WWE MONEY IN THE BANK 2023
JULY 1, 2023
THE O2
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK

Watch: Peacock

MEET YOUR PREVIEWERS:

Go well with Williams: Voices of Wrestling’s WWE correspondent returns for this month’s serving of sports activities leisure. WWE makes its technique to the UK, as a pleasant little warm-up act for the true large London present in August. Try my work on the Wrestling Observer web site, overlaying Ring of Honor and AEW Collision. You may observe me on Twitter, @SuitWilliams.

Will Younger: A wrestling obsessive who couldn’t give up this if he tried (and he has tried). Observe @CC_PW for articles, evaluations, and stray ideas. 

CODY RHODES VS. DOMINIK MYSTERIO (W/RHEA RIPLEY)

Go well with: Cody wants one thing to do that month whereas Brock Lesnar is away, however he additionally has to promote the damaged arm Brock gave him a month in the past. Who’s somebody with so little legitimacy that Cody may beat them, however with a reputation that will make sense to see on pay-per-view?

Enter Dominik.

I’ve no use for Dominik Mysterio. He’s wholly unimpressive. Even at a meme degree, he’s not even humorous dangerous. He’s a totally uncompelling particular person, cornered by a really compelling particular person in Rhea Ripley. However, WWE has discovered some use for him post-Rey feud, so right here he’s. They’ll screw round whereas the London crowd has some enjoyable, and Cody will shut this little turd up earlier than getting again to precise enterprise with Brock for Summerslam. Prediction: Cody Rhodes

Will: The rise of Dominik Mysterio in 2023 has been a heartwarming improvement. This poor man began within the finally unenviable place to should observe not simply his extra well-known father, however an even-more well-known pretend father as nicely. I all the time thought the backlash in opposition to him was a bit disproportionate to how he was nonetheless attempting to study and discover his footing on a world stage and, now that he’s discovered his area of interest and embraced his persona as a lowlife simp, he’s by no means been higher.

Nearly in distinction, Cody entered WWE with monumental fanfare and has suffered each bodily and emotional setbacks. I’ve little doubt that “the story” of him profitable the large one can be “accomplished” (see my VOW article for my ideas on this concept), however he’s nonetheless in the course of digging himself out of the outlet that his Wrestlemania loss put him into. A win right here for Cody appears pure, particularly as he may use a little bit of heating up going into a possible third match with Brock Lesnar, however by no means low cost the fluke B.S. win for one of many largest heels WWE has proper now. Hold these boos coming for Dom Dom! Prediction: Cody Rhodes

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
SHINSUKE NAKAMURA VS. RICOCHET VS. LA KNIGHT VS. SANTOS ESCOBAR VS. BUTCH VS. DAMIAN PRIEST VS. LOGAN PAUL

Go well with: Man, keep in mind when Cash In The Financial institution made a man? Folks like Edge, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins have develop into top-line names with their cash-ins, going from guys on the cusp to principal occasion names within the eyes of WWE followers.

It’s off of these names that Cash In The Financial institution nonetheless has its cache. However names like Damian Sandow, Baron Corbin, and Otis have turned this match from a assured star-maker into simply one other gimmick match. To not point out the yearly PPV that has given us two briefcase winners virtually yearly since 2010, an oversaturation situation that stretches far and huge on this promotion.

This 12 months although, there are three names that do really feel like a win may make them real-deal principal occasion gamers, no matter which means in 2023 WWE. Damian Priest is a contemporary face on WWE tv, and he’s achieved nicely because the muscle of Judgment Day. He’s bought the scale, and he can work nicely within the ring to be a higher-profile title. The Judgment Day has additionally had some DISSENSION recently, so he may find yourself because the face of that unit. LA Knight has gotten over by being good and having a catchphrase, YEAH. He took the Bray Wyatt task on the Royal Rumble and tried his greatest to make it one thing watchable. And he’s gotten legitimately over with WWE crowds from what I can inform from reside movies within the buildings.

Then, there’s Logan Paul. Logan Paul is legitimately well-known, and legitimately good at professional wrestling. He has caught on like a fish to water, having stellar matches with the 2 males who simply so occur to carry the World Titles proper now. Given WWE’s fixed want for mainstream consideration, in addition to their penchant for HEAT, I’m gonna choose the YouTuber to win this factor. Prediction: Logan Paul

Will: On the one hand, this appears virtually tutorial. Should you take note of crowd reactions, social media, and basic fan response, the (at occasions baffling) reputation of LA Knight appears to be cresting an enormous wave and it might by no means be a greater time than now to strike whereas the iron is scorching. Nonetheless, always remember that that is WWE, and regardless of who’s within the excessive tower, they are going to all the time have their very own concepts. I’m in my twentieth 12 months of being a wrestling fan, and I’ve seen figures like Knight come and go. The wildly fashionable maverick who will get over of his personal benefit, regardless of a transparent lack of willingness to push him meaningfully on TV, has a poor observe document of truly assembly fan expectations.

