Roundtable: Money In The Bank 2019

Which match are you most looking forward to?

Anthony Mahalis: The men’s MITB is still the big draw. That’s ultimately why everyone tunes in, you are lying to yourself if you say otherwise. This match is stacked as well, so I am doubly excited.

Sam Gladen: Honestly, Miz and McMahon in a steel cage should be incredible. If they bring similar intensity from their WrestleMania match, it will be insane.

Juan Bautista: The men’s Money in the Bank match. In a recent development, the match is wide open now with Braun Strowman on the sidelines.

Steven Jackson: I’ve not been following the WWE product at all in recent months due to being so busy. But looking at the card I am really excited by Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles. Definitely a dream match I’d pay to see!

Chad Gelfand: The men’s Money in the Bank match. Ricochet, Ali, Sami Zayn and Andrade all in one match is a recipe for some insane spots involving ladders. Throw in Randy Orton hitting a wild RKO, Drew McIntyre being a beast and Baron Corbin looking like an Applebee’s waiter and this match is bound to be fantastic.

Neal Wagner: The Styles vs. Rollins matchup is something fresh – if they have ever squared off before, I am not aware. My only complaint with it is that there could be more build towards it, maybe save it for a Mania or SummerSlam. This is being slightly squandered on a non-big 4 pay per view.

John Corrigan: Despite the product being non-watchable since WrestleMania, the lineup for this show looks great. Both of Becky’s matches, Styles vs. Rollins, Owens vs. Kingston, even the Tag Team Titles on the preshow! That being said, I’m most looking forward to the MITB trainwrecks.

David Gibb: Frankly, I don’t care much about this show, but Money in the Bank is the name on the marquee, so those are the matches I’ll pay the closest attention to.

Will Becky Lynch walk out still holding both belts?

Mahalis: My gut says no, but I am going to say yes. It would be so Vince to have Becky drop both, though. If she were to lose one, it may be to Evans. It would catch people off guard. BUT, I am sticking with my heart and saying The Man retains.

Gladen: No. But she’ll drop it to Lacey Evans, not Charlotte.

Bautista: I hope so. If she is in danger of losing one belt, it’s probably the Raw Women’s Championship. It’s highly unlikely she’ll lose both, but you never know. At least with the wildcard rule, she’ll be able to challenge for both belts if it happens.

Jackson: I really hope Becky walks out with both titles. I want her to have a really long and powerful dual reign over the WWE’s women’s division, especially considering the build up to WrestleMania this year.

Gelfand: The safe bet would be that Becky is going to be walking out Becky One Belt, but WWE is going to subvert expectations and Becky will remain Becky Two Belts.

Wagner: Becky retains both belts. If she does lose one, it’ll be to Lacey Evans (hopefully). They need to drag this out just a little longer and whoever wins the women’s MITB match, maybe not on this night, but will likely be the one to dethrone Becky of her first title.

Corrigan: In a move that will totally undo months of goodwill and send Twitter into fury, Lynch will lose both belts at Money in the Bank.

Gibb: If this is 1980s Crockett or 1990s WWF, Becky beats Lacey Evans with righteous fury after Evans does something really mean and unnecessary in an attempt to injure Lynch, and then Charlotte slips over in a dastardly manner, taking advantage of Lynch being significantly softened up and “defending her title against doctors’ orders because of her tremendous pride.” In 2019 WWE, I don’t even know, man.

How do you feel about Kevin Owens’ heel turn?

Mahalis: I’m fine with it, even though he probably should have been a face for a little longer. I assume everyone felt like the heel turn was inevitable.

Gladen: It was necessary, but a little early. It would have been nice to see him ingratiated into the New Day a bit more.

Bautista: It happened too soon. It was his first time as a babyface! It happened so quickly due to the predictability of eventually turning heel.

Jackson: I didn’t even know Kevin Owens had turned babyface to then turn back to a heel?! Hasn’t he always been a heel?!

