PREVIEW: WWE Money in the Bank 2023
Credit: WWE
Welcome to The Wrestling Estate’s Money in the Bank preview!
I’m Russ Good, and together we’re gonna run down the seven matches on the card and make some predictions as well. We’ll have a few laughs, and we’ll probably disagree on the outcomes of some of these matches, but either way we ought to have a good time. Let’s get this party started!
As the newest addition to WWE’s upper tier of Premium Live events (I personally feel like this one replaces Survivor Series in the BIG FOUR,) Money in the Bank (MitB) has become a highly anticipated part of the wrestling calendar. With this year’s MitB taking place in the U.K., and the Bloodline story coming to a head, this year’s show is one of the most exciting in some time, and an even bigger deal than it’s been in years past.
Men’s MITB Ladder Match — Butch vs. Damian Priest vs. LA Knight vs. Logan Paul vs. Ricochet vs. Santos Escobar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
We’ll start off hot with the controversial men’s Money in the Bank match. Between the Shinsuke Nakamura/Ricochet/Bronson Reed feud and Logan Paul just kinda deciding he’s in the match, it’s been an interesting build. Plus, it’s a tough call as to which of these guys needs the case.
I’m always partial to bad guys holding the MITB briefcase. It’s an effective threat for a heel to challenge with, and it keeps the challenged champ on their toes. By that logic, the only really heelish heels in this match are Damian Priest and Logan Paul.
Priest would be interesting, as the Judgment Day seems to be winding down. The case would immediately make him a contender no matter his alignment, shifting him quickly from the role of the Judgment Day’s muscle (no offense to Rhea Ripley) into his own man.
But Paul, a guy who is only occasionally on Raw or SmackDown, could make every appearance a must-see event with the threat of a cash-in whenever he deigns to show up on WWE TV. Whether he goes for a rematch against Roman or Rollins, he’ll draw eyes and attention. That’s reason enough to make Paul the smart pick in a match that should make up for a lack of superstar power with some fun spots.
He’s just not MY pick. I’d much rather the charismatic LA Knight (YEAH-UH) who has gotten himself so incredibly over it seems foolish to let that hype burn out. At least WWE doesn’t have a history of letting that happen *COUGH* RUSEV DAY COUGH*
Women’s MITB Ladder Match: Bayley vs. Becky Lynch vs. Iyo Sky vs. Trish Stratus vs. Zelina Vega vs. Zoe Stark
A good mix of superstars and rising stars makes the women’s match just as tough as the men’s to call. One could legitimately make a case for any one of these wrestlers to grab the case.
Zelina Vega is still riding the wave from her great showing against Ripley in Puerto Rico at Backlash earlier this year. Trish Stratus is an icon, and any shortcomings she has due to ring rust can easily be covered up in a multi-person match that features her new protégé, Zoe Stark. Stark, by the way, could also win the case, allowing her to get more comfortable in the Raw ring while Trish acts as a mouthpiece before she inevitably turns on her student. Bayley is always a threat, as she’s won before and is a safe choice for WWE. And Becky Lynch’s recent interactions with Ripley might show that there’s big plans for the two down the line.
I’m going with Iyo Sky, and I’ve even got a few reasons for that choice. Iyo is fantastic on the mic – listen to those otherwise lifeless crowds when WWE lets Iyo go off in Japanese, it’s shocking how big a pop she gets. She’s amazing in the ring, and she has been since her show-stealing days in NXT. She has a cool moveset, the best theme music in WWE 2K23, and she’s in a stable that should have been killed off months ago.
If I have a reason NOT to go with Iyo, it’s that WWE has mentioned a few times on Raw and SmackDown that no woman has failed in a cash-in attempt, and I don’t want Sky to be the first. But I’ll put that worry aside and support our future champ. Asuka versus Iyo Sky, straight up, for the title? Yes please.
Cody Rhodes versus Dominik Mysterio
Somehow, Cody Rhodes remains astoundingly popular despite most of the smarks out there knowing we’re just treading water at this point. Cody’s rematch with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam seems inevitable, as does his eventual rematch with Roman Reigns for whatever we’re calling his championship(s). And speaking of treading water, here’s a feud with Dominik Mysterio!
Don’t get me wrong – Dom has improved dramatically since debuting with his old man, and he plays his part in the Judgment Day well. It just feels, to me anyway, like this is more of a test to see if Cody can drag a good match out of the kid. With all the other members of the Judgment Day busy on the night, it’ll be up to Ripley to keep her house cholo competitive against the American Nightmare. Cody likely wins in a short match unless Lesnar returns – although that’s a long flight for a shmozz finish.
Seth “Freakin’” Rollins © versus Finn Bálor for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
I have talked myself into being excited for this match despite Seth Rollins having recently won that shiny new belt and likely not dropping it anytime soon. Finn Bálor has really been relishing his heel persona and it comes through in his work, both backstage and in the ring.
That go-home promo on Monday really did a lot for the former Prince, and his recruitment of J.D. McDonagh might play a role in this match, especially since Bálor’s crew is all busy with their own stuff. Maybe the dissolution of that faction is closer than I thought, and Finn is preparing for that inevitability by building up his own following. He was, after all, supposed to supplant Edge before Rhea became the de facto leader of the purple powerhouse that is the Judgment Day.
All that is to say, I think Seth retains but maybe some shenanigans put the victory in doubt for a bit.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler © versus Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
This is probably the most straightforward match on the card. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez are getting a shot at the titles they technically never lost.
The former MMA stars need a nice, long, dominant run with these belts if they’re gonna mean anything, especially now that they have absorbed the NXT belts. WWE chose a good pair in Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler to legitimize the titles, and their cohesive heel team should dominate until well past SummerSlam.
Liv will probably take the loss in one of her patented screamy submission tapouts, and the seeds are also likely going to be sown for a Morgan versus Rodriguez rivalry once Raquel, like so many others, gets tired of teaming with Liv and turns heel.
Gunther © versus Matt Riddle for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The little tastes we’ve gotten of Gunther and Matt Riddle in the same ring give me high hopes for this title match, even though I can’t see Gunther dropping the Intercontinental Title he’s held for so long. Riddle and Gunther have great chemistry, and Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have nothing going on, meaning they’re available when Imperium decides to interfere on Gunther’s behalf.
Gunther will retain, but he uses so many different moves as finishers I can’t even predict how he will win – just that he will.
Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos
I’m moving this to the bottom of our preview because I assume this will be the main event of this weekend’s PLE.
I’ll admit I was a little worried about where the Bloodline saga would go after Reigns retained his belts at WrestleMania, but the narrative has been amazing so far. None of it has been truly shocking – aside from Cody losing, most of the direction of the tale has been pretty straightforward – but it’s been done SO WELL, and Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso especially have played their parts perfectly.
What I’d personally love is for this to be the match where Roman eats a pinfall. After the “superkicks heard ‘round the world,” Jey seems like he should be the one to pin our tribal chief, but really either Uso makes sense. Roman has been gaslighting, disrespecting, and manipulating both men for so long that it’ll be extremely cathartic to see either of the Usos get the 1-2-3 on the Head of the Table. Solo Sikoa would then have reason to doubt Reigns, the Usos could return to the tag scene as good guys, and maybe Cody even gets a title shot before 2024.
Or one of the Usos takes the title?
Solo?
A weird Fatal Four-Way with an Uso, Solo, Roman, and Cody?
The possibilities are endless, and that’s why we watch, right?
You can follow The Wrestling Estate on Twitter @thewrestlingest and Russ Good @ElOsoPequeno
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