Monday, May 20, 2019

Money in the Bank 2019 | Thoughts

Hi and welcome back to the blog. So much to talk about so here we go!

Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. The Usos (Kickoff Show)
The Usos defeated the Smackdown tag team champions. They get their win back after losing the previous match. That's 50-50 booking right there. Winners: The Usos.

Main Card 
Nikki Cross vs. Bayley vs. Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke vs. Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon (Women's Money in the Bank)
This was a very good match, the highlight was Ember hitting Natalya with The Eclipse from the ladder outside of the ring, it looked like Mandy was about to win when Sonya Deville carried her up the ladder, Bayley cut them off and shoved them down to the mat and secured the briefcase. Winner: Bayley.

United States Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
Rey won the match from a botched looking finish. He looked at the referee in shock. Winner: and NEW US Champion: Rey Mysterio.

After the match, Joe took his anger out on the new US champion, staring down Dominic. There's your new storyline right there. 

The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (Steel Cage Match) 
First of all, since when are there rope breaks in steel cage matches? Shane won the match by slipping out of his shirt and landing on the floor. I guess they're going to end this feud (finally) at the next show on June 7th. Where it all started in the first place.

Winner: Shane McMahon.

Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese (c) vs. Ariya Daivari 
I missed this match so I can't really comment on it. Winner: and STILL Cruiserweight Champion: Tony Nese.

Raw Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
Becky won the match via submission. Evans appeared to have botched the roll up pin in the closing moments of this match. 

Winner: and STILL Raw Women's Champion: Becky Lynch

The Man was about to walk up the ramp to the back. Until Charlotte came out and the Smackdown women's title was on the line so here we go!

SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
These two competitors tend to put on nice matches and tell good stories in the ring. This felt rushed, Lacey Evans cost Lynch the match and Flair picked up the win. 

Winner: and NEW Smackdown women's champion: Charlotte Flair.

I thought something like this would happen when I went through my predictions. After the match, Flair and Evans beat up Lynch when Bayley ran out for the save. Who then cashed in on Charlotte for the win.

Winner: and NEW Smackdown women's Champion: Bayley.

This was entertaining. Cash ins are always fun to watch.

Before the next match, Elias took out Roman backstage with the guitar. Before his usual segment in the ring. At the end of it, Roman gave Elias a superman punch. 

Roman Reigns vs. Elias
In the ring Roman won via the spear. Winner: Roman Reigns.

Universal Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles
I thought this match was going to be the main event, but in any event, this was a very good and fun match to watch. The crowd were behind both of these guys. 

Styles countered Rollins' stomp into the Styles clash for a near fall. That was phenomenal. (No pun intended) Rollins won via the stomp. I'm looking forward to their next match. Winner: and STILL Universal Champion: Seth Rollins. 

Mick Foley is advertised to be on RAW to unveil a new title. I'll take a guess that it's a WildCard title or something. 

Lars Sullivan beat up the Lucha House Party. His push continues. On commentary, Michael Cole asked, how do you stop Lars Sullivan? I say you get Roman Reigns to defeat him later down the line.

WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Kofi successfully defended the title against Owens via Trouble in Paradise. Winner: and STILL WWE Champion: Kofi Kingston.

Main Event
Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Ricochet vs. Randy Orton vs. Andrade vs. Ali (Men's Money in the Bank)
Sami Zayn was taken out of this match earlier so we were down to seven people. Andrade did a Sunset flip Powerbomb on Balor on to another ladder. 

Ali followed that up with a move of his own, this was carnage. Other moments followed. Before Ali was about to get the briefcase, Brock Lesnar's music hit. He took out Ali to win the match. 

Winner: Brock Lesnar. 

This was probably the best MITB ladder match I've ever seen. Respect to the guys in the match. It'll be interesting to see where they go with Brock and the MITB briefcase. Do they have him cash in on Rollins? Or have him use the WildCard rule and "swerve" us all by having him cash in on Kofi on Smackdown? Let's see what happens.

That's it for the Money in the Bank review. Until next time. Thanks for reading.


Saturday, May 18, 2019

Money in the Bank 2019 | Predictions |

It's prediction time, let's run through the matches and see what my picks are.

Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. The Usos (Kickoff Show)
The Revival will cost the Usos the match here. Winners: Daniel Bryan and Rowan.

Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese (c) vs. Ariya Daivari (Kickoff Show)
Winner: And still Cruiserweight Champion: Tony Nese. 

Nikki Cross vs. Bayley vs. Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke vs. Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon (Women's Money in the Bank)
I'm going select one from Raw and SmackDown. Winner: Nikki Cross or Mandy Rose.

Roman Reigns vs. Elias
Roman is winning here en route to facing Shane. Winner: Roman Reigns.

Raw Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
The first of Becky's titles are on the line. The Man wins after a tough match. Lacey hasn't really done anything to earn a title match which is why I pick Becky. 
Winner: and STILL RAW Women's champion: Becky Lynch. 

The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (Steel Cage Match) 
The Miz is winning here after losing at Wrestlemania. That is all. Winner: The Miz.

United States Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
I'll probably get this wrong, that's what predictions are all about. I pick Rey to win the US title, with help from Dominic. Winner: and NEW United States Champion: Rey Mysterio.

SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
I predicted Becky to win against Lacey earlier, we know Becky and Seth are a couple now, that got me thinking is Becky losing the Smackdown title to stay on the same brand with Rollins on RAW? That seems to be the theme lately. 

Using the latter logic, it's a tough one. I will say Becky wins! But only just. Winner: and STILL SmackDown Women's Champion: Becky Lynch. 

Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Ricochet vs. Randy Orton vs. Andrade vs. Ali (Men's Money in the Bank)
I will use the same format as the women's ladder match. Winner: Drew McIntyre or Andrade. 

WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Kofi just won the title, the support is still fully with him, momentum etc so here is my prediction: Winner: and STILL WWE champion! Kofi Kingston. 

Universal Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles
This is going to be a great match, Rollins will remain champion, resulting in a possible heel turn from AJ. Winner: and STILL Universal Champion: Seth Rollins. 


That is it for the predictions. Enjoy the show if you're watching. Thanks for reading.