Written by
John Canton• Published 22nd June 2024
This week’s WWE SmackDown saw three big Money in the Bank triple threat matches, CM Punk had an eventful night and a Cody Rhodes match in the main event.
It was SmackDown at the Allstate Arena in Chicago with Corey Graves & Wade Barrett on commentary.
CM Punk started the show in his hometown of Chicago with the fans chanting his name a lot. Punk bragged about costing Drew McIntyre the World Heavyweight Title at Clash at the Castle. Punk also mocked Drew for not being able to handle the pressure. Punk said that Drew has taken his ball and he has gone home. That’s when Paul Heyman interrupted. Heyman said despite being the Wise Man of the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, he told the world that he was Punk’s best friend. Heyman said he meant it then and he means it now. The fans chanted: “We Want Roman.” Punk said that there’s one man who can hijack his promo leading to Roman Reigns chants and it’s Heyman. Paul went into the ring to give Punk a big hug.
As Heyman spoke to Punk, he would go on to warn Punk’s friend that Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline didn’t like that Chicago is Punk’s city. Heyman warned Punk to get out of there. Heyman mentioned the extra security that are for the Wyatts, not for the rogue Samoans and Tongans. Punk said that you’re serious because Solo and the Tongans are going to jump him in Chicago? The fans were chanting “f**k you Solo” and here comes Solo Sikoa with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
Solo Sikoa told Punk to pay respect to him and The Bloodline or they will make sure that Punk’s ass never gets cleared to wrestle again. There were more “CM Punk” chants. Punk asked Heyman what you wanted to ask Punk to do. Heyman: “Take me with you.” The fans chanted “yes” for that. Punk: “Solo, I acknowledge the fact that I don’t see The Bloodline standing in front of me.” Punk said that he sees a couple of fake-ass Usos and a phony, cosplay Tribal Chief. The Bloodline got on the apron and then they went into the ring. Cody Rhodes, the WWE Champion, showed up behind Punk and Cody had a bat in his hand while handing a bat to Punk as well. Cody said that Solo fashioned himself as the Head of the Table. Cody said he’s already beaten one Head of the Table, so why don’t leave your family backstage while Randy & Kevin won’t accompany him and why don’t they settle this tonight? Solo agreed to it. Punk and Cody hugged in the ring.
Cody Rhodes was shown walking backstage. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens were there to talk to Cody. Orton asked Cody if he was sure he wanted to do this. Cody said he’s got this. Owens said that they always have a plan. Cody told Owens he had a plan too and wished Kevin good luck.
Match #1: Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Chelsea Green defeated Bianca Belair and Michin by pinfall. Belair hit Michin with KOD, Green threw Belair out of the ring and Green covered Michin for the upset win.
That win means that Chelsea Green joins IYO SKY in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. There will be six women in the match.
Solo Sikoa sent Paul Heyman to talk to the Tongans. Sol said that when Paul came back, Solo wanted to talk to Heyman, who looked nervous.
Grayson Waller, who is one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, was interviewed by Kayla Braxton backstage. Waller said he would qualify for Money in the Bank for Austin Theory, who wasn’t there this week. #DIY’s Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa walked up to Waller saying that Waller didn’t care about Theory. There was somebody that got smashed into the garage door behind them.
The garage door opened up to reveal that CM Punk was a bloody mess on the ground with Drew McIntyre standing over him! McIntyre had blood on both of his hands. McIntyre carried Punk on his shoulders from the backstage area and he put Punk down by the entrance area. Drew took a bracelet off Punk’s wrist and Drew put it in his pocket. Smackdown GM Nick Aldis walked out from the back and shoved McIntyre, so McIntyre shoved him back. There were other officials there to check on Punk as well as a medical team that was there to put Punk on a stretcher.
Drew McIntyre just knocked out @CMPunk!
In his own hometown too… 👀#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/vIbr8Xme5e
— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024
After a break, there was a live shot of CM Punk getting loaded onto a stretcher and the ambulance drove away.
Match #2: Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Carmelo Hayes defeated Randy Orton and Tama Tonga by pinfall. Tonga Loa showed up, Orton punched him off the apron and tossed Tama out of the ring. Hayes capitalized with a surprise rollup on Orton for the pinfall win.
