WWE | A Global Return

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Following WrestleMania 37, Vince McMahon announced he had lost his gusto and didn't want to continue with WWE moving forward. Nick Khan and Triple H took over along with Stephanie McMahon. The next plan in action was to get WWE back in front of fans full-time. Feeling confident, Triple H announced July 18th and Money in the Bank would be the first live event in front of fans. The week prior, Triple H announced a WWE Draft and used Raw and SmackDown to draft, much like the NFL. This gave the superstars a break, filling the show with selections, video packages, and pre-taped promos before going to Money in the Bank in Fort Worth, Texas.

How will this new era feel under Triple H's control? The Draft might be a good indicator!

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CHAMPIONS:
WWE CHAMPION ~ BOBBY LASHLEY
UNIVERSAL CHAMPION ~ ROMAN REIGNS
RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION ~ RHEA RIPLEY
UNITED STATES CHAMPION ~ SHEAMUS
RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ~ AJ STYLES & OMOS


ROSTER:
AJ Styles
Angel Garza
Angelo Dawkins
Bobby Lashley
Bronson Reed
Cameron Grimes
Cedric Alexander
Cesaro
Damian Priest
Drew McIntyre
Elias
Erik
Fabian Aichner
Humberto Carrillo
Ivar
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Johnny Gargano
Keith Lee
Kevin Owens
King Nakamura
Kushida
LA Knight
Marcel Barthel
Montez Ford
Omos
Pete Dunne
R-Truth
Randy Orton
Roman Reigns
Sami Zayn
Sheamus
Shelton Benjamin
Tommaso Ciampa
WALTER

Asuka
Carmella
Ember Moon
Kay Lee Ray
Lacey Evans
Natalya
Nia Jax
Raquel Rodriguez
Rhea Ripley
Sasha Banks
Tamina
Toni Storm
Zelina Vega


ALLIANCES:
The Bloodline/The Usos
The Street Profits
The Viking Raiders
AJ Styles & Omos

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CHAMPIONS:
SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION ~ BIANCA BELAIR
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION ~ DOLPH ZIGGLER
SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ~ THE MYSTERIOS
MR. MONEY IN THE BANK ~ BIG E
MS. MONEY IN THE BANK ~ Alexa Bliss


ROSTER:
Adam Cole
Baron Corbin
Big E
Bray Wyatt
Chad Gable
Cruz del Toro
Dijak
Dolph Ziggler
Dominik Mysterio
Edge
Finn Balor
Jeff Hardy
Jinder Mahal
Joaquin Wilde
John Morrison
Kofi Kingston
Matt Riddle
Mustafa Ali
Otis
Rey Mysterio
Ricochet
Robert Roode
Sanga
Santos Escobar
Seth Rollins
Shanky
Swerve Scott
The Miz
Veer
Xavier Woods

Alexa Bliss
Bayley
Bianca Belair
Dakota Kai
Charlotte Flair
Io Shirai
Liv Morgan
Mia Yim
Naomi
Shayna Baszler
Sonya Deville


ALLIANCES:
Alpha Academy
Dirty Dawgs
Legado del Fantasma
Miz & Morrison
The Mysterios
The New Day

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~ DEVELOPMENTAL/NXT ~

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~ TITLE HISTORY ~

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~ WWE NETWORK ARCHIVE ~

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~ FREE SPACE ~

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WRESTLING NEWS

- Since Vince McMahon's retirement after WrestleMania, Triple H and company have been in contact with some released talent returning to the WWE. We're unsure who these would be, but as thin as the rosters are, these talents can be introduced soon on television.

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- One name that isn't expected to return is Brock Lesnar. Lesnar no longer has a contract with WWE and since Vince McMahon retired, those close to Lesnar says he has no desire to continue working for the WWE.

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- NXT was raided of talent, elevating stars from the WWE Draft and the undrafted free agents. WWE has been advertising "a new NXT" debuting this Tuesday.

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- Here are the undrafted free agents who signed with...

