WWE Money in the Bank: 10 Bold Predictions for the Next WWE Pay Per View

The WWE's Money in the Bank match was once a staple of Wrestlemania, a highlight-filled match that wowed the crowd and often stole the show no matter what the rest of the card looked like.

But now, Money in the Bank has its own pay-per-view, with one wrestler from Raw and one from Smackdown guaranteed to walk away with a guaranteed title shot by night's end.

Of course, that doesn't always happen. As evidenced by Kane at least year's inaugural MITB pay-per-view, we may see a lucky briefcase winner cash in on that very night.

Will it happen again this year? Or will the winners hold on this time around?

To find out, take a look at my 10 bold predictions for the second-ever Money in the Bank PPV.

10. Zack Ryder Will Participate in Raw's MITB Match

Everyone's favorite Internet Champion actually competing on a pay-per-view show? You betcha.

Zack Ryder's the type of guy who could really contribute to Raw's Money in the Bank match, as the more agile and athletic competitors typically make this match more entertaining than the bigger guys.

Admittedly, though, Ryder likely won't be a participant here if The Miz and Alex Riley are put into this bout rather than in a singles match.

However, I think it's likely that The Miz and Riley go one-on-one, and a couple of extra spots open up in Raw's MITB match.

So, in that scenario, I pose a question: With eight spots to fill, why on earth would you not give one of them to Ryder?

9. Cody Rhodes Will Win Smackdown's MITB Match

Maybe this pick isn't all that bold, given that many WWE fans expect Cody Rhodes to win and/or think he deserves to.

Including me.

I just look at Smackdown's roster and can't see anyone other than Rhodes or Wade Barrett winning this match.

I don't think WWE officials have enough faith in someone like Daniel Bryan, I doubt they pull a shocker by having someone like Sin Cara win it, and I don't think Sheamus needs the briefcase to be in the title scene.

Therefore, the most logical choice is to have Rhodes win Smackdown's guaranteed title shot and then have his relationship with Ted DiBiase follow a path similar to that of The Miz and Alex Riley, with Rhodes winning the World Heavyweight Championship down the road, losing it and then feuding with DiBiase after the son of the Million Dollar Man turns face. 

8. Alex Riley Will Beat the Miz Without Interference

From what I read here on B/R, most WWE fans expected The Miz to beat Alex Riley at Capitol Punishment, with Riley evening the score later on.

But Riley got the win, albeit a tainted one, and that's led many to assume The Miz is going to tie the series at 1-1 at Money in the Bank.

Don't jump to conclusions, though.

I'd expect The Miz and Riley to face off for the second time at MITB, and once again, Riley will defeat his former mentor. This time, though, it'll be a clean victory for Riley.

Some may think this makes The Miz look weak, but I'd argue that it'll light a fire under the former WWE Champion, who will claim that Riley's victories were both flukes (like Chrstian, he'll want one more shot) and that he knows he's the better wrestler.

This would lead to some sort of gimmick match at SummerSlam, with the winner of that bout being declared the "winner" of the feud.

7. We'll See at Least One Surprise Competitor in a MITB Match

We've seen surprise last-second replacements in numerous matches throughout WWE history, typically with heels weaseling their way into a match that they had no business participating in.

For example, at No Way Out in 2009, Smackdown star Edge was defeated in Smackdown's Elimination Chamber match only to come back later in the night, attack Kofi Kingston, replace him in Raw's EC Match and win the World Heavyweight Championship.

I could certainly see something like that happening here.

Perhaps a Raw star (someone like Dolph Ziggler or Drew McIntyre) is screwed out of competing in Raw's MITB match and works his way into Smackdown's bout.

He may not win the match (although he may, too), but it's a good excuse to give Smackdown some much-needed roster help. 

6. Beth Phoenix Will Turn Heel

On last week's "Power to the People" edition of Raw, the fans voted for Kelly Kelly to face Brie Bella for the Divas Championship.

Kelly Kelly went on to win the match and her first Divas title, while her friend Beth Phoenix was the runner-up in the voting.

I now smell the perfect opportunity for a heel turn.

At Money in the Bank, I see Kelly Kelly successfully defending her newly won title against Brie, only to be on the wrong end of a beatdown and Glam Slam from Beth after the match.

