FINAL CARD & PREDICTIONS: WWE Money in the Bank

FINAL CARD & PREDICTIONS:
6/17/2018
WWE Money in the Bank
Chicago, IL

Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass
Daniel Bryan returns to the City By the Lake for his first Chicago match since retiring in early 2016. While homecomings should leave audiences with warm and fuzzy feelings, Bryan has a rather large obstacle in his way. Wrestling fans all know that Cass stands at seven feet tall and not only can you not teach that; but, Cass' natural athleticism makes him different than other big man. He will prove to be a challenge, even for someone with Daniel Bryan's level of experience and expertise.

Still, Bryan is on a quest to climb the top of WWE's proverbial ladder and achieve the same success he left after retiring. Heart counts and so does wrestling acumen, of which Bryan has an abundance. Look for Bryan to capitalize on Cass' bad knees and cut his taller opponent down to size. Once Bryan gets Cass to the mat, Cass has almost no chance of besting Bryan, who will capitalize with a running high knee to the face to achieve a pinfall victory.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs Elias
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins is arguably the most over Superstar on the WWE roster. Without a weekly Universal Champion, Rollins has elevated the Intercontinental Championship to the prestige it enjoyed years ago, when it graced the waists of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat, Shawn Michaels, and Bret "Hitman" Hart. Rollins excels at his craft to such an extent that he draws comparisons to each of his aforementioned Intercontinental predecessors.

Elias; however, is no slouch either. He is a physical specimen and looks as if he had been cut from stone. A clothed wrestling version of a Michelangelo statue, Elias is also immensely talented on the mic, generating heat weekly with his special in-ring performances. Still, the former NXT star is on a quest to prove that he is more than just a musical performer and to do that he hopes to unseat WWE's hottest star in Seth Rollins. Color us skeptical.

While Elias will surely wear WWE gold one day, it isn't the time to take the Intercontinental Championship off of Rollins. Look for Rollins to use his superior in-ring talent to school his less experienced counterpart. The feud will likely continue; however, as Elias won't forget what Seth Rollins did to his guitar and decide to break another one after the match. This time it will be across the Architect's back.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Bobby Lashley vs Sami Zayn
Bobby Lashley was supposed to return to the WWE and take the RAW Brand by storm; however, instead of immediately inserting himself into the title picture, Lashley has been pre-occupied with a troublesome Canadian thorn in his side. Sami Zayn has proven to be a flawless heel & has taken the politically incorrect route in questioning Lashley's military service. While Zayn's approach is intentionally distasteful, it has also added intensity to a feud many cared very little about. Although Zayn is a superb in-ring technician, a pissed off Bobby Lashley that's already too good, too fast, and too strong is just too much to contend with. Look for Lashley to overpower Zayn for the pinfall victory.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Roman Reigns vs Jinder Mahal
What a difference a year makes. At last year's Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Jinder Mahal was WWE Champion and Roman Reigns was seen as the obvious heir apparent to Brock Lesnar. Since WrestleMania, the two Superstars have made the most of an awkward mid-card pairing. The two have taken turns attacking one another on RAW in a feud that will likely culminate at Money in the Bank.

With Lesnar set to leave the WWE to pursue another UFC run, the company is in search of another heir apparent. With Reigns being unable to win over much of WWE's most hardcore fan base, the WWE may have moved on to look elsewhere, at least for the time being. Still Reigns is a valuable commodity and one may argue too valuable to lose in a rather meaningless feud with Jinder Mahal.

Look for Mahal to use every crooked tactic he can to gain in advantage, including the utilization of Sunil Singh; but, it won't be enough to overcome an enraged Roman Reigns, who will inevitably hit Mahal with a Spear for the pinfall victory.

Winner: Roman Reigns

SmackDown Women's Champion Carmella vs Asuka
After riding a historic Royal Rumble victory all the way to WrestleMania, Asuka was unable to come away with the SmackDown Women's Championship, a major disappointment for the Japanese Superstar. With Charlotte Flair participating in this year's Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, one major hurdle is out of her way. Still, if Carmella has proven anything, she has proven an uncanny ability to bend the rules in her favor. While Asuka is obviously the superior in-ring talent, Carmella will perform intelligently and stay away from Asuka for much of the match.

That's when a rumored to be returning James Ellsworth will reunite with Carmella, drawing Asuka's attention. Ellsworth will endure Asuka's terrifying wrath; however, once Asuka takes her attention away from Carmella, Carmella will capitalize for a quick roll up and a cheap pinfall victory.

