Money in the Bank qualifying will continue with two more triple threat matches on Raw tonight.
Both of the qualifiers that have been announced for tonight are women’s division matches. The returning Kairi Sane will face Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark in one of the triple threat bouts. The other qualifier will feature Becky Lynch, Roxanne Perez, and Natalya.
Sane is competing for the first time since suffering a torn thumb ligament in December 2024. Earlier this afternoon, WWE posted a social media video teasing that she would be returning tonight.
Tonight’s winners will join Alexa Bliss as the first three names confirmed for the women’s MITB ladder match. Bliss defeated Michin and Chelsea Green on SmackDown last Friday to qualify. Solo Sikoa also became the first wrestler to qualify for the men’s ladder match with a victory over Rey Fenix and Jimmy Uso.
Money in the Bank is taking place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Saturday, June 7.
Here is everything that’s been announced for tonight’s Raw:
WWE Raw (Monday, May 19) —
Non-title match: World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker
Money in the Bank qualifying match: Kairi Sane vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark
Money in the Bank qualifying match: Becky Lynch vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Natalya
A trend is starting to emerge in Candice LeRae’s WWE Speed Women’s Championship reign.
After going to a time limit draw in her first title defense, LeRae did the same in her second defense of the championship. She faced off against Zoey Stark on this week’s WWE Speed episode. The match went the full five minutes without a winner being determined. Stark connected with Z-360 as the clock was winding down, but LeRae rolled outside of the ring. Though Stark was able to get her back in, the time limit expired before a pin could happen. LeRae keeps her title with this result.
LeRae became the inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Champion in October 2024. Her first title defense was a time limit draw against Natalya.
This Saturday, LeRae will be teaming with Nia Jax at Elimination Chamber in a tag match against Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus.
WWE Speed now turns its focus back to the men’s division with the start of a new number one contender’s tournament this Friday. Chris Sabin vs. Dominik Mysterio and Ivar vs. Yoshiki Inamura are the first-round matchups. The winner earns the next shot at WWE Speed Men’s Champion Dragon Lee.
Zoey Stark has a chance to win her first WWE singles gold on Speed next week.
A new episode of WWE Speed premiered this afternoon with Stark battling Shotzi in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament. After Shotzi started off strong, things got more even as the three-minute time limit ticked down. Stark connected with a superkick and hit Z-360 to pin Shotzi with 26 seconds remaining.
It will be Candice LeRae vs. Stark for the WWE Speed Women’s Championship next Wednesday (February 26). LeRae became the inaugural champ in October 2024 but has only made one title defense since then, going to a time-limit draw with Natalya.
Stark is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion but has never held any other titles in WWE. In a post-match promo after today’s win, Stark said she has something to prove — both to herself and everyone at home. This title shot is her chance to do that.
Featured on the WWE Raw roster, Stark is tag team partners with Shayna Baszler. Their Pure Fusion Collective stablemate Sonya Deville was among this month’s WWE departures with Deville being informed that her contract will not be renewed when it expires.
Following Dragon Lee’s successful title defense over Chad Gable, WWE Speed has shifted its focus back to the women’s division with the start of a new number one contender’s tournament.
The first match in the four-woman tournament aired on Speed today with Zoey Stark defeating Kayden Carter. In the closing stretch, Stark caught Carter with a half-nelson suplex and followed up with a knee strike to get the win. She pinned Carter with 38 seconds remaining of the three-minute time limit.
@wwekayden and @ZoeyStarkWWE battle it out to see who will advance in the Women's No. 1 Contender's Tournament. Who will punch their ticket to the Semifinals? đ pic.twitter.com/2KuZohzI2X
Next Wednesday (February 12), the tournament continues with Shotzi vs. Alba Fyre. The winner of that match faces Stark in the finals to determine the next challenger for WWE Speed Women’s Champion Candice LeRae.
LeRae became the inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Champion in October 2024, and her only title defense since then has been a time limit draw against Natalya.
Stark is looking to bring gold to Pure Fusion Collective, her faction with Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler. They are part of the WWE Raw roster.
