Renee Young announced during the Money in the Bank Kickoff Pre-show that the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match featuring Becky Lynch, Tamina, Carmella, Natalya and Charlotte will kick off tonight’s show.
Check back here at 8PM for our live play-by-play coverage of the event.
As seen at tonight’s Money in the Bank event, James Ellsworth injected himself into the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match and captured the briefcase only to give it to Carmella. There was tons of backlash on social media regarding the finish to the match.
Carmella took to Twitter and responded to her victory with the following remarks:
As seen at tonight’s Money in the Bank event, James Ellsworth injected himself into the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match and captured the briefcase only to give it to Carmella. There was tons of backlash on social media regarding the finish to the match.
Charlotte, Natalya, Tamina and Becky Lynch took to Twitter to react to how the match went down:
As previously noted, Paige mentioned on Instagram this week that she was going in for her last set of X-Rays and will hopefully be making a comeback soon. Later in that same day, she started posting photos of herself back at the gym training, indicating that the doctor possibly had some good news for her.
When asked about her return to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer on Twitter, he replied in short fashion, “soon.”
With rumors of a potential sixth spot open in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match tonight, there is always the possibility that “soon” could be earlier than you think.
The Velveteen Dream revealed on Twitter that his finishing move is called the Purple Rainmaker. This didn’t go over very well with fans from New Japan Pro Wrestling that accused him of ripping off Kazuchika Okada’s Rainmaker.
The NXT Superstar then took a shot at New Japan Pro Wrestling, writing, “They Have Wrestling in Japan!?”
Bischoff comments on the Sports Business Journal’s recent report, which suggested that the median age of wrestling fans has grown to 54 years old. In his opinion, the median age of wrestling fans is closer to mid 40’s, based on some research that he has seen over the last couple of years. Either way, that’s probably a higher number than WWE would like.
He points out that some people still wish that WWE would return to a more mature style of programming, but sponsors write the cheques, and they want WWE to target a younger demographic. Younger audiences are always preferable for sponsors, because older people don’t spend money as freely. As long as the sponsors demand WWE to continue with PG programming, that’s exactly what they’ll do.
Bischoff points out that IMPACT Wrestling’s audience is made of up mostly older male viewers. Because of this, he says that sponsors can probably get commercial time on PopTV for $49 a spot during an IMPACT showing. Older audiences, specifically males, simply don’t spend money.
Bischoff comments on the fact that ICW from Ireland has pulled their video library from the FITE TV app, and they’re the first independent promotion to be announced as moving their library to the WWE Network. Bischoff thinks this is very interesting, because WWE has always ignored all of their competition in the past. He’s intrigued to see how this relationship plays out.
WWE announced that the opening for Monday’s RAW in Evansville, IN at the Ford Center will kick off with Roman Reigns making his big SummerSlam announcement.
We noted the other day that many people speculate Reigns would be issuing a challenge to the now “free agent” John Cena. Dave Meltzer shot those reports down. Another rumor making it’s rounds is that Bill Goldberg could be a possible opponent for Reigns at the annual event. We have yet to confirm that those rumors are true. We will keep you updated.
WWE revealed the following list of talents who will receive a tryout at the WWE Performance Center later this month:
Hunter McIntyre: “Obstacle course racer. The reigning champion of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge competition series and a decorated Spartan Race runner.”
Amarlo Herrera: “A 250-pound linebacker from the University of Georgia who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.”
Noke Tago: “A 300-pound defensive tackle from American Samoa who played at Oregon State.”
Raynor Whitcombe: “6-foot-2, 230-pounds. A New Zealand-born football player-turned-bodybuilder who was the first-place winner of the 2015 BodySpace Spokesmodel Search.”
Denzel DeJournette: “A 6-foot-3, 265-pound All-American wrestler from Appalachian State University who finished eighth in the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championships.”
Nicolai Salchow: “6-foot-1, 205-pounds. A Brazilian-born, German-raised kickboxer and grappler who is 6-1 in professional MMA fights.”
Lindsey Kelly: “Crossfit competitor. A former swimmer at the University of Arizona who has deadlifted 410 pounds and squatted 315 pounds, according to her CrossFit profile.”
Reginald Gibbs: “A 275-pound, Georgia-based independent wrestler and protege of WWE Superstar Mr. Hughes who competes as “Odinson” in the southeast region.”
Brothers Arthur and Josh Haug: “Arthur Haug was a four-sport athlete in high school and a former bodybuilding champion who has trained with Impact Pro Wrestling. Josh Haug was a three-time letter winner as a wrestler at the University of Iowa, a 2016 national qualifier and an Academic All-American.”
