WWE Money in the Bank 2017 Matches: Grading Hype Level for Each Match on Card

The hype ahead of any pay-per-view sets the tone for the event and, if done correctly, inspires excitement for the stars and matches that will unfold over its three-hour run time.

Sunday night, the SmackDown Live brand presents Money in the Bank, a fan-favorite pay-per-view that traditionally provides high-risk, unpredictability and moments that take the audience by surprise.

With two ladder matches on this year's card, including the first-ever women's offering, the event ranks among the most anticipated in quite some time.

How did the blue brand's preparation, storytelling and build grade out leading into Sunday's extravaganza?

The Hype Bros vs. The Colons

The hype, pun intended, behind Zack Ryder's return to pay-per-view and The Hype Bros' match with The Colons is limited to Ryder approaching Mojo Rawley backstage on SmackDown Live and reuniting their team.

Beyond that, there is no rhyme or reason for the match to exist and thus no way the build to Sunday's Kickoff Show contest can possibly earn anything but a failing grade.

Grade

F

The New Day vs. The Usos

The Usos defeated American Alpha to capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in March and, since then, have dominated the competition. They endured a greater challenge from Breezango than anyone could have foreseen but emerged victorious.

The arrival of The New Day to the blue brand brought with it a greater challenge than Jimmy and Jey have experienced to this point.

Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are, collectively, the longest-reigning tag team champions in WWE history. They defeated every team put before them, including the Usos, during their 400-plus days with the WWE tag team titles.

They challenged The Usos and wasted little time proving their worth, teaming with Breezango to defeat the champions and The Colons.

The hype, though lackluster, has been aided by the credibility the challengers bring to the match and the reinvention The Usos have undergone in 2017.

Grade

C+

Naomi vs. Lana

The historic women's Money in the Bank ladder match threatened to leave Naomi without a match on Sunday's card until Lana made her timely return to television, immediately targeting the SmackDown women's champion.

Interference in a big June 6 Six-Woman tag team match angered Naomi just enough for her to demand a match against The Ravishing Russian at Money in the Bank. A week after getting what she wanted, Lana put an exclamation point on her return, laying her budding rival out with a fisherman's suplex and posing with the title.

The build to the match may be minimal, but the heat surrounding Lana's return has helped immensely. Despite her positioning as a heel, and a storyline suggesting she does not belong in the same ring as the female talent on Tuesday nights, fans have been incredibly receptive of the character.

Could the "we want Lana" chants that have accompanied her return lead to a run with the title, beginning in St. Louis?

Grade

B-

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Women's)

The five women who will compete in the first women's Money in the Bank ladder match have been intertwined in a rivalry that stretches back to April's Superstar Shake-up, which brought Charlotte Flair to SmackDown Live.

The May 30 episode of the Tuesday show saw the second-generation star, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Carmella and Tamina Snuka do battle in a Fatal 5-Way match aimed at determining a new No. 1 contender to Naomi's Women's Championship.

When chaos reigned and no victor was decided, commissioner Shane McMahon announced the first-ever women's Money in the Bank match, ensuring the female talent on the blue brand would have a shot at making history.

In the weeks that proceeded that announcement, singles and tag team matches have ensued, the women trading victories ahead of the unprecedented spectacle.

The booking ahead of the match has replicated that of the men, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Spotlighting all five competitors and creating an air of mystery preserves intrigue and leaves the audience wondering which competitor will leave with their hand raised in victory and their name etched into the history books.

Grade

B+

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Men's)

Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, AJ Styles and United States champion Kevin Owens are six SmackDown Live stars who have been involved in three individual rivalries but now come together for a Money in the Bank match that should dictate the foreseeable future of the brand.

Upon Shane McMahon's announcement of the match, the competitors waged war in singles bouts.

Owens and Ziggler scored respective victories over Zayn and Styles in singles matches. The Phenomenal One answered a week later by getting his win back against The Showoff. Shinsuke Nakamura has remained undefeated on the main roster, picking up a big victory over Owens on the road to Sunday's event.

Corbin left The King of Strong Style lying following that victory but wound up on the wrong end of a Helluva Kick from Zayn, losing a Six-Man tag team match on the June 13 episode of SmackDown Live.

Having traded victories back and forth, with no Superstar seemingly gaining the upper hand, fans will sit down to watch Sunday's match without an obvious favorite to emerge victorious.

That is conducive to a hotter product and a more exciting match. The atmosphere will benefit, if nothing else.

Grade

B+

Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton

Jinder Mahal shocked the wrestling world at Backlash, defeating Randy Orton to capture the WWE Championship and solidify his newfound status as a main event attraction on SmackDown Live.

In the wake of his monumental win, Mahal staged an obnoxious victory celebration that further got under the skin of the WWE faithful. More importantly, it firmly established him as the lead villain on Tuesday nights.

The Viper responded, reminding Mahal of his pedigree and promising an Orton family-style ass-whooping in St. Louis.

He would put an exclamation point on that promise two weeks later, dropping Mahal from out of nowhere with an RKO that left the champion lying in a heap and his challenger standing triumphantly just five days out from the pay-per-view.

The Modern Day Maharaja has tempted fate on more than one occasion, with his arrogance potentially proving his downfall. Orton made him pay once. Can he replicate that one more time, utilizing his deadliest weapon to secure a 14th championship reign?

Grade

A