Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn
Honestly, screw this and anyone involved booking this deplorable feud. WWE has already managed to pilfer the selling point of Bobby Lashley’s character upon his return, and they have reduced one of the best in-ring talents in the world to talk about what they got in their Instagram DM’s like a schoolgirl. It’s honestly sickening and downright embarrassing that chunks of time was devoted to a story so awful. If you haven’t been in the know, basically Lashley hurt Sami with an extended vertical suplex, causing Sami to miss the Greatest Royal Rumble (he actually couldn’t go because he was a Syrian Muslim), so now he’s mad and tries to attack Bobby personally. He gets grown ass men to play women and tries to see what his “sisters” have to say about him. He goes into his Instagram account. He prepares a military-like training station to see what he’s made of. All for what?
This feud is the epitome of WWE programming for the past month. Nothing has any meaning, and this feud won’t have any worthwhile payoff. Bobby is winning this match because duh, of course, he is.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal
Another essentially pointless match that has an obvious outcome. Jinder Mahal cost Roman Reigns a MITB qualifying match so now they hate each other and bah gawd they just have to have a match to settle the score this Sunday. Here’s a suggestion. If a match can be had on RAW which would effectively end the beef, then you don’t need it on PPV to waste time. Honestly, if Roman and Jinder actually had a match last night on RAW and Roman won, we wouldn’t need to progress this any further. I suppose structurally there isn’t anything wrong with it, but it’s just a waste of time, more so for Roman, because it’s clear he has bigger things coming for him in the summer and Jinder is just something for him to do in the interim.
If I’m Jinder, I need to make a good impression on myself. There’s only so long he’s going to be working with top-tier main eventers, and if he doesn’t show WWE anything worthwhile, he may never reach the mountaintop again like he did last year. For me, Jinder hasn’t shown me that he can handle the main event spotlight. He’s not a unique character, his matches are all the same, and he just doesn’t click for me. He’s better suited in the mid-card so he can hone his skills. Anyways, Roman is winning because LOL at the thought of Jinder beating Roman.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins (C) vs. Elias – Intercontinental Championship
Believe it or not, this is the match that I’m looking forward too on the entire card. Seth Rollins has been killing it in 2018, especially on PPV, and I think Elias is just the right person next to challenge for the title. I’m convinced both men could bring out the best in each other and in a card that features 10 matches, I think this can steal the show if it’s given the time. It just depends on what they are given to work with. Hopefully, it’s in the 12-15 minute range. Anyways, the feud has been basic as usual, but both men are talented enough to make the match work and engage the crowd and I’m counting on that this Sunday.
Seth Rollins has been gold for the Intercontinental Championship and I can’t see him losing it any time soon. Even though I think Elias should be next in line to hold the title, I don’t think now is the time. Seth is going to continue to burn it down with the title of the workhorses in this industry. Sunday won’t be any different for me.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Nia Jax (C) vs. Ronda Rousey – RAW Women’s Championship
So Nia still that “don’t fat-shame and bully others” face or is she a heel now? Cause I’m not sure what to make of her at this point. This will be Ronda Rousey’s first singles match as a WWE superstar, and while she impressed heavily at WrestleMania, working with Nia is going to be different than working with Triple H and Stephanie. We’ve already seen Ronda make Nia tap out, and do it quite effortlessly, and while the law of reverse momentum states that Ronda would normally lose on Sunday, I can’t see Ronda already losing her first match.
I think the odds are pretty good that Ronda wins the Women’s Championship and begins a feud with Natalya.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
The Bludgeon Brothers (C) vs. Gallows and Anderson – Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Honestly, this is something that’s just there and nothing more. The laziest form of booking a tag team match is to just put individual members of each team into singles matches. There’s been no heat to this feud at all. There’s no reason to get behind either team. It’s just four men fighting for tag belts and that’s it. I really have nothing else to add other than it being quite obvious that the Bludgeon Brothers are winning. This will probably be pre-show.
Winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
Carmella (C) vs. Asuka – Smackdown Women’s Championship
I thought Carmella beating Charlotte was improbable, but I can’t even fathom what I’d do if she were to beat Asuka. Carmella really hasn’t done anything for me since winning the Smackdown Women’s Championship, and I think we should all just go towards the Asuka/Charlotte rematch that we all know is coming down the line, and I think it starts here. Sorry, but I don’t think Carmella is a long-term talent, and barring her intentionally disqualifying herself from the match, I got Asuka winning the strap. Once again, I’m aware that the law of reverse momentum says that once you get a leg up on the champion the week before a PPV, you’re not going to win on PPV, but it’s not true in every situation.
