Madison Square Garden was buzzing with excitement as two electrifying qualifying matches set the stage for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. By the end of Friday’s “WWE SmackDown,” Naomi and Tiffany Stratton were on their way to climb that golden ladder, leaving the Big Apple with golden opportunities in their sights.
Stratton’s Stratospheric Rise
Tiffany Stratton faced off against the dynamic duo of Jade Cargill and Candice LeRae in the opening match. Stratton and LeRae initially teamed up to tackle the powerhouse Cargill, creating a temporary tag team reminiscent of that one time your high school friends decided to form a study group—only to end up fighting over the last slice of pizza.
Just when it seemed like Cargill might Hulk Smash her way to victory, the ring turned into a circus. Nia Jax, with all the subtlety of a freight train, decided to make an appearance. Bianca Belair intercepted her, and they had a heated exchange that could be heard from Brooklyn. Amidst this chaos, Indi Hartwell decided to play a game of “shove your opponent into the ring post.” With Cargill taken out, it turned into a moonsault fiesta between LeRae and Stratton, which Stratton won with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever™. Yes, it’s trademarked now.
Naomi’s Triumphant Return
Later, Naomi took on Blair Davenport, who was making her main roster debut, and the aforementioned chaos-loving Indi Hartwell. Davenport, with all the eagerness of a kid on the first day of school, showcased some impressive moves. But the spotlight was stolen once again by Jade Cargill, who wasn’t done with Hartwell. In a move that screamed, “You mess with the bull, you get the horns,” Cargill’s interference allowed Naomi to pin Hartwell, securing her spot in the ladder match.
Naomi and Stratton have now joined Chelsea Green to represent the blue brand in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Meanwhile, “WWE Raw” has contributed Lyra Valkyria and IYO SKY, with the final spot to be decided in a triple threat match between Dakota Kai, Ivy Nile, and Zoey Stark on Monday.