WWE Money in the Bank 2012: Play-by-Play Coverage and Thoughts

World Wrestling Entertainment presented its annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view live from the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday night.

For Sunday night's Money in the Bank card, on the line was a World Heavyweight Championship contract. Also, a WWE Championship contract was in the balance, consisting of former champions including John Cena, the Big Show, Kane and Chris Jericho. CM Punk will square off with Daniel Bryan in a no-disqualification match, and Alberto Del Rio will challenge Sheamus for the Heavyweight Championship. 

The pay-per-view opened with a video package.

Before the first match began, Vickie Guerrero opened the show. She introduced Dolph Ziggler to the ring.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Santino vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Sin Cara vs. Tensai vs. Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship Contract

In the early going, Tensai took everyone out and moved to grab a few ladders into the ring. Tensai tried to go up for the contract, but Kidd and Christian double teamed him and forced Tensai out of the ring.

Christian and Santino fought at the top of the ladder but were taken down. Rhodes and Ziggler began to fight, and both exchanged blows to the ladder. Sin Cara then entered the picture by taking out Rhodes and Ziggler. 

Rhodes and Kidd began to fight in the ring with some impressive, high-kicking moves. Kidd was all alone and looked to grab the briefcase early. Tensai interrupted that, taking out Kidd and Santino, who tried to sneak in a victory. Sandow went up the ladder and touched the briefcase but was taken out by Christian. After fight back and forth, Christian speared Sandow to the ladder. 

Ziggler and Rhodes exchanged punches at the top of the ladder until Tensai took them out. Tensai went up for the win, but both Santino and Sin Cara interrupted his chance. Christian finally took Tensai out with the ladder. Santino gained momentum on Ziggler and hit the cobra punch. 

Santino climbed slowly and appeared scared of heights. He tried to punch down the briefcase but was then taken out. Rhodes began to climb, but Guerrero distracted him. Ziggler speared Rhodes and battled with Christian at the top of the ladder. Kidd, with a ladder in hand, took Ziggler out. Christian and Sandow fought briefly, but both force themselves out of the ring. 

Outside the ring, Tensai power slammed Sin Cara onto a ladder and threw Ziggler over the announcers' table. Rhodes and Kidd exchanged punches at the top of the ladder until Rhodes threw Kidd down. Christian hit an impressive spear to Rhodes. 

Ziggler rushed to the ring, took out Christian and captured the briefcase for the victory.

Your Winner: Dolph Ziggler

(My quick take: That match had the crowd going nuts with chants. Very impressive opening to Money in the Bank. So much in and out of the ring action. Well done to open the pay-per-view.)

Match Rating: 5/5

Sheamus was introduced backstage for an interview. He said he is focused on defending his title against Alberto Del Rio. 

The Miz makes his WWE return after two months at Money in the Bank. He inserted himself in the match with Cena, Kane, Big Show and Jericho. 

Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship 

The bell sounded, and the match is underway. Del Rio and Sheamus locked up to begin the match. Sheamus pushed Del Rio out of the ring. Del Rio tried to attack Sheamus' arm to take the early advantage. However, Sheamus fired back with a knee boot to the head, and the momentum suddenly swung to his favor.

Sheamus hit a spear from the top turnbuckle to force Del Rio out of the ring. Ricardo Rodriguez distracted Sheamus, which allowed Del Rio to hit a drop kick. Del Rio went to work on Sheamus' weak arm. 

Del Rio had the clear advantage by continuing his attack. Sheamus fought back with a swinging neck breaker. However, this was a short momentum swing, as Del Rio continued his attack on Sheamus' arm. Fans began to chant for Sheamus to comeback, which he does with a knee to the face on Del Rio. 

Sheamus landed a near three count with a knee breaker to Del Rio's back. Sheamus went for a big boot to Del Rio but missed. Del Rio responded with a knee breaker of his own but only to a near three count. Sheamus hit the big boot on Del Rio for the win.

Your Winner and still World Champion: Sheamus

Match Rating: 3.5/5

(A pretty solid singles match. I thought Sheamus would retain the title before the match began. Some good work by both wrestlers. I was hoping Ziggler would have time to cash in his contract, but Del Rio caused a distraction to his opportunity.)

After the match, Ziggler came out to the ring to cash in his contract. Sheamus, who recovered in time, hit the big boot, but the bell never rang, meaning it is not an official match.

The Prime Time Players vs. Primo and Epico

Early in the match, Titus and Young got the early advantage. Titus continued the attack by slamming Epico's back into the metal part of the turnbuckle outside the ring. Titus and Young kept weakening Epico in the ring. Primo was finally tagged in and went on the attack on Young. Primo, moving quickly in the ring, hit some impressive high-flying moves until Young responded with a knee to the stomach. Primo surprised with a curl up for the three count.

Your Winners: Primo and Epico.

Match Rating: 2.5/5

(This match really did not do anything for me. The crowd was also on the silent side for most of the match. There were some good spots but nothing spectacular to watch.)

