WWE keeps on filling up the Money in the Bank 2023 ladder match lineup on their weekly programming and that tradition continued on this week’s episode of Smackdown. Two Men’s division qualifiers went down and two more fresh faces made their way to the opportunistic ladder match.
In the first qualifier scheduled on Smackdown, Santos Escobar joined the fray for the men’s Money in the Bank 2023 ladder match as he defeated free agent Mustafa Ali to earn his spot. Thus he joined LA Knight, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Ricochet to become the fourth overall participant.
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Previously on NXT, Escobar had some experience in competing in ladder matches in WWE. For two consecutive NXT Stand and Deliver events, he participated in the gimmick match, and back in 2021, he came out victorious against JD McDonagh.
Interestingly, The Latino World Older will also represent the women’s side of the ladder match as Escobar’s ally Zelina Vega was the first female superstar to qualify for the women’s Money in the Bank 2023 ladder match on last week’s SmackDown after beating Lacey Evans.
Corbin missed Money in the Bank 2023 opportunity due to focusing on NXT Champion
Moving forward on this week’s Smackdown, Butch defeated Baron Corbin to qualify for the Men’s Money in the Bank 2023 Ladder Match to become the fifth participant of the mix. NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were seated at ringside for this match and Corbin was focused on them rather than winning the match. Corbin also punched Trick after the match which created a brawl.
Corbin has recently returned to NXT, turning his attention to winning the NXT Championship, a title that he never won before. The Lone Wolf is expected to receive a championship match, soon. During this week’s NXT episode, Corbin already defeated Trick in a singles contest in the absence of Hayes as he was selling an injury from Corbin’s attack from the earlier NXT episode.
While Corbin remains focused on the NXT Title, Butch will now head onto Money in the Bank 2023 premium live event that takes place Saturday, July 1, from the O2 Arena in London, England. It will mark WWE’s third straight PLE held outside the USA territory. Both the PLEs in May were held overseas, Backlash from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then Night of Champions from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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