WWE Money in the Bank 2013 took place on Sunday 14th July at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. This event is rapidly becoming one of my favourite non big 4 events of the year. How will the WWE landscape look going into Summerslam? Let's take a look.
The Pre-Show match is for the Tag Team Championships as
The Usos challenge
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Jey and Rollins start the match and Jey does a few pinning combinations to unsettle Rollins. Other highlights of the match include: Jimmy getting hit by a dropkick by Rollins then a brutal clothesline by Reigns; and Rollins stopping Jimmy from getting tagged in by pulling him off the apron. Jimmy gets the hot tag and does a suicide dive on both his opponents and a crossbody on Rollins for 2. Jimmy hits a bubbabomb then a Samoan drop for another 2 count. There was a really cool move at the corner which is hard to describe: basically Reigns powerbombs Jey, who is doing a back suplex to Rollins, who is doing a superplex to Jimmy. It looked really good. Anyway, Jimmy hits a superkick to Rollins then the frogsplash and the pin is broken up by Reigns. Jimmy tries to do a super Samoan drop but it's reversed by Rollins who powerbombs him into the corner. Reigns follows that with a spear to win the match and retain the Tag Team Championships. I really enjoyed the match, although I did find it hard to get into it due to the WWE having 2 commerical breaks during the match.
Winners: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
Predictions: 1 for 1
The Pay-Per-View officially begins with the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank ladder match between
Dean Ambrose, Wade Barrett, Fandango, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Antonio Cesaro and
Damien Sandow. The match starts with Fandango doing a little dance and then getting fucked up by everyone else. Highlights of the match include: Cesaro doing a gutwrench suplex sending Rhodes onto a ladder; Fandango doing a springboard legdrop, crashing a ladder onto Barrett; Barrett sending Swagger off the ladder with the Bullhammer; Fandandgo crashing Barrett off the ladder with a sunset flip into a powerbomb; Swagger putting Cesaro on his shoulders to try and grab the briefcase which is stopped by a top rope dropkick by Rhodes; and Rhodes doing the Cross Rhodes on Fandango then Barrett. Rhodes and Ambrose fight it out on the ladder before Rhodes pulls him off. However, his attempt to win is stopped by Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, who then proceed to take out Barrett and Fandango. The Usos, ironically sensing an injustice, come in and beat up Reigns and Rollins. The fight goes to the outside with Cesaro, Swagger, Reigns, Rollins and the Usos all fighting it outside. Ambrose climbs up the ladder but Rhodes grabs it and pushes it, sending Ambrose into the guys outside. Rhodes climbs up the ladder and looks like he is going to win it. However, Sandow, who has been biding his time and taking tips from Edge's manual "How to be the Ultimate Opportunist", comes in and pushes Rhodes off the ladder to grab the briefcase and win the match.
I watched this match live and it was fucking amazing. All the competitors were brilliant and it told a great story, especially with Reigns and Rollins and the Usos coming in; and it seemed to set up a couple of matches for Summerslam. As for Sandow, to be honest, he was one that I thought had little chance of winning. Despite that, I am happy with him having the briefcase and being a future World Heavyweight Champion as I think he could take it in an interesting direction. For me, Cody Rhodes was the star of that match and it has set him up for a face turn, especially with Sandow betraying him to get the victory. I really enjoyed the match and it could be a frontrunner for LDW Match of the Year.
Winner: Damien Sandow
Predictions: 1 for 2
After a slightly weird yet awkwardly funny segment by Raw General Manager Brad Maddox praising Vickie Guerrero, who was on the Pre-Show panel; we get the Intercontinental Championship between
The Miz and
Curtis Axel. Miz starts to focus on Axel's knee and he flees to the outside. Miz hits him with an axe handle from the ring apron. He rolls Axel in and it looks like Heyman is going to attack the Miz but he turns round just in time to prevent that. Miz then does an Eddie Guerrero and claps his hands and falls to the floor. The referee, who was distracted with Axel, assumes that Heyman hit the Miz and sends him to the back. The action continues and Miz tries to do the skull crushing finale but Axel grabs the ropes and seizes that opportunity to take the advantage. Axel does a standing dropkick and later on, tries a back suplex. However, Miz lands on his feet and he starts to get some momentum with a high running knee and a boot to the face. Miz hits an axe handle from the top rope for 2. Axel tries for the Perfect Plex but Miz reverses into an attempt at at figure 4. Axel pushes Miz into the turnbuckle and hits the Perfect Plex for 2. Miz does eventually get the figure 4 but Axel manages to reverse the pressure. Miz turns it back and Axel reaches the ropes. Axel goes to the outside and Miz chases after him. Axel kicks Miz and hits a modified neckbreaker to get the win. I didn't think the match was bad but it was ruined by Miz getting Heyman thrown out. I understand why they did it to put the focus on the match. However, it seemed like a really dicky move to do, especially as Heyman hadn't done anything.