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship with AJ as Special Referee

CM Punk got the early advantage by forcing Bryan out of the ring with chops to the chest. Bryan fired back with chops of his own. Back in the ring, Bryan began to take momentum. Punk turned the fight back to his favor momentarily. 

Bryan and Punk exchanged chops and then leg kicks until Punk upper cut Bryan. Bryan again turned it around to his advantage with several kicks to the stomach. Punk delivered a drop kick followed by a spear through the ropes to Bryan.

Outside the ring, Punk lifted Bryan and slammed him down. Back in the ring, Bryan pushed Punk into AJ, knocking her out. Punk checked on AJ, and Bryan took advantage. AJ was escorted to the back; this brought in a new official.

Punk and Bryan continued their match outside the ring. The crowd chanted for tables, and Punk pulled one out. Bryan seized an opportunity and body slammed Punk on the mat. 

Bryan slam,ed Punk with a kendo stick to the stomach but landed just a near three fall. Bryan was in clear advantage mode but missed a slam off the top turnbuckle. Punk got back up, and both exchanged kicks. Punk got the better of it and gained back momentum.  

Punk looked to finish off Bryan, but Daniel countered. Bryan put Punk in a submission hold. Punk escaped from it and slammed Bryan consecutive times with the kendo stick. 

AJ returned to the match and pulled out a chair. She looked at Punk first, then Bryan. AJ put down the chair in the middle of the ring, and both wrestlers went for it. Bryan got their first and kept slamming Punk.

Bryan began to complain to AJ on her slow count. He continued to kick Punk to the mat as AJ looked on. Punk responded with a clothesline and retrieved the chair. Punk slammed Bryan's back with the chair and placed it between the turnbuckle. 

AJ went in front of the chair, and Punk stopped the attack. Bryan attacked with a kick drop on Punk. Bryan went for the kendo stick, but AJ had her foot on it. Punk capitalized and then slammed Bryan to the ground. Punk went for a flying elbow but missed.

Bryan put a cross face on Punk. However, Punk fought back. He hit the go to sleep special, but Bryan kicked out. Punk looked at AJ, pleading with her that he had the three count. 

Punk grabbed the table and set it up in the ring. While Bryan is on the table, Punk went for the flying elbow, but Daniel got back up. Punk slammed Bryan on the table and went for the cover. Punk got the three count for the win.

Your Winner: CM Punk

Match Rating: 4.5/5

(That was a very good match. Bryan and Punk have terrific chemistry together, and I was pleased to see Punk continue his championship run. They told a good story in the ring, and it appears the AJ storyline will continue forward.)

Ryback vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks

Your Winner: Ryback

Match Rating: 3/5

(Filler match. He is truly WWE's version of Goldberg after looking more closely like his character and appearance. The crowd agreed with chants of Goldberg's name.)

Layla/Kaitlyn/Tamina Snuka vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Eve Torres

Your Winners: Layla, Kaitlyn and Tamina

Match Rating: 3/5

(Another filler match. I was glad the Divas division got to showcase more talent on pay-per-view, and WWE gave them their time. Pretty decent match.)

Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. The Miz vs. The Big Show vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship Contract

The match opened all over the place except for the Miz. He tried to climb to the top of the ladder, but Cena took him down. The Big Show dropped the ladder on Jericho. Kane and Show exchanged punches until Big Show body slammed Kane. The Big Show then took out everyone in the match.

Jericho gave Big Show a knee to the face. Cena lifted up the Big Show and delivered an Attitude Adjustment to the Big Show, who was slammed through the announcers' table. Suddenly, all the wrestlers threw ladders on the Big Show. 

Jericho placed the Miz in The Walls of Jericho and began to take control of the match. The Miz, who tried to sneak in a victory, was tossed into the front of the ladder by Jericho. Cena climbed to the top of the ladder and knocked off Jericho. Kane took advantage, climbed the ladder and touched the briefcase but was distracted by Jericho. 

Cena picked Kane up and hit the Attitude Adjustment. Kane fell on two other wrestlers who were laying on the ladder. The Big Show finally woke up and took out everyone in a rage.

The Big Show was all alone and went for the briefcase. Kane climbed up on the other side, and both teased for a choke slam. The Big Show knocked out Kane, but Cena climbed up. He was knocked down quickly, and Jericho hit the Big Show several times in the back with the steel chair.

With Cena and Jericho on top of the ladder. Jericho put Cena in a sleeper move. Cena fought it and climbed higher. Jericho and The Mic began to fight on top of the ladder.  

The Big Show entered the picture and knocked out Jericho and the Miz. Cena used the briefcase to knock out the Big Show, grabbing the briefcase for the win.

Your Winner: John Cena

Match Rating: 4/5

(It might have not been as good as the first ladder match to open the show, but it was still a very good feature. It was no surprise John Cena won, as this was his first ever victory for this type of match. Overall, this concludes a good pay-per-view for the WWE. Monday night's Raw should be interesting.)

Overall Money in the Bank PPV Rating: 3.5/5