Ah, money. The root of all evil. It drives some people mad with power. But for certain WWE wrestlers, a certain briefcase at a certain PPV has driven wrestlers to risk their health and their career for just one shot. For every year since 2005, a group of wrestlers have been awarded the chance to guarantee themselves a world title shot at any time of their choosing. Should the cash-in be successful, hopefully John Cena and Damien Sandow does not come across this article, they would become champion. Yet, never before in the history of WWE has their been a Money In The Bank ladder match for the WWE Title, an impromptu match made at the expense of Daniel Bryan’s neck injury. This year’s participants feature four people who have won both the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships in the past (Del Rio, Orton, Cena, Sheamus) and three relative upstarts (Reigns, Wyatt, Cesaro). Now I don’t know about most of the rest of the IWC, but I have to say this may very well be the most anticipated ladder match in WWE history, and this is because of the balance of the WWE elite and those just scratching the surface. That being said, allow me to analyze the realistic chances for each participant in this match and the likelihood they will lay claim to becoming the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Sheamus:
The last time Sheamus was seen holding a World Title was when he was starring in cheesy Brogue Kick commercials and engaging in amateur comedy warfare on live television. In reality though, it was at the 2012 version of Hell In A Cell, when he succumbed to the wrath of the Big Slow (not a typo) in what was actually a match of the year candidate. Since then, Sheamus has been in a search for relevancy and he may have found it when he won the United States title in an over-the-top rope battle royal on the RAW after Extreme Rules this year. Now if I am correct I have been reading “reports” from many sources online that WWE has been planning a heel turn for Sheamus since he won the US Title, and how long has that been now? The only scenario I see Sheamus winning the title is if an immediate heel turn takes palce right after and engages in a feud with Daniel Bryan after. Holding the United States title and both world titles could be similar to his character in the WWE ’12 storyline for Sheamus when he won all the titles as a snotty heel. I would be entertained, but if only that were likely. Chances are looking rather slim for the Celtic Warrior.
Odds: 15%
Roman Reigns:
Roman Reings has been pushed to the moon and back, getting all the pins in matches, having the camera close up on his glare to his opponent preparing for an impending spear and getting the hot tag in matches. Surprisingly he is being considered a favorite for this match. And i say “surprisingly” without hesitation. I like Reings, I really do. But let’s do ourselves a favor and hand out a memo to our brain cells. Reigns is not a polished wrestler, at least not from what we have seen. What does his moveset comprise of? A suplex here, Samoan Drop there, a few Kane-like uppercuts in the corner, a jumping clothesline, shoulder blocks, that karate kick to his groggy opponent lad out in pre-619 bottom rope style, a “Superman punch” and finally culminating in the Spear. Reigns has the look of the next Batista, but presently has the moveset comparable to The Great Khali. Okay, that’s a tad too far. But you get the idea. Once Reings gets more single match exposure, then we can talk about World Titles. But this is far too early in his career for him to win. Unless WWE is apparently sold on Reigns and is prepared to put him in a singles match with Brock Lesnar, I can’t see Reigns winning. But with the way Reigns is being advertised on TV, and always calling out Triple H, a possible storyline may be in the works. Don’t expect me to place an arm and a leg for it though.
Odds: 35%
Alberto Del Rio
Much like Sheamus, ADR has been in a search for relevancy after his brief feud with Batista this year. Now Del Rio is in the upper enchalant of mat wrestlers, and to be honest, his inclusion in the match was kind of surprising, but I came back to Earth when I found out that Dolph Ziggler was his opponent in the qualifying match. To be honest, Del Rio winning would be the biggest swerve in this match up. Why? Because nobody simply cares for him the way they care about anyone else. Little kids and females adore John Cena for his superhero posture and body structure respectively, but modern day fans hate him for his repetitiveness and oft goofy demeanor. Some people admire Orton for his sadistic nature, but others hate him because he is a prick. Some people love Sheamus because of his brawling, but others hate him because he is an infallible superhero. People love Cesaro because of his ability to put on a good match and display feats of strength with relative ease and some people hate him because, um, I’ll get back on that. Bray Wyatt is adored for his ability to engage the crowd in song, but his heel character causes some naysayers to rise. Sure its one to dislike somebody, but once you get out of the heel character, and look into their habits week after week, fans throw in the towel. Del Rio is like a book that has a good cover, bu once you get past that and start reading, you will only find empty pages, perhaps one for the references. That’s the sphere that Del Rio is trapped in right now. Would fans care if he won the title? Does that increase his importance in any way? This is no slight to him, well maybe it is, but his in ring ability can not be taken for granted. I mean, do you hear those kicks to the face? That’s some force! I honestly believe WWE management put him in this match for no other fact that they needed a big name, and by big name, I mean a man who has won both titles in the past. Unless WWE has some new found respect for his ring prowess and wants to give him one last hoorah, then I won’t be surprised. I don’t have much faith in swerves happening in WWE, but Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes were expected to win the ladder match last year and what happened?
