WWE Money in the Bank: Why Justin Gabriel Will Win the Smackdown Ladder Match

At the Money in the Bank PPV, a World Heavyweight Title shot hangs in the balance when eight Smackdown Superstars face off.

The match has two former World Champions in Kane and Sheamus. Well, Sheamus is a former WWE Champion, but you get the point.

Kane is also a former Money in the Bank winner, as he won last year's match and cashed it in on Rey Mysterio on the same night to capture the World Heavyweight Title, marking his first World Title run since his one-day reign as WWE Champion in 1998, following a First Blood Match with WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

This article is not about them, as they have their reasons for not winning this time around. The focus will be on why each man will lose this match and with it, a new main event Superstar will emerge. His name is Justin Gabriel.

You will have to wait until the last slide for me to reveal my reasons for choosing the South African to win. Here are the reasons why every other Superstar will not win Smackdown's Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Kane

The opening slide was pretty self-explanatory on why Kane will not win this time. Last year's win was to setup his feud with Undertaker and this year, he doesn't have that luxury.

He will be a major player in this match, but Kane will not be Mr. Money in the Bank in 2011.

Sheamus

The Money in the Bank ladder match is historic for bringing mid-card Superstars to the main event picture. Sheamus is already a former two-time WWE Champion and is always a threat for the belt, with or without a briefcase.

He has even had a title match in the last couple months, though the match's purpose was to set up Christian's heel turn, but that isn't the point.

Sheamus is a main event Superstar, but he will not be the first Irish-born Mr. Money in the Bank.

Wade Barrett

Wade Barrett is a favourite to win this match, and it is hard to argue against him. He has challenged for the title before, he is a former Intercontinental Champion, and he has led two factions in the last year.

The gut feeling, however, is that Barrett may not emerge victorious from this match and in that loss, could set up a feud with former Nexus and Corre member, Justin Gabriel—my selection to win.

It could be a feud that lasts until Summerslam and one that helps Gabriel establish himself as a main event player in the WWE, thus making him a legitimate threat for the World Title when he chooses to cash it in.

For those reasons, don't expect Barrett to grab the briefcase at the PPV.

Sin Cara

Sin Cara has been a great addition to the Smackdown roster since coming over from RAW in the draft lottery.

The reason he came over was allegedly for his sloppy performances in the ring. The WWE wanted Sin Cara to work on Smackdown so he can gain confidence and lose the tendency to perform a hurricanrana with one leg around his opponent's head and the other halfway down the guy's torso.

Smackdown is taped, rather than RAW, just in case that message wasn't clear in the last paragraph.

Yes, I am critical over mistakes in the ring, and the WWE sees that. Although he could be the next Rey Mysterio, he has a little ways to go before he is even talked about in the World Title picture.

Sin Cara might be a big draw for younger fans, but he will not win the Money in the Bank in 2011.

Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan is a mid-card talent on the cusp of getting to main event status. He could use some work on the mic, but his in-ring ability is world class.

The former NXT Rookie has come from a losing record on NXT, to being fired for actions during the Nexus debut, to main-eventing Summerslam and finally, into a former United States Champion.

Bryan has a good thing going with Cody Rhodes right now, and this match seems more like a way to build their feud, as far as just those two are concerned.

Daniel Bryan is almost at the point to get a World Title shot and has a good chance of winning, but as far as I see it, not this year.

Cody Rhodes

As stated in the previous slide, this match seems more like a way to build the feud between Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes.

There is no denying that Cody has done a lot in his character development since parting ways with Legacy.

The "Dashing" one is now a "deformed" shell of himself, and his acting and mic skills are excellent. They bring back memories of Mankind, in a way. (Note: Please don't go on a tangent about me comparing Cody to Mick Foley because as far as I am concerned, it was the best example out there, and Foley is a legend.)

His in-ring ability shows he has learned a lot and that the wrestling gene is truly in the family.

Cody could win this match, cash in the briefcase and start a feud with the current champion and former Legacy leader, Randy Orton. But with unfinished business in his feud with Daniel Bryan, expect Cody Rhodes to take a back seat in this match and do things that will further the Bryan-Rhodes feud.

Heath Slater

Has anyone heard of the game, "Which one of these things doesn't belong?"

If you looked at this card and said Heath Slater, you were correct.

The guy isn't over with the crowd, his charisma seems bland, and I am pretty sure he's only on the main roster because he was a member of the Nexus and The Corre.

Justin Gabriel carried the tag team, and Slater may be better served in FCW than in a match with World Title implications.

Sorry Slater, but the thought of you challenging for a World Title in the next six months is enough for even the biggest WWE fan to turn off the TV in disgust and fall asleep with a sense of regret for watching WWE programming.

Give it a couple years, you may get there. Don't feel too bad, Mark Henry has been with the company for many years, and it wasn't until 2003 that he got to face main event talent in a lengthy storyline.

For now, however, it is safe to say that Heath Slater and Mr. Money in the Bank will not be spoken in the same sentence this year...unless that sentence is "Heath Slater will not be Mr. Money in the Bank."

The Winner Is Justin Gabriel

Justin Gabriel has shown glimpses of superstardom since coming to the main roster as a member of the Nexus. He, however, had to live in the shadow of Wade Barrett for that time period.

When Nexus broke up, he went to Smackdown and became a member of The Corre, again, with Barrett as the leader (even though they were supposed to be "equals").

Now that Gabriel is done playing hopscotch with stables, he has the opportunity to break out on his own and become a big time player in the WWE.

His 450 splash is a move that people pay good money to see and is best served as a face.

Like I stated in Barrett's slide, a win for Gabriel can open up a feud with his former stable leader, one that could stop at Summerslam, maybe even later than that.

The longer he has with the briefcase, the longer he has to establish his place in the main event scene in the WWE, and although we don't hear much from the South African, he has shown what he is all about in the ring.

When WWE traveled to South Africa a short while ago, Gabriel had his opportunity to perform with the big boys and according to reports, he did very well, much to the delight of WWE management.

With all of this in mind, and the fact that I have chosen a heel to win RAW's ladder match (Alberto Del Rio), it makes sense for a face to win Smackdown's ladder match. And who better than Justin Gabriel, a guy who is starting to establish himself as a face and a guy with a bright future?

What are your thoughts on the Money in the Bank PPV? Will Justin Gabriel win? But more importantly, will we see a 450 Splash from the top of a ladder?

What do you think?