KC in the Afternoon

KC in the Afternoon

KC in the Afternoon

Damian Priest defends his world heavyweight title against former champ Seth "Freakin" Rollins this weekend at WWE Money in the Bank

Here comes the money! WWE Money In The Bank is coming to the Scotiabank Arena in Canada this weekend, so you know I had to submit my tried and true, consistently correct match predictions.

Climbing The Ladder To Success

For nearly 20 years the Money in the Bank match has been a staple of WWE, with fans clamoring for the unbridled destruction it creates. The rules are simple: to win the match, one must climb a ladder and grab the Money in the Bank briefcase that hangs above the ring.

It sounds pretty straightforward, but with six of the toughest competitors that the company has to offer fighting for the same prize, it can turn ugly in a heartbeat. Not only can the ladders be used for climbing; oftentimes superstars will use them as a weapon to batter their opponents before ascending to the briefcase.

As brutal and unforgiving as a match of this caliber often is, the prize awaiting each superstar at the top is as good as gold. Inside the briefcase is a contract promising the winner a guaranteed title match for the world championship of their choosing anytime within the next year. And I mean ANY time, even in the middle of another championship match, which there is precedent for.

This has proven to be an invaluable gift for opportunistic WWE superstars, with nearly every contract holder hitting paydirt in the form of championship gold. Careers have been made and legacies have been cemented from the Money in the Bank match. And with so much at stake, which of the six men and women competing in the ladder matches this Saturday will walk away with the briefcase?

Banking On My Predictions

I’ll admit, my picks for WWE Clash at the Castle last month were abysmal to say the least. Going 2-3 hurts, but this time I’m calling for a perfect 5-0 record for one of the most unpredictable wrestling shows of the year. Here’s who I think is walking out of WWE Money in the Bank with their hand (and briefcase) held high:

  • Men's Money in the Bank - Carmelo Hayes vs. Chad Gable vs. Jey Uso vs. Andrade vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

    My pick: Jey Uso

    When it comes to the Money in the Bank matches there are a lot of variables to consider. Who’s got the most momentum heading into the ladder match? Who would provide the most intriguing storyline developments from holding the briefcase? Who can ride that thin line between being a dark horse to win while also being established enough to be a believable championship contender?

    The answer to all these questions, at least in my mind, is “Main Event” Jey Uso.

    Jey has undergone a career renaissance in the past year since splitting from the Bloodline and yeeting his way into fans’ hearts. While he’s come close to winning his first world title before, he hasn’t quite broken through to that rarified air that only champions breathe. But a Money in the Bank contract could change all of that for Jey, and he’s got enough storyline connections from his Bloodline days to create a compelling story with most anyone he chooses to cash in on.

  • Women's Money in the Bank - Chelsea Green vs. Iyo Sky vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Zoey Stark vs. Lyra Valkyria

    My pick: Tiffany Stratton

    It’s hard to deny that relative newcomer Tiffany Stratton has made quite the impact since her main roster debut earlier this year. Her impressive showing at Elimination Chamber along with her competitive matches against the likes of Bianca Belair and Women’s Champion Bayley have firmly established her as a competitor to watch out for.

    With that in mind, I believe Stratton will not be denied this Saturday either. As naturally good as she already is at just 25 years of age, Tiffany Stratton holding a contract for a guaranteed title match whenever she chooses is a major threat to any woman who holds gold in the next year. Get ready folks, it’s Tiffy Time!

  • Sami Zayn (C) vs. Bron Breakker - WWE Intercontinental Championship

    My pick: Sami Zayn

    On paper, Bron Breakker looks to be too destructive a force for Sami Zayn to contend with. After all, Bronn is younger, faster, and stronger than the Intercontinental champion. What’s more, ever since his debut Breakker has lived up to his name and broken opponents (including Zayn) in half with his devastating spear.

    But if there’s one thing Sami has proven to the WWE universe over the years, it’s to NEVER count him out. We shouldn’t be so quick to forget that Sami Zayn is the first man to pin the former IC champ Gunther in over two years, and has since retained his championship against many formidable opponents.

    And if there’s one advantage Zayn has over Breakker, it’s experience. It may be by the skin of his teeth, but I think Sami will pull out a few wily veteran moves that will outsmart and outflank the explosive young upstart.

  • Damian Priest (C) vs. Seth Rollins - World Heavyweight Championship

    My pick: Damian Priest

    Seth “Freakin” Rollins sent shockwaves through the WWE universe weeks ago when he returned from knee injury long before he was projected to be cleared. The former world champ wasted no time in making his intentions known. Now that he’s back at 100% he wants a shot at the title he lost at WrestleMania. Fortunately for him, El Campeon Damian Priest was all too happy to oblige.

    Not only is the championship on the line, but an added stipulation states that if Seth loses, he can no longer challenge for the world title as long as Priest remains champ. However, if Seth wins the belt, Damian will be forced to leave the Judgment Day.

    I’ll admit, I’m kind of fighting my gut on this one. On one hand, it’s hard to bet against Seth Rollins in high stakes matches like this. It would certainly be a bold choice to have such a popular star lose his first match since his triumphant return, especially after his all star performance at WrestleMania weekend.

    However, the added stipulation doesn’t scare me enough to go all in on Rollins. After all, with the Money in the Bank briefcase now in play, there’s no telling how long Damian will be champ even if he does manage to pull out a win this Saturday. Hell, he could get cashed in on immediately after his match with Seth, which would be an intriguing full circle moment considering how he won the title to begin with.

     

  • Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton vs. The Bloodline

    My pick: The Bloodline

    What this new iteration of the Bloodline lacks in finesse and professionalism compared to the Roman Reigns era, it makes up for in bloodthirsty viciousness and outright aggression. It took some time, but it finally feels like Solo Sikoa’s version of the faction is a legitimate threat to the fabric of WWE.

    This is mainly the reason why I feel comfortable picking the Bloodline to win this Saturday. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see the super team of Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes pick up the victory. But the sheer volatility of their opponents alone could keep victory just out of reach.

    There’s also the question of Orton’s loyalty to the team going into this match. The Viper has been caught more than once eyeing up the championship while draped around the shoulders of his longtime friend Cody Rhodes. I’m not saying he’ll definitely turn on Rhodes and Owens, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.

    And since this is a non title bout, I’ll go as far as to say that not only will the Bloodline win, but The American Nightmare himself will be the one to eat the pin. You heard it here first.

  • How To Watch

    You can watch WWE Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. ET, only on Peacock!

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