IC Title Match, MITB Qualifiers

Welcome to our WrestlingINC.com live WWE “SmackDown” viewing party. Tonight’s show is broadcasting live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

As of Friday afternoon, three matches were announced for tonight’s show.

• WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ricochet vs. Gunther (c)
• Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
• Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Aliyah vs. Shotzi

Our live coverage will begin at 8 PM ET.

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Before we begin, there’s a late change announced to one of tonight’s matches.

We’re on the air! We open with a recap of last Friday’s main event, where Roman Reigns successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Riddle and was then confronted by Brock Lesnar.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are on commentary and welcome us to the show with a reminder of the SummerSlam main event: Reigns defending his title against Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match.

In the arena, Drew McIntyre makes his entrance. We get a recap of McIntyre and Sheamus fighting to a double disqualification in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. Last week, Adam Pearce decided to give a spot in the match to both men.

McIntyre says when he was drafted to “SmackDown” he was willing to start from the bottom but no matter how many wins he stacks up, Roman Reigns continues to duck him. McIntyre says it’s time to force his hand by winning Money in the Bank.

McIntyre points out all Lesnar had to do was show up last week to get a title match. McIntyre says that’s fine and that’s “The Brock Way”. McIntyre says he’ll be watching at SummerSlam and ready to cash in on whoever wins.

Sheamus interrupts, alongside Ridge Holland and Butch. Sheamus gets in the ring and tells McIntyre to cool his jets. Sheamus agrees the perfect time to cash in MITB will be immediately after the SummerSlam main event. Sheamus throws a little shade on the University of Texas since we’re in Austin tonight. Sheamus points out he’s a former MITB winner and he successfully cashed in on Reigns.

Paul Heyman strolls out to interrupt both men. Adam Pearce follows Heyman out on stage. Heyman predicts victory for Reigns at SummerSlam. However, he also admits that Reigns will be vulnerable after a Last Man Standing match against Lesnar to a MITB cash-in by Sheamus or McIntyre. Heyman says he’s here to ensure that won’t happen.

Heyman says Pearce has a special announcement. Pearce says he was a bit hasty in putting both McIntyre and Sheamus into the Money in the Bank match and after some influence by Heyman, WWE management has overruled Pearce’s decision and neither man will be in the Money in the Bank match. However, both men can qualify if they team together tonight and defeat The Usos.

The Usos make their entrance and stand on stage.

We’re told the MITB qualifying match between Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura is coming up next. But first, we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, we’re reminded McIntyre and Sheamus must beat The Usos tonight to get into the Money in the Bank. Also, The Usos’ titles are not on the line and a win will not get The Usos into the MITB match.

In the arena, Shinsuke Nakamura is already in the ring.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton introduces “honorary member of The Bloodline” Sami Zayn. Zayn says it’ll be a great night for The Bloodline. Zayn says he’ll beat Nakamura and win the Money in the Bank match. Braxton asks if he’ll cash in on Reigns. Zayn tells her to not put words in his mouth. He’s doing it to protect Reigns. Zayn’s music plays and he departs to make his entrance.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura attacks at the bell and puts Zayn in an arm bar. Zayn fights out of it but Nakamura stays on the attack with kicks to Zayn’s chest. Nakamura hits his sliding German suplex while Zayn is hung up on the ropes. Nakamura follows with a flying kick for a 2-count.

Zayn rolls out of the ring to the floor. Nakamura follows but gets cut off and slammed into the ring post. Zayn hits an exploder suplex into the barricade on Nakamura. Zayn gets back into the ring. Nakamura narrowly beats the referee’s count back into the ring.

Nakamura catches Zayna in a small package for a 2-count. Zayn pops right up and takes down Nakamura with a clothesline. Zayn whips Nakamura into the corner but runs into a boot. Nakamura hops to the second turnbuckle but Zayn pushes him off and Nakamura spills to the floor as we go to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Zayn is in control. Zayn goes to the second turnbuckle but Nakamura cuts him off. Zayn kicks Nakamura away but leaps right into a kick to the head for a 2-count.

McAfee says it’s 145 degrees in Austin, Texas.

Nakamura fires up on Zayn with a series of strikes but runs into a Michinoku Driver by Zayn for a 2-count.

Zayn climbs to the top…