To this, I really feel that Knight is a large purple herring as to who will take dwelling the briefcase. With out him getting the duke, it turns into more durable to say for positive who can be getting it, as there are one or two on this match who’re always effervescent beneath, in addition to one other movie star albatross that WWE has tied themselves to (admittedly, one that’s hanging in there simply superb). There’s additionally the matter that considered one of these folks has to appear to be a reputable challenger to the God King Roman Reigns and, respectfully, none of those folks do in the intervening time. Sure, the MITB can now be used for any title, however you’d ideally need to create at the very least some thriller that the case winner may doubtlessly disrupt the Roman Empire. I don’t precisely get that degree of intrigue from somebody like Butch, y’know?

MITB has been classicly compelled on lower-card guys as some kind of “Get Over Free” card, to less-than-stellar outcomes. Nonetheless, I’m extra comfy imagining WWE sticking to this tried and “””true””” technique of star creation and I believe that Ricochet would be the newest case-holder for this pattern. Simply don’t be shocked when The One And Solely makes use of the case to get again his United States title or one thing. Prediction: Ricochet

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
TRISH STRATUS VS. BECKY LYNCH VS. BAYLEY VS. IYO SKY VS. ZELINA VEGA VS. ZOEY STARK

Go well with: Apart from Carmella, each Ladies’s Cash In The Financial institution match winner has cashed within the title shot by the following episode of Uncooked. They don’t need to do the identical gimmick twice with the briefcase holder, and the boys’s one is the one which theoretically issues extra, so that is principally choosing the following champion.

Stratus and Stark are feuding with Becky Lynch, so perhaps Trish can win with Zoey’s assist and money in on Rhea Ripley to arrange the Summerslam title match. The tattered, rusted remnants of Harm CTRL are right here, seemingly on their technique to a break-up. Possibly Iyo wins, cashes in, and Bayley will get upset and activates her for doing what she hasn’t been capable of do since her return from harm final 12 months. Zelina Vega can also be on this match. Rhea looks like a longer-term champion proper now, so I’ll choose Iyo Sky to win the briefcase. Prediction: Iyo Sky

Will: One other attention-grabbing subject on this 12 months’s ladder matches and, fortunately, nobody right here feels misplaced. Former champions, former latest challengers, and Trish’s hanger-on will at the very least make these proceedings attention-grabbing. Fortunately, the ladies’s division doesn’t have the burden of a ceaselessly champion round it, so you’ll be able to extra freely make extra attention-grabbing selections.

This comes right down to Trish and Becky, in my eyes, as Bayley and IYO are caught up in their very own story proper now, Zelina already blew her shot, and Zoey is principally simply Trish’s backup who isn’t but prepared for a featured highlight. With these two, it could not shock me that they need to hold the Trish comeback prepare rolling and have her be within the wings for both girls’s champion, however I believe Becky is the one to award right here. Nonetheless on the high of her recreation and a dependable high participant, the Cash within the Financial institution is considered one of WWE’s annual honors that has eluded Lynch so far, so it looks like now or by no means to bathe her with one other distinction, as WWE so love to do. Prediction: Becky Lynch

WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. RONDA ROUSEY & SHAYNA BASZLER (C)

Go well with: This may, the truth is, be a WWE Ladies’s Tag Crew Title match between the challenger staff of Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez and the champion staff of Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler. If the classics between Morgan and Ronda from final 12 months are something to go by, this can be fairly the occurring.

Yeah, I believe that’s sufficient. Prediction: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler

Will: Congrats to Liv for recovering rapidly from her harm and returning to title rivalry, even when it’s not singles title rivalry. I additionally proceed to be low-key happy that WWE has not utterly thrown these tag titles within the rubbish by now; true, they’re typically on the lesser finish of heated on any present, however at the very least they aren’t seen as bait to be reduce. The very nature of those titles makes it exhausting to foretell who will win at what time, it may actually be anybody. I’ll go together with the MMA Horsewomen retaining. Prediction: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE MATCH
GUNTHER (C) VS. MATT RIDDLE

Go well with: Should you’ve been on TikTok recently, you’ve in all probability seen that meme from Akira the place he’s tortured by outdated reminiscences popping into his head as he shouts “go away me alone!” I’m sadly within the place of Akira, being tortured by reminiscences of Progress Wrestling popping into my head. Depart me alone, Smallman!

