WWE Money in the Bank Updated Lineup; SD Women’s Title Match Added
The next WWE pay-per-view is Money in the Bank on June 18 from St. Louis. It’s a Smackdown Live show that currently has three title matches and two Money in the Bank matches on the card. Here’s what we know so far.
WWE Championship: Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Smackdown Tag Team Championships: The Usos vs. The New Day
Money in the Bank Women’s Ladder Match: Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Tamina
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Naomi vs. Lana
It’s a good lineup with a surprising Women’s Championship match that was added on last night’s Smackdown. The story is that Lana wanted to be in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Shane McMahon said he felt like she didn’t deserve it because of the lack of matches – Lana has not had a singles match on television. Her only televised match was WrestleMania 32 in 2016. Naomi laughed at the idea of Lana getting a chance at her title. That led to Lana costing her team a victory in the six woman tag match. Later in the show, Naomi told Commissioner Shane McMahon she wants to face Lana and would even put the Women’s Title on the line. Shane didn’t agree with it, but gave Naomi the match.
Here’s how I explained it in my Smackdown review: “They needed more matches at Money in the Bank, so that’s a way to do it. Lana has been wrestling at NXT live events for a few months. She must have improved enough for WWE to put her in a PPV title match. Did she earn it by winning on TV? Nope. That’s something some fans will complain about, I’m sure. It would be nice if she actually won a match to earn it, but instead it’s a face champion in Naomi willing to do it because she doesn’t like her. That’s enough of a story to make it work. I doubt Lana wins the title. You never know, though. Look at Jinder as WWE Champion. That’s why the “land of opportunity” phrase works.”
To add to that, it’s only the fifth biggest match on the show. It’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I hope Lana has improved and hopefully it works out for everybody involved.