For the first time since WrestleMania, the WWE will have a Pay-Per-View as Money in the Bank is live this Sunday from Hartford, Connecticut. A show that has become the top PPV outside of the “Big Four” has been moved up, replacing the usual Backlash or Extreme Rules PPV that became a usual for the first big show after WrestleMania. The importance of Money in the Bank comes with two matches where both the men and women have a chance to achieve their dreams and become champion. Here’s the preview.
Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese (c) vs Ariya Daivari
A Kickoff Show custom, the Cruiserweight Championship is on the line as champion Tony Nese has his first PPV defense since winning the title at WrestleMania against one of 205 Live’s hottest stars, Ariya Daivari. Daivari has been on fire as a member of 205 Live and has cemented himself as the top heel on the show following former Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy being drafted to SmackDown LIVE. Despite the fire that Daivari has lit, the champion Tony Nese has done all he could to keep his own flame hot as he goes in a confident champion. Like usual, this 205 Live special attraction could steal the show from the word “go”.
SmackDown Tag Team Championships: Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs The Usos
After defending the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan and his friend Rowan will now defend the SmackDown Tag Team Championships on the Kickoff Show against Raw Superstars, The Usos. Both teams competed just two weeks ago to crown the new champions following The Hardys relinquishing them, as the Planet’s Champion and friend came out on top. These two teams are sure to put on a great encore in efforts of winning tag team gold.
United States Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs Rey Mysterio
One of two WrestleMania rematches scheduled for Money in the Bank as Rey Mysterio gets another crack against Samoa Joe for the United States Championship. In their first encounter, Mysterio would put to sleep in a minute by Joe but was able to defeat him on Raw in recent weeks. With his son Dominick being verbally attacked by Joe recently, the lucha legend has even more to wrestle for this Sunday as he looks to win his first championship since returning to the company.
Roman Reigns vs Elias
A feud that began when Vince McMahon planned to announce the biggest acquisition in the history of SmackDown LIVE, it has continuously picked up with the McMahon’s continuing to make Roman Reigns’ life a living hell. This heated feud continued on Miz TV when Reigns put out fighting words bringing up how Elias is just a karaoke singer and has yet to accomplish anything in the WWE. With Elias as the new chosen star of the McMahon Family, “The Big Dog” looks to put out the hope in Elias that the McMahon’s have while Elias looks to secure his greatest victory to date.
Steel Cage: The Miz vs Shane McMahon
After weeks of The Miz chasing around Shane McMahon with a steel chair, these two come to battle one last time in a WrestleMania rematch, but this time locked inside a Steel Cage. An absolute battle where Shane McMahon was lucky to come out on top the first time will conclude on Sunday. No one may be on the edge of their seat for these two to fight once again but the story goes all the way back to Crown Jewel in November of last year. Can Miz get his win back or will Shane McMahon once again prove he is the “Best in the World”.
Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs Lacey Evans
Becky Lynch won the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships in the main event of WrestleMania by pinning Ronda Rousey and now plans to defend both the championships this Sunday. Her first defense of the Raw Women’s Championship will be against the newcomer, “The Sassy Southern Belle” Lacey Evans. Evans earned this opportunity when she defeated Natalya in a number one contender’s match on Raw last month. Since then she has been a burden in the side of Becky 2 Belts’ side and she plans to hit the Women’s Right and walk away Raw Women’s Champion in her first opportunity. Becky won’t go away quietly by any means despite wrestling twice on the card. If she wrestles Lacey first, it is fair to believe “The Man” will leave #ANDSTILL, but if not, Lacey Evans can make her mark and leave as champion almost guaranteed.
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs Charlotte Flair
The storied rivalry between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will write its next chapter as Charlotte challenges Becky for the SmackDown Women’s Championship once again. The two have competed on PPV against each other since SummerSlam in some fashion and that will only continue this Sunday. Charlotte has said to Becky she continues to be in her head while Becky looks to rid herself of the eight-time champion so she can find new challengers. On Raw, both of Becky’s opponents got to her which ended in Charlotte powerbombing “The Man” through a table and holding the SmackDown Women’s Championship high. Will Charlotte stand tall and become a nine-time women’s champion or can Becky 2 Belts overcome the odds once again?
WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs Kevin Owens
When Big E went down with an injury, The New Day felt broken. Step in Kevin Owens. Owens became the third member of New Day and all seemed good and glad. Of course, Owens being a good guy lasted all of two weeks when he would turn on The New Day, laying out both Xavier Woods and the WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, making it clear what he wants is the WWE Championship. Kofi and KO would go at it week after week as Owens would attempt to make Kingston lose his championship in the Triple Threat match just last week, but Kofi fought through. This week he would be a guest on the “Kevin Owens Show” and get to the ring before Owens. Owens would reiterate that reality is setting in and on Sunday it will be proven that he is not WWE Championship material. Owens would use his best friend, Sami Zayn, to help him get the leg up on Kingston who was alone for the first time in a long time. Kofi would again manage to fight out of it and stand tall as SmackDown LIVE went off the air. The matter at hand now is that Kofi and Owens are set for battle this Sunday and it will not be pretty as “The Prizefighter” looks to stomp out the fairytale of Kofi Kingston’s title reign.
Universal Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs AJ Styles
The term “Dream Match” is used a lot when it comes to professional wrestling and even overused at times. Despite that, this Sunday the WWE Universe and wrestling fans alike are in for a treat when a true “Dream Match” takes place between Universal Champion Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. A match 13 years in the making, these two have avoided each other’s paths until now. While much of this feud was built around respect, it has boiled down to the two men wanting to tear each other apart following cheap shots, miscommunication, and the natural need of being on top of the food chain. This will be the second defense for Seth Rollins since defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania but if someone was to make his reign short, you would have to believe in “The Phenomenal One”. Two of the best wrestlers in the past decade are set to duel this Sunday as fans should prepare to sit back and enjoy one hell of a wrestling match.
Women’s Money in the Bank: Alexa Bliss vs Dana Brooke vs Naomi vs Natalya vs Bayley vs Mandy Rose vs Carmella vs Ember Moon
The Third Edition of the Women’s Money in the Bank match happens this Sunday as there are plenty of intriguing options here to bring down the briefcase. Both Women’s Money in the Bank winners are competing in this match once again, as Carmella, who won the inaugural match, and Alexa Bliss, who won and cashed in on the same night a year ago to become the Raw Women’s Champion, look to bring down the briefcase once again. Natalya is the only competitor to compete in every single Money in the Bank ladder match and she looks to win her first this Sunday. Ember Moon and Naomi both competed in the match last year and look for better fortunes as both have been forgotten a bit but have the opportunity to rise to the top by winning this match. Dana Brooke, Bayley, and Mandy Rose all approach this one as first-timers but look to seize the opportunity.
Men’s Money in the Bank: Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn vs Baron Corbin vs Ricochet vs Randy Orton vs Ali vs Andrade vs Finn Balor
The 20th Men’s Money in the Bank takes place on Sunday as eight men go to war to capture the briefcase that could make them a world champion. Following back to back years of blunders with the men’s briefcase, WWE hopefully has big plans for the man who wins it this year. Six of eight men in this matchup have never been world champion, and the briefcase has given nine winners the accomplishment of being a first-time world champion which could happen again following Sunday. Drew McIntyre, former Money in the Bank holder Baron Corbin, Ricochet, and the newly added Sami Zayn represent the Raw brand as former winner Randy Orton, Andrade, Ali, and Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor lead the way for the blue brand.
The Money in the Bank Ladder match is one of the most exciting matches in the history of the WWE as potential new champions can grab their opportunity at the top of the ladder. Make sure to tune in this Sunday at 7 pm EST and before that at 6 pm EST for the Kickoff show as plenty of matches could be some of the best this year.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
