Welcome to Money in the Bank for June 17, 2018. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go over every match, share the highlights and quotes, and look ahead to the next show.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (Bludgeon Brothers win by pinfall)
The Bludgeon Brothers have the kind of style that asks for a heavy hitting opponent. There are plenty of fast teams on Smackdown, but no heavy hitters. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are the closest things they have and they showed that these two teams could have some out right classics. This was the most offense a team has had against the Bludgeon Brothers and the crowd was eating it up.
Highlights: The Bludgeon Brothers hit double drop kicks outside of the ring
Harper hits a slingshot on Anderson between the ropes
Anderson hits a spinebuster on Harper
The Bludgeon Brothers hit their finishing move on Gallows.
Grade: 8 out of 10
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass (Bryan wins by submission)
The crowd was into this match from the start. While the story line leaves a few things to be desired, Danila Bryan and Big Cass has put the effort in the ring. While any Bryan match feels like a gift, Big Cass was able to hit a few big moves and keep pace with the much quicker Bryan. Cass actually can hit moves just because he is as big as he claims.
Highlights: Bryan jumps over Cass
Bryan flips around a standing Cass until he hits a Yes lock
Bryan jumps from the top rope onto Cass on the outside.
Cass hits a fall away slam from the top rope.
Grade 8 out of 10
Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn (Lashley wins by pinfall)
It’s interesting that in the wrestling world, Sami Zayn thought he would have a chance against Bobby Lashley. This was a glorified squash match, with Zayn getting some offense early on before being steamrolled. Lashley did get a much better crowd response then usual. The truth was the story was just nah. Hopefully, both men can move on to opponents that suit them better
Highlights: Lashley hits a standing suplex. The crowd asks for one more. Lashley hits two.
Grade: 7 out of 10
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. Elias ( Rollins wins by pin fall)
This was another stellar performance by Seth Rollins, but this was Elias’s coming out party. The singing gimmick has it’s limits, but the performer has no such restrictions. Elias was right there with Rollins the entire match and gold is in his future. Rollins looked more mortal in this encounter. When will his luck with the Intercontinental Title run out?
Highlights: Elias brings back the Cobra Clutch
Rollins’s knees buckle from a top rope miss
Rollins hits a superplex into a Falcon’s Arrow.
Elias hits Rollins on two ring posts, stairs, and then hits a huge flying elbow.
Grade 9 out of 10
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Bliss wins by getting the briefcase)
Alexia Bliss was a surprise to win the belt. She is a former champion, but this felt like a safe choice. All of the woman took some hard hits, but Ember Moon and Becky Lynch deserve special mention. Moon continues to be a force who will be in the title picture soon enough. Lynch on the other hand is still as special as ever, but this loss should bring about a change in charcter
Highlights: Banks took a very hard bump
All competitors fight on the ladder at the same time.
Charlotte hits a spear on Alexia onto a ladder
Becky is pushed off the ladder and hits one positioned on the corner
Grade: 8 out of 10
Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal (Reigns wins by pinfall)
The crowd was not into this match at all. The story being told in the match itself was actually pretty good. Jinder Mahl was trying to match Roman Reigns’ power. Reigns was put in the underdog position but he was able to exact revenge on the two men who have made his life hell the past few months. Does this put Reigns at the head to challenge Brock Lesnar? If so, what would he argue for another chance.
Highlights: Mahl hits a kick on a charging Reigns.
Mahl hits a gutbuster
Reigns spears Singh
Grade 7 out of 10
SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella vs. Asuka ( Carmella wins by pin fall)
Carmella looked like a champion in this match. She was striking and even doing submission moves. Askua had a little bit more jump in her step as well. Askua could have had a squash match, but the goal is to make Carmella a better champion. The ending was genius as a ghost from the past allowed Carmella to put away the Empress of Tommorow
Highlights: Askua hits a running knee off the apron
Carmella has an impressive submission move.
Carmella kicks Askua off the ring apron. Askua looked like she hit hard.
Someone appears dressed as Askua. When they remove the mask… it’s James Ellsworth!!
Grade 9 out of 10
WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Last Man Standing Match)(Styles is the last man standing)
This. All of this. The highlight section will be one sentence. Just because you should watch it and I don’t want to spoil it. This was the match that AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura dreamed of having. The Last Man Standing match is sometimes slow and boring. This was not that match. Everyone is talking about the match at NXT Takeover. This match comes damn close to meeting it. If you missed it, watch it as soon as you can.
Highlights: THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!!
Grade: There isn’t a number high enough
Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Ronda Rousey (No Contest)(Bliss cashed in to become the Raw Women’s Champion)
This was a match that was shaping up to be a classic until the ending. Nia was much quicker then in previous matches and she was selling and hitting like a long term pro. Ronda Rousey was excellent as well, selling everything perfectly. This was like a few years in the business Rousey. I loved where this match was going. I just wish I could have seen the end.
Highlights: Jax hits a nasty powerbomb.
Jax blocks all attempts for an arm-bar
Jax swings Rousey into the ring barricade
Rousey trash talking turns her into another person
Grade: 9 out of 10
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Strowman wins by getting the briefcase)
The story seemened to be the same when ever Braun Strowman is in a match with multiple people. Strowman is taken out by everyone. It started the same way, but Strowman finally got the brass ring. As for the others, everyone was able to make a statement. This was a great Ladder Match. The only question is: how can Strowman cash in if Lesnar is never there.
Highlights: All competitors bury Strowman under ladders
Rusev throws Owens into a ladder
Strowman throws Owens off the top of a large ladder through a table.
Samoa Joe throws a ladder around like a toy
Strowman runs through a ladder.
THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH
Grade 10 out of 10
Final Thoughts: Best pay-per-view of the year so far. The last three matches were fantastic. We have to see if Lesnar shows up at Extreme Rules.
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