Money in the Bank 2014

We are in the month of June and that can only mean one thing (aside from the World Cup): it is time for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. This year sees the traditional ladder match for the briefcase with the contract for a title shot any time within the next calendar year. Added to the established tradition, there will be another ladder match for the actual title. Who wins, who loses? It’s all about who can climb the ladder to success!

Pre-show: Daniel Bryan for the first time addresses the WWE Universe after being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Title

Daniel Bryan showed up to his interview with Michael Cole all smiles and without the neck brace he was last seen in. When asked about his possible return he did his own impression of Bad News Barrett stating he had some bad news: the possibility of a second neck surgery. That will certainly set back the recovery time and may have an impact on who wins the title later on, a title that still feels like his. His favourites to win the title match were John Cena, Randy Orton, or Roman Reigns, the result of a fan-submitted question. He then got interrupted by Bo Dallas of all people, told to “BO-lieve” and that injury is a “pain in the neck” (yes the puns continued) which then followed with Bryan telling him to “BO-leave”, ending the segment in a YES chant. It seemed to me that that spot for Bo Dallas hurt him more than it helped him, picking on a fan favourite for a legitimate injury.

Tag Team Title Match: The Usos vs. Rowan and Harper

The match started with the Usos getting beaten up right away, but didn’t last and overall, it was a pretty even match. I particularly liked Jimmy (or is it Jay?) doing his best Jeff Hardy impersonation by jumping off the crowd barricade and a corkscrew moonsault. This match saw several superkicks and high flying action and to me was a great match to start the event with. The entertainment factor of the match was enhanced by a double superplex by the Usos and a double Uso splash, allowing them to retain the titles. While it was not surprising that the Usos retained their titles, it was nice to see them pulling out extra moves to pull out the win. The fans deserved to see something new at the pay-per-view and they got it. I just wish Rowan would have hit the top rope splash that he was planning on doing.

Divas Championship Match: Paige vs. Naomi

This match started with the usual hair pulling that one has become accustomed to in a Divas match, but it didn’t take long for the real match to start. The match in general was pretty entertaining and I was most pleased to see Paige retain with what appears to be a brand new finisher. This match was a pretty good showing for Naomi who pulled out a couple moves I never would have thought she was talented enough to do. It’s nice to see someone in that locker room good enough for the Divas title (even if she didn’t win it right now) that isn’t Paige or A.J. Lee.

Adam Rose vs. Damien Sandow (dressed as Paul Revere)

This match was the next installment in Sandow’s costume of the week phase, and not surprisingly, his costume couldn’t help him win against Adam Rose who brought his entire entourage along with him. Also on that note, I know JBL hates that bunny, and I’m starting to agree with him. If Randy Orton brings back the Punt, I hope that bunny is the first target. Sandow was once again the laughing stock of the night, which for me is a huge waste of his talent. It’s easy to forget this is the man who won the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Ladder match the year before and that is a shame.

Traditional Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Seth Rollins vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose

This first ladder match of the evening was of the traditional format, six superstars trying to grab a briefcase suspended over the ring with a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match anytime in the next calendar year. It was originally seven superstars, but Wade Barrett injured is right shoulder during the taping of Smackdown last week and could not compete tonight. That being said, the rest of the field put together a very entertaining match. RVD pulled out his usual arsenal of classic ladder match moves - five-star frog splashes (from the top of the ladder no less) and rolling thunder (onto a ladder) – and it went over huge with the crowd. These types of matches are supposed to be every man for himself and for the most part it was, until Kane surprised everyone by coming down to the ring to deliver the tombstone piledriver to Dean Ambrose as he was about to win the match, and then held the ladder in place while Seth Rollins ascended the ladder for the win. Despite being a superstar short (courtesy of Barrett’s injury), I thought this match was very entertaining throughout. It really felt like anyone (well anyone besides Kofi Kingston) could win, and honestly I am quite alright with Rollins winning the briefcase. And the Authority coming out to congratulate him afterwards was simply icing on the cake.

Rybaxel vs. the Dust Brothers (Goldust and Stardust)

This match (and Stardust) is a direct result of the extended losing streak the Rhodes brothers have been on for the past couple months. Cody Rhodes kept setting up different tag partners for Goldust to no avail, and thus Stardust was unveiled. The match itself had its usual entertainment value as all four of these competitors are good in-ring talents. Stardust would get the win for the team thanks to a roll-up pin (thus fulfilling WWE’s one-roll-up-pin-per-event rule that seems to be in place) and the fans seemed to love it. Personally I would rather have seen the Rhodes brothers against each other in place of this match, something I thought the extended losing streak was building to. It would seem that if Stardust doesn’t work out, that match will indeed happen sometime in the future.

Rusev vs. Big E.

This match was sort of billed unofficially as Russia vs. USA and it was the match I was most looking forward to outside of the two ladder matches. Despite suffering a huge spear from Big E. on the apron, Rusev would pull out the win thanks to his Accolade submission move. This match for me was the coming out part for Rusev as Big E. represented his first real challenge and Rusev excelled. Rusev proved he is a legitimate title contender and will be a champion someday.

Layla vs. Summer Rae (with Fandango as the Special Guest Referee)

This essentially boiled down to two women fighting for the affection of one man. Layla would win the match with a huge kick to the head of Summer Rae and end up with Fandango’s affections. Everything that the Divas title match did right earlier in the night, this match was a polar opposite by comparison. By this point it seemed like the crowd just wanted to see more ladders.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Cesaro vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Kane

For the first time ever, the Money in the Bank ladder match saw the Titles on the line instead of a traditional briefcase with a contract inside. As the match got going it became clear early on that Kane was once again to provide a supporting role and help Randy Orton win the belts, something he ultimately failed to do. John Cena would be the man to claim the title belts, despite being quite ineffective most of the match.  Even though this match had two more competitor than the earlier ladder match, this one felt way more conservative in the action. Sure there was some pretty innovative offense making use of the ladders, like Orton delivering his patented DDT to Seamus on the floor from a ladder bridged between the ring and announce table, but it felt like ladders were dismantled and thrown out of the ring as much as they were used as weapons (although Orton got a pretty bad laceration as a result of a ladder). I particularly liked Roman Reigns hitting everyone in the match with one of his three signature moves and he looked the most impressive of everyone in the match. Cena won his 15^th major title in WWE, which I suspect will overshadow how well Reigns performed in that match, but it is a huge accomplishment nonetheless.

Overall Thoughts

Overall I thought that parts of the event were very entertaining and fun to watch and other parts left something to be desired.  The first two matches of the night were really the two best of the night that didn’t have a ladder added to the mix. I felt that with Cena in the title match, almost all unpredictability left the match because the only real people who were ever going to win were Cena or Orton. Roman Reigns would have made a great interim champion, but it appears his feud with Orton is what’s on the table for him in the near future. Add to that the entire Fandango segment that was essentially a filler match. All that said, it was an entertaining event for the most part and I’m interested in seeing when Seth Rollins cashes in his contract, but no doubt he’ll be calling himself Mr. Money in the Bank until he does.