WWE Money in the Bank 2016: Full Card Breakdown, Bold Predictions and More
WWE's website is referring to the upcoming Money in the Bank event as the greatest one of all time. That's a very bold statement, especially considering the company is still fresh into the New Era.
Brock Lesnar is not booked to appear, and Randy Orton is not yet back from injury. The Intercontinental Championship is not being defended, and the same goes for the Women's Championship. But even though there are a few odd omissions, the card is still impressive.
John Cena vs. AJ Styles is arguably the most impressive match on that card.
It's a dream match to end all dream matches. It's a WrestleMania-caliber dream match, and it's even being held before SummerSlam. This is the one many fans are likely tuning in for, as it could have repercussions on WWE's future storylines.
But while AJ brings the New Era fight straight to Cena, there is much more on deck for this one.
The traditional Money in the Bank ladder match promises to be epic, as six of the company's best and brightest are set to compete. This match has a lot of intrigue, mostly because the man who wins will have a great chance at becoming WWE world heavyweight champion whenever he chooses to cash in.
This match should be so big and so exciting, it could very well overshadow the championship itself.
The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs, as Roman Reigns steps into the ring with former champ Seth Rollins. This should be the main event of the night, but that means Seth and Roman would be following what's sure to be two top bouts.
Can the former Shield brothers steal the show despite what happens before their match?
As with every event WWE presents, Money in the Bank will have its high and low points. The fans are hoping for many more high points this time around.
Sheamus vs. Apollo Crews
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Consider this Apollo Crews' coming-out party.
This is the first real test the former NXT standout has had since joining WWE's main roster. Fans will be watching this one very closely, and the reason for that is the man who will be standing across the ring from him that night.
Sheamus may not be what many would call a master ring technician, but he is a former WWE world champion. He's been trusted with the company's top gold, and that means WWE trusts him to deliver. Despite how much grief he's caught from the WWE faithful in the past, the fact is, Sheamus gets the job done.
He must be considered one of the best heels in WWE today.
Sheamus just has no redeemable qualities. At no point do fans really want to cheer for him, and at no point does it appear he could be making a change for the better. The Celtic Warrior is perfectly happy playing the heavy, and that's why he's so good at it.
He's also good at pushing guys to their limit.
This is what will happen at Money in the Bank. Crews looks great; he's strong and athletic, but he will be in a fight on June 19. Sheamus doesn't have the reputation of hurting his opponents, but that does not mean he won't give Crews all he can handle.
This is more than just an NXT star getting a shot; this is about Sheamus working with a younger talent on the big stage.
But though this match will likely move Apollo in the right direction, he's not going to win.
There's no drama in Apollo going over here. The drama is in the return match, and that's why Sheamus should go over at Money in the Bank. Even if he rolled Crews up and grabbed his tights for the three-count, Crews would still come out looking good.
This will be Apollo's first test, but only his first. The next chapter comes with the second match, and that match is surely his to win.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
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At some point, this feud has to end.
Of all the New Era stars plying their craft on WWE programming, Baron Corbin is the one who appears to be spinning his wheels. He's done well in terms of owning his character, but that may not be enough to get him moving forward.
What he needs are strong opponents to get him on track. But he first must get past the man who was once believed to be one of the strongest in WWE's locker room.
Dolph Ziggler is called The Showoff, and with good reason. But some of his luster has arguably been lost over the past year. WWE's refusal to move him past the midcard and his frustrating lack of wins have put him in an odd spot.
He's good enough in the ring to be WWE world heavyweight champion, but the company won't even book him in the Money in the Bank ladder match. He's good enough to wear the Intercontinental or United States Championships, but he's no closer to those than he was before.
But he can steal the show on any given night, and WWE seems content with letting him do that.
The issue here is whether or not it's helping Corbin's cause. Ziggler surely wants to do that, if only to be a team player, but this feud has perhaps gone longer than it should. Now the question is not who goes over but how quickly it happens.
This is a kickoff match, so it will not get much time. But in the end, it will be Corbin who gets the win.
It's the only outcome that makes sense, and once this one is over, Corbin can move on to the next opponent. His career is still on the rise, and the next man he faces will be part of that progress. Meanwhile, Ziggler will probably continue to work in the same spot he always does.
That is an outcome that many fans will be hoping is not inevitable.
Natalya and Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte and Dana Brooke
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Charlotte continues to reign atop the WWE Women's Division, but her title will not be defended at Money in the Bank.
