WWE Money in the Bank 2017 Preview and Predictions

    • WWE Money in the Bank 2017 Preview and Predictions

      Ladders.

      Giving their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @JoeyOnEarth, @TimWelcomed@TomBlargh and @OrinAnne.

       

      The Usos vs. New Day for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship

      Joey:

      New Day returning and The Usos being great heels each helped the Smackdown tag division finally get back on track. The likely American Alpha vs. Fashion Police secondary feud should be good as well. I don’t think WWE can take the titles off The Usos just yet. They are finally clicking as heels. I do think New Day wins the belts by Summerslam, but MITB will be Day One Is H.

      Interest Level: 7/10
      Prediction: Usos win.

      Tim:

      I love WWE right now. It’s running on all cylinders like a finely tuned car. When it comes to The Usos what more can be said about them? They’re the best in the world hands down. The New Day have returned and are also the best in the world too. What happens when these two teams clash will undoubtedly result in a match talked about for decades to come. Needless to say, I am ecstatic about this one.

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: The New Day wins.

      Tom:

      The  Smackdown tag division has stood out to me for the past month or two because it was probably the one part of the show post-brand split that never quite caught on. I think The Usos are very good in their current roles and The New Day going away for a little while was definitely the right move, as it feels nice to see them back again.

      HOWEVER, my main concern is that The Fashion Police are not involved in this match, and I very badly need for them to stay as a prominent part of the tag scene. I will never get tired of their antics and I will always love them. Feel free to screenshot this if you think you’ll ever be able to use it against me because guess what: not gonna happen.

      Interest Level: 7/10
      Prediction: The Usos win and I will love Breezango 4-ever.

      Orin:

      I’m a big fan of The Usos as disgruntled men in streetwear who may run a prison. Jimmy and Jey have been placed in charge of something called the Uso Penitentiary––some kind of correctional institution that they’re constantly inviting the New Day to visit. They love their new jobs as angry prison guards! Both teams will deliver some sassy one-liners and sick burns and The Usos will retain. Back to jail for you, New Day.

      Interest Level: /10
      Prediction: Usos win

       

      Naomi vs. Lana for the Smackdown Women’s Championship

      Joey:

      I enjoy the ridiculousness of this but the thought of Lana winning the Smackdown Women’s Championship is terrifying. We could be in for the era of “Rusev” tweeting out messages to the haters every night. I think it’s all a fake out and Lana will look credible to get her role in the division before ultimately losing.

      Interest Level: 5/10
      Prediction: Naomi wins.

      Tim:

      WWE continues to book the dream matches. WOW! Lana as a wrestler i something fans have been clamoring for ever since we got a taste of it at the record-breaking Wrestlemania in Dallas. Tonight se will go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest women’s champions of all time. Naomi will be feeling the glow tonight, that much I’m sure of. In a match where anyone can win it’s hard to make a prediction but I am going to have to go with Naomi here. Either way we will be left satisfied.

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Naomi wins.

      Tom:

      Okay then! I’m deeply disappointed in Lana’s main roster re-debut with her new character, as she’s doing almost none of the wacky dancing we saw on house shows (which was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen). I feel bad for Naomi that she gets stuck with this, rather than getting to be in the ladder match! I’m also a little anxious that, given Smackdown is now home to Jinder Mahal, WWE Champion, maybe Lana will actually win here? Is that crazy? Does Vince only care about getting a reaction now? What is even going on anymore?

      Interest Level: 3/10
      Prediction: Lana wins???

      Orin:

      ~The Makeover of Lana to Dancing Lana~ has been weird, confusing, and pretty hilarious. She’s at least partially doing a recycled Emmalina thing, right? I imagine Mark Carrano handing Emma back her sexy future cop outfit and then turning to Lana and giving her Emmalina’s sparkly gown. This definitely happened.

      I would not be at all surprised if she ends up beating Naomi here because WHY NOT.

      Interest Level: 7/10
      Prediction: Lana wins and nothing matters.

      Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Tamina vs. Natalya vs. Carmella in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match

      Joey:

      I’m not sure how to feel about this. I love the idea in general, but Charlotte Flair and maybe Becky Lynch are the only ones here that seem like they’d do well in a ladder match. Naomi would have been great but she’s wrestling Lana instead. What a waste. Charlotte is definitely going to do something wild off the ladder so that should be fun.

      My prediction is going back and forth between two picks. I think Carmella makes the most sense as the kind of heel character that benefits from having the MITB. However, Charlotte wins every single history making match she is a part of. I’m not betting against Charlotte ever.

      Interest Level: 7/10
      Prediction: Charlotte Flair wins.

      Tim:

      This is the match everyone is talking about at the water coolers. Will Charlotte do her moonsault from the top of the ladder? Will Tamina give us one of those signature Snuka dives from atop the steel climbing apparatus? Will Nattie lock in the Sharpshooter on top of “The Devil’s Stairs?” One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on this historic spectacle. Every woman in this match is the best wrestler in the world and for that we should be grateful. Thank you, WWE!

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.

      Tom:

      It’s exciting because I really don’t know what to expect from this – Charlotte seems like the only one with a history of doing flips off of things, and most of the others have a very grounded style, so I can’t even begin to guess what they’ll do. Maybe Tamina will just spin around in the middle of the ring with the ladder around her neck and James Ellsworth clinging to the end of it while Charlotte does moonsaults on all the others? That’d be alright.

