SmackDown LIVE preview, May 23, 2017: New WWE Champion Jinder Mahal to throw Punjabi Celebration
Jinder Mahal stunned the WWE Universe at WWE Backlash when he defeated Randy Orton to capture the WWE Championship. How will The Maharaja follow up on his historic championship win? With a celebration! See Jinder Mahal’s incredible Punjabi Celebration tonight on SmackDown LIVE at 8/7 C on USA Network!
Jinder Mahal stunned the WWE Universe on Sunday when he defeated Randy Orton to become the WWE Champion at WWE Backlash. Now that he’s achieved his goal, there’s only one thing left for “The Modern-Day Maharaja” to do: celebrate.

SmackDown LIVE Women clash in tag team battle following WWE Backlash melee
The “welcoming committee” walked out of WWE Backlash victorious after Natalya forced Becky Lynch to tap out to her Sharpshooter, but The Irish Lass Kicker and one of her partners from Sunday will be out for retribution on SmackDown LIVE, as she and Charlotte Flair will take on Natalya & Carmella in tag team action.
With things being so combustible in the SmackDown LIVE women’s division, will their respective colleagues, SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi and Tamina, stay out of the fray?

Shane McMahon to make Money in the Bank announcement
With WWE Backlash in the rearview mirror, the SmackDown LIVE roster’s attention now turns toward Money in the Bank on June 18. The phrase “land of opportunity” takes on a literal meaning on that night, as the chance to challenge for the WWE Championship any time and any place will be hanging in the balance.

Who’s next to challenge The Usos?
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos fought off the challenge of Breezango, despite the best efforts of Fandango and his undercover partner, Tyler Breeze.
With The Fashion Police seemingly out of the way, who will be next to challenge the champions? There’s no shortage of duos hungry for an opportunity, including former titleholders American Alpha and the menacing Ascension. Still, don’t count out Breezango, who will definitely be looking to get back in the title hunt after a breakout performance in Chicago.

Will AJ Styles continue his pursuit of the United States Title?
AJ Styles came up short in his effort to unseat Kevin Owens as United States Champion at WWE Backlash, thanks to the champion shoving The Phenomenal One’s leg into a hole in the announcers’ desk. That gave The New Face of America the opening to sneak out of Chicago with a count-out victory.
After the bout, Owens added insult to injury by superkicking a defenseless Styles. After the incident, a visibly pained Phenomenal One wasn’t in the mood to answer questions about the match, instead wondering about his injured leg and whether it would force him out of action.