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WWE Money in the Bank kicked off with the New Day's SmackDown Tag Team Title defense against three other teams. The kickoff show saw Jeff Hardy defeat Cesaro in the second match since his return to WWE.
The New Day (c) vs. Miz & Morrison vs. the Forgotten Sons vs. Lucha House Party - SmackDown Tag Team title match
Kofi Kingston and Gran Metalik started us off and soon enough it turned into a high flying match. Big E tagged in and was stopped by the Forgotten Sons' Jaxson Ryker. Despite it being a No DQ match, the referee sent Ryker off.
Metalik was legal and hit Morrison with a huge Hurricanrana. Metalik and Big E faced each other before Lucha House Party double team Big E and hit him with dual splashes, but the Forgotten Sons broke things up. Metalik hit a huge splash on Big E, but Big E caught him and hit the Big Ending for the win, while Dorado was taken out by Kofi.
Result: The New Day def. Miz & Morrison, the Forgotten Sons & Lucha House Party to retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles
Match rating: A
Backstage, Lacey Evans said that she had memorized the WWE HQ layout to gain an advantage in the upcoming ladder match.
Drew McIntyre was being called the underdog by Caruso backstage, even though he's the WWE Champ. Drew said that he is going to break Seth's jaw with the Claymore tonight.
R-Truth was out followed by MVP who was wearing Black Panther-inspired in-ring gear. Truth and MVP got into an argument about who was the OG baller before Bobby Lashley came out and sent MVP home before taking his place in the match with Truth.
Bobby Lashley vs. R-Truth
Truth tried to escape right away but was caught by Lashley who flattened him in the corner. Lashley hit a spine buster and sent Truth down.
Bobby Lashley tried for a Suplex but Truth reversed it and hit Scissor Kick. Lashley hit the Spear for the easy win at Money In The Bank.
Result: Bobby Lashley def. R-Truth
Match rating: C
Baron Corbin appeared in a video saying that he will win the Money in the Bank briefcase for the second time.
Backstage, Bayley said she didn't blame Sasha for their loss on Friday but Sasha didn't look too pleased with the champ.
Bayley (c) vs. Tamina - SmackDown Women's title match
Bayley was taunting and taking cheap shots at Tamina, making her furious within the first minute of the match at Money In The Bank. Tamina began her onslaught and tossed the champ around as Bayley realized her mistake. Sasha apologized for Bayley as Tamina let her have a breather before sending her outside.
Bayley dropped Tamina from the apron and puller her into the ring post before hitting a baseball slide to her knees. Bayley reversed a superkick into a kneebar and tried to lift the giant but ended up hurting herself.
Bayley asked for some water and Banks handed her a bottle but she threw it in Tamina's face, angering her even more. Tamina tossed Bayley over the announce table and onto the chairs. Tamina hit a Samoan Drop but Sasha kept her from getting the pin by distracting her. Tamina chased after her before Bayley rolled her over for the three-count at Money In The Bank.
Result: Bayley def. Tamina to retain the SmackDown Women's title
After the match, Tamina tried to take out Bayley but Sasha came in and took her down with a huge knee to the face and wiped her out and helped her friend exit Money In The Bank with her title.
Match rating: A
Seth Rollins reminded us that we needed him to be the WWE champ and was going to 'unburden' Drew later tonight at Money In The Bank.
Braun Strowman (c) vs. Bray Wyatt - Universal Title match
Next up was a battle of former stablemates at Money In The Bank. Braun was dominating early on before Bray sidestepped a charging attack and sent Braun over the announce tables. The Firefly characters appeared in the stands at Money In The Bank and Bray took control of the match with Tornado DDT and then the Sister Abigail for a near fall.
Strowman suddenly appeared from under the ring wearing the Black Sheep mask and kneeled in front of Bray, who was delighted. After they hugged, however, Braun took the mask off and stomped on it, as Bray was shocked and the champ hit the running power slam and got the win at Money In The Bank.
Result: Braun Strowman def. Bray Wyatt to retain the Universal Title
Match rating: A+
Drew Mcintyre (c) vs. Seth Rollins - WWE Championship match
Both men were careful at first, reading each other's moves and trading holds before McIntyre sent Rollins over the ropes. Rollins came back and got control of the match sending Drew into the post and then hitting a suicide dive.
Drew was sent over the announce tables before he missed the Future shock DDT in the ring. Rollins tried to finish him off but Drew kicked out at one both times.
Drew Mcintyre (c) vs. Seth Rollins - WWE Championship match (contd...)
Rollins was frustrated and grabbed a steel chair but the official made him throw it out of the ring at Money In The Bank. Drew reversed a stomp but took the Superplex - Falcon Arrow combo. Drew kicked out of a bunch of finishers before hitting the Claymore for the win.
Result: Drew Mcintyre def. Seth Rollins to retain WWE Championship
Post-match, Drew came back to shake hands with Rollins, and the messiah looked confused at the show of respect.
Match rating: A+
Backstage, R-Truth was convinced he fought and defeated MVP before saying he missed his 24/7 title.
Money in the Bank Ladder matches
Both Money in the Bank matches began at the same time on the ground floor of the WWE HQ. The Chaotic start saw Asuka drop from a 10 feet high ledge onto the others as she got in the elevator and the others had to scramble to the stairs.
The men started in the gym and Corbin shattered a giant mirror by throwing weights at it. Otis used the biggest weights he could find to pin AJ Styles down to the floor.
Money in the Bank Ladder matches (contd...)
The pure carnage devolved into a comedy at Money In The Bank as Superstars sent each other through doors and into furniture. Dana Brooke took down a fake briefcase in the conference room before Carmella put her head through a framed poster.
AJ had gotten free somehow and was looking for Rey but got scared after seeing a giant poster of the Undertaker. He had a flashback after opening a door and Aleister locked him in. Paul Heyman was having lunch in the Banquet hall and a food fight broke out among the groups.
Otis found the dessert aisle while Asuka was yelling at the janitor about finding the roof before Dana slipped and fell on the wet floor. AJ and Bryan walked in on Mr. McMahon and he told them to get out, which they politely did, before continuing the fight.
Corbin took out AJ and Bryan before heading to the roof where Nia was already setting up the ladder. Asuka stopped her and Lacey from climbing and dropped the ladder and Nia's head.
Asuka was climbing the ladder when Corbin got up on the other side but was kicked down by her. Asuka grabbed the Briefcase and won the Women's Money In The Bank match!
Corbin tossed Black off a ledge while AJ and Otis were fighting in the ring. AJ and Corbin were on the ladder when Elias smashed a guitar on Baron from nowhere. AJ grabbed the briefcase but dropped it into Otis' hands, making him the winner of the Men's Money In The Bank match.
Result: Asuka and Otis won the Money in the Bank matches
Match rating: A+
PPV rating: A
We got a great ending to the night as Otis grabbed an unexpected win while the WWE and Universal Championship matches were clear standouts in the show.
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