Smackdown – June 6, 2025

It’s Money In The Bank weekend and we open with a shot of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles where the event will be held on Saturday while Joe Tessitore talks up the event (EL SEGUNDO STILL HAS MY WALLET, FOR THE RECORD). However, tonight Smackdown is in Bakersfield at the Dignity Health Arena.

Walk-ins include: Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Stephanie Vaquer, Naomi, Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Seth Rollins (accompanied by Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed). Seth and his goons go through Gorilla and head to the ring for a chat. BRO WE GONNA YAP TONIGHT BOY.

The crowd, after heartily singing along with Rollins theme, starts chanting for Charles Montgomery Punk. Rollins runs through the visionary, revolutionary, I am…line. The MITB contract that he’s going to win tomorrow night grants him absolute power and total control over the entire industry. WATCH OUT DEFY WORLD CHAMPION CLARK CONNORS! The crowd then starts chanting for Roman Reigns, who Rollins says is on the Island of Irrelevancy (Burn Unit, stand down) where they put him after Wrestlemania. Winning the MITB contract would also mean Rollins controls things on Smackdown as well, so anyone who stands in their way will suffer the same fate as…others who’ve stood in their way. Sami Zayn, Punk, and Roman Reigns are called out, and Reigns specifically for not caring about the fans. Rollins has cared about the fans, he says, and he will drag all of them into the future, and there’s no one who can stop him.

Here’s Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, and men’s US Champion Jacob Fatu to interrupt. Where’s Teddy Long to immediately make a six man when I need him? (In terms of “who’s eyeing up who” it’s Sikoa and Rollins, Mateo and Reed, and Fatu and Breakker and WOWSAH would those last two combos be Matches I’d Like To Watch). Sikoa asks Rollins if he indeed said if anyone gets in his way he’s going to lay them out, and Rollins says that’s right. Sikoa says they’re standing there right now (Mateo is in his gear, everyone else is in civilian clothes). Sikoa says that Rollins has a “little Bloodline going on” and asks if Breakker is meant to be “right hand man Jey Uso” and Reed is meant to be “honorary Uce Sami Zayn”. He points out that Reed teamed with Sikoa’s crew at WarGames but then just came back and teamed with Seth immediately. Sikoa then vaguely threatens Heyman, and Rollins tells him to choose his next words very carefully. Sikoa then tells Rollins that he’s going to win MITB and the power and control Rollins has been talking about will be Sikoa’s. Rollins asks Sikoa if he’s threatened by Breakker because “he’s the future of this industry and you are not?” or if he’s threatened by Reed because he’d squish Sikoa like a bug? Rollins eyes Fatu and asks Sikoa if he’s threatened by his family wanting to stab him in the back rather than have his back. Rollins suggests that Fatu’s nickname be “Solo’s Bitch”. That’s not gonna sell merch, Seth, sheesh. Rollins tells Sikoa he’s threatened by one Fatu in the ring but it’s not him. He’s an Anoa’i, Seth MY GOD.

Sikoa takes his jacket off and tosses the mic aside, and Breakker moves in front of Rollins to protect him, which prompts Fatu to remove his glasses and stare down Breakker. Rollins steps in front of Breakker and then he decides it’s not worth it, and he and his crew leave. While the Samoans watch them leave, Big Jim Uso attacks Mateo from behind and superkicks him out of the ring where Fatu and Sikoa are. Uso and Mateo’s match is next and we go to commercials.

Big Jim Uso vs JC Mateo

We’re joined in progress as Uso slips a charging Mateo and gives him seven rights to the head. Mateo dumps Uso out to the apron, but Uso roundhouse kicks him in the head. Uso gets a rop-rope crossbody for one, and slaps on a headlock, with Fatu and Sikoa looking on. Mateo gets to his feet and hits a spinning powerslam on Uso. Mateo drags Uso over to Sikoa by his BEARD, and everyone trash-talks. Sikoa says all Uso has to do is come back to avoid getting his ass kicked, which I think is pretty fair considering Uso is out there by himself. Mateo is in control, and knocks Uso down with a big elbow. Uso is draped on the ropes as Mateo lays in chops. Mateo sends Uso to the opposite side of the ring, but Uso grabs the ropes and tosses Mateo out and then whales him with a right hand. Uso hits a running diving shoulder, and then tosses Mateo back in as Sikoa questions Uso as to what he’s doing. Uso hits an enziguri and climbs to the top rope, but he’s distracted by Sikoa like a dope and Mateo dropkicks him to the floor. We go to picture-in-picture because every match on this show must be longer than they should be.

