WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 11

Every week on Bleacher Report, I take an in-depth look at WWE SmackDown to recap the action, offer analysis and grade the matches, segments and anything else that takes place on the show, as well as offer a few predictions for future events.

Money in the Bank is upon us, which means SmackDown was filled with plenty of video packages, interviews and previews relating to the pay-per-view.

It was a light week with just five matches, but most of them were actually worth watching. Having fewer bouts gave each one more time to breathe.

The MITB Ladder match and the title bout between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose were the most prominent storylines featured, but it seemed like every bout for the PPV got some attention.

Let's take a look at everything that happened on the most recent edition of SmackDown.

Opening Segment

Dean Ambrose opened the show with a great promo that saw him reflect on his time in New Orleans and declare that he will leave Money in the Bank as the WWE World Heavyweight champion.

Seth Rollins eventually came out all by himself to talk some trash and attempt to get his title belt back. Ambrose said he was just messing around and left the belt in the middle of the ring.

Rollins noticed it was a replica belt and Ambrose claimed he didn't remember where he left the title, but he would definitely have it on Sunday.

Kane appeared on the stage and told Rollins he had a match against Dolph Ziggler. It was a very formulaic opening, but it was entertaining because Rollins and Ambrose work so well together.

Grade: B

Notes and Highlights

• Ambrose needs to act a little crazier. The fun part of his gimmick used to be that he was nuts, but it's like someone gave him a prescription for Prozac.
• Ambrose's joke about feeling like it was Tuesday should have gotten a much bigger laugh from the crowd.
• At least the segment didn't end with the announcement of a tag team match.

The Miz vs. Ryback

Seeing Ryback win this match wasn't unexpected at all, but the fact it was long enough to need a commercial break in the middle of the action was a little shocking.

This was a surprisingly competitive encounter. Both men played to their strengths very well—the Miz looked like a seasoned heel, and Ryback looked like a dominant powerhouse.

It certainly wasn't a showstopper, but the two former Tough Enough contestants worked together well to produce a solid encounter that highlighted both men's stronger qualities.

Ryback has improved so many aspects of his game over the past year, but making his upcoming match with Big Show entertaining will be a big challenge.

Grade: C+

Notes and Highlights

• It looks like WWE is just going to abandon the whole Summer Rae-Miz partnership. It's too bad. Having a Diva at his side could have helped the Miz, and it definitely would have helped Summer to be around someone with as much experience as him.
• Tom Phillips had a good idea when he said the crowd should be counting while Ryback holds his opponents in a vertical suplex. He usually keeps them in the air for a solid 20 seconds or more.
• Considering the Tough Enough auditions are ongoing at the Performance Center, the commentators should have made a bigger deal out of the fact these two were both on the show before they were signed.

King Barrett vs. Jack Swagger

R-Truth was on commentary for the match between King Barrett and Jack Swagger. He ended up stealing Barrett's crown, scepter and cape so he could pose with them.

Barrett fell for the distraction long enough to give Swagger the chance to get in some offense, but it wasn't enough to stop him from hitting the Bull Hammer to pick up the win.

Seeing a former world champion fall so easily is just sad. Swagger is a great hand in the ring, but it seems like management has no idea what to do with him without Zeb Colter by his side.

Grade: D

Notes and Highlights

• R-Truth confusing Byron Saxton with the Coach will never get old.
• How did Swagger fall so far down the ladder that he gets the jobber entrance during the commercial?
• Can we please get Colter back so he can manage Swagger? They had an entertaining act.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins

This is the kind of match that makes the price of admission worth every penny. Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins are two of the most technically gifted performers in the company, and their skills were on full display in this one.

It wasn't a Match of the Year candidate, but every match doesn't need to be. This was just two talented wrestlers doing what they do best for a crowd of fans.

The exchange of near misses, near-falls and signature moves toward the end really showcased how well these two men work together.

Rollins picked up the win by rolling through a diving cross body, which helped keep Ziggler looking good while still taking the loss. His feud with Rusev is on the back burner for the time being, so this was a very smart way to give the champion the win without having to use his finisher.

