WWE SmackDown Results (6/24): Intercontinental Title Match, Money In The Bank Qualifiers

By Matthew Carlins

Welcome to our WrestlingINC.com live WWE "SmackDown" viewing party. Tonight's show is broadcasting live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

As of Friday afternoon, three matches were announced for tonight's show.

  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ricochet vs. Gunther (c)
  • Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Aliyah vs. Shotzi

Our live coverage will begin at 8 PM ET.

Please share today's Viewing Party coverage on social media and chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Before we begin, there's a late change announced to one of tonight's matches.

We're on the air! We open with a recap of last Friday's main event, where Roman Reigns successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Riddle and was then confronted by Brock Lesnar.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are on commentary and welcome us to the show with a reminder of the SummerSlam main event: Reigns defending his title against Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match.

In the arena, Drew McIntyre makes his entrance. We get a recap of McIntyre and Sheamus fighting to a double disqualification in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. Last week, Adam Pearce decided to give a spot in the match to both men.

McIntyre says when he was drafted to "SmackDown" he was willing to start from the bottom but no matter how many wins he stacks up, Roman Reigns continues to duck him. McIntyre says it's time to force his hand by winning Money in the Bank.

McIntyre points out all Lesnar had to do was show up last week to get a title match. McIntyre says that's fine and that's "The Brock Way". McIntyre says he'll be watching at SummerSlam and ready to cash in on whoever wins.

Sheamus interrupts, alongside Ridge Holland and Butch. Sheamus gets in the ring and tells McIntyre to cool his jets. Sheamus agrees the perfect time to cash in MITB will be immediately after the SummerSlam main event. Sheamus throws a little shade on the University of Texas since we're in Austin tonight. Sheamus points out he's a former MITB winner and he successfully cashed in on Reigns.

Paul Heyman strolls out to interrupt both men. Adam Pearce follows Heyman out on stage. Heyman predicts victory for Reigns at SummerSlam. However, he also admits that Reigns will be vulnerable after a Last Man Standing match against Lesnar to a MITB cash-in by Sheamus or McIntyre. Heyman says he's here to ensure that won't happen.

Heyman says Pearce has a special announcement. Pearce says he was a bit hasty in putting both McIntyre and Sheamus into the Money in the Bank match and after some influence by Heyman, WWE management has overruled Pearce's decision and neither man will be in the Money in the Bank match. However, both men can qualify if they team together tonight and defeat The Usos.

The Usos make their entrance and stand on stage.

We're told the MITB qualifying match between Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura is coming up next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, we're reminded McIntyre and Sheamus must beat The Usos tonight to get into the Money in the Bank. Also, The Usos' titles are not on the line and a win will not get The Usos into the MITB match.

In the arena, Shinsuke Nakamura is already in the ring.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton introduces "honorary member of The Bloodline" Sami Zayn. Zayn says it'll be a great night for The Bloodline. Zayn says he'll beat Nakamura and win the Money in the Bank match. Braxton asks if he'll cash in on Reigns. Zayn tells her to not put words in his mouth. He's doing it to protect Reigns. Zayn's music plays and he departs to make his entrance.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura attacks at the bell and puts Zayn in an arm bar. Zayn fights out of it but Nakamura stays on the attack with kicks to Zayn's chest. Nakamura hits his sliding German suplex while Zayn is hung up on the ropes. Nakamura follows with a flying kick for a 2-count.

Zayn rolls out of the ring to the floor. Nakamura follows but gets cut off and slammed into the ring post. Zayn hits an exploder suplex into the barricade on Nakamura. Zayn gets back into the ring. Nakamura narrowly beats the referee's count back into the ring.

Nakamura catches Zayna in a small package for a 2-count. Zayn pops right up and takes down Nakamura with a clothesline. Zayn whips Nakamura into the corner but runs into a boot. Nakamura hops to the second turnbuckle but Zayn pushes him off and Nakamura spills to the floor as we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Zayn is in control. Zayn goes to the second turnbuckle but Nakamura cuts him off. Zayn kicks Nakamura away but leaps right into a kick to the head for a 2-count.

