WWE Money in the Bank 2016: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis

WWE Money in the Bank 2016 is being billed by the company as a show with several WrestleMania-worthy matches, although whether the action will live up to the significant hype remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain, though; with the freshest roster in years at WWE's disposal, plenty of the matches scheduled have the potential to make this the most compelling pay-per-view in months.

And what better way to preview what could be a landscape-changing show than with the Bleacher Report expert predictions and analysis?

From the pre-show matches, which hold little appeal, right through to the night's marquee bouts, the whole card has been discussed and predicted by B/R's expert team of writers.

Here's what we think is in store this Sunday at Money in the Bank.

The Lineup

Credit: WWE.com

Stone Cold is delighted by the return of the B/R expert predictions!

For a show that is being hyped in a similar way to WrestleMania, it seemed fitting to put together a WrestleMania-worthy panel to give its verdict on all the action.

I'm handling the running order and construction of the piece, but it wouldn't be possible without the contributions of the writers below, who have all thrown their predictions and analysis into the ring:

• Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk.
• Brad Jones (@beardjones)
• Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
• Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)
• Ryan Dilbert (@RyanDilbert)
• And finally, me, Aaron Bower (@AaronBower)

So let's get into the card and see what is in store this Sunday, starting with the pre-show.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin

Question: Where does Baron Corbin go from here, win or lose on Sunday, and has WWE ruined his momentum since arriving on the main roster?

Anthony Mango (AM): Everything is up in the air when it comes to the upcoming brand extension. Considering his Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal victory, there is no reason Baron Corbin shouldn't be fighting for a midcard title or in the Money in the Bank match itself, and it's a shame he's continuing a feud that WWE has not wanted to promote on television for weeks. Corbin needs not only a victory here, but also for someone on the creative team to care about pushing him going forward, or nothing that transpires at this event will matter in the long run.

Prediction: Baron Corbin has to win.

Brad Jones (BJ): WWE hasn’t necessarily ruined his momentum, but the rub of his Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal win has worn off. Corbin will likely be better off once the brand split is in effect and there’s more time to flesh out the undercard. He ticks a lot of boxes for management, so I wouldn’t write him off just yet.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Ryan Dilbert (RD): WWE hasn't taken advantage of Corbin's initial momentum coming out of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This feud has been neglected too often to have the impact it should. Corbin will fare better following the WWE draft, though. A rivalry a step from this one awaits him at that point, perhaps against a returning Randy Orton.

Prediction: Corbin wins to end the feud.

Chris Mueller (CM): WWE hasn’t done a great job with Corbin, but it’s still early. There is plenty of time to make him into a great heel. At this point, the best thing to do is put him into the hunt for the U.S. or IC title. It’s too early to go after the world title, and having another non-title feud with a random Superstar would be pointless.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Erik Beaston (EB): Corbin is in an unenviable position in that he is a heel stuck behind Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, The Club and the returning Seth Rollins, all of whom are perceived above him on the totem pole. A feud with Dolph Ziggler that has overstayed its welcome has done him no favors, nor has the fact that he lost a great deal of the momentum built up by his Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal victory at WrestleMania 32. Perhaps more so than any other heel on the roster, the brand extension will benefit The Lone Wolf exponentially.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Aaron Bower (AB): Corbin is in a dangerous position right now, largely thanks to a feud that has destroyed the impressive momentum he picked up at WrestleMania. That win was a surprise, but what's been more surprising is how long WWE has allowed this non-event of a feud to drag out. The brand split should bring an end to it, and it should signal a positive future for The Lone Wolf.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Sheamus vs. Apollo Crews

Question: Six months on from holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, where do you see Sheamus’ role in WWE in another six months?

AB: The brand split will give us a clearer view of that, but with him heading off and starting a movie career, it's hard not to imagine Sheamus being stuck in feuds like this for quite some time. WWE will be hesitant to thrust him back into the world-title picture if he is wrestling on a more part-time basis.

Prediction: Crews gets a vital win.

