Tonight on WWE SmackDown, Adam Pearce announced that a Ladder Match will take place at SummerSlam to crown a new interim WWE Women's Champion. This decision came due to a torn meniscus injury suffered by the current champion, Rhea Ripley, which has left her unable to compete at the premium live event.

This week, Tiffany Stratton faced Jacy Jayne in the opening qualifier for the Ladder Match. However, before the opening bell could ring, Jayne’s Fatal Influence stablemates, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, launched a vicious three-on-one assault on the reigning WWE United States Champion to give Jayne an early advantage.

Fortunately for Stratton, help arrived before the damage became irreversible. Paige and Brie Bella rushed down to the ring to attack Fatal Influence and even the odds, sparking a brawl around the arena. As the chaos spilled away from ringside, the referee signaled for the qualifying match to get underway.

Despite the earlier attack, Stratton started strong with a series of thunderous chops that forced Jayne onto the defensive. The United States Champion followed up by tripping Jayne, executing a hip attack, and landing a sharp basement dropkick.

Jayne turned the tide by cornering Stratton and unleashing multiple kicks to the midsection. The physical encounter reached a standstill when Jayne missed a senton, causing both competitors to collide heavily in the center of the ring. After trading right hands, Jayne managed to connect with a step-up enziguri. Stratton quickly fired back with a running clothesline, a spinning elbow, and an Alabama Slam.

Jayne attempted a rolling elbow, but Stratton countered it into a Rolling Senton to position Jayne perfectly near the corner. Stratton then climbed the turnbuckle and hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to secure the clean pinfall victory.

With this victory, the reigning WWE Women's United States Champion, Tiffany Stratton, officially becomes the first participant to advance into the five-woman SummerSlam Ladder Match. It will be interesting to see if she can add more championship gold to her collection.

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