WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens walks out to the ring and grabs a mic. He says the only reason he is standing here without the Money in the Bank briefcase is because he was attacked and ganged up on during the match. “They knew I was the most dangerous man in that match. And they tried to end my career.” Owens says he truly wants to make Smackdown Live the land of opportunity and give a local wrestler from Dayton a shot.
AJ Styles walks out and interrupts instead. He suggests the only thing better than Owens being United States Champion is beating him for the title. Styles gets in the ring and Owens wonders if AJ was even listening. Owens said this open challenge is only intended for a local wrestler from Dayton. American Alpha, specifically Chad Gable, heads to the ring.
Gable grabs a mic and Owens says he isn’t from Dayton. Gable reveals he just moved to Dayton this morning. Styles agrees and hypes the match next.
WWE United States Championship
Open Challenge Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chad Gable
The bell rings and Gable starts giving Owens repeated german suplexes. Gable goes for the ankle lock and gets it locked in. Owens quickly rolls out of the ring. AJ Styles is going to join the commentary team for the championship match.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Owens pulls Gable off the top turnbuckle. Gable with a roll up for a two count. Gable counters off Owens’ shoulders and drops him with a DDT. Gable goes up top and connects with a top rope moonsault! Owens kicks out after a close two count. Owens sends Gable shoulder first into the steel ring post. Owens misses a corner cannonball. Gable with a roll through german suplex into a bridge for another close two count! Owens tosses Gable into the ropes, kicks the ropes and then connects with a Pop Up Powerbomb for the win.
Winner and still WWE U.S. Champion: Kevin Owens
After the match, AJ Styles throws off his headset and points at Kevin Owens who is already celebrating on the ramp with the WWE United States Championship.
Backstage, Zack Ryder is watching footage of his knee injury with Daniel Bryan and how the Hype Bros did rightfully earn a shot at the Smackdown Tag Team Championships. Bryan books them in a match against The Usos next week to earn a title shot.
-Commercial-
A loud “DANIEL BRYAN” chant breaks out in Dayton. Big reaction for Bryan tonight. Bryan says it is great to be back and he wishes it was under different circumstances. He’s been told to takes his emotions out of the decision regarding the first ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Bryan welcomes all the women involved in the match to the ring.
Charlotte, Tamina, Natalya, Becky Lynch and Carmella (with James Ellsworth) skip to the ring. Bryan says his decision involves all of them. He says Carmella made good points tonight with it being a ladder match with No DQ rules. Bryan says the rules state the first woman to hold the briefcase is the winner. That said, no one has unhooked the briefcase and handed it to someone else. “It appears we are in uncharted territory,” said Bryan.
Ellsworth grabs the mic and accuses Bryan of being soft now that he is a new daddy. Bryan tells Ellsworth to shut up and says if he brings up his baby girl he will punch him in the face and fire him. Carmella says Bryan can’t talk to them like that. Becky Lynch, Natalya, Charlotte and Tamina all interject with strong words. Bryan says they all competed in a historic match and Carmella gets to make some history: she will have to be the first ever to hand over the Money in the Bank briefcase. He isn’t going to let Carmella and Ellsworth ruin history. Bryan is going to take the briefcase and next week, we are going to have a women’s “Money in the Bank” ladder match that includes Carmella, Becky Lynch, Tamina, Charlotte and Natalya. Bryan takes away the briefcase and heads to the back. A brawl breaks out and Charlotte hits the Natural Selection on Carmella. Becky with an armbar on Carmella. Carmella taps out and starts screaming out in pain to end the segment.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal heads to the ring.
Non-Title Match
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal vs. Luke Harper
Mahal with big right elbows early to Harper. Harper with a clothesline coming out of the corner and throws a big right of his own. Harper catches Mahal with a big dropkick. Mahal quickly rolls out of the ring and isn’t happy as we head to a break.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Harper dives out and hits one of The Singh Brothers at ringside. Mahal then levels Harper on the floor and tosses him back inside the ring. Mahal throws knees to the back of Harper. Mahal with a snapmare, more knees to the back of Harper and keeps him grounded. Harper with a butterfly suplex on Mahal. Harper with a splash in the corner to Mahal. Harper with elbows from the ring apron that catch Mahal. Harper launches himself over the top rope splashing over Mahal and connects with a big boot. Mahal kicks out after two. Mahal with an elbow, but Harper catches Mahal with a swinging side slam for another two count. Mahal cuts off Harper who is going up to the top turnbuckle. Mahal with a superplex on Harper.
Here comes Baron Corbin holding the the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Corbin is smiling and circling the ring staring down Mahal. Corbin walks up the ramp to the back. Harper with a roll up on Mahal for a close two count. Harper drops Mahal with a superkick. Harper backs up in the corner and misses a shot on one of The Singh Brothers on the ring apron. Mahal then grabs Harper and connects with his Cobra Clutch slam for the win.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
After the match, Jinder Mahal celebrates and stares down Baron Corbin from the ring.
Randy Orton’s music hits and he walks down the ramp. Orton takes out The Singh Brothers on the way down. Orton catches Mahal with a Lou Thesz Press in the ring and then clotheslines Mahal on the outside. Orton tosses Mahal off the announce table and then back suplexes Mahal into the timekeepers area! Orton lifts up Mahal and gives him a DDT off the barricade. Orton tosses Mahal back inside the ring. The Singh Brothers quickly attack Orton. Orton with an RKO on both. Mahal bails and looks on upset clutching the WWE Championship in the crowd. Orton jumps up on the corner and starts pointing at Mahal.
