WWE SmackDown
June 9, 2023
Wells Fargo Center
Des Moines, IA
Tonight on WWE SmackDown:
– Michin takes on Bayley in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
– Santos Escobar faces Mustafa Ali in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
– Asuka to be presented with a new WWE Women’s Championship
Our live coverage begins at 8 PM EST
Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. They were immediately interrupted by Jey Uso. Jey told Solo he let a lot of things slide, but stabbing our big brother is not something we do and he doesn’t know if he can forgive him for that. Heyman said this is all Jimmy’s fault because Jimmy made up his own mind not just for himself, but made up his mind up for Jey as well when Jimmy pulled the trigger for both of them. Jimmy resents Jey because he knows Reigns is grooming Jey to be the next Tribal Chief. Heyman said tonight, Jimmy will be a singles champion and defeat Austin Theory for the United States Championship. At that point, Reigns will embrace him and groom him to one day be the Tribal Chief, but Heyman needs his answer now. Jey said he will take him up on the U.S challenge. Heyman extended his hand to Jey and said he will get back to him on that.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match:
Santos Escobar (w/ Rey Mysterio) vs Mustafa Ali
LA Knight came down to do color commentary. Ali gave Escobar a Tornado DDT. Ali went to the top rope and Escobar kicked him in the head, gave him the Phantom Driver off the top rope, and pinned him.
===Winner: Santos Escobar
Backstage, Sami Zayn and Jey Uso were backstage. Zayn said when the time they all had together in the Bloodline was some of the best times in his life. It would still be happening if it wasn’t for Roman Reigns. He starts manipulating people and pushes them too far. Zayn said he did everything he could to put the family first just like Jey and it was never enough. He made him test his loyalty against his brother just like he’s doing to Jey. He told Jey if he wants to roll with Roman and be the next Tribal Chief, he gets that. He hopes Jey wins the United States Championship so they can see The Bloodline needs Jey more than Jey needs The Bloodline.
In the ring, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn came to the ring. Before they got a chance to start their interview, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler interrupted them. Rousey said the division is not big enough for both teams. Fyre said if they are saying they want a title unification match, they accept. Fyre and Dawn attacked Rousey and Baszler and both teams had a brawl.
A video tribute to The Iron Sheik aired.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match:
Bayley (w/ IYO SKY) vs Michin
AJ Styles was on color commentary. Michin caught Bayley with a knee to the face. Bayley pulled Michin by the hair face first into the turnbuckle, gave her the Rosebud, and pinned her. After the match, Scarlett came down and blew a red powder into Styles’ face and Karrion Kross stood up in the front row to put the Kross Jacket on him.
===Winner: Bayley
Backstage, Belair told Adam Pearce she wanted Asuka. Pearce said he is presenting Asuka with a new championship belt tonight and. Pearce told he she is in line for a rematch and asked Belair to not attack her tonight. Belair said if she is getting her rematch, then she will do what he asked.
Backstage, Michin told AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows that they will get Karrion Kross and Scarlett back for what they did to Styles.
In the ring, Pearce presented Asuka with a new championship belt. Charlotte Flair showed up and said nobody respects Asuka more than she does, but she wants that title. Asuka blew the mist, but Charlotte moved out of the way. Charlotte slammed Asuka’s head on the table and Asuka left the ring.
In the back, Paul Heyman told Jey Uso he got him and it was a great cliffhanger. He Jey is going to fly on the Tribal Chief’s private jet, which will one day be his private jet, all the way to Money in the Bank. Next week they are going to celebrate three things. Roman Reigns will be here next week, Jey’s United States championship win, and a public acknowledgement that Jey will be groomed by Reigns as the next Tribal Chief. Heyman extended his hand to Jey. Jey said he doesn’t know why Heyman is so happy because if he’s in The Bloodline, that means Heyman is out of The Bloodline.
Backstage, Adam Pearce was on the phone saying Charlotte showed up and they should have Charlotte vs Asuka at Money in the Bank because he doesn’t think it gets any bigger than that. Bianca Belair was standing there and Pearce told her he would figure it out.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Butch vs Baron Corbin
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were introduced as special guests in the front row. Corbin told them to stay on the other side of the barricade where it’s safe because he doesn’t want to drop them again. Butch hit Corbin with and Enziguri. Corbin clotheslined Butch. Corbin went to give Butch a chokeslam, but Butch caught him with a leg rollup and pinned him
===Winner: Butch
Corbin hit Williams and Hayes hit Corbin before the referees broke them up.
Backstage, Butch said he’s returning home to the U.K. nd winning the Money in the Bank match. Corbin showed up and said that wasn’t fair because Hayes was out there. Cameron Grimes showed up and attacked Corbin.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match:
Shotzi vs IYO SKY (w/ Bayley)
With the referee checking on SKY, Bayley tripped up Shotzi who was on the top rope. Shotzi hit the back of her neck on the turnbuckle on the way down. SKY hit a moonsault on Shotzi to win the match.
===Winner: IYO SKY
Backstage, Austin Theory said he was the last one to find out about this match, but he’s still going to defeat Jey Uso and send him back to The Bloodline. If Paul Heyman is looking for a new client next week, he should check out Austin Theory.
Backstage, Pretty Deadly interrupted Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and asked for a tag team title match. Ridge Holland and Sheamus, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, The LWO, and The Street Profits all showed up within seconds also saying they deserve shots. Adam Pearce said next week, they can enter a gauntlet match and the winner will get a shot at the titles.
A video package of Grayson Waller aired.
United States Championship Match:
Austin Theory (Champion) vs Jey Uso
Jey Uso kicked Theory who fell down on the referee. Jey went to the top rope and gave Theory a splash, but the referee was still down. Pretty Deadly came to ringside and punched Jey. As Pretty Deadly entered the ring, Jimmy Uso came in and superkicked both of them. Solo Sikoa came in and punched Jimmy. As Solo was going for the spike on Jimmy, Jey stopped him. Solo turned around and Jimmy went to hit him with a superkick, Solo moved, and Jimmy hit Jey with it. Jimmy threw Solo out the ring and dove over the top rope onto him. The referee recovered as Theory pinned Jey to retain the championship.
===Winner: Austin Theory
Jey got up and pushed Jimmy aside. Jey walked past Solo and Paul Heyman, stared at them, and threw his arms in frustration as he walked off. Heyman picked up his phone and said, call Roman Reigns.
