5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (1 July - Results & Review)

2. Women’s Three-Way Was Barely There

Dakota Kai Zoey Stark Ivy Nile
WWE.com

WWE has gone the Triple Threat route for these qualifiers pre-MITB. That has worked for some (check out the main event for proof!), but not everyone can make it click. Zoey Stark beating Dakota Kai and Ivy Nile for the final spot in the women's ladder match lacked spark from the off - the live crowd just didn't seem too interested.

Being totally honest about it, the overall field for the women's MITB match this year is a little weak. Sure, WWE wants to showcase/hopefully build fresh stars, but only Tiffany Stratton sticks out as someone who deserves the briefcase. Lyra Valkyria could argue her corner too, but nobody else.

This three-way trundled along before the expected Damage CTRL run in then finish. It was cooked by an awkwardly-placed, AEW Rampage-style commercial break, and the general lack of interest hurt things too. Shout out to Ivy hitting that sweet double German suplex, but that wasn't nearly enough to put this into the 'Ups' section.

Damage CTRL means nothing post-Bayley. Just saying.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.