Mateo controls through most of the PIP period as Sikoa constantly shit-talks Uso. Mateo headbutts Uso and I’m not sure how the “Never Headbutt A Samoan Principle” actually works in that situation. Mateo hits a hip attack…with his ass…and Sikoa resumes the chatter. The Pizza Hut commercial is more exciting than this match.

Back live and Uso is trying to break out of a headlock/choke thing Mateo has had him in for like two minutes. Uso gets a jawbreaker but Mateo shakes it off and wrecks Uso with an elbow, punch and short clothesline. Mateo hits a jumping reverse splash and Tessitore rightly makes a big deal of it. Fatu has been stone-faced the entire time while Sikoa continues yapping. Mateo hits a jumping elbow in the corner and whips Uso to the opposite corner, but Uso ducks the charge and hits a Samoan Drop and both guys are down. Uso wins a mid-ring slapfight and hits an enziguri, and then hits a charging Mateo with an elbow. Uso hits a twisting splash from the top rope for two. Mateo recovers and hits Uso with a twisting backdrop for two. Mateo charges Uso in the corner but eats a kick, followed by two superkicks and a spear. Uso goes to the top rope but Sikoa is on the apron and the referee shoos him away, but here’s Fatu also on the apron. Uso senses Mateo charging and moves out of the way, and of course Mateo wipes out Fatu, and Uso rolls him up for three. Just a television match and it barely moved the crowd at all. 1.25*

Winner – Big Jim Uso (rollup)

Post match sees Mateo livid with Fatu, telling him he cost him the match. Mateo tells Sikoa that Fatu is the problem, not him. What inning is this story in I wonder.

Here’s women’s US Champion Zelina Vega in a hallway, and she runs into Giulia. Vega says Giulia made her intentions clear last week but Vega has “worked her ass off” to get the title and if Giulia wants it she’s going to have to pry it from her dead hands. Damn, that’s kinda dark Zelina.

Bakersfield Brawl: Piper Niven vs Zelina Vega

Match is non-title, no DQ, no countouts and one fall to a finish. Niven is accompanied by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. We go to commercials.

Back live, and here’s Jacob Fatu storming down a hallway when he runs into Damien Priest. Priest tells him it’s tough working with family and he doesn’t envy what Fatu is going through. Priest tells him that man to man, he’s coming for the US title at some point. Fatu tells him if he doesn’t take care of business when they meet Priest goes “to the back of the line with the rest of these SUCKAS”. God I love Jacob Fatu.

Here’s Zelina Vega’s entrance as Green yaps at her. The bell rings, and Niven tosses Vega around, and then outside, where Vega finds a conveniently hidden kendo stick. Vega whales Niven with it and re-enters. Vega gets three more kendo shots but Niven grabs the stick as Vega goes for a fourth, and headbutts her. Vega gets another kendo shot in, and then hits an Eat Defeat on Niven for two. Vega hits Niven with a double stomp on the floor, and then tries a rana, but Niven catches her, hoists Vega up on her shoulders, and snaps her face-first onto the apron. I’ve heard that’s the hardest part of the ring, Monsoon. Niven lines Vega up and hits a huge running cross-body and we go to commercials.

Back live with Niven in control, and there’s plunder in the ring. Niven grabs a length of STEEL CHAIN and wraps it around her fist. Niven tries to choke Vega with the chain but it ends up in Vega’s mouth. Niven boots Vega’s face into the bottom turnbuckle. Niven sets up a chair and goes to slam Vega on it, but Vega reverses and DDT’s Niven onto the seat of the chair. Vega goes for the pin but Niven bails. Fyre and Green circle around to check on her and Vega comes off the top with a moonsault on all three, and then punches Fyre for good measure. Vega goes up again but Niven catches her with a slap. Niven goes up to try for a superplex but Vega fights it off and hits a Queens NY Driver on Niven. As she goes for the pin, Fyre just yanks Vega off of Niven, and then tosses her out where Green begins to abuse her. Green is really fighting her outfit, as well, because her skirt is….short. Niven orders Fyre to get a table. Niven hits a sit-out Michonoku Driver on Vega on the floor that looked painful as hell. Fyre and Green have set up the table (with a Slim Jim logo on it because of course) in the ring and Niven tosses Vega back in. Niven lays her out on the table and climbs the ropes. From the crowd, Giulia pops over the barrier and takes out Fyre and Green, and then grabs the kendo stick as Vega is trying in vain to powerbomb Niven. Two kendo shots later, and Vega successfully powerbombs Niven through the table and gets three.

