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One of the great things about WWE.com is viewing the photos that capture all of the action from all of the shows that WWE has to offer. This article will be the first in a weekly series that ranks the 20 best photos from Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live, and NXT.
All three brands have their eyes on Chicago as NXT Takeover: Chicago II will take place on June 16th and WWE Money In The Bank will follow the night after. This week on WWE television, more WWE Superstars qualified for Money In The Bank and feuds continued to intensify.
For the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, there is just one slot open for the men and women, and those will be filled next week.
For the women there will be a last-chance gauntlet match on Monday Night Raw; while Samoa Joe takes on Daniel Bryan on SmackDown Live for the final spot for the men.
This week on NXT saw the best feud in professional wrestling continue to intensify when Tommaso Ciampa knocked Johnny Gargano into his wife Candice LeRae causing them to crash hard into the metal ramp.
Also, during the handicap match against Lars Sullivan, Velveteen Dream found a good spot to turn on his tag team partner Ricochet to further their feud that is likely to head to Chicago.
Let's kick off the countdown with one of the better entrances in the WWE today...
#20 Naomi feeling the glow as she qualifies for Money In The Bank
When Naomi found her glow, her career really started to take off in the WWE. This is definitely one of the cooler entrances of any WWE Superstar on the roster.
This week on SmackDown Live, Naomi defeated Sonya Deville to secure her spot in the Money In The Bank Ladder Match. She has already won the Women's WrestleMania Battle Royal this year, could she add a briefcase to that portfolio?
#19 - Finn Balor tries everything he can to take down the Monster Among Men
Finn Balor took on Braun Strowman in the main event of Monday Night Raw. It was a truly epic battle that proved that both men can work well with someone completely the opposite size.
The photo shows Balor seizing the opportunity of a rare moment when Strowman is down with a double stomp to the chest. Though Balor fought valiantly, he was unable to topple the Monster Among Men.
#18 - The famous Ronda Rousey stare down when signing the contract to face Nia Jax
Stephanie McMahon officiated the official contract signing between WWE Raw Women's Champion Nia Jax and "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. The match will take place at Money In The Bank on June 17th.
For the most part, the confrontation was amicable, but as you can see in this photograph, Nia got the trademark stare from Ronda Rousey that we have seen so often in the UFC, and now in the WWE.
#17 - Roman Reigns spears Kevin Owens out of his shoes
Monday Night Raw kicked off with a match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens. Roman is currently struggling to breakthrough thanks to the authority figures; while Owens is trying his best to kiss up to those in charge.
Just before Jinder Mahal interfered to cause a disqualification, Roman hit this amazing looking spear on Owens. The interference led to a tag team match when Seth Rollins saved Roman from a further attack.
#16 - Do not make Kairi Sane mad...
A short-term feud that has really impressed me on NXT lately is the one with Kairi Sane and one of the fastest rising stars in the women's division, Lacey Evans.
Even though Evans got the win to even up their feud at a win apiece, Evans learned that you do not p*** off the Pirate Princess. Just look at the expression on Sane's face, and you'll see why.
#15 - A staredown to set up next week's SmackDown Live main event
Daniel Bryan took on and defeated Jeff Hardy this week on SmackDown for a chance to face Samoa Joe to qualify for the final spot in the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
SmackDown Live ended this week with this confrontation between Joe and Bryan. Next week's main event should be an epic one between two guys who are familiar with each other from their Ring Of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla days.
#14 - Ricochet and Velveteen Dream worked well together, for a little while...
After attacking both Velveteen Dream and Ricochet during their match, Lars Sullivan was forced to take them both on in a handicap match on this week's edition of NXT.
Before Dream found the opening to turn on his rival Ricochet, they worked well together with this tandem offense as they tried to take the "Leviathan" of NXT down.
#13 - A B-Team with an A-grade celebration...
After losing dozens of tag team matches together, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas have found their stride as the B-Team. They are now 2-0 as a tag team after defeating Breezango this week on Monday Night Raw.
Even more epic than their second win in a row was their grand celebration that started in the ring, ended up on the announce table, and ended back at ringside after they took a ride down the ramp on one of the commentator's chairs.
#12 - The best feud in professional wrestling intensifies
The best thing going in professional wrestling today is the feud between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. There is no doubt that their unsanctioned match at NXT Takeover: New Orleans will be up there for a match of the year candidate.
On this week's edition of NXT, the feud continued, and this time Johnny's wife, Candice LeRae was a casualty of the feud. As you can see in the feud, Ciampa knocks Gargano off of the apron right onto his wife; which sends her crashing hard into the metal ramp.
