4 Predictions for WWE SmackDown Live: June 20, 2017

Could Carmella Lose the Briefcase?

In the opening match of Money in the Bank, five SmackDown Live superstars participated in the first ever female MiTB ladder match. For those that don’t know, the athletes involved were Becky Lynch, Carmella, Charlotte Flair, Natalya, and Tamina Snuka. Eager to make the most out of the opportunity to make history, all five combatants put forth a strong effort. Sadly, fans weren’t focusing on the match upon its conclusion. Instead, nearly all of the attention fell on James Ellsworth.

During the closing moments of the match, Ellsworth knocked Lynch off of a ladder to create a chance for Carmella to grab the briefcase. Carmella was too damaged to do so, leading to Ellsworth taking charge. Climbing up the ladder himself, he grabbed the briefcase and simply dropped it to his “friend”.

On the outside of the ring, the referees at hand tried to discuss the result. While the opinions were mixed, the fact of the matter was that no precedent had been set. Interference is allowed in these types of matches, and so the result was set in stone. Carmella was able to celebrate making history, while the rest of the women in WWE went to Twitter to voice their displeasure.

Among the voices that conveyed dismay were none other than Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. Realizing the damage the interference caused in terms of giving credibility to the match itself, they’ve decided to take action. On SmackDown Live, Ellsworth will probably face some sort of consequence for what he’s done. Ms. Money in the Bank may follow suit, but don’t expect her to part ways with the briefcase. Like it or not, that decision is here to stay.