Money in the Bank (2017) | |
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Promotion | WWE |
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Date | June 18, 2017 |
Venue | Scottrade Center |
City | St. Louis, Missouri |
Attendance | 15,392 |
Last Event | Extreme Rules |
Next Event | Great Balls of Fire |
Money in the Bank (2017) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and WWE Network event produced by WWE for the SmackDown brand. It took place on June 18, 2017, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the eighth event under the Money in the Bank chronology and the first to feature a Women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
Event summary[]
Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair vs Natalya vs Tamina vs Carmella[]
Although Carmella has been crowned the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank, James Ellsworth’s involvement in The Princess of Staten Island’s victory left the historic bout shrouded in controversy.
Up until the fateful interference that already has SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan calling foul, the bout was every bit the glass-ceiling shattering (and bone) shattering affair it had been touted as. The polished, scientific in-ring prowess of Superstars like Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Natalya went out the window in favor of demolition-derby aggression, as everyone in the match worked to subdue the dominant Tamina, who obliterated all four of her opponents with ladders and superkicks within moments of the opening bell and snuffed out the first tug-of-war over the briefcase – between Charlotte and Carmella – by shoving them both off the ladder.
In fact, Tamina played the role of spoiler for almost the entire battle, resurfacing each time she appeared taken care of, and constantly throwing a wrench into her opponents’ paths to the contract. Charlotte seemed to do the most damage against her after administering a pair of spears to Tamina before wiping her and Natalya out with a twisting round-off to the outside, but The Queen's attack took herself out in the process.
That left Carmella and Becky Lynch — the very vocal crowd favorite — to tussle over the briefcase, and that’s when Ellsworth made his move. After The Irish Lass Kicker powerbombed Carmella off the ladder, Ellsworth tipped the piece of hardware over and sent the inaugural SmackDown Women’s Champion tumbling out of the ring. Ellsworth furiously tried to rally Carmella up the ladder, but The Princess of Staten Island was non-responsive.
You could practically see the lightbulb go off over Ellsworth’s head and, as the St. Louis crowd roared its disapproval, he ascended the ladder himself, seized the contract and nonchalantly tossed it down to Carmella. Once she caught it, the bell rang, and she officially — but controversially — became the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank. A far from F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S way to win, to be sure, but a win it was, nonetheless.
Maria Kanellis returns to WWE with her husband Mike Kanellis[]
Maria Kanellis made her return at WWE Money in the Bank, with her husband Mike Kanellis in tow, to the face-melting strain of an ‘80s power ballad and a row of hearts illuminating the entrance ramp.
Maria wasted no time reintroducing herself to the WWE Universe, claiming that she had finally fulfilled her seven-year search for the perfect partner. With Maria & Mike united on the blue brand, they proclaimed it was time to teach SmackDown LIVE about the power of love. Break out your Zippos accordingly.
Naomi vs Lana[]
Naomi is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Barely.
Lana took Naomi to the absolute limit in what was, in increasing order of remarkableness, 1) her first match as a SmackDown LIVE Superstar, 2) her first title challenge as a blue brand Superstar, 3) her first title opportunity of any kind, and 4) her first singles match of any kind. Given that SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon sanctioned the championship match Naomi's request, it’s safe to say the champion thought The Ravishing Russian wouldn’t pose that much of a threat. She was wrong. And that’s before we even get into what happened with Carmella.
Naomi did, indeed, run roughshod over her No. 1 contender in the early goings of the match, but Lana came more prepared than anybody likely thought. Lana trapped Naomi’s knee in the ropes to weaken it, then kicked the champion square in the face, putting Naomi in a predicament from which she almost didn’t recover. The Ravishing Russian’s assault on her opponent’s knee was relentless, so Naomi was forced to go to her hands to rally. She locked Lana in an armbar when The Ravishing Russian took the match to the mat and administered the Rear View, but Lana countered with a Sit-out Spinebuster. And then Carmella’s music hit.
The Princess of Staten Island and newly-minted Ms. Money in the Bank skipped down to the ring and teased a cash-in for what felt like an eternity, but pulled back at the last second. The Ravishing Russian went to hit a second Sit-out Spinebuster, but Naomi countered, sunset-flipping her way into her signature hold, the FTG (that's Feel the Glow, as she explained on Talking Smack), and submitted Lana to retain the title.
Carmella once again looked ready to cash in, but she decided against it, though The Princess of Staten Island made it clear to Naomi that the second she was ready, she’d come calling again. Naomi, for her part, told her to bring it. Having survived a challenger nobody saw coming, the champion is clearly ready for anything.
Results[]
- Money in the Bank ladder match for a WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match contract: Carmella (with James Ellsworth) defeated Charlotte Flair, Natalya, Tamina, and Becky Lynch
- Singles match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship: Naomi (c) defeated Lana by submission
Other on-screen talent[]
- Interviewer: Dasha Fuentes
- Pre-show panel: Renee Young
Image gallery[]
Media[]
Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match WWE Money in the Bank 2017 (WWE Network Exclusive)
Mike & Maria Kanellis arrive with the "power of love" WWE Money in the Bank 2017 (WWE Network)
Naomi vs. Lana - SmackDown Women's Title Match WWE Money in the Bank 2017 (WWE Network Exclusive)