Hiya!
This week is going to be a busy week for me. I’ve got a lot of things happening in my life right now. But there’s also a ton of stuff for me to review and write about. And with things zipping around vicariously all around the place, they’re bound to collide with each other eventually. This is precisely what happened this week. I was supposed to write about why Sony was very successful with their E3 presentation this year but there are two things I would like to write about this week: the WWE’s latest pay-per-view event, Money in the Bank and Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to the 1996’s Independence Day.
I already watched Money in the Bank and I was going to review it… but I also would want to review Independence Day: Resurgence as well since I’m watching it tomorrow! So, as a compromise, I decided to postpone my thoughts on Sony’s E3 press conference until next week, put up my thoughts and opinions regarding the Money in the Bank matches and then write up a review for Independence Day: Resurgence tomorrow after I watch it! Yep, it’s going to be a busy week! A busy but enjoyable week, indeed!
Match #1: The New Day vs The Vaudevillians vs Anderson and Gallows vs Enzo and Big Cass in a Fatal Four War for the WWE Tag Team Titles
Is it just me or is the Tag Team division probably the most entertaining division now? The Womens/Divas division has become a mess due to its terribly lack of focus on their top stars (more on that later), the focus on the Intercontinental and United States title hunts totally lacking and the WWE Heavyweight Championship becoming a borefest ever since Roman Reigns won the belt (Yeah, I said it!), it’s like the WWE’s only saving grace is the Tag Team division! And the four teams who are competing have to be the most entertaining teams right now!
Now, as much as I love Enzo and Big Cass on the mic, I still have to tip my hat to The New Day as they’ve cornered the market on how to deliver smart quips when delivering promos. With that being said, however, their skills on the mic aren’t as good as their in-ring ability. And this match does showcase it. Oh, it was a great match with a lot of fantastic spots, that’s for sure!
However, the problem lied with the execution, especially during the final moments of the match. There were times when it looked like the wrestlers were just waiting around to do something! The finish was pretty much like that with Luke Gallows just standing in the corner so he could get hit by Big Cass to the outside, enabling Big E (who was also wandering around the ring for that time) to pick up Karl Anderson and Kofi coming in to perform their finisher on The Club member for the pinfall victory for The New Day.
Even if the match was sloppy at times, the match was chaotic and all members did a fine job with whatever time they had. I was kind of disappointed that Xavier Woods was pretty much a non-factor as him interfering has become a highlight of New Day matches.
Match #2: Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin… again
Look, as much as I like Dolph Ziggler, you can only have him compete against the same person so many times before Baron Corbin’s lameness rubs off on him. To be fair, the match was actually pretty good with Ziggler selling a lot of Corbin’s attacks to try to get the crowd into it and Corbin did look like he’s finally coming to his own. However, the problem is this feud has lasted longer than it should, leading to this otherwise good match come off as one you don’t care for.
The finish came when Ziggler blocked Corbin’s attempt for a superplex by punching him off the top turnbuckle. Corbin recovers and hits the top rope, knocking Ziggler off balance, enabling Corbin to capitalize and use his End of Days finisher for the pinfall victory on the Showoff.
Like I said, a decent match but really slowed down when Corbin took control. However, his “boring” style does suit him but he has to be more like a bully rather than an emo tall guy to make it more effective. Good match… but I hope it’s the last.
Match #3: Natalya and Becky Lynch vs Charlotte and Dana Brooke
Remember when I said that Women’s/Divas division has become rather lackluster? Well, here’s proof of that statement!
The match itself was really nothing to write home about. Even Becky Lynch’s fiery personality didn’t add much to get me hyped for this match. But the biggest disappointment for me is what their doing with Dana Brooke! In NXT, she was the bully and she had the power to back it up. But when she transferred to the main roster, all the WWE could think of was making her Charlotte’s lackey? Anyway, back to the match… yawn.
The finish of the match came with Dana Brooke throwing Lynch at Natalya. Charlotte then exploited the distracted Natalya and hit Natural Selection on the Hart Family member for the pinfall victory. Now, the match itself was nothing special but the aftermath was! Natalya, after looking like she was going to cry (like what she does after all her losses) goes ballistic and attacks Becky Lynch!
Besides that turn of events, the match itself was pretty lackluster. It’s only saving grace was the heel turn at the end.
Match #4: Apollo Crews vs Sheamus
Two big guys in a match? Oh joy.
Well, in all fairness, Apollo Crews isn’t your typical big bruiser as he’s actually incredibly athletic. I’d say he’s a lot more of a high flyer that just so happens to be incredibly huge! And his match against Sheamus enabled him to showcase just what he can do as well! It was much better than expected with Crews doing some incredible offense and I’ll give Sheamus his due for actually taking some nasty bumps, like getting belly-to-belly suplexed to the outside of the ring!
The finish came out of nowhere but logical in retrospect. Sheamus had just hit White Noise on Crews from the second rope but only manages to get a two count! Sheamus argues with the referee and Crews rolls up Sheamus with a crucifix for the pinfall victory. It was a good way to close the match as it would’ve made Sheamus look too weak if he lost to Apollo Crews otherwise. This way, Sheamus can challenge Crews to another match by saying that, if he wasn’t distracted, he could’ve won. Good match overall but was just lacking that special something.
