Ever since its inception in 2005, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match has become one of the most exciting bouts on the WWE calendar. While the PG era may lessen the brutality that comes along with the likes of Hell in a Cell or a Last Man Standing Match, there are still plenty of innovative ways to use a ladder that don’t involve someone getting busted open.
This (along with some huge match-ups in its history) is why Money in the Bank has quickly become one of the WWE’s most anticipated annual Pay-Per-Views, and why some would say that the event is close to edging out Survivor Series as one of the big four PPVs of the year. I’m not necessarily saying that the event is likened to a WrestleMania or a SummerSlam in terms of anticipation and overall hype, but as far as game-changing events go, Money in the Bank is up there with the big ones.
I say that because similarly to the Royal Rumble, this event features a monumental match that could potentially make someone’s career. We’ve seen it with the likes of Edge, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk and most recently, Seth Rollins, who made history this year by becoming the very first man to cash in Money in the Bank at WrestleMania, and walk away with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
And for that very reason, I would consider this upcoming ladder match to be one of the most important in its history, because Seth Rollins has set the bar for just how much of an impact that briefcase can have on your career. There is nobody in this match that isn’t going to perform at the highest level that they possibly can, because even if you don’t win, you’re putting everyone on notice, including the powers that be.
And this year, the competitors that will put their bodies on the line for a shot at immortality, come in the form of Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Kane, Neville, Sheamus and Randy Orton. There could be more names added to that list before the event kicks off on Sunday Night, but today, we’re going to be analysing each of those participants announced so far.
Dolph Ziggler
This man is in a very unfortunate situation right now. He’s highly regarded as one of the most well-rounded performers on the WWE roster today, and can put on an exciting match with just about anybody facing him on the opposite side of the ring. But I feel like Ziggler suffers from a very serious case of “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”.
Ever since his mishap in 2013, where a stiff kick from Jack Swagger gave Ziggler a concussion, resulting in him losing World Heavyweight Championship to Alberto Del Rio, it would seem that WWE management are too reluctant to take that risk again. He’s often given the opportunity to reach that top spot, but never can he actually grasp the championship. Perhaps he has been labelled as injury-prone, practically erasing his chances of reaching the top any time soon.
That short title reign, which was a result of a successful cash-in the night after WrestleMania 29, was the closest Ziggler has ever come to the top of the pack within the WWE, and that was when John Cena was WWE Champion. Personally, I think slapping the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on his shoulder would be a step in the right direction, whenever that day may come, but the sad thing is I just don’t see it happening over the next year.
To make matters worse, the rivalry that was going to be keeping Ziggler busy over the summer is likely going to take a turn, since Rusev’s injury makes him unable to compete for the next while. I’m guessing the next few months will involve Ziggler competing in exciting matches with Lana by his side, but with no real direction until Rusev makes a full recovery.
No matter what the future holds for Dolph Ziggler, I can say with near certainty that he won’t be walking out on Sunday as Mr. Money in the Bank. He may be the man of the match, with his unparalleled athleticism and undying will to be the best, but expect that briefcase to just barely slip between his fingers as he fails to get the job done once again.
Kofi Kingston
I’ve seen a lot of confusion at the inclusion of Kofi Kingston in this match, but as soon as I saw his face on the match graphic I knew exactly why he was involved. Much like at the Royal Rumble, Kofi Kingston is known for displaying tremendous feats of athleticism in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Between using two halves of a broken ladder as a pair of stilts, and climbing a closed ladder being held by Mark Henry, Kingston can do things that make your jaws drop in awe. The fact that he’s a member of a faction, and one third of the WWE Tag-Team Champions shouldn’t make a difference.
Hell, when Dean Ambrose was the United States Champion and a member of The Shield, nobody questioned his involvement in the 2013 Ladder Match. Why should things be any different with Kofi, who despite never winning it, has become somewhat of a veteran of the match?
Believe it or not, seeing The New Day has been one of my favourite parts of Raw and Smackdown in recent months, because I think they’re gimmick and levels of ability both in and out of the ring are excellent. It is so hard not to hate these guys, particularly Xavier Woods (due to his Scrappy Doo-levels of irritation and his slap-able High School Musical face), so I think they’ve achieved their goal as heels and then some.
And I don’t know who he either pissed off or impressed, but Kofi Kingston has an upcoming match against Brock Lesnar in Tokyo, so I reckon he’s going to try and use this Ladder Match to prove to everyone that he’s worthy of a match against a huge star like Lesnar.
