WWE SmackDown Takeaways: Sasha Banks will take Charlotte Flair’s advice

Mandy Rose is the one behind a cash-in

Mandy Rose didn’t compete in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match and is embroiled in one of WWE SmackDown’s biggest feuds against Sonya Deville, but she can still have a major influence on Otis’ cash-in.

Look no further than what Rose did without Otis’ knowledge on the May 15 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. She was the one who suggested Otis team up with Braun Strowman to face The Miz and John Morrison in a tag team match later that night. Otis was having a difficult time finding a partner, and Mandy could have suggested just about anyone. Jeff Hardy. Big E. Former WWE Champion Kofi Kingston.

But she suggested Braun Strowman. On the surface, it would be unorthodox for a babyface to pick the Universal Champion when they are holding the Money in the Bank briefcase, since that may not lead to the most trusting dynamic in a tag match. Otis was oblivious to this, but Braun wasn’t. And neither was Mandy. She specifically suggested Braun for this reason, and then came out and the end of their tag match to tease a distraction, making Braun sweat a little bit.

Rose did all of this on purpose. She is going to be the one trying to get Otis to cash in on Strowman or whoever the next Universal Champion is. But she isn’t just doing this out of ambition; I believe she genuinely wants Otis to be champion but is worried he’s too nice to truly use the opportunistic powers of the briefcase.