WWE SmackDown Results 6/9 - Four Money In The Bank Qualifiers, United States Title Match
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on June 9, 2023, coming to you live from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa!
Jey Uso has been caught in the middle of the issues between Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso over the past couple of weeks. Jimmy delivered a superkick to "The Tribal Chief" at WWE Night Of Champions during his match for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship, and things between the pair boiled over last week during Reigns' celebration of over 1,000 days as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Tonight, the line in the sand will be drawn as Jey Uso chooses which side of the fracturing Bloodline he will stand behind as himself and Jimmy are set to appear.
Four qualifiers for the Men's and Women's Money In The Bank Ladder matches are set for tonight. LWO's Santos Escobar will collide with Mustafa Ali and Butch of The Brawling Brutes goes one-on-one with Baron Corbin. The winners will join Shinsuke Nakamura, LA Knight, and Ricochet in the men's bout. Meanwhile, Damage CTRL members Bayley and IYO SKY look to secure their spots in the women's contest and join Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, and Zelina Vega as they square off with Michin and Shotzi respectively.
Additionally, "WWE Raw" Women's Champion Asuka will be presented with a new title tonight. "The Empress" dethroned Bianca Belair at WWE Night of Champions, marking her third reign as titleholder.
We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping the events of Roman Reigns' 1,000 day celebration as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion last week. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett then greet audiences at home as Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman wait in the ring.
Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa Make An Appeal To Jey Uso
Heyman looks to introduce himself, but The Usos' music cuts him off and Jey heads down to the ring.
Jey tells Sikoa he let a lot of things slide, but you don't stab your big brother in the back. He says he doesn't know if he can forgive him for what he did to Jimmy last week and tells Sikoa and Heyman to say what he needs to.
Heyman says Jey has everything wrong. He says Jimmy is the one at fault for everything that's happened because he made up his mind not just for himself, but for Jey as well. Heyman tells Sikoa to back up, then says he's taking a chance by standing so close to Jey. He questions if Jimmy asked Jey about superkicking Roman Reigns at Night of Champions, then says Jimmy has always resented Jey because Reigns wants to prepare Jey to be the next Tribal Chief. He says that has always been Jey's fate, and says he'll prove the truth to him tonight. Heyman says he's arranged a match for him per the instructions of Reigns, but it's not a tag team match. He says due to Jimmy's actions, The Usos are no more and informs him that he will be taking on Austin Theory for the United States Championship. He says his path to become Heavyweight Championship starts tonight, and he will become Tribal Chief when the time is right. Heyman says he needs Jey's answer about who he'll side with and hands the mic over to him.
Jey says he'll take Heyman up on his United States Championship match. Heyman extends his hand out to Jey, but Jey declines to shake it and tells him he'll get back to him on whether or not he'll back Reigns or Jimmy.
Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio then make their way to the ring. Mustafa Ali follows before LA Knight heads down to watch the action.
Santos Escobar (w/ Rey Mysterio) vs. Mustafa Ali in a Money In The Bank Qualifier Match
The bell rings and the pair get in one another's faces. Ali lands a chop, but Escobar fires back with one of his own. Ali executes a hurricanrana that sends Escobar tumbling to the outside. Escobar pulls Ali out to join him and hits a chop. The two then go back and forth with right hands before Escobar delivers an enziguri and a kick to Ali's midsection. He follows it up with a hurricanrana off the apron, then tosses Ali back in the ring and goes for a pin. Ali kicks out and rolls to the outside. Escobar delivers a tope suicida, then ascends to the top and lands a crossbody.
Back from the break, the two men teeter on the top rope. Escobar sends Ali crashing to the outside, then looks to go flying. Ali catches him with a dropkick mid-air, then chucks him back in the ring and ascends to the top. He sets up for a 450 Splash, but Escobar rolls out of the way and sends Ali crashing into the middle turnbuckle face first. He then hits a reverse hurricanrana and goes for a pin, but Ali kicks out.
Escobar delivers the double running knees in the corner before Ali executes a Tornado DDT and ascends to the top. Escobar meets him up there and lands the Phantom Driver for the win.
