WWE Money in the Bank 2018 Predictions
Hello Misfits! This is The Wrestling Classic here with my predictions for this Sunday’s Money in the Bank PPV. It is one of the most anticpated PPV events of the year as it has left us with countless of memorable moments. Whether it was great moments in the money in the bank matches, cash-ins on the same night or unforgettable matches such as CM Punk vs. John Cena in Chicago in 2011, the PPV has set a standard. Its also the night where two superstars will be victorious in earning a contract they can cash in at any time for a championship match. Its a scenario that can play out the same night or create an angle that carries on for the next year. I’m definitely looking forward to this Sundays event. It feels like we haven’t had an event in a while and that might be a circumstance of the WWE going back to one event month with representation of both brands. There are some popular names missing from this card but we get two MITB ladder matches, a last man standing match, five championship matches and a series of grudges being resolved. I’m intrigued.
Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn
Image via WWE.com
This is Bobby Lashleys first big singles match on PPV since returning the night after Wrestlemania. Its also his major singles angle since returning. To be honest since then Bobby Lashley’s return has been pretty lacklustre. We’ve learnt nothing about why he is back or what his motives are. Although, we did learn that he had sisters and supposedly he caused Sami Zayn to suffer from vertigo. This angle would not have worked if it was with anyone else besides Sami Zayn or Kevin Owens. Zayn capitalized on what ever little we knew about Lashley and helped make us care even if some of his attempts to do so were distasteful. Regardless, Bobby Lashley needs this win to continue to build momentum, stay relevant and allow everyone, including himself, to believe his return to the WWE wasn’t a mistake.
Prediction – Bobby Lashley
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
Image via WWE.com
The bad blood between Big Cass and Daniel Bryan continue as we head into the Summer. At Backlash, Daniel Bryan defeated Big Cass by making tap out. In the past few weeks we’ve seen Daniel Bryan introduce the heel hook submission move which has allowed him to take out his larger opponents. Big Cass has been trying to terrorize Daniel Bryan since they both returned to in ring action yet Bryan keeps getting the upper hand on Cass. Cass hasn’t had that big win since returning but the fans don’t want to see him beat their beloved Daniel Bryan. That is exactly why I think he needs this victory at Money in the Bank. Big Cass beats Daniel Bryan because he has everything to gain and Daniel Bryan has nothing to lose. In the past couple of months we’ve seen Bryan take a couple of L’s, most recently against Rusev and it didn’t hurt Bryan at all. Cass needs this.
Prediction – Big Cass
Smackdown Live Tag Titles
The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Club
Image via WWE.com
I couldn’t be happier that The Club is being used in to big way on Smackdown Live. They are the number one contenders and deservingly so. The Club is in better shape than they have been in years. The Bludgeon Brothers have been dominant and a unstoppable force. As big of a fan as I am of Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, I dont see this rivlary to end so soon nor do I see The Bludgeon Brothers dropping the titles so soon. I especially dont see the Haper and Rowen losing the titles on the pre-show. I can see the Bludgeon Brothers defending the titles against The Club, The Bar and Usos at Summerslam in a fatal four way tag match. That in mind, I’m going with them.
Prediction – Bludgeon Brothers
Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (C) vs. Elias
Image via WWE.com
This one is going to be a fun one. I couldn’t be happier that Elias is getting this spot under the spotlight which he deserves. Seth Rollins has made the Intercontinental Championship mean something by continuing what The Miz started by treating the IC Championship as the main title on Raw since the Universal Champion is barley around. Rollins may not be booked as the top star on Raw but us hardcore fans know that he delivers every week on Raw as if he’s the top star. Elias has been the most entertaining heels on the show each and every week. He’s been so good at it that he’s actually began to gain the admiration of the WWE Universe. I think this feud will continue and this is just the first match of handful between the two similar looking foes. At least I hope it is. I think Seth Rollins continues his reign but in due time, Elias will get his own.
Prediction – Seth Rollins
Smackdown Women’s Championship
Carmella (C) vs. Asuka
Image via WWE.com
MELLA IS MONEY! However, Asuka was undefeated for nearly two years and only has one loss on her record in her NXT/WWE career. That is something money can’t even buy. Carmella shows no fear of Asuka and her new confidence may be her biggest weakness. Carmella might be underestimating the Empress of Tomorrow and that could ultimately cause her the Women’s Championship. Carmella did however beat Charlotte twice and clean the second time and Charlotte beat Asuka…so that must mean Carmella will beat Asuka, right? Asuka doesn’t agree and vows to finally shut Carmella up. I undoubtably think Asuka walks out as champion here but a apart of me doesn’t want to see that yet. However, I don’t want to see Asuka lose clean to Carmella. Enter the IIconics or Rose/Deville to help Carmella pick up a win and build a new mini stable on Smackdown Live where two women are trying to protect Carmella as champion because Carmella is MONEY!
