This year’s rendition of Money in the Bank will take place in London. The O2 Arena will be rocking as WWE will host its first main roster Premium Live Event (PLE) in England since Insurrextion 2003. It is also the first PLE to feature both brands since Rebellion 2001.
The Bloodline explodes. The Money in the Bank briefcases will be handed out. A grudge match seven years in the making. A potential show-stealer for the Intercontinental Championship. This PLE looks to be a successful return trip across the pond. It can also fall on its face. Here is how Money in the Bank can go so right or so wrong.
The Usos vs. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa
It appears we are in the endgame for the Bloodline storyline. Three years of family drama have finally boiled over with some help from an unlikely contributor in Sami Zayn. The Usos will take on Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa in tag-team action.
This match, while no titles are on the line, has the highest stakes of all the matches on the card. Will Roman Reigns once again stand tall despite all the build pointing to the contrary? Will Solo Sikoa turn on Reigns? Is it possible Reigns will finally be pinned for the first time since 2019?
The two wrong decisions are Reigns winning and Reigns being pinned. While seemingly everyone but WWE Creative wants Reigns’ title reign to end as soon as possible, Reigns’ first defeat since the COVID-19 pandemic should not be in a non-title bout. Reigns beating the Usos, however, would reinforce the idea of “why tune in if Reigns is going to win anyway?”
WWE needs to have Reigns lose, but still look strong. This likely means Solo Sikoa takes the fall. The question after that is how Sikoa will take that loss. Will he see the light and turn on the Tribal Chief? This episode of the Bloodline soap opera will see Solo Sikoa take a leap of faith.
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Seven years later, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor do battle for the newly-revived World Heavyweight Championship. Balor, one of the top heels in the company, is in a shockingly sympathetic position. He never truly lost the Universal Championship, Rollins injured him. Since that injury, Balor has never won the big one.
Balor and Rollins are two amazing workers that both deserve the World Heavyweight Championship, but only one can have it. The only question is who deserves it more. While Rollins has needed a good championship run for a long time, Judgment Day needs something significant aside from Rhea Ripley holding the Women’s World Championship.
This is a match that can go either way and the fans will be happy. This is also likely not the last time these two will spar for the World Heavyweight Championship. This feud looks to wrap up at either Summerslam or Payback. This feud could also have another element involved thanks to the outcome of a certain match.
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
LA Knight, Logan Paul, Ricochet, Damian Priest, Santos Escobar, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Butch are all confirmed to participate in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. As is tradition, the winner can “cash in” an opportunity for whatever title they please.
There are two people with a realistic chance to win. One is Logan Paul. Paul has been a permanent heat magnet since Wrestlemania 37, but less heel heat and more go-away heat because of the several missteps he has made since his rise to stardom.
Nevertheless, Triple H has stayed on the Logan Paul train and it seems he will ride it until it stops or crashes. Paul has only one loss in his WWE career: Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 39. Who is defending his championship at Money in the Bank? Seth Rollins. It is easy to see how WWE could have Logan Paul win, then cash in on Rollins, setting up a Summerslam rematch between the two.
Logan Paul winning would attract a lot of outsider attention on one hand. On the other, this would be without a doubt the worst-received celebrity win since David Arquette’s infamous WCW Championship win.
The other potential winner is LA Knight. As of late, he has rebounded from the disastrous sleepover party known as the Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match. He is at peak popularity with the fans right now and is riding a wave of momentum.
His time is now. He has the look, the promo skills, the in-ring ability, and the crowd behind him. Whoever he cashes in on will have a great feud with him. This is his time… unless Logan Paul wins.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
The main storyline going into this match seems to be which member of Damage CTRL will win the briefcase. Will it be Bayley or will it be Iyo Sky? Becky Lynch may serve as a red herring of sorts, but she, Zelina Vega, Zoey Stark, and Trish Stratus all are on the outside looking in.
The logical winner is Iyo Sky. She has the talent but, unlike Bayley, has more to accomplish in her young tenure on the main roster. Bayley has done just about all there is to do, she does not need the win. Iyo Sky does.
Zelina Vega winning would be a pleasant surprise but she recently had and lost her chance at Rhea Ripley. Zoey Stark would make little sense. Trish Stratus is the last person who needs a Money in the Bank win.
Were Becky Lynch to win, there would be another Summerslam 2021 situation on WWE’s hands. Sure, Lynch with the title is always good for business, but like Bianca Belair before them, neither Rhea Ripley nor Asuka are slowing down enough to justify a title change.
Iyo Sky winning is not quite a slam-dunk choice, but is still the correct decision, booking-wise. If any of Bayley, Becky Lynch, or even Trish Stratus emerges with the briefcase, the consequences could be costly.
Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio
Speaking of Rhea Ripley, instead of defending her championship (as of when this is posted), she will be ringside for Dominik Mysterio’s match against Cody Rhodes. This match feels more like a filler episode in the saga of Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE. As Rhodes awaits his rematch with Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, he and Dominik are both in need of something to do.
As obvious as it seems for Cody to win against Dominik, there is that inkling of doubt sown from Wrestlemania 39. Since his Royal Rumble win, Cody has done nothing but lose the big match. He is in desperate need of a win before round three with Lesnar in Detroit.
Dominik beating Cody would both have shock value and be a solid win for him, but Cody losing here would destroy any remaining credibility he has. He would be taken less seriously than he was as Stardust. Cody needs the win. If he loses, why should the fans take him seriously?
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
This feels like the odd match out. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler have been fairly harmless as heel tag team champions, but Rousey has worn out her welcome and then some. A change of pace atop the women’s tag team division would be nice, but that division is on the shallow side right now.
This match seems to be more of a palate-cleanser than anything and it will be of little consequence, but Ronda and Shayna retaining would not sit well with many people.
Gunther vs. Matt Riddle
This match can be a show-stealer. Money in the Bank will be Matt Riddle’s first PLE since Extreme Rules back in October. With the sole exception being a wellness policy violation, Riddle has done well for himself while his tag team partner Randy Orton has been on the shelf.
While Riddle has done alright, the last year has belonged to Gunther. He is allergic to having a bad match. Try telling him wrestling is fake, your chest will forever regret it. Riddle’s more technical style colliding with Gunther’s hard-hitting, physical offense will likely not produce a five-star classic such as the Intercontinental Champion’s bouts with Sheamus. With that said, these two have the ability to put on the match of the night.
Will Money in the Bank Boom or Bust?
This is a copout answer, but both. No show is perfect, there is always one booking gaffe. The problem here is if there is one incorrect decision, it is likely Logan Paul winning the men’s Money in the Bank briefcase. Logan Paul does not need the briefcase to bring legitimacy to his brand and a potential Summerslam match. Fans are going into this PLE with cautious optimism. If the WWE makes the wrong decision, the London crowd will let them know. If WWE plays its cards right, though, this could be an iconic PLE.
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