The first semifinals match in the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament is set following Monday’s Raw.
Zoey Stark won a triple threat quarterfinals bout on Monday’s Raw to advance to the semifinals in the tournament to crown the first-ever WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
Stark pinned Kayden Carter in the quarterfinals on Monday’s episode in a match that also featured Raquel Rodriguez to advance to the semifinals.
Dakota Kai has already qualified for the semifinals in their half of the bracket, so Stark vs. Kai is the first semifinal bout set. On the other side of the bracket, Lyra Valkyria awaits the winner of the remaining quarterfinals triple threat bout between Natalya, Kairi Sane, and Alba Fyre.
In addition to the introduction of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, WWE introduced the Women’s United States Championship with a tournament on the SmackDown brand that culminated in Chelsea Green being crowned the inaugural champion after winning the tournament finals at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
After being gone for several months, Natalya returned to WWE on last weekâs Raw, making the save for Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega after they were attacked by Stark, Sonya Deville, and Shayna Baszler. Valkyria and Vega had repeatedly been attacked by the Pure Fusion Collective in the weeks prior, leading Valkyria to come up with a plan for the trio in Calgary.
Additionally, WWE announced that Sheamus would be facing Pete Dunne. Bitter about his days being known as ‘Butch’ as part of the Brawling Brutes, Dunne has made it a point not to let anyone call him by that name anymore, going as far as attacking his former friend due to the resentment.
On Mondayâs Raw, it was revealed that going forward the name of the faction consisting of Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, and Zoey Stark will be The Pure Fusion Collective.
In a promo on Raw, Deville revealed the name, mentioning the people theyâve taken out in recent weeks including Zelina Vega, Katana Chance, and Dakota Kai. Baszler said they would take out the womenâs division limb by limb.
The trio went on to face Damage CTRL in a number one contenderâs match for the WWE Womenâs Tag Team titles. The match ended without a clear winner as champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn attacked both teams, ending the match. A three-way match for the titles was later announced for next weekâs show.
Deville returned from injury back in May and quickly looked to recruit Baszler and Stark. While Baszler was apprehensive at first, the three eventually formed an alliance, targeting other teams on the Raw roster including Damage CTRL, taking out Kai on last weekâs show.
The final two Money in the Bank qualifiers were decided on Mondayâs Raw.
Zoey Stark and Drew McIntyre won their triple threat matches to advance to the Money in the Bank ladder matches, which take place Saturday at the Scotiabank Arena in Ontario, Canada.
In the main event of Raw, McIntyre defeated Sheamus and Ilja Dragunov after hitting Sheamus with the claymore. Following the match, McIntyre was interviewed by Cathy Kelley where he said that he was going walk into Money in the Bank on Saturday and would leave Toronto the World Heavyweight Champion. He then put on the bracelet he stole from CM Punk to end the show.
Stark defeated Ivy Nile and Dakota Kai after Kairi Sane came out to cause a distraction, only for Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre to arrive and lay her out. The distraction allowed Stark to hit the Z-360 on Kai for the win.
The current lineup for WWE Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 6 in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena:
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest defends against Seth Rollins â If Priest retains, Rollins canât challenge for the title ever again as long as Priest holds it. If Rollins wins, Priest leaves The Judgment Day
Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defends against Bron Breakker
Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline
Menâs Money in the Bank ladder match: Jey Uso vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre
Womenâs Money in the Bank ladder match: IYO SKY vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark
WWE has crowned new top contenders to Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill’s Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark won a four-way bout on Monday’s WWE Raw to become the new number one contenders to the Women’s Tag Team titles held by Belair & Cargill.
No date has been announced for the Belair & Cargill vs. Baszler & Stark title match, but the bout could be announced for Saturday’s King and Queen of the Ring PLE pre-show should Belair be eliminated from the Queen of the Ring tournament on this Friday’s SmackDown episode.
It was also mentioned in a digital exclusive that Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae would be getting a title shot as well, and Baszler & Stark may face them if they are successful.
The four-way match on Raw also featured the teams of Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL, Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri, plus Katana Chance & Kayden Carter. Baszler pinned Dupri to win the contest.
