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WHO WILL WALK AWAY WITH THE BRIEFCASES AND THE GOLD: THE MONEY IN THE BANK TIP SHEET IS ONLINE

WWE will present the 2021 Money in the Bank Pay Per View tonight from Fort Worth, Texas on Peacock and the WWE Network.  Here is our take on what should happen on the show:

Men's Money in the Bank Match featuring Drew McIntyre, John Morrison, Ricochet, Riddle, Big E, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Seth Rollins

Dave: On the show yesterday, Eps and I talked about the chances of each guy winning due to how they have been pushed lately.  In a sane world, it's Drew or Seth.  I think they could tell the better story with Drew, with him getting under Lashley's skin so much that the champ drops the "no more shots" stipulation, but since they usually have a heel carry the case, Rollins seems more likely.  The wild card is Riddle, who they have started pushing lately.  I think it would be a little too soon for him though.

Mike:  It should be Drew winning but I can see an argument made for Seth, Big E or Riddle as well.  I REALLY like the idea of Big E winning and cashing in on Bobby as a way to get everyone from New Day on the same brand again.  So, Big E or Drew.

Richard:  The underlying story in this match is Drew McIntyre.  He cannot challenge Bobby Lashley, but that could be moot if Kofi wins (or if they go the route that Dave mentioned about Bobby being so pissed at Drew that he ignores the stip [if he officially breaks from MVP, he can say that was an MVP thing and he doesn't care]).  Owens did the crazy ladder spot on Smackdown so I doubt if he will do it twice in three days.  Ricochet is the guy to do the crazy spot and he will get the crowd on their feet (but will it make sense in the match?)  If the winner of Money in the Bank is supposed to be someone you could see as the WWE or Universal Champion, I think it has to be either Drew or Rollins.  Nakamura and Owens could be outside options.  Big E and Riddle are on the periphery while Ricochet and Morrison are the long shots.  I am going to go with Nakamura because I think Nakamura/Reigns could be an interesting matchup.

Women's Money in the Bank Match featuring Asuka, NIkki A.S.H., Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Zelina Vega, Liv Morgan, Tamina, and Natalya

Dave: To me, it comes down to Nikki, Alexa or Liv, since they have been given the most play lately.  Alexa doesn't need it since she has freak strength from her character.  I think they should go all the way with Nikki's character and have her win, then be valiant and challenge for the Title at Summerslam tomorrow on Raw, probably against Charlotte.

Mike: Out of all the women involved, Alexa has the most momentum as a character.  I could see WWE going with her.  Zelina Vega makes a nice dark horse pick but it seems like WWE has lost all steam with her AFTER JUST THREE WEEKS.  I'd love to see Nikki end up with the briefcase as there's something fun about her current character.  In the end, I am guessing Zelina or Alexa.

Richard:  If I had to make a pick, I would personally go with the ladder in this match because it seems like they looked at the women's roster and saw they only had 10 or 11 women who were not involved in either Women's Title match and Dana, Shayna, and Nia are the odd women out.  I don't know if I disliked the way the Raw women got into the match or the way Sonya picked women for Smackdown more but they both sucked.  I expect to see Nikki on top of the ladder at one point and remember she is almost a superhero (shouldn't it then be A.A.S.H.?) and she will hit a crazy dive off the ladder instead of winning the match.  I doubt if the winner will be handed the belt like last year, but you never know.  Will Alexa use her magical powers to have someone get off the ladder? Can we put Carmella in the match so we see Corey put on a James Ellsworth mask to help her win?  Go ladder, but if I have to pick a winner with a pulse, I will go with Liv.

Universal Champion Roman Reigns versus Edge

Dave: When Roman loses the Title, it HAS to be to a guy on the way up.  I love Edge but he isn't that guy.  The momentum that comes from Roman needs to given to someone ascending, not near the end of the line.

Mike: No way Roman loses the title one month before Summerslam.