As for that match, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned into a 3-on-1 handicap with Lesnar absolutely decimating The New Day, but until then, Kingston has his sights set on Money in the Bank. And while I wouldn’t be against the upset, with him picking up the briefcase, I think he’s only in there to provide some awe-inspiring spots before somebody else walks out with the case.
Kane
Let’s face it, if there’s anyone on this list with absolutely zero chances of walking out with the briefcase, it’s Kane. I love the man, and I think he can do no wrong (despite that being an unpopular opinion), but I don’t see him having any more runs with the Championship.
I won’t be surprised to see Kane don his mask and have an incredible run at least one more time before his career is up, but he’s not getting anywhere near the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. At this stage in his career, he should be looking to further the careers of youngsters rather than hogging the limelight himself, and I think he does that well enough as a member of the Authority. There is room for improvement, but what he’s got going on now isn’t hurting anybody.
If I was even going to humour the possibility of a Kane win on Sunday, I would justify it by saying how sweet it would be to see Kane finally get one over on Seth Rollins by cashing in and taking his championship. But that one moment of sweet vengeance would be nothing compared to the good this briefcase could do for the career of anybody else in this match.
Like I said, I am a huge fan of Kane’s, and have been throughout every aspect of his career from his World Heavyweight Championship run to his time in Team Hell No, but having him walk out with his second Money in the Bank briefcase would be a huge mistake in my eyes.
Randy Orton
This man makes for an interesting addition to this match, because out of everyone in it, I think he’s the wild card here. WWE, and a lot of the fans for that matter, have and will always be very high up on Randy Orton, so he’s going to have a big role over the coming year and on the build-up to WrestleMania 32 regardless of whether he wins this match or not.
He’s won Money in the Bank before, and I would not be too surprised to see him pick it up for a second time, even though I think there would be plenty more story opportunities should some of the other competitors pick up the victory.
I was quite surprised that Orton wasn’t involved in the Elimination Chamber match card, especially when Rusev got injured. I was half expecting his “former world champion” replacement to be Orton himself. I have nothing against Mark Henry, but Orton probably would’ve made for a better, and more exciting replacement. That is, if they weren’t planning big things for him already…
I’m not saying that I expect him to win, but it would make a good deal of sense for Orton to pick up the briefcase since he basically fell off the radar after the Fatal Four-Way at Payback. Randy Orton is still in the prime of his career, and it always seems somewhat abnormal when he’s not involved in the main event scene in some shape or form, so having him run with the Money in the Bank briefcase for a year or so would justify his absence from the main event picture.
Even if he doesn’t pick up the win, Orton will be set up for SummerSlam and the months going forward anyway, so a loss wouldn’t hurt him here. On the other hand, he is the Viper, and whether it comes in the form of a championship title or a fancy briefcase, Orton is in his element when he’s carrying gold, which is why he’s definitely the wild card in this match-up.
Neville
Without a doubt, Neville has been the most revitalising breath of fresh air to come out of the WrestleMania season. If any of these men have an arsenal that would be best suited for a ladder match, it’s this man. They don’t call him “the man that gravity forgot” for nothing.
Most of us were already used to his death-defying athleticism from his time in NXT, where he put on tremendous matches with the likes of Bo Dallas, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Finn Bálor, becoming the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history. But the fact that he has taken the likes of Seth Rollins and John Cena to their very limits in his short time on the main roster is astounding.
The Money in the Bank Ladder Match has given the likes of CM Punk, Jack Swagger, The Miz and Daniel Bryan their breaks as young upstarts, providing them with World Championship victories not too many years after debuting. But never has there been someone to win Money in the Bank, and cash in to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion in the inaugural year of their WWE career.
Neville has already made history down in NXT, and I would have no complaints with him becoming the first man to win the briefcase just three months after making his main roster debut. With WWE gearing to have a huge event lined up for next year’s WrestleMania, I’m not sure we’d see Neville as champion before next May, but slap him with the briefcase and have him bring the main event picture some versatility next summer. I’m all for it!
If he doesn’t manage to pick up the victory, however, I just know we’re going to get a spectacular performance from the man as he builds momentum on the way to his Tokyo battle with Chris Jericho. He may even out-perform Kofi Kingston as the match’s resident ‘spot man’.
Sheamus
I have been loving Sheamus since his return. I know a lot of people don’t really see the guy’s skills, but I think he is a tremendous part of the WWE roster. Especially since his return, as he has been laying waste to people left and right, simply to prove himself as the toughest, most powerful man in the company.
Maybe it’s the Irish in me talking, but if you ask me, this new-found aggression from Sheamus has made him one of the most entertaining guys to watch week in and week out. As wrestling fans, simply put, most of what we love to do is watch people fight, and when Sheamus fights, he brings a level of brutality to his matches that not many people can match.