AM: Since I'm not much of a fan of him, I hope he isn't in contention for a secondary world title, as I don't even want that belt to exist to begin with. The optimist in me thinks Sheamus will remain an upper midcarder who can feud with some of the newer talent like Sami Zayn, Neville and so on, but the pessimist in me thinks he'll be fighting repetitive matches against people like Randy Orton and wasting time on SmackDown.

Prediction: Just like Baron Corbin needs the win, so does Apollo Crews, so he is victorious here to keep the crowd pumped before the show officially begins.

BJ: It’s difficult to say. Sheamus isn’t likely to be released any time soon because he’s well above average in the ring and capable of working well with most opponents who are thrown at him. That said, his appearance in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is being widely praised, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him try to chase more acting roles. By the end of the year, I see him taking some kind of hiatus from the ring, but it won't be a permanent one.

Prediction: Apollo Crews.

RD: Sheamus will find himself as the man tasked with putting over the Superstars who will lead the New Era. Sami Zayn, Colin Cassady and others will earn their stripes via surviving battles with The Celtic Warrior. Midcard contention is an option as well. His world-title days are done for the moment with too many fresh faces set to compete for that prize.

Prediction: Crews is cheated out of a win to set up a rematch.

CM: His role will increase after the brand split happens. Raw and SmackDown will each need to have a few top veterans to help the younger generation, and Sheamus could be one of those guys for either brand.

Prediction: Apollo Crews.

EB: The upcoming brand split will help Sheamus considerably. Currently, he is lost in the shuffle as WWE Creative focuses on The Club, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens and The Miz. When the rosters become thinned out by the proposed extension, the former world champion will have a greater opportunity to rise to his previous heights. With that said, it is somewhat alarming that The Celtic Warrior was not featured prominently during the promotion for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, a film in which he portrayed a prominent character. WWE loves that sort of promotion, and Sheamus still could not sniff television time. That bears watching in the coming weeks.

Prediction: Apollo Crews.

Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Becky Lynch and Natalya

Question: Do you see anyone other than Sasha Banks facing Charlotte at SummerSlam, and what is the purpose of this mini-feud we’ll see at Money in the Bank?

EB: If you had asked this question two months ago, I would have zero hesitation in saying yes, Sasha Banks will dethrone Charlotte at SummerSlam. Her complete absence from television coupled with reports that Vince McMahon sees The Boss as “injury prone” has changed my mind, though just slightly. The underutilization of Becky Lynch thus far makes me think there are plans for her going forward. Of course, those plans could manifest themselves in the form of a title shot at Battleground, but the exclusion of Banks from television suggests The Boss may have fallen out of favor with the head honcho. Do not worry, though; McMahon changes his mind more often than most wrestling fans change their underwear.

Prediction: Becky Lynch and Natalya.

AB: Put it this way—there will be riots if The Boss isn't in the title picture come the summer. I'm still hopeful that keeping her off TV following her concussion is somewhat of a work, and she could spring a surprise here and announce her return by taking down Charlotte. Banks vs. Charlotte is still in the cards.

Prediction: Becky Lynch and Natalya.

AM: This tag team match has only one purpose: to stall. This is merely a means to have Charlotte lose without dropping the title and to eat up time until the plans for Sasha Banks can be put into effect. If Battleground weren't the next show and SummerSlam had been scheduled for July, this wouldn't be happening. Someone like Becky Lynch or Paige will lose a title shot in the meantime to prepare for the inevitable Sasha Banks match in August.

Prediction: Natalya and Becky Lynch are victorious, and it means nothing.

BJ: Banks vs. Charlotte for SummerSlam seemed like a lock, but it’s strange that we’ve seen so little of The Boss since WrestleMania. I can only think that the purpose of this feud is to extend Charlotte’s reign as champion and to get Dana Brooke on the card with some more experienced workers to cover for her weaknesses.

Prediction: Charlotte and Dana Brooke.

RD: Banks is coming for that title. The Boss vs. Charlotte is a money match just waiting to happen. WWE saving it for SummerSlam is the absolute right move. The company, though, is wasting Banks' talent in the meantime. This story with Brooke, Lynch and Natalya is just a holdover until Banks vs. Charlotte. WWE didn't want to go with another title defense against Lynch or Natalya.