I would have expected way more interference from Green and Fyre here, and I’m not a fan AT ALL of the constant losses for the Hervice. Vega’s small woman offense fits her scrappy character type but we ALL NEED TO MOVE ON FROM THIS FEUD NOW PLEASE. Hard to rate this with the plunder and stips but I guess maybe 2* feels right.

Winner – Zelina Vega (powerbomb through a table)

Post match sees Giulia enter the ring to raise Vega’s hand, only to blast her with a headbutt and a Glorious Driver. Giulia grabs the title belt and raises it over her head while having a boot on Vega. It’s weird to me that they’re almost telegraphing that Giulia has no chance to win the MITB briefcase with all this but given Hunter’s apparent disdain for the whole briefcase gimmick maybe he doesn’t give a crap about it and just wants to move into Zelina’s next feud, which I’m fine with.

Here’s Main Event Jey Uso in the locker room. In walks Cody, and they dap it up. Cody asks if Jey is okay and he says he’s a little banged up from Monday but otherwise fine. In walks Big Jim to make sure his brother is okay, and Jey question why everyone’s asking that. Jim points out Jey’s tag match tomorrow night and subsequent title match on Monday with GUNTHER, and Jey says he’s ready for both.

Here’s a pre-tape from Aleister Black to gripe about hitting the Black Mass on Shinsuke Nakamura in their MITB qualifier only to see Los Angeles Knight toss Black outside the ring and steal the pin. Black accuses Knight of stealing from him and he wants to drag Knight into the darkness and see what he has without someone else in the ring and the relaxed three-way match rules. He promises to look Knight in the eyes and shake his hand if he beats him, and admit defeat. This match is up next as we go to commercials.

Knight enters first to the usual immense pop. He grabs a mic and mentions that it’s MITB season. It’s his third year in a row in the match and someone shouts out “third time’s the charm”, which Knight (and the crowd) agree with. Knight’s not satisfied with that though, and starts naming the other competitors in the match. He talks up Penta’s well-documented abilities in ladder matches, and puts over Andrade as well. Knight says he can respect those two, but then we get to the “goon side of things”. He mentions El Grande Americano Gable, and “dummy number two” Solo Sikoa. He says he can drop Sikoa on his head again and climb the ladder, but then we come to “dummy number three” Seth Rollins who’s got a crew running with him now. (I may just call Seth “Dummy Number Three” from now in in the daily thread comment section). Knight says Rollins has had the case before, won the title with it, and he expects Rollins to want to burn it down in the match. However, there’s “nothing hotter than LA Knight on an LA night in LA” and he’s not going to be burning anything down because Knight is the one who will burning things. Okay, sure. Can we get on with this match please MY GOD. Knight runs down Black’s “hurt feelings” and says we can get after it. Wonderful.

Black makes his entrance and let’s remember that his entrance theme is NOT Def Rebel and therefore awesome. We go to commercials.

Aleister Black vs LA Knight

Joined in progress, again. Hunter must be trying something with this. Black gets a quick rollup for two. Knight rolls up Black for two and this match is moving light years faster than the Uso-Mateo match did. Black tries for Black Mass and Knight grabs the rope to avoid it. The announcers graphic finally pops up so I can let you know that tonight’s crew is Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett ringside, Mark Nash is your ring announcer, and backstage is Byron Saxton.

They lock up and go wildly spinning around the ring near the ropes as neither guy can gain control. This goes on for a while as Tessitore points out that Knight has had the most matches in WWE this year with 24 and I’m guessing the old guys might be throwing beers at the wall with that being the number. Hogan used to work 24 matches in three weeks, pal. Black grabs a headlock. Tessitore mentions that Knight has 13 wins and only Stephanie Vaquer has more wins in the company with 14. Black runs the ropes and Knight elbows him down. Knight hits a backdrop suplex for one. Knight works Black over in the corner, then whips him into the opposite corner. Knight wants a back body drop but Black kicks him. They scrap and Knight tries a DDT, but Black slips it and hits a muay thai kick on Knights shoulder that looked like it hurt. Knight sells it for one second and then wipes out Black with a clothesline for two. Black gets a jawbreaker as Knight lifts him up, and after a scrap Black gets a jumping knee strike on Knight in the corner for one. Black gets another muay thai kick to Knights chest. Black hits a snap suplex for two, but Knight comes up throwing bombs. Black SWEEPS THE LEG and hits a sliding knee and then nips up. Black goes to springboard off the ropes but Knight, who’s selling nothing here, catches him and they both tumble to the floor. We go to commercials.

