Tomorrow, June 17th is Father’s Day. Also it’s WWE’s Money in the Bank. The annual Pay Per View that focuses on a high stakes ladder match with a briefcase hanging over the ring. The WWE Superstar that climbs up the ladder and grabs the briefcase will have the opportunity to compete for the WWE Championship at anytime during the year. Past winners, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Dolph Ziegler, just to name a few are Superstars that has successfully “cashed in, winning a WWE Championship.” This is normally done when their opponent already has already just finished being in a match, tired and all. What better way to kick a man when he’s down.
Once again this year, there’s two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches. One for the Men and one for the Women. Along with those two main events, they’re other compelling matches on this card. Here’s my predictions of those matches, as well as my picks for the two Money in the Bank winners:
– Roman Reigns Vs. Jinder Mahal: This match should be good for a slugfest. Being that I’m not a fan of any of these two, I would like to see them beat the crap out of each other in a quick amount of time so we can move on to the next match. Everyone expects Reigns to win this match, but I still believe WWE Management is big on Jinder, and a win, even it it’s by interference will build up his resume and not damage Reigns. A “dirty” loss win surely keep Reigns on his cry fest about how he’s gettting screwed. Hopefully this will evolve to a heel turn and I can start liking him. Prediction: Jinder Mahal
-Asuka vs Carmela (Smackdown Women’s Championship): The two Women’s Championship matches at Money in the Bank are interesting in that when the logic test is applied, there’s a clear favorite and a clear underdog. But I do expect surprises coming out of these matches. The first one Asuka vs. Carmela screams Asuka steamrolling over Carmela who when she started her singles run, appeared to be a one-dimensional character. After beating Charlotte Flair, a stronger character development and letting everyone know “Carmela is Money,” she can make storylines compelling. Even with this, I believe that she has more of a role as a good nemesis for an up and comer than champion at this stage in her career. Plus, I believe that when Asuka lost her streak to Flair at Wrestlemania, that a championship run would be what she got in return. Even though I see Asuka winning, I do think that Carmela brings it and it will end up being a good match (if not better than the other Women’s title match that I will discuss later). Prediction (and new Smackdown Women’s Champ): Asuka
-Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass: If they are looking to make Big Cass a big heel (fun play on words), this is the match he needs to do it in. Bryan does not look bad in a loss, or even a Kayfabe injury, which I think happens in this match. I expect Cass to come out as a monster, with of course Bryan playing the strong little man role. At the end, I see Cass winning and in the process leaving Bryan in a state where he (kayfabe) takes some time off, setting up the rubber match at Summerslam. Prediction: Big Cass
-Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn: The biggest thing I have gotten from this rivalry is how much I love Sami Zayn as a heel. He’s a natural. On the other hand, I’m still trying to get an idea as to what WWE Creative will use Bobby Lashley for. Maybe they think that fans forgot his last run that ended ten years ago and they slowly need to reintroduce him to the WWE Universe. I think that Lashley wins the match, but I don’t expect the feud to end anytime soon. Prediction: Bobby Lashley
– AJ Styles Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Championship): Most likely, the second best match of the night (behind the Seth Rollins and Elias match). As a “Last Man Standing” match, I see this as the perfect opportunity to show how much of a demon that Shinsuke actually can be. I do love the “can’t speak English” and the “pen don’t work” routine and I love him as a heel. But I really want to see Shinsuke become vicious, and I expect that to take shape tomorrow. Even though I see AJ bringing all he has (as usual) and making it out of this match with his title, the big winner in my book will be the evolution of Shinsuke’s WWE persona, as he is gonna make AJ hurt, really bad! Prediction (and still champ): AJ Styles (and still the champ)
-Seth Rollins vs. Elias (Intercontinental Championship Match): This will be the match of the night. Elias has been waiting for a match where he’s paired with someone who will push him to step up his game. This match will be it. I’m glad to see that Rollins, ever since being the IC champion be the performer that he once was before he was placed on the shelf with his major injury a couple of years ago. I expect the match to be a back and forth affair, with of course near falls. In the end, Seth will be too much for Elias, but don’t sleep on the guy with the guitar. He’s due for a title run, very soon… Prediction (and still champ): Seth “Freakin”Rollins