Prediction – Carmella
Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh
Image via WWE.com
The Modern Day Maharaja wants to put the Big Dog down and make a name for himself on Raw. The Big Dog lost his opportunity to be in the Money in the Bank due to the Maharaja targeting him for his own aspirations. There are many people who agree that this rivalry only began because the WWE believes that there is no way the fans would boo Roman Reigns in favour of cheering Jinder Mahal. Its actually pretty clever when you look at it on paper. Although, on paper you can’t see the possibility of the fans just booing both guys and not really being invested in the rivalry. I think the WWE Universe is split on this rivalry like four different ways. Personally, I have enjoyed it and I’m just glad that Jinder Mahal in still involved in a prominent feud rather than getting lost in the shuffle on Raw. On that note, I do believe that Roman Reigns is going to win but my preference would be that Jinder Mahal takes the W. Roman Reigns loses nothing but losing a match as he’s already a top established star in his short career whereas Jinder Mahal gains a lot by getting a victory over the Big Dog. Roman can get his retribution on an episode of Raw or the next PPV if there is one before Summerslam.
Prediction – Jinder Mahal
Raw Women’s Championship
Nia Jax (C) vs. Ronda Rousey
Image via WWE.com
Nia Jax went from being bullied preaching about standing up for yourself, back to being the bully who wants to squash all this hype around Ronda Rousey. Ronda Rousey made her first appearance in the WWE at the Royal Rumble in January and had her debut match in April at Wrestlemania. Sine Wrestlemania, Ronda Rousey hasn’t had a match but due to Nia Jax challenging her, Ronda Rousey is sky rocketed into a Women’s Championship match. Nia Jax finally won the womens championship at Wrestlemania and it felt long overdue. There is a part of me that thinks it sucks that this match is already happening and the idea of Nia Jax losing the championship already to Ronda Rousey kind of sucks for Nia Jax. However, Ronda Rousey supposedly only signed for one year and they want to get a bang for their buck if she doesn’t sign again. In a few months she’ll be going in the UFC Hall of Fame. There is still so much buzz and hype surrounding the Rowdy one. Mousey as the Women’s Champion as she is being put in the UFC Hall of Fame would be a big deal for the WWE and having her on the linage would be huge. I predict that Ronda Rousey goes over and possibly is cashed in on after the match. We’ll see. I still feel bad for Nia Jax though.
Prediction – Ronda Rousey
Last Man Standing Match
WWE Championship
AJ Styles (C) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Image via WWE.com
There will finally be a decisive winner in this rubber match. AJ Styles beat Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestlemania and Shinsuke Nakamura beat AJ Styles on an episode of Smackdown to be able to pick the stipulation for this match. Their other two matches ended with controversy. This quite frankly should and might be the last match between these two for a little while. It is a Last Man Standing match which means there will be a definite clear winner. Low-blows will be allowed under these rules. Its become a trend that every match these two have with each other is always better than the last one in this WWE run of matches. Therefore, with that in mind this match should be a show stealer and the best one of them all thus far. I would hope they saw Okada/Omega at Dominion and its made them feel like they need to one-up that match but that is just me being hopeful. I’m also hoping there isn’t no shenanigans with the finish. I really do want to see Shinsuke pick up the win and become the WWE Champion. Although, there is a part of me that thinks it would be a bigger deal if Nakamura was a babyface and he won the championship compared to him winning it as a heel. This makes me feel like the AJ Styles reign continues.
Prediction – AJ Styles
Money in the Bank
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Ember Moon vs. Natalya vs Becky Lynch vs. Naomi vs. Lana
Image via WWE.com
This is technically the third women’s Money in the Bank match as last year there was one of the event and then a rematch of it on Smackdown weeks later. This year features women from both Raw and Smackdown Live. I think this is really going to be entertaining and the women are going to do whatever they can to make there match more memorable than the men. There are eight participants in this match so lets start figuring out how I got to my prediction.
