'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAlSX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAE//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAABv/xAAhEAACAgEDBQEAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEEEgARIQUGFCNBcf/aAAgBAQABPwDtO8thXRXSQWVYlYP9gxkfBR9guNVelV3VUt8NQ5hBbQ9sRG8fuv/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAQR/9oACAECAQE/AKztpE//xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABEQX/2gAIAQMBAT8A6jjWWheT/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Money In The Bank was a pay-per-view that will be fondly remembered with time. As of this writing, only a little while has passed since the pay-per-view and many are already declaring it the best of this year.
It's hard to argue, especially when WWE puts out such an incredible event from start to finish. It's incredible to think of it, but every single match delivered as it needed to - from the regular tag team title matches to the Money in the Bank ladder matches to the world championship bouts.
Here are a few things WWE subtly told us at Money in the Bank 2021:
#6. Big E is money at Money in the Bank 2021 - But what is the fallout?
It's official - Big E is Mr. Money in the Bank 2021. The last time that WWE fans saw a Men's Money in the Bank winner they were hyped about was Dean Ambrose in 2016.
In that period, the Women's Money in the Bank was introduced, while the next four winners of the men's Money in the Bank match were Baron Corbin, Braun Strowman, Brock Lesnar, and Otis.
One of those names is not like the other, but the reality is that the Men's Money in the Bank briefcase has been misused since 2017. Big E is a fresh winner and things are going to pick up.
Let's look at what was subtly hinted at during the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Firstly, WWE teased a bout between Drew McIntyre and Big E - one that received a huge pop.
Secondly, WWE not-so-subtly revealed that Jinder Mahal vs. Drew McIntyre is the program for SummerSlam. It was a great decision since fans didn't want to see McIntyre win the Money in the Bank briefcase. What The Scottish Warrior needs is a non-title feud and facing his former 3MB faction member seems to be the right direction for him.
Everyone had their role in the match, and Seth Rollins was also close to winning before Big E hit him with the Big Ending from one of the highest rungs of the ladder.
A frustrated Rollins declared backstage that he would be next in line for a Universal Championship opportunity. The way things played out, that isn't what's happening - but we will get to that later.
As for Big E, he now holds the golden ticket in all of WWE. We wouldn't be surprised to see him hold the briefcase for a while and potentially get drafted to RAW. There, he could become the man to dethrone Bobby Lashley.
#5. A tease of dissent at Money in the Bank?
At Money in the Bank 2021, Jimmy Uso was surprisingly on the victorious end as he and Jey regained the SmackDown Tag Team Championships on the kickoff show. They defeated The Mysterios to win the title.
The Usos are the SmackDown Tag Team Champions again and early in between matches during the Money in the Bank main card, they were seen backstage with Roman Reigns.
The Universal Champion congratulated them while also reminding them that they wouldn't have been there without him. After that, Reigns told them that he gave them what they wanted and now they have to give him what he wants.
Jey Uso was quick to fall in line and acknowledge his cousin, while Jimmy Uso did so as well, but reluctantly. The way the latter presented himself, it's clear that he isn't fully on the same page.
Either way, a tease of dissent happened backstage at Money in the Bank 2021 and it will be interesting to see how the storyline plays out on SmackDown.
#4. The fallout of the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match
Money in the Bank 2021 opened with the Women's Ladder match and it couldn't have been a better choice. This year's competitors were Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Naomi, and Nikki A.S.H. from RAW, Liv Morgan, Zelina Vega, Tamina, and Natalya from SmackDown.
All the women put on an incredible performance, with nearly every single star getting a big reaction. Surprisingly, Nikki A.S.H. didn't seem to get too much of a reaction at first. The match was entertaining from the start.
Every woman in the Money in the Bank ladder match did well, with Natalya being one of the surprising best performers of the match. Her role was an interesting one. Any time a competitor started to ascend the ladder, she was right there to take them down.
Alexa Bliss did well too, momentarily hypnotizing Zelina Vega and nearly capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase for the first time. However, the fifth Women's Money in the Bank saw a surprising winner - Nikki A.S.H.
Liv Morgan was undoubtedly the sentimental favorite, but her loss at Money in the Bank 2021 could be used to fuel a big storyline on SmackDown. We expect a feud with Zelina Vega to begin post-Money in the Bank.
#3. Kofi Kingston gets booted out of the WWE Championship picture at Money in the Bank 2021
The WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank 2021 played out exactly like it needed to. Bobby Lashley was losing a lot of his edge in the build to Money in the Bank, and his loss to Xavier Woods on RAW was an example of that.
Lashley faced Kofi Kingston in the WWE title match at Money in the Bank 2021 and absolutely squashed him. It was a squash match so good that we wonder why WWE doesn't do it more often.
A perfect example of an iconic squash match is the main event of SummerSlam 2014, where Brock Lesnar thrashed John Cena in a one-sided beatdown. This was exactly the kind of match that was needed, as sad as it is for Kingston.
He wasn't in a position to win the WWE Championship and Bobby Lashley is simply the better option right now. It sets The All Mighty up for a big match at SummerSlam and we're curious to see who he ends up facing.
Either way, Kofi Kingston has been booted out of the WWE title picture, being used as a showcase for Bobby Lashley's incredible dominance.
#2. Charlotte Flair rises again at Money in the Bank 2021
Charlotte Flair didn't seem to care too much about the Money in the Bank crowd at Fort Worth, Texas. She faced Rhea Ripley in the RAW Women's Championship match, having her best match in a long time.
Flair is by no means a slouch, but there was a portion of the crowd that evidently had no appreciation for her. That didn't seem to matter to The Queen as she gave the fans a middle finger salute following a momentary blackout.
She had an edge to her and so did Ripley. Their match at Money in the Bank 2021 was an example of a bad storyline with a great match. They had their best match together to date and the crowd quickly turned in their favor with "this is awesome!" chants.
Charlotte Flair attempted to make it title No. 14 at Money in the Bank and that's exactly what happened. Perhaps the reason why she became RAW Women's Champion is that Nikki A.S.H is a babyface and would get cheered if she cashes in on The Queen.
She could be in for a transitional reign after Money in the Bank. We wouldn't be surprised to see Nikki A.S.H. wait for a month or more to cash-in.
#1. The Money in the Bank main event plays right into SummerSlam
The main event of Money in the Bank 2021 was a lot to process. While it was Roman Reigns vs. Edge for the Universal Championship, there were six other names involved directly or indirectly.
It was a match that gradually built up, with the crowd reaction confirming how great a heel Reigns truly is. It was only thanks to Seth Rollins' interference that he could retain.
The match itself played out in a long, dramatic way and Rollins proved to be the ultimate difference-maker and at Money in the Bank, Roman Reigns was the ultimate opportunist, using the advantage to pin Edge.
While The Messiah was ready to confront Reigns, The Rated-R Superstar got up and the two brawled away at ringside, confirming their feud for SummerSlam. Roman Reigns wasn't amused and after it all happened, he demanded that everybody acknowledge him.
This was when John Cena confirmed the rumors and returned to WWE right at the end of Money in the Bank. The blockbuster Reigns-Cena SummerSlam main event is set and that's two matches that are all but confirmed.
The road to SummerSlam began and Money in the Bank ended with Cena receiving the reaction of a lifetime. Things are headed in a positive direction this summer and we couldn't be more excited about it.