RAW:
Angel Garza
Bronson Reed (NXT)
Cameron Grimes (NXT)
Cedric Alexander
Elias
Fabian Aichner (NXT)
Humberto Carrillo
Johnny Gargano (NXT)
Keith Lee (NXT)
Kushida
Marcel Barthel (NXT)
Pete Dunne (NXT)
R-Truth
Shelton Benjamin
Tommaso Ciampa (NXT)
Viking Raiders
Carmella
Kay Lee Ray (NXT)
Lacey Evans
Natalya
Nia Jax
Raquel Rodriguez (NXT)
Tamina
Toni Storm (NXT)
Zelina Vega

SMACKDOWN:
Baron Corbin
Dijak (fka T-Bar)
Jeff Hardy
Jinder Mahal
Sanga
Shanky
Veer
Alexa Bliss
Dakota Kai (NXT)
Io Shirai (NXT)
Mia Yim
Naomi
Sonya Deville

And those reportedly sent down to NXT:
Akira Tozawa
Commander Azeez/Dabba-Kato
Eva Marie
Gran Metalik
Lince Dorado
Reginald
Riddick Moss
Shotzi

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- And unfortunately, some were released from their duties from WWE:
Aliyah (NXT)
Apollo Crews
Dana Brooke
Danny Burch (NXT)
Doudrop
Drew Gulak
Jake Atlas (NXT)
James Drake (NXT)
Jaxson Ryker
Jessi Kamea (NXT)
Leon Ruff (NXT)
Mace
Mansoor
Mercedes Martinez (NXT)
Nikki ASH
Oney Lorcan (NXT)
Rick Boogs
Shane Thorne
Tegan Nox (NXT)
Timothy Thatcher (NXT)
Trent Seven (NXT)
Tyler Rust (NXT)
Zack Gibson (NXT)

EDITORS NOTE: Didn't have any plans for Apollo Crews, so I did release him. Rather than him being Intercontinental Champion, we'll say there was creative differences so Robert Roode helped Ziggler become champion for the 7th time on the July 5th edition of SmackDown.

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MONEY IN THE BANK MATCH CARD:

Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Carmella vs. Liv Morgan vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Tamina vs. Zelina Vega in the Women's MITB Ladder Match

AJ Styles & Omos(c) vs. The Viking Raiders for the Raw Tag Team Championships

Bobby Lashley(c) vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship

The Usos vs. The Mysterios(c) for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships

Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley(c) for the Raw Women's Championship

Big E vs. Drew McIntyre vs. John Morrison vs. Kevin Owens vs. King Nakamura vs. Ricochet vs. Riddle vs. Seth Rollins in the Men's MITB Ladder Match

Edge vs. Roman Reigns(c) for the Universal Championship

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EDITORS NOTE: Obviously things are going to change a bit on this PPV to help set the new direction moving forward in the BTB. This will be brief to get the ball rolling.

MONEY IN THE BANK:

Money in the Bank kicks off with Stephanie McMahon walking to the stage and saying tonight is just the beginning of a NEW ERA in WWE! Stephanie says a huge part of the WWE in 2021 is the women's revolution that began just a few years ago, and tonight, they begin with the women's ladder match!

Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka vs. Carmella vs. Liv Morgan vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Tamina vs. Zelina Vega
This PPV begins with all 8 women going for the women's Money in the Bank briefcase. Showcasing all their talents, it's a fantastic way to begin this new era! Liv Morgan scales her way to the top and it appears she has the briefcase when the lights go out. When they come back on, Alexa Bliss is opposite side of her. However, Bliss looks different. She's got the darkened eyelids and a stoic face before gouging the eyes of Liv Morgan and tipping her off the ladder, grabbing the briefcase to win the match. Alexa doesn't celebrate but the lights go out, when they come back on, Bliss is gone and everyone is looking confused, then deflated after realizing the briefcase is gone.

Notably, cutting to the backstage area, Drew McIntyre was laid out with his knee pinned against the wall and a storage crate. Once discovered, McIntyre gets immediate medical attention but he's in a lot of pain.

Raw Tag Team Championships
AJ Styles & Omos(c) vs. The Viking Raiders
This match happens exactly how it did in real life, where Styles and Omos easily retain.

Triple H is seen exiting the trainers room and gives Kayla Braxton an update on McIntyre. Triple H says McIntyre isn't in good shape and he's going to the hospital soon for further evaluation, which takes him out of Money in the Bank later tonight. When interrogated by Kayla Braxton what this means, Triple H says he always has a Plan B.

WWE Championship
Bobby Lashley(c) vs. Kofi Kingston
Lashley and Kingston battle it out, but this happens exactly how it happened irl, with Lashley walking away bringing the WWE Championship officially to Raw. After the match, Kofi gets consoled by Big E and Xavier Woods, but it makes the main event later tonight that much more important. Michael Cole points out if Roman Reigns retains the Universal Championship tonight, SmackDown has no world champion, so the pressure is all on Edge now.

Morrison and Miz are prepping when Megan Morant approaches about potentially them taking Drew McIntyre out. They refuse to admit such, even if there's footage from an interview on Friday's SmackDown where they said they'd do anything to give Morrison the briefcase. Miz defends themselves by saying that's the mentality of any competitor, but they didn't take McIntyre out, but they're not shedding a tear either.

