We looked at the Smackdown Money in the Bank match on Monday. The leaders in that poll are Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett at the moment. It's time to look at Raw's eight man ladder match on July 17th. As I'm sure you know, the person that has held the Money in the Bank briefcase has gone on to win the WWE or World Title every time. Since I know it will be brought up, at WrestleMania 23 Ken Kennedy won it, Edge got it from him and cashed in after WM23. Let's take a look at the eight guys in the match, give you my thoughts on each one of them and then throw in a poll at the end to allow to vote on who you think is going to win.
My quick thoughts on the chances of each guy in the match:
Alberto Del Rio - He won a #1 contenders match on Raw this past week when CM Punk was still suspended. If he hadn't he'd be my pick to win here for sure. Now? I'm not sure. Does the #1 contenders status means he challenges the champ at Summerslam? I'd assume so. That doesn't mean he is out of this match. It would be interesting to see a guy have a title match while also holding the Money in the Bank briefcase at the same time. Maybe he loses the title match, but he attacks with briefcase post match and wins the title that way? Could happen. He's my pick to win.
R-Truth - I think his time as a main eventer was only going to last one month. He's been elevated due to the Cena feud, but I don't see him winning Money in the Bank. When John Morrison comes back in the next month or two those two will have a feud most likely. He deserves to be in this match. Is he going to win? No. I don't think so.
Jack Swagger - A personal favorite of mine because I think he's a very good talent that isn't used very well. He won the MITB match at WrestleMania 26 in 2010, he won the World Title as a shocker, then he lost the title a couple of months later and has been stuck in the midcard for the past year. A win would do wonders for him. I think a babyface turn would help too. I don't see either of those things happen. He'll continue to be a midcard player even though he deserves better.
The Miz - Edge "won" it twice, so did CM Punk. Could The Miz? Absolutely. He's lost to Alex Riley a couple of times recently, so winning Money in the Bank would help him shoot to the top of the card again. It's possible that he could use it to turn babyface too. You never know. I don't think he's going to win, but I'd be fine with the idea of him being a two time winner.
Evan Bourne - Would be cool, but it's not happening. He's there to take some cool bumps, do some high spots off the ladders and wow the crowd. Is he going to win? Nah. I think we all know that.
Rey Mysterio - He's been World Champ twice. His role now is more of a veteran babyface that puts over heels. He put over Del Rio to help him become number one contender. He put over Truth before at Over The Limit. That's his role. He'll make the match exciting like he always does. That doesn't mean he's winning here.
Alex Riley - They are pushing him. That's obvious. Personally I don't think he's good enough in the ring or over enough to warrant it. He's tall, he can talk and has a good look, though. We know that's what Vince likes. Is it possible that he could win? Absolutely. I wouldn't do it. Too soon.
Kofi Kingston - It's possible. He's been in the upper midcard for a few years without getting that major push. There's a question to whether he's over enough and if he's a good enough talker. To me, though, the babyface side of the roster is weak and elevating somebody by using Money in the Bank is a good idea to have one of them break through the "glass ceiling" so to speak.
As an aside, why isn't Dolph Ziggler here? Just because he's holding the US Title doesn't mean he should be out of the match. After Del Rio he's the guy I'd most want to see as the winner.
Who do you think is going to win? Vote in the poll and comment below.
WWE Money in the Bank airs on July 17 on Pay Per View. I’ll cover it live at thejohnreport.net that day.
John Canton
john@thejohnreport.net
Twitter: @johnreport