Sheamus’ punches, kicks and slams look like they’re going to break his opponents in half, and that toughness and straight up “I’m going to punch you in the face” attitude is going to send him to the moon and back. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Celtic Warrior will be holding championship gold before next year’s WrestleMania. Whether he kicks Ryback’s head off his shoulders to win the Intercontinental Championship, dethrones John Cena as the United States Champion, or he’s got his sights set on a much bigger prize…
That brings us to Money in the Bank. First of all, Sheamus has already amassed a long list of career highlights that one would consider worthy of a Hall of Fame induction. He’s been the US Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Champion, he’s a Royal Rumble winner and he’s a former King of the Ring. Throw in a tag-team title and an IC title victory and this guy will have done it all.
Secondly, If he wins on Sunday he’ll be a part of an extremely short list of people who have won the Royal Rumble, King of the Ring and Money in the Bank. And I think his long list of attributes deserve to be added to once again at Nationwide Arena.
To be quite honest, I can really picture Sheamus walking out with the briefcase, and I’ll be ecstatic if he does pull it off. His recent change in personality and appearance shouldn’t have to go unrewarded, and I think it’s only a matter of time before Sheamus graces our television screens as WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Roman Reigns
A couple of months ago, I would’ve told you that Roman Reigns deserves to be nowhere near the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I shared the opinion that many still have, that Roman Reigns is just not ready to carry the burden of being a champion. The champion. The man. But all that’s changed now.
I can easily justify myself, I still feel like things may have gone too fast too soon for Roman Reigns, he was hot-shotted straight to the main event picture, and given another year or two, the thought of him going up against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania would have been met with intrigue as opposed to distaste.
But whether you have a new-found respect for Roman after sustaining a beating like he did at WrestleMania, which I most certainly do, or you still have a bitter taste in your mouth and wish they would’ve gone with the likes of Daniel Bryan, the fact remains that all that pent-up animosity from WrestleMania season means nothing now.
We are in the summer period of WWE, where the legends retreat and the younger superstars are given their chance to shine. Exhibit A: Kevin Owens. So if Roman Reigns is going to win over the fans, and earn his spot not only in the main event, but as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, then this is the perfect time to do so.
Roman Reigns is a very talented performer, his move-set is exciting, his mic-work has increased extraordinarily and I think he’s gearing up to be the next big thing (if you’ll allow me to be so bold) in professional wrestling. To all of you thinking “too fast too soon” I say it doesn’t make a difference anymore. It’s time to stop living in the past and appreciate what you have when you have it, and Roman Reigns, dare I say, is IT. He just needs a tiny bit more work and experience and he’ll be able to take the WWE by storm.
That’s where Money in the Bank comes in. While I wouldn’t be upset or surprised to see somebody else walk out of Columbus, Ohio with the briefcase, I firmly believe that Roman Reigns is your next Mr. Money in the Bank. Giving him the case will allow fans to get used to the idea of Roman being champion, so when that day finally comes, there’ll be no “too fast too soon” because he’ll have hopefully spent months preparing himself.
I also think the possibility of a Roman/Triple H feud will do him the world of good once booked the right way, and if you want to achieve perfection in your WrestleMania 32 main event, I think a Shield triple threat is the way to go. Have Rollins go into the show as WWE World Heavyweight Champion, have Dean Ambrose win the Royal Rumble and the next night, have Roman Reigns declare the WrestleMania main event a triple threat match, by cashing in and inserting himself into it.
This works not only because it proves that all three men have benefited equally from The Shield’s existence, but provides some poetic justice since it was Seth Rollins who cashed in this year to make WrestleMania a triple threat main event. The only difference is Roman will be giving his opponents even odds.
I think that sounds like a damn good WrestleMania main event, don’t you? Especially when it will likely be interspersed with possible legendary match-ups from The Rock vs. Triple H to Sting vs. The Undertaker, not to mention the possibility of a Stone Cold Steve Austin return. Oh Hell Yeah.
And it is for that very reason that I think we are all going to see Roman Reigns walk out on Sunday night as the new Mr. Money in the Bank. Believe that.
Thanks for joining me today, folks. It’s been nearly nine months since SLTD Wrestling played home to ‘Under the Spotlight’ but we are back and hopefully better than ever before. With Money in the Bank fast approaching, I would suggest keeping a close eye on the site, as the SLTD Predictions League will be back once again for you to call the action!
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Thanks for reading!
Self-Professed Conversational Wizard.
Admin, Editor and Writer for SLTD Wrestling.
Creator of 'Under the Spotlight'.
Studying Computing in Games Development.
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