SmackDown Tag Team Championships
The Usos vs. The Mysterios(c)
With one set of tag titles already on Raw, The Mysterios fight hard to keep the titles on SmackDown. At one point, Rey Mysterio is completely taken out of the match and to the back, so it's a 2-on-1 assault. The Usos can't put Dominik away, but it gets close before Rey limps to the ring, gets a hot tag and goes off. Rey Mysterio hits the 619 on Jimmy, which makes him loopy, but Rey springboards right into a 1-D by The Usos! This almost ends it before DOMINIK crashes through the pin! It appears The Usos are about to end it when these guys run out in suits, led by Santos Escobar! It's Legado del Fantasma! They don't make contact with The Usos, but it's enough to distract for Dominik and Rey to dropkick them from behind, hit a double 619 and springboard/frog splash to KEEP the SmackDown tag titles!

Edge is concentrated in the backstage area, zoned in sitting on the edge of his seat. Kayla Braxton comes up to him and asks if Edge saw the WWE Championship result from tonight, where if Edge loses tonight, that means SmackDown will not have a world champion. Edge said before tonight, this main event meant everything. Edge says he's come back from a career-ending neck injury, had his first match back in front of no fans, won the Royal Rumble in front of a bunch of screens, lost in Raymond James Stadium and now the fans are back. Edge says he had to let the World Heavyweight Championship go with his injury, but now he has the opportunity to get back on top. Edge said it meant everything, but now it means even more. Edge reminds Kayla he carried the SmackDown brand as world champion back in 2007-2011. Edge says tonight, he puts the entire brand on his back and WILL bring home the Universal Championship!

Raw Women's Championship
Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley(c)
Ripley and Charlotte went at it hard, resembling their WrestleMania 36 match in front of no fans. However, Ripley finally overcomes the Queen and hits a Super-Riptide to keep her women's title on Raw!

SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair is watching when Megan Morant asks about Belair being out tonight due to Bayley's injury. Belair wishes Bayley a speedy recovery, despite not seeing eye-to-eye on several things. Belair says she was on the promotional poster and feels like she let the crowd down. Belair says she couldn't get back on the card tonight, but she's issuing an open challenge to anyone for this Friday on SmackDown and will prove she's the EST of... Belair stops in her tracks. Belair spots Io Shirai from NXT there. It appears Io Shirai is stepping up!

The guys are making their way down for the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. And with no Drew McIntyre, Triple H steps out and says he is always prepared. Out comes Drew McIntyre's replacement... MURPHY! Buddy Murphy is back! Seth can't believe his eyes and Murphy makes a bee-line for Rollins and the bell rings.

Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Big E vs. Buddy Murphy vs. John Morrison vs. Kevin Owens vs. King Nakamura vs. Matt Riddle vs. Ricochet vs. Seth Rollins
The match is combustible, and there's a few moments we thought the match was over. Most notably, Seth Rollins was scaling up when he almost had it, but Buddy Murphy comes and grabs Rollins to hit the powerbomb to the bridged ladder at ringside. Buddy's resting on the ropes when Ricochet hits a Springboard 450 Splash to the back of Murphy, flattening the combatant. Ricochet scaled up and King Nakamura scales the other side, before another ladder is set up by Matt Riddle, and then Kevin Owens climbs up. John Morrison tries setting up another ladder, but Big E stops him and sends Morrison to the outside. One by one, Big E pulls the wrestlers off to hit the Big Ending, until he lays out everyone! Nobody's in sight and Big E climbs up, retrieving the briefcase and winning Money in the Bank! Xavier Woods is the first to run down and hug Big E while Kofi Kingston follows suit, still feeling the effects mentally and physically after tonight. Big E gets celebrated by his New Day brothers and everyone's excited!

A video package highlights the next PPV: SummerSlam on August 21. We then see some previews of this week, including the General Managers being revealed on both Raw and SmackDown. Both GMs drafted Raw and SmackDown rosters, but their identity has been hidden until THIS WEEK! But now, where will the Universal Champion be? Roman Reigns going on nearly 1 year as champion and Edge hasn't held gold since he was forced to retire ten years ago.

WWE Universal Championship
Edge vs. Roman Reigns(c)
This match concludes exactly how it did in real life. However, no surprise entrants. The night concludes with Roman Reigns holding the championship high at the ramp while Edge tries coping with this loss in the ring, looking dejected after failing to bring the Universal Championship to SmackDown. Michael Cole asks what's next for SmackDown without a world champion, but Corey Graves points out both champions are now on Raw and he's excited for tomorrow!