McAfee says it's 145 degrees in Austin, Texas.

Nakamura fires up on Zayn with a series of strikes but runs into a Michinoku Driver by Zayn for a 2-count.

Zayn climbs to the top turnbuckle. Nakamura cuts him off and climbs up to meet him. Zayn fights him off and Nakamura falls to the mat. Nakamura recovers and crotches Zayn on the top rope. Zayn falls to the mat. Nakamura lines up for the Kinshasa but Zayn eludes it and rolls up Nakamura with his feet on the ropes. The referee catches him. Zayn argues with the ref and Nakamura hits a knee to the back of his head from the second turnbuckle. That gets a 2-count.

Nakamura lines up Zayn again. Zayn rolls out of the ring to the floor. Nakamura gives chase and hits the Kinshasa on the floor. Cole says he has to get Zayn back into the ring for some reason. Nakamura does roll Zayn into the ring. Nakamura slides in but Zayn is waiting with the Helluva Kick and gets the pin!

Sami Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall

Zayn joins Seth Rollins and Omos as those officially entered in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match.

Back in the arena, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods make their entrance and we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Jinder Mahal and Shanky are making their entrance. Shanky continues to dance behind Mahal's back when he's not looking.

Kingston and Woods have microphones and explain that they beat them last week "clean as soap". Woods says The New Day does not engage in a rematch after rematch after rematch because that makes no sense. Kingston says they have a bone to pick with Mahal because he won't let Shanky dance. Kingston wants to give the people what they want. He asks if they want to see a dancing Shanky. The fans admit that they do.

Woods plays his trombone and Shanky proceeds to dance. The New Day music plays for a moment in the background. Mahal quickly decides he has seen enough and cuts off Shanky. Shanky shoves Mahal and leaves. The New Day ask for more music and they dance with Shanky.

They're cut off by a loud horn. Woods is confused at first and then we see images of the Viking Raiders on the big screen. The Viking Raiders attack from behind to lay out Shanky and then go after Kingston and Woods. They make quick work of them too. They finish off Kingston with a double powerbomb. Ivar then hits a front slam on Woods from the second turnbuckle.

Backstage, Adam Pearce gets a visit from Sonya Deville. Deville feels a little embarrassed for Pearce after he had to backtrack on his McIntyre/Sheamus decision. Deville says the women's division has been talking behind his back. Deville says she's been back on "SmackDown" for weeks and still hasn't had a match. She says Pearce's in-ring career was a failure. Pearce says Deville will be in the ring tonight for a handicap match against Raquel Rodriguez and Lacey Evans and that match is next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Lacey Evans and Raquel Rodriguez is already in the ring.

Sonya Deville makes her entrance and is accompanied by Shayna Baszler and Xia Li.

Lacey Evans & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville (with Shayna Baszler and Xia Li)

Deville starts off against Evans. They lock off and Evans overpowers Deville and gets a quick 2-count. Evans takes down Deville and gets another 2-count.

Outside the ring, Baszler and Li distract Rodriguez. In the ring, Evans is sidetracked by Li and Deville hits a chop block from behind. Deville hits a running kick and covers Evans. Rodriguez rushes in to break up the pin attempt.

Deville and Evans kick one another at the same time and both are down. Evans crawls to her corner and tags Rodriguez.

Rodriguez runs wild and hits a big shoulder tackle on Deville. Deville creates some space but runs into a powerslam. Rodriguez hits Snake Eyes on Deville and tries for the Tejana Bomb but Deville slips out. Devill hits Rodriguez who backs into a blind tag by Evans. Deville doesn't see it and gets hit with the Woman's Right for the pin.

Lacey Evans & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Sonya Deville via pinfall

Baszler and Li try to attack Evans and Rodriguez after the bell but that doesn't work. Rodriguez and Evans stand tall in the ring as Baszler, Li, and Deville retreat.