Nick Brewer: “Minnesota powerlifter, a 295-pounder who has been known to bend horseshoes and roll up steel frying pans with his bare hands. At the 2009 London Strongest Man competition, he pulled a firetruck.”
Vernon Willis: “A 6-foot-4, 275-pound California state wrestling champion.”
Andrew Cavanna: “A 6-foot-1, 220-pound Connecticut weightlifting champion and five-time wrestling champion.”
Briana Brandy: “A hip-hop artist who has performed with the likes of Soulja Boy and Ying Yang Twins, and trains in MMA and CrossFit.”
Cody Deaner: “A multi-time heavyweight champion in Canada who once faced Kurt Angle on SmackDown in 2004.”
“Crazzy Steve” Steve Scott: “A 14-year veteran from Ontario who received training under NXT’s Eric Young.”
Paul ‘PB Smooth’ Bilbo: “6-foot-9. From Erie, Pa., a former college basketball player who has wrestled for Cleveland-based Absolute Intense Wrestling and CWF Mid-Atlantic in North Carolina.”
Matt King: “A 23-year-old, 6-foot-5, 250-pound model and independent wrestler from Atlanta who competes as “Raphael King”.
Troy Russell: “6-foot-6, a graduate of Lance Storm’s wrestling academy who trains at the famous DeFranco’s Gym.”
Tehuti Miles: “A 210-pound U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and played for the University of Maryland football team.”
Quelton Toliver: “A 20-year-old, 6-foot-4, 265-pound wrestler from Missouri.”
Brothers Morgan and Christopher Hill: “Football players-turned-fitness models from Las Vegas.”
Elena Pogosyan: “A 24-year-old journalist-turned-wrestler who trained under WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz and has wrestled for almost two years.”
Jeslen Mishelle: “A three-year wrestling veteran and blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who competes on the West Coast under the alias ‘Desi Derata.’”
Nikii Duke: “A 24-year old bodybuilder, International Federation of Physique Athletes pro, and World Beauty Fitness and Fashion bikini competitor.”
Mike Taverna: “Twenty-five-year-old from New York City, who has wrestled in Chaotic Wrestling, Chikara and New York Wrestling Connection, among other groups.”
Marquis Carter: “A U.S. Army veteran who was deployed once to Afghanistan and twice to Korea, and has officiated in several Florida wrestling organizations.”
Haley Kate Yellin: “A fitness model with a background in dance, track and taekwondo.”
Will Cuevas: “A California-based independent wrestler, former referee and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is a former All Pro Wrestling Worldwide Internet Champion.”
Blake Dees: “A 240-pound former college football player who played linebacker at Texas Tech and South Alabama.”
Micas Harris: “A 28-year-old independent wrestler from Indiana who played semi-pro football.”
Marshall “Solo” WilliamsZach Johnson: “6-foot-5, 240-pounds. An independent wrestler from North Carolina for whom this was a second WWE tryout.”
Michael Richards: “From New Zealand, a 6-foot-2 independent wrestler who has trained in the Ring of Honor Dojo.”
Joe Maples: “A 6-foot-3, 285-pound former college football player. He made appearances in three Bowl Games as a member of the University of Missouri football team.”
Haley Tipton: “A 24-year-old model and former Junior Olympics beach volleyball player.”
Rawle Chichester: “A 6-foot-2, 245-pound wrestler with six years’ experience.”
Abigail Burgdorf: “A college track athlete who is also an active powerlifter.”
We noted earlier this week that WWE may have spoiled a six participant in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match for Sunday’s event when they mentioned on Twitter that six women would be in the match.
Coming off this news, Nikki Bella posted a new video to her YouTube channel teasing that she may be the six entrant into that match.
“First ever girl’s match, which, I mean, maybe I’ll fly straight in and you know, be the sixth member, who knows? No, but I really, really, really wish that I could be in Money in the Bank, but, goodness, it makes me so proud of the women in WWE. Every week, every month every year, we just keep breaking more and more barriers and making history and just proving who the women really are at WWE.”
Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair, Greg Gagne, Larry Hennig and Baron Von Raschke have all been spotted in St. Louis this afternoon.
As previously noted via Wrestling Observer, these legends are expected to take part in a segment at Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view event. While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s very possible that they could be doing some sort of “father’s day” segment, considering that is tomorrow’s holiday. We will keep you updated if we hear anything as we head into tomorrow’s event.