Belair & Cargill have held the Women’s Tag titles since defeating Sane & Asuka for the belts at Backlash on May 4 in France.
This weekâs WWE Main Event was taped at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before Mondayâs episode of Raw.
This was a good show with two decent wrestling matches this week.
Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler defeated Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (4:45)
This was some solid tag team action to kick off the show, but the crowd was not really into it at all.
We were treated to a proper tag bout from start to finish, which is exactly what they should be putting on for a pre-Raw crowd like this; give them plenty of quick tags and lots of action and it nicely whets the appetite.
However, while that was true here, the crowd didnât seem to have an appetite for it. Both teams worked hard with the combination of Stark and Baszler gelling smoothly at this point.
They built the match around getting Carter the hot tag and when she finally got it, the crowd barely noticed as she and Chance double-teamed Stark, but Baszler broke up the cover.
Baszler sent Carter outside, but Chance then sent Baszler packing. Chance then got caught by Stark who finished her with the Z-360.
It was a well-worked match that deserved a little bit more credit than it got in the arena.
Ivar defeated Julius Creed (w/ Brutus Creed) (7:31)
They gave Ivar the win here after Julius looked to be going on a mini-winning streak. It was good after the ads, but anything involving either of the Creeds normally is.
While Ivar has been working solo, it has been good to see him get over on his own, but the Creed brothers are incredible together, so it seems a waste not to find a tag match for them on this show.
Creed got the early advantage and tried to knock Ivar down and lift him off his feet. He finally managed to do both when he sent him over the top rope and hit him with a tope to take us to the break.
After the commercials, Ivar was making his way to the top rope when Creed sprang to his feet and met him up there and they did a superplex, which got the crowd going. Ivar recovered to hit a sitout powerbomb for two.
Creed hoisted Ivar up and used a firemanâs carry to plant him and then the straps came down and he went up top for a 450, but landed on his feet. Ivar countered with a super kick and slammed him in position for his moonsault to get the win.
A very good match by Main Event standards that they could pretty much do every week and it would go over well.
This weekâs WWE Main Event was taped at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina before Mondayâs episode of Raw.
A good episode this week, made better by some funny bits on commentary and a decent match at the top of the show.
Zoey Stark defeated Natalya (4:40)
They gave the win to Stark in this one which didnât have too much going for it. She and Natalya worked well together and the crowd was into a little by the end, too.
The early going was very much back and forth. You could tell that Howard and James were looking for things to say, with James discussing how you pronounce âcravatâ at one point.
And there were more than enough cravats in this one, unfortunately, which is not what the crowd wants to see when Natalya is in the ring.
The crowd got behind her when she hit a snapmare and basement dropkick onto Stark, as she looked like she was tipping the balance in her favor.
As she was looking for the Sharpshooter, Stark kicked Natalya off her and then pulled her down, using the tights, into a roll-up to snatch the win.
After the match, they shook hands and Natalya hugged her, raising her arms with Stark in celebration.
Giovanni Vinci defeated Apollo Crews (5:58)
A debut win on Main Event for Giovanni Vinci here was fun to watch. There was a smoothness to how these two worked together, which is impressive given their size.
Giovanni Vinci looked a million bucks as he came out here to debut. They played up his role in Imperium, but he can certainly work so it would be good to see him in more singles action like this.
Crews had a little streak of wins in recent months on this show but has lost his momentum. The suggestion was that a win here might give him a shot at Gunther, but realistically heâs a long way from that right now in storyline.
Vinci used a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Crews as we went to the ads, but afterward Crews managed to grab some separation as he hit a delayed German suplex on Vinci as they both went down.
Crews then went through his moveset, hitting a stinger splash, gorilla press slam, followed by a standing moonsault.
Vinci countered with a firemanâs carry roll into the corner and a second rope moonsault, but Crews kicked out at two and it was clear at this point that Vinci was bleeding from the nose.
When he comically slapped away the offer of a tissue from the ref, he went to the finish, hitting Crews with a brain buster and celebrating with a cheeky smile.
