WWE Money in the Bank 2014: Preview and Predictions
By Jack Crosby
Sunday evening, live from Boston Massachusetts and airing on the WWE Network, one of the more anticipated pay-per-view events of the year will take place, Money in the Bank.
Coming into this year’s event, the format was going to be different to begin with. With the titles being unified this past year, there would no longer be a need for two ladder matches with contracts on the line.
However, as fate would have it, following the unfortunate injury to Daniel Bryan that caused him to be stripped of the belts, we will still get two ladder matches; one for the vacant title and one for the traditional contract that is good for 365 days.
Aside from the ladder matches, there is a lot more that will be filling up the card that could create one of the better pay-per-views of the entire year thus far in 2014.
With that, let’s have a look at the card and take a stab at a few predictions.
Paige vs. Naomi (Diva’s Championship)
Of course, as everyone can see the past few weeks, this is all leading up to an eventual break up of the Funkadactyls. If you can’t see Cameron costing Naomi the title in this one, then I have to question whether or not you’ve ever watched professional wrestling in your life.
Winner: Paige
The Usos vs. Harper and Rowan (WWE Tag Team Championships)
For the past few weeks, this has actually been one of the better tag team title feuds that we’ve seen in some time. The Usos, despite being lumped in with John Cena for a bit, have held the titleS rather well and the two members of the Wyatt Family have been thrust into their first real spotlight.
With the chances of Bray winning the WWE title not being all that good in his match later in the evening, Rowan and Harper might get a nice heel run with the belts throughout the summer, so as not to make the Wyatt Family look completely inadequate at Sunday’s event.
Winners: Rowan and Harper (New Tag Team Champions)
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
This is where things get tricky. Coming into this one, I was convinced that Bad News Barrett was walking out with the briefcase. Both Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are set to feud with one another, and each of them will be champions on their own some day; they don’t need the case.
But, with Barrett’s injury this past Friday on Smackdown, now you have to wonder whether or not the case could go to one of the former Shield members to add just a bit more to their feud this summer.
While many will be pulling for Ziggler to win his second briefcase in three years, much like WWE will probably do, I’m going to go with the safe bet here and say Rollins walks away with it to bolster his heel push that much more.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Filler Matches
Big E vs. Rusev: Rusev
Layla vs. Summer Rae: Fandango, because he might get to do that spot again where he makes out with both. Oh, yeah, as for the match: Summer Rae.
RybAxel vs. Stardust and Goldust: No way they ruin this awesome momentum the Rhodes brothers are on with this new gimmick.
Main Event: WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match
As you can see pictured above, the ladder match to determine a new WWE champion is stacked with some of the best talent the company has to offer at the moment.
Despite that, though, only one of them can walk out with the coveted belts.
First, let’s look at the men that absolutely won’t be leaving with them.
Bray Wyatt: With talks of a full-fledged face turn coming soon, a minor heel run with the title won’t be necessary
Cesaro: Too soon
Kane: He’s just in this match for the sake of being in this match and getting a paycheck because he’s one of the most respected men in the locker room, and his career is coming to a close.
Sheamus: Will only win if WWE wants to really make a solid run at bankruptcy.
Alberto Del Rio: You’re welcome for me reminding you that he’s even in this match.
After that process of elimination, we’re left with three candidates to climb the ladder and grab the titles: John Cena, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns.
The chances that the company pulls a fast one and slaps the straps on the red hot Reigns Sunday night are slim, but they’re still there. However, in the end, Triple H and company will decide to hold off for a much bigger stage to reward Reigns.
So that leaves us with the internet’s two favorite people in Orton and Cena. Look, while either one of these guys winning would make a lot of people upset, they’re the safe bets at the moment, and with the state the company is in right now, that’s exactly what they need to be–safe!
With that being said, I fully expect the reports from Saturday to be true. With many believing Cena wins the title in his hometown, Orton will be the one getting the rub here. Following this swerve, Cena will take the title off of him at Battleground next month and walk into Summerslam the champion to face Brock Lesnar.
Winner: Randy Orton
What do you think? What are your predictions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.