The latest edition of WWE SmackDown featured their second round of Money in the Bank qualifying matches. The triple-threats continued as one more man and woman earned a spot in the ladder match. The winning man joined Solo Sikoa and the women Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and Roxanne Perez as confirmed entrants. The event is June 7, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The men’s qualifier of the evening was a triple-threat match featuring LA Knight, Aleister Black, and Shinsuke Nakamura. All three superstars could have logically won the match. Knight is a fan-favorite baby face who moves merch, while Black just returned to WWE and has incredible in-ring talent. Nakamura has some logic, with the company trying to bring back his hype of days gone by with the recent repackaging.
Black and Nakamura stood out for their striking styles. Knight, known for his mic skills, was still athletic and opportunistic. The finish made it seem the Dutchman had the pin on the ‘King of Strong Style’ after hitting his finisher, only for the ‘Megastar’ to throw him out of the ring mid-count. The Japanese superstar stayed there for the pin, showing WWE’s desire to follow the money in this spot.
The women’s Money in the Bank qualifier featured Charlotte Flair, Zelina Vega, and Giulia, fighting for a spot in the ladder match. This match could logically only go to Flair or Giulia, with Vega a step behind and the Women’s United States Champion. This was the debut for the Japanese superstar after being called up from NXT, where she earned a lot of hype, while the ‘Queen’ is known for winning big matches, and the Money in the Bank briefcase is one of the few things to elude her Hall of Fame career.
The women did a better job than the men at using all three wrestlers, and Flair’s moonsault surpassed any of their high spots. If the debuting Giulia was feeling nervous, it didn’t show. The former NXT Women’s Champion hit Vega with her finisher, a Northern Lights Bomb, to pick up the victory.
She was quick to get over in NXT. Per The Sportster, the NXT debut was on September 10, 2024, against Chelsea Green. Fans of the main roster became aware of her talents on February 1st, 2025, at the Royal Rumble, and just 3 months later, she hit the big leagues full-time.
The Money in the Bank ladder matches are always a hit, with the danger and anticipation a ladder match brings, combined with the stakes on the line – a title shot, anywhere, anytime. It’s unsafe to rule out Knight with his recent United States Championship run. Did he show management what they were looking for?
Booking Giulia for the match was a good move from the WWE. She has proven her abilities internationally, and it’s a great way to jump-start her career post-call-up. It would be a stretch for the rookie to earn a title shot after 15 days, but stranger things have happened.
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