At Sunday night's SmackDown LIVE-exclusive WWE Money in the Bank event, Carmella became the first woman in WWE history to win a Money in the Bank Ladder Match; however, the outcome was not without controversy, as Carmella's win came as the result of James Ellsworth climbing the ladder and unhooking the briefcase before dropping it into Carmella's hands.

One of the referees at ringside called for the bell to ring, signifying the end of the match - and Carmella as the winner - as there are no disqualifications in this type of match. Two of the referees, however, argued that the match should continue due to Ellsworth not being one of the official competitors. In the end, Carmella was officially ruled as the winner.