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We break down each competitor in this year's 2018 Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, by their Las Vegas odds. Starting with the female Superstars and finishing with the male Superstars, each competitor is ranked in order of their overall odds of winning the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase.
Women's MITB match
8. Naomi
Vegas Odds: 20/1
Why She Will Win: Naomi is fighting to increase her relevance. Since losing the SmackDown Women's Championship to Natalya last August, Naomi has rapidly fallen down the championship contender rankings. More than any other competitor, Naomi needs to achieve victory to stay afloat on the increasingly competitive SmackDown roster.
Why She Won't: Naomi is simply an afterthought in the SmackDown Women's Division. Dwarfed by superior in-ring talent and fellow Superstars who have actually been given creative direction and relevance, she has little chance of winning an event as significant as Money in the Bank.
7. Lana
Vegas Odds: 9/1
Why She Will Win: As The Ravishing Russian so often reminds us, "Lana is the best. Lana number one." Lana is riding a wave of popularity as a part of the Rusev Day stable. Along with husband, Rusev, and the vocally masterful Aiden English, Lana may just be exactly what the SmackDown Women's Division needs.
Why She Won't: Lana may be a fun token to her husband's zaniness; but, she better serves as a compliment than as a serious solo competitor. While Lana & Rusev have pushed to be the very first Mr. and Mrs. Money in the Bank, with a stellar field of worthy Superstars ahead of them, it just won't happen this year.
6. Sasha Banks
Vegas Odds: 6/1
Why She Will Win: Sasha Banks is one of the WWE's top female talents of all time. She is a consistent presence on the RAW roster and as a four-time RAW Women's Champion has proven that she is capable of winning wrestling's most sought-after prizes.
Why She Won't: She has already had multiple opportunities as RAW Women's Champion with her longest reign clocking in at a mere 27 days. Why would another championship opportunity be given to a Superstar already proven to be unable to hold onto the Title?
5. Becky Lynch
Vegas Odds: 11/2
Why She Will Win: Becky Lynch's talent isn't lost on the WWE. As one of the 4-Horsewomen, Becky was marked as the future of the company. Lynch has floundered as of late and the WWE knows better than to waste opportunities with a Superstar of Lynch's potential. Her submission victory over Charlotte Flair on SmackDown may be a sign of things to come for the Irish Lass Kicker.
Why She Won't: Lynch earned the honor of being the inaugural SmackDown Women's Champion; however, she failed to get over or evolve her character and quickly lost her Title to Alexa Bliss. Lynch has already proven that she can't handle being at the top of the food chain and works better as a mid-carder. She has done nothing to prove that would suddenly change.
4. Ember Moon
Vegas Odds: 5/1
Why She Will Win: Ember Moon may be the hottest female Superstar on RAW's roster. Since making her RAW debut after this year's WrestleMania, the former NXT Champion has quickly climbed the proverbial food chain to find herself smack dab in the middle of the championship picture.
Why She Won't: It's too much too soon. Ember Moon doesn't need the Money in the Bank briefcase so much as she needs a good solid year to develop and evolve her character. The briefcase shouldn't be given as a place-holder to those with potential. Instead, it should be given to those who have already proven themselves ready to hold a major main roster championship. While Moon has been excellent in the short time she's been on the main roster, she simply needs more time to prove herself.
3. Charlotte Flair
Vegas Odds: 7/2
Why She Will Win: Charlotte Flair has accomplished almost every major milestone the WWE has to offer. Charlotte has won both the coveted RAW and SmackDown Women's Championships. She has main-evented RAW. Along with Sasha Banks, she was the first woman to ever wrestle in a Hell in a Cell Match and headline a pay-per-view. Charlotte even ended Asuka's historic winning streak. The one prize left to grab is WWE's Money in the Bank briefcase, which is now within her grasp. Additionally, Flair has been rumored to be a shoo-in to face Ronda Rousey in what could inevitably be the first ever female main event at WrestleMania. She has to earn that opportunity somehow and the briefcase may jbe her golden ticket to the big dance.
Why She Won't: Charlotte doesn't need the Money in the Bank briefcase. She doesn't need to sneak attack an opponent with an impromptu cash in. She has already proven herself as one of the most dominant females in wrestling history, the proverbial queen of the jungle. With her legacy already cemented, Charlotte simply doesn't need the briefcase. June is also a long way away from next year's WrestleMania in April 2019. There will be better opportunities to engage in a feud with Rousey, who is no shoo-in to capture the RAW Women's Championship anyway.