Back live with Black trying to monkey flip Knight, but Knight slips it and goes for a knee strike which misses. Black nips up again and hits a kick, and then a springboard moonsault for two. The crowd is now into it and I wish I shared their enthusiasm. Black tries for Black Mass, Knight tries for BFT, Black charges and misses, and Knight hits a jumping neckbreaker. Knight hoists Black up and hits a powerslam, and then mugs to the crowd instead of trying for a pin. Knight goes to drop the elbow, Black sticks a foot up and Knight grabs it. He hoists Black up into the Total Package backbreaker, but Black slips off and Knight rolls him up for two. Black wins a slugfest and kicks Knight. Black goes for the springboard moonsault but Knight catches him again and hits Black with what Tessitore calls a Burning Hammer and it was most decidedly not that. Here’s Dummy Number Three, er Seth Rollins, to do the curb stomp on Knight and the ref calls for the DQ. Jesus wept. What a damn waste of time that was, Knight sold next to nothing, and then that shit finish. The match was just okay, honestly, up to that point. 2.25*

No winner, Seth Rollins run-in on Knight causes a DQ

Post match, Rollins (who’s been joined by Paul Heyman) wants another stomp on Knight, but he’s interrupted by Black who stands in his way. Rollins slowly backs off, and a shirtless Bron Breakker is in the ring. Breakker spears a turning Black, and Rollins dumps Black to the floor. Bronson Reed has joined in and he hits a standing senton on Knight, which the cameras only catch in the background. Breakker runs the ropes and hits Knight with another spear. Rollins and his goons stand over Knight. The announcers talk them up.

Here are Raw GM Adam Pearce and Smackdown GM Nick Aldis in a pre-tape to announce the start of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments next week. There will be four fatal four-way matches and the winners will advance to the semi-finals. The finals will be at the Saudi Night of Champions PLE. Both the King and Queen will receive world title matches against their brands champions at SummerSlam. That’s an interesting twist. No competitors are announced yet.

Here’s Byron Saxton backstage hyping up the GM announcement and bringing in a smiling Jade Cargill. Saxton mentions that Cargill will be in one of the four-way matches for the QotR tournament and she’s happy about that despite not being able to compete at MITB. Cargill says she’s going to win and at SummerSlam she’s not coming for gold, she’s taking it. Saxton changes topics and asks Cargill where she stands with Bianca Belair, and out of nowhere here’s Charlotte Flair to tell Cargill that salt and sugar look the same, and she should either have friends or none at all. Charlotte says there’s only one Queen in the WWE and as Cargill goes to rebut that masterpiece, here’s WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. Stratton wishes both of them good luck and walks off, and that’s the end of that as Stratton will be in the ring to yap more after the commercials.

Here’s Santos Escobar and Los Garza in a pre-tape. The promo is in Spanish with subtitles. Berto asks why Santos has brought them together, and Escobar says after their “meeting” they’re going to be together at Worlds Collide. Escobar has a plan for Worlds Collide to show who really runs Lucha Libre. Angel runs down their opponents at the show Pagano, Psycho Clown and “Dr Wagner the Third”, and Escobar says they’ll be removing the “heart and soul of that house”. Escobar says he has the tools to do it. Legado, Familia, Viva Mexico. This was pretty good, actually.

Here’s Saxton backstage live with Chad Gable (wearing El Grande Americano merch) with The Creed Brothers. Saxton says that Gable has a big day tomorrow when he challenges El HINGO del Vikingo (and again, I think I’m calling him that forever now) and he says he’s disappointed that he’s not in the MITB match but EGA is, and that he’s very excited to wrestle Vikingo for the AAA Mega title at Worlds Collide. Here’s Andrade to interrupt as Saxton scurries away. Andrade talks to Gable in Spanish as Gable keeps saying “Si!” to everything he’s saying (which is clearly about the Vikingo match). Here’s Penta and he daps up Andrade. They joke in Spanish about Gable, who loses patience with it and says EGA is going to put both of them through ladders tomorrow, and the Creeds wade in. Here’s Nick Aldis to make the Creeds vs Penta and Andrade for tonight.