Odds: 20%
Randy Orton:
Here’s the thing about Randy Orton that people need to respect. He is arguably the most polished in ring wrestler on the WWE payroll. Just watch his matches. All his moves are crisp and well executed. It’s like you are watching The Matrix as a WWE employee. Yet, there is something missing from Orton. What could that possibly be? Could be his shortcomings on the microphone? Could it be that he is infamous for botched and missed lines on an unacceptable rate? Or how about the fact that the reaction Daniel Bryan gets makes Orton looks like the majority of the audience who watches him originates from a nearby graveyard/retirement home? Well, as I try to find the possibilities in the shortcomings of The Viper, he really shouldn’t hold the title again. Especially since he enjoyed a TLC to WrestleMania run with the title. If WWE wants to put the title back on Orton again for some inexplicable reason, then that’s their prerogative. But it is far too soon to put it back on him. I could see a scenario where Orton turns face and gets into a program with Brock Lesnar. That’s a feud and an eventual match that I would be glued to the TV to see. Count on that. But since he is technically working under the authority of Triple H, I don’t see a rebellion in the works. Orton won the briefcase last year and I think that came as a legit shock. Should he win this time around, it won’t be a shock this time. It would be a disappointing bombshell.
Odds: 20-30%
Cesaro
THE KING OF LONG LEGS, HAIRY CHESTS AND WEIRDLY SHAPED NIPPLES (According to John Cena), CESARO! (cue Paul Heyman voice). Okay, I don’t really don’t mean those physical ailments. Though a change in wrestling pants would be very welcome. Now, Cesaro is a top 5 wrestler in WWE. Put him in a match with a decent opponent for over 10 minutes, and you can expect to be entertained. And if you’re not, you will be in my thoughts. For all of the wrestling ability Cesaro has, he has one mutual handicap that was shared by another one of Paul Heyman’s clients (the youngest WWE Champion ever), the mic skills are lacking. Hey I could listen to Paul Heyman speak all day and not give a rat’s ass about anyone else. But I think the amount of time Heyman gets on the mic outweighs Cesaro’s significance to the fans. And you know that I know that you know that I am telling the truth. And if he can cut a decent promo, he doesn’t have the time. And let’s not even get into that theme music which sounds a lot like a stock WWE theme for a custom wrestler, the typical instrumental with no lyrics (Daniel Bryan is an exception). Yet, Cesaro has another weak spot that I think WWE may factor. The drawing power. Is Cesaro going to make Vince McMahon’s wallets fatter every day and does WWE have the conviction in their minds to give him extended periods of time in the ring with the title/and-or cutting promos. I think WWE is putting Cesaro in the wheel, and Cesaro himself is the hamster. I honestly won’t be surprised if WWE opts to fancy the Cesaro vs. Brock Lesnar : Battle of the Paul Heyman Guys match at Summerslam. I think i wet my pants thinking about that match (not really). I think it’s too early for Cesaro to win the title, but I am always willing to give upstarts a chance. I have been proven wrong before.
Odds: 45%
Bray Wyatt
This is quite the conundrum when dealing with Mr. Head of the Psychopaths. Coming fresh off losing a feud with the leader of the Never Give Up Comittee (Yes, guys. When you lose two out of three PPVs to the same opponent, that is a losing predicament), Bray Wyatt is brushing off the loss as if it never happened. I’m not even sure if the feud is still on or not since they have been featured in matches together for the past couple of weeks. I will be the first to admit, I was wrong about Wyatt. After his Summerslam match against Kane last year, I wrote an entire article about him being overrated out of impertubable spite. I just thought this was another stock WWE character. The old typical psychotic, cult-leading, maniacal, lunatic. Then I saw him defeat Daniel Bryan clean at the Royal Rumble PPV earlier this year. Then, I started to get intrigued. Then, the fans started singing along to his theme song and waving his hands in submission to his spell. Then I see, the illumination of the cell phone lights in the darkness of their entrance. I am sold, but to an extent. I really can’t say with a surety that I want him holding the titles yet. But I consider this idea. Could WWE remake The Wyatt Family for having a Shield moment akin to last year’s Extreme Rules PPV? Could they have Erik Rowan and Luke Harper win the tag titles while Bray wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? Tell me that’s not interesting. See, you can’t say it. Now it is a tad early as well for Bray, but if WWE is has this gut feeling that Bray is the right person to represent their company by holding their most prestigious title, then by all means they should push the button. But WWE should learn from the past not to rush superstar development. Especially with relative newbies. Giving them the world title just to get them over, have them lose it, and do something else is not the answer (etc. Dolph Ziggler-though people are pulling for him). But still, there is always that possibility…..
Odds: 50%
John Cena
I begin by forwarding my remorse to the audience for typing this portion of the article. When I look at the current status of the other participants in this match, I earnestly believe that Cena has the best shot. I loathe Cena with ta white hot intensity of a thousand suns grilled on in the hottest stove in the universe. But Cena is not really in a serious feud right now, and whenever Cena is in a title match, combined with WWE’s infatuation with the muscle bound beehemoth, then you can always bank on him having a good chance of winning. And if he wins, his opponent will most either be Daniel Bryan or Brock Lesnar. I do not want him to win. I wish he loses. I don’t wish him to be injured, but I would like it if the other six participants all hit their finishers on Cena in rapid succession and just bury him under a pile of ladders. That, I would love to see. Cena hasn’t held a title since TLC last year. If the Cena title drought hits about six months, then the balance of the WWE will cease to exist. The planets stop rotating and do not align. The floodgates will open, the polar ice caps will melt, Yellowstone will explode and aliens will enslave us forever. Okay, that may all not happen (think about the aliens though), but you get the point. As much as I hate to say it, and I really do hate it with a passion,. I think Cena is the favorite heading into this matchup, none other than the mere fact that I can’t make up a better case for any of his adversaries.
Odds: 60%
Who do you guys think? Is the favorite someone else? I’m always prime and ready for debate so by all means comment your stuff. And I will try my best to have my insight on the other MITB ladder match participants. Thank you for reading and Happy Lief Erikson Day (Spongebob reference for those who don’t know).
