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WWE Money in the Bank, one of the company's most creative and unique events, comes our way this Sunday.
Money in the Bank brings together the top talent of RAW and SmackDown to directly compete against each other - one of just a few times a year this is the case, with Royal Rumble and Survivor Series being the other occasions.
Major title matches set for Money in the Bank
As with most pay per views, there will be landmark title matches, starting with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre who will be defending his title against Seth Rollins. Universal Champion Braun Strowman makes the first pay per view defense of his gold, won at WrestleMania from Goldberg when he tackles Bray Wyatt.
Arguably the most fascinating and dynamic aspects of any Money in the Bank event are the ladder matches that give the event its name. Literally, they are 'Money in the Bank', with briefcases containing contracts for championship opportunities suspended above the ring ready for the daring, desperate Superstars to climb ladders and be the first to secure them.
To top it all off, this year's ladder matches take place on the roof of WWE's Global Headquarters, as the company continues to find ways to battle the lack of live crowds by staging matches at unique locations.
This year, the men's ladder match sees Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Aleister Black, King Corbin, Otis, and AJ Styles all clash to see who will win the right to challenge the likes of Strowman and McIntyre - or whoever might hold titles - in the near future.
On the women's side, it's equally as packed and competitive, as Lacey Evans, Asuka, Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, and Carmella all go into battle to try and become Miss Money in the Bank.
With so may huge match-ups and with so much at stake, it's often the case that WWE brings us a winner out of left field on this night - so we've brought together a few examples of the major upsets that could be coming our way at Money in the Bank 2020.
#5 Bray Wyatt wins the WWE title
Let's be honest, nobody is giving Bray Wyatt a chance of winning the Universal title at Money in the Bank. Braun Strowman has only just become Universal Champ, after all, and it's Wyatt he'll be facing, rather than the sinister Fiend. So, can we end up with a title change here? I really think so.
For my money, the biggest surprise of the year was Goldberg winning the title from The Fiend in Saudi Arabia. Many didn't expect it, purely as they believed it would really damage the character's momentum (Goldberg did win, and it did...), and now we have the absolute reverse situation. Nobody thinks Braun will be unseated in his first major defense against such an unlikely opponent - so it makes perfect sense that this is exactly what we'll see.
#4 Seth Rollins beats Drew McIntyre
Such is Seth Rollins' incredible experience and list of accomplishments in WWE, it was no surprise whatsoever to me to see him emerge as the next challenger for Drew McIntyre's title.
McIntyre will be facing his biggest test as champ since winning the gold at WrestleMania from Brock Lesnar and, just with Strowman on the previous slide, many will consider that it's too soon for him to drop the title. Again, I feel that's the perfect blend of factors to result in a switch in WWE's top championship.
Seth Rollins to claim the WWE title at Money in the Bank?
What's more, as the Red brand's resident preacher, what better place for the Monday Night Messiah than at the top of the mountain on RAW and in WWE as a whole as its Champion? It would give him even more reason and opportunity to preach about his powers and strength of leadership if he stood in the middle of the ring with the gold draped around his shoulder.
Granted, it would do McIntyre no good at all to lose his championship so swiftly but, as they say, anything can happen in WWE.
#3 Tamina wins the SmackDown Women's Championship
Of all the possible surprises WWE could spring at Money in the Bank this weekend, I fancy this one to be the most outrageous, and the one that would raise the most eyebrows.
Fair play to Bayley. She has done an incredible job of reinventing her character. The memories of Bayley as a fan-hugging, arm-waving favorite of the WWE Universe seem a lifetime ago. Now, we have a bitter, twisted Bayley with a chip on her shoulder - not least because it's taken her to the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Bayley's title reign to come to an end at Money in the Bank?
I would go as far as to say that Bayley is now well enough established as a top heel in WWE to not actually need a championship to stay on top, either on Friday Night SmackDown or wherever else she may feature. So maybe, just maybe, WWE will see things the same way and present what would comfortably be one of the most significant title upsets in recent memory on Sunday.
It would be so because Tamina, while one of the most experienced members of the women's roster, has yet to win a major women's title in WWE despite having been active for a few days shy of ten years.
#2 Lacey gets the nod
Another Superstar heading into Money in the Bank under the radar - at least in relative terms - is Lacey Evans.
So often in ladder matches, WWE takes the opportunity to lift an underdog or a mid-card star into the main event scene by, effectively, making them number one contender to a championship of their choice, given they can cash in on any world title at any time.
The Sassy Southen Belle may become the perfect example of precisely that this coming Sunday.
Lacey Evans to win Money in the Bank?
The story would make sense in many ways. In true WWE style, the build-up has - if Evans is to win - been the art of distraction. We've heard so much from Nia Jax about how she's going to claim glory in the ladder match, and given the considerable run she's been on lately, few can argue.
We've seen and heard plenty from Shayna Baszler and, to be honest, anyone on the planet would be able to listen to the ramblings of a very, very loud Asuka. But what about Evans?
We're not suggesting that she's had no television time as of late, but you'd have to agree that the vast majority of the attention has been focused on other competitors.
Out of left field, Evans may be ready to pounce.
#1 Daniel Bryan's golden goodbye
I wrote some weeks ago that there are several reasons why Daniel Bryan should be the winner of Sunday's Men's Money in the Bank ladder match.
The well-respected veteran is one of the biggest names in the match but, at present, much of the talk is of how King Corbin, as the ultimate heel, might win the match. After his return on RAW this past week, many fans are considering that AJ Styles is to make a significant splash on Sunday by winning what would be his first match back since his WrestleMania defeat to The Undertaker.
Bryan, however, truly deserves a great send-off from WWE after he confirmed not long ago that he's winding down his days as an in-ring performer.
Daniel Bryan to leave WWE soon?
Speaking on The Bellas Podcast, he said:
"It’s not long until my contract is up. In my mind, I think I’m just done being a full-time wrestler. I will always love wrestling, and I always wanna do wrestling, but when I say always do wrestling, that means once a month, or once every couple months.”
Indeed, there would be no more fitting finale for one of WWE's most popular performers of the last decade than to give Daniel Bryan the Money in the Bank contract and a subsequent title run.
Given the competition in the Money in the Bank ladder match, it would be an upset. But I'd love to see it.
