Three qualifying matches. Three women's matches to determine which Raw Superstars will enter the WWE Women's Money In The Bank Lader match at the forthcoming PPV.
Three matches with the usual suspects for winners.
And the Raw Women's Champion... 365 days Raw Women's Champion addressing...
ASUKA defeated RUBY RIOTT,
IN A WWE WOMEN'S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH QUALIFICATIONS
Asuka and Ruby got some WWE NXT history. Both had similar paths - quickly rising, very popular until they entered the Main Roster and waste their heat after one-two years.
Now both have something in common - they are on the way to rebuild their careers. One after a long absence due to injury (Riott), the other wasting talent and time in a not very appropriate booking as a tag team champion (Asuka).
Riott totally put some stand against the Evil Empress of Tomorrow, because she is one of the small numbers of women in there, who can stand next to the Japanese Sensation and not look like a rag doll.
So it wasn't meant to be. Ruby avoided some submissions, survived some vicious attacks just to end in an Asuka Lock as her former-teammate Liv Morgan, last week.
Asuka is the first (obvious) entrant in the Money In The Bank match from Raw.
WWE RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION BECKY LYNCH ADDRESSED THE EVENTUAL WINNER IN THE MITB LADDER MATCH, WW NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPION CHARLOTTE FLAIR ADDRESSED IO SHIRAI AND EVERYONE ELSE
I will just let you listen to her speech - mentioning Shayna and WM 36, talking about how great she is in a simple dramatic 'I was an underdog and now I am the Man!' style.
You can also hear Charlotte's barging of her own!
SHAYNA BASZLER defeated SARAH LOGAN,
IN A WWE WOMEN'S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH QUALIFICATIONS
This match didn't end with Kirifida Clutch. It ended with a stoppage.
Sarah Logan like several others had the bad luck to receive a stomp in her elbow. For a powerhouse on her own, it might be hard for Logan to end the match this way, but it looks like we won't see former Riott Squad in MITB Ladder match. They had their moment at Elimination Chamber and until someone decides to continue their rivalry we might see some controversial matches with them.
Shayna is Shayna! Logan was not a match to her and it was clear. Baszler showed a lot of frustration and irritation towards her opponent and just secure her spot in the match at Money In The Bank - debuted for her as well as for Asuka.
NIA JAX defeated KAIRI SANE,
IN A WWE WOMEN'S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH QUALIFICATIONS
For the second week in a row, the returning Irresistible Force was dominant.
Even with Asuka screaming backstage and cheering for Kairi, there was no chance in hell, for the 1/2 of the Kabuki Warriors to win that, especially when you see how Jax, just didn't feel any of Sane's offenses.
So another debutant who enters with ruthless domination. Another obvious winner for the night.
Overall:
Yes, the winners of all qualifying matches were obvious. They are the aggressive and hungry for victories MITB match debutants - all three of them. So we have two out of three with really good chances to be the winner (Asuka and Shayna, because in this match power and strength are not everything).
But what we can ask for?! Actually, this is the best decision for creatives. This is what they have in Raw's roster. These are three of the dominant and deserving to be in that match.
Actually, it looks like Balzer will debut in every main PPV this year, which is not bad, according to her status - for now, she is still WWE NXT Superstar and I really hope to see a Royal Rumble 2020 rematch between the Queen of Spades and the Queen of WWE (?!-isn't that Steph McMahon?).
Lynch and Charlotte being a talkative Champs after WM 36 was something kind of logical. Well, Flair is having a challenge - Io Shirai, while Becky might be tight up to the mic and doing her 'emotional' promos, that makes me wanna see anyone interrupt (anyone - Lana, Eva Marie, etc. with all due respect)...
