Shane McMahon scheduled to make a huge Money in The Bank announcement on Smackdown LIVE

WWE News: Shane McMahon scheduled to make a huge Money in The Bank announcement on Smackdown LIVE

The Smackdown LIVE Commissioner may have some interesting news for the WWE Universe this Tuesday.

Money in the Bank will be a Smackdown exclusive pay per view this year

What’s the story?

Smackdown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon is scheduled to appear on Smackdown LIVE tonight. The show will emanate from the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH. According to wwe.com, Shane is reported to make a huge announcement about the next Smackdown LIVE pay per view, Money in the Bank.

In case you didn’t know...

With WWE Backlash now in the history books, SmackDown LIVE will have a chip on its shoulder to prove that it is indeed on par, or even better than Monday Night RAW. Backlash was marred by a shocking booking decision that left the WWE Universe in splits.

The decision to crown Jinder Mahal the WWE Champion has not gone well with some sections of the WWE Universe and tonight’s episode of Smackdown LIVE could provide clarity on the direction that WWE is planning to take the product.

The heart of the matter

It was reported on WWE.com that Shane will make a major announcement regarding Money in The Bank on Smackdown tonight.

WWE.com has learned that SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon will be making a major announcement regarding Money in the Bank tonight. Will this news change the course of Team Blue?

The pay per view will feature some of the biggest stars of the blue brand such as AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger among others.  There are also rumours running wild that Rusev will return to SmackDown to demand his shot at the WWE Championship.

Certain Superstars such as Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger have expressed interest in joining the Money in the Bank match. The Money in the Bank contract guarantees the winner a shot at the champion at a time of his choosing and is a sure-fire way of winning the coveted championship.  

What’s next?

Money in the Bank is scheduled for Sunday, June 18, 2017, from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This will be the first time that Money in The Bank will be a Smackdown-exclusive affair.

Author's take

Smackdown has truly lived up to its moniker of ‘Land of Opportunity’. With Jinder Mahal beating Randy Orton for the WWE Championship, WWE has once again proved that they can come up with the biggest of swerves to keep its audience guessing.

Shane’s announcement is sure to garner some views for the blue brand. It could perhaps be to inform the WWE Universe of the participants in the Money in the Bank ladder match or Jinder’s opponent for the event.

From the WWE Rumor Mill: Top stars returning to television this week

Former Tag Team Champions' return set to bolster the ranks of the blue brand.

This will be The New Day’s first appearance since the superstar shakeup

What’s the story?

The longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions, The New Day, are set to return to WWE television on this week’s episode of SmackDown LIVE. This story was first reported by PWInsider.com.

In case you didn’t know...

The New Day were written off television after they were decimated by the Revival on Monday Night Raw. This angle was meant to allow Kofi Kingston to undergo a surgery. The former Intercontinental Champion has now been cleared to return to the ring. 

The heart of the matter

This will be the New Day’s first appearance on WWE TV after being drafted to the blue brand, during the Superstar shake up on the week after Wrestlemania. The return is meant to coincide with the release of a WWE Network exclusive that chronicles the trio’s hosting duties at WrestleMania 33.

During their time away from the ring, Kofi Kingston and Big E travelled to India to help promote the company; Woods was occupied by his YouTube channel, UpUpDownDown.

What’s next?

The New Day will look to quickly get into their groove on Tuesday nights and chase the SmackDown LIVE Tag Team Championships. The current holders, The Usos, were at odds with the New Day during the latter’s record title reign, and the two teams may soon renew their rivalry, this time in the confines of the blue brand.

Author's take

New Day’s return will undoubtedly serve to strengthen the tag team division of SmackDown LIVE. The tag division has often been dubbed as the weakest link in the SmackDown roster and the experienced trio of Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods will provide it with some much-needed impetus.5

From the WWE Rumor Mill: Rusev to win the Money in the Bank briefcase

Some members of WWE creative want Rusev to win the Money in the Bank match.

Rusev has been out of action since Fastlane
 

                  What's the story?

According to Sportskeeda’s sources, there's a contingent backstage that wants to make Rusev this year's Money in the Bank winner.

     In case you didn't know...

On the April 11th edition of SmackDown LIVE, as a part of the Superstar Shakeup, Rusev — who was out of action at the time — was announced as a part of the SmackDown roster. 

Rusev released a video via satellite on the April 25th edition of SmackDown LIVE wherein he threatened to leave America and go back to his home country of Bulgaria if Shane McMahon didn't give him with a WWE World Championship match at Money in the Bank PPV in June. 

On May 9th, The Bulgarian Brute released another video via Twitter wherein he first talked about his previous video in which he demanded a title match at MITB. Rusev then said that as Shane McMahon didn't respond to his request he was going to appear on SmackDown and confront him for the same. However, Rusev didn't appear on SmackDown.

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The heart of the matter

Our sources have informed us that WWE were ready to start a programme between Rusev and Randy Orton from tonight's Backlash PPV, even asking Rusev to fly out to Chicago.

But, it seems that Jinder Mahal's win tonight may have brought the plans back to where they were for the former US Champion, which is to win the MITB match. 

What's next?

This past week it was rumoured that one of the matches for SummerSlam was going to be between Shane McMahon and Rusev. The next episode of Smackdown LIVE will be on May 23rd from Toledo, Ohio.

Author's Take

It would be great to see Rusev work a main event feud with Mahal if he wins the Money in the Bank briefcase. Fans have been dying to see Rusev work a main event feud for the World title due to his charisma and in-ring talent.