It would be good to see these two go at it again next week, because they were pretty great together.
The second in a series of qualifying matches for Elimination Chamber is set for the Monday, February 12 edition of WWE Raw.
Liv Morgan will have her first match on Raw since last July on next week’s episode as she faces Zoey Stark in an Elimination Chamber qualifier. Morgan returned to WWE at last month’s Royal Rumble event and was the final wrestler eliminated from the women’s Rumble match.
Morgan vs. Stark is the second Elimination Chamber qualifier after Becky Lynch defeated Shayna Baszler in the first on this week’s Raw.
The winner of the Elimination Chamber match on February 24 will determine the challenger for the Women’s World title at WrestleMania 40.
Two more matches are also set for the February 12 Raw.
After an in-ring confrontation on this week’s show during a celebration for Gunther’s 600-day Intercontinental Championship reign, Jey Uso & The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods will face Imperium’s Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, & Giovanni Vinci in a trios match on next week’s episode. Uso was positioned as Gunther’s next title challenger in the Raw angle, while The New Day and the other members of Imperium continue their weeks-long feud.
JD McDonagh of The Judgment Day will also face R-Truth on next week’s Raw.
The lineup for the Monday, February 12 episode:
Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark
Jey Uso & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci)
Zoey Stark is headed to Chicago this weekend for WWE Survivor Series as she challenges WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Stark, who got drafted to Raw this year, earned this shot against Ripley by winning a November battle royal. Since then, she has confronted the dominant titleholder several times to let her know that she’s coming for the title.
I talked to Stark about her whirlwind year since getting called up in addition to her thoughts about working with Trish Stratus & Becky Lynch, and her massive opportunity Saturday.
You can watch our full talk above.
Getting called up
Since getting drafted, Starks has teamed with Trish Stratus, wrestled Becky Lynch, and is challenging Ripley. Stark explained that she did not think this would all happen so fast, saying “it’s insane.”
“It’s been great and honestly, almost a little overwhelming when you put it in perspective of everything that I have done so far. It’s insane. You know, when I got drafted, I never thought would happen this fast. So to actually be in this position is so cool.”
The goal for NXT talent is to get called up to Raw or Smackdown, so Stark shared that when she found out she was getting drafted, she “broke down and cried a lot.”
“I was trying to hold it together and everything, but this is what I’ve worked so hard for: to be able to get an opportunity on the main roster. So to have at it now, it’s so hard to even put into words. I’m so incredibly happy every single time I walk into an arena and I get to look around and see the whole set up. It’s so surreal to be able to just look up and look around me like, ‘Oh, man, I get to perform in front of all these people tonight.'”
Trish Stratus
Instantly, Stark was paired with Stratus, essentially her sidekick, as Stratus beefed with Lynch that led to a series of matches between the two. During this feud, Stark even got the opportunity to wrestle Lynch on Raw in addition to a falls count anywhere match.
Stark spoke about getting the rub from Stratus so soon after her main roster call-up.
“I was not thinking that I would be working alongside Trish Stratus when I first got to Monday Night Raw. I thought it was just going to be a couple of small things here and there and then like a slow build. But no, they threw me right into the fire and had me hang out with Trish Stratus.
“It was a lot of fun and I still learn a lot from her. She’s absolutely amazing. The one thing I would say is like, she’s very big on her ‘why?’ For a storyline or a promo or a match. It’s always trying to answer the ‘why’s.’ That way, the fans could grasp what’s going on. So that’s what I always try and take with me with every little thing that I do.”
Becky Lynch
Lynch said working with Lynch was “a little scary” because she is “on the top of the food chain.”
“She’s done it all. So to be able to share a ring with her or share the mic with her, I’m just sitting back and trying to learn as much as possible. Whether she’s giving me advice or I am just sitting there and watching her and watching how she reacts to certain things. But yeah, just sharing a ring with her. You learn so much from her, she’s absolutely amazing. If I take the character stuff out of it and everything. As far as our storyline goes, she is so fun to work with and you learn so much from her and she’s a superstar. She’s great.”
