WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Two Money in the Bank slots filled, Bray Wyatt tells a story

Slots in the staple ladder matches were up for grabs on Friday night's edition of the blue brand as the PPV draws near

The annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view continues to draw near, with the event set to go down in just nine days on Sunday, May 10. Friday night's mostly entertaining edition of SmackDown pushed us closer toward one of the most unique Money in the Bank experiences that we will have seen to date, and if you thought it was only going to be unique because the men's and women's ladder matches will be held at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, there was an announcement on this week's show that upped the ante even more. 

This week as Money in the Bank creeps up on us, two Money in the Bank match slots were filled with the women's field being completed. Bray Wyatt also led us through a story time with his universal champion foe and the SmackDown tag team champions were put on notice. 

Let's have a look now at everything that went down on this week's episode of SmackDown. 

WWE SmackDown recap, grades

Daniel Bryan def. King Corbin via disqualification after Corbin struck Bryan with a ladder on the outside. Post-match, Corbin took Bryan into the ring and attempted to hit End of Days onto a ladder but Bryan was able to reverse it into the Yes Lock. Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura would show up for the save, however, which allowed Corbin to vault Bryan off the ramp into a pile of ladders. Prior to the match, Bryan cut a passionate promo on being excited the the unique Money in the Bank challenge coming up at headquarters while reminiscing how his previous briefcase win helped launch his career. Grade: B-

Universal champion Braun Strowman was out to the ring for a promo. Just as Strowman began, Bray Wyatt interrupted from the Firefly FunHouse. Wyatt said it was time for a story about the "black sheep," which of course was just a description of their past with one another in the Wyatt Family.  As Wyatt's demeanor was becoming more sinister upon closing the book and talking about creating a new ending for the shepherd and the sheep, Strowman cut him off and told him to come to the ring. Wyatt, however, just smiled and waved as segment came to a close. Incredibly weak here as this title program continuously fails to hit the right notes despite the history between the two. Grade: D+

Sheamus def. Leon Ruff via pinfall after the Brogue Kick in a vicious squash. After the match, Sheamus again confronted Michael Cole at the commentary table over Jeff Hardy before they cut to the latest video package highlighting Hardy's comeback. It was then announced that Hardy will be making his return to SmackDown next week, which led to Sheamus telling Cole that if Hardy will be in the building next week, then so will he. WWE has done very well in building this Sheamus-Hardy feud to this point. Grade: B

Carmella def. Mandy Rose via pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match after a superkick. Shortly after the match started, Sonya Deville appeared on the ramp and began to distract Rose. As Deville teased heading to the ring for a fight, Rose turned around right into the kick from Carmella. Post-match, Deville hit the ring and began dismantling her former tag partner, throwing her into the steel steps on the outside before officials came out. Another top-notch performance here from Deville who continues to take the ball and run with it. Grade: B+

The Forgotten Sons def. The New Day (c) via pinfall in a non-title match after putting away Kofi Kingston with the tandem inverted DDT-knee drop maneuver. The Miz & John Morrison were on commentary for this one, and with the victory, it certainly seems as if Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler will be getting a tag title shot in the near future after knocking off the champs. Like it or not, WWE looks to have some serious plans in store for The Forgotten Sons. Grade: C-

Tamina was interviewed backstage, and she said that she refuses to be bullied by the disrespectful mean girls. Sasha Banks showed up and acted nice toward the SmackDown women's title No. 1 contender, but it was merely a distraction so Bayley could attack. As the two were laying the beatdown on Tamina, Lacey Evans rushed in to make the save. 

Otis def. Dolph Ziggler via pinfall after the caterpillar elbow drop in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. Entertaining main event this week between the two, and it should be fun watching Otis in that unique setting of corporate headquarters essentially acting like a bull in a China shop. Grade: B

WWE SmackDown highlights

[May 1, 2020 at 10:00 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

Otis def. Dolph Ziggler via pinfall after the caterpillar elbow drop in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. Entertaining main event this week between the two, and it should be fun watching Otis in that unique setting of corporate headquarters essentially acting like a bull in a China shop. Grade: B

[May 1, 2020 at 9:38 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

Tamina was interviewed backstage, and she said that she refuses to be bullied by the disrespectful mean girls. Sasha Banks showed up and acted nice toward the SmackDown women's title No. 1 contender, but it was merely a distraction so Bayley could attack. As the two were laying the beatdown on Tamina, Lacey Evans rushed in to make the save. 

[May 1, 2020 at 9:31 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

The Forgotten Sons def. The New Day (c) via pinfall in a non-title match after putting away Kofi Kingston with the tandem inverted DDT-knee drop maneuver. The Miz & John Morrison were on commentary for this one, and with the victory, it certainly seems as if Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler will be getting a tag title shot in the near future after knocking off the champs. Like it or not, WWE looks to have some serious plans in store for The Forgotten Sons. Grade: C-

[May 1, 2020 at 9:07 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

Carmella def. Mandy Rose via pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match after a superkick. Shortly after the match started, Sonya Deville appeared on the ramp and began to distract Rose. As Deville teased heading to the ring for a fight, Rose turned around right into the kick from Carmella. Post-match, Deville hit the ring and began dismantling her former tag partner, throwing her into the steel steps on the outside before officials came out. Another top-notch performance here from Deville who continues to take the ball and run with it. Grade: B+