Winner: Curtis Axel
Predictions: 2 for 3
The next match is for the Divas Championship as
Kaitlyn gets her rematch against
AJ; and AJ looks good considering she was almost killed by a spear by Kaitlyn at the previous Smackdown. Anyway, Kaitlyn starts throwing AJ like a rag doll. AJ flees but Kaitlyn stays on her and puts her on her shoulders. AJ gets out of it and sends Kaitlyn into the ring post. This gives AJ the chance to get some momentum focusing on the elbow that Kaitlyn injured in that spear. AJ does a couple of submission moves, putting some pressure on the elbow while mocking her. AJ tries a sleeper but Kaitlyn swings her off her back into a backbreaker. Kaitlyn hits a dropkick and turns AJ inside out with a running shoulder block followed by a reverse DDT for 2. AJ hits an armbreaker on the injured elbow and goes on the top rope. Kaitlyn pushes her off and AJ is caught by Big E Langston. Langston puts AJ back in and tries a small package for 2. Kaitlyn once again attempts to murder AJ with a spear but she hurts her elbow in the process, preventing her from pinning straight away. AJ takes advantage and hits the Black Widow to make Kaitlyn tap out and get the win. The match wasn't as good as their match at Payback. Despite that, it was still a good match and it told a good story. The last few weeks has seen really good matches involving these two and Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell in TNA along with the heel run of Mickie James. All it needs now is for a couple of more of the Divas (like Natalya) to get involved and challenge AJ for the Championship. However, knowing the WWE, they will probably shit can it in a few weeks.
Winner: AJ
Predictions: 3 for 4
Next is a match between
Chris Jericho and
Ryback. The match goes back and forth at the beginning before Ryback goes out of the ring to regroup. When Ryback tries to go back in, Jericho baseball slides him to the floor and gets some momentum. When the action goes back into the ring, Jericho Irish whips Ryback to the turnbuckle but Ryback goes back with a clothesline. Jericho starts to focus on the injured leg and when he tries a springboard dropkick, Ryback grabs his head and bounces it on the top rope. Ryback does a splash from the second rope for 2. Ryback continues his assault as he sends Jericho crashing inbetween the announce tables then later on, a chinlock. Jericho hits a northern lights suplex for 2 then tries for the walls of Jericho but Ryback powers out of it. Ryback hits an overhead suplex then a clothesline. He goes for the shell shock but Jericho gets out of it. Jericho tries for a codebreaker but Ryback reverses into a powerbomb. Ryback tries to continue his momentum but Jericho slows it down with kicks to the leg. Jericho does hit a codebreaker and Ryback rolls out of the ring and gets back in at the count of 9. Ryback tries for another shell shock but Jericho reverses it into a tornado DDT for 2. Jericho then goes for the lionsault but Ryback moves out of the way and Jericho lands on his feet. Ryback then rolls up Jericho to get the win. The match was quite good but I hated the ending. It looks weird that Ryback would win with a roll up that Jericho looked like he could easily kick out of and it makes Ryback look weak. I don't quite know where WWE are going with Ryback at the minute and I have a feeling that it might not be good.
Winner: Ryback
Predictions: 4 for 5
Next is the World Heavyweight Championship match with
Dolph Ziggler challenging
Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio gets the early advantage before Ziggler hits a dropkick then 10 elbow drops. He clotheslines Del Rio and the action goes briefly on the outside before Del Rio does a brutal kick to the back of the head to get the advantage. Del Rio starts to focus on the head. Ziggler tries to get back the advantage with a sunset flip for 2 followed by a dropkick. However, that is stopped when he tries a turnbuckle splash and misses, banging his head off the ring post. Del Rio continues to focus on the head. When Del Rio goes to the top rope, Ziggler grabs him and does a top rope facebuster. They start punching each other before Ziggler sidesteps a charge by Del Rio and he runs his shoulder into the ring post. Ziggler tries for the fameasser but Del Rio dodges it and hits a German suplex pin for 2. Ziggler does hit the fameasser but it only gets 2. Del Rio hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for 2 then Ziggler htis a dropkick when Del Rio was attempting a top rope move for 2. AJ's music then hits and she comes out. When Ziggler is wondering what the fuck she's doing here and asks her to leave, he hits a DDT for 2. Del Rio starts attacking and hits a reverse superplex for 2. Del Rio tries for the cross armbreaker but Ziggler gets out of it and gets hit with a kick to the back of the head for 2. When Del Rio tries to kick Ziggler again, Ziggler grabs the leg and flips him round when AJ comes in and hits him with the Divas Championship. Due to the fact that it was right in front of the referee, so Ziggler gets disqualified and Del Rio keeps the title. Ziggler doesn't take that well and he argues with AJ in the ring then he leaves. AJ is left all alone while the crowd "You screwed Ziggler" at her.
