WWE Money in The Bank: Too Much of a Good Thing

WWE's latest pay-per-view gimmick, Money in the Bank, is just two and a half weeks away. The prospect of two Money in the Bank matches seems to make this event poised to garner top-notch ratings. And it likely will.

However, this appears to be yet another case of WWE running out of original ideas and reusing a hot gimmick.

With stunning regularity, the winner of the MITB match at WrestleMania has gone on to successfully cash in their title shot. Mr. Kennedy, the only MITB winner not to cash in the briefcase, was on track for a world title run before an untimely injury cost him a main-event run in WWE.

When Raw hits the air July 19, there will be two MITB winners running around WWE programming. And instead of the up-and-coming superstars the briefcase has helped, we'll likely see at least one of the world title match contracts in the possession of a top-tier star like Randy Orton or Edge.

Having Orton, Edge, Chris Jericho, Big Show, or Kane win would immediately water down the importance of the MITB match itself. These five men are all former world champions (even though Kane's title reign lasted all of 24 hours) and are well-established superstars.

The match's initial purpose was to elevate future stars, and that is exactly where the match's purpose should remain. Evan Bourne, John Morrison, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, and Ted DiBiase are all on the brink of entering WWE's top flight, and a MITB victory could, and should, be that stepping stone.

If WWE continues to have three MITB matches per year, the storyline could very well become predictable. Consequently, a MITB winner will eventually have to lose.

And that's where things get really complicated.

Effectively pushing a young superstar to the next level is a delicate thing. It worked for CM Punk, and appears to be working for Sheamus. Time will tell if Jack Swagger succeeds in that respect as well.

If a superstar like John Morrison or Evan Bourne comes down with the briefcase July 18 and unsuccessfully cash it in, it will set back any push that superstar was set to receive. In the case of some superstars, like MVP, a setback in your main-event push can become permanent.

For the first time in a long time, I have some confidence in WWE creative to do the right thing here. I'm not reserved to the fact that an established main event will come down with each brand's title shot.

My last message to WWE creative is this: Don't let me, and the rest of the WWE Universe, down.