WWE SmackDown Notes: Four Money in the Bank Qualifier Matches, New Women’s Title, Charlotte Flair Surprise Return

WWE
Jun 9, 2023

Santos Escobar, Bayley, Butch, & IYO SKY Qualify for Men’s & Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Matches

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown show in Des Moines, Iowa featured four qualifier matches for the Men’s and Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder matches at this July’s Money in the Bank 2023 event in London, England.

The first match featured Santos Escobar defeating Mustafa Ali to be the next to qualify for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. The finish to this match involved Escobar hoisting up Ali on his shoulders on the top rope and after some desperation elbow strikes by Ali trying to escape, Escobar hit a top rope Phantom Driver to win the match and qualify for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.

The second match featured Bayley defeating “Michin” Mia Yim to be the next to qualify for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. The finish to this match involved Bayley grabbing Michin’s hair and tossing her head first into the turnbuckle. Bayley then hit Michin with the Rose Plant to win the match and qualify for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.

The third match featured Butch defeating Baron Corbin to be the next to qualify for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. The finish to the match involved Corbin arguing with NXT’s Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes who were sitting in the crowd. Corbin then grabbed Butch for a chokeslam but Butch escaped and rolled up Corbin for the quick pinfall victory and qualified for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.

Butch joins, Santos Escobar, Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, and LA Knight who have already qualified for this year’s Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.

The fourth and final match featured IYO SKY defeating Shotzi to be the next to qualify for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. The finish to the match involved Shotzi standing on the top rope to setup a high flying spot only to have Bayley shove her leg away while the ref was distracted. This led to Shotzi boinking her head off of the top turnbuckle and SKY hitting her moonsault to win the match and qualify for the Women’s Money in Bank Ladder match.

SKY joins Bayley, Zelina Vega, Becky Lynch, and Zoey Stark who have already qualified for this year’s Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.

New WWE Women’s Championship Title Unvieled

Tonight’s SmackDown show in Des Moines also featured the official debut of a new Women’s Championship belt for the SmackDown brand.

In an in-ring segment on the show, Adam Pearce gave a promo stating that he would be presenting Asuka with a brand new WWE Women’s Championship belt to replace her RAW Women’s Championship belt going forward. Asuka then came down to the ring and was presented her new title belt.

Before Asuka could celebrate with her new title, Charlotte Flair made her surprise return and interrupted the ceremony. Flair then demanded to be given a title shot for Asuka’s new belt. Pearce responded stating that Flair can not just come in and cut the line whenever she wanted which led to Flair stating that she doesn’t wait in line since she made the line. Flair then gave her title match challenge again to Asuka, who accepted leaving Pearce to declare that this match would be official. Asuka then tried to mist attack Flair only for Flair to dodge and attack Asuka instead.

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