Tag: otis

SmackDown takes place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this week and features the brand’s fallout from Money in the Bank.

SmackDown’s Otis won the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match on Sunday’s pay-per-view. Tonight, he makes his first appearance as Mr. Money in the Bank as a guest on Miz TV.

NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair makes her return to SmackDown tonight. WWE recently introduced the new brand invitation rule that allows a limited number of wrestlers to make appearances on other brands. Flair has been part of the Raw brand and started appearing on NXT recently, winning the NXT Women’s Championship from Rhea Ripley 

A tournament to crown a new Intercontinental Champion begins tonight. Former champion Sami Zayn has not appeared on television since retaining the title over Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 36. WWE has stripped Zayn of the championship and declared it vacant.

Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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They recapped the Money In The Bank ladder match and showed highlights. 

Miz TV with Otis

The Miz and John Morrison were already in the ring for Miz TV. The Miz started to speak, but Otis’ music interrupted, and he made his way to the ring. Otis was beyond happy and over the moon to have the Money In the Bank briefcase. 

Miz told Otis to sit, but the chair broke. Otis decided just to stand. Otis noted this is the biggest win of his career, but the biggest win of his life is winning Mandy Rose. Morrison wondered how Otis got Rose. 

Miz showed pictures of Otis as a child and mocked him. Otis pointed out that he had a learning disability. Morrison wondered if Otis’s learning disability made it impossible for him to put on his pants. 

Miz became frustrated that Otis won the Money in the Bank. He pointed out that he used the briefcase to launch his career. Miz demanded Otis get Tucker for a tag team match later. Otis noted Tucker is injured. Miz became even more upset and told Otis to find someone to be his partner. For some reason, an employee came out and switched out the broken chair. 

Otis promised to find a partner to take on Miz and Morrison later tonight. This was a fine opening segment, and they kept it short, which helped. It was all about Otis being the most unlikely person to win MITB and date Mandy Rose. 

They announced the matches for the Intercontinental Championship tournament. The first round matches are Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak, Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus, Elias vs. King Corbin, and A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. 

Intercontinental Championship Tournament First Round Match: Elias defeated King Corbin 

They recapped the feud between Elias and Corbin over the last few weeks. 

Corbin and Elias worked a slow pace, and the match dragged. Corbin hit a back elbow for a near fall. Elias fought back, but Corbin slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Elias recovered and sent Corbin to the floor. Elias hit a cross body off the top turnbuckle to the floor. 

Corbin sent Elias into the barricade to take back over. Corbin picked up Elias’ guitar and pretended to play. On commentary, Corey Graves cheered on Corbin. 

Elias snapped because Corbin had the guitar and hit a sliding dropkick to the floor. Elias beat Corbin around ringside. 

Back from the break, Elias was firmly in control with a chin lock. Elias tried walking the ropes, but Corbin tripped him up. Corbin and Elias brawled on top of the announce table. 

Corbin regained control and hit the around the ring post clothesline for a close near fall. Corbin hit a series of clotheslines until Elias countered into a swinging neck breaker. 

Elias made a fiery comeback and hit an inverted DDT but twisted Corbin and dropped him on his face for a near fall. Corbin attempted the around the ring post clothesline, but Elias ducked. Corbin recovered and hit a spine buster for another near fall. 

Corbin rolled out of the ring and smashed Elias’ guitar against the ring post. He jumped back in the ring.

Elias rocked Corbin with a knee and used an inside cradle for the win. Elias advances in the Intercontinental title tournament and takes on the winner of A.J. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. 

Daniel Bryan takes on Drew Gulak in another first-round I.C. title tournament match later tonight. 

In the back, Otis approached Sheamus and asked him to his partner against Miz & John Morrison. Sheamus laughed and turned him down. 

Back from the break, Mandy Rose approached Otis. He was upset because he couldn’t find a partner. Rose told Otis to ask Universal Champion Braun Strowman.

Otis loved the idea. He kissed Rose and went to ask Strowman.

The mysterious hacker appeared again and promised that the truth would be told. 

Otis approached Strowman and asked him to be his partner. Strowman wondered if Otis is trying to set him up.

Otis promised that he’s only looking for a tag team partner. Strowman knows how this usually plays out, but he respects Otis, so he’s going to think about it. 

Dana Booke defeated Naomi

Naomi had the early advantage, but Brooke took over. Brooke hit a cartwheel elbow in the corner. She attempted it a second time, but Naomi got his knees up.

Naomi hit a cross body for a near fall. Brooke suddenly rolled up Naomi for the win. They had a short match that didn’t build any momentum. 

They recapped Becky Lynch’s announcement from Raw on Monday. 

NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair Promo 

Flair noted she’s working all three brands because the people want more Charlotte Flair. Of course, FOX wanted Flair on SmackDown because she’s 5’10, blonde, and her last name is Flair. She said she won many of her championships on SmackDown. Flair thinks there should be a giant picture of her hanging in the Performace Center. 

SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks interrupted. Corey Graves noted that the three of them make up the Four Horsewomen with Becky Lynch. 

Bayley noted FOX wanted Flair on SmackDown because she’s blonde, and her last name is Flair. They mentioned FOX liking blondes twice. Bayley and Banks pointed out the last time they saw her Bayley beat Flair. 

Bayley and Banks demanded Flair leave their ring right now. Flair ran down all of Banks’s accomplishments and wondered why she’s in Bayley’s shadow. Bayley started yelling at Flair, and Flair asked somebody to turn off Bayley’s mic so Banks can talk.

Bayley interrupted before Banks could talk. Bayley challenged Flair to a champion versus champion match. Flair knows FOX wants her back, so she agreed to the match. Flair asked Banks if she’s her own woman or Bayley’s lackey. This was a good segment. All three were good in their roles, setting up Bayley against Flair and creating tension between Banks and Bayley. 

In the back, Kayla Braxton approached Braun Strowman as he warmed up. She assumed that means he’s going to be Otis’s partner later, but he’s just thinking it over. 

The Forgotten Sons discussed their past serving the country. They returned home and had nobody to help them. A disclaimer aired before the promo. 

Renee Young interviewed The Miz & John Morrison in the back. Miz and Morrison aren’t worried about Braun Strowman and doubt Otis can get a partner. 

Intercontinental Championship Tournament First Round Match: Daniel Bryan defeated Drew Gulak 

This was a really good match. Bryan and Gulak started slow, but it never dragged and picked up towards the end. They worked a physical style and used a lot of submission moves.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves pushed that Gulak is usually Bryan’s coach and in his corner. 

They shook hands to start the match. Bryan and Gulak started with some mat wrestling. Bryan worked over the arm, but Gulak slipped out. 

Bryan held on and applied the Yes Lock, but Gualk made it to the ropes to break the hold. 

Gulak got a waist lock and rolled through into the Gulak lock, but Bryan broke free. Bryan went back to the arm, but Gulak countered into a pin for a near fall.

Bryan went back to the armbar, but Gualk slipped out. Gualk took over after dropping Bryan over the top rope to the floor. 

Back from the break, Gulak was firmly in control and hit a back suplex for near fall. Gulak slowed the pace down with a full nelson and side headlock. Bryan attacked the leg in an attempt to break the hold, but Gulak held on. 

Bryan broke the hold with the third shin breaker and hit two dragon screw whips. Bryan applied the ankle lock, but Gulak made it to the ropes. Bryan hit a German suplex for a near fall.

Gulak gave Bryan a modified Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Bryan rolled up Gulak but turned it into a release German suplex. Bryan attempted the running knee, but Gulak dropped down and rolled up Bryan for near fall.

They traded pin attempts. Gulak applied the Gulak lock, but Bryan broke free. Bryan hit a vicious looking dragon screw whip and locked on a kneebar for the win.

Bryan advances in the I.C. title tournament and takes on the winner of Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy. After the match, Renee Young interviewed Bryan. He noted he had to give up the title five years ago. He wants to win the tournament and defended it against everyone. Bryan and Gulak shook hands and hugged. 

In the back, Dolph Ziggler and Sonya Deville discussed their mixed tag match against Otis and Mandy Rose next week. Deville mocked Rose and promised to ruin her life. 

Otis & Universal Champion Braun Strowman defeated The Miz & John Morrison 

Otis overpowered Morrison to gain an early advantage. Otis knocked Miz off the apron and tagged in Strowman. Otis and Strowman then gave Morrison a double caterpillar. 

Back from the break, Miz was firmly in control after poking Otis in the eye. Miz followed up with running knees in the corner. 

Miz slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Miz and Morrison attempted a double suplex, but Otis countered into a suplex of his own.

Strowman got the hot tag and ran wild.

Strowman ran around ringside and ran down Miz. Morrison saw Strowman coming and ran out of the way. 

Strowman attempted a splash in the corner, but Morrison pulled Miz out of the way, and Strowman hit the post. Morrison tried taking advantage, but Strowman recovered and hit the power slam for the win. 

After the match, Otis and Strowman celebrated their win. Mandy Rose came out and distracted Strowman.

Otis teased cashing in, but Strowman turned around. Otis said he was just joking and hugged Rose. The main event was fine as it was more about showcasing Otis and Strowman as well as teasing Otis cashing in. 

Next Week: In a mixed tag team match, Otis & Mandy Rose take on Sonya Deville & Dolph Ziggler. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair takes on SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley.

In Intercontinental Championship tournament matches, A.J. Styles goes one-on-one with Shinsuke Nakamura and, Jeff Hardy takes on Sheamus.