Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill qualify for interim women's title match at SummerSlam

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WWE doesn’t know how much longer women’s champion Rhea Ripley will be out of action due to a torn meniscus. Wade Barrett said it could be a couple of weeks, or it could be a few months. Due to the uncertainty, there will be a ladder match at SummerSlam to crown an interim WWE women’s champ. Qualifying matches began on tonight’s (July 17) episode of SmackDown to determine two of the five ladder match participants. First up was Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne. Prior to the match, Tiffy Time reminded fans that SummerSlam is in her home state of Minnesota, and there’s no way she’s missing out on the interim title ladder match. The U.S. champ backed up those words by beating Jayne with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, after WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Paige and Brie Bella helped take away the rest of Fatal Influence from ringside. It's TIFFY TIME ⏱️@tiffstrattonwwe qualifies for the Interim WWE Women's Title Ladder Match at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/1bElg7AE6m — WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2026 The other qualifying match tonight saw Nia Jax take on former women’s champion Jade Cargill. WWE deprived fans from watching this workrate classic when Charlotte Flair quickly ran in to attack Cargill and cause a disqualification, in an attempt to get revenge for The Baddies injuring Alexa Bliss last week. In other words, Flair is a dumbass who helped Cargill qualify for the interim title match without breaking a sweat. I mean, she could have just waited until the match was over to attack an exhausted Cargill. The Queen @MsCharlotteWWE with some REVENGE on Jade Cargill! 👊 pic.twitter.com/LjxII6TsLJ — WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2026 The Queen paid for her dumbassery post-match when a furious Jax attacked her, and Cargill then laid her out with Jaded. OH MY 😨 Off the disqualification, Jade Cargill qualifies for #Summerslam! pic.twitter.com/lCtOklZwoL — WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2026 As a result of the screw job, acting GM Adam Pearce is giving Jax a second chance next week when she faces Flair in another qualifying match. Three spots remain now that Stratton and Cargill are qualified for the interim women’s title ladder match at SummerSlam. One of those spots will almost certainly go to Flair. Who else do you see being added to the ladder match? Chelsea Green? Blake Monroe? Giulia? Not Jordynne Grace? Let me know your thoughts on how the SummerSlam interim women’s championship ladder match is shaping up, Cagesiders. Catch up on all the results from SmackDown in our live blog right here.

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A ladder match at WWE SummerSlam will determine the interim Women's Champion due to Rhea Ripley's injury.