Gelfand: They rushed it. There was more tread on the Kevin Owens in New Day tire that was left unexplored. I was interested in seeing how Big E and Kevin Owens would interact with each other when he comes back, how KO would fully gain the New Day’s trust, hints of the old KO showing up, etc. This could have been weeks of television. Yes, it was shocking and kind of unexpected that he turned so quickly, but just because something is surprising and unexpected that doesn’t automatically make it a good thing (unless you’re Vince Russo).

Wagner: This turn was unnecessary. I get needing a storyline for Kofi and him needing a challenger, but create a different main event star then. KO is already a proven main eventer and former World Champion. Plus, he was extremely over as a babyface.

Corrigan: It was expected, but just not so soon. A face Owens was refreshing and even added intrigue to the New Day. For instance, I haven’t watched SmackDown since he turned heel because it feels too much “been there, done that.”

Gibb: Obviously, Owens is a better heel than he is a babyface. The friends-for-five-minutes-oh-wait-Barbershop-window thing was paint-by-numbers WWE trash, but at least it got a good title match in the ring with a conflict that’s easy to understand between a guy you’re clearly supposed to root for and a guy you’re clearly supposed to root against.

Who will win the women’s Money in the Bank?

Mahalis: The Goddess becomes the first two-time female MITB winner.

Gladen: Nikki Cross. The match is chaos and that’s where she is the most comfortable.

Bautista: Bayley or Ember Moon. Due to Alexa not being medically cleared, those two are favorites and depending on the match order, there could be two replacements waiting in the wings. If Charlotte loses, she could jump in or if the unthinkable happens, Becky Lynch could do triple duty and jump back in the title picture.

Jackson: Bayley. I hope she is able to have a great match at some point with Becky Lynch for the Women’s Titles.

Gelfand: Mandy Rose. Mandy seems like a classic Money in the Bank recipient. A mid-card heel with potential, who needs something to take them to the next level, and the briefcase can be just that for Mandy.

Wagner: I’m stuck between Mandy Rose and Ember Moon. I want Ember Moon to win, but the company has been wanting Mandy in a top spot for a while now, so I’m picking “Gods Greatest Creation” to take it this year. Cashing in will be the only way for her to beat Becky Lynch, anyways.

Corrigan: First of all, Vince McMahon has no idea who Nikki Cross is. Secondly, Mandy Rose is snatching the briefcase.

Gibb: I would’ve said Bliss because the big comeback trumps everything in WWE land. Maybe that scratch finally leaves the door open for Bayley to break out.

Who will win the men’s Money in the Bank?

Mahalis: Going outside the box with Andrade here. The guy is absolutely dynamite in the ring and it would be a nice surprise. Guys like Drew and Finn can organically get title shots whenever, so give it to a more unconventional choice like Andrade or Ricochet.

Gladen: Ali. KofiMania owed everything to Ali and what better way to remind us that the McMahons call the shots than to put Kofi up against the wall with Ali just around the corner.

Bautista: Andrade. It will boost his stock and give him more momentum.

Jackson: I hope it is Ali. I love Sami Zayn and Andrade, but Ali has really come into his own and winning the MITB match would add that extra layer to his character that would intrigue me even more!

Gelfand: Now that he’s been inserted into the match, I’m going with Sami Zayn. The MITB briefcase works best in the hands of a smarmy heel because from that point forward, anytime the champion is down, there’s a risk of a cash-in.

Wagner: Drew McIntrye has to win. If there is any hope left for the WWE fanbase, they have to give it to the man that everyone has been calling for to take it for over a year. Storyline-wise the only other acceptable option would be Sami Zayn, but when has WWE had any kind of consistent storylines?

Corrigan: Baron Corbin is going to win because I’ve given up all faith in WWE. Snark aside, it would make sense for Corbin to win because he’s got momentum after retiring Kurt Angle and he’s hell-bent on making a better showing since failing his initial cash-in.

Gibb: I always predict Finn Balor is going to win every big match and finally get his mega push, so Finn Balor.