I can’t say I’m optimistic about this year’s edition of Money in the Bank. While last year’s PPV featured headlining matches such as the initial Styles/Cena match, Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins and an outstanding ladder match, this year features a woman making her singles debut for the Smackdown Women’s Championship, absolutely no showing of two of the most talented tag-teams on the roster, and sadly another Randy Orton match.
See what you’ve done by including another Randy Orton match, Vince?
Only six matches make up this edition of MITB, which leaves plenty of room for surprise appearances, impromptu matches, and perhaps a debut?
Let’s skip the small talk and get to it!
Hype Bros vs. The Colons (Pre-Show)
In yet another edition of “The Colons have a PPV match and American Alpha is Nowhere to Be Found”, the former travel agents/matadors and current terrible wrestlers take on the Bros of Hype in what is bound to be a fairly empty arena.
Guys, seriously, this was their last gimmick. TRAVEL AGENTS.
Zack Ryder made his triumphant return from injury on the go-home show of Smackdown Live, and a match was announced shortly after. Honestly, I was happy to see Ryder return, if only for added depth to the tag team division. Remember, he was injured in a match that saw the Hype Bros take number one contendership to the then-Wyatt tag team championships.
I must admit, when Ryder initially came back, my gut instinct led me to think a heel turn for Ryder was in the works, but I don’t know if I can see that at their first PPV back. It’ll be nice to see them back in the ring together, and nicer when they beat the Colons.
Prediction: The Hype Bros
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match – The Usos © vs. The New Day
I just have to state how upset I am that Breezango isn’t included in this match somehow. Do I know how they’d make it happen? No, but I’m a simple blogger. It’s WWE Creative’s part to come up with the storylines, dammit!
These men are national treasures, much like the movie National Treasure.
Anyways, it’s exciting to have the New Day back in action, and even more exciting to watch them take on the Usos. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of Jimmy and Jay, but at the very least they’re not as insufferable as they were prior to their heel turn.
The teams have outstanding chemistry with one another; frankly, this may be one of the only well wrestled singles matches on the card. I don’t think the time is right to take the belt off the Usos – I’ll give them the win here
Prediction: The Usos retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match – Naomi © vs. Lana
I’ll tell you right now, I want Lana to win this one to see the internet collectively explode.
It’s her first singles match in WWE, and it’s for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe that anyone’s had a championship shot in their debut since Sami Zayn’s first main roster match, and even that was a unique opportunity. Lana? Nope. She just asked, and here she is. What a time to be alive.
It’s not her fault whatsoever, but I just can’t bring myself to caring about Naomi. She’s perfectly average as far as both wrestling and her mic abilities go, and I simply can’t get invested in someone who hits someone in the face with their ass as a finishing move.
Seriously.
Would it be right to take the title off Naomi right now? No. Even if it was, should Lana be the one to do it? No. But I’ll be damned if I don’t want to see it.
Prediction: Lana wins the Smackdown Women’s Championship
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Tamina vs. Carmella vs. Natalya
It’s nice to see the Smackdown women finally get involved in some historic matches!
After the RAW women got first dibs on a Hell in a Cell match, and the first match to headline a PPV, the Smackdown ladies get the first shot at a Money in the Bank Ladder match. A ton of talent will occupy the ring for this match as well, with half of the Four Horsewomen involved, with two hall-of-fame daughters there as well.
Each woman in this match has a case for victory, but for me it really comes down to one advantage – James Ellsworth. With the Welcoming Committee out for Charlotte Flair, I feel that Ellsworth will provide just enough of a distraction for Becky Lynch to allow someone else to scale the ladder first. Whom might that be?
No, not Ellsworth
Prediction: Carmella wins the Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. AJ Styles
I have no doubt in my mind that this will be the highlight of the night.
All six men in this match are excellent wrestlers; arguably, the worst of the bunch is Baron Corbin, and even he’s vastly improved since debuting on the main roster just over a year ago. With talents such as Sami Zayn, Nakamura and AJ Styles in the same ring, I personally can guarantee that this will be an excellent match.
The nicest thing about this ladder match is that there’s no clear frontrunner for me. Each man can make a (brief)case for winning the match.
See what I did there?
Firstly, I think I’ll eliminate both Kevin Owens and Shinsuke Nakamura from my options. I feel as though WWE has been building towards Nakamura and Owens feuding for the US Championship, and don’t think either needs the boost that the briefcase gives. I also don’t think Sami Zayn will win, nor do I think AJ Styles. Both are faces at the time, and personally I just feel that the briefcase is designed to be held by a heel – leaving two options.
I’ll keep it short and sweet for you, friends – I don’t want Dolph Ziggler to win this, and I’m making my prediction purely based on that.
Prediction: Baron Corbin wins the Money in the Bank Ladder Match
WWE Championship Match – Jinder Mahal © vs. Randy Orton
It’s difficult for me to want to write about this match, and it’s not just because I was at WWE Live last night. (What a night, by the way.)
It’s difficult for me to write about this match because it represents the absolute low point of wrestling for me right now. WWE has done a horrendous job with Mahal as a champion, and while I can certainly appreciate that the guy is trying his best and having fun, the top championship in the company shouldn’t be rendered to a participation trophy.
And then there’s Randy Orton. God, I hate Randy Orton.
I don’t know what it will take, but I somehow want neither of these two men to leave the arena with the championship. I hope there’s a steroid bust. I hope that through pretty well anything but injury or death, both these men are unable to compete and the wrestling gods are forced to pick a new champion.
We can only hope
Remember when last year’s main event was Reigns vs. Rollins?
Prediction: Jinder Mahal retains the WWE Championship
And there you have it! Don’t forget to tweet me at @SpennyLove with your opinions!