Prediction: Charlotte and Brooke get the win to keep the champ's momentum going.

CM: I could see a Triple Threat or Fatal 4-Way match for the Women’s Championship at SummerSlam, especially if Bayley is called up between now and then. As far as the tag team feud taking place right now, it’s just a way to give the babyfaces a win without having to take the title off Charlotte. It also helps Dana Brooke get some more exposure, which will help the division in the long run.

Prediction: Natalya and Becky Lynch.

The New Day vs. The Club vs. The Vaudevillains vs. Enzo and Cass

Question: Simple question here. Who is the best tag team out of these four to lead WWE’s New Era in the tag division?

CM: I think The New Day is already leading the New Era, but once its time runs out, Enzo and Cass will be at the forefront of the division. Hopefully WWE doesn’t split them up in the brand extension so we can see them have an actual title reign.

Prediction: Enzo and Cass.

EB: The New Day was and is the best choice to lead the tag division in the New Era. Enzo and Big Cass are wildly popular, but it is only a matter of time before WWE Creative gets behind Cass and pushes him in a singles role. The Vaudevillains have been too inconsistently featured to excel, and Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson will find themselves at a level of competition beyond the tag title scene. That does not mean The New Day leaves with the gold Sunday, but it is still the best choice to represent tag team wrestling going forward.

Prediction: The New Day.

AB: I like the idea of The New Day vs. The Club for SummerSlam, so I'm fine with either of those two teams winning. I see The New Day sneaking a victory here, The Club getting revenge at Battleground before a decisive meeting of the two teams at SummerSlam.

Prediction: The New Day.

AM: Many will be quick to opt for a change, saying anybody but The New Day is best-suited for that role, but as good as those other three teams are, The New Day hasn't lost steam yet. A title change is expected soon, if not at this event itself, but that doesn't mean it will usher in the New Era when it happens. The New Day isn't stale and has plenty left to give, including a more veteran perspective on the main roster. The Club will get those titles and eventually pass them onto Enzo and Cass, but The New Day will still be the leaders even without the belts.

Prediction: If The Club doesn't win here, it will at Battleground. Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods aren't going to be champions heading into SummerSlam.

BJ: The Club. Gallows and Anderson have the experience required, and they’re more than capable of putting on great matches with the two big fan favourites of the foreseeable future—Enzo and Cass and American Alpha. The New Day could be put in that spot, but the group has been in the tag division for some time already, and it could be used as a launchpad for a singles run for Big E down the line. Anderson and Gallows aren’t going to get a similar push on their own, so their best place is in the tag division.

Prediction: Enzo and Cass.

RD: The Club can be a compelling force at the top of the division. It offers fresh faces and a change of tone from The New Day's comic relief. And it's time to switch things up. The New Day would benefit from going back into chase-the-titles mode and getting a touch more serious.

Prediction: The New Day retains. The Club gets a rematch at SummerSlam.

Rusev vs. Titus O'Neil

Question: Assuming Rusev sees off Titus O’Neil, who is his best future challenger for the title when the brand split occurs next month?

RD: Neville. WWE can guarantee itself a series of excellent matches and give Neville instant direction in one swoop. Rusev can continue to play the monster against the smaller guy; Neville is the feel-good underdog fans will be rooting for to dethrone him.

Prediction: Rusev retains after an impressive slugfest.

CM: The best challenger for the U.S. title is either Sami Zayn or Cesaro. If they don’t win the Money in the Bank match, either of them would make great challengers for The Bulgarian Brute. Cesaro has already held the title, so a better choice might be to put Zayn in the hunt for the gold.

Prediction: Rusev.

EB: The best future challenger for Rusev is Apollo Crews. Both Superstars are heavyweights but have speed and agility never before seen from that weight class. They are the definition of super athletes, and the in-ring action between them could make for some great television. Crews representing the United States in a war with The Bulgarian Brute may be generic, but it sure beats the undefined, underwhelming program the former NXT star is currently working with Sheamus.

Prediction: Rusev.