From the WWE Rumor Mill: Real reason why Jinder Mahal won the WWE Championship

What in the world happened at Backlash and why?

Jinder Mahal is the champion and here is why?

What’s the story?

Jinder Mahal just defeated Randy Orton at Backlash to become the WWE Champion, but according to our sources, the Maharaja was not originally scheduled to win the title. Things changed in a last-minute decision as Jinder walked away with the title in hand. The big question is, what was the real reason behind his victory?

In case you didn’t know...

Jinder Mahal became the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship after winning a Six-pack challenge match. Mahal won thanks to the help of the Singh Brothers and some might say it was due to their sacrifice that he is now WWE Champion.

The heart of the matter

Jinder Mahal just pulled the coup of the century in the WWE, after he beat the 13-time WWE Champion Randy Orton for the title. However, our sources originally indicated that this was not supposed to be the case and that Orton was meant to have a lengthy reign before losing the title at Money In the Bank to the ‘Bulgarian Brute’ Rusev.

Things underwent a drastic change on Tuesday when Rusev’s planned return was shelved with no explanation on TV as to why. It is believed the reason for that centred around SmackDown’s lead writer, Ryan Ward, who still wanted Rusev to win Money In the Bank but simultaneously wished to extend the Mahal-Orton feud.

Therefore, the WWE did not put Rusev on TV to set up a match with Orton, until they had decided where they were going.

On Friday, the WWE found a way to not only extend the feud but to also put the belt on Mahal’s shoulder.

However, things took another twist on Sunday morning, when the promotion decided to keep the championship with the Viper and proceed with the Orton-Rusev feud. They even asked Rusev to fly out to Chicago. Things took another twist yet again two hours before the match and the WWE decided that Jinder would be WWE Champion after all.

So in reality, the reason for Mahal becoming the champion was indecisiveness on the WWE’s behalf.

What’s next?

If the WWE do decide to extend the feud between Mahal and Orton, we could see the two clash over the next couple of weeks and if they do decide to introduce Rusev into the fray, maybe we could see a Triple-threat match for the title at Money In the Bank between the ‘Maharaja’, the ‘Viper’ and the ‘Bulgarian Brute’.

Author’s take

Personally, I couldn’t be happier with the fact that Jinder Mahal is the new WWE Champion because if I am being honest Orton’s title run was turning stale and boring. If things go well, then Rusev will be introduced into the feud and we could see a three-way race for the title at Money In the Bank.

WWE Backlash 2017: Result Predictions. The Usos (C) vs. Breezango Smackdown Tag Team Championship match

WWE Backlash 2017: Result Predictions

WWE could be setting up a couple of shock results for Backlash, this Sunday.

Smackdown Tag Team Championship match: The Usos (C) vs. Breezango 

The Usos won the Tag Team title after defeating American Alpha earlier this year

Tyler Breeze and Fandango have been one of the most entertaining aspects of Smackdown Live in recent weeks, but who would have thought we would be saying that a few months ago? But I can’t see them winning the tag team title this Sunday.

It seems like this is somewhat of a transitional feud for The Usos and, although Breezango have certainly made the most of it, I think Jimmy and Jey will retain and go on to feud with The New Day when they make their imminent return.

Hopefully, Breezango can continue to build on their momentum after Backlash, but I don’t think it is their time to win the tag team championships just yet.

Predicted winners: The Usos

The Real Reason Why Rusev Wasn't On SmackDown LIVE

 Exclusive: The Real Reason Why Rusev Wasn't On SmackDown LIVE

Rusev did not appear as planned on SmackDown LIVE this week. We reveal why.

Rusev could be destined for big things on SmackDown LIVE

What's the story?

As revealed on The Dirty Sheets Podcast via our "DS Breaking News" show, Rusev did not appear on SmackDown LIVE this Tuesday as initially advertised because the WWE are undecided about how to use him. You can listen to the podcast by just clicking on the following Soundcloud link.

In case you didn't know... 

Rusev was advertised to appear on the May 16, 2017, episode of SmackDown LIVE to confront Shane McMahon about receiving a WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank. However, the Bulgarian Brute, who was drafted to SmackDown LIVE from Raw in the Superstar Shake-up, failed to appear on television. 

The heart of the matter 

As things stand, the WWE aren't sure about what Rusev will be doing at Money in the Bank. Initially, SmackDown head writer Ryan Ward had proposed an idea for Rusev to win the Money in the Bank contract, which was agreed upon. However, there was a change of plans that resulted in the former United States Champion being pencilled in to challenge for the WWE Championship at the show instead. 

As things stand, Rusev is still set to challenge for the WWE Championship despite the fact that he remains Ward's first choice to win the prestigious briefcase as he outlined in a booking meeting earlier this week. In Ward’s proposed scenario, Shane McMahon would refuse Rusev’s demand for a title shot and place the Bulgarian in the Money in the Bank ladder match instead. 

Therefore, the WWE has decided to postpone the confrontation between Rusev and Shane till they can settle on a creative direction. 

Also read: WWE officials very unhappy with Rusev over haircut

What's next?

Randy Orton will defend his WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal this Sunday. The Viper is pencilled in to retain his title and then face and defeat Rusev at Money in the Bank - that is unless the WWE opt to re-visit their plans to have Rusev capture the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Author's take

The Rusev gimmick does need freshening up and having the Money in the Bank would certainly do that. However, the WWE should make sure that they don’t flip-flop their main title too much. 

Nakamura, AJ Styles and Baron Corbin are all destined to hold the belt at some point in the near future; therefore, it is likely that Rusev will count the lights at Money in the Bank.