Naomi Breaks Barriers as WWE’s First Black Woman to Win Money in the Bank.
This victory is a huge milestone in her career.
Naomi’s dedication and determination have paid off. On June 7, she made history by winning the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, becoming the first Black woman to claim the title of Ms. Money in the Bank. This victory is a huge career milestone, securing her the coveted briefcase that guarantees a championship match whenever she chooses.
For Naomi, defeating Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Stephanie Vaquer, Roxanne Perez, and Giulia to secure her first singles title opportunity in years highlights WWE’s belief in her, especially with her rebranded look, theme music, and attitude. This comes just a few years after she and her former tag team partner, Sasha Banks (now wrestling as Mercedes Moné in AEW), walked out of WWE during the May 16, 2022 episode of Raw. The two Black women left in protest over frustrations with WWE’s creative team, led by Vince McMahon, who they felt were underutilizing them as the women’s world tag team champions.
Naomi’s heel turn has brought out some of the best character work of her career. As she told Variety before the Premium Live Event, staying in character, she felt it was time for her persona to evolve into something darker and more aggressive, particularly after the storyline involving her attack on Jade Cargill.
“I’d been thinking about it for a while—where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do if I was going to change,” Naomi shared. “I wanted to break away from the bright, glowing, neon colors, and the bubbly persona. After what I did to Jade and leaving behind a crime scene, it just clicked – caution tape is universal. Everyone knows what that means.”
While Naomi was excited about her new look and persona, she had some reservations about how fans would react. However, the response so far has only reassured her that she made the right choice.
“It’s everything I hoped for,” she said. “It feels amazing to change the audience’s perception of me in such a short time. I was definitely nervous, though, because I’ve been seen as the ‘good girl’ for so long. Completely switching it up – you never know if it will work or if the fans will buy into it. That was a big challenge for me.”
Naomi added, “The reaction and live response mean everything to me. When fans engage and interact with me during the show, that’s what matters most. I can definitely feel the energy, so I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing—being absolutely ruthless.”
After the match, Naomi joined Big E on WWE’s post-Money in the Bank show, where the former New Day member, who has watched Naomi’s journey for 16 years, showered her with praise for her hard work and well-deserved success.
“I’ve known this woman for 16 years, and to see you have your best run now, to witness everything you’ve been through over the years, to watch your growth, and see you become a World Champion in TNA – it’s incredible. You’ve endured so much, and I know that neither the fans nor I even know half of what you’ve had to overcome.”
Naomi, visibly moved by Big E’s kind words, thanked him before playfully scolding the crowd for chanting that she deserved this moment, as she appeared close to tears while sitting at the desk.
For Naomi, going from feeling overlooked by WWE’s leadership to now being recognized by Paul “Triple H” Levesque as a potential women’s world champion is undoubtedly validating. The rest of the women’s roster better watch out—unless they want to feel the sharp end of Naomi’s caution-tape-wrapped boots.
