance is showing signs of cracking, especially now that Shane McMahon has announced a Fatal 5-Way Elimination match on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live! to determine the number one contender for Naomi’s belt.
Will individual skill prevail in the match? Or will the conniving Natalya and co. find a way to upend Charlotte and Becky once again and decide to fight it out amongst themselves? Slipping under the radar thus far, Tamina Snuka may yet be the biggest wild card in all of this.
#3 Payback from the Underground
Sami Zayn backed up his victory over Baron Corbin at Backlash with another quick roll-up win last week, but it turned out to be an ill-advised move on Sami’s part as the Lone Wolf came unhinged with fury.
If losing at Backlash wasn’t bad enough, a repeat of that in double quick time, just a day later, truly pushed Baron Corbin over the edge.
His vicious attack on Zayn saw the Underdog from the Underground taken away on a stretcher, but if there’s one thing that Sami Zayn has proved time and again, it’s that you write him off at your own risk.
If Baron Corbin thought he finished off Sami Zayn last week, he’s likely got another thing coming.
#4 Goodbye Fashion Police?
A dejected Fandango and Tyler Breeze were given a shot in the arm when Shane McMahon placed them back in the crosshairs of the SmackDown Live! Tag Team Champions, The Usos, despite being unsuccessful in their attempt to wrest the belts from them at Backlash.
In affirmation of his faith, both Fandango and Breeze picked up singles victories over Jimmy and Jey Uso, but couldn’t replicate their success when an impromptu title match for the Tag Championships was announced last week.
Will they continue to challenge to The Usos this week? Or is it time to give other teams a chance to succeed where the Fashion Police failed?
#5 Shinsuke’s Playground?
Nakamura was in agreeance with Shane McMahon’s decision to place him as Styles’ partner against Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler last week, but he also promised that he would turn “Styles’ house into his playground” at Money in the Bank.
Will Shinsuke Nakamura continue upstaging the five other competitors in the Money In The Bank Ladder match while building up to the event? Or will the more familiar names in the brand resolve to show The Artist that he’s out of his depth the main roster?
Although Styles and Nakamura are, on paper at least, on friendly terms, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will force every man to stand for himself as we move towards Money in the Bank.
And you can bet your house that Kevin Owens will have a nefarious ploy up his sleeve to tip the scales in his favour...
