WWE SmackDown Live preview (June 6, 2017): New configurations

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah... Team Blue heads to Luke Harper’s hometown of Rochester, New York.

The Headliners

The pairings have taken a couple different forms, but the result has been the same each of the last two weeks. It doesn’t matter if Shinsuke Nakamura teams with AJ Styles or Sami Zayn, or if United States champion Kevin Owens is paired off with Dolph Ziggler or Baron Corbin. The King of Strong Style has pinned the New Face of America.

It’s enough to really bother a guy.

Of course, this is nothing new, since Nakamura’s been getting under Kevin’s skin since he was going by his birth surname of Steen. But that wasn’t heading into a Money in the Bank ladder match (which will also feature Styles, Zayn, Ziggler & Corbin, in case you the rotating tag team main events of late didn’t clue you in) which will give the winner an any time, anywhere shot at the top prize on SmackDown.

Can KO give Swagsuke his first loss on the main roster? Or will the man WWE wants us to call “The Artist” continue to have his number?

And will commissioner Shane McMahon be able to resist the urge to get all Teddy Long on us again and turn this pre-announced match into a four or six person match?

The Title Scene

He’s had a celebration (which was awesome) and run down his rival Randy Orton as an “ignorant American” (less so)... where will the Modern Day Maharajah, WWE champ Jinder Mahal, take us in week three of his reign?

Jinder has a title defense on June 18 at the next pay-per-view (PPV). Women’s titleholder Naomi? Not so much. And with McMahon making the historic announcement Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Tamina & Carmella will all be in the first every Money in the Bank ladder match for the women’s division, it’s not clear who she’d face anyway. Although Lana does appear to be free...

Tag team champions The Usos wish their dance card was open. But with the return of The New Day, Jimmy & Jey know they’ll now be facing the longest reigning “W-W-E World Tag Team Champ-e-ons” in history in St. Louis a week from this upcoming Sunday. At least the twins will get a chance to do some scouting when Big E, Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston make their SmackDown debut tonight.

Other stuff to keep an eye on:

- According to the preview for tonight from WWE.com, the build to Money in the Bank’s women’s match will feature a Backlash rematch, as Naomi, Becky & Charlotte face the Welcoming Committee.

- Elsewhere in the men’s MitB picture, Zayn & Corbin really hate each other, and a lot of people are still recovering from the shock of Ziggler’s big win over the Phenomenal One last week. Styles will get a chance to get his get one back when he faces the Show Off tonight.

- They may not be in the title hunt right now, but the Fashion Police are still on the case. Will that case still involve the colognes Colons?

- Luke Harper sure is chatty all of a sudden, and he may be building a fun undercard feud with Aiden English.

- Mojo Rawley is waiting, but at least his storyline wasn’t dropped like Rusev’s. No one’s sure where Tye Dillinger is.

Two weeks until Money in the Bank!

What will you be looking for on SmackDown Live tonight?