With Money in the Bank a little more than one week away, the competition in WWE couldn’t be any fiercer. After all, there can only be one spot at the top each for the men’s and women’s divisions, so it’s fair to expect said competition to intensify. For proof of this, look no further than this week’s Friday Night SmackDown, which will feature more build heading into Money in the Bank on July 2. Also scheduled for this week’s SmackDown is a title rematch that fans will not want to miss. Without any further delay, let’s take a deeper dive into the action to come.
WWE SmackDown (6/24/22) – Preview & Card
- Drew McIntyre Lays Out Road Toward Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
- Roman Reigns Set for Tonight’s Edition of SmackDown
- Ronda Rousey Makes Her Return
- Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Aliyah vs. Shotzi
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Ricochet
https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1537980610626478085?s=20&t=PwyfnkkqPdA9TvYJ2ATUvw
Drew McIntyre Lays Out the Road
The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship scene has been largely occupied by Brock Lesnar and the current titleholder in Roman Reigns. In fact, these two WWE Superstars are approaching their latest collision based on the events of last week’s Friday Night SmackDown. However, one of the other names that viewers shouldn’t discredit is the former 2x WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, who recently faced Sheamus in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. However, a double-disqualification victory left no clear winner. WWE Official Adam Pearce intervened, however, claiming that both McIntyre and Sheamus will compete for the Money in the Bank contract. On tonight’s SmackDown, “The Scottish Warrior” lays out his path toward the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. As we inch closer to the Money in the Bank event itself, expect said road to possess its fair share of bumps.
Tomorrow is going to be the first chapter in the story of how the prestige and honor of the Intercontinental championship, finally got restored#GUNTHER #KAISER #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/nHryqLi2ap
— 𝐋𝐮𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 (@wwe_kaiser) June 23, 2022
Gunther Defends Intercontinental Title in Rematch on SmackDown
In one of the more prominently featured events on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown, Gunther defends his newly-won Intercontinental title in a rematch. For the uninitiated, “The Ring General” challenged Ricochet for the championship in question on the June 10 edition of SmackDown. Despite a valiant effort by the high-flyer, it was Gunther that emerged victorious, capturing his first title since officially joining the main roster this past April. A champion’s work is never done, though given Gunther’s history as the longest-reigning NXT United Kingdom Champion, he knows this all too well. Furthermore, with Ludwig Kaiser in his corner, it’s fair to say that Gunther will be confident heading into this rematch. Against a hungry competitor the likes of Ricochet, though, a successful title defense isn’t necessarily a guarantee. Will Gunther continue to bring prestige to his “sacred mat,” or will his reign end before it has a chance to truly bloom?
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network and Peacock.
