WWE SmackDown Results: May 26, 2016

Detailed Results

SmackDown kicks off with Michael Cole, who stands in the ring with the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase sitting on a table before Michael Cole introduces one of the seven Superstars who will compete in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match at WWE Money-in-the-Bank next month. Cole first congratulates Dean Ambrose on beating Chris Jericho in the first ever Asylum Match at Extreme Rules and Ambrose says that, when things get “dangerous”, he’s just getting started. Cole then says that fourteen of the sixteen Money-in-the-Bank winners have went on to win a World Title before asking Ambrose what he is willing to do to win the Money-in-the-Bank contract. Before “The Lunatic Fringe” can answer, he is interrupted by another Superstar who qualified for the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match on RAW, Kevin Owens. Owens first addresses Michael Cole, saying that it’s bad enough that he has to deal with Cole on RAW before saying that Cole better get out of the ring before he gets in it.

Cole is then quick to exit the ring as Owens enter the ring with Owens telling Ambrose that what’s going to happen in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match is what was supposed to happen in the Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, saying he’s going to climb the ladder, retrieve the prize, and become “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” just like he should have been Intercontinental Champion after WrestleMania. This brings out Owens’ rival and fellow Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match competitor Sami Zayn, who says that “nobody cares” what Owens has to say with Ambrose agreeing. Owens then calls Sami a “joke” and Zayn says that he’s let Kevin Owens get into his head too many times and cost him too many opportunities. Zayn then says that, now, his focus is not on Kevin Owens, it’s on the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase, saying that neither Owens or Ambrose is going to stop him from winning it.

The discussion among the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match participants is then interrupted by a former Money-in-the-Bank winner, Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio says that he cashed in Money-in-the-Bank before and became champion and, this year, he’s going to do it again. Sami Zayn then points out that Del Rio is not even in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, saying that Del Rio has to win his qualifying match first. With Sami’s attention on Del Rio, Kevin Owens would decide to cheap shot Zayn before Ambrose gets involved, brawling with Owens. Sami then tries to catch Owens with the Helluva Kick, but Owens moves and Zayn has to stop himself from taking Ambrose out with the kick as Owens escapes the ring. With Zayn’s focus on Owens, Ambrose would try to surprise Sami with Dirty Deeds, but Zayn would fight out, leading to a stand-off between Sami and Ambrose in the ring.

With two spots remaining in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, one of those spots would be filled in the opening match of the night as Alberto Del Rio would go one-on-one with Zack Ryder in a Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Match. During the match, Zack Ryder would avoid the double stomp from Alberto Del Rio and would score with the Rough Ryder, but Del Rio was able to roll out of the ring. Then, after Ryder retrieves Del Rio and puts him back into the ring, Del Rio would trap Ryder in the cross armbreaker, making Ryder tap out to pick up the win and join Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Chris Jericho, & Kevin Owens in the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match.

Enzo & Big Cass would make an appearance on SmackDown, but after Enzo does his trademark introduction, Enzo & Big Cass are interrupted by The Dudley Boyz. Big Cass says that it seems like The Dudley Boyz have a problem with them, but they are “problem solvers” and they will give The Dudley Boyz a “beat down” right now. D-Von Dudley then accepts the challenge as The Dudley Boyz make their way down to ringside before Bubba Ray says that they will face them in a match, but it will be this Monday night on RAW, which prompts Big Cass to call The Dudley Boyz “sawft”.

SmackDown would then be home to a championship rematch as new United States Champion Rusev, with Lana in his corner, would defend the United States Championship against former champion Kalisto. The story of the match would quickly become the injured back of Kalisto and, while the high flyer would try his best to overcome both his opponent and the pain in his back, it was Rusev dropping Kalisto with a big kick to the back of Kalisto’s head. Rusev then locks in the Accolade, nearly breaking Kalisto in half yet again, making Kalisto tap out to successfully retain the United States Title. After the match, Rusev would look to do further damage to Kalisto, but that is when Titus O’Neil would make the save as Titus marches down to the ring to confront the United States Champion. Titus then challenges Rusev to face him right now for the United States Title, but Rusev opts to back off and save the fight for another night, exiting the ring as Titus tends to Kalisto.

After humiliating her own father, Ric Flair, on RAW, Women’s Champion Charlotte was a guest on commentary as Charlotte’s new ally Dana Brooke would go one-on-one with Natalya on SmackDown. However, the match would not last long as, once Natalya locks Dana Brooke in the Sharpshooter, Charlotte would rush the ring, attacking Natalya from behind, ending the match by disqualification. The Women’s Champion then looks to beat Natalya down, but Natalya fights back before Dana Brooke gets involved. The numbers game would be too much for Natalya as Natalya was at the mercy of Charlotte & Dana Brooke with Charlotte suplexing Natalya as Natalya rolls out of the ring, leaving Charlotte & Dana Brooke standing tall in the ring.

After a disappointing night at Extreme Rules where he came within an eyelash of becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion and a disappointing night on RAW where he failed to qualify for the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles would be interviewed backstage about what’s next for him. Styles admits that he “failed” at Extreme Rules and on RAW, saying that he has to “live with that” before admitting that he’s not sure what’s next for him, saying he will have to think of something.

In their ongoing rivalry, The Golden Truth would face Breezango in tag team action on SmackDown. In the end, it was Tyler Breeze blasting R-Truth with a super kick behind the back of the referee with Fandango pinning Truth to pick up the win for Breezango, marking up the second loss for The Golden Truth since they officially formed their tag team.

Following his surprise return at Extreme Rules where he left WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns laying with the Pedigree and after finding out that he will challenge Reigns for the title at WWE Money-in-the-Bank, Seth Rollins would make his return to SmackDown. Rollins says that, much to his surprise, the crowd at RAW was happy to see him before asking the SmackDown crowd if they are happy to see him back. The fans would have a mixed reaction before Rollins says that he wishes that he could say the same about them before Rollins leaves the ring!

Then it was time for the main event as, after pinning Intercontinental Champion The Miz on RAW in a Money-in-the-Bank Qualifying Match, Cesaro would be entitled to a title shot and he would get it on SmackDown as “The Swiss Superman” would challenge The Miz, with Maryse in his corner, for the Intercontinental Championship. After narrowly surviving the Sharpshooter and the Cesaro Swing, The Miz would exit the ring, grabbing his Intercontinental Title belt with the intent of walking out on the match.

However, Cesaro would refuse to let that happen as “The Swiss Superman” catches the champion with a European uppercut on the outside before rolling The Miz back into the ring. Cesaro then hits a flying cross body on The Miz, but The Miz manages to kick out. This is when the referee would notice the Intercontinental Title belt laying in the ring and, as the referee removes the belt from the ring, The Miz removes the turnbuckle pad in the corner, sending Cesaro’s previously injured shoulder into the exposed steel. The Miz then plants Cesaro with the Skull Crushing Finale, pinning Cesaro to successfully retain the Intercontinental Championship.

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