Today is finally the Money in the Bank premium live event and for the first time since WrestleMania, WWE has both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Titles ready to be defended. These two matches plus the Money in the Bank ladder match should hopefully be a good outing for the women.
The matches on the card are as follows:
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Natalya – SmackDown Women’s Title
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Carmella – Raw Women’s Title
Lacey Evans vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shotzi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Liv Morgan vs. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch – Money in the Bank Ladder Match
The first match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship developed once Natalya won a Six Pack Challenge to be named the number one contender. Since then, Natalya has been dragging the champion every chance she gets. The feud between the two has become personal with Rousey attacking the appearance of Natalya while Natalya saying she will send Rousey back to her child.
Predictions –
Nick: I really want Natalya to win this. She has carried this feud and has proven time and time again that she is a ring general when need be. However, dropping the title off Rousey here wouldn’t make the most sense. Maybe at SummerSlam but that would be the soonest. Perhaps Nattie will continue to feud heading into SummerSlam but include Shayna Baszler as they should.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Gary: I don’t think anyone has Natalya winning this one but I am sure it will be a strong match. I perhaps see them going for another PPV match after this but this is a slam dunk, Ronda Rousey retains.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Colby: Considering the “rebuilding” phase that SmackDown’s women’s roster is in right now, I have no problem with Natalya getting a pay-per-view title match. She’s always reliable and has actually carried this feud in my opinion. The winner is hardly in question, but I look forward to seeing what they do considering they’ve only faced each other at least once before. Rousey’s reign will unfortunately live to see another day.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Next up, the Raw Women’s Championship will be on the line as the champ Bianca Belair defends against Carmella. This match is dejavu from last year around this time when Carmella had to replace Bayley. This time, Carmella is stepping in for Rhea Ripley who was not medically cleared to compete.
The small build this was forced into hasn’t been terrible because of the history between these two competitors. Much as Natalya and Rousey, this too will likely be a one off match.
Predictions –
Nick: Carmella to me always steps up when need be, however, if she was regularly utilized and would stop being slept on then she wouldn’t need to “fill in.” Regardless of the repeat of last year, I expect the match to still be good. I would assume there to be maybe a disqualification or something with either Rhea returning to attack Bianca (if she is ready) or maybe Bayley showing back up here. With me personally wanting Bayley to return to SmackDown because that brand needs her, she has history with both women in this championship match. Either way, Bianca is going to retain.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Gary: Carmella has been spitting facts on her Twitter lately and it’s time people remember that she does deliver when called upon. Like the other title match, I don’t see the champion losing so Bianca Belair gets the win but Carmella gives her a good run. I have no idea how Rhea’s recovery is going but would love to see her hit the the ring and jumpstart her program with the champion at MITB.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Colby: Belair vs. Carmella Is it 2021 again? Here it is, Money in the Bank time, and Bianca Belair’s title reign is missing suitable challengers. I was so bummed to hear Rhea Ripley was injured and couldn’t work the scheduled match. Some are saying it was too early to visit Belair/Ripley, but I thought it was perfect timing. They could’ve easily carried Raw through the summer. Instead, Carmella is back and can be relied on to fill a spot much like Natalya is on the other side. Belair is confident, as she should be, but we’re bored right now.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Lastly, we have the annual Money in the Bank ladder match. Just as with most multi women matches there will always be some criticism of who is in the bout. Despite this one which could have used some more newer names such as Doudrop or Xia Li, it does have a nice mix of talent.
This year we actually received qualifying matches for each individual involved in the match which has always been lacking in recent years. It is generally either names are just selected or some have to qualify while other people don’t. With that part the build has been fun to watch and there has been more connection between the Raw women than the SmackDown. For instance, Becky/Asuka and Liv/Alexa.
Liv Morgan has received the biggest push towards the match in the form of wins by getting the pin on both Raw and SmackDown this week. The biggest rivalry amongst the seven women involved is between Becky and Asuka.
Predictions –
Nick: I feel that four women could win this match and the other four really aren’t a factor in the win. It is enjoyable that it could be a few different women, but adding Becky Lynch does make me want to automatically pick her as the winner. My choice of who I would want to win would 100% be Liv Morgan. She should have won it last year, but the crowd is still firmly behind her and it is beyond time. With that being said, knowing how WWE books that won’t likely be the case. I am still sticking with Alexa Bliss winning this. The advertisement for MITB this year started with a look back at Alexa’s prior briefcase win so I think that was foreshadowing the winner.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
Gary: As I write this, Smackdown is one hour away and I still feel like an 8th competitor could be added (he says hopefully). In this match, I expect Asuka and Becky Lynch to foil each other throughout and ultimately cost each other the match in some way. Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan will have several moments of working together, Raquel will deliver some shows of strength possibly at the expense of Shotzi. My prediction, because I want to be right out there: Shotzi. She’s finally out of catering and has been rallying the troops as it were on Smackdown, getting match, mic and screen time so I’d give it to her. The others have been and will be in the title picture again, this could be what Shotzi needs to break through.
Winner: Shotzi
Colby: MITB Despite the hurdles that WWE’s women’s division has faced post-WrestleMania, I believe they selected a solid field to compete in this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match. We have three former champions (Asuka, Lynch, Bliss), two MITB newcomers (Raquel and Shotzi), and two women who have never won any titles in WWE (Liv and Lacey). Balance is always nice. So, who should win?
Of course I’d love to see Liv get one step closer to her first title, but I’m unsure if that’s the move right now with Belair and Ronda as champions. Bliss could win for a second time to re-establish herself as a main-eventer. But it feels like Becky is the favorite with her current story of regaining her gold. Should WWE go to the well with Belair/Becky one more time at SummerSlam? I don’t want them to ruin what’s good, but I’m unsure of where else they will go if Ripley is still unable to compete. I’m going with Becks in the Bank.
Winner: Becky Lynch
What are your predictions? List them below and check back in with Diva Dirt later today during the Money in the Bank broadcast to chat about the event.