Back in the Arena and Tiffany Stratton (in civilian clothes) makes her entrance because what this show definitely needs is more yapping. The champ has a mic and basks in some extra cheers from the crowd. Stratton points out that she won MITB last year (the youngest to do it), and that everyone in the match this year is going to try to pull a “Tiffy” and pull someone off the ladder to reach for the stars. All the competitors are potential champions but whomever wins will have their world revolve around Stratton. The winner will trend for a night, but she fears that no one can out-do the do-er. Bakersfield tells her what time it is and here’s Rhea Ripley to interrupt. Rhea is in her gear, for the record, and of course has a mic. Ripley says she was never in the MITB match before…because she didn’t have to be. She does know what it’s like to be a champion, though, and she misses that feeling. Here’s Stephanie Vaquer to interrupt as my will to live is slowly draining away. Vaquer gets her full entrance and is also in her gear. Tessitore points out there’s a six woman tag match that I totally spaced on remembering as Vaquer stares up at the briefcases. Here’s Alexa Bliss next. Poor Alexa still has to carry around that god-awful doll. We go to commercials.

Back live and we’re still doing entrances as here’s Naomi. Roxanne Perez follows, and Giulia is last out.

Ripley/Vaquer/Bliss vs Naomi/Perez/Giulia

Barrett points out that Giulia could cash a briefcase in on Zelina Vega and I mean, sure but why? The bell rings and it’s Giulia and Vaquer to start. They grapple in the center of the ring and Vaquer runs the ropes, stopping to get an armdrag on Giulia. Vaquer rolls her up for two. Giulia gets control and puts a foot in the middle Vaquer’s back before stomping her to the mat, and she rolls Vaquer over for two. Giulia tags in Naomi who hits Vaquer with a running low clothesline. Naomi goes for Vaquer’s signature Devil’s Kiss head-scissors move, but Vaquer reverses for two. Vaquer lines up the Devil’s Kiss and Perez and Giulia charge in only to be met by Ripley and Bliss who take them out. The heels all bail as Vaquer heads outside to continue dealing with Naomi. Vaquer tosses Naomi back in but Naomi yanks her throat-first onto the second rope and takes over. Barrett rightly points out that Vaquer has not tried to tag anyone else in and is now trapped in the heel corner, and has TWO more matches tomorrow (a tag match at Worlds Collide and then the ladder match tomorrow night). Perez tags in and puts the boots to a prone Vaquer in the corner. Perez hooks a leg for one. Perez hits a running Euro uppercut, and tags in Giulia, as Barrett points out Perez and Giulia’s weird history together. Giulia hits Vaquer with a snap suplex and gets two. Giulia tags in Naomi, and there’s some solid heel psychology happening as she’s keeping Vaquer from tagging out. Naomi goes to slug Ripley but she jumps off the apron kind of like Samoa Joe just wandering away from incoming danger. Naomi stupidly goes for a backdrop but Vaquer lands on her feet and immediately tags in Bliss. Bliss shoulderblocks Naomi down, and then takes out Perez and Giulia. Bliss hits Naomi with her gymnastic reverse neckbreaker and then shoves Naomi into the corner. Bliss charges in and Naomi back-elbows her and goes to tag in Perez, but Bliss rocks Perez with a right hand and pushes Naomi down in the tree-of-woe position. Bliss hits the shotgun dropkick on Naomi, who bails. Bliss hits both Giulia and Naomi with a rolling splash but Perez charges in and whips Bliss into to the ring steps. Naomi is clapping for Bliss while flat on her back in a funny visual as we go to picture in picture.

During PIP Perez hits Bliss with a side Russian leg sweep for two. She drags Bliss to the heel corner and tags in Giulia, who destroys Bliss with a chop. Giulia goes to whip Bliss into the corner but Bliss staggers, so Giulia shotgun dropkicks her and gets two. Giulia climbs to the second turnbuckle and hits…another shotgun dropkick (barely grazing Bliss) for one. Giulia tags in Naomi as I realize Ripley hasn’t spent a second in the match so far. Naomi hits her running double knee for two. Naomi tries a suplex but Bliss reverses it and rolls her up for two. Bliss staggers to the ropes and Naomi stands on her back, and then drags Bliss to the heel corner before tagging in Perez. Perez puts the boots to Bliss, before hitting her with a snap suplex for two.