2. Alexa Bliss
Vegas Odds: 3/1
Why She Will Win: Perhaps no Superstar on either brand would enhance the significance of the Money in the Bank briefcase the way Alexa Bliss could. A heel cut from the same cloth as last year's winner, Carmella, the briefcase fits her persona to perfection. Additionally, Little Miss Bliss almost always finds a clever and underhanded way to achieve victory and her unscrupulous methods have worked well for her thus far. Despite her diminutive stature, she is a 4-time WWE Women's Champion.
Why She Won't: Alexa's been on a lull since losing her RAW Women's Champion to former "best friend" Nia Jax at this year's WrestleMania. The former champion has shown little indication that she is able to bounce back to her previous dominance. With little evidence to support a comeback, there is no reason to expect that Bliss will regain her championship form in time for the upcoming Money in the Bank match.
1.Natalya
'Vegas Odds: 5/4
Why She Will Win: Natalya is the Vegas odds-on favorite to win this year's Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match and for good reason. For one, she is the savviest female veteran on the entire card. Natalya is technically proficient and knows her way around a WWE ring better than any other competitor in a match. As the locker room's mother hen figure, she knows how to manipulate the other women psychologically. This is an enormous tactical advantage that should not be underestimated. If Ronda Rousey does indeed win the RAW Women's Championship, who better to cash in on Rousey than her best friend and mentor, Natalya Neidhart?
Why She Won't: Natalya's best WWE moments have come and gone. At 36 years old, she is the oldest woman in the match and seen more as a developer of talent than as a serious championship contender. That's why Natalya's major focus over the last several months has been on training and mentoring Ronda Rousey, in lieu of her own singles career. That doesn't bode well heading into Money in the Bank as she is likely only in the match as a gatekeeper of sorts, rather than the main feature.
Men's MITB match
8. Bobby Roode
Vegas Odds: 20/1
Why He Will Win: Bobby Roode needs a change in direction. Since being called up from NXT, his character hasn't evolved and despite a move from SmackDown to RAW, the former NXT Champion has been stuck in neutral. There has been chatter about Roode turning heel again. Winning the Money in the Bank briefcase may help speed that process & ultimately recapture some of the magic Roode had while in NXT.
Why He Won't: His short stint as United States Champion did little to add to his legitimacy, so why would winning Money in the Bank? Roode has the lowest odds of winning of all the MITB participants because no one can fathom the current version of Bobby Roode in a major WWE angle. Roode instead has become a caricature of himself best known for his "Glorious" entrance theme and fancy robes.
7. Rusev
Vegas Odds: 12/1
Why He Will Win: Rusev Day is a legitimate force among wrestling fans and there has been no indication of the movement slowing. Rusev & Aiden English are over and while Rusev has established himself as one of the greatest United States Champions in recent times, he has never had a serious opportunity at a world championship. With the Bulgarian Brute increasingly becoming a household name, that should change at Money in the Bank.
Why He Won't: Rusev doesn't need a briefcase or a world title, for that matter. He's already over with the fans and as one of WWE's top merchandise sellers, has already proven lucrative for the company.
6. Finn Balor
Vegas Odds: 7/1
Why He Will Win: Finn Balor is arguably the uncrowned Universal Champion. Having never received a rematch after relinquishing his title due to injury, it's high time the Demon be given the opportunity that he so obviously deserves. Since WWE Creative seems unwilling to give him the customary rematch he is owed, The Demon is intent on taking it for himself.
Why He Won't: If Finn Balor was going to get a Universal Championship rematch, the WWE may have done so at a more fiscally opportune time. After Balor returned from his injury would have been golden. Fans were ecstatic for his return and eager for The Demon to return to the championship picture. After nearly two years, how many fans even remember that Balor was once Universal Champion? There have been rumors that Vince McMahon wants to keep Balor away from Brock Lesnar due to their size differences. If those rumors are even remotely true, they do not bode well for Balor.