In very Christian-like fashion, Beth can than cut a promo saying that the fans screwed her over, so she's done with them.

Just like that, the WWE Divas division will get a lot more interesting, and Beth's heel turn can lead to a Divas Championship match against Kelly Kelly at SummerSlam. 

5. Alberto Del Rio Will Not Participate in the MITB Match

There are a few guys on the Raw roster who can get a WWE title shot without winning the brand's Money in the Bank match, and Alberto Del Rio is one of them..

If the WWE is indeed building toward a feud between Del Rio and John Cena later in the year, there are other ways to get there. Too many to list, in fact.

I actually think it would do more for Del Rio if he was left completely off the card. Hear me out.

Considering that he's already won the Royal Rumble this year, I don't think he needs or will get his second guaranteed title shot of 2011. That just doesn't look good.

Not to mention he just got pinned in a No. 1 Contender's match last week, so why would he get another opportunity so soon?

I know, I know...the WWE gives multiple title shots to undeserving competitors all the time. But perhaps the anonymous Raw GM will exclude ADR from Raw's MITB match, cause him to freak out and then unleash a new side of Del Rio we've never seen.

In that case, Del Rio might have more momentum than he's had since being moved to Raw.

4. John Morrison Will Win Raw's MITB Match

John Morrison is currently on the sidelines as he continues to recover from neck surgery, and I'd expect his in-ring action to be limited once he does return.

But that likely won't prevent WWE officials from booking him as one of the eight participants in Raw's Money in the Bank ladder match because they'll count on Morrison to hit several big spots in the bout.

And, you know what? I think he'll win it, too.

If I'm part of the creative team, I book this match so that Morrison and R-Truth are entangled in a fierce fight at the top of the ladder before Morrison pushes Truth off, grabs the briefcase and wins the guaranteed title shot.

That way, this will set up Morrison vs. Truth at SummerSlam, and give the WWE time to build Morrison up again before he cashes in.

3. Christian Will Pin Mark Henry to Win the World Heavyweight Championship

As great as the matches between Randy Orton and Christian have been, the WWE probably realizes that they'll have to change things up a bit if they wanted to extend this feud through SummerSlam and keep the fans interested in the process.

That's likely why Mark Henry pinned Orton in Friday's match and earned Christian yet another title shot. Now, Henry will probably lay claim to being the true No. 1 Contender, thus setting up a Triple Threat match at Money in the Bank against Orton and Christian.

If that indeed happens, which I'm betting it will, then the smartest way to book the bout would be to have Orton hit Henry with the RKO, and then have Christian throw Orton out the ring, pin Henry and win back the World Heavyweight Championship.

That way, Henry can make his exit from this feud, and Christian can settle the score with Orton once and for all at SummerSlam.

2. Rhodes Will Attempt to Cash in His Contract but Change His Mind

Unless the WWE pulls a huge swerve on us, I'm fairly confident that Cody Rhodes will be Smackdown's Money in the Bank winner.

And if he is, here's how I'd book it: The Smackdown MITB bout opens the show, Rhodes wins it, and then during the middle of the World Heavyweight Championship match, Rhodes interrupts the match and teases cashing in after the bout.

Of course, the thought behind this is that he'd love nothing more than to cash in on his former Legacy leader Randy Orton and win his first World title.

But, Christian will actually wind up winning the match, and Rhodes will nearly cash in on Captain Charisma before changing his mind.

That way, Rhodes can continue to tease cashing in throughout the remainder of the feud between Orton and Christian, which will lead to a post-SummerSlam feud between Orton and his former protege.

1. CM Punk Will Defeat John Cena for the WWE Title...and Stay Through SummerSlam

For those who think CM Punk was telling the truth when he said his contract expires July 17, think again.

According to the Wrestling Observer, Punk's contract actually isn't up until September, which means the Money in the Bank pay-per-view likely won't be his last WWE appearance.

In turn, that means Punk defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship isn't all that far-fetched. 

In fact, I think we can plan on Punk winning the belt at MITB as a way of trying to coax him into staying with the company.

At the very least, though, I'd expect Punk to beat Cena at Money in the Bank and face him in a rematch at SummerSlam, where he could actually retain the belt even if he's leaving because it would open up some potential feud opportunities if Punk returns down the road as expected.