Back live and Naomi has tagged back and is putting the boots to Bliss in the corner. Naomi comes charging in but Bliss trips her up and she goes face first into the bottom turnbuckle. Bliss goes for a tag, and Naomi wipes out Vaquer with a cravate kick to prevent it. Naomi hoists Bliss up to try to prevent her from tagging, so Bliss grabs her head and drops her with a DDT. Bliss makes the hot tag to Ripley to a HUGE pop from the crowd, and Naomi tags in Perez. Ripley drops Perez with a clothesline and then takes out a charging Giulia with a high boot. Ripley snatches up Perez and hits her with a huge fallaway slam as Perez ends up halfway across the ring. Ripley hits a shotgun dropkick on Naomi who’s back in her corner. Ripley snatches up Perez, but she drops to her knees and hits a jawbreaker on Ripley, followed by an attempt at her side Russian leg sweep. Ripley blocks it and smiles at Perez, before hitting a short arm thrust kick, a Razor’s Edge, and a short running drop kick for two before Naomi breaks it up. Vaquer charges in and dropkicks Naomi, Giulia knees Vaquer in the face, and of course Bliss hits Giulia with Sister Abigail. Perez superkicks Bliss in the face, and turns into a huge headbutt from Ripley that staggers her. Ripley goes for Riptide but Perez reverses into a MASSIVE sit-out DDT and both are down. The crowd says this match is awesome and they’re way more right this time. Perez wants to tag in Naomi, but Naomi jumps off the apron like a jerk and refuses the tag. Perez turns into a massive right hand from Bliss, Eat Defeat from Vaquer, and Riptide from Ripley gets three. I have no idea where Giulia was during all this.

Very solid television match here, everyone worked hard and it was physical given that all of them have what will probably be a very painful ladder match tomorrow night. Seek this one out. 3.5*

Winners – Ripley/Bliss/Vaquer (Riptide on Roxanne Perez)

Post match, the winning team all stare up at the briefcases and eye each other up.

Here’s Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo backstage and Sikoa is saying once he wins the briefcase and has Mateo and Jacob Fatu with him, they’ll be…and Mateo cuts him off to ask about Fatu’s actions tonight. BRO YOU CHARGED INTO HIM. Sikoa says as long as Fatu follows his lead everything will be okay. Mateo questions if they can expect Fatu to do that, and Sikoa says he brought Fatu in, Fatu loves him, but then he says that Fatu is not that smart. Sikoa says that Fatu is “all gas, no brains” (BURN UNIT IS ON STANDBY) which cracks him up. Sikoa says they’ll handle business tomorrow, and they walk off. Jacob Fatu emerges from the background having apparently having heard all of this and he glares as we go to commercials.

Back live and we’re doing Signs of the Night when the Wyatts interrupt with a recording. It’s Bo Dallas without the Howdy get-up. “Grief is not linear, it is not healed by time.” It’s a wound that is continually being ripped open by the echo of a presence that is no more. Dallas says he’s been watching the tag team division. From the loss they’ve felt, they’ve become a family. They’ve returned not for nostalgia, they want to take what they are owed. Everyone’s “brotherhood” will be tested. Back live and here’s WWE tag champions The Street Profits, MCMG, Fraxiom, and DIY (with Candace LeRae). Nick Aldis is also in the room as they’ve all watched the Wyatt tape together apparently. Gargano and Ciampa want to know who provoked the Wyatts. Montez Ford says they have to band together to stop the Wyatts and stop thinking about the titles for a minute. Angelo Dawkins says the Profits didn’t get to where they are by being scared and if the Wyatts want the smoke, they can get it, because the Profits are the “real boogeymen” around here. Fraxiom point out that the Wyatts cost them the tag titles a couple of weeks ago and they want to teach the Wyatts a lesson. Gargano and Ciampa are very much in favor of this idea. Alex Shelley says they can’t stand DIY but for right now they also want a piece of the Wyatts, and again Ciampa and Gargano love this idea. Aldis seems vexed by the whole thing.