Matt Riddle and GUNTHER – then generally known as WALTER – had a improbable collection of matches in Progress over the Atlas Championship. Since becoming a member of WWE, GUNTHER has been surprisingly constant in his high-level output whereas avoiding any WWE makes an attempt at “giving him some character.” In the meantime, Riddle is the city doofus, however his work may be good as nicely. This must be one other high-level GUNTHER match, with him retaining the Intercontinental Title on the finish of it. Prediction: GUNTHER

Will: A shock, to make sure, however a welcome one. Regardless of his at-times odious on-line persona, Riddle continues to be able to delivering in-ring in a approach that each exists safely inside WWE’s model, whereas additionally feeling distinctive sufficient to make for attention-grabbing matchups. Ditto GUNTHER after which some, as he’s maybe the strongest and most constant in-ring performer on the present roster, making any singles match of his appointment tv. It doesn’t really feel almost time sufficient for GUNTHER to lose his title, particularly within the UK, so this should be an entertaining title retention for the large man. Prediction: GUNTHER

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
SETH ROLLINS (C) VS. FINN BALOR

Go well with: It is a good first feud for Seth Rollins as champion. In a uncommon case of remembering their very own latest historical past, Finn Balor continues to be mad about Rollins throwing him right into a barricade and tearing his shoulder up again in 2016, inflicting Balor to vacate the Common Title a day after turning into the primary champion. It’s all the time good when WWE performs into their historical past when it isn’t nostalgia-bait, because it offers these characters depth and reasoning for what they do. 

The Judgment Day have been teasing points with one another, so I anticipate Balor to lose right here to play that up. This can be a stable first PPV protection for Rollins, who can have London singing his music all night time. Hell, they’d’ve sang that shit if he wasn’t there. Prediction: Seth Rollins

Will: We discover ourselves again right here once more, with two of WWE’s extra dependable in-ring arms. Rollins actually is at dwelling within the high spot of a WWE model, regardless of missing any actual character apart from “annoying” proper now, and Balor is a pure plug-in opponent for Rollins en path to a profitable title protection. I believe the time for Balor as any type of sustained principal eventer has handed within the eyes of WWE, so I’ll take pleasure in these title matches alternatives for him whereas I can and earlier than we get to the sudden-but-inevitable betrayal of his Judgment Day working buddies. Prediction: Seth Rollins

ROMAN REIGNS & SOLO SIKOA (W/PAUL HEYMAN) VS. THE USOS (JEY USO & JIMMY USO)

Go well with: The Bloodline lastly explodes right here because the Usos tackle Reigns and Sikoa in a match that, by WWE requirements, has been nicely constructed. Trying again on it, this has been a smartly-booked technique to pivot Roman and the Bloodline story post-WrestleMania. You arrange the Usos in opposition to Solo at Backlash the place that they had points within the six-man tag. Roman comes again and tries to get the tag titles again with Solo to stay it to the Usos. Jimmy Uso will get sick of his brother’s mistreatment and superkicks Roman, resulting in Jey siding together with his brother and organising this main tag staff principal occasion. Credit score the place it’s due, whereas this isn’t my cup of tea, it’s a great way to maneuver Roman out of the World Title scene for some time after shedding at Wrestlemania.

…wait, he received? What do you imply he’s nonetheless the champion?

My solely situation with all of that is the truth that the World Title that Roman touts round has been iced in favor of doing this. He hasn’t defended it since Wrestlemania, and no one on Smackdown appears enthusiastic about even attempting to get it. They’ve all given up on the nigh-impossible job of beating Roman Reigns. And whereas this match may arrange one of many Usos for a World Title match at Summerslam…that will imply an Uso is in a World Title match at Summerslam. It’s no use crying over spilled milk at this level, however every little thing Roman has achieved since WrestleMania would have made about as a lot sense with out the belt. Prediction: The Usos

Will: Even with out the title on the road, the Anoa’i household drama can’t be denied. It has develop into the speaking level of anybody within the WWE orbit for the previous 1000+ days and reveals no indicators of slowing down, particularly as segments involving The Bloodline nonetheless get monumental reactions and fan buzz. I wouldn’t go as far as to name it Emmy Award-worthy or something, however I perceive its enchantment and all concerned are pulling their weight to make it work.

It looks like followers following this story are always perched and ready for “the autumn,” the second when the partitions come down for Roman en path to him shedding every little thing. Trendy audiences see the strings on the puppets and drastically anticipate what they understand to be the proper order of operations to get from story level A to level B. That fall is definitely coming, however one thing tells me it isn’t right here. I think about Roman and Solo dispatching The Usos, permitting the previous to scrub their arms clear and proceed on with heads held excessive. Actually, it could be one other feather within the cap for Solo Sikoa, a younger expertise who’s placing on stable, constant performances and is being met with larger highlight and acclaim, a uncommon instance of WWE reserving and star creation in sync with each other. Prediction: Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa

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