Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: EVE To Host 2022 SHE-1, MITB Qualifiers, IMPACT Slammiversary

Pro-Wrestling EVE returns with their SHE-1 series. Women’s Money in the Bank qualifiers begin. IMPACT Slammiversary will make Knockouts history, and much more! Let’s break it down on this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

Pro-Wrestling EVE SHE-1 Series Returns

Pro-Wrestling EVE will bring forth their exciting SHE-1 series this weekend from London. Halted by the pandemic the last two years, the SHE-1 series returns for the first time since 2019. The last time, Millie McKenzie previously defeated Mercedes Martinez in the finals to become the “Ace of EVE”.

Now, EVE will feature stars from around the world to host “the most grueling competition in women’s professional wrestling”. On June 18th and 19th, twelve women will compete at four shows in two days, with three different talent blocks. In the end, there could only be one winner.

Speaking of winners, former “Ace Of Eve” Jamie Hayter returns to the SHE-1 competition this year. Hayter won the series in 2018, defeating Kris Wolf and Toni Storm in the finals. Although Hayter has recently joined the ranks of All Elite Wrestling over the past year, her return to EVE will surely be impactful.

Jamie Hayter isn’t the only star entering the 2022 SHE-1 series, though. The official entrants (including Hayter) are:

• Jamie Hayter
• Takumi Iroha
• VENY
• Laura Di Matteo
• Rhia O’Reilly
• Skye Smitson
• Jetta
• Kasey
• Emerson Jayne
• Rhio
• Alex Windsor
• Charlie Morgan

Moreover, the official entrant blocks are as follows:

Block A:

• Alex Windsor
• Skye Smitson
• Rhio
• VENY

Block B:

• Jetta
• Laura Di Matteo
• Rhia O’Reilly
• Kasey

Block C:

• Charli Morgan
• Takumi Iroha
• Emersyn Jayne
• Jamie Hayter

Per traditional SHE-1 rules, each block is comprised of four competitors. Then, each wrestler will square off one-on-one with each opponent in their respective block. A win will earn a competitor two points, while a draw will earn each opponent one point a piece. The competitors with the most points in each bracket at the end of all block competitions will go on to compete in a triple threat match. This triple threat will mark the finals of the SHE-1. However, if there is any tie for points in a block, those tied competitors will have to face each other, and the winner of that match will go on to the official finals.

The winner triple threat finals of the SHE-1 will be locked into the main event Wrestle Queendom 5.

Pro-Wrestling EVE entices fans to tune into this exciting event:

“Join us at the SHE-1 Series and witness the immersive, theatrical, comedic, live-action stunt show experience that is EVE; the anti-establishment women’s wrestling and cabaret night out in central London!”

WWE Money in the Bank Qualifiers

We now know three of the women competing in the 2022 WWE Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

Last week on Friday Night Smackdown, the first qualifying matchup ensued between Lacey Evans and Xia Li. Additionally, this marked Lacey Evans’s first in-ring appearance since February of 2021.

A recap of the match can be read below, courtesy of WrestleZone’s play-by-play coverage:

Li grabs a side headlock. Evans escapes and floors Li with a shoulder block. Li slams Evans’ face into the mat. Li lands a few strikes, followed by a suplex. Evans kicks out. Li traps Evans in a seated cobra clutch. Evans fights to her feet and escapes. Evans lands a basement European uppercut. Handstand bronco buster by Evans. Li kicks Evans in the gut. Li hits the ropes and Evens sends her to the shadow realm with the Women’s Right.

Winner – Lacey Evans

With this victory, Lacey Evans officially became the first woman to punch her ticket to Money in the Bank this year. On Monday Night RAW, two more competitors joined her.

Two former Money in the Bank winners competed against each other in a qualifying tag team matchup. Alexa Bliss cashed in in 2018, while Nikki A.S.H. took home the victory at last year’s Money in the Bank event. Now, Bliss partnered with Liv Morgan to take on Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop, where the winners would earn their slots in this year’s Money in the Bank matchup.

Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan teamed up the week prior in a RAW Women’s Championship number one contender matchup. While neither prevailed in that fatal four-way, the two picked up the victory this week after Bliss landed a DDT on Nikki A.S.H. Therefore, Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan will also officially compete in this year’s Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

Money in the Bank is slated for Saturday, July 2nd from Las Vegas, Nevada. While Evans, Morgan, and Bliss have locked in their participation in the matchup, there appear to be four slots open. Per the WWE graphic below, it appears seven women will be competing in this year’s Money in the Bank match.