The announcers run down the schedule for Saturday with Worlds Collide, the pre-show prior to MITB, and then the PLE.

Penta makes his entrance and he is really over with this crowd. We go to commercials.

Back live, and here’s Andrade’s entrance. I always wonder if it’s hella awkward with him and Charlotte backstage. Here’s AAA Mega Champion El Hingo Del Vikingo (according to Saxton) in the crowd. American Made make their entrance.

The Creed Brothers vs Andrade/Penta

Andrade and Penta hit stereo dives on the Creeds before the bell rings, and Andrade glares at Gable. Penta whips Julius into the barrier and Andrade tosses Brutus in the ring as the bell sounds. Andrade trips a charging Brutus who goes face first into the bottom turnbuckle. Julius comes charging in and Andrade hits him with a running punch. Andrade chops Brutus and then hits a double running knee on Julius in the opposite corner. He hits the running knee on Brutus, and then tags in Penta. Penta hits both brothers with his flipping dropkick from the top turnbuckle move. While Penta is doing his strut, Julius grabs him from behind, but Penta reverses him into the ropes and gets a right hand, before Brutus charges over and wrecks Penta. Julius tags in, but Penta fires up and hits both with chops, before lining up Brutus on the ropes for a super chop that staggers the bigger Creed. Brutus tries for a backdrop but Penta kicks him and grabs a charging Julius before tagging in Andrade. Andrade goes up top and Brutus chases and eats a fist, but as he’s on his knees Julius uses his brother as a springboard to hit a HUGE running knee to Andrade’s face. Julius yanks Andrade up and beals him over his hip. Julius nips up and yanks down his singlet sleeves to indicate shit is about to get super real. Julius beals Andrade over his head, nips up again, and yells to the crowd. Brutus tags in and hits a standing backflip splash for one. Gable says that Brutus is his guy as we go to picture in picture commercials.

During PIP the Creeds are kicking the crap out of Andrade and Julius wipes out Penta with a big right hand as he’s on the apron. Andrade recovers and hits Julius with a jawbreaker and chops, but as he goes to run the ropes Julius catches him and trips him up to the second rope. Julius jams Andrade into the heel corner and tags in Brutus, and he hits his weird running butt splash, and tags Julius back in. Julius hits a sliding clothesline for two. Brutus tags back as the Creeds have Andrade centered in their corner, and Brutus trips Andrade up and starts throwing hammer fists from above him. As with most PIP sequences tonight, Brutus grabs a headlock.

Back live and you can hear a producer counting them back into calling the match. Brutus tags in Julius, as Andrade desperately needs a tag. Julius grabs Andrade’s foot, but Andrade leaps into an enziguri and tags in Penta to a huge pop. Penta hits a big crossbody on Julius, and follows with a running rana. Penta charges and Julius slides out and follows him to the corner, but Penta reverses into a falling double knee to Julius’s back. That gets two as Brutus breaks it up. Penta whips Brutus to the floor and superkicks Julius, who’s still legal. Penta starts to climb as Gable jumps onto the apron, causing Andrade to enter and the referee to pay attention (of course) to Andrade. Gable tries to take Penta’s mask off, but Hingo Del Vikingo leaps over the barrier and yanks Gable down. Gable and Vikingo start throwing hands and Gable goes to whip Vikingo over the barrier, but it’s reversed and they battle into the crowd area. Julius tries a rollup on Penta and gets two, but Penta leaps up and superkicks Julius in the face. Brutus charges in and Andrade meets him with a loud back elbow, and then hits Julius with one as Penta pops off the second rope with the Mexican Destroyer on Julius. Penta hooks the leg and gets three.

I mean, the Creeds are jobbers on the main roster and their opponents are solid singles stars who both are in a huge match tomorrow, so none of this was unexpected. Everyone worked hard and I really like Julius Creed as a performer. The crowd seemed into it inasmuch as this is the main event, but there were no chants or anything. It’s 3* for me.

Winners – Penta/Andrade (Mexican Destroyer on Julius Creed)

Post match sees Andrade put Penta on his shoulders and parade him around triumphantly. Well that’s nice. In wonderful news, here’s Dummy Number Three, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman. They stalk to the ring and of course we brawl, with Reed handling Penta while Breakker and Seth work over Andrade. Breakker hits his running spear on Andrade while Reed hits his running senton on Penta. Rollins hits Curb Stomps on both luchadores. Rollins calls for a Tsunami on Penta while he tosses Andrade to the floor. Reed hits it as the backstage officials come running out to yell and point. We go to commercials.

