Let me start with the Money in the Bank match. Not much more has happened since the last time I talked about this match. They did tease what Dean Ambrose being added to Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns might look like on Raw this week. Many fans have been wanting to see this match for years now. Besides that, it is obvious that the WWE can use the briefcase to develop a new star for the coming brand split. That means it is unlikely Chris Jericho or Alberto Del Rio wins it. Both have held World Championships before and both are not young guys any more.
Taking all that into consideration, who wins? I still think Ambrose would be a good choice. There is a lot of storyline value there. It can help him get to the next level. Everyone is still saying Kevin Owens. I must have missed the dirtsheet report guaranteeing him the win. I don't spend my days reading every item those sites put out. Owens just doesn't feel like he is ready to be a main-eventer yet. If he wins it, he might end up like Sandow or Sheamus. He should just remain as an upper-midcarder right now. I will stick with Ambrose.
No titles are on the line, but the WWE is hyping AJ Styles vs. John Cena as a match 15 years in the making. Really? Where was John Cena 15 years ago? Where was AJ Styles 15 years ago? Neither of them were anything to get too hyped over back then. They talk about this like it is a dream match. Undertaker vs. Sting is a dream match I have seen fans really eager to see for many years. The WWE may never be able to give fans that match now. AJ Styles vs. John Cena? I am sure some fans were looking forward to it, but it isn't one of the top matches I see pop up often. It is the face of TNA going against the face of the WWE. First of all, AJ Styles was never the true face of TNA. He should have been, but TNA never pushed him as the true face. But if fans want to view him as the face, okay. Second, the WWE isn't even giving TNA proper respect. They have been taking a lot of their guys recently, but how often does the WWE actually mention their closest competition? Aren't they afraid fans might Google "AJ Styles" and see TNA pop up? Wrestling fans are viewing it as TNA vs. WWE, but the WWE not embracing the existence of TNA more might be hurting the potential of the feud.
There is the kind of vibe here that you had between CM Punk and John Cena. That is to say, that is what the WWE is going for. AJ Styles is not CM Punk. He might be more amazing in the ring that Punk. But he does not have his mic skills and he has not broken out like Punk eventually did. The WWE is treating AJ Styles like he is already there. They are trying too hard with him. They are trying to add some reality to the story of this feud, but it is really just pandering to smarks. Why should AJ Styles really have an issue with John Cena? Styles just debuted earlier this year. He traded wins with Chris Jericho. He became #1 contender. He has had a few title shots. He is not being held down. He is being pushed too fast. Yes, even without winning the title, I would say he is being pushed too fast. This feud is overrated. The WWE is talking about how great the feud is. They are putting over AJ Styles as something so amazing. But the WWE is just trying to make something happen here that only wrestling fans will appreciate. The wider audience will not be that into it.
Who wins this encounter? Because I am sure these two will be facing each other more down the line. If the WWE wants to cause some shock, leave the crowd with a stunned impression on their face, and have a sea of Internet fans celebrating like Cena's reign of terror is over and AJ Styles is the new face of the company, they will have AJ Styles win. They might also let him win clean. I have seen fans overreact before to Cena losing. Of course, it is likely AJ's buddies help him. Even a cheap win would get many fans excited. I will say AJ Styles wins this encounter.
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship is also a match the WWE is hyping as worthy of headlining Wrestlemania. It was just last year at Wrestlemania when these two men were involved in the main event, along with Brock Lesnar. It would be easy to say that Reigns vs. Rollins can headline Wrestlemania. They have the credibility. Problem is, neither of these two guys have really broken out and reached their full potential. The issues with Roman Reigns have been talked about for years now. Seth Rollins has also not broken out. Contrary to what smarks might think, and they can make all the noise for Seth Rollins they want, he isn't an A+ player. Yeah, the WWE can put this match as the main event of a Wrestlemania, but they will still be leaning on The Undertaker to draw for them, as well as the hype usually surrounding Wrestlemania and probably once again pretending control of the WWE is on the line somewhere on the card.
Will Seth Rollins regain the title he never really lost? I am sure it will happen one day. But this Sunday? I don't feel like this feud has been built up properly yet. I will say Roman Reigns retains here and the feud continues on. I would be be more surprised to see Rollins win it back now than to see someone cash in this Sunday and win the title.
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