WWE Money in the Bank 2018: Full Match Card Predictions After Backlash

Backlash ended with Roman Reigns clutching his ribs, his fist raised in victory. It was a clear sign of what's to come at WWE Money in the Bank 2018. The Big Dog will collide with Brock Lesnar once more.

Sunday's co-branded pay-per-view offered a number of hints about how the June 17 card in Chicago will look, but none clearer than Reigns' win over Samoa Joe.

The fact that WWE booked Reigns vs. Joe as Backlash's main event was significant. It suggested that Reigns' Universal Championship quest isn't over and that his story remains the company's top priority. And The Big Dog outlasting Joe cemented his status as No. 1 contender, fan resistance be damned.

Backlash also saw a number of rivalries heat up, making it easier to project who will clash at Money in the Bank. The following is a look at what matches are likely to comprise the upcoming PPV following Sunday's underwhelming effort.

Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (Intercontinental Championship)

Seth Rollins knocked off The Miz at Backlash in the PPV's clear best match.

With The A-Lister now a part of the SmackDown brand, this rivalry isn't going to continue despite the electricity those two made in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday. Rollins will instead re-aim his focus at the man who has been chasing his tail on Monday nights—Finn Balor.

Theirs has been a thrilling rivalry thus far. WWE is sure to exploit it further.

Balor seems to be on the verge of a heel turn which would give this feud an added dimension. 

The Intercontinental Championship scene has been Raw's foundation for much of the year. That will continue when these two top-notch performers go at it again.

Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak (Cruiserweight Championship)

The Cruiserweight Championship wasn't represented at Backlash, but that's not likely to be the case at Money in the Bank.

Cedric Alexander can count on Drew Gulak charging at him soon. Gulak is fresh off besting Kalisto, a recent cruiserweight title No. 1 contender. The heel has been one of the show's keystones of late and WWE is bound to take advantage of that.

Alexander hasn't found a full-fledged rival as champion yet, but that's poised to change in the coming weeks. The previous battles between he and Gulak have been good. Another showdown looms as the increasingly aggressive Gulak provides the titleholder with a tough challenge.

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

The Usos may continue to clash with The Bludgeon Brothers, but The New Day has its own revenge story to play out.

Harper and Rowan have assaulted The New Day on a number of occasions. Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have as much animosity toward the champs as The Usos.

So while WWE may save the dramatic finish to The Usos vs. The Bludgeon Brothers saga for SummerSlam, it can take an engaging detour with SmackDown's decorated trio facing Harper and Rowan instead.

Neither the Raw nor SmackDown tag team titleholders made it to the Backlash card, but WWE isn't likely to leave them out of Money in the Bank, too.

Elias vs. Bobby Roode

Elias tried to entertain the crowd with one of his trademark trash-talking songs at Backlash, but a flurry of Superstars interrupted him. The scene climaxed with Bobby Roode driving Elias' head into the mat.

The filler segment is poised to lead to a filler match.

Money in the Bank needs a snack-break bout on the card and these two are the prime candidates to provide it. It's going to be tough to make the Money in the Bank ladder match field with both Raw and SmackDown stars involved. Midcarders like Roode and Elias will be left out.

They will instead focus on their burgeoning rivalry.

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Last Man Standing; WWE Championship)

Styles vs. Nakamura again ended in non-conclusive fashion.

At the Greatest Royal Rumble event, the WWE title bout ended in a double count-out. The rematch at Backlash had no winner, either. After each man laid out the other with a low blow, neither could get to their feet before the referee completed his 10-count.

That makes it clear this feud is not yet through.

Last time, WWE added a stipulation in reaction to the lack of clear finish. A shift in the rules is on the way again. In what could be Nakamura's last crack at the WWE title for a while, a Last Man Standing stipulation will play up the hatred between these two. 

Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Baron Corbin vs. Big Cass vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman vs. Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz vs. Samoa Joe

There is ample bad blood to tap into during the men's Money in the Bank ladder match.

Big Cass smashed on Bryan after losing to him at Backlash. That's going to leave the beloved underdog hungry for revenge. The Miz's longstanding issues with Bryan should bolster the bout, as well.

The Miz failed to take down Rollins at Backlash and will now have to shift his focus to a new title hunt and eventually to a feud with a man he so often tore into during his last SmackDown tenure.

The ladder match will offer Strowman a place to issue more creative destruction. Joe will be searching for redemption after falling short against Reigns on Sunday night.

Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Asuka vs. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ember Moon vs. Ruby Riott vs. Sasha Banks 

Bayley emerged from Backlash angry with both Banks and Riott. The Boss refused to back her in her match against Riott. The Riott Squad, meanwhile, used outside interference to best The Huggable One.

WWE can build on both those stories with the women's Money in the Bank ladder match. That's where Bayley and Banks' slow-burning rivalry can finally explode and where Riott can continue to antagonize Raw's female babyfaces.

Flair will be looking to earn a title match, as well, after she fell to Carmella at Backlash.

While WWE may opt to have The Queen take on Carmella again, putting her in the Money in the Bank ladder match adds star power to the contest. Plus, it opens the door for Lynch to turn on Flair and start making her mark on SmackDown again.

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship)

A flood of boos is coming to Chicago when Reigns vs. Lesnar IV headlines Money in the Bank.

Reigns last title match with Lesnar ended in controversy. The referee stated after the Greatest Royal Rumble he made an error in awarding The Beast Incarnate the victory.

The Big Dog was busy with Joe at Backlash and strengthened his case to get another Universal Championship match by taking down the hoss with a spear.

Never mind how poorly fans received the past two Lesnar vs. Reigns matches, WWE is stubbornly heading in that direction again. Reigns' coronation has been delayed, but now it's set to unfold at Money in the Bank.