WWE: Why Raw's Money in the Bank Match Devalues the Popular Contest

For seven years, the Money in the Bank ladder match has been used to reward young, up-and-coming talents with their first main-event push and, eventually, their first heavyweight championship. Edge, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, The Miz and Jack Swagger are among those who have capitalized on their victories in the match to secure their first major championships.

On July 15, WWE will once again hold the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Smackdown's offering to this year's event features an array of young talent that has yet to achieve the greatness associated with the WWE or World Heavyweight Championships.

Unfortunately, Raw's contribution to the pay-per-view fails to elicit any type of excitement, due largely to the fact that all four men involved have been WWE Champion and have been at or near the top of World Wrestling Entertainment for at least a decade.

By guaranteeing that either John Cena, Kane, Big Show or Chris Jericho will leave with the Money in the Bank contract, and all but assure that one of them will add another WWE Championship run to their already Hall of Fame-worthy careers, the company has eliminated a sense of excitement that usually accompanies this pay-per-view event.

After all, why should fans be excited for the continuation of the same old, same old?

The WWE Championship contract Money in the Bank match at this year's event not only hurts fan interest, it also devalues what the match was meant to accomplish. The outcome does nothing for the long-term future of the company. It creates no new stars or even allow for a young performer to gain any rub that would come from being included.

A Fatal 4-Way match between Cena, Jericho, Show and Kane could determine a No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship just fine without sacrificing one of the most popular gimmick matches of the entire year just to put one of them over...again.

The Raw Money in the Bank match will likely be very good. All four men have been in big-match situations and gimmick matches in the past and have proven they are capable of performing at high levels in those contests.

And some will simply settle for a good match.

Me? I will take the Smackdown contest, filled with inexperienced yet fresh faces, unlimited potential and exciting possibilities.

Just like Money in the Bank matches should be.