WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, and Grades For May 29, 2018

Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe will renew their rivalry with their first match in WWE tonight on WWE SmackDown Live. But what else will take place tonight on the show that is quickly reasserting itself as WWE’s “A” show?

Last week, Daniel Bryan faced Jeff Hardy for the first time ever, and Bryan tapped the United States Champion out in the main event of WWE SmackDown Live. Bryan’s win allowed him to face Samoa Joe tonight, and the winner will qualify for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match, taking the final spot.

Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Bobby Roode, Rusev (defeated Bryan to qualify), The Miz, and an unnamed member of the New Day (hopefully Xavier Woods) have all qualified. Joe is the favorite to win after Bryan put it all on the line against Hardy last week, and there’s even a chance Big Cass could come in and cost Bryan the match. And if Bryan does win, don’t discount the chances of Joe beating him up backstage and essentially hijacking his spot in the ladder match.

In London, Paige announced that Carmella would have to face Asuka at Money in the Bank. Carmella believes she is twice as good as Asuka, seeing how she’s defeated Charlotte Flair twice, whereas Asuka could not even defeat her once. Asuka is bound to give Carmella some comeuppance, but what will the Princess of Staten Island have in store tonight?

Andrade “Cien” Almas has defeated local talents in each of his first two appearances on SmackDown Live, but he and manager Zelina Vega are thoroughly unimpressed with how SmackDown management has rolled out the welcome wagon for Almas. The former NXT Champion wants some real competition, and I wonder if he’ll go out of his way to get it.

There’s no doubt that Shinsuke Nakmaura has been making enemies with the members of the SmackDown Live roster ever since turning heel on WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34. Nakamura’s Twitter war with Tye Dillinger was entertaining as hell, and Paige decided to give these two a singles match tonight. Will Nakamura defeat “The Perfect 10” with ease, or could some shenanigans be on the way?

The New Day got on The Miz’s bad side last week, which isn’t difficult to do, because they refused to divulge their entrant into the Money in the Bank ladder match. They understandably didn’t want to tip their hand, especially since Miz will be one of the competitors in the match. Tensions boiled, and Big E and The Miz ended up squaring off, until The Bar, who have been feuding with The New Day again, interfered. The Miz will team up against The Bar to take on The New Day, and I have a feeling the man who gets the decisive pin will be the one to compete in the ladder match.

Hopefully tonight’s show also features some of the women on the SmackDown Live roster who have qualified for the ladder match. Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Charlotte Flair are the top three babyfaces and could afford to be showcased more frequently, so we’ll see what the writing staff has dialed up for us.

WWE SmackDown Live has been exciting in the month of May, and with Joe vs. Bryan on tap, tonight’s show should not be an exception.

Check back here at 8 p.m. ET for live highlights, grades, and analysis from tonight’s show! You can watch SmackDown Live on the USA Network.