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Money in the Bank certainly took a different shape following the latest edition of SmackDown. Bayley, who was supposed to face Bianca Belair at Money in the Bank, suffered a torn ACL late last week.
The injury will sideline her for nine months. Because of her unfortunate ailment, Carmella was placed in the title match against Belair. Instead of taking place at Money in the Bank, Mella will challenge for the title on the go-home edition of SmackDown.
Another fallout from Bayley's injury was that Liv Morgan was put into the Money in the Bank match as Carmella's replacement. It was obvious that she would be in the match, but it was unfolding slowly.
With the timing and severity of the injury to Bayley, however, Morgan was simply placed into the match as Zelina Vega and Carmella.
You can read predictions around the final spot in the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder match before the latest SmackDown here. But with two spots open with a week to go before the PPV, which WWE women will round out the field?
Here are five possibilities for the remaining two spots in the Women's Money in the Bank match.
#5 Someone from RAW could nab one of the two Money in the Bank openings
Alexa Bliss and Nikki A.S.H. qualified for the Money in the Bank match by defeating Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Baszler and Jax should have parted ways a long time ago. Reginald was the impetus for the inevitable dissolution, but Baszler and Jax continue to be teammates.
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke have been in tag team action. Doudrop and Eva Marie also failed to qualify for Money in the Bank. One easy way for WWE to fill the last two spots would be to have a battle royale with unqualified stars. They could even put Natalya and Tamina in the battle royale.
The point is that Baszler had her shot at the title and has been booked unfavorably ever since. She has taken most of the pinfalls whenever her team has lost. She deserves better and getting a second shot at a spot in the ladder match would make sense.
RAW's men had a last chance triple threat fight for the final spot. With the depth issues plaguing SmackDown, it wouldn't be a surprise if someone like Baszler, Rose, or Eva Marie got a second chance.
#4 Sonya Deville might put herself into the Money in the Bank match
Could Sonya Deville make her return to the ring at Money in the Bank? With the depth issues facing SmackDown, it might be time for the former MMA fighter to get back into the squared circle.
Deville had previously lost a 'Loser Leaves Town' match to Mandy Rose at last year's SummerSlam. She returned to WWE earlier this year around the Royal Rumble. While fans hoped it would be as an active WWE Superstar, Deville has instead worked alongside Adam Pearce as a WWE official.
At first, it seemed as if Deville would be a heel authority figure to oppose Pearce. However, as things have played out over the last few months, she has been a neutral force.
RAW's women had to qualify for their spots in Money in the Bank. Due to SmackDown's lagging depth problems, participants were simply announced.
Liv Morgan has taken exception to SmackDown women being announced for the match. She has faced and defeated Carmella and Zelina Vega and Morgan even stood up to Deville on the latest SmackDown.
While WWE is likely to save several returns for when fans are back, having Deville in the Money in the Bank match might be a no-brainer. She was on fire before her departure and the blue brand desperately needs more women.
The WWE official has recently discussed the potential of getting back into the ring. With one SmackDown to go before Money in the Bank, fans could see Deville put herself into the match.
#3 Will Toni Storm debut at Money in the Bank?
Fans saw two NXT stars debut on SmackDown. Could another NXT star debut at Money in the Bank? Toni Storm is more than ready for the WWE main roster.
She's a former NXT UK Women's Champion and a top star for NXT. On the latest episode of SmackDown, a brief vignette hyped the future debut of Storm.
Was this the plan all along or did Bayley's injury force WWE's hand in promoting stars before SummerSlam? Some recent reports stated NXT debuts would be happening within the next few months. The upcoming 2021 WWE Draft was also thought to be the main spot for the new NXT stars to join the main roster.
Storm hasn't been on NXT over the last few weeks due to the build for the Great American Bash. She appeared backstage briefly during an interview with McKenzie Mitchell.
New NXT star Sarray had asked for a match with her a few weeks ago. Since she still has some unfinished business in NXT, will it affect her impending SmackDown debut?
It was apparent that Storm was going to be pushed heavily during both Mae Young Classic tournaments. She made it to the semifinals in 2017 and won the tournament in 2018.
After that success, she won the NXT UK Women's title from Rhea Ripley. In order for other NXT women to get their shots, talented performers like Storm need to be promoted to RAW or SmackDown.
Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox made their SmackDown debuts. Storm had her arrival hyped in a video package. WWE usually airs vignettes for debuts a few weeks before a star's appearance.
With such an important PPV like Money in the Bank, Storm may show up on SmackDown this week. She could be named a participant in the match or she could debut during the Money in the Bank PPV. However it happens, it shouldn't be a surprise to see the talented Aussie battle for the Money in the Bank briefcase.
#2 Mia Yim could officially debut at Money in the Bank
Money in the Bank might be the spot for the return of the HBIC, Mia Yim. Yim had been a part of RETRIBUTION as Reckoning earlier in the year before the group split.
The storyline didn't have a great shelf life as the group lost more matches during its run. The faction should have run roughshod over WWE. Yim only had a brief feud with Dana Brooke during the angle.
Once the group disbanded, Yim was "quietly" moved to SmackDown. It was a good way to separate the members of the group to give them a fresh start. The months would pass, however, without an appearance from Yim.
Following WrestleMania and WrestleMania Backlash, rumors emerged claiming that Yim's debut on SmackDown was imminent. Week after week went by without an appearance from the HBIC.
She might be away from WWE to aid Keith Lee with whatever he has been battling in 2021. Yim was always a talented performer and might have already shown up on SmackDown.
Money in the Bank would be the perfect spot for her to pop back up in WWE. The blue brand needs depth throughout its divisions and Yim would be a great addition.
While the field for the Women's Money in the Bank match already has six women, only three are believable picks to win. Asuka is a former winner but is the best Superstar in the match.
Alexa Bliss has long been one of the top women in WWE but hasn't had a title run in three years. Naomi is a former SmackDown Women's Champ.
If Yim is announced for Money in the Bank or shows up next Sunday, it will instantly give more credibility to the match. It also wouldn't be her first taste of ladder action in WWE.
Liv Morgan and Zelina Vega are great in their own ways. They just haven't been booked on the level of the aforementioned women. Yim would indeed be a wildcard for Money in the Bank.
#1 Sasha Banks could return to WWE in Money in the Bank
The Boss has competed in a Money in the Bank ladder match but hasn't won. Ever since she dropped the SmackDown Women's title to Belair at WrestleMania 37, the WWE Universe has been clamoring for her return. With the injury to Bayley, SmackDown needs her now more than ever.
The ESPYs took place this past weekend. Belair and Banks won the award for the Best WWE Moment of the Year. That could certainly be a harbinger of the return of the former SmackDown Women's Champion.
It's long overdue to add names like Tegan Nox, Shotzi Blackheart and Toni Storm to the SmackDown roster. But while those names are solid in their own right, none have the main-roster resume of Banks.
The Boss has long been pushed as one of the top stars in all of WWE. A return at Money in the Bank would be a good way to re-establish her on SmackDown. Belair will also need new challengers once she dispatches Carmella.
Outside of having Becky Lynch return to the blue brand, Banks is likely the best bet as the next opponent for the EST of WWE. Her return was already advertised for the go-home SmackDown on July 16th. Both women have also discussed an inevitable rematch.
It just makes too much sense for the Boss to be involved with Money in the Bank in some fashion. Will it happen or could other surprises be in store for Money in the Bank?
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