WWE Money In The Bank 2017 Preview
The annual Money in the Bank event is a single-brand show this year, exclusive to the SmackDown roster. An interesting move. I would have liked this to have been a dual brand event, which is how it was during the first brand split and when MITB was taken off WrestleMania and made into its own freestanding show.
Looking at the card, it would appear this could be a very interesting, and entertaining night. Let’s take a look, in no particular order:
Preshow: The Hype Bros vs. The Colons
Both teams are rather low-card, but the Hype Bros maintain they should be #1 Contenders to the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. I’m still trying to figure out how in the blue hell they thought “Hey, let’s have Mojo Rawley win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania.” Then again, it does seem winners don’t mount to much, except in the case of Cesaro, who has been maintaining his upper-midcard standing… well, before he won the battle royal. In any case, I’ll say the Colons win this, and Hype Bros break up. Sorry, that’s what I want to happen.
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Lana vs. Naomi
Ah, the tried and true method of cutting in line. Show up, demand title match. Denied title match. Beat up the champion, champion then demands a title match against said antagonist, and antagonist gets what she wants. Hoping this is a decent match. Never seen Lana compete. Hope this isn’t a train wreck. Naomi retains.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day vs. The Usos
Good match expected here. Regardless of which two New Day members compete. A title change would be cheered no doubt, but I feel there should be a bigger build if this were to happen. The Usos have become a far better team, many opt to forget the “happy smiley Usos” of yesterday. As much as New Day winning would be a big cheer moment, I want the Usos to retain to build the feud into something bigger and better.
WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal
I am loving Jinder Mahal as champion. It’s settling in and I hope WWE plays the smart move, having Orton do a respectable job of continuing to put over Mahal. In the past, Orton has appeared to sleepwalk through losing bouts, but at times he seems to be willing to make it look good. I hope it continues here. Putting Mahal over will make his initial victory feel more real, and not a fluke win. Don’t Hinder Jinder! Winner and still WWE Champion: Jinder Mahal.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Carmella, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Tamina, Natalya
Look, any of these women could be in line for a championship match, but there has been one who has not held the title recently, and that is Natalya. She is my pick to win. Tamina is there as filler. She’ll never be champ. Ever. Natalya, on the other hand, has always come up short as a face, as a heel never even given the time of day, and at times reduced to ridiculous gimmicks just to be allowed on-screen. Well, if there is one way to win a title, it is to assault the champ post-match, hit one or two signature finishers, and claim victory. This is how Natalya will win MITB, but eventually win a long-overdue reign as champion.
WWE Championship Money in the Bank: AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bacon Rorbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler
Who to pick, who to pick? Styles has been champ, too recent, so not him. Kevin Owens, would be hysterical as a MITB holder. Could you imagine the promos? Sami Zayn is a stretch, but we’ve seen crazier. Ziggler held it before, and boy did it rejuvenate his career. Could be a possibility, but WWE just doesn’t seem high on him anymore. Shinsuke Nakamura. Everyone would go loony-toon-crazy if he won. I think this is why he will not win. It’s too soon. Sure, it was too soon when AJ Styles dethroned Dean Ambrose, but WWE isn’t going to push him to WWE Championship so quickly. While I could be wrong, it just doesn’t seem to be a good way to push him just yet. This leaves Bacon Rorbin. Yes, I’m still running with this absurd gag until it catches on. But I’m also picking him to win. Yep. I’m probably nuts, but I believe WWE Creative is ready to pull the trigger on him. This does not mean he cashes in on Jinder Mahal, but likely waiting for a face to win the title and then cash in.
Agree? Disagree? Comment!
