'%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,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
‘Money in the Bank’, which is going to be held a week from this Sunday, is one of the major pay-per-view events of WWE. Besides the men’s MITB ladder match, adding a Women’s MITB ladder match last year contributed to PPV's popularity boost more than ever.
Like every year, the WWE universe is left guessing the winner of the MITB contract this year as well. The contract, as we all know, can be cashed in at any time and any place within the next year's MITB event for a world championship match. With four RAW Superstars and four SmackDown Superstars in the mix this year, it’s definitely difficult to predict who WWE chooses as the winner.
So, instead of predicting a winner, let us look at the possible future run of each superstar competing in the men's MITB ladder match if he becomes 'Mr. Money in the Bank'.
RAW:
As Baron Corbin, who represented SmackDown, won last year’s match, there’s a high chance that a RAW superstar could win the contract this year. But let’s consider that with a pinch of salt because there’s not exactly a rulebook for WWE that says RAW and SmackDown brand superstars should win every other year.
Adding to this, we have a ‘Brock Lesnar’ factor. Lesnar hardly shows up in television and only defend his title in very few and important PPVs. So, letting a RAW brand superstar win the contract will not have much of an impact. It’d also be very hard to make fans care about the contract holder with an absent champion.
But keeping the aforementioned points aside, let’s assume that WWE decides to make a RAW superstar Mr. Money in the Bank. What does the future hold for each of these 4 superstars if he could win the contract?
Raw Superstars in the MITB Ladder match are as follows:
1. Kevin Owens
2. Braun Strowman
3. Finn Balor
4. Bobby Roode
SmackDown:
‘Mr. Money in the Bank’ could very well be a SmackDown Live superstar for the second year in a row. After a failed cash-in by last year’s winner Baron Corbin, the superstars that are competing this time is less likely to throw away their golden opportunity like that if any one of them emerge as the winners.
With 3 out of 4 SD Live superstars being heels, what kind of future run can we expect for the superstar that could be 'Mr. Money in the Bank'?
SmackDown Live Superstars in the MITB Ladder match are as follows:
1. The Miz
2. Samoa Joe
3. Rusev
4. One of the members of 'The New Day'
RAW:
1. Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens, in my opinion, is most likely to win the MITB contract. With the kind of in-ring persona he has, one could say, he’s tailor-made to be Mr. Money in the Bank. He also has an advantage in the form of Sami Zayn who could assist him during the match, assuming that Sami will survive after a match with Bobby Lashley.
Kevin Owens is one of the top heels in WWE. I mean, who could forget his Universal title reign in 2016 and his opening segments with Jericho on every RAW? If he wins, expect nothing less than the same boastful heel we enjoy a lot. Owens will definitely find a way to retain the Universal title that he lost in last year’s Fast Lane.
2. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman, hailed as the ‘Monster Among Men’, is, without a doubt, the most over Superstar in RAW right now. The winner of ‘The Greatest Royal Rumble’ has done nothing but dominate everyone and anyone that crossed his path.
Despite being a giant, WWE could make Braun ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’. There’s no doubt that the arena would go wild once Braun climbs that ladder and gets hold of the briefcase. Man, wouldn’t that be a treat to watch?
If Braun wins, we don’t have to wait much longer to see him clash with the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. He could just walk onto the stage in the very next RAW show and dare 'The Beast Incarnate' to come out and fight him. Maybe, the fourth time would be a charm for the ‘Monster among Men’ after falling short on three outings with Lesnar.
3. Finn Balor
Finn Balor, despite being the kind of talent he is, has been booked by WWE to be a choker. He fell short of winning the Rumble and also winning the IC title on multiple occasions. One can only hope that WWE would believe in Balor’s potential this time and make him ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’.
Like Strowman, we could expect Balor to dare Lesnar to defend his title as soon as he wins the contract. Balor’s selling point is that he is the first ever Universal Champion and never lost it but had to relinquish it due to injury. This would make his exchange with Lesnar very interesting.
There’s also a chance that Finn could turn heel if he loses in the MITB contract match. That could be an interesting twist of events too.
4. Bobby Roode
The Glorious one, in my opinion, is least likely to win the contract. Though Bobby has the potential to be a top superstar with this contract, he’s not over with fans yet and his credibility to be a Universal Champion is very low too. Bobby Roode has been drafted to RAW during Superstar Shakeup. Being on Monday Nights for a month now, he has yet to make a mark of his own. ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’ may just be the achievement that he needs to prove his worth.
WWE could use this platform to turn Bobby heel which could definitely help him get over with fans.
SmackDown Live:
1. The Miz
The Miz, according to me, has more of a chance to grab the suitcase and become Mr. Money in the Bank than any other SD Live Superstar. He’s the kind of heel that never fails to utilize the opportunity that comes his way.
The Awesome One, if he wins, would definitely cash-in his contract at the most perfect time possible just like he did last time with Randy Orton in 2010. Him, boasting on the Miz TV about his MITB win would be something we’ll witness for sure.
Also, the most awaited face-off between Daniel Bryan and the Miz could very well be for the WWE championship if Miz could cash-in successfully. That could be a treat to watch.
2. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe is, without a doubt, one of the best promo-cutter in WWE right now. Saying that Joe’s mic skills are on another level compared to all his contemporaries in RAW and SmackDown combined wouldn’t be much of an exaggeration.
If Joe becomes ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’, there’s nothing that could stop him from becoming WWE champion. Joe is a force to reckon with and it’d be interesting to see if he could achieve what he’s been promising the WWE universe that he would.
3. Rusev
Rusev is yet another heel from SmackDown to make it to the MITB contract match. Despite him being over with fans with ‘Rusev Day’ gimmick, WWE is adamant about keeping him as a heel.
After a rather surprising win over Daniel Bryan to qualify for this ladder match, if Rusev could grab the briefcase, the chants of ‘Rusev Day’ filling the arena would be a sure thing. Rusev is a credible challenger for the title and with fans by his side, sooner than later, WWE could make him a champion if he becomes ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’.
Also, with Aiden English taking the pin in the mixed tag match where he competed alongside Lana, there’s a fair chance that the storyline of Lana's problem with Aiden has been put back on track by WWE. The future holds interesting for Rusev whether he wins the ladder match or not.
4. One of the members of The New Day
The fans are still left guessing as ‘The New Day’ has not yet revealed who’ll compete in MITB contract match from their team. Kofi, being the most experienced Superstar in ladder matches, could be the one or WWE could very well consider a single’s push for Big E. Xavier woods, according to me, is the least likely option.
Whoever it is, if one of them becomes ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’, the future of ‘The New Day’ as a team who provided us tons of fun looks bleak. The outcome could be the same even if one who competes in the match loses. It is possible that WWE is using this platform to do just that and separate the most successful tag team.