Richard:  Edge has had the upper hand against Roman more than anyone since Roman's return to Smackdown but does that mean that he can win on Sunday?  I don't think so.  I hope we don't get too much monologuing from Roman during the match, but you never know.  I think this match is the main event and it would be funny that since Edge complained so much about not having a singles match and the possibility that Seth Rollins wins the Men's briefcase and he cashes in like he did in Santa Clara (and against Roman Reigns) just to rib Edge.  I don't think there will be any shenanigans but I think Roman retains.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley versus Kofi Kingston

Dave: Kofi fights valiantly but has to lose.  One, he has no momentum as a single.  Two, after the amazing promo Lashley did to end Raw, there is no way that guy should ever lose his belt less than a week later.  Now if Drew does win MITB before this happens, it would be awesome if he came out and they did an angle where Lashley drops the stip right there and Drew says he will cash in right here and now, for a Title match at SummerSlam.  Yes, I want both of the insipid briefcases out of play as soon as possible.

Mike:  I love Kofi but I don't see any way he wins the title here.  My gut is Lashley gets to be the monster we saw the angry teases for at the end of Raw.

Richard:  We finally got pissed off Bobby back on Monday night and it was a lot of fun.  Someone I talk to during Raw suggested two options for this match and I like both of them.  A)  Lashley destroys Kofi in short order to show that Bobby is all business and the stuff Kofi said to him pissed Bobby off; or B) Lashley, after shunning MVP for making him soft, is turned on by MVP and he has a new 'client' in Kofi Kingston to build on MVP's attempts to woo Kofi to join the dark side and Kofi wins the title due to MVP's dastardly acts.  I like option A a little more and if it is not going to be the main event, why not have a short match to solidify Lashley's dominance. 

Raw Women's Champion Rhea Ripley versus Charlotte Flair

Dave: They have totally blown it with Rhea since bringing her up, totally.  Even for booking as bad as the Raw team's, this is epic bad.  I see Charlotte going over here if for no other reason, she always does.  I know Becky Lynch in laying in the weeds, but her husband is on Smackdown and it would be cruel of WWE to not per her on that show.  

Mike:  I sincerely hope the work here is far better than the booking has been.  I almost wonder if Becky Lynch makes her return after this to overshadow the match.  My gut is Flair ends up the champion here, although Ripley deserves far better.

Richard:  Can we have the ladder cash in and win the title because I hate the build for this match and the storylines surrounding this match.  They should play 'Anything You Can Do . . . I Can Do Dumber' throughout this match.  The good news is that there are now new faces from NXT that the main roster creative can screw up so maybe they can let Rhea go back to being 'Ass Kicking Rhea Ripley'.  I still think Charlotte wins the title to set up a big match for SummerSlam for the Women's Title.

Raw Tag Team Champions Omos and AJ Styles versus The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik)

Dave: They SHOULD take the belt off of the guy I call "Omos a wrestler, but not quite yet".  He needs work, lots of it.  But, the champs will probably retain.

Mike: My gut is there will be no title change here.

Richard:  It is nice that they remember that the Viking Raiders are a good tag team, but is it time to take the belt off Omos?  I think Ivar and Omos will be an interesting match up to see if Ivar can get the big man off his feet.  While I don't want to see it, I would not be surprised if The Viking Raiders are close to winning only to have AJ get his team disqualified.  Keep this feud going unless you can get Los Conquistadors for SummerSlam.

Kickoff Show Match:  Smackdown Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio versus Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso

Dave: Jimmy Uso embarrassed the company....again.  So of course that means he wins gold tonight!  WWE Logic baby!

Mike: Since this is WWE and apparently everything that is down is up, I expect the Usos to win the titles!

Richard:  I guess the punishment for Jimmy's bad deed is that they win the tag titles on the Kickoff Show.  That will teach them.  Even though the Usos won on Friday that would make it likely that the Mysterios would win (based on the inverse Go Home Transitive Theory), but it was a six man tag match and it is an exception rather than the rule.

 

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