In the case of “seeing is believing”, you should have seen my face when I witnessed Drew McIntyre not only win the Money in the Bank briefcase, but he also lost it the same night with a failed cash-in. The funniest thing I’ve seen thus far aside from Chelsea Green lasting five seconds in last year’s Royal Rumble. McIntyre revealing his strategy of winning and cashing-in on the same night wasn’t bold, but stupid because everyone knew of his plan, especially the one person he despises the most, CM Punk.
Drew was screwed once by Damian Priest and twice by Punk. In a general sense, I think his unapologetic and frankly, validating ways are finally catching up to him. I believe in karma, so with Drew constantly acting as if everything he’s done should be overlooked is the equivalent of what Seth Rollins said to Punk this past Monday. It’s always everyone else’s fault, but your own. There are times when it truly is a second, or third party that’s responsible, but that perspective shouldn’t apply when actions solely belong to you.
I do feel bad for Seth Rollins for not being able to capture gold that evening, but his and Priest’s terms they previously set was discarded… that I found slightly odd. Maybe I was hoping for emotional growth a bit too much. Oh, well. And speaking of emotional growth, John Cena announcing his farewell tour starting next year has come to reality. One that he accepted, and the rest of us should, too. I’m mostly talking about myself since I grew up with him on my screen. It will be difficult to swallow, but I can do it.
My favorite fight was the Women’s Ladder match for the contract. That battle, in my opinion, goes first on my leaderboard. My teeth clenched so many times because of how disjointed everyone looked to me as we got deeper into the match. At least none of them was seen dangling from the hook holding the case like Chad Gable. Ha! He looked like a Looney Tunes character when he fell from up there. Although, I wanted Jey Uso to win, obviously, McIntyre failing to obtain the Championship he so desperately craves satisfied me. I can live with that.
If you think I’m being evil, than you haven’t been paying attention, have you? I’m simply not blind, that’s all.
It is, indeed, Tiffy time since she won the Women’s Money in the Bank contract on Saturday. I can’t lie, but the first four, or five seconds of her theme music sounds like the whinings of an entitled, blonde girl. Alas, I’ve grown strangely used to it… sort of.
You know what I find funny that I didn’t mention earlier? I don’t know why Trish Stratus was the hostess this past weekend when she was absent the entire night, except for that one moment when Stratton bumps into her backstage. I felt like that was useless advertisement.
Stratton warns all the current Women Champions; Bayley, Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan, to watch their backs. Because of this, Bayley shows up after her name has been dropped. She wasn’t the only one, though, Nia Jax arrives to the stage to… defend Stratton, I guess, and reminding her of their upcoming match at SummerSlam.
As a comeback, Bayley plays Devil’s advocate by implying a possible lost for herself, but she wonders what will Stratton do with her briefcase. Cash-in on Jax after their growing so-called friendship? Nia was cashed-in upon by Alex Bliss in the past. A haunting memory.
Anyway, Jax sees Bayley as her victim that she will brutalize at SummerSlam. And regarding Stratton, she has no supposed problems with her. Bayley gets mad, so she lunges at Nia, yet Tiffany blokes that attempt, allowing Jax to pounce. Just when the Champion was outnumbered, Michin comes in swinging a kendo stick.
Michin vs. Nia Jax
Michin kept trying to fight back against Nia, but the queen proves to be an overwhelming force as she’s aptly named. She may have dodged Nia’s incoming attack in the corner, but Michin remains on the receiving end the majority of the time. Michin rocks Nia with a sleeper hold attempt, followed by a pele kick to the head. She tries to perform a DDT off the ropes, but Jax simply shrugs it off like a fly. She delivers an elbow to the back of Michin.
Nia was toying with her food with a smile on her face as Michin’s strength dies down at every single turn. Jax squashes her opponent in the corner and manages to turn things around when Michin was momentarily able to trip her. Michin stays in the fight as Jax misses with an elbow drop. She was able to flip Nia to the mat, which surprised the queen. Michin started to roll when she nearly pinned Jax. However, Nia got back with the use of Stratton’s distraction handing her the kendo stick. Bayley saw that and yanked Stratton by the ankle, then threw her against the barricade.
Michin makes a comeback with a tornado DDT that also almost took Nia out. The queen reverses with the Annihilator. After that, Bayley jumps Nia from behind, but the numbers game came into play with Tiffany.
Things got a little weird, but also necessary when Tiffany realized she could cash-in right now while Bayley was down. She got scared once Nia noticed what she was trying to do and ended it there. Ha! Corey Graves called this a “dress rehearsal,”
Winner: Nia Jax
Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. Humberto & Angel Garza – Tag Team match
We haven’t even rung the bell yet as Baron helps launch Apollo into Humberto and Angel before shoving Berto into the ring with Corbin. Once Crews was tagged in, Humberto gets back to his feet.
Apollo delivers an elbow to Humberto’s heart, followed by a back body drop. Corbin scrambles for the cover, yet he gets interrupted by Angel. Crews ventures to fight him off. Apollo launches Corbin into the outside onto their opponents.
