Is it April already?
It sure seems that way with the stacked card at tonight’s WWE Money in the Bank. (8:00 pm eastern on The WWE Network)
The WrestleMania worthy event is full of dream matches many wrestling fans can’t wait to see unfold.
With Money in the Bank a few hours away, the Four Horsemen of MFR, give their predictions on how things might play out.
MITB Kickoff Match
The Golden Truth vs Breezango
Gerardo – The good news is they have found a way to get Tyler Breeze back in the mix of things after being an afterthought shortly after his arrival to the big stage. The bad news is he’s stuck in a midcard feud. I like the team of Breeze and Fandango but I wish they would have come up with a better team name. That team has potential and with The Golden Truth having two veteran performers who will be entertaining and fan favorites not matter the outcome, I think it’s imperative they continue to push Breezango and salvage any momentum Tyler Breeze still might have.
Winner: Breezango
Marcus – At least they bothered to give the teams names I guess. Due to the fact Fandango and, criminally, Tyler Breeze seem to be complete afterthoughts at the moment, I think Goldust and R-Truth pick up the win so they can continue being there and existing and stuff.
Winner: The Golden Truth
MITB Kickoff Match
The Lucha Dragons vs The Dudley Boyz
Gerard0 – The Dudley’s are future Hall of Famers and there’s nothing that will ever take away or diminish their accomplishments. That includes another loss here to the Lucha Dragons.
Winner: The Lucha Dragons
Marcus – I actually seem to be the only fan of the work the Dudley Boyz have done since their return, with everyone seemingly deciding the main problem is their losing too much. Well for better or worse that’s the role the Dudley Boyz need to occupy in 2016 but I actually think this will be one of the few matches used to give them a bit of credibility before they run into Enzo and Cass.
Winner: The Dudley Boyz
Apollo Crews vs Sheamus
Gerardo – Apollo Crews’ run on the main roster has been an uneventful one leading up to his feud with Sheamus. WWE finally gave him a storyline to work with and I think Sheamus was the right person to start him off with. It’s ‘The New Era’ vs the old and it makes sense here to have Crews win clean to help catapult that era especially with a guy WWE is so high on. How things have changed in one year for Sheamus, though.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Marcus – While I think Apollo Crews got called up to the main roster way too early, he needs the win here in a serious way. He’s been pretty directionless since debuting and has seemed out of place partly because of that. Ideally he needs the clean win here and there’s no need to protect Sheamus, but then again he’s in a movie so WWE logic says he either wins or is heavily protected. I’m going to be optimistic though.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Mat – Crews gets a big win over Sheamus
Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin
Gerardo – A feud that should have ended a while ago, hopefully comes to an end tonight. And with a big emphasis on ‘The New Era’ this feud should end with The Lone Wolf beating The Showoff.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Marcus – It feels like these two have been fighting forever and I am totally bored and sick of it. I’d go back and look at the last match to see who wins it this week but I’m hoping this will be the last match between these two which by rights should see Corbin get the definitive win. It probably won’t be though.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Mat – Crews gets a big win over Sheamus
Charlotte (WWE Women’s Champion) and Dana Brooke vs Natalya and Becky Lynch
Gerardo – I’m not sure what they’re to accomplish with this matchup but if it’s anything like Charlotte’s previous matchups on pay-per-views, this one will end in some sort of controversy. And while it seems like they’re building up Charlotte to be the champion heading into SummerSlam, I think a loss here with some help from dear old dad is in the works.
Winner: Natalya and Becky Lynch with help from Ric Flair.
Marcus – While I like everyone involved in this to varying degrees, this feels like complete filler until SummerSlam. But it’s involved four women who are talented, know what they’re doing (Dana Brooke aside) and trying so that’s progress I guess. Speaking of SummerSlam it’s felt carved in stone all year that we’re heading for Sasha Banks Vs Charlotteso Charlotte likely gets the win by cheating to keep her on course.
Winners: Charlotte and Dana Brooke
Mat – Charlotte and Dana win via shenanigans
EJ – Charlotte and Dana Brooke
United States Championship
Rusev (Champion) vs Titus O’Neil
Gerardo – It’s great to see Rusev has captured the magic he had as a heel last year when he was battling John Cena for that same U.S. Title. Since regaining the title, Rusev has been more aggressive and more menacing than he was last year. It’s also great to see Titus thrown into a title program following his suspension earlier this year. And while I think Titus deserves a run as a singles champion at some point, I don’t think tonight will be the night we see that happen.
Winner: Rusev
Marcus – Rusev is actually looking good again for the first time in a while and Titus O’Neal is back from is suspension for being too friendly so everyone’s a winner already. That said I think the Rusev comeback needs to continue until he’s ready to be fed to someone down the road and O’Neil is here to keep the Rusev rolling.