Instead, the champ will team with Dana Brooke against Natalya and Becky Lynch. At first glance, this does not sound like a bad match. After all, the four have history together and heat against each other. Charlotte has her protege in Brooke, while Nattie has her backup in Lynch.
But this match is meant for Monday Night Raw, not Money in the Bank.
The women involved will put on a good match, but there will likely not be much resolution to any of the problems they have. The only saving grace in the end is Sasha Banks, and if she does indeed make an appearance, it will move everything forward.
Sasha is the Superstar many fans can't wait to see return.
Banks has a presence about her—a charm that cannot be denied. Her charisma and her personality set her apart from the rest, and she is a future WWE women's champion. But that moment cannot come fast enough for many.
The only way it happens, of course, is if Banks gets back soon.
But in the meantime, this MITB match is just another match. All of the women involved will give maximum effort, but there is no prize in the end. Charlotte's championship is safe, and this feud will continue to be fought on the Raw after Money in the Bank.
But if there is any possibility for a Sasha Banks appearance, then WWE should take it. When she comes back, it will greatly improve this feud and also ensure Charlotte has yet another top challenger for the title.
Rusev vs. Titus O'Neil, United States Championship Match
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Rusev is the big bad of this match, the obnoxious heel who also happens to be a wicked strong powerhouse. His arrogance puts him on the wrong side of fans who prefer their United States champion to be a bit more upstanding.
It's also put him on the wrong side of 6'6", 270-pound Titus O'Neil.
Titus is perhaps the best choice to face Rusev here. Of all the Superstars who have ever stood up to Rusev, Titus is maybe the most well-equipped to handle him physically. He never seems to get winded in his matches, and he's very light on his feet for a big man.
He can also match Rusev move-for-move in the ring.
This feud is a breath of fresh air and one that is happening at the right time. The New Era has been promoted and hyped so much, sometimes it gets in the way of telling a story in the ring. This is not the case here, as this one is all about two big guys just going to war over a valuable championship.
That championship deserves all the attention it can get.
The United States title hasn't been the same since John Cena held it. While WWE has done great work in elevating the Intercontinental Championship, it's the U.S. Championship that needs some work, and now WWE is getting back to it.
Rusev is the perfect heel to wear the belt, as he has a tremendous upside. He is getting better in the ring, he's physically dominant and he has the ability to draw heat like no one else in WWE.
When he goes on a rampage, very few could even slow him down.
But maybe it's such a good fit with O'Neil now because he was the outside choice to face him. O'Neil just hasn't had much experience on this level, so he will have to learn to adapt very quickly. But at least this feud is fresh, and it's anyone's guess who will win on June 19.
However, this is the perfect time for Titus to rise above his station and grab success. This is the night when O'Neil goes over and becomes the new United States champion. There will be return matches, and Rusev may win the belt back at some point.
But O'Neil should be the last man standing at the end of this rivalry. It may not be Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, but a good story is being told nevertheless, and that is the most important part.
Fatal 4-Way for the WWE World Tag Team Championships
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Everyone is talking about the six-man ladder match, but many are not talking about the four-way tag team match.
Minus The Dudleys and The Usos, this match features the best tag teams WWE's main roster has to offer. Each duo has its own unique chemistry, and each duo has a legitimate chance of winning tag team gold. This means anything can happen at Money in the Bank.
Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson should be this generation's Acolyte Protection Agency, but they have not delivered in any significant way thus far. However, they could walk away with the belts at Money in the Bank, and fans would buy in.
They have the power, speed and experience necessary to win it all, and they very likely could.
The Vaudevillains are maybe not the most over tag team in WWE, but that may not stop the company from putting them in the driver's seat on June 19. Simon Gotch and Aiden English are an accomplished team, but they would reach a whole new level if they won the gold.
But for many fans, this match comes down to two teams.
The New Day versus Enzo and Big Colin Cassady perhaps would have been perfect for Money in the Bank. But WWE wants to save each team in terms of its connection to the crowd. The New Day are so over that if a babyface stepped up to the tag team, that person would likely have to go heel by default.
So while it will likely be something of a booking nightmare when these two teams are in the ring alone, the fact is, this match had to happen.
All four teams have worked hard to give fans their money's worth, and the crowd is dialed in because of it. Tag team wrestling has been on life support for quite some time in WWE, but that's all changing now. Now, the belts are back in a prime spot where they belong. Now, it's time for fans to recognize how important the championships are, and these are the four best teams to make that happen.
