Here are my thoughts on the Money in the Bank PPV from Phoenix, AZ tonight. I have written this live as I have been watching the show. I haven't done a review like this in a long time, so bare with me and enjoy!
Pre-Show Match & Notes
Kofi Kingston & Ron Killings vs. Hunico & Camacho for The WWE Tag Team Titles
I don't understand WWE's need to diminish the value of Tag Team Titles, but this was the match available on Youtube, Facebook and other places before the PPV started. A nice and fun tag team match that really should have been used to open the actual PPV instead of giving it away for free. If you want to give away a free match, use people who don't hold titles in the company as a chance to showcase some younger talent.
Chris Jericho did an interview before the show started as well - he delivered as he always does.
WWE ran an Albert Del Rio preview, and I must say that he has been impressive since he has come back. I look forward to his match with Sheamus tonight.
Daniel Bryan interview discussing the storyline involving himself, Punk and AJ. Man oh man they are playing this up to the hilt. Daniel Bryan is a lot of fun in the role as a heel, and the interview went really well. I hate the storyline as I feel it is unnecessary and I hope it doesn't distract from what should be a great match, which is now a No-DQ match for some reason. But this is the landscape of the current WWE - everything needs to be over-written by non wrestling people.
If I weren't already watching the PPV, this montage of clips they are now showing involving Punk, AJ and Bryan would not make me want to buy it, in fact, It would actually turn me off from doing so.
Money In The Bank PPV Notes
The show opens with the SmackDown MITB match which involves Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, Damian Sandow, Tyson Kidd, Sin Cara, Santino Marella, Lord Tensai and Christian.
Really great opening match with the typical spots found in these. Sin Cara botched a top rope move with Ziggler early. Dumb spot where Santino was afraid of heights, but it ended cool when Cody drop kicked him off the top of the ladder from the top turnbuckle. Kidd did a great spot off the ropes with another ladder to knock Ziggler down. Tensai set up a ladder outside between the ring and the announce table and bounced Sin Cara off the ladder with a powerbomb. Christian speared Cody off the top of the ladder. Crows acutally cheering for Ziggler at this point, and a minute later he wins it to a nice ovation. Great way to kick off the PPV, and everyone worked really hard to deliver a solid match. It may be time to turn Dolph face after the reaction of the crowd.
Miz returned with a decent haircut and noted that he will be in the Raw MITB ladder match. He was over rather well with this crowd, who was happy to hear his announcement. Now that makes 5 competitors for the match.
They replayed the Raw video where Mick Foley won the world title during the Monday Night Wars with WCW. I was one of the 600,000 who changed the channel thanks to Tony Schiavone making that announcement on Nitro.
Then a Del Rio video, which means Sheamus vs. Del Rio should be next for the World Heavyweight Title. I actually like these videos because you need to put something in between the ladder match to give people time to adjust to the other matches that aren't MITB ladder matches.
Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio for The World Heavyweight Title
The problem with following one of the MITB matches is that the crowd is just dead after witnessing what they just did. Sheamus retained in a very long match that had no chance of being over because of what it had to follow. But they actually did very well. A solid match on any other PPV. Amazing that it was for The World Heavyweight Title. The Sheamus Jericho match from Smackdown this past week was better. Ziggler came down and was about to cash in the contract, but Sheamus kicked him and knocked him out before the referee actually was able to ring the bell, so it won't count.
Another video promoting Raw - this time it's about how they go to three hours starting with the 1000th episode. Then they replayed the Daniel Bryan interview from the pre-show.
The tag team champions came out in suits. To watch the next match.
The Prime Time Players vs. Primo and Epico
Why is this on the PPV and the Tag Title Match not? Makes no sense, but if WWE made sense throughout an entire PPV, then that wouldn't make sense either. Confused? So am I.
Primo and Epico won the match. Yawn. This was all to set up the upcoming feud between The Prime Time Players and Kingston and Truth, which makes even less sense, considering Young and O'Neil just lost to Primo and Epico on PPV. The booking baffles me sometimes, but this one just really takes the cake.
Another video displaying the issues between Punk, AJ and Bryan, then an interview with AJ. I imagine they are putting this match on next. The interview did the match itself no favors, as the referee shouldn't be the center of attention in any match for any reason.
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for The WWE Heavyweight Title
I guess it's a no holds barred match. There is no DQ being called, no count outs being called. AJ is just kind of standing there.Punk unintentionally knocked AJ to the floor at one point, and they had a regular referee come out. This ref isn't counting either. Some really good spots here, and the match itself is very solid. They are fighting everywhere but in the ring. Now a singapore cane is involved. Really well done match so far, I am hoping AJ doesn't come back out and ruin it. Bryan reversed a GTS attempt with a hurancanrana. Punk got the cane and started beating Bryan with it. This is a really good wrestling match, but now AJ has come back out to ruin it. She grabes a chair and puts it in the middle of the ring. Bryan grabs it and hits Punk numerous times but only get's a two count. Now it's Punks turn with the chair on Bryan. They are beating the ever loving hell out of each other in this match. AJ then gets involved and starts blocking everything the other guy is trying to do. Punk misses the elbow drop and lands on a chair. Bryan gets the yes lock on and uses the cane for extra leverage. Punk escapes and hits the GTS, but cannot cover right away and Bryan kicks out at two. Punk then brings the table into the ring. Punk was going to do the elbow on Bryan through the table but Bryan recovers and crotches him on the top rope. This has been an absolute war. Punk back suplexes Bryan opp the top rope through the table, and he finally defeats Bryan to retain the title. Great match that was not ruined by AJ. I hope they get rid of the AJ part of it and let them continue feuding, as this was fantastic, but you never know with WWE and the on the fly booking that occurs.
The MITB Match for Raw is the main event, but first it's Hawkins and Ryder taking on Ryback in a handicap match that's not a handicap match as the team has to tag in and out, which kind of defeats the purpose of a handicap match. The Goldberg chants are starting and this is the same way they built him in WCW, which is not a good thing. If the fans know exactly what they are doing, then how does Ryback actually get over long term? The answer is that he really doesn't. The crowd simply does not care at all and they are waiting for the MITB match to take this PPV home. This match is already too long. More Goldberg chants. Ryback hits Shellshock and gets the win. It served it's purpose.
Raw video with the Y2J debut up. I remember that, too - I have been watching wrestling for way too long.
Now we have a six woman tag team match, featuring Layla, Kaitlyn and Tamina Snuka vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Eve Torres. This is going to be more filler. It makes sense in that it gives the fans a break in between the big matches. Another time filler, and it was fine.
Raw MITB Match
Cena won in a non-shocker.
Overall it was a great PPV and I hope you enjoy my review.