Winner: Asuka
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
No pun intended, but I have no idea what leg Big Cass has to stand on in this feud. He keeps going on and on about how tall he is and how Bryan should be afraid of him. Did we not see Big Cass tap out at Backlash? Did we not see Bryan destroy his legs on Smackdown? Cass’ character is as generic as his theme music. He just isn’t convincing enough for anyone of us to believe. A common thing giants in WWE need to have is credibility. Mark Henry, Kane, Undertaker, The Big Show and others were believable big men. Cass is not that, and he needs to get over that hurdle before he is able to make any progress in his career. In all candor, this has been a one-sided feud with Bryan dominating, and I haven’t been given enough reason to believe that Bryan will lose on Sunday. The only victory for Cass to gain on Sunday is if he’s able to finally work a respectable match and look convincing as a big man.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
AJ Styles (C) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – WWE Championship (Last Man Standing)
WWE has managed to do the improbable, and that makes me not want to see AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura face each other again. I really can’t believe they managed to pilfer the joy out of seeing these two kick each other’s ass, but somehow they did it. From a series of non-finishes to repetitive segments, I haven’t been this bummed out to see AJ Styles in a while. I honestly don’t care who wins, but I just hope that we finally get to see what these two can really do to each other when they let loose. The reason why I pick AJ Styles to win this match is that Shinsuke Nakamura beat AJ to choose the stipulation for this match. I’m not sure that Shinsuke would then go on to beat AJ once again.
Now, we all know the finish of this match is going to revolve around both men’s dicks and the only thing I want to see is how they are going to incorporate that into the finish to effectively end the feud. Either way, this presents an opportunity to crown a new WWE Champion if a Smackdown superstar were to win the contract, so that’s something I’m also looking forward too as well if this match happens after the men’s MITB ladder match. So while I think Shinsuke’s time is coming, I think AJ is still the present-day champion.
Winner: AJ Styles
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Ember Moon vs. Natalya vs. Lana vs. Becky Lynch vs. Naomi vs. Alex Bliss – Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Well, we certainly can’t say WWE isn’t loading the field for the women. Last year’s Money In The Bank concept for the women was a disaster in my eyes. The first ever ladder match in between the women was a pretty weak field and it ended with a man, or at least half of one, grabbing the briefcase anyway. Then, the second women’s Money In The Bank ladder match on Smackdown a few weeks later wasn’t any different. Here, you have a much more star-studded lineup with athletic juggernauts like Ember Moon and Naomi being entered into the fray. You also have Sasha Banks, who isn’t afraid to nearly kill herself to put on a great match. I’m trusting that the star power that the women bring into this match will be enough to carry this match into something special. Now, who will win? Well, let’s examine the possibilities.
Sasha Banks and Charlotte are perennial women’s champions that have proven they don’t need briefcases to insert themselves into title match situations. Their in-ring skill and ability are enough to give them a title match at a moment’s notice. Naomi and Lana really aren’t compelling options to hold the briefcase. Ember Moon is an intriguing option, but she just got called up to the main roster, and it may be a bit too soon to entrust her with the MITB case. Alexa Bliss was just recently champion and it’s hard to see her holding the briefcase this soon. Not to mention she doesn’t look very believable as a MITB briefcase holder. Becky Lynch is your dark horse in the match, as she hasn’t been champion since TLC 2016 and has been on an extended cold streak that has lasted for nearly two years. Being the MITB briefcase holder may be just the thing she needs to get back on track.
However, I believe the winner will ultimately be Natayla. I understand it’s not the most intriguing option and there are more compelling characters in the match, but from a storyline sense, it makes too much sense. Natalya and Ronda Rousey are friends and Nattie was the one who began training Ronda in the art of WWE. So obviously to stir the pot a bit, you’d give Natalya the MITB briefcase at the same time Ronda is champion, forcing a feud between the two. I personally hope I’m wrong as I haven’t really been Natayla’s biggest fan, but this seems like the most predictable outcome. But I’m here for an upset.
Winner: Natalya
Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode vs. The Miz vs. Samoa Joe vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. New Day Member – Men’s MITB Ladder Match
For the men’s MITB ladder match, predictability has been a big issue. We all knew Baron Corbin was winning last year. We all knew that Dean Ambrose winning the year before. I’m also sure we all anticipated Seth Rollins winning in 2014. Just like the women’s ladder match, let’s examine the possibilities for the men.
Braun Strowman is the easy choice, but he’s probably not winning because he has looked too dominant on RAW, beating his fellow competitors left and right. And usually, the man who looks the most dominant coming into Money In The Bank has the least odds of winning the entire thing. Bobby Roode is just too bland of a character right now to hold the briefcase. He needs a heel turn, and fast. Finn Balor is pretty much in the same boat. I don’t think WWE is ready for Kevin Owens to be Universal Champion again with a pending Roman/Lesnar match at Summerslam.
The actual favorites in the match are one of the four Smackdown participants in this match and they all have a great case. Rusev and Samoa Joe are two interesting options as two of Smackdown’s top heels. If either of the two were to get the briefcase, they could ash in on a vulnerable AJ Styles and the story writes itself. The Miz also presents an intriguing option as he has been out of the main event scene for some time. ANd giving the briefcase to one of the New Day members presents intriguing possibilities. in the end, I am picking Joe over Miz to win. I just like the idea of a monster like Joe running down with the briefcase and choking someone out to win the WWE Championship.
Winner: Samoa Joe
