As we inch closer and closer to a weekend of Money in The Bank and NXT Heat Wave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, WWE made a domestic stop tonight in New York City, turning Madison Square Garden into “Madison SmackDown Garden” for tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Six of the blue brand’s female superstars battled it out in two triple threat matches, each with the same objective: qualifying for this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Kayla Braxton made her final appearance on the show, trying to interview Nick Aldis as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens were being taken away from The World’s Most Famous Arena by the NYPD for their attack on both The Bloodline and security at the start of the show, but Nick didn’t have time for words. And with that, Kayla is never to be seen again, with her last question missing an answer.
The first match of the night followed with one of the two women’s triple threat matches, this one between Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae. Stratton and LeRae teamed up at the start of the match, working together to try and stop Cargill from gaining momentum. Cargill would soon reverse course, notably tossing LeRae onto Stratton on the outside. Nia Jax walked her way out to the ring, which led to Jade’s tag team partner Bianca Belair following suit. The two got into an argument right before the show cut to commercials.
Back from the break, with Nia and Bianca watching from opposite corners of the ringside area, Cargill had once again lost control of the match. At this point, the match became every woman for herself, with the three repeatedly pounding on each other and preventing them from stealing a victory. As Jax walked closer to a laid out Jade at ringside, Bianca would get into another argument with her, with the referee exiting the ring to try and maintain order between the two. Cargill got up, but would be pushed into the ring post by Indi Hartwell, who got chased to the back by Belair. The interference would backfire as Stratton hit a moonsault to get the pin on LeRae to enter the match.
The Buff Barbie is now headed to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, joining fellow blue brand female Chelsea Green plus Raw Superstars Iyo Sky and Lyra Valkyria on Saturday, July 6th. Not only that, but it appears her partnership with The Irresistible Force is finally coming to fruition, with the two celebrating at ringside.
Cameras immediately cut to Naomi backstage being joined by WWE Women’s Champion, Bayley. They talk briefly about how annoying it is that Tiffany has advanced, but the champ reassures the Girl with the Glow that she’s going to take care of business. While making sure Tiffany doesn’t win the match is on Naomi’s mind, her potential participation in the Money in the Bank ladder match also means she might have to cash in on her bestie’s title. The bonding moment is stopped by the presence of Blair Davenport, who tells the two that not only will Naomi not be winning the second qualifying match, but that she would hold her title real tight, if she were Bayley, because her days as champion are numbered.
Michin was backstage with Nick Aldis, demanding that he give her a match against Nia after her and Tiffany’s locker room attack on her last week. Aldis says he will think about it. She then exits his office while B-Fab and The Street Profits enter. The fab female tells Team Blue’s head honcho that Cody, Kevin, and Randy were sent home but the Profits are here and they need to get their hands on The Bloodline tonight. Aldis says a match is not happening tonight, as he promised them time for their Acknowledgment Ceremony later during the show, but he would consider a match for next week. Her appeal is cut off by Pretty Deadly, who tried to pitch “Pretty Deadly: The Musical”, but that gives B-Fab and the Profits a new idea that’s given an okay from the GM: “The Street Profits vs Pretty Deadly: The Beatdown”. It was revealed later in the show that said match would take place next week.
The second qualifying match then took place. With Indi Hartwell already in the ring, Blair Davenport and Naomi made their entrances. Like the first match, both Hartwell and Davenport tried to double team on Naomi, but she wouldn’t let them get the best of her so easily. Crowds are responding well to Blair, booing her before the show went to commercial. The action continued after and remained fast-paced from all three competitors, with each female getting some offense in but none of them being able to gain any sort of upper hand.
Jade Cargill came out to get a lick back on Hartwell for costing her the first qualifying match, which would finally turn the match in favor of Naomi, who secured a three count, thus finally rounding out the SmackDown side of the Money in the Bank ladder match.
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