Grade: B+

Notes and Highlights

• They showed part of the interview Michael Cole conducted with Lana before the match. Rusev showed up and made a scene before she took off. It's great that they are continuing to use him as part of the storyline instead of just letting him sit on the sidelines while he heals.
• Why do they still call that spot at ringside the timekeeper's area? It's not like anyone has been timing WWE matches. In fact, there hasn't even been a time limit outside of Ironman matches for decades.
• Why isn't Lana accompanying Ziggler to the ring?

Alicia Fox vs. Paige

A lot of people might disagree, but this was a much better match than anyone would've expected it to be. It's not that Paige and Alicia Fox aren't talented, but there is always a low expectation going into Divas matches.

Both women were very competitive and used every bit of their physicality. Fox looked a lot smoother in the ring than she has in the past, which is strange, given she hasn't been wrestling regularly for quite some time.

They were given enough time to actually have a defined beginning, middle and end, which is always important when it comes to making a match entertaining.

The only thing about this contest that didn't work was the crowd. It seemed like they didn't care at all that two talented women were out there proving Divas can be better than they have been allowed to be.

Grade: B-

Notes and Highlights

• I completely forgot Fox even worked for WWE. It feels like it's been ages since she wrestled a match.
• It's easy to forget how tall Foxy is until you see her next to another Diva.
• Does anyone else think the Divas deserve to have a Money in the Bank Ladder match? It would be interesting to see how they do with a dangerous stipulation you usually only usually see the men get to use.

Roman Reigns, Neville and Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston, Kane and Sheamus

Six of the seven men who will compete in the Money in the Bank match on Sunday squared off in a six-man tag match to end the show. The only one missing was Ziggler.

It was a typical SmackDown main event. Everyone had some time to show off their skills, but it was the babyfaces who seemed to control most of the pace.

The action was quick for the most part, but things slowed down for the few moments when Kane was the legal man, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

Reigns was about to win with a Superman Punch to Kingston as he was coming off the top rope, but Big E and Xavier Woods interfered and took him out with their tag team finisher.

Just like every show before the MITB PPV, someone grabbed a ladder from under the ring so they could grab the briefcase. Everyone was brawling outside the ring when Neville climbed the ladder and jumped down about 20 feet to take out the whole crowd.

The show ended with the former NXT champion reaching up and pulling down the briefcase. It's unlikely he will actually win on Sunday, but it was cool to see the most recent call-up of the bunch look so strong heading into the match.

Grade: B-

Notes and Highlights

• Xavier Woods is so good at being obnoxious outside the ring. It makes you wonder how it took WWE so long to find something for him to do.
• There was a rumor going around a while back that said Neville was going to have a Mighty Mouse sort of gimmick. That the commentators referenced it was kind of funny.
• Sheamus still has huge bruises from the Elimination Chamber, and he is about to compete in a Ladder match. This guy can't seem to catch a break.
• Just to be clear, the grade is based on the match and the aftermath. The match itself probably deserved a C.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

With only five matches, it was a pretty light week for SmackDown. That usually ends up being the case for the final show before a PPV, so it was nothing new.

The thing that stood out was that most of the contests were actually good. It's not often that the majority of the card on any given SmackDown exceeds expectations, so it was a welcome surprise.

Ziggler and Rollins definitely stole the show with their match. However, Paige and Alicia Fox also managed to put on an entertaining performance.

There was a little bit of storyline development heading into Money in the Bank, but most of what we saw was just everyone biding their time until Sunday.

All of this week's predictions will revolve around the outcomes of the matches scheduled for Sunday's show.

Predictions

• King Barrett will defeat R-Truth.
• Kevin Owens will defeat John Cena.
• Nikki Bella will retain the Divas title.
• Ryback will retain the Intercontinental Championship.
• The Prime Time Players will defeat The New Day, but they may not win the tag titles.
• Seth Rollins will retain the WWE World Heavyweight title.
• Roman Reigns will win the Money in the Bank contract.

What did you think of this week's SmackDown, and what are your predictions for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view?

Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.