Match #5: John Cena vs. AJ Styles
This should be good!
As much as I may dislike Cena as his “Superman” like character, he knows how to work a match and make it look good. And AJ Styes is a great in-ring performer. And this match did not disappoint! It was a good, clean wrestling match for the most part! No gimmicks. No totally outrageous moves. Just good ol’ fashioned wrestling at its finest! Both Cena and Styles got to showcase their skills. Both men performed their signature moves and reversals and there were a lot of great near falls that really felt like they were finishes!
And, honestly, I didn’t really mind the screwjob finish. I didn’t mind that the referee was knocked unconscious while Styles was attempting to get out of the Attitude Adjustment. I didn’t mind that Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows attacked Cena while the ref was recovering. And I didn’t mind that Anderson and Gallows hit Cena with their finisher and then draped Styles over Cena, earning him the pinfall victory. It was that good of a match and probably just a preview of what’s to come in Summerslam. Great match and the screwjob ending didn’t sour it for me.
Match #6: Chris Jericho vs. Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose for the Money in the Bank briefcase (and a shot at any title down the line)
This pay-per-view isn’t called Money in the Bank for nothing!
This was probably one of the best Money in the Bank matches I’ve ever seen because of one thing: they got people with beef against each other. Rather than just featuring a bunch of wrestlers who could do fantastic, high flying stunts or take huge, painful bumps, they managed to get six of the best talents in the WWE. Everything just melded together to make a incredible match.
There was also a lot of brutality; at one point, Sami Zayn pretty much annihilated Kevin Owens by a Michinoku Driver onto the butt of a ladder! Ouch! But there were a lot of comical spots as well, such as Cesaro’s patented running forearms to three opponents. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout the entire Money in the Bank match!
The finish came just after Owens got his revenge on Zayn by powerbombing his opponent onto a bridged ladder. Owens then climbed the ladder but Ambrose caught up to him. Ambrose then knocked Owens from the top of the ladder onto the same bridged ladder Zayn landed on! This gave Ambrose enough time to get the briefcase to become this year’s Money in the Bank winner!
Fierce and fun match! Nothing much I can say about it… or can I?
Match #7: Titus O’Neil vs Rusev (with Lana)
The infamous “cooldown” match before the main event. And it’s a “traditional” big man match? This means I’m not expecting a whole lot. I wasn’t disappointed. I actually like Rusev and his wrestling style. I also do enjoy Titus O’Neil’s matches sometimes. But this match wasn’t one I could get into. It was incredibly slow for the most part as big man matches tend to be.
Titus did manage to fight off Rusev’s Accolade at one point but you know it was only temporary because, sadly, I don’t think Titus could beat Rusev. The finish came when Titus tossed Rusev into the ring but The Bulgarian Brute got up and nailed Titus with a kick to the back of the head. Rusev then locked in the Accolade for the second time and this time Titus passes out, enabling Rusev to retain.
And to add insult to injury, Rusev decided to insult Titus’ kids, who were sitting at ringside, to greet him a Happy Father’s Day! Oh, and to call their dad a loser. Yay.
Moving on…
Match #8: Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins for the WWE Heavyweight Title
Go, Seth! I believe in you! Oh, sorry. I want to remained unbiased but… gosh! Roman Reigns just sucks! He was pushed too early! I don’t know why the WWE decided to make him the new face of the company but it’s just not working for more mature fans.
Anyway, the start of the match was pretty slow, with both competitors feeling each other out. But when things got in gear, things got good. Both guys got to do their stuff and there were a lot of innovative moves. The one that stands out was Seth Rollins countering Reigns’ spear in mid-air to connect with a Pedigree!
The finish of the match was kind of surprising since… Seth won clean! Well, not exactly clean as Reigns did knock Rollins into the ref to block a Pedigree attempt, leaving the official woozy when Reigns tried to pin Rollins after a spear. Rollins kicked out and reversed a spear into the Pedigree as mentioned earlier. Reigns did kick out but, after another Pedigree, Rollins came out the champ… for about ten seconds!
Dean Ambrose then comes running in with the Money in the Bank briefcase and knocks the new crowned champ with it! Dean then cashes in the contract and, one Dirty Deeds and three seconds later, we have another new WWE World Champ!
The Money in the Bank briefcase: used as a weapon 80% of the time rather than to cash in for the title.
Besides the rather slow start, this was a great match for the most part. And Dean Ambrose cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase to become the new Champ just made it better!
Overall, I actually enjoyed this year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Oh, half of the matches were snooze-fests but the good matches certainly made up for them. It was worth the watch and I would actually like to go watch the good matches again once in a while.
So, tomorrow, wait for my review of Independence Day: Resurgence and, next week, we’ll go back to my regularly scheduled piece about Sony’s E3 performance!
Byee!
What did you think of this year’s Money in the Bank? Let me know in the comments section below!
3rd World Geeks 