Winner: Santos Escobar
After the match, the rest of LWO appears to celebrate with Escobar and Rey at ringside.
We then head backstage to Jey Uso. Sami Zayn approaches him and says their time in The Bloodline was some of the best of his career. He says he knows the same goes for Jey, and starts reminiscing. He says when Reigns takes over, bad things happen and paranoia sets in. He says Reigns pushes too far and says he did everything he could to keep The Bloodline together. Zayn says Reigns made him test his loyalty to his brother just like he did with his own, then says he hopes he wins the United States Championship to prove himself. He tells Jey to think about the consequences and listen to his heart rather than what's in his ear. Jey then walks off.
Back from the break, Kayla Braxton introduces Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. The duo then head down to ringside.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler Challenge Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn To A Women's Tag Team Title Unification Match
Braxton looks to welcome Fyre and Dawn to "SmackDown", but before she can, Ronda Rousey's music hits and she appears alongside Shayna Baszler. Baszler says Dawn and Fyre want to call themselves "NXT" Tag Team Champions, but questions how much they know about their history. She says if it weren't for her, the title wouldn't exist. Rousey says herself and Baszler have ran through the competition, and as a result, they want a shot at Dawn and Fyre's title.
Dawn and Fyre accept, then blindside Baszler and Rousey. Rousey and Baszler eventually gain the upperhand. Baszler sends Dawn crashing to the outside, then looks to help Rousey attack Fyre. Dawn attacks Baszler from behind, and Fyre sends Rousey out of the ring. Baszler is sent to join her.
We then head to a video taking a look at the iconic career of the late Iron Sheik.
Back at ringside, Bayley and IYO SKY head down. Michin and AJ Styles follow, and Styles joins commentary.
Bayley (w/ IYO SKY) vs. Michin in a Money In The Bank Qualifier Match
The bell rings and Bayley wastes no time. She sends Michin crashing face first into the announce desk, then tosses her back in the ring and gloats in front of Styles. Michin surprises her with a tope suicida, then tosses her back in the ring and rains down right hands. She follows it up with a hurricanrana and a DDT, then goes for a pin but Bayley kicks out.
Bayley feins a nose injury, but Michin calls her bluff and delivers a kick to her face. Bayley then sends Michin face first into the middle turnbuckle before landing Rose Plant for the win.
Winner: Bayley
After the match, Scarlett appears and blows red powder into Styles' face. Karrion Kross appears behind him in the crowd and locks in the Kross Jacket before relinquishing it.
We then head backstage to Bianca Belair and Adam Pearce. Belair voices her frustrations with Asuka, and Pearce begs her not to interrupt Asuka's Women's Championship presentation. In exchange, he offers her a title rematch, and Belair agrees to stay out of the way.
Back from the break, Adam Pearce waits in the ring.
Charlotte Flair Crashes Asuka Women's Championship Presentation
Pearce says he has the honor of unveiling the new WWE Women's Championship, then introduces Asuka.
Asuka's music hits and she heads down.
Pearce unveils the title and puts it around Asuka's waist. Before Asuka can say anything, Charlotte Flair's music hits and she makes her way down to the ring in her long-awaited return!
Pearce asks Flair what she's doing, and tells her she has to get in line for a title shot. Flair says she doesn't wait in line because she made the line. She tells Asuka no one respects her more than she does and officially challenges her for the title. Asuka accepts and looks to spit the mist in Flair's face, but Flair ducks out of the way and dumps Asuka out of the ring.
We then head backstage to Paul Heyman and Jey Uso. Heyman says he got him with that cliffhanger, then requests his passport so he can fly on Roman Reigns' private jet. He says next week on "SmackDown", a triple celebration will be held for Reigns' presence, the newly crowned United States Champion Jey, and the crowning of Jey as Tribal Chief. Jey says he's in, but asks Heyman why he's so happy. He says if he's in The Bloodline, then Heyman is out.
Back at ringside, Butch heads down.