-Women’s Money in the Bank Match: There’s a reason why I’m covering the Womens’s Money in the Bank match before the Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey Match (hopefully you can follow my crazy logic). There’s eight women in this match, who I believe is the on the “A-List” of Women’s Wrestling. I believe that Ember Moon will showcase her extraordinary talents and of course Alexa Bliss will not disappoint. But there’s something about Natalya and how WWE creative is playing up her “injury”, along with heavily emphasizing her close relationship with Ronda Rousey. I believe that last Monday’s Raw, when she won the four-way match on a bad leg is an harbinger of what’s going to happen here. I feel that this will be the best out of the two Ladder Matches, with Nattie coming out on top. Prediction: Natalya
Which that leads me to this match:
– Ronda Rousey vs Nia Jax (Raw Women’s Championship Match): When I initially learned that Nia Jax challenged a green Ronda Rousey to a championship match, I scratched my head, trying to find the logic behind it. More questioning the logic of WWE Creative when they decided to give Rousey a title shot in her first singles match. I believed that a feud with Stephanie McMahon that resembled her Dad’s feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin years ago would be the best place to start Rousey. A great woman “against the establishment” angle would be a good compelling story line as Rousey gets more comfortable in the ring and behind the mic. This match is pretty tricky because on paper and in real life, Rousey would run all over Jax and have her tap to an arm bar at the drop of a hat. Making this match competitive enough to make Jax look good is a challenge.
As I see it, Jax will pull out some moves to that will take advantage of Rousey’s lack of experience in the ring. This will make for a more competitive (if not more believable) match. What I can see happening is that Rousey will win the match and the title. Natalya will be there to celebrate with her. Then in classic “double cross” style, Nattie catches Ronda in a moment of weakness, that includes a cheap shot, an impromptu “Cash in” and the championship around her waist. Then the next night on Raw, we’ll finally find out how crooked of a person Ronda is and how Nattie had to stab her in the back. Prediction (and new Champion): Ronda Rousey, for only for a brief moment as Nattie cashes in and becomes Raw Women’s Champ.
-Men’s Money in the Bank Match: This match will be a toss up as anyone of these guys could win it. I don’t see Braun Stowman winning, because as a big guy, I can’t believe that he’s coordinated enough to climb a ladder. In addition, Braun is more of an attraction than a champion. If he had the belt on his waist, there’s no one currently on the roster that will make a believable opponent for him. You may say Brock Lesner, but he wrestles once in a decade, so he doesn’t count. I see the winner of this going to someone on the Smackdown Roster and I can’t stop being sold on Rusev. I think that this is the year that every day will be Rusev Day. Although the Miz will make things interesting. Prediction: Rusev
Those are my predictions, I will be watching tomorrow night and will have a recap of the event sometime next week.
My love of Pro Wresting (or sports entertainment) started when I was about seven years old and growing up in Brooklyn, New York. My brother and I use to watch WWF (now known as WWE) with our grandmother Saturdays in our living room. When we weren’t watching Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog and Macho Man Randy Savage on TV, we would play with their action figures (or boy dolls). One of the fondest memories I have was when I was nine years old and saw my first WWF live event at Madison Square Garden. Even after it became widely known that the matches were scripted, I still couldn’t find a better way to spend my Weekend morning. When I started in college, I had to only watch when my roommate wasn’t around because of trying to avoid the stigma that’s attached to people who watch. I felt like I was watching Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro in a bunker!!! All that would change when because WCW with the NWO and WWE with their “Attitude Era” made Pro Wrestling white hot through the late 90’s and the early 2000’s. It was actually cool to watch Wrestlemania with your date. Even though that level of popularity wouldn’t last, my love for it has remained strong.
Over 40 and Still Follow Wrestling 