AB: It may just be me, but throwing American stars into battle with Rusev for the sake of it has grown tiresome. The return of Neville from injury may time itself perfectly to allow him to take on Rusev, but the fallout from the Money in the Bank ladder match could also offer a new challenger, perhaps Sami Zayn.

Prediction: Rusev.

AM: It's too soon for Apollo Crews, who I think is eventually going to dethrone Rusev, so The Bulgarian Brute needs a few more people to steamroll through, building momentum for his title reign. Jack Swagger and Darren Young don't mean much to the roster anymore, so they can be sacrificial lambs—particularly with the presidential parody gimmick Young is doing.

Prediction: Sorry, Titus, but you have no shot here.

BJ: Neville. With Titus O’Neil as a palate cleanser after Rusev’s enjoyable series with Kalisto, fans will be ready for another David vs. Goliath contest once The Man That Gravity Forgot is back in action. The matches would deliver, and Neville deserves to be in contention for a midcard title after being forced out of the Intercontinental Championship ladder match at WrestleMania.

Prediction: Rusev.

AJ Styles vs. John Cena

Question: Should this be the feud that becomes the headline act on one particular show in the first couple of months of the brand split? How long should it last?

BJ: No. Styles vs. Cena is rightly being promoted as a "dream match," but if it’s repeated ad infinitum, it will lose its appeal. Getting The Club involved in multiman matches could help extend the program, but there needs to be some added element to this feud for it to go longer than one big-time match at Money in the Bank.

Prediction: AJ Styles.

RD: WWE would be wise to make this feel like a real dream match and make it a one-off. Start over with something else following the brand split and save the rematch for another time, letting anticipation build until then.

Prediction: Styles gets the upset and a post-match handshake.

CM: This feud will likely last through SummerSlam, with each man gaining a pay-per-view win before having a rubber match. It will be a top feud, but it won’t take priority over the world-title storyline on either brand, so it will only last a few months at best.

Prediction: AJ Styles.

EB: Yes, the feud should headline either Raw or SmackDown, and it should continue into SummerSlam. There is enough fuel and more than enough layers to warrant the continuation of it well into August. The key will be the creativity behind the program. The workers themselves will bring the goods. Cena has proved time and time again that he can adjust his work to that of his opponent and, more importantly, do it for a series of matches. Whether the company’s writing staff can continue to write compelling angles for that long is the factor that will dictate its success.

Prediction: AJ Styles.

AB: It can easily be SmackDown's main feud, perhaps for a secondary world title. As for the length of it, I see no reason why this doesn't run to SummerSlam. Why? There are lots of ways you can go with it, especially with The Club on hand for Styles. With SummerSlam being the third pay-per-view between now and then, it also starts off a mini-series that Styles will kick off with a win.

Prediction: AJ Styles, but not clean.

AM: Until proved otherwise, I'll hold still on my beliefs that this brand split is going to be a major mistake, and splitting up the roster will have detrimental effects all over the place. With that being said, if WWE is determined to go this route, it makes sense for Styles vs. Cena to be one of the things helping put some momentum on the side of change. Ideally, there would be enough options and plans put in place where the feud could end at SummerSlam rather than drag on too long and become something fans look back on with ire. Sometimes, less is more.

Prediction: AJ Styles follows the pattern of defeating John Cena this time but then losing in all subsequent matches.

2016 Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Questions: Is there room for a late entrant in the match, and who is best-equipped to take this year’s briefcase?

AM: At this point, only Randy Orton or Bray Wyatt can be realistically added to the match without it seeming too weird, but it isn't necessary. Considering both of them may be too injured to participate in such a brutal bout, it could even be more of a mistake to add someone rather than a benefit. This field of competitors is more than good enough to get the job done on its own, and out of everybody, Kevin Owens stands out as the best man for the briefcase. The gimmick fits heels much better than babyfaces, and he's in a class above everyone on the roster in terms of entertainment value.

Prediction: "Fight, Owens, Fight" needs to turn into "Cash in, Owens, Cash in."

BJ: No room for a late entrant, although I do think the door was being kept open for someone and has now been closed. Kevin Owens is the best choice to claim the contract this year; his persona works perfectly with the constant threat of a cash-in, and he’s more than deserving of being elevated to the main event.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose.