The fact anyone can win and get over is just an added bonus.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
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On any other night, this match would be the main event.
But considering this particular night features AJ Styles vs. John Cena and Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, the ladder match doesn't stand a chance.
It's still seen as a gimmick match, and that's to be expected. But this gimmick is far beyond anything WWE has cooked up in recent years on TV. That's because the reward for this one is a contract guaranteeing a WWE World Heavyweight Championship shot.
This one is wide-open.
Chris Jericho or Alberto Del Rio could win, setting up a beneficial feud and title win later against Roman Reigns. Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens or Cesaro could win, leading to a new day for the New Era. Any of the five men would surely be a good choice to go over at Money in the Bank, and WWE would hopefully be ready to craft some nice storylines around the win.
But it's the sixth man who makes all the difference in this one.
Dean Ambrose is the most likely to win here. It has everything to do with the man holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, as well as the man challenging him. This is an all-Shield affair, and that is exactly what many fans have been waiting for.
An Ambrose victory opens the door for major storylines. Dean has always been on the edge in terms of his character, so if he wins, anything could happen. He could perhaps go heel against Roman, or the three-way feud could end up with Seth turning babyface.
Or the unthinkable could finally become reality and Roman could turn heel against Dean.
These three came in to WWE's main roster together, they rose up in the ranks together, and now they're on the verge of headlining events together with the company's top title. It's the culmination of all their work to this point, and it all begins with a Dean Ambrose win at Money in the Bank.
This will be Dean's night, and he will be the man to pull down the briefcase in the end.
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
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John Cena is WWE's top guy and the top name in the industry. AJ Styles is arguably the best wrestler in the world, and the most respected in the business. Each man came up in different companies under different circumstances, and now they're facing off in a WWE ring.
This is a storyline fans have watched play out before.
CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Kevin Owens, have all came in to WWE and crossed paths with John Cena. Each man had carved out a legacy for himself on the independent circuit and was known around the world as a top talent.
But then WWE happened.
Vince McMahon's company is the ultimate destination for any pro wrestler who wants true fame and notoriety. The only way to get those things, however, is to get in the ring with John Cena. Each man did just that, with varying results, but each feud ended the same way.
Cena won in the end against Punk and Owens. Had Bryan managed to fully recover from injury and come back, he likely would have fallen to Cena as well.
This is not to say Cena should be blamed for winning these matches; he's following the booking here. But for many fans who have been watching the collision of WWE and the indies, it's become a sad commentary indeed.
So what makes AJ Styles any different?
He's one of the best of all time, and that is a fact many fans agree on. But as good as he is, and as much as he's accomplished, he's in Cena's world now. On one hand, AJ is not a 20-year old needing the rub from WWE's top guy. His career is fully established, and now it's just about entertaining the fans.
Who cares if he wins?
On the other hand, WWE continues to hype the New Era as if it's a legitimate movement and not just an angle. If that is the case, then another Cena win does nothing but reaffirm the status quo and leaves AJ on his back once again.
So why not let him win?
The truth is Cena always wins in the end. If AJ goes over at Money in the Bank, and he will, it does not mean he's won the day. Cena will be back for a rematch, and he will win that rematch. He will also win the third match. This is what Cena does, and he's done it for years.
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, WWE World Heavyweight Championship
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Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It's the match that every Shield fan has been anticipating, and now it's finally here.
This is what The Shield was bred to do; headline WWE pay-per-views. The John Cena factor is always in effect for WWE, but The Shield ascension is the perfect counter to it. Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose are the men who carry the banner for the company now. Each man is versatile, and each man can go in different directions when WWE needs them to.
Reigns and Rollins are opposite sides of the same coin. It very well could have been Reigns who took Triple H's offer and became WWE's top heel, while Rollins led the charge against him. Instead, fans are living in a world where Reigns is the hated babyface, while Rollins is the popular heel.
It looks as though WWE should turn the tables here.
But Ambrose is the X-factor. If he wins Money in the Bank, then the company becomes focused on The Shield once again. This is good for WWE, and that means whatever happens on June 19 is going to work in the long term.
But Reigns is going over in this match, and that will cause many to cry foul.
However, if they do, they're missing the point. This is not about which man should reign over WWE. This is about all three men sharing the spotlight. WWE needs talented workers to carry the load, and it needs bankable Superstars to carry the company.
WWE has all of that in these three guys.
Tom Clark can regularly be found on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.
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