There are some women who will play a big part in this match but definitely dont need the Money in the Bank briefcase to earn a title shot. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss fall into that category. It’d be nice for them to add it to their resume of accolades but it doesn’t add anything else to them. There are many people who will also say Sasha Banks falls in that category as well, which I can totally understand but I’m a Sasha mark and I’d love to see her win. I’m sure she’ll do some stuff that will make me be worried for her life but I guess I have to agree that she won’t be winning. Becky Lynch or Naomi winning would be super cool and give them something to do and work off of every week until they cash in. I think they would both be fun as MITB holders too. Becky Lynch would be hilarious with the briefcase on social media and I can already see the briefcase glowing with Naomi but still dont think thats the way they are going. Lana or Ember Moon winning would be huge for both of their careers. Imagine Lana as the Money in the Bank. The idea that she could become Womens Champion at any moment cause of the briefcase may be the only way we could imagine her being champion. Ember Moon as the winner would put every champion on Raw on notice and have them watching their back. Yet I still dont think neither one of them will take the win either. Personally, I see Natalya as the winner. I see Natalya winning only to feud Ronda Rousey this Summer. They have put a ton of focus on their friendship on Raw, so the image of Natalya cashing in on Rousey to win the championship and take that moment away from her makes the most sense here. They have done a great job rebuilding Natalya as a strong competitor and its the only way I see it going.
Prediction – Natalya
Money in the Bank
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode vs. The Miz vs. Rusev vs. Samoa Joe vs. New Day Memeber
Image via WWE.com
The men’s Money in the Bank match will also feature both stars from Raw and Smackdown Live. Its stacked with talent that it really can go so many different ways. Ultimately everyone has their favourites and there is a valid argument for everyone on who they think is going to win. I also feel that with the talent that is involved that this match could really steal the show and be complete chaos. Lets see how I ruled out people to get to my prediction.
First thing first, I’ll straight up say I quickly went to the thought that if a Raw star is winning the womens MITB match than a Smackdown one should win this one. I could be completely wrong about this but thats how my booking mind works. First off, I’d rule out The New Day or whichever member of The New Day actually participates in this match. I do think it would be interesting to see them as the co-holders of the briefcase and it cause tension between them but there would be satisfying payoff with them as the MITB winners. If one of them one a singles title and did that, sure but not the briefcase. It was kind of hard to rule out everyone else. Braun Strowman doesn’t need it to earn championship title shots and it would be silly seeing a monster such as Braun cashing in a briefcase to win his first big championship. As much as I enjoy Bobby Roode, I dont think he’s connected as a babyface on the main roster to the level to seeing him cash in would be really cool. Don’t get me wrong he could win it and then in the time before cashing in really get over but I just dont see the WWE having that sort of faith in him right now. Finn Balor deserves a rematch for the Universal Championship without a doubt. However, I dont want to see Fin Balor carrying around a briefcase for months and his entrance would look real funny with it. Rusev with the MITB would be quality stuff and something I would definitely love to see. I think the WWE Universe would love to see it too. I just dont see it happening though. The Miz could take he win and that would be awesome. Yet, I feel like The Miz is at a point in his career where winning the MITB match doesn’t really do much for him as a character. He is an established star who could work his way into the title picture in more creative ways than cashing in the MITB briefcase. I mean John Cena and Randy Orton did it later in their career and I do have faith that The Miz could pull off anything given to him but I just dont see the point. This leaves Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe and to be honest, I’d be okay with either one of them winning. Kevin Owens as Mr. Money in the Bank would be entertaining as hell. He would make it his own and I know I would love every second of it. Samoa Joe as the MITB winner just haunting the champion on Smackdown Live every week would be quality television. Regardless who the champion is, they would have to look over their shoulder at all times for Samoa Joe. They gave me eight options and I narrowed it down to two. Bite me.
Prediction – Samoa Joe or Kevin Owens
What do you think about my predictions for the Money in the Bank? What are your predictions? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts and ideas of what might happen on the show? Leave your comments and opinions below.
Completely agree with everything but jinder. Miz touchd d brief case has won b4 and Doesn’t need it and has a program with Bryan soon plus I don’t think it’s d right moment for him in d title picture. Balor and roode don’t quite hav the trust of d company plus broc lesnar would not be available which rules out a raw winner.and Roman reigns still has a program with broc so no one else is getting there yet. Strowman is too dominant and it’ll b too obvious. Rusev doesnt have the trust of management plus he won this week. I just dont see rousey losing also and she wont even agree to, I also don’t see nia beating her clean and I feel they’ll definetly b a cashing in this match especially if it is d main event. Charlotte doesn’t need d case plus she Jst left d title same with bliss and Sasha they have been pushed enough. It’s too early 4 moon coz she Jst came and any of the women that wins would hav to b involved wit rousey so they aren’t ready yet. So I see a raw female definitely winning coz smackdown men would win so d last and lacklustre choice is Natalia. Naomi Jst drop d title recently too. And Becky lynch is notorious for coming 2nd and almost winning. Then Lana would b d wildcard surprise like rusev but I just don’t see them winning