RD: Bray Wyatt would have been a perfect fit as a seventh entrant. Just throwing him in there as a surprise wouldn't have nearly the impact as properly building him up as a contender. Ambrose, Owens and Cesaro are all good fits as Mr. Money in the Bank. They are all on the verge of top-tier status. Each could use the boost of a briefcase to take advantage of his popularity.

Prediction: Owens wins.

CM: There is room for a late entrant. WWE originally advertised seven participants, which makes me think someone like Randy Orton or Bray Wyatt will return at the event as a surprise by one of the McMahon siblings. As for the winner, Kevin Owens is the best choice. He is already used to being in matches with main event players, so he may as well pursue the WWE World Heavyweight Championship while he does it.

Prediction: Kevin Owens.

EB: So much time has been put into the six Superstars already booked for the match, with little hint of any late additions, that it would be hard to say there is room without it being a stretch. If WWE Creative did not believe in Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, Neville or any other surprise enough to book them throughout the weeks of build, it has no business throwing them into the mix for the sake of a surprise. It kills the dynamic that has been created between the advertised competitors. 

As for the winner, my gut says Ambrose wins, but my heart says Owens. In this case, I’ll go with Owens, who has risen from some seriously shoddy booking to remain one of the most over heels on the roster. Give him the briefcase, and let him have his sustained main event push, which he more than deserves at this point.

Prediction: Kevin Owens.

AB: I wouldn't be against Bray Wyatt making a surprise return, but I feel like the star power in this match means it can survive and thrive without a twist pre-match. The winner is Kevin Owens for my money. He's the standout heel on the roster at a time when the character direction of both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns is confusing, and the thought of Owens strolling around with a briefcase under his arm makes for compelling viewing.

Prediction: Kevin Owens.

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Question: Given how WWE has grand designs for both men, is having a controversial finish the only way out of this match?

CM: Not necessarily. A clean loss wouldn’t hurt either competitor in the long run because this storyline will see them trade wins and losses. However, having someone cash in and steal the title from whoever wins the main event would create a lot of buzz.

Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.

EB: There is no way this one ends clean. If Reigns beats Rollins, the boos that permeate throughout the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will make the 100,000 jeers that greeted The Big Dog upon his win in Dallas look like child’s play. Rollins is the best chance passionate wrestling fans have of dethroning Reigns. Reigns beating Rollins would dishearten many of them, if not completely disenfranchise them. Conversely, Reigns losing clean this early would prove Rollins right—that Reigns was a placeholder who could never really beat him in a high-profile championship bout. It is too early for either finish, so a screwy finish, perhaps involving Dean Ambrose as teased Monday night, would best suit the contest.

Prediction: Roman Reigns via chicanery.

AB: It makes zero sense to have a clean victor so early in the feud, but the obvious question then is trying to work out what WWE does to create controversy. You could throw Dean Ambrose into the mix, but I'd instead rather see Reigns fast-track his path to becoming a proper heel by screwing Rollins and maybe setting up the double turn.

Prediction: Reigns cheats and wins.

AM: Without a shadow of a doubt, there will not be a definitive, clean victory for either man in this match. How WWE has decided to end it is still up for speculation, but it is pretty much a guarantee that there will be something to taint the match, whether it be an odd call from the referee, interference from an outside source, a draw or something along those lines. A rematch is going to happen at Battleground, and WWE will try to do a swerve to keep fans on their toes rather than closing the book here.

Prediction: Roman Reigns will retain, but he won't look all that strong in the process.

BJ: Yes. It’s too soon for Reigns’ time as champion to come to an end based on his booking, and Rollins can’t lose clean in his return to the ring. It seems likely that the match will end up being thrown out for one reason or another—although there’s a slim possibility of a cash-in being used to escape from a tough situation.

Prediction: No contest.

RD: The best route would be a double turn. If Reigns retains but turns heel in the process, that's a more compelling ending than just keeping things as is. Rollins is a better fit as a babyface right now anyway.

Prediction: Reigns wins.