WWE Raw, SmackDown takeaways: Momentum in the bank

The go-home episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live ahead of Money in the Bank managed to advance storylines and exceed expectations.

Go-home shows ahead of WWE pay-per-views are typically all about that last build of tension for the event’s key matchups and to “build momentum” for Superstars heading into said matches. Such was the case on this week’s episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live ahead of Sunday’s Money in the Bank.

Raw and SmackDown were both pre-taped shows emanating from London’s O2 Arena. As such, the spoilers for both shows were readily available, but many provided little context for the two nights’ events, and it turns out that they were not as dull as many of WWE’s pre-taped overseas shows can be. Things even bordered on watchable, a major feat particularly when it comes to Raw of late.

Still, the concept of wrestler momentum ruled the week.

Many in the bank

Most of the matches on both Raw and SmackDown this week were shufflings of matches that are set to take place on Sunday. The four women of Raw set to be in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match (sans Alexa Bliss, who was replaced by Nikki Cross on Monday and could be replaced by her again on Sunday) met in a fatal four-way (Cross won), while the four SmackDown men in their MITB Ladder Match also had a four-way of their own on Tuesday (Andrade won).

Meanwhile, Shane McMahon and Elias furthered their respective rivalries with The Miz and Roman Reigns on both shows, with McMahon and Elias attacking Reigns on MizTV on Raw (with the help of Bobby Lashley) and the four reprising that battle on SmackDown, this time with Daniel Bryan and Rowan assisting on the heel side and The Usos, on The Miz/Reigns side.

This set up Bryan and Rowan being set to defend their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Usos at Money in the Bank — never mind, of course, that The Usos were Shaken-Up to Raw just weeks ago. The Wild Card Rule remains “wild,” folks. It also establishes that McMahon will remain a thorn in Reigns’ side beyond his issues with The Miz, issues that could get wrapped up in their steel cage match on Sunday.

A new wrinkle in the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match could also portend another feud-in-the-making. As punishment for throwing Sami Zayn in a dumpster a week ago, McMahon decreed that Braun Strowman would face Zayn in a falls count anywhere match on Raw, and if Zayn won he would take Strowman’s spot in the Ladder Match. With Strowman not only running afoul of Zayn but also the rest of the Raw heels in the match, Zayn found himself some easy help in Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre and their assistance resulted in Zayn winning and getting Strowman’s spot.

Not only that, but Zayn also showed up on SmackDown to assist longtime frenemy Kevin Owens in his quest to dethrone WWE Champion Kofi Kingston (and beat down Xavier Woods in the process). Could Zayn bring down the briefcase on Sunday and turn his attentions to Kingston, should Kingston best Owens? Or will Owens beat Kingston, leading Zayn to again turn on his longtime pal/rival? Or would a Zayn MITB win make him set his sights on Universal Champion Seth Rollins instead?

The lead-up to Money in the Bank and its titular matches allows for myriad possibilities for the future WWE title pictures. Raw and SmackDown both did a good job with these efforts this week, particularly where the men’s match is concerned. And that doesn’t even get into all the Ricochet-related stuff (losing clean to Baron Corbin on Raw but still knocking him down in his post-match ladder situation then knocking Andrade off of the ladder following Andrade’s SmackDown win).

Everyone seemingly has a purpose, even Strowman, who will be a factor in the match even if he’s no longer a participant.

Yes, the stories made sense this week, even if the openings to both shows were nearly identical and went way too heavy on the Shane McMahon content. Congratulations to us all.

Secret Time

Even with the improvements in continuity and storytelling, there’s still nothing better on Raw or SmackDown Live than Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House. And this week, things took a dark turn as Wyatt introduced us to a new segment called, “Secret Time.”

Wyatt revealed what he’s been working on — a little project that will “harness and control” the darkness that remains “in this ol’ noggin,” of course referring back to his atrocities committed by his previous persona.

That takes the form of a third persona, a very scary clown character, as of yet without a name of its own. The reveal was horrifying in its own right, especially when set to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

This will eventually be heading into the ring, and it appears that, like Finn Balor, there may be two Wyatts who will show up to take on his opponents depending on the situation. Also, it’s worth checking out the story behind the making of the mask, which artist Kyle A. Scarborough detailed on Facebook.

Also: Welcome back, Rambling Rabbit! Wyatt was right: What is dead may never die (and also that stuffing and felt can be sewed back together).

Odds and ends

• Becky Lynch had a double contract signing on Raw for her double defense of both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships at Money in the Bank, and got double the beatdown from Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans, which, DUH.
• Mojo Rawley got back in the ring on Raw, quickly making work of (SmackDown Wild Card) Apollo Crews for … reasons?
• Samoa Joe is going to become Dominick’s legal guardian on Sunday, isn’t he?

• The Revival did a good job of defending themselves against The Usos’ attempts at humiliation and vows that the “embarrassment stops right now.” It was at least on pause this week as The Usos busied themselves with the SmackDown tag team picture and helping out another Uce.
• Kairi Sane and Asuka are now (sigh) … The Kabuki Warriors.

Great news, everybody!

Baron Corbin has quit his day job as apprentice sommelier! He’s a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of guy again. This suits him so much better, makes a lot of sense as he’s long been out of any “authority” role and allows for us to hate him as the pure (and nearly-perfect) heel that he is. It’s practically a glow-up.

And that’s the Raw stuff and the SmackDown stuff for this week. Both shows helped advance the stories and matches that matter most at Money in the Bank, allowed for new ones to happen based on Sunday’s events and also managed to not cause palpable, abject misery through all who sat through them. Is this what the WWE means by “momentum?”