Written by Matthew Widdis
The British Empire is The Roman Empire as The Big Dog starts our night. We get a RAW recap of Miz & Roman in their tag match and continuing issues with Shane McMahon. Roman Reigns introduces The Miz who, after a cringey ‘Wonderwall’ rendition, hypes his steel cage match with Shane McMahon at Money in the Bank. This prompts Shane-O-Mac and Roman’s MitB opponent, Elias, to come out.
Shane evokes his “privilege” and bars Miz from the ring and the arena tonight. Elias and Shane figure they’ll have to remove Roman and Miz from the ring and bring out the Smackdown tag champs, Daniel Bryan & Rowan. The quartet surround the ring as Miz and Roman go back-to-back. Shane gives the nod and it’s four-on-two until The Usos come out to help their cousin. With the odds evened, the heels are sent to the back. In the back, they whine about the wild card rule and Shane makes a four-on-three match with them vs Roman & The Usos. If Miz interferes, the steel cage match at MitB is off.
Randy Orton vs Ali vs Finn Balor vs Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega)
The Viper grabs a mic and pledges to win MitB for the second time. On Andrade’s way to the ring, Zelina talks about the aversion to spoilers: Game of Thrones, Avengers Endgame, and even Money in the Bank… because Andrade is going to win. Ali and Balor are less braggadocios and proceed to the ring ready for action.
Early on, we see Ali and Finn Balor give the London fans a little classic World of Sport reminiscent mat wrestling. It’s a fatal four way, though, so that leads to Randy Orton giving everyone one-stop rides to the announce table. He manhandles Ali for a bit until he feints a dive and Randy is caught looking with the RKO attempt. Tornado DDT and Ali is in control Andrade takes control on him and then Finn Balor. Zelina Vega instructs him to get a ladder into the ring and starts clearing them out until Ali superkicks him between the steps. Ali tries a plancha onto Andrade but El Idolo grabs a ladder to block him in mid-air. Andrade makes the most of the ladder until Finn turns things around. All four men in a scramble of top rope dives and finishers until Andrade hits the hammerlock DDT on the Intercontinental Champion for the win.
Your winner by pinfall… Andrade!
Andrade climbs the ladder to symbolically reach the ubiquitous Money in the Bank briefcase but we have a wild card! The one and only Ricochet runs down to the ring, slingshots onto the ladder and knocks El Idolo off his perch! He unhooks the briefcase and holds it up for the crowd in triumph.
Backstage, Carmella vows to make her status as a “two-time” winner of MitB into a three-peat.
WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are in the locker room. Kofi tells Xavier that he should stay back while Kofi goes it alone on the KO Show later tonight.
Charlotte Flair comes down to the ring as we recap the contract signing/mugging with Charlotte, Lacey Evans, and the champ-champ, Becky Lynch. A pretty good retrospective on Becky and Charlotte’s history of friendship and rivalry from NXT to the main event of Wrestlemania and beyond plays. Immediately after, Lacey Evans is in a dressing room asking if we’re tired of reruns of the Becky-Charlotte show. She says that she’s going to make “Becky Two Belts” into “Becky Black Eye” and herself in the RAW Women’s Champion.
Aleister Black cites Shakespeare in this week’s psychology session.
Shane McMahon, Elias, Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs Roman Reigns & The Usos
Jey Uso plays the face in peril early on after tweaking his hamstring off the top rope. Hot tag goes to Roman who beats up on Daniel Bryan to cheers for what seems like the first time ever. Distraction by Elias gets Rowan in there but Elias tags himself in before the big man can get started. A beautiful knee strike later and Rowan is back in. Roman is the hopscotch board for the heels now. After multiple dance partners, Roman hits a Samoan Drop and tags in Jimmy Uso. Jey Uso recovers to throw a superkick party with his twin. Daniel hits a running knee on Jimmy but Roman breaks it up. Roman and Rowan play Thor/Hulk for a bit, including a Superman punch off the ring steps but Elias catches Big Dog from behind and drives him into the steps. Back in the ring, though, Shane hits a coast-to-coast on Jey Uso for the win.
Your winners by pinfall… Daniel Bryan, Rowan, Elias, and Shane McMahon!
Now that the match is over, Miz is out the gates and rushes the ring with a chair. He nails Elias in the mid-section with it and Roman hits a spear on Rowan. Shane slips away, though, as he’s announced as the winner and “Best in the World.”
It’s time for Firefly Fun House, kids! Ramblin’ Rabbit appears to be Resurrected Rabbit as he makes an appearance. Bray tells the kids that he can harness his darkness now and reveals to us his secret. We get a look at his new entrance/ring gear. Yowie Wowie!
Ember Moon is in the back and says it’s her responsibility to manifest her own greatness.
Bayley says that Money in the Bank is her opportunity to step out of the shadows and be not just “The Hugger” but “The Winner.”
Kairi Sane & Asuka (w/Paige) vs Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
The IIconics are ringside for commentary. Paige gets a good reception for being a hometown girl but a mixed one for naming her team “The Kabuki Warriors.” Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville cut a promo on them and The IIconics on the way to ring, managing to goof on the new prince, Archie, in the process.
The Kabukis manage to get ahead of Sonya Deville early on. The same goes for Mandy Rose when she tags in until Sonya saves her from an attack in the corner by Kairi Sane. Fire & Desire star to get the better of Kabuki Warriors until Mandy insists on being tagged in for the cover. Asuka rolls her through for a crucifix pin and Sonya is left wondering “How do you @#$% that up?”
Your winners by pinfall… The *sigh* Kabuki Warriors
Kayla Braxton is in the back and looking as nervous as the creative staff as she greets Lars Sullivan and asks him to comment on his path of destruction. Nothing but a cold stare.
Kevin Owens says that he is moments away from his interview with Kofi Kingston. He says that Kofi can’t stand without The New Day and goes over the different ways he can cripple and maim Kofi.
Kofi is out to the KO Show set first, though, and makes himself comfortable. He calls out Kevin Owens, asking if he’s shook because he’s talking all this mess but Kofi is out in the ring alone. KO comes on the big screen and tells Kofi that he is alone. Xavier Woods and Big E aren’t there for him for the first time in years. He shows a retrospective of his highlights since joining the main roster. Kofi says it doesn’t prove anything and goads Owens to come out.
KO goes out to the ring but walks away. Kofi goes after him but Sami Zayn takes him out. Ring apron power bomb is set up but Xavier Woods comes out to make the save… but it’s not enough. He’s tossed aside and Kofi is dragged into the ring. KO taunts and threatens him but Kofi dodges a cannonball in the corner and a Helluva Kick. Trouble in Paradise lands flush on Sami as Kevin Owens retreats up the ramp.
Final thoughts:
Heel or face. Independents, NXT, or main roster main event. I’ve always preferred Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens as a single entity.
Mandy & Sonya being somewhat protected by the “flub” loss was the right call. In the shallow waters of the women’s tag division, these two are a fish you don’t feed to the others.
Lars Sullivan with no interaction with other superstars this week. Is it too easy to read too far into that? Or is it just being observant (of this week… and of last week’s B-movie skit.)
Going into Money in the Bank, this may be the hardest to call PPV predictions I’ve seen in a while. Lots of options in the ladder matches. Good contenders and potential storylines for the title matches.