Back live and Heyman, Rollins, Reed and Breakker are still in the ring. Heyman has the stick and says that his crew are the future, and now I wonder if that’s going to be their official stable name moving forward. Heyman says Rollins predicted and stated everything that’s happened since the buildup to Wrestlemania and beyond. Rollins is the vanguard of the future of this industry. Heyman says the people can boo all they want but tomorrow night Seth becomes Mr MITB again and then when he wins the title he shapes it into what his vision has been. Heyman says then he’ll be able to do his “Reigning, defending….” and Cody’s music hits to a huge pop.

Cody looks good in his suit as he always does, and he makes his full entrance and with 19 minutes left to the end of this show, I’m guessing we’re gonna YEET soon as well. Cody is a brave fellow because he comes the ring by himself (so far). Breakker barks at Cody as he poses in the corner. Tessitore calls Cody “QB1” again and I die a little. Rhodes and Rollins take short steps towards each other and here’s World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso’s music. Uso comes through the crowd as usual and YEETS with an adorable young lady. While this is happening, Rollins steps to Cody and whispers something to him. Rollins throws the microphone down, and he and Reed leave while the long shot shows us that Breakker is staring directly at Cody as the crowd goes nuts for Jey. We go to commercials.

Back live on Yapdown, it’s time for more yap. Cody has the stick and wants to know what Bakersfield wants to talk about. Cody says last week John Cena called him desperate, and the “let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chant starts up. He runs down some of Cena’s media appearances and says if you want to talk desperate, seeing Cena latch onto Logan Paul is like “watching Michael Hayes stand next to the Hardy Boyz” and I feel like that’s some real inside baseball shit that no one is going to understand. I AM DESPERATE FOR THIS SHOW TO BE OVER NOW MY GOD. Cody also thinks that Wrestlemania 41 was desperate because Cena threw away 20 years of good will to win his 17th title (Flair still has more but whatever, it’s their number and Flair doesn’t raise a stink because he’s old and dumb and a joke). Tomorrow night isn’t about Jey’s title (assuming there’s no cash-in on either Jey or Cena), it’s just a showdown, which Jey calls a YEETDOWN. Four letters, one word, you get it. John Cena‘s music hits.

Cena makes his full entrance and he’s wearing Lakers colors, surprisingly, for the LA shows. WHAT ARE MURPH AND SULLY GONNA SAY JOHN? Cody takes his suit jacket off while Cena listens to the crowd. Cena stares both of them down, slowly pulls off his title belt, and indicates that Mark Nash needs to give him the special Cena announcement, which Nash does. I have to admit that this announcement fits this whole thing perfectly and Nash nails it almost every time. As Cena is posing with the title, Logan Paul sneaks into the ring and nails Uso with a right hand. Cody tries for the CrossRhodes on Paul but Cena wipes him out with a title belt shot to the face. Cena hits Uso with an Attitude Adjustment, and Paul hits Cody with the Paul-verizer. Paul goes to the top rope, slips a bit, but then hits a Frog Splash on Cody, and Cena drags Jey over so Paul can do the same to him. Cena kicks Cody out of the ring while this is happening and then kicks Jey out after Paul’s splash. Cena has a mic, and tells Bakersfield to take a good look because no one is coming to save you (meaning the crowd). Cena is holding his title while Paul has Jey’s. The fans dream of what the WWE is will be ruined and that this is their future as he and Paul hold the titles aloft. Cena is going to take his title home and Paul is going to take the WHC to the top.

Cena and Paul jump down and throw Cody and Jey back in the ring. Cody gets an Attitude Adjustment and Paul wastes Jey with another right hand. Cena tells the crowd that they can’t handle the truth. Cena asks them if they want the truth (and like, is this just rubbing salt in the Killings wounds or what?) because there’s nothing the fans or anyone who fights for them can do anything about it. There’s a Ron Cena Forever sign in the crowd, for the record. The crowd chants “we want Truth” and Cena calls them losers. Cena says winners write the history books and you’re looking at the last real champion and the future champ as he and Paul hold the belts aloft again as mercifully this show comes to an end.

I hope you all enjoy Worlds Collide and MITB. This show needs to get back to two hours desperately.