Money In The Bank 2013 Ladder Matches Preview

The WWE has had a few weeks to develop the two briefcase ladder matches since I first talked about it. My main complaint was the imbalance of star power, as well as a face/heel alignment imbalance. I understand they were going for "All Stars" and "Rising Stars" themes, but have they developed things well enough to really showcase those themes? I don't think so. They have just had some random matches here and there featuring the wrestlers in these two matches. The few promos have not really pushed the themes very well. You gave the matches themes and don't really do much to play on those themes. I would have had the WWE mix things up. Don't separate things like they did. How do you decide who would end up in which match? Have the General Managers have qualifying matches. You might not have enough talent for that, but how about making things easier by having 6 guys in each match? What about RVD? He obviously wouldn't be in a qualifying match. Have Vickie give him a guaranteed spot to please one of the McMahons. It would have worked in with that storyline. And it could have all even culminated on Smackdown with a battle royal to find the final participant in that Money in the Bank ladder match for the World's Heavyweight Championship contract. It would have mixed things up, made things intriguing throughout all the weeks building up to the PPV, and it wouldn't be as lackluster as just naming the participants and having them wrestle each other after.

All that out of the way, I am not even going to bother predicting who will win the two matches. I am just going to talk about the storylines involved in each match and talk about who I would like to win.

The match for the World's Heavyweight Championship contract has all those heels involved. It also features two sets of teams. You have Antonio Cesaro & Jack Swagger and Rhodes Scholars. A split isn't likely in the former duo, but it is in the latter. They have been teasing issues between Sandow and Rhodes. That will definitely play into this match. And that will eventually lead to the split. Who turns face? Most likely Cody Rhodes. Swagger and Cesaro may trade a few blows in the match, but there is no reason to split them up before they really got to do anything as a team. Having Dean Ambrose, the U.S. Champion, win the briefcase would be unnecessary. He already has something going for him and hasn't really connected with the fans amazingly, yet. There will be time for him. I would personally like Wade Barrett to win this one. Of all the guys in this match, he is really the one with nothing right now. Cesaro and Swagger are starting a team and have a gimmick. Rhodes and Sandow have a break up coming. Ambrose has a title. Fandango has his gimmick. What does Barrett have? Give him a briefcase.

The match for the WWE Championship contract has so many former World Champions in it, it deserves to be the true main event of the PPV. I know they sold the idea that someone could win that briefcase and cash it in later in the night against Cena, meaning Cena vs. Henry would be the main event, but it would make sense for all the stars to get the main event. Last year's Money in the Bank ended with the ladder match. Then again, it also ended with Cena. The return of Rob Van Dam is obviously a big storyline for this match. Would they hand him the briefcase right away? I don't think so. Then again, he probably has a better chance than Christian. As far as CM Punk goes, everyone can picture CM Punk about to win the match, then Brock Lesnar comes out to screw him. That sets up the match for Summeslam. They have really been pushing Daniel Bryan hard in recent weeks. Building him for the win? He has won it before. He really doesn't need it again to enter a feud with John Cena. If he still had that "weak link" angle going, then it would make sense for him to win this. Not there, so why bother? And it's not like he's in the midst of a title drought. He held the tag titles just a few months ago. Randy Orton has also been getting a bit of the attention lately. That is who I would like to see win. He has not held a title in a long time. He has never won a briefcase. He obviously doesn't need it, but John Cena needed it even less than him. It would be a good way to make Orton relevant again.