Promos
Raw is an entirely different animal that NXT. I asked Stark if she’s faced any challenges since being called up to the main roster to which she spoke sincerely about her promos being a challenge.
“Definitely promos. I’m great inside of the ring. I know that, I’m very athletic and I know what I’m doing when I step through those ropes. But promos can be a little bit challenging from time to time. I feel like every single time I go out there, I’m getting better and better and better.
“And really, at the end of the day, that’s all anyone can really ask for, you know? And people could sit there and make fun of my promo work or say whatever, but they’re not doing it. They don’t know what it’s like to have a microphone in your hand. You’re talking to one person across the ring with fans chanting and saying whatever, saying the ‘what’ chant so they could critique and do whatever they want.”
“But unless you have been in that ring doing exactly what I’ve been doing, you can’t. I’m not going to take your advice and I’m not going to listen to you, you know? So definitely the promo work is one thing that I’ve been working on and I feel like every time I go out there, I’m getting better and better.”
“And I go to Paul Heyman, I do go to Becky Lynch. And I try and ask these questions to make sure that I’m putting up the best product possible.”
Stark also shared that she Stratus is just a phone call away, and also helps her out with anything she might need.
“She will take time out of her day and she’ll sit there and go over it with me.”
Rhea Ripley
Stark said she’s “excited” for Saturday’s challenge of Ripley as she’s always wanted to wrestle her.
“Oh, I’m really excited for this one. Before I even came to the main roster, I said I’ve always wanted to really wrestle Ripley and to be able to have a good storyline with her. And now we’re actually here. It’s that time for it. So I’m completely ready and I’m prepared for it. And we’re gonna have a hard-hitting match and it’s going to be exciting.”
Stark won a battle royal to determine the new number one contender for the Womenâs World Championship. After eliminating Raquel Rodriguez together, the final two in the ring were Stark and Shayna Baszler. The two ended up on the apron where Stark took out Baszler with two superkicks and a DDT to win the battle royal.
After the match, Ripley was was being interviewed when Stark confronted her, saying Ripley needed to be paying attention to her. Stark pointed out that she would have pinned Ripley at Crown Jewel if it wasnât for Nix Jax. Ripley brought up that it was her who laid out Stark with a riptide off the turnbuckle.
Prior to the battle royal, Becky Lynch was making her entrance when Xia Li laid her out with a spinning kick. After commercial break, it was revealed that Lynch would be unable to compete in the battle royal as a result of the attack.
Here is the lineup for Survivor Series WarGames:
Womenâs World Championship: Rhea Ripley defends against Zoey Stark
Though their on-screen partnership may be over, Zoey Stark has plenty of kind words for Trish Stratus.
The alliance between Stark and Stratus came to an end after Stratus lost a steel cage match to Becky Lynch at Payback. In a post-match angle, Stratus was upset that Stark’s interference in the match wasn’t successful. She slapped Stark, and Stark responded by laying out Stratus with the Z-360.
âSheâs helped me grow my game,â Stark said. âTrish is so smart. Her knowledge of small details and how to project those, that separates from everyone else. When I see Trish wrestle, it all just makes so much sense.â
Stark also praised Stratus for being a legitimately nice person.
âTrish is so sweet,â Stark said. âSheâs a genuinely nice person and she wants to help.
âI still remember finding out Iâd be working with her. Iâd just worked out with my husband, and we were going to Whole Foodsâand thatâs when I got the call. My heart stopped when I found out Iâd work with Trish. Itâs the opportunity I had been working for. My husband was next to me, and he threw his hands in the air. We were extremely happy.â
Stark and Stratus’ alliance began when Stark helped her defeat Lynch at Night of Champions this May.
Following Payback, Stark was in action against Shayna Baszler on Raw last night. Stark lost the match — but a new alliance seemed to form. Baszler and Stark showed respect to each other and fist-bumped after the match.
Stark told SI FanNation that her career right now is a dream come true.
âIâm blessed and grateful for this,â Stark said. âIâm excited to be where Iâm at. This is every dream Iâve ever had.â
