We are roughly two months away from one of the most exciting and pivotal pay-per-view events of the year – WWE Money In The Bank 2017. The Money in the Bank ladder match is a concept that actually began in 2005, at Wrestlemania 21 when Edge became the first person to ever scale the ladder and claim the briefcase, which guaranteed him a shot at the WWE title.
Since it’s inception, the Money In The Bank contest has turned into a complete spectacle of its own and in 2010, the concept became a pay-per-view event. In the years since, Money In The Bank has grown to become one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. since, Money In The Bank has grown to become one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. since, Money In The Bank has grown to become one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. since, Money In The Bank has grown to become one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. since, Money In The Bank has grown to become one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar.
Now that the company is using the split-roster format once again, the pay-per-views alternate between RAW and Smackdown, with Smackdown Live getting exclusive rights to this year's Money in the Bank event. With that in mind, it’s time to start speculating who will most likely climb the ladder and capture the elusive golden ticket known as the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Here's a look at 7 Smackdown Live Superstars that I believe have the best shot at winning this year's Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
#7 Drew McIntyre
Sure, this will be a Smackdown Live exclusive event, but who's to say a few rules won't be bent? Do not be at all surprised if Drew McIntyre gets fast-tracked back to the main roster in time to make a surprise appearance as one of the participants in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. While it may not be the most likely of scenarios, stranger things have indeed happened, especially within the confines of the WWE.
McIntyre was one of those who was previously released without ever getting the opportunity to showcase his true potential. Don't forget, this is the same guy that Vince McMahon once dubbed “The Chosen One”, and not to mention his success after leaving the company. Drew spent his entire post-WWE run showing the world just how good he was, by winning championships everywhere he went.
Now that he's back, it seems as if Drew McIntyre has a chip on his shoulder, he has a need to prove to everyone that he is better than they perceive him to be. This will be his greatest run of his career, and it could get a huge boost at Money In The Bank.
#6 Tye Dillinger
Off and on since 2006, Tye Dillinger has kicked and clawed his way out of virtual obscurity, into the spotlight, and ultimately, onto the main roster. Tye Dillinger’s success is a tribute to his work ethic and dedication to make it to the top.
Not only do I believe Dillinger is a top candidate to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, but I also think he’s less than a year away from being a title holder on the Smackdown roster.
He’s got the look, the fans love him, he’s oozing with natural charisma and he’s exciting inside the ring. Unfortunately for his opponents, he’s only going to get better. Tye Dillinger is coming into his zone at the perfect time and the WWE Universe is completely behind him.
#5 Baron Corbin
I can remember watching him early on in his developmental phase and my first reaction of him was not so good. Baron Corbin is a big, strong, bad dude and the problem is, he knows it. When he first made the transition from professional football to the WWE, he brought with him a huge ego and an unnecessarily massive chip on his shoulder.
Unfortunately for him, there was no room for his oversized ego inside the WWE Performance Center and after years of coaching, Baron finally realised that the reason why he had not made it to the big stage, and why others were passing him by, was because he had too much pride to pause, listen to the coaches and understand that he needs them way more than they need him.
Corbin made his main roster debut at Wrestlemania 32, by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He would appear on RAW the following night and the rest, as they say, is history. Even after being elevated to the RAW roster, I was still a skeptic.
However, Baron Corbin hit the main roster running, bound and determined to prove to the world that he was ready to step up to the plate, which he has indeed done.
Baron has been the most improved talent on any WWE roster and the time has come for him to take yet another step up. Corbin is ready for a shot at the top prize and if he’s one of the participants in this year's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, he's absolutely a prime candidate to walk out of the Scottrade Center with the briefcase.
#4 AJ Styles
We as WWE fans are fortunate to have AJ Styles on our weekly programming. Him making the move to WWE was an absolute gift to us all and it is important to always remember that. It is a very rare occasion that such a prolific, established star makes the jump from their already content confines, which in this case was NJPW, to the WWE.
Since arriving at the 2016 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles has not let anyone down. He has shown the world that he is worth his weight in gold and then some. He was a huge reason why Smackdown Live was such a huge success and ultimately why others are likely on the verge of following their former Bullet Club members to the WWE.
AJ should certainly be involved in the MITB match unless he has found a way by then to regain his WWE Title.
#3 John Cena
Many love him, many hate him, but if we are honest with ourselves, we all respect him. John Cena is far and away the most successful wrestler of this generation, inside as well as outside of the ring. Through all of his success, he somehow remains humble and surprisingly very much connected with his fans.
One of the most obvious highlights of Cena's career has been his charitable work, specifically with The Make-a-Wish Foundation, where he is the most requested celebrity in the program.
At the moment, Cena is involved with the filming process of his upcoming movie “The Pact”. As previously reported, filming for the movie began towards the end of April and is expected to keep Cena occupied until June or July. If he is somehow capable of returning in June, look for Super-Cena to not only be involved in the MITB match, but he would be a very likely option to win the match.
#2 Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura’s story can be compared with that of another wrestler mentioned earlier, AJ Styles. This is yet another prolific talent we are very fortunate to watch on a weekly basis.
With Nakamura, there is certainly a slight issue with the language barrier but it is something that he has been working very hard at, and he seems to be improving on a consistent basis. The fact is, Shinsuke will continue to improve, but if his biggest flaw is a minor language discrepancy, I’ll take it all day long.
His work in the ring is more than enough to make up or any flaws or imperfections he may have.make up or any flaws or imperfections he may have.make up or any flaws or imperfections he may have.make up or any flaws or imperfections he may have.make up or any flaws or imperfections he may have.
Nakamura could make a very compelling case for why he should be the one to scale the ladder and leave St. Louis with the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase.
#1 Rusev
Anyone who has covered Rusev since his early days in the WWE developmental process, chances are that you knew the day would come when The Bulgarian Brute would be a Championship calibre performer. His raw strength and dominating presence alone make him a legitimate title candidate.calibre performer. His raw strength and dominating presence alone make him a legitimate title candidate.
Rusev is in the early stages of a very interesting storyline, where he is making demands in lieu of his in-ring return. Rusev is demanding a title shot at Money in the Bank, or he will leave the Smackdown Live roster... or so he says. Maybe there is a compromise that can be thrown on the table, which is Rusev added to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
If there is a mutual agreement made and Rusev is added to the ladder match, it changes the entire element. Suddenly, it’s anyone's ballgame, so-to-speak, and Rusev would be a top candidate to walk away with the briefcase in tow.