Traditionally, an equal number of competitors from each brand usually compete, but this year lends an odd number. Assuming three women from Smackdown and three from RAW compete, that leaves one spot vacant. Perhaps a surprise return is in order for Money in the Bank?

Maybe, just mayb(ayley).

RELATED: WWE SmackDown Results (6/10/22)

IMPACT Slammiversary: Queen of the Mountain, Knockouts Tag Titles On The Line

IMPACT Wrestling celebrates its 20-year anniversary this weekend at its annual Slammiversary pay-per-view. Amidst the celebration, the Knockouts will accomplish another first in the IMPACT Zone.

For the first time ever in IMPACT history, a Queen of the Mountain match takes place. On June 19th, five women will compete in the inaugural Queen of the Mountain match for the Knockouts Championship. Current champion Tasha Steelz will defend her title against some tough competition: Deonna Purrazzo, Chelsea Green, Jordynne Grace, and Mia Yim.

IMPACT Wrestling released the following statement on the history-making Queen of the Mountain match:

It’s time for the Knockouts of IMPACT Wrestling to make history once again. For the first time ever, five Knockouts will compete in a Queen of the Mountain match as Tasha Steelz defends her title in one of the most unique match types in professional wrestling. As revealed by IMPACT Hall of Famer Gail Kim, challenging her will be a lineup of former Knockouts World Champions: Chelsea Green, Jordynne Grace, Deonna Purrazzo and Mia Yim, who made her shocking IMPACT return at Under Siege.

Who will climb the ladder and hang the title to leave IMPACT Wrestling’s 20th anniversary celebration as the Knockouts World Champion? Plus, we now know that Mickie James will be the Special Guest Enforcer to ensure that it’s a fair fight!

As noted above, Mickie James will be the Special Guest Enforcer in the history-making matchup.  As revealed on The Battleground Podcast, James will be present as the enforcer to ensure a fair fight between competitors. Furthermore, this marks Mickie James’ first appearance on IMPACT Wrestling since Multiverse of Matches in April.

That isn’t the only Knockouts action on the Slammiversary card!

The Knockouts Tag Team Championships will also be on the line as well. Reigning champions Tenille Dashwood and Madison Rayne will defend against Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie. IMPACT Wrestling issued the following on the tag team matchup:

At Slammiversary, former friends and enemies Rosemary and AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Taya Valkyrie will join forces to challenge The Influence for the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles! After Havok failed to prove herself to The Influence, she disappeared from the IMPACT! Zone. One week later, Rosemary scored a huge victory over Tenille Dashwood in singles action but quickly found herself on the receiving end of a two-on-one beatdown. There to make the save was Taya Valkyrie as she assisted Rosemary in sending The Influence scurrying to the back.

Can Rosemary and Valkyrie coexist in order to add yet another championship milestone to their long list of accolades? Or will The Influence continue their trend-setting reign?

RELATED: Updated Lineup For IMPACT Slammiversary 2022: Monster’s Ball Added, Ultimate X Complete

INTERVIEWS

All Elite Wrestling star Toni Storm appeared on Talk Is Jericho to discuss her departure from WWE, her last days at the company, her love of Japan and why she hopes to wrestle there again soon, her AEW debut, and more.

Former Knockouts Champion Mickie James spoke with the Battleground Podcast about her involvement at Slammiversary, what’s next for her, her feud with Tasha Steelz, teaming with her husband Nick Aldis and more!

IMPACT Wrestling Hall Of Famer Gail Kim chatted with Denise Salcedo about her current work in IMPACT, breaking barriers in women’s wrestling, the upcoming Slammiversary event, and more.

Former AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose joined The Sessions with Renee Paquette to discuss her journey in pro wrestling, growing up poor in Washington, becoming a genuine comic book writer for Marvel, and more.

CCW Champion KiLynn King spoke with WrestleZone about working for the National Wrestling Alliance, training with Billy Gunn and Bully Ray and more. King also spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about her AEW matches, NWA Alwayz Ready and more.

Taya Valkyrie spoke to WrestleZone about her NWA debut, having something to prove, Johnny Elite in AEW, and more.

“The Fallen Goddess” Athena appeared on Complex Unsanctioned to discuss her start in professional wrestling, her love for Dungeons and Dragons, being bullied as a kid, and much more.

RESULTS:

National Wrestling Alliance: Alwayz Ready – June 11th

• NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championships: Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy & Kenzie Paige) defeat The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) (c) – TITLE CHANGE 
• Natalia Markova (w/Taryn Terrell) defeated Taya Valkyrie
• NWA World Women’s Championship Kamille (c) defeated KiLynn King 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHINE Wrestling: SHINE 73 – June 19th

WWR+: Aces High – June 26th