#11 - A photo that perfectly captures who Alexa Bliss is
Over the past couple of years, Alexa Bliss has been one of the most decorated champions within the WWE. The four-time champion will have another chance to hold a title once again as she has qualified for Money In The Bank.
This week on Monday Night Raw, she took on another competitor in the ladder match, Ember Moon; however, the red-hot Moon got the best of Bliss. Before she was able to do so, the WWE photographers were able to capture this great look on Bliss' face.
#10 - Great photo of Lana admiring a tweet from her husband Rusev
Just before Lana had her Money In The Bank qualifying match against Billie Kay of the IIconics, a tweet was shown on the Tron of her husband Rusev declaring that they will be the first-ever Mr. and Ms. Money In The Bank.
This hope can now become a reality as Lana defeated Billie Kay to qualify for the ladder match. While I don't expect either one to win, it would be a great story.
#9 - A great look on Shinsuke Nakamura's face...
Any WWE fan knows that Shinsuke Nakamura has some great facial expressions, but they're even better when he's a heel. This photo was during SmackDown Live where Nakamura announced that the stipulation for the WWE Championship match against AJ Styles at Money In The Bank.
As you can see in this photo, it appears that Nakamura isn't taking what AJ has to say seriously at all. It wasn't too long after this photo was taken that things got real serious in the form of a brawl.
#8 - The Miz gets pelted with pancakes on his own show
The Miz had The New Day on Miz TV to kick off SmackDown Live this week. Miz was trying to get the scoop on which member of the New Day would represent them at Money In The Bank.
After Miz declined The New Day's challenge to face Big E one-on-one, they decided to pelt him with pancakes as shown in this hilarious photo.
#7 - A photo the completely captures the character that is Otis Dozovic
One of the more charismatic characters in NXT today is Otis Dozovic from Heavy Machinery. He can do it all from making funny noises to even the worm that was made popular by Scotty 2 Hotty.
Here you can see him prancing around Shane Thorne of TM61 while performing a wrist lock. Unfortunately for Dozovic and Heavy Machinery, TM61 cheated to win in their match this week.
#6 - Ember Moon sets the Eclipse in motion...
Ember Moon is one of the newest call-ups from NXT to the main roster, and she has made the most of every opportunity given to her. She's qualified for the Money In The Bank Ladder Match and is considered to be a dark horse to grab the briefcase.
On this week's edition of Monday Night Raw, this photo perfectly displays Ember's Eclipse onto Alexa Bliss for the victory.
#5 - A great angle of a flying Uso
Many times when a WWE photographer captures a suicide dive it's from an angle where the wrestler is coming right at the cameraman. In this instance, the view is reversed and you get a good glimpse of a flying Uso after he's cleared the top rope.
Unfortunately for The Usos, they were unable to defeat Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in their #1 contender's match to face The Bludgeon Brothers at Money In The Bank.
#4 - The New Day "cornermen" prepare Big E for the "next round"
After SmackDown General Manager Paige forced The Miz to face Big E of The New Day to kick off the show, E's fellow brothers acted as boxing cornermen helping their fighter in between rounds.
Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston would proceed to use petroleum jelly (which is typically used to seal in cuts in boxing) and pancake syrup to revive Big E, but unfortunately thanks to The Bar, he lost to The Miz off of the distraction.
#3 - The perfect reaction to a Pillow Fight stipulation...
As I stated previously, the heel iteration of Shinsuke Nakamura is absolutely hilarious and awesome at the same time. AJ Styles was waiting for an answer to the stipulation for their WWE Championship match at Money In The Bank.
When Nakamura was finally going to respond, he said that the stipulation was going to be a pillow fight and he doubled over in laughter. In the end, after a brawl on the outside, the stipulation is going to be a Last Man Standing Match.
#2 - The beauty of the Swanton Bomb
The WWE Universe was treated to a first-time bout to main event SmackDown Live this week when WWE United States Champion Jeff Hardy took on Daniel Bryan. The winner of this match faces Samoa Joe next week with that winner going on to the Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
This photo perfectly captures the essence of the Swanton Bomb finisher of Jeff's; however, Bryan got his knees up and then secured a submission victory to defeat Hardy.
#1 - Kevin Owens learns to never touch Stephanie McMahon ever again...
With the Commissioner and General Manager of Monday Night Raw in the ring with Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens decided it was a good time to join the fun. He was praising Roman for taking out Jinder Mahal; which enabled Owens to get in a Money In The Bank qualifying match and win.
Owens was trying to kiss up to Stephanie McMahon, but he took it one step too far by putting his arm on her shoulder as you see in the photo above. Stephanie made it very clear that Owens was never to touch her again.
