WWE Money in the Bank 2017: The Importance of the Women’s Ladder Match

What the Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase means to the Women’s division.

Last night on SmackDown Live, Shane McMahon called all the participants of the first ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match to the ring. Covered and suspended high above the ring, was the first-ever Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase.

Speculation as to what the briefcase would look like was running rampant throughout the internet wrestling community. With the Women’s Revolution well underway, surely the briefcase wouldn’t be pink with a little purple butterfly, right? Let’s not forget, it was only a little over a year ago that they retired the pathetic Divas Championship.

As the women stood in a circle around in the ring, the briefcase was lowered down.  Shane removed the cover to reveal the first ever Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase. The briefcase is sleek white, with the Money in the Bank logo in its trademark gold and green.

The briefcase is sleek white, with the Money in the Bank logo in its trademark gold and green. Just as importantly as the way the briefcase looks, is what it represents; another step forward for women’s professional wrestling in the WWE. And Shane McMahon was not about to let us forget all the historic moments in the WWE last year.

As the segment continued, Shane began to explain why this match was so historic, and how the women of the SmackDown Live roster deserved this opportunity. But, he also warned of the dangers of a ladder match. It was at this point, the segment surprised me.

In a promo that was both self-aware and extremely well done, James Ellsworth interrupted McMahon and told him that there was no need to “mansplain” the historic importance or the dangers of the ladder match. The Princess of Staten Island, Carmella, was going to win contract opportunity anyways.

It wasn’t long ago, Sasha and Charlotte were involved in another historic story line, the first ever women’s Hell in a Cell match. Unfortunately, the build towards that match was less about the competitors and more about Mick Foley’s history with the match. Week-after-week he warned them about the psychological and physical damage the Hell in a Cell can cause to those trapped inside. This narrative undercuts the importance of the match, and the two women who deserved to be the focal point of the storyline.

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Ellsworth cut a great heel promo that was effective in delivery, while also keeping the focus where it rightfully belongs. On the women of SmackDown Live.  There is no doubt in my mind that the division will put on a brutal, exciting match.

Money in the Bank airs exclusively on the WWE Network on Sunday, June 18, live in St. Louis, MO.