Winner: Rusev
Mat- Rusev destroys Titus, like its not even going to be fun to watch
Tag Team Championship (Fatal 4-Way)
The New Day (Champions) vs Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Enzo Amore and Big Cass, vs The Vaudevillains
Gerardo -While the jury is still out on whether The Vaudevillains can have long-term success in the WWE, the other three teams are about as over as they can get especially The New Day and Enzo and Cass. With that said, don’t be surprised if Gallows and Anderson walk out as the new champions. The New Day have had quite a run and while it might make sense to have them drop the belts at SummerSlam, I think this is the one title that has the best chance of changing hands tonight. Of course, if they do drop the belts tonight, expect rumors of a New Day breakup to swirl as we get closer to the brand extension in July. Let’s hope that’s not the case though.
Winner and new Tag Team Champions: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Marcus – Okay, we now get into the matches I am seriously looking forward to. By process of elimination I don’t think the Vaudevillains nor Enzo and Cass are ready for a run with the straps yet which leave New Day and The Club. While it’s possible The New Day keep the titles for a straight forward tag loss to a team I think The Club take it here as to keep having them lose/not do anything significant is going to start to get really damaging.
Winner: Gallows and Anderson
Mat – The New Day retains in their toughest match to date.
John Cena vs AJ Styles
Gerardo – The match that could steal the show, is the match that’s been a decade in the making. The buildup to this clash has been tremendous and engaging. Styles needs a win in the worst way and Cena has shown lately (see: Kevin Owens vs Cena last year) that he’ll take a loss to put someone over if it means helping to build a legit star. AJ Styles is definitely a star and without the help of Gallowa and Anderson (I think), this feud will have lasting power all the way to SummerSlam.
Winner: AJ Styles
Marcus- My pick for match of the night and the one that in the build up has really sold this show. Cena’s match quality may not be the most consistent but when he gets in there with the right opponent it hits another level and Styles should most certainly be one of those opponents. As for the winner Cena has returned but he doesn’t and never needs a win, Styles on the other hand needs a win after taking the dive against Reigns a few times. Either way the match itself should ensure everyone comes out of this looking good.
Winner: AJ Styles
Mat – Cena wins but AJ comes out looking damn good and gets his win at SummerSlam.
EJ – AJ Styles
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Sami Zayn vs Dean Ambrose vs Alberto del Rio vs Chris Jericho vs Cesaro vs Kevin Owens
Gerardo – Arguably the best MITB Ladder match lineup in its history, this match won’t be short of spectacular. There’s even a chance it could be more spectacular if WWE decides to add a seventh surprise entrant (Randy Orton?). And for a more in-depth look at this battle, checkout EJ Moreno’s piece on it. As for my thoughts, I think it comes down to Ambrose or Owens. WWE teased on Raw Ambrose possibly cashing in at the end of the night if he wins but WWE wouldn’t want to ruin a potential cash-in surprise by hinting at it beforehand. Ambrose could very well still win but don’t be surprised if Kevin Owens ascends to the top of the ladder and grabs the briefcase. With that said, all this talk of The Shield lately has me thinking a triple threat match is on the horizon.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Marcus – This may actually be the best overall line-up for a MITB match in history. Everyone is capable, everyone has a reason and critically everyone could win it. While I’d be happy to see anyone in here win it, I’d rather not Jericho or Del Rio as it wouldn’t help them nearly as much as the other four guys. Of those four Dean Ambrose strikes me as the stand out candidate as the story line with him as MITB holder and Reigns as champion writes itself. Throw in Rollins as the other challenger and we’re finally good to go for the triple threat everyone wants to see.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Mat – Owens or Cesaro are my picks, but there could be a mystery 7th entrant.
EJ – Kevin Owens
World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns (champion) vs Seth Rollins
Gerardo – The Guy vs The Man. Certainly a matchup worthy of main-eventing WrestleMania. As much as I’d love to see Rollins reclaim the title he never lost, I don’t think WWE is ready to have the Roman Empire end. Rollins will get the title back eventually. It just won’t be tonight. But if he does, it could be a short-lived title reign should some lunatic find it an appropriate time to cash in.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Marcus – Once again Reigns gets put with an opponent who will get the best out of him and it will be so good to finally see Seth Rollins in a big match again. While I can’t see where it will come from or how there will likely be some sort of shenanigans so Reigns can keep his title but allows the feud to stay alive either for more matches between the two or the fabled triple threat. Hopefully the match continues the high quality run for Reigns that AJ Styles started him on.
Winner: Roman Reigns
For the first time in a while I’m really looking forward to a WWE show and am actually confident that several of these matches will really deliver.
Mat – Reigns retains, but Rollins gets the win via DQ.
EJ – Roman Reigns
There you have it. Plenty of thoughts on tonight’s big event. Got a prediction? Thoughts on ours? Leave them in the comments. We’d love to hear yours as well.