      The Smackdown women’s division is such an odd thing at the moment and there aren’t really any interesting stories going on right now, but I’m hoping they’ll pull something cool together and set up some interesting feuds to come out of this match.

      Interest Level: 8/10
      Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.

      Orin:

      Joey is 100% correct that Naomi should have been in this match. Imagine how cool her briefcase would’ve looked! I don’t know what to expect from this and, sadly, I’m not super excited about it. There’s just nothing compelling happening story-wise with these ladies. Obviously, Charlotte will do something neat and dangerous and she’ll also probably win. I hope her briefcase wears an elaborate little cape.

      Interest Level: 5/10
      Prediction: Charlotte Flair wins

      Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match

      Joey:

      Here we go. There’s no scenario where this match doesn’t end up being must-see. Multi-men matches in WWE are always great. Ladder matches are always great. The formula is perfect for this match involving many great talents.

      I think Baron Corbin is the obvious pick to win the match. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and AJ Styles all would be good choices as well, but you can sense they’re getting ready to give Corbin the big push. There’s no way he’d get pinned by Zayn three times in a row if something huge wasn’t heading his way. Corbin will win the match and carry around the briefcase for a long time.

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Baron Corbin wins.

      Tim:

      This match is generating a lot of hype. Funny little story but just last week my grandmother called me and the first thing out of her mouth was “who do you have winning the men’s Money in The Bank ladder match on Sunday, June 18, 2017 live from the the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, sonny?” I couldn’t help but smile. “Grandmama, you know that’s a tough choice! The ring will be full of the greatest talents in the business today!” We shared a laugh in agreement and hung up. That just goes to show you the reach WWE has nowadays. With a match filled to the brim with talent like this and a ladder in play anything can happen! Don’t forget, the ladder can be used as a weapon!

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.

      Tom:

      This could be something really special. Owens and Zayn are probably the two guys I trust most with nearly any gimmick match, just because they seem so capable of telling a good story while also doing something fresh with the tools they’re given. Styles and Nakamura being part of things too also gives me high hopes, and even though Corbin is still limited, he should have a good showing as the resident big guy.

      Corbin winning MITB seems like a foregone conclusion at this point, just based on all the rumours, and he’s a perfectly fine choice, I guess? Though, again, it feels like the truly interesting story would be either Owens or Zayn capturing the briefcase and having it tie into their forever feud. Corbin being the asshole carting around a briefcase and teasing a cash-in for months is a story we’ve seen enough and I’d rather they mix it up a little. Regardless! Match should be great.

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Corbin wins.

      Orin:

      My brother once gave me a nugget of wisdom about MITB ladder matches that has always stuck with me: the guy who wins the briefcase is the one who positions the ladder correctly underneath the briefcase.

      I don’t have much to say about this match except that I wish Dolph Ziggler wasn’t in it. It’ll be great!

      Interest Level: 9/10
      Prediction: AJ Styles wins

      Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship

      Joey:

      I have Smackdown on my television every week and I have no memory of these two interacting since the last PPV. The MITB boys seem to (rightfully) main event the show every single week. I do prefer the new nature of Jinder Mahal being champion over Randy Orton but it’s not saying much. I just want this feud to end so Smackdown can get tolerable again.

      The potential of Jinder beating Orton in front of his (likely racist) hometown crowd would be a fun moment at least.

      Interest Level: 4/10
      Prediction: Jinder Mahal wins.

      Tim:

      Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier
      Batman vs Superman
      Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant
      Goku vs Frieza

      These are just some of the most significant bouts in human history. Tonight we will add one that will undoubtedly go straight to the top of the list and send ripples throughout time and space. The outcome of this match will change the world. Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton is the match. All of the world will be watching in anticipation. Now, I am not sure I or anyone else should feel they are significant enough to even try predicting the outcome to this one but it is my job as the last living wrestling critic to do this very task. I have to go with Randy Orton here. I can not wait to watch WWE Money in The Bank tonight on the WWE Network!

      Interest Level: 10/10
      Prediction: Randy Orton wins.

      Tom:

      I’ve absolutely hated the build to this, it’s been incredibly gross. Randy stating how disgusted his father and other notable WWE legends would be to see “a guy like Jinder” with the title just feels like they’re trying to play to the worst demographic of wrestling fans.

      There’s just nothing to really care about here. I don’t want to see Randy back as champ, and the Jinder experiment doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything interesting or new and I feel embarrassed by them falling back on the same old lame tropes. It’s also frustrating that there’s SO many more interesting stories that they could be telling with the roster they have, but we’re stuck with all-American shithead against bad brown man.

      Interest Level: 1/10
      Prediction: Jinder Mahal wins.

      Orin:

      Why do they have Jinder wrapping a black scarf around his face like he’s in an Isis propaganda video? This whole thing is embarrassing and shameful. They’re in St. Louis, so I predict that the terrifying Singh Brothers will menace ole Cowboy Bob in the front row, mirroring the worst fears of racist old people everywhere. Don’t let them implement Sharia Law in the venerated squared circle, Randy! RKO will come to his dad’s aid, get distracted, and Jinder will clobber him or something. We all know how this goes.

      Interest Level: 0/10
      Prediction: Jinder Wins

Author

Leave a Reply