The wind of momentum has turned after the break in favor of Legado del Fantasma. Humberto kicks Baron in the temple after that off-the-rope maneuver. Corbin retaliates with a Death Valley Driver. They both tag their respectable teammates as Crews keeps it rolling with German suplexes.
Crews nearly finished this match, but due to Humberto’s interference, the match continues. Baron also gets involved, which manages to get Humberto to crash on the main floor. Santos may have not been part of the match, yet Corbin slaps him anyway.
Thinking that could have provided the win they were hoping for, Corbin didn’t facture Elektra Lopez into the equation as she distracts the official, so Escobar could deliver a knee to Crews, which allows Angel end Apollo.
Winners: Angel & Humberto
For some reason Pretty Deadly still haven’t learned their lesson in NOT making their musical a nightmarish reality as they’re forced to wait at the back of the line behind Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. To Green’s shock, she thought she was going to be the first to speak to Nick Aldis only to witness LA Knight coming out of Aldis’ office with a folder in hand. Ooh.
I’m happy to say that LA Knight was finally able to get what he deserved, a contract to solidify a US Championship match between himself and Logan Paul. Although, LA Knight has what he wanted, Paul isn’t here tonight. But one way or another, he will get Logan to sign the contract for a match at SummerSlam. Wade Barrett was just as excited as I was. Ha! Yay!
Blair Davenport vs. Naomi
Ah, at last! An official match with Blair Davenport in it. She’s been drafted on SmackDown since April, but she hasn’t had a fight till now. What the hell kept you?! Anyway, Blair may have been on top for at least five seconds, but that’s quickly taken from her when Naomi makes a comeback utilizing her talented feet.
Given the Money in the Bank Ladder match Naomi dealt with, her left shoulder has been taped up as the pain becomes a little more obvious. She still delivers a beautiful drop kick to Blair in the corner before initiating that big spilt leg drop.
Davenport gets back to feet as she jumps from the top rope and onto Naomi’s arm with the injury on it. Naomi is starting to feel the agony even more effectively as Blair continues to attack her wound. Naomi fights on as she drives Davenport’s head against the mat for a near fall. There was a bit of back and forth between covers from both women, but it was Naomi’s knee to Blair’s face that awards her the victory.
Winner: Naomi
After Carmelo Hayes interrupted Andrade during an exclusive interview, Andrade decides to sanction a match between them next Friday. Also, Logan Paul will be here as well post LA Knight’s proclamation of contracted war.
You know when I said that LA Knight was able to get Nick Aldis to sign the contract to authorize a US Championship at SummerSlam? Well, apparently the man isn’t here. Ha! That annoys Chelsea to the point where Naomi had to jokingly tell her to be careful with her neck injure from Saturday. She displayed great sportsmanship with Blair, but that only gave Davenport the opening she wanted to assault Naomi from behind.
Typical bitter individual. The question still remains, who was LA Knight talking to?
DIY (c) vs. A-Town Down Under – Tag Team Championship rematch
I’m not a fan of when someone wins gold that they fight the same person they fought not too long ago instead of paying attention to those who need more chances to obtain titles. This is a waste of time!
Grayson foolishly wanted to get ahead of Ciampa, but the champs deliver double drop kicks once an attempt at a stand-off ensues. Tommaso rocks Waller with a knee to the jaw, but Austin catches Gargano in the face on the outside. A-Town Down Under apply more brutality to their tactics, sending DIY all over the place.
Even Grayson’s weird tornado DDT from the top turnbuckle keeps Tommaso grounded. Ciampa creates some separation with a knee to Theory’s face in order to tag Johnny as he plants his challengers.
Theory and Ciampa are seen brawling inside the ring, while Waller and Gargano fell on the main floor. Just as Ciampa had rolled Theory up, Grayson comes in with a DDT. It wasn’t enough in that moment. Grayson even dragged his partner to their corner, so he could get tagged in. A little harsh, aren’t we?
That’s quickly rectified when A-Town Down Under ventures to imitate Meet Me in the Middle from DIY and get trampled upon by Waller himself knocking out Theory. DIY perform the Shatter Machine, followed by Meet Me in the Middle to retain.
Winners: DIY
After the match, Theory was yelling at Waller, but Grayson wasn’t paying full attention as he notices an incoming Jacob Fatu. He bulldozes through Austin, leaving him flat on the floor. Johnny tries to stop him by leaping from the top, only to be caught mid-air by a Samoan Drop. Ciampa thought he had Fatu with a DDT, yet the Samoan Werewolf didn’t feel a thing… He kept breaking bones.
Cue Solo Sikoa’s theme music. The Bloodline are here to talk to Cody Rhodes about acknowledging the new Tribal Chief. They want the same thing in obtaining that Undisputed Championship at SummeSlam, but if Rhodes had full power, he wouldn’t wait until then. That little snippet of personal desire is met when the Bloodline give him the beating he asked for.
Randy Orton spoke to Cody earlier saying that he will “always and forever” have his back, so now he shows up to provide some assistance the best he can, but they’re still outmatched. Fatu again ploughs through effortlessly. The Bloodline lay these men out like easy pancakes. Orton got the worst of it…
TOP PHOTO: The Bloodline decimate Orton and Rhodes. Courtesy of WWE