Money In the Bank 2018 Review

   Raw is about to start pretty soon so I wanted to get this done quickly.  Money In the Bank 2018 is now in the books.  Overall, I think it was a decent show.  Not terrible by any means, but definitely not the best.  That's just my opinion, though!  

Kick-Off Match - Smackdown Tag Team Titles - Bludgeon Brothers vs. Gallows & Anderson

   Before the show officially started, fans were treated to the Kick-Off Show, which featured this match.  The match was fine for what it was.  It was unlikely the Bludgeon Brothers were going to drop the Titles this soon after WrestleMania so it's no surprise they won.  There was a great spot at the end when it looked like the Good Brothers were about to take the victory.  They were about to end things with the Magic Killer on Rowan, only for it to be broken up at the last minute by Harper.  Not too shabby!

Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass

   Going into this match, my expectations were low, mostly because I have given up caring whatsoever about Big Cass.  I will say this.  It was better than their match at Backlash.  In an interview before the match, Daniel Bryan responded to Big Cass' comment about a good big man always beating a good little man.  Bryan clapped back with: "That would actually require you to be good!"  I thought for sure Big Cass would take the win this time around.  To my surprise, Bryan made him tap out yet again.  I'm fine with Bryan not being around the Title picture just yet but now it makes you wonder what's next for Cass.

Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn

   The award for "Match That Should Have Been On the Kick-Off" goes to this match.  The story and build for this match was been abysmal!  It was really unwatchable crap that both men were given to work with, definitely not their fault.  The chemistry also just isn't there and I went in not caring about the match.  It was fine but nothing to write home about.  As expected, Lashley defeated Zayn.  I'm not sure what awaits either man in the aftermath.

Intercontinental Title - Seth Rollins vs. Elias

   Now we're talking!  I was certainly not disappointed with this match.  It was back and forth with lots of action.  Rollins suffered a leg injury throughout the match and his selling was great.  Elias really looked like a contender in there.  He's come a long way since his NXT days.  In fact, often times people that got called up from NXT flopped on the main roster.  Elias is the opposite, as his character in NXT was not doing well, but since he's shown up on Raw, he's thrived.  There was a great pin attempt sequence at the end that reminded me of the European Title finals between the British Bulldog and Owen Hart.  Rollins actually won by holding onto the pants of Elias.  I'm okay with this slight cheating, as it adds legs to the feud and now Elias has a legitimate claim to get another shot.  Someday, Elias will be the Intercontinental Champion.  No one walked with Elias last night but he and Rollins certainly burned it down.

Women's Money In the Bank Ladder Match - Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch vs, Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Lana vs. Ember Moon

   This match was ten times better than the Money In the Bank match the women had last year.  There was great athleticism and some tremendously scary spots, especially that bump Sasha took on the ladder.  It was anyone's game and there were several theories about a possible winner.  For the most part, I would have been happy with any of them winning.  Little Miss Bliss took the briefcase in the end.  I felt that she didn't really need it.  It would have been more refreshing to see someone else take it, considering Alexa has been in the Title program for a long time now.  That being said, it's really nothing that's going to ruin my day.  I might have chosen someone else but I'm not losing sleep over it.

Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal

   This is a tough one!  I think I would have enjoyed the match on mute because the fans certainly ripped it apart.  Here's the thing!  Where is the line between fans voicing opinions and fans being jerks?  They were chanting all sorts of things that had nothing to do with the match.  It boils down to many not caring about either performer.  Of course, the CM Punk chants were expected since they were in Chicago.  To me, the fans got disrespectful when they started doing the wave.  I don't enjoy Jinder and Reigns has just been cursed by the wrong kind of booking, but neither deserved that.  I wasn't particularly excited about the match either, but there were some good spots.  Reigns won and many are wondering if he will earn himself another shot at Brock Lesnar's Universal Title.