Backstage, we find the Street Profits. They find Los Lotharios smooching a random woman. They decided to keep walking and find Drew Gulak working out with a pair of ladders. They walk on and find Madcap Moss warming up. The Profits like what Moss did to Happy Corbin last week and Dawkins wants to tell a joke.

Angelo Dawkins: "Why'd the coach go to the bank? ... To get his quarter back!"

Back in the arena, Ronda Rousey's music plays but it's not Rousey who enters. It's Natalya dressed as Rousey and pushing a baby stroller. Cole assures us Rousey is here tonight. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Natalya is in the ring with a microphone. Natalya introduces herself as Ronda Rousey. She calls for some footage from two weeks ago when Natalya attacked Rousey and put her in the Sharpshooter. Natalya knows Rousey didn't tap out at that moment, but Natalya thinks she was close.

Natalya gets on her knees and taps out on the mat right now and apologizes to Rousey's fans. She thinks Rousey should just hand over her title, retire and push her stroller into the sunset. Natalya refers to "The Saddest Woman on the Planet". That draws out Rousey.

Rousey says she almost didn't recognize Natalya without her rack out. Rousey says she's not going to mutilate her body chasing impossible beauty standards. Rousey says Natalya is lacking talent and charisma and the closest she'll ever be to becoming an attraction in this company is by dressing up as her.

Rousey rips off Natalya's jacket. Natalya hits Rousey with the stroller and retreats back toward the stage.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. Sheamus says McIntyre is gonna be dragging him down. McIntyre suggests Sheamus and his friends take the night off and he'll beat The Usos by himself. Sheamus it's his time and he'll see him out there.

Back in the arena, Ludwig Kaiser introduces the WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther. The title match against Ricochet is next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Gunther waits in the ring. Ricochet makes his entrance.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ricochet vs. Gunther (c)

Ricochet attacks with a drop kick at the bell. Gunther misses a chop and Ricochet kicks away but Gunther hits a bodyslam and big boot. Gunther stomps on Ricochet. Gunther grounds Ricochet and puts him in a half Boston Crab. Gunther transitions to a crossface. Ricochet reaches the bottom rope to break the hold.

Gunther hits a European uppercut in the corner but misses a charge. Ricochet springboards but Gunther catches him. Ricochet flips out of a German suplex and hits a running knee. Ricochet charges and runs right into a clothesline. Gunther chops Ricochet into the corner and lays in more chops. Gunther hits a German suplex and a running shotgun drop kick. Gunther hits a powerbomb and that gets the pin.

Gunther defeated Ricochet via pinfall

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Paul Heyman. Braxton asks if Heyman's plan is actually doing Brock Lesnar a favor. Sami Zayn interrupts and says Braxton tried to twist his words earlier and make it sound like he would cash in Money in the Bank on Roman Reigns. Zayn assures Heyman that would never happen. Heyman is pleased. Zayn says he'd cash in on Lesnar. Heyman is no longer pleased. Heyman stares at Zayn until Zayn walks away.

Back in the arena, Tamina waits in the ring. She'll face Shotzi in a Money in the Bank qualifying match next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Cole and McAfee explain that Aliyah got hurt so Tamina gets this shot. Shotzi makes her entrance.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Shotzi vs. Tamina

Shotzi jumps on Tamina's back but Tamina no-sells it, grabs Shotzi by the hair, and pulls her off. Tamina hits a splash in the corner and throws Shotzi across the ring. A powerslam by Tamina gets a 2-count.

Tamina lifts Shotzi onto the top turnbuckle but Shotzi fights her off and hooks on a triangle choke over the top rope. Shotzi follows with a one-legged dropkick and an enzuigiri. Shotzi comes off the second turnbuckle but Tamina catches her with a superkick. Tamina covers but the referee says Shotzi's foot is under the bottom rope.

