Kick-Off Show
The Money In The Bank 2018 Kick-Off Show begins with the panel of Renee Young, Booker T, David Otunga, and Peter Rosenberg, who run down the entire card.
We see Charly Caruso backstage, who says she spoke to Daniel Bryan earlier today, and he said that he hopes to put this saga with Big Cass behind him. Daniel Bryan will be on the Kick-Off Show for an interview later. Kevin Owens walks-up, shouting about something being missing, with a trash bag slung over his back. She asks him what’s in the bag and he tells her she doesn’t need to know. She asks how it felt to be powerslammed onto a ladder by Braun Strowman last week, to which Owens say it felt great, he was having some back issues but Braun fixed it. He then asks her if she’s stupid and says he figured his other opponents last week would have had more common sense and worked as a team. A guy walks up and hands Owens two huge jars of maple syrup, to which Charly asks if the bag is full of pancakes and Owens unconvincingly says no. Charly sends it back to the panel.
It’s time to discuss the WWE Championship match. They discuss Nakamura’s attitude change and the feud. Booker T says 2018 is AJ Styles’ moment and he doesn’t think anyone can beat him. Rosenberg and Otunga both think Nakamura will win the title.
The panel move on and quickly talk about Bobby Lashley Vs. Sami Zayn. They talk about what makes a man like Bobby snap, and it’s often someone dissing their family. Not to mention Zayn questioning Bobby’s military service. They all think Zayn doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell tonight.
We move on to talk about the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship match, which sees Asuka face Carmella. Rosenberg says Carmella is one of the smartest people on the roster and she will be coming in tonight with a plan. Otunga says everyone has a plan until you get kicked in the face. Booker says everyone sees this match as a mismatch, that Asuka will bulldoze Carmella, so there are no expectations on Carmella and she could pull it off. Renee says she doesn’t want Carmella’s reign to end because she’s so fun. Booker says Asuka’s cloak of invincibility is gone and this is a new Asuka.
Renee interviews Daniel Bryan. She asks how he feels about Cass saying a good big man will always beat a good little man. Bryan says that Cass would have to be good for that to matter. Rosenberg asks Bryan what his strategy is, to which D-Bry says the same as always: “tap out the world”. He has several methods of making Cass submit and he will make it happen tonight. Booker asks what advantages Bryan will have over Cass, to which Bryan says “legs, lungs, heart.” He says Cass cannot outwork him or outlast him. Bryan says big guys get handed everything in wrestling, while he had to work his ass off. After Bryan disappears, Booker T likens Bryan to Royler Gracie, who went around challenging big guys in gyms with his jiu-jitsu and whipped them all.
Seth Rollins is interviewed by Charly Caruso backstage. He has a guitar with him and he says he got it from John Mayer. He says Elias’ greatest hits wouldn’t make it on his b-sides, so tonight will be just another notch in his belt. Back with the panel, Renee says she thinks Elias will win tonight. Booker says there will be a star made tonight in the form of Elias. Otunga is the only naysayer as he sides with the Kingslayer.
Samoa Joe joins the panel and you can barely hear him for the Chicago fans. He starts talking about the Money In The Bank match but Kevin Owens interrupts him. Owens says they’re very alike and they need to work together. He says Strowman is unstoppable and they need to take him out. Joe says he can’t trust KO. Owens says he doesn’t have to trust him, he just has to have common sense. Joe says common sense means KO should walk away right now. Owens obliges and the panel wish Joe luck.
WWE SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship Match
(C) The Bludgeon Brothers Vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
The match begins with Harper getting knocked from the ring and he lands awkwardly. The good brothers follow them out but get beat down by Harper and Rowan. Gallows is thrown up the ramp, while Anderson is slammed headfirst onto the ring apron. Gallows eats a double-team dropkick and we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back and the action has returned to the ring. Harper is beating on Karl Anderson, hitting him with a catapult into the bottom ropes. Rowan tags in and beats Anderson around the ring for a minute before tagging Harper back in. Harper chops Anderson’s chest and hits a snapmare before tagging Rowan, who hits a slash for a two-count. Gallows is still down on the outside.
Anderson fights out of a headlock, only to be dropped with a back elbow. Rowan splashes Karl in the corner and roars to the crowd. He picks Anderson up and whips him to the corner where Karl elbows Harper from the apron. Rowan runs at Anderson, who dodges him and Erick hits the ring post. Harper tags in and gets caught with a spinebuster and finally Gallows is tagged.
Gallows runs the gambit of the hot tag, hitting multiple big boots and a slam on Harper. Both Anderson and Gallows clothesline Rowan from the ring and Anderson dives over the ropes onto him. Harper drops Gallows with a big boot for a near-fall. Harper looks for a suplex but Gallows reverses it and Anderson joins in for The Magic Killer but it’s thwarted by Rowan. The Bludgeon Brothers hit the double-team powerbomb for the win.
Winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
We’re back with the panel and they start to discuss the Raw Women’s Championship Match. They say that Ronda Rousey exceeded expectations at WrestleMania but that’s a very different situation to tonight. Renee says Ronda is clearly very adaptable but Nia Jax is experienced and knows more rules. Booker says we know CM Punk tried to run to UFC but he got the brakes beaten off of him, so these transitions are not easy. Otunga sides with Ronda, Rosenberg says Nia and so does Booker T.
That’s it for the Money In The Bank Kick-Off Show.