Smackdown Women's Title - Carmella vs. Asuka

   Carmella is a lot better than people give her credit for.  Asuka is a hell of a performer and it brought out a new side to Carmella.  The match was going pretty well and then things got weird when someone dressed as Asuka showed up.  Asuka was distracted and really took her eye off the ball when it was revealed to be James Ellsworth.  Carmella landed a super kick and actually defeated the Empress of Tomorrow, celebrating with Ellsworth afterwards.  I think I would have liked the finish more if it was someone other than Asuka taking the pin.  I still stand firmly that she should have beaten Charlotte for the Women's Title at WrestleMania.  Also, it might have made more sense for Becky Lynch to have been in this match to take the pin, especially the history she has with Carmella and Ellsworth.  It's starting to feel that Asuka's intrigue is being taken away slightly.  I know she didn't lose clean, but I personally think it should have went down another way.  However, the match itself was good with a questionable ending.

WWE Title Last Man Standing Match - AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

   This match makes up for the other three these men have had.  I still say that the double low blow kick from Backlash was the worst match finish I've ever seen.  In this match, both men took it to the limit and it looked like anyone's game.  I had predicted Shinsuke to finally defeat AJ and become the WWE Champion.  However, the Phenomenal One retained the gold.  I'm totally fine with this as AJ Styles is awesome.  I am curious as to where Nakamura goes from here.  Perhaps a program chasing Jeff Hardy's US Title!  At this point, I think the only way he's going to win the big one is if he wins next year's Money In the Bank match.  AJ now has a plethora of hungry challengers, including The Miz, Samoa Joe, and Daniel Bryan, for example.  

Raw Women's Title - Nia Jax vs. Ronda Rousey

   When it was first announced that this match was taking place, I was a little heated.  I felt it was too soon to put Ronda in this situation, especially with someone not as experienced in the ring like Nia, compared to others.  They started a story between Ronda and Mickie James, which many expected to include Natalya turning on her friend Ronda.  Leading up to this match, they teased a heel turn from Nia.  I have to say, the match itself more than exceeded my expectations.  For the first half, Nia was dominating with her sheer power and I think it was one of the best matches Nia has had.  Ronda once again killed it in her performance.  Fresh off winning Money In the Bank earlier appeared Alexa Bliss, who blasted Ronda with the briefcase, causing a disqualification.  Alexa repeatedly attacked both Ronda and Nia.  She then proceeded to successfully cash in and become the new Raw Women's Champion to a tremendous response from the crowd.  The execution was excellent.  Even though I normally hate PPV matches ending in disqualification, this was brilliant.  It was a great way for Ronda not to get the Title just yet, without suffering a loss.  I'm slightly disappointed that the cash in was successful, as I thought Nia deserved a much longer reign.  However, I'm optimistic and it was certainly a memorable moment.

Men's Money In the Bank Ladder Match - Braun Strowman vs. The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Roode vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. Kofi Kingston

   As I said in my prediction blog of this show, I was set to be happy for any one of the eight to not only win Money In the Bank, but eventually cash in successfully to become Champion.  Everyone ganged up on Braun to get him out of the match early.  They proceeded to bury him under many ladders on the stage and then tried their hardest to climb the ladder.  There were some great spots as always.  I was kind of hoping for Kofi to win with help from the other members of The New Day so they could use the Freebird Rule owning the briefcase and being the WWE Champion.  As the men went back to the outside, Balor grabbed a ladder on the stage.  Unfortunately for him, Braun was stirring and grabbed the ladder, soon after obliterating Balor.  Two men were there to greet him at the bottom of the ramp with a ladder but Braun ran straight through the ladder, breaking it in two.

   

   The other participants tried to subdue the big man again, setting up a really large ladder above a table in which Braun lied upon.  Owens climbed up the ladder with the intent of hitting a frog splash on Braun.  Unfortunately for Owens, Braun escaped and chased Owens up the ladder.  He launched Owens off from an incredibly high place and through the table, not to be seen again for the rest of the match.  In the end, Braun won the match and took home the briefcase.  Word is he will be making a challenge towards Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title.  With the kind of character Braun is, it seems more likely that he'll make his cash in known ahead of time, as he's frankly too intimidating to need to cash in on a weakened opponent.  Looks like it was a night for Team Little Big!

 

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