5. Kevin Owens
Vegas Odds: 11/2
Why He Will Win: Much like Balor, Kevin Owens has never been given a proper Universal Championship rematch. After losing the championship to Goldberg at Fast Lane, Owens hasn't so much as been given a sniff of the title. Still, it's to his great credit that KO has kept himself at the top of SmackDown and RAW's main event scene. If he can find a way to do that, he can certainly find a way to climb the ladder and win this year's Money in the Bank briefcase.
Why He Won't: Owens is needed elsewhere on the roster. Owens is a major league player on the RAW mid-card & is seen as a potential challenger to Seth Rollins and his Intercontinental Championship. This is no small feat for a roster that's lacked mid-card talent in the past. Owens is a victim of his own success here. Due to his ability to produce magic anywhere on the card, he doesn't need a championship opportunity.
4. Samoa Joe
Vegas Odds: 4/1
Why He Will Win: Samoa Joe is a powerhouse; but, unlike most big men, his talents are not limited to size and strength. He is savvy and crafty. Samoa Joe is a true in-ring predator and moves about with cunning intelligence and precision. He strikes at the most opportune times. In a match with so many competitors and potential outcomes, it will take more than sheer force to attain victory. Joe has the right combination of intrinsic intellect and power to win this vaunted prize and become the next Mr. Money in the Bank.
Why He Won't: Samoa Joe has not proven he can stay healthy on the main roster. After missing months of action due to injuries, it has been difficult for Joe to stay healthy long enough to solidify himself as a true main event player. The last thing the WWE wants to do is make the MITB briefcase irrelevant by giving it to someone that would be too unhealthy to remain a regular contributor to the main roster.
3. Big E
Vegas Odds: 7/2
Why He Will Win: Big E is an accomplished singles wrestler. The New Day's muscle is a former NXT Champion and former Intercontinental Champion. He goes into the match as one of the favorites primarily because he already has an enormous advantage. His fellow competitors don't know if Big E will actually be wrestling. The New Day has yet to officially announce who their representative will be; but, Vegas certainly believes it will be Big E, a lethal powerhouse, especially given the rest of the field's lack of preparation. Additionally, in a match with no disqualifications, what's going to stop The New Day from clearing Big E's path to the briefcase?
Why He Won't: Despite his singles successes, Big E has established himself as a tag team specialist. As long as the WWE keeps selling Booty O's and New Day tee shirts to children everywhere, why would they remove Big E from his present situation, especially when it has proven to be so lucrative?
2. Braun Strowman
Vegas Odds: 2/1
Why He Will Win: Braun Strowman has shown unbelievable feats of superhuman strength. The strong man has lifted trucks off the ground and toppled ambulances onto their sides. On the most recent episode of RAW, Strowman broke a ladder in two...with his bare hands. Unlike the rest of the field, the cold steel of WWE's ladders don't intimidate Strowman. He has proven to master anything in his way. The ladder shouldn't be any different.
Why He Won't: Winning the MITB Ladder Match requires more than brute strength. In fact, no true giant has ever won the MITB Ladder Match. This is likely due to their over-reliance on strength and brute force. In a match like this, Strowman will need to use his intellect to achieve victory and he has not proved that he is capable of doing so.
1.The Miz
Vegas Odds: 11/10
Why He Will Win: As a former Money in the Bank winner, The Miz has already proven that he has what it takes to win the illustrious briefcase. The 2010 Miz was good; but, only a shadow of the performer The Miz has become today. The Miz has shown that he is the WWE's most opportunistic Superstar and that is why Las Vegas has him as the odds-on favorite to win this year's match.
Why He Won't: We've seen this film before. The Miz has won Money in the Bank and parlayed that victory into becoming WWE Champion. He rode that wave of success all the way to the main event of WrestleMania XXVII, where he defeated John Cena in a successful WWE Championship defense. While The Miz often reminds the WWE Universe that he was the main event of WrestleMania, many fail to even remember his participation in that match. The Miz didn't steal that show. Instead, it was quite the opposite. He played second fiddle to what was the beginning of The Rock vs John Cena feud and that's what people were talking about after WrestleMania XXVII. The WWE Champion should never play second fiddle, especially after successfully defending their championship on wrestling's biggest stage. This is why The Miz makes a better Intercontinental Champion where he won't be expected to be the face of the company. This is also why he won't be granted another serious world championship opportunity with the MITB briefcase.
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