Winner and STILL SmackDown Women's Champion: Carmella

RAW Women's Champion Nia Jax vs Ronda Rousey
Nia Jax's meteoric rise to the RAW Women's Championship actually took some time. After spending two years on NXT she was finally called up to RAW where was basically a forgotten component to the roster. Jax primarily served as Alexa Bliss' lackey until she was double crossed by Bliss shortly before the two met at WrestleMania. That's when Jax had her crowning moment of achievement and finally became RAW Women's Champion. Rousey, on the other hand, hasn't even participated in a singles match; but, now has a RAW Women's Championship opportunity only five months after debuting at the conclusion of the first ever Women's Royal Rumble.

Jax was correct when she spoke last week on RAW. There are many different rules in professional wrestling that simply don't exist in the MMA. She showed that with a vicious headbutt that took the unprepared Rousey entirely by surprise. Still, Rousey was able to get her arm bar on Jax, something that Jax once claimed was impossible. Look for these two to put on a back and forth affair. Jax will display her power and Rousey will display the ability to make vicious quick MMA style strikes. Eventually Rousey will get the arm bar on Jax, who will use her power advantage to simply lift Rousey in the air, while in the typically devastating maneuver. After spending all their energy, Jax will win with a power move and shock the world by cleanly pinning Ronda Rousey, who isn't ready for the RAW Women's Championship just yet.

Winner and STILL RAW Women's Champion: Nia Jax

Women's MITB Ladder Match
The Las Vegas favorite to win the second ever Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match is Natalya. Obviously odds makers believe that Rousey will inevitably end up with the RAW Women's Championship and her "friend" Natalya will cash-in. We don't see Rousey as champion just yet. Nor do we see Natalya as able to defeat some of the other younger talent in this match.

Charlotte is the most accomplished woman in the match, having one multiple women's titles and along with Sasha Banks, has main evented pay-per-views. Charlotte's accomplishments will work to her disadvantage; however, as she will be targeted throughout the match. Sasha Banks is incredible; but, lacks overall direction and the WWE has also done very little to help evolve Becky Lynch or Naomi. Those three women will walk away without the Money in the Bank briefcase. Ember Moon is interesting as an up and comer; but, would make more sense as next year's Money in the Bank winner after she has another year of main roster experience.

This leaves Lana and Alexa Bliss. Lana has been incredible this year and has successfully ridden the Rusev Day momentum to prove herself relevant once again. She has vowed that she and husband Rusev will be the first ever Mr. and Mrs. Money in the Bank; however, Lana has never shown that she can actually excel in a wrestling ring, let alone become a serious championship contender. Alexa Bliss, on the other hand, is accomplished, dangerous, and probably most importantly in a match like this, sneaky. No one will pick her spots better and that will inevitably lead to Bliss climbing the ladder at just the right time to become Ms. Money in the Bank.

Winner: Alexa Bliss

Men's MITB Ladder Match
We agree with Las Vegas and believe Big E will be The New Day's representative in this match, so that will be assumed from here on out. Odds makers don't only believe Big E will be in the match; but, he is one of the odds on favorites to come away the victor. We don't share that same level of positivity for Big E. It has been awhile since he has wrestled regularly as a singles competitor and he won't have his New Day brethren to aid him in his quest for victory.

Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman are similar, both large dominant monsters that will invoke fear in their fellow competitors; but, can the two be involved in the same match without drawing attention to one another? Look for these two to focus on each other to such an extent that they leave Money in the Bank with a new feud heading into SummerSlam; but, without the coveted briefcase.

Bobby Roode has been an afterthought of late and until creative has serious plans for the former NXT Champion, we can't see him coming away with something as significant as the Money in the Bank briefcase.

This leaves four men; The Miz, Finn Balor, Rusev and Kevin Owens. Rusev has been fantastic and is undoubtedly over with WWE audiences; however, there has been little indication that the front office feels the same way. The odds on favorite Miz is superb; but, would be a huge loss to the mid-card if he were to suddenly become a WWE Championship contender. Kevin Owens and Balor are both former Universal Champions and each are owed a Universal Championship opportunity that they have been swindled from. That will be a major motivating factor for each man. While Owens would be ideal as the prototypical Money in the Bank heel, his struggles with heights may prove to be a major disadvantage for the former Universal Champion. Finn Balor; however, has shown no aversion to being in the air. Look for Balor to get the win and cash-in on Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.

Winner: Finn Balor

WWE Champion A.J. Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura
As of late, it's been difficult to tell whether Shinsuke Nakamura is the King of Strong Style or the King of Low Blows; but, low blows and Nakamura's other underhanded heel tactics will be a huge advantage in a match like this. Essentially there are no rules, except to incapacitate your opponent to such an extent that he can not stand in time to answer a ten count.

Nakamura has been unsuccessful in his two previous attempts to win the WWE Championship from A.J. Styles; but, those were regular wrestling matches, where A.J. Styles is king. This is a Last Man Standing Match, where evil comes to play. Look for Nakamura to use the no-rules environment to his complete advantage and finally defeat Styles to become the new WWE Champion.

Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura