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Add FightsATW on GoogleThe 17th annual WWE ‘Money in the Bank‘ took place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a five-match card featuring two title matches and the 6-superstar ladder match for the briefcase. Unlike Royal Rumble, which has seen rule changes over the years, including the number of competitors and the countdown time, MITB’s rules have remained more consistent (except that Brock Lesnar snatched the briefcase without ever being part of the match).
Six superstars start the match with the Money in the Bank briefcase dangling above, containing the ‘cash-in contract,’ a stipulation that lets the briefcase holder challenge for the title from any show and during any segment, with no warning.
ROMAN REIGNS (c) vs. LA KNIGHT—World Heavyweight Title
We learned before the show that Reigns would defend his title against Knight in the opener, but it felt like a main event by the time the fists started flying. Knight had the crowd from the moment his likeness appeared on the big screen, and despite the heavy odds, the New Orleans crowd seemed to believe.
Knight had a couple of near-falls that sent the live audience into hysterics, especially when he hit Roman with his own spear. They put on an excellent show and served as the perfect pre-heater.
Roman retained even after missing Knight with the spear and hitting the corner post hard, before resorting to ‘racking up’ the challenger on the ropes. That allowed Roman to hit the ‘Superman Punch’ and spear in sequence for the finish.
STEPHANIE VAQUER (c) vs. LIV MORGAN vs. BECKY LYNCH—Women’s World Title
The title changed hands again tonight as Liv Morgan became a four-time world champion after pinning the champion. The women’s title on RAW has been inconsistent after Liv spent most of her reign not defending it, before losing it to Vaquer at a house show in her hometown.
It was a great match, even if the table didn’t play a role in the spot with Becky Lynch that led to the finish, when Morgan hit her finisher to win back the title she lost just weeks ago.
MONEY IN THE BANK
CM Punk VS Penta VS Bron Breakker VS Trick Williams VS Kevin Owens VS Je’Von Evans
The ladders surrounded the ring for the main event ladder match, featuring four of the company’s future stars alongside two of its most seasoned wrestlers: Punk and Owens. Penta paid tribute to the city of New Orleans by featuring the ‘Mardi Gras’ colors on his gear—he looked like WrestleMania: New Orleans made a wish and became a luchador.
The match was physical, and to Punk’s credit, he was in the middle of it all. They wrote Evans out midway through after Breakker hit him with a spear that made iShowSpeed’s tackle look like a bear hug. They carted Evans off despite his objection to continue.
Meanwhile, in the ring, Punk was tied up in the ladder as Kevin Owens worked his knee—a recurring target of Owens throughout the match, first smashing it violently against the ladder. The match focused on the two and their longstanding rivalry before Trick kicked Owens out of the ring and made his attempt at the briefcase.
The broadcast cut to a live shot of Evans being taken away in an ambulance as commentating reiterated that the 22-year-old was headed to a local hospital.
Eventually, Trick Williams made another play for the briefcase, but when he failed, Lil Yatchy took it upon himself to climb, and Owens hit him with a ‘stunner’ for his troubles. Owens and Punk were left in the ring to battle over the bright green case. Punk knocked Owens off, and with the contract within his grasp, Penta stopped him.
Punk hit Penta with the GTS, but Owens kept him from grabbing his 3rd MITB win. Breakker lined up Punk for a spear as he had Owens on his back for the GTS, and then he hit Owens with a GTS for good measure as the son of Scott Steiner went beast mode.
Breakker landed a spear on half the field as he lined up both Owens and Punk, who crashed through the timekeeper’s barrier. Breakker was the only competitor not on his back, but then an ambulance drove into the arena and down the aisle to the ring.
Breakker demanded the ambulance go back, assuming it was meant for another superstar, and Evans hopped out the driver’s side to return to the match. Evans went on an offensive heater with his shoulder taped up, and he hit a huge cutter on Trick from off the top. It was odd when Evans started clearing the ring of ladders instead of just climbing them.
Evans finally set up a giant ladder tall enough to touch the briefcase, but Breakker caught him. Evans quickly repaid Breakker before making his way up the ladder, but he was then pushed off the 15-foot ladder and through the top of the ambulance.
Penta hit Breakker with a ‘Mexican Destroyer’ from one ladder onto another before he climbed the ladder moments later to secure the briefcase. Penta ended the night as this year’s MITB, and now the question remains: when is the best time to cash in? Will we see a rematch with Roman?
Tiffany Stratton VS Sol Ruca VS Lash Legend VS Jacy Jane VS Roxanne Perez VS Lola Vice
As the first MITB match of the two, the women put on a hell of a show and heated the crowd with some violent spots. The match paused when Stratton attempted a Jeff Hardy-esque “Swanton Bomb” off the ladder on the outside. Unfortunately, her forward momentum made the ladder slide backward, and she shorted the high-risk move, hitting her head in the process.
Lola Vice took a horrific shot to the dome after Roxanne seesawed the ladder into her face, likely the first time the two have feuded since Vice’s call-up to the main roster. Vice played the Mick Foley role in this match, taking one big spot after another, and she, along with Jacy Jane, were taken out in a splash that started on top of a ladder in the ring but ended outside under that same ladder.
The match climaxed with everyone except Vice and Jane, and one by one, each superstar Blitzed the briefcase until it seemed like Roxanne would get it. The crowd popped huge when they saw a potential Perez MITB win, but Stratton recovered in time to reverse course and claim the MITB briefcase.
Stratton becomes the first woman to win the MITB twice, but after her last lengthy cash-in storyline, she’d be best served cashing in before the year ends. On that note, leveraging her friendship with WWE women’s champ Chelsea Green could be the heel turn that relaunches Stratton’s momentum and growing stardom.
OBA FEMI vs. BRONSON REED
We got a shot of Paul Heyman backstage watching the monitor as Oba and Reed faced off in the middle of the ring. Paul has been an ominous presence in this feud and within the larger program itself involving The Vision’s feud with Oba.
The action warmed up at a medium-low temp, but once it got going, it was big-time action. We saw Reed drop Oba on his back, with all 300lbs coming down hard on the apron, and Reed also countered Oba’s attempt at a slam, turning it into a splash. However, the moonsault from “BIG” Bronson Reed onto Oba will live on in his highlight reel for the rest of his career.
By the time Oba gained momentum, Austin Theory interfered long enough for Logan Paul to run in with a chair. But the whole play was a setup meant to get Paul tossed so Maxxine could slide the brass knucks to Reed. Reed struck Oba with the knucks twice before delivering the Tsunami meant to be the nail in the coffin.
Oba kicked out, and the crowd went crazy as Reed looked on flabbergasted with an expression that suggested the caption: “What else do I have to do to get this guy out of here?” Oba recovered and then hit a massive pop-up powerbomb, lifting the 270lb-plus superstar onto his shoulders before slamming him down for a sit-down pinfall.
The booking made Oba look even more larger-than-life as he secured his first decisive victory over a member of The Vision.
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