Back from the break, a furious Bianca Belair approaches Adam Pearce. Pearce says he'll figure it out, and Belair tells her he better do so.
Back at ringside, we see "WWE NXT" Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams watching on in the crowd as Baron Corbin heads down. We then head over to a quick video recapping the issues between Hayes, Williams, and Corbin over the past couple weeks.
Butch vs. Baron Corbin in a Money In The Bank Qualifier Match
Corbin grabs a mic and tells Hayes and Williams he hopes they're watching when he beats Butch. He asks Hayes if he saw what he did to Williams on Tuesday, then tells them he hopes they stay on the other side of the barricade so he doesn't have to destroy them again.
The bell rings and Butch wastes no time. He delivers a pair of enziguris and a Tornado DDT. Corbin fires back with a backbreaker, then rains down right hands. Butch lands another enziguri and goes to work manipulating Corbin's fingers. Corbin turns Butch inside out, then taunts Hayes and Williams. Corbin looks for a chokeslam, but Butch rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Butch
After the match, Corbin gets in Hayes and Williams face. He takes a cheap shot at Williams, causing the pair to jump the barricade. Officials run down and separate the three men.
Shotzi then heads down to the ring.
Back from the break, we head backstage to The Brawling Brutes and Megan Morant. Morant asks Butch how he feels coming off his win, but Baron Corbin storms in and complains about losing his match because Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were at ringside. Cameron Grimes then blindsides him.
Back at ringside, IYO SKY and Bayley head down.
IYO SKY (w/ Bayley) vs. Shotzi in a Money In The Bank Qualifier Match
The bell rings and Bayley gains Shotzi's attention. This allows SKY to land a kick, but Shotzi quickly recovers and lands a suplex. She sends Shotzi's arm bouncing off the ropes, then ascends to the top and goes flying. Shotzi ducks out of the way and lands a Bull Dog, then follows it up with a senton. SKY rolls to the outside, and Shotzi catches her with a suicide dive. She tosses her back in the ring and ascends to the top, but Bayley pushes her off. This allows SKY to deliver the Over the Moonsault for the win.
Winner: IYO SKY
Back from the break, we head backstage to Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens approaches him and asks how his conversation with Jey Uso went. Zayn says he doesn't know, and Owens says now that's out of the way they need to talk business. Pretty Deadly walks in and requests an Undisputed Tag Team Championship match. The Brawling Brutes, The O.C., LWO, and Street Profits walk in to do the same. Owens loses his temper as Adam Pearce appears. Zayn calmly explains the situation to Pearce, and Pearce proposes a Number One Contender's Gauntlet match. Everyone accepts.
We then head over to a video hyping up Grayson Waller.
Back at ringside, Jey Uso heads down. Austin Theory follows.
Austin Theory (c) vs. Jey Uso for the United States Championship
The bell rings and the two lock up. Theory lands a shoulder tackle before Jey clotheslines Theory out of the ring. He follows him out and tosses him across the announce desk.
Back from the break, Theory and Jey go back and forth with right hands. Jey gains the upper hand and sends Theory crashing into the mat, then charges at Theory in the corner. Theory slips out of the way and lands a shotgun dropkick, then delivers a right hand to his spine and plants Jey. He then sets up for A-Town Down, but Jey escapes and delivers a step-up enziguri. He ascends to the top and lands The Uso Splash, then goes for a pin. The referee is nowhere to be found, and Pretty Deadly appear at ringside. They clock Jey, but Jimmy Uso appears and levels both men with superkicks. Solo Sikoa blindsides Jimmy and sends him crashing into the mat, then looks for the Samoan Spike on Jimmy. Jey prevents him from doing so, and Jimmy sets up for a superkick on Sikoa. He inadvertently hits Jey instead before taking Sikoa out on the outside. The referee recovers, and Theory pins Jey for the win.
Winner (and still): Austin Theory
After the match, Paul Heyman appears at ringside and stands by Sikoa as Jimmy checks on Jey. He helps Jey up, but Jey shoves him and heads over to where Heyman and Sikoa are standing. Heyman apologizes, and Jey storms off.