SmackDown airs tonight (July 5) with a live show emanating from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the final episode of SmackDown during the three week build towards Money in the Bank, which takes place tomorrow (July 6) in the very same venue.
Last week’s episode of SmackDown closed with a hell of an angle where Solo Sikoa tried to force everyone to acknowledge him as the new Tribal Chief of The Bloodline. Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu didn’t hesitate to fall in line and show their loyalty to Solo, but Paul Heyman refused to go along with this sham.
Heyman knows the blunt truth about Sikoa, which is that he’s just cosplaying as a Tribal Chief until the real one, Roman Reigns, returns to WWE. That’s why Heyman was aghast when Solo ordered Paul to place Roman’s lei around his neck and acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief. The Bloodline destroyed Heyman after he failed to comply, and it’s not clear when we’ll see Roman’s wiseman again.
This angle was an obvious setup for the return of Reigns, and with SummerSlam fast approaching, perhaps he’ll be back in WWE sooner rather than later. Before that happens, though, this new version of The Bloodline has to fend off the babyface trio of Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Owens, Orton, and Rhodes were removed from the building early during last week’s episode due to a wild brawl they incited with The Bloodline. They will surely be looking to pick another fight with Solo and his henchmen tonight. Will Solo have enough time to grab a mic and address Heyman’s execution last week, or will the babyfaces immediately choose violence and chaos as soon as The Bloodline enters the arena? You’ll have to tune into tonight’s broadcast to see all the fallout from Solo’s bold decision to declare himself as the new Tribal Chief.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are challenging Austin Theory and Grayson Waller for the WWE Tag team Championship on tonight’s broadcast. This one has been brewing for months, with the babyfaces trying to convince Theory that Waller doesn’t give a single shit about him. Will those efforts pay off for DIY tonight if there is another miscommunication between the champs?
Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair both failed to qualify for this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match, so now they are right back in tag team action tonight when they take on the team of Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. On paper, this one looks like a slaughter.
The Street Profits vs. Pretty Deadly is also booked for tonight. Elton Prince and Kit Wilson have not wrestled on WWE television since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal three months ago, so I think they will find a way to return strong by cheating to beat Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins.
– Tonight’s show is in the same venue as tomorrow’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view, which means there could be several Raw stars in the building. Will there be any giant brawls between the men or women’s Money in the Bank ladder match competitors, where one star eventually clears the ring and sets up a ladder to indicate they have the climbing skills needed to win the MITB contract?
– When will Jimmy Uso return to WWE?
– Are Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews joining forces to fight Legado del Fantasma?
– Will Nia Jax send a violent message to WWE Women’s Champion Bayley, or does Nia plan to wait until after Money in the Bank to hurt the champ?
– Giovanni Vinci is totally screwed on this new SmackDown roster, isn’t he?
What will you be looking for on SmackDown?
