'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
From Otis and Braun Strowman teaming up in the main event to Sasha Banks and Bayley's confrontation with Charlotte Flair, this week's edition of WWE SmackDown featured many contrasting moments.
After Money in the Bank, things noticeably changed around WWE RAW. The same happened with SmackDown, but on a smaller scale. Bray Wyatt wasn't around this week, and it looks like Otis is now the top entertainment asset of the Blue Brand.
A new tournament for the Intercontinental Championship also began last night, as we build towards WWE Backlash next month.
Which show did you like better this week, RAW or SmackDown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Here are the five biggest news stories from this week's episode of WWE SmackDown (May 15, 2020).
#5 Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak fought in a technical extravaganza for hardcore fans
WWE matches for weekly television usually follow a structured format. Occasionally, fans get to witness a match that stands out from the rest. This week, Drew Gulak and Daniel Bryan did exactly that on SmackDown.
Both men were pitted against each other in a first-round tournament matchup for the vacant Intercontinental Championship. This came across as slightly bold since there are virtually no conflicts between Bryan and Gulak at this stage.
In another world, WWE would have opted to use this opportunity to create conflict between both babyfaces for no apparent reason. But they chose a more dignified path, as Bryan and Gulak put on a showcase of technical holds and counters for hardcore fans.
Although Bryan won the bout, both men showed respect to each other after it was all over. Most importantly, Drew Gulak has risen to the occasion since his program with Bryan started, and this week was a good showcase for him despite the loss.
#4 Charlotte Flair and Bayley will face each other in a champion versus champion match next week
Charlotte Flair's appearance was the most advertised part of WWE SmackDown this week. Suddenly, Sasha Banks and Bayley interrupted The Queen right away. The NXT Women's Champion has appeared on all three of WWE's flagship shows recently, but the SmackDown Women's Champion, Bayley, wouldn't have another top champion stealing the spotlight from her.
With Becky Lynch out of the picture, the remaining three members of WWE's four horsewomen came to a newsworthy conclusion this week.
Sasha Banks was the odd one out there, and Flair made sure to belittle her as Bayley's sidekick. It is no secret that WWE is planning an eventual split between Bayley & Sasha, even though the two have managed to stick together after several hardships.
Many fans are upset over Charlotte Flair's dissolution of brand supremacy rules, but this is a frantic attempt to improve television numbers on WWE's part. A Bayley versus Charlotte Flair rematch at this stage sounds like an interesting proposition for both NXT and SmackDown.
#3 Elias and Dana Brooke received unexplained pushes during the show
Elias defeated King Corbin to move on to the next round of WWE's Intercontinental Championship tournament.
For what it's worth, Elias and Corbin's feud is one of the least interesting parts of WWE SmackDown. Both men have been at it since WrestleMania 36, and somehow, Corbin manages to be the focal example of overextended feuds every year.
But as a character, Corbin was on a roll before Money in the Bank happened. Not only did Elias cost him the briefcase at WWE Headquarters, but The Drifter also managed to defeat his rival in singles competition this week.
This unexplained push could just be a way to feed Elias against AJ Styles or Shinsuke Nakamura in the next round of WWE's Intercontinental Title tournament.
Similarly, Dana Brooke picked up a victory against Naomi. Brooke has been on a similar path when compared to RAW's Liv Morgan. Both of them have accomplished erratic victories that leave Brooke and Morgan in the same position on their respective rosters at the end of the day.
#2 Otis proved that he deserved to win the MITB briefcase this year
Usually, WWE picks heels to win the Money in the Bank briefcase, and that is because the whole idea of sneaking up to cash in the MITB contract fits a villain's code.
So it was odd for many WWE fans to witness Otis winning that same contract by chance. Not only because he's a good guy, but Otis doesn't fit into the description of a main-event wrestler at the end of the day.
However, if this week's episode of SmackDown was any indication of things to come, then Otis may end up being one of the most unique MITB briefcase holders of all time.
The show began with Otis gyrating his way through an interview with The Miz & John Morrison. The heels made fun of his learning disability and large physical presence, but there is just something about Otis and his positivity that brings a smile to everyone's face each week.
Of course, Mandy Rose is equally responsible for adding more credibility to Otis Dozovic's entertainment value in WWE. Both of them have benefited from each other ever since this storyline began on WWE SmackDown.
Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler cut a dastardly promo last night, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against Otis and Mandy Rose in a mixed tag team match next week.
#1 Braun Strowman teamed up with Otis despite the threat of an immediate cash-in looming
WWE made sure to add an interesting conflict to Braun Strowman's Universal Title run after Money in the Bank. Strowman took up Otis on his offer to team up against The Miz & John Morrison in the main event. There was an unusual tension between both babyfaces at the same time.
Strowman and Otis had no problem co-existing together last night, and some would even say that both of them respect each other as WWE Superstars, but the MITB briefcase changes the perspective on any given situation in WWE.
After defeating the rival team, Mandy Rose interrupted Otis and Strowman's celebration. Otis teased a cash-in when the Universal Champion turned his back, only to say that he was messing with him when Strowman came to his senses.
This showed us that Otis isn't all that naive after all. With Mandy by his side, Otis could creep up on the champion when he least expects it.
There are multiple routes that Otis could take, including one where Heavy Machinery may become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions, and with Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler's overarching threat looming over the onscreen couple, Otis is the central figure on WWE SmackDown right now.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