I enjoyed the match and Ziggler is starting to grow on me as a face. I understand the ending as AJ is doing really well as a heel and, if you want to build Ziggler up as a face, they needed to split up plus I loved her face while she was next to Ziggler after the match. It's a shame but it's necessary. Hopefully, this should lead to a Ziggler/Big E feud and Del Rio can focus on someone else.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Predictions: 5 for 6
Next is the WWE Championship match between
Mark Henry and
John Cena. Yay, we don't end with the John Cena show for once. The match starts with Cena rushing Henry and knocked down. Henry uses his strength to beat down Cena and keep him down. He headbutts Cena and Cena rolls out of the ring. Henry follows him and reverse suplexes him onto the steel steps. The match goes back in the ring and Henry continues his dominance and Cena tries a comeback before he gets hit with a clothesline. The action goes to the outside and Henry swings Cena into the barricade. When the action goes back inside, Cena tries to lift Henry but he falls down. Eventually, Cena does make a comeback with a back suplex and the five knuckle shuffle and tries for the AA but he can’t do it. Henry puts Cena on his shoulders and Cena manages to hit a armbreaker then the AA but Henry kicks out at 2. Cena tries a top rope move but Henry catches him and hits the world’s strongest slam and Cena kicks out at 2. Henry rips off a top turnbuckle then grabs 2 steel chairs. The referee Scott Armstrong puts the chairs away and puts the turnbuckle back on. While he is doing that, Henry rips off another turnbuckle and tries to ram Cena into it. However, Cena pushes Henry into the exposed turnbuckle then applies the STF. Henry grabs the rope then pushes Cena into Armstrong then hits a low blow for 2. Henry goes for the world’s strongest slam but Cena gets out of it and applies the STF and Henry taps out. It was a good match but the ending bothered me. It might be me, but I don’t think a 400+ pound wrestler should submit. Plus, I’m getting pissed off with the commentators saying they have never seen Cena do an AA before to a really heavy person. If he can do it to the Big Show, who is 500lbs, I think he can do it to someone who is over 400lbs. Just saying.
Winner: John Cena
Predictions: 6 for 7
The main event is the WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match between the returning Rob Van Dam, Christian, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan. The match starts with RVD being welcomed back to WWE by beaten by the other competitors. After a little while, all the competitors are out of the ring except for Punk and Bryan and they have a mini one-on-one match. Punk tries for the GTS and Bryan goes for the LeBell Yes No Lock. Sheamus comes in with a ladder and hits them with it and a bit later on, RVD gets a chance to shine, gorilla pressing Christian onto a ladder then a rolling thunder crashing Bryan onto a ladder. Other highlights in the early part of the match include: Sheamus doing a rolling senton sending RVD onto a ladder; Bryan doing a running knee to the head of Sheamus; all of them on ladders reaching for the briefcase before they all fall like dominos; and Sheamus hitting a brogue kick on RVD. Sheamus gets the briefcase in his hand but Punk pulls the ladder under him, crashing him to the ring. Orton comes in and takes out Punk but Christian comes in and hits a spear on Orton then Bryan. A little later on, Christian and RVD fight it out on the ladder and he pushes Christian off the ladder and he lands onto a nearby ladder. RVD then hits the 5-star frog splash from the ladder onto Christian. RVD goes for the briefcase and Sheamus stops him and they fight it out before Bryan comes in and starts to kick the shit out of them. Bryan then kicks a ladder into Orton; a suicide dive onto Punk; a double flying kick to RVD and Sheamus; then a few minutes later, he hits Sheamus with a ladder, sending him crashing through another ladder. Bryan looks like he is going to win it but he is stopped by Curtis Axel with a steel chair. Axel then takes him out with a rolling reverse neckbreaker outside the ring. Punk hits Axel and Paul Heyman comes in and admonishes Axel while Punk rolls into the ring and starts to climb the ladder. Heyman goes from encouraging Punk to coming in and hitting Punk with a ladder, knocking him out and busting him open. Heyman then leaves the arena and RVD starts to climb the ladder. Orton stops him with a RKO (outta nowhere!) from the ladder and he grabs the briefcase to win the match.
I enjoyed the match although I enjoyed the World Heavyweight Championship one a lot better. It also told a good story, especially with Punk and Heyman. It’s a shame they had to split up but Punk doesn’t really need Heyman and it leads to what could be an interesting feud between Punk and Brock Lesnar. As for Orton, he doesn’t need the briefcase; although you can argue the same for Bryan and Punk. However, Orton does seem to have been in a rut over the last year and it could be what he needs to get going again. Hopefully, it will lead to a heel turn as I’m not a big fan of him as a face and possibly a Cena/Orton feud, which I’m actually ok with.
Winner: Randy Orton
Predictions: 6 for 8
I enjoyed Money in the Bank, although I didn’t like the way a couple of the matches ended. The first match is possibly the best MITB match that I have ever seen and it looks like the event has set up a few feuds coming into Summerslam. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go from here.