There was a video package showing highlights from Raw when the Wyatt Sicks made their official debut.
LA Knight called out the US Champion Logan Paul. There was no sign of Paul so Santos Escobar interrupted since he’s against both men next week on Smackdown. Knight said he was looking past Escobar, so Escobar attacked, Knight countered and hit him with a BFT. Knight did a promo into the camera, so Logan Paul attacked Knight from behind. Paul sent Knight into the ring post. Paul punched Knight in the jaw to knock him out. It’s Knight vs. Paul vs. Escobar next week.
Kayla Braxton was standing by the garage door where Drew McIntyre and CM Punk were earlier. Braxton said she tried to talk to Drew, but Drew said nothing other than he’ll see us on Monday. Braxton said that CM Punk will be staying at the hospital tonight to be evaluated.
Match #3: Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Andrade defeated Grayson Waller and Kevin Owens by pinfall. Owens was attacked by Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa during his entrance. Randy Orton arrived with a chair to get Tama & Loa out of there. Owens was nursing a leg injury throughout the match. After Owens hit a Stunner on Andrade, Waller broke up the pin at two. Waller hit a DDT on Owens on the floor. Waller jumped into the ring going for a move, but Andrade caught him leading to The Message neckbreaker for the pinfall win.
The win by Andrade means he is in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match along with Jey Uso and Carmelo Hayes.
Kayla Braxton was standing by the garage door where Drew McIntyre and CM Punk were earlier. Braxton said she tried to talk to Drew, but Drew said nothing other than he’ll see us on Monday. Braxton said that CM Punk would be staying at the hospital overnight to be evaluated.
Solo Sikoa was backstage behind the curtain. Paul Heyman said that Roman Reigns told him that CM Punk was off limits because Punk was personal to Heyman. Paul said that Cody Rhodes was supposed to be in check so that when Roman Reigns comes back and…Solo interrupted Heyman. Solo said because he loves Heyman, he told Heyman that Roman is not coming back. Solo said he was sorry. Heyman was stunned by that. Heyman: “How can that be?”
Match #4:Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa (w/Paul Heyman) by disqualification. Cody was predictably attacked by Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa about two minutes into the match, which led to the DQ finish.
After the match, Toma Tonga and Tonga Loa beat up Cody with punches and kicks. Solo wanted to give Cody the Samoan Spike, but here Randy Orton and Kevin Owens made the save. Owens gave Loa a Stunner while Orton gave Tama an RKO. The trio of Owens, Cody and Orton stared down Solo against the turnbuckle. Solo acted like he was pleading with them, but then Solo smiled. Jacob Fatu showed up in the ring with superkicks. Graves mentioned Jacob Fatu by name. Jacob gave Owens a clothesline. Jacob gave Owens a Samoan Drop on the steel steps. Graves said that Tama and Loa were dangerous, but Jacob needed to be locked up. Jacob ran around the ring and gave Orton a spear through the barricade. The barricade didn’t break easily, but it did break eventually.
Jacob Fatu went into the ring, Cody punched him a few times and Cody clotheslined Jacob out of the ring. Jacob slammed Cody on the apron. Jacob headbutted Cody by the commentary table. Jacob went up top and jumped off with a Superfly Splash that put Cody through the commentary table. The fans chanted “holy s**t” for Jacob putting Cody through the table. Jacob went into the ring and Solo hugged him. Graves: “God help us all, there’s a werewolf on the loose.” Solo, Jacob, Tama & Loa all held their hands in the air like The Bloodline tends to do. Paul Heyman was on the floor with a shocked look on his face. That was the end of the show.
.@CodyRhodes is fighting for his life!
We're speechless… 😧#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/syYV6RenX6
— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024
Next Week On WWE Smackdown
Here’s what WWE has announced for the June 28th edition of Smackdown from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
* Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Candice LeRae vs. Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton
* Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Naomi vs. Blair Davenport vs. Indi Hartwell
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs. Logan Paul vs. Santos Escobar
That’s all for this week.
