Naomi Beats Lana to Retain Women's SmackDown Title at WWE Money in the Bank

Naomi was victorious over Lana on Sunday night at Money in the Bank to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship.

After failing to beat Naomi with her modified spinebuster, Lana attempted to hit the move again. Naomi countered, however, and locked Lana in A Bad Place. Unable to escape, Lana tapped out.

WWE Universe shared a look at the winning submission:

"

SUBMISSION VICTORY for @NaomiWWE as she remains your #SDLive #WomensChampion! #MITB pic.twitter.com/B1ZGDizEuh

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 19, 2017"

Having won the Money in the Bank briefcase earlier in the night, Carmella will be waiting in the wings to take Naomi's title. WWE alluded to that fact after Carmella appeared at ringside:

After a Fatal 5-Way No. 1 contender's match devolved into chaos, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Natalya and Tamina were placed in the first women's Money in the Bank ladder match.

That left Naomi without an immediate challenger and seemingly without a match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, but that changed a couple of weeks ago on SmackDown.

Lana debuted and requested either a title match or entry into the ladder match, but she was shut down by Naomi and SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon.

After interfering in a six-woman tag team match and costing Naomi, however, Lana got what she wanted.

Naomi begged McMahon to allow her to face Lana at Money in the Bank, and after offering to put the title on the line, her wish was granted.

Despite having little in-ring experience, Lana jumped to the front of the line and found herself in easily the biggest match of her career.

Lana debuted as a wrestler in a multiwoman tag team match at WrestleMania 32, but aside from working WWE and NXT live events, her time as a singles wrestler has been limited.

Much of Lana's tenure in WWE has been spent managing Rusev, but she entered Money in the Bank with nobody to fall back on.

Lana was also faced with a hugely difficult challenge since Naomi has established herself as one of the most physically impressive and successful female Superstars in WWE.

Although Naomi is a two-time SmackDown Women's champion, she didn't have many opportunities to defend the title prior to Money in the Bank.

Her first title reign was cut short by injury, and while she won the title back at WrestleMania, she didn't defend it at Backlash since there was a six-woman tag team match instead.

Sunday's pay-per-view represented an opportunity to show what she can do on the big stage, and Naomi didn't disappoint with a win over her newest rival.

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