Shotzi pushes Tamina through the corner into the ring post and plants Tamina with a DDT to get the win. Cole says that move is called the Never Wake Up.

Shotzi defeated Tamina via pinfall

The women's MITB line-up is Raquel Rodriguez, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Lacey Evans, Shotzi, and Liv Morgan. Plus, one more participant is to be determined.

Cole and McAfee show video from earlier in the show, when the Viking Raiders returned to attack The New Day and Shanky.

Backstage, the Raiders say they've been pushed aside for far too long and no one is safe.

Elsewhere backstage, Max Durpi is talking to someone off-screen. He's coming up next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Max Dupri's music plays. A spotlight shines in the center of the ring. We cut to a shot backstage, where Dupri is in Adam Pearce's face. Dupri says last week the lightning was no good. Tonight, the dressing room was not up to his standard. The temperature in the room was not to his lighting. Nor was the bottled water in the mini-fridge. We'll try again next week.

Back in the arena, McAfee is on the top of the announce table with a microphone. He recounts Happy Corbin getting in his face last Friday, complete with a fully produced video recap. McAfee says he feels alive when he's working in WWE. McAfee borrows The Rock's "Millions...and millions" line. McAfee challenges Corbin to a match at SummerSlam and tells him not to be a coward. Cole isn't sure this is a great idea.

Still in the arena, Sheamus makes his entrance, accompanied by Ridge Holland and Butch. Drew McIntyre makes his entrance. Cole and McAfee wonder how these two can possibly coexist. The match is next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, we're told that all of the Money in the Bank ladder match participants will be in attendance.

In the arena, McIntyre and Sheamus wait in the ring. The Usos make their entrance. Before the bell, the Street Profits also make their entrance to watch this match.

Drew McIntyre & Sheamus (with Ridge Holland & Butch) vs. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos

McIntyre and Sheamus argue over who will start the match. Jimmy runs across the ring to get the jump on McIntyre. McIntyre recovers with a clothesline and tags in Sheamus. They hit a double hip toss on Jimmy.

Sheamus hoists up Jimmy but he slips out and tags in Jey. Jey hits a splash on Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus recovers and hits his forearms on Jey over the top rope. Sheamus lifts Jey and hits a rolling senton slam. Sheamus lines up Jey but Jey rolls out to the floor.

McIntyre grabs Butch for some reason and throws him into the barricade. Sheamus gets in McIntyre's face. They start throwing punches at each other and The Usos hit stereo suicide dives onto them on the floor.

We go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Jey is in control of Sheamus. Sheamus blocks a punch but Jimmy makes a blind tag and hits a superkick for a 2-count.

Jimmy punches Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus fights back but Jimmy catches him with an enziguiri. Jimmy hits a running hip attack in the corner. The Usos pose. Jimmy lines up Sheamus again. This time he runs into a rising knee strike by Sheamus. Both men are down. Sheamus makes the tag to McIntyre. Jey also tags in.

McIntyre runs wild on Jey. He hits an overhead throw. But Jey pushes him through the turnbuckles and hits a superkick. Jimmy hits a splash from the top turnbuckle. Sheamus dives in to break up the pin attempt.

McIntyre rallies with a neckbreaker on Jimmy. He lines up for the Claymore, but Jey pulls Jimmy out of the ring. McIntyre follows but gets hit with a superkick. Butch runs out but doesn't reach the ring. In the commotion, Sami Zayn shows up but his Helluva Kick attempt is cut off by Angelo Dawkins. The Usos and Profits jaw at each other on the floor and McIntyre hits a dive over the top rope onto all four men.

McIntyre gets Jimmy back into the ring and lines up for the Claymore. Jimmy cuts him off with a superkick but McIntyre recovers and hits the Claymore to get the pin.

Drew McIntyre & Sheamus defeated The Usos via pinfall

McIntyre and Sheamus are in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. They celebrate and pose for the crowd.

That's our show.

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