WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt meet ahead of Money in the Bank match

Strowman and Wyatt continue to hold different views of how their history impacts the present

With just two nights left until the WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view, members of the SmackDown locker room battled to take a little extra momentum into the event. On the "go-home" edition of SmackDown on Friday night, King Corbin ended the show standing strong, using a ladder to pull down a briefcase hanging from the ceiling in a symbolic moment ahead of Sunday's ladder match.

But the main story of the night was an in-ring confrontation between WWE universal champion Braun Strowman and Money in the Bank challenger Bray Wyatt. The two had traded words in recent weeks, but with Wyatt and Strowman both occupying the same ring, the challenger attempted to call the champion "home." Strowman rejected Wyatt's view of their time together in the Wyatt Family, saying he was already home as universal champion.

Also of note, Jeff Hardy was confronted by Sheamus, setting up a potentially interesting program between the two veterans. Hardy managed to embarrass Sheamus with a series of big moves, culminating in a Swanton Bomb. Also, Sonya Deville won her anticipated one-on-one match with Mandy Rose after weeks of escalating tensions between the former teammates.

Let's take a look now at everything that went down on this Money in the Bank go-home edition of SmackDown this week. 

WWE SmackDown recap, grades

Sonya Deville def. Mandy Rose via pinfall with a roll-up. Rose came out fast with strikes, beating Deville to the ground in the corner. Deville eventually took the match over, handling Rose with a significant amount of offense, but Rose eventually snapped and began to throw Deville into the announce table and ring steps while screaming, "Who's the b---- now, b----?" Deville would ultimately counter a knee into a roll-up, however, and hold on for the three count and the victory in a decent, short match that needed a good five more minutes to tell the full story they were going for. Grade: B-

The Miz & John Morrison & The Forgotten Sons def. Lucha House Party & New Day via pinfall when The Miz pinned Lince Dorado after a Skull-Crushing Finale. This was a fast-paced eight-man tag match featuring the four teams in the SmackDown tag championship match on Sunday. The match was near-constant chaos without slowing down at any point. Eventually, after a wonderful shine section for Lucha House Party, Miz used a blind tag to sneak in behind Lince Dorado for the Skull-Crushing Finale. Grade: B

Jeff Hardy returned to SmackDown with an in-ring interview. While he talked about the low lows and high highs of his career, Sheamus was shown backstage mocking his promo. Hardy implored the fans to stick with him for "one more good run" before calling Sheamus out to the ring. Sheamus obliged before talking about Hardy pandering to the fans -- fans who aren't even there -- before saying they're tired of supporting Hardy though his issues. Sheamus said he isn't a "hater" but used to respect Hardy, it's just that everyone needs to realize Hardy is never really coming back. After saying it was time to put Hardy's flame out, Sheamus charged to the ring only to take a flurry of offense from Hardy, culminating in a Whisper in the Wind, Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb. Hardy's music played to close the segment. Given time, these two could tell a really compelling story. Grade: B

Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman came face-to-face ahead of Money in the Bank. Strowman was out first and said that Wyatt was afraid of him when they were in the Wyatt family together, which remains true now. Wyatt said he knows what Strowman is going to say and do while also knowing what's best for him before saying he could teach Strowman what is best for him. Strowman said Wyatt doesn't know him or how he thinks and works before Wyatt said their journey was just beginning. Wyatt held out a black sheep mask and implored Strowman to "come back home." Strowman said he was already home and would keep the universal title on Sunday, bringing to close yet another rambling Strowman and Wyatt segment that just didn't connect like the best of Wyatt's recent work and didn't play into the best aspects of Braun. Grade: C-

Tamina & Lacey Evans def. Bayley & Sasha Banks via pinfall after Tamina hit Bayley with a Samoan drop. As Bayley and Banks started to build momentum on Tamina, Evans slid into the ring to take out Banks with a Woman's Right. After Bayley knocked Evans from the ring, she was caught by a superkick and a Samoan drop from Tamina for the pin. Tamina remains a bottom rung in-ring performer, but this did the intended job of building momentum for her heading into her Money in the Bank title match against Bayley. Grade: C

Dana Brooke and Carmella were interviewed backstage, with both women confirming that they expect to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.

King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro def. Drew Gulak, Daniel Bryan & Otis via pinfall after Corbin hit Gulak with a Deep Six. Unsurprisingly, Otis was the third man on the Bryan and Gulak team after an earlier backstage tease. The match wasn't given quite as much time as expected, but with two fellow Money in the Bank ladder match competitors across from Corbin, he managed to pull off the win over Gulak with a Deep Six. After the match, Corbin attempted to attack Gulak with his scepter but Bryan made the save and things broke down into a wild brawl before Corbin attempted to climb a ladder to retrieve the Money in the Bank prop briefcase. Bryan attempted to cut Corbin off but was tossed from the ring. Otis took out Corbin next before trying to climb the ladder himself, only to have the rungs break under his weight. Eventually, Corbin was able to clear the ring and finally climb the ladder for the symbolic victory. I don't know what this really did to close the show strong, but Otis breaking the ladder was entertaining. Grade: C+

[May 8, 2020 at 9:59 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro def. Drew Gulak, Daniel Bryan & Otis via pinfall after Corbin hit Gulak with a Deep Six. Unsurprisingly, Otis was the third man on the Bryan and Gulak team after an earlier backstage tease. The match wasn't given quite as much time as expected, but with two fellow Money in the Bank ladder match competitors across from Corbin, he managed to pull off the win over Gulak with a Deep Six. After the match, Corbin attempted to attack Gulak with his scepter but Bryan made the save and things broke down into a wild brawl before Corbin attempted to climb a ladder to retrieve the Money in the Bank prop briefcase. Bryan attempted to cut Corbin off but was tossed from the ring. Otis took out Corbin next before trying to climb the ladder himself, only to have the rungs break under his weight. Eventually, Corbin was able to clear the ring and finally climb the ladder for the symbolic victory. I don't know what this really did to close the show strong, but Otis breaking the ladder was entertaining. Grade: C+

[May 8, 2020 at 9:33 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Dana Brooke and Carmella were interviewed backstage, with both women confirming that they expect to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.

[May 8, 2020 at 9:27 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Tamina & Lacey Evans def. Bayley & Sasha Banks via pinfall after Tamina hit Bayley with a Samoan drop. As Bayley and Banks started to build momentum on Tamina, Evans slid into the ring to take out Banks with a Woman's Right. After Bayley knocked Evans from the ring, she was caught by a superkick and a Samoan drop from Tamina for the pin. Tamina remains a bottom rung in-ring performer, but this did the intended job of building momentum for her heading into her Money in the Bank title match against Bayley. Grade: C

[May 8, 2020 at 9:04 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak asked Otis to "take a walk," after asking if he had heard what King Corbin said about him earlier in the night.

[May 8, 2020 at 9:04 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman came face-to-face ahead of Money in the Bank. Strowman was out first and said that Wyatt was afraid of him when they were in the Wyatt family together, which remains true now. Wyatt said he knows what Strowman is going to say and do while also knowing what's best for him before saying he could teach Strowman what is best for him. Strowman said Wyatt doesn't know him or how he thinks and works before Wyatt said their journey was just beginning. Wyatt held out a black sheep mask and implored Strowman to "come back home." Strowman said he was already home and would keep the universal title on Sunday, bringing to close yet another rambling Strowman and Wyatt segment that just didn't connect like the best of Wyatt's recent work and didn't play into the best aspects of Braun. Grade: C-