From the Network – WWE Money in the Bank 2015

WWE Money in the Bank 2015
6-14-15
Columbus, OH

Your hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL.

Kickoff Match

R-Truth vs. King Barrett
Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Truth and he follows up with a drop toe hold. Truth low bridges Barrett as we go to break.
Back and Barrett catches Truth with a clothesline. Barrett stomps away and sends Truth hard into the corner for 2. Suplex by Barrett gets 2. Barrett grabs the chin lock but Truth fights out. Truth cleans house and he hits the leg lariat for 2. Sit-out gordbuster by Truth gets 2. Big boot by Barrett gets 2. Truth catches Barrett in the crucifix for 3.
Winner- R-Truth ** (Find for the pre-show warm up but Truth really doesn’t amount to much and Barrett continues to slid further down the card thanks to this crappy feud.)

Main Show

We open with a ten bell salute for Dusty Rhodes and everyone claps to the “American Dream” theme in a cool tribute.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match- Randy Orton vs. Neville vs. Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler w/Lana vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns
Everyone brawls to start and Kofi is the only one who sets up a ladder. Everyone stops him from climbing and everyone attempts to race up the ladder. Sheamus climbs but Kane stops him and brings him down. Ziggler catches Kane with a DDT and he climbs. Sheamus stops him and catches Ziggler with White Noise. Sheamus catches Reigns coming in with a knee lift and he rams a ladder into Orton and Kane. Kofi climbs but Sheamus knocks the ladder over to bring him down. Kofi throws some kicks at Sheamus and he springboards but Sheamus catches him. Springboard dropkick by Neville to Sheamus but runs into a flying forearm from Kofi. Trouble in Paradise to Sheamus and Neville hits a corner enzuigiri. Kofi climbs but Neville follows and both are pulled down by Reigns. Reigns powerbombs Kofi onto a ladder!!!! Reigns blocks a hurricanrana attempt and he powerbombs Neville onto Kofi!!! Reigns climbs but Kane stops him and follows up. Kane chokeslams Reigns off the ladder. Kane climbs but Orton stops him and hits the RKO. Orton climbs but Kofi stops him so Orton hits an RKO on him. Neville springboards onto the ladder but Orton pulls him off into the RKO!!!!! Orton climbs but Sheamus follows up. Orton brings Sheamus down and hits the Orton back breaker. Orton climbs but Sheamus follows again. They slug it out and Sheamus catches Orton with the Brogue Kick. Sheamus climbs but Ziggler follows up. Ziggler fires away on Sheamus and they trade blows on top of the ladder. Ziggler catches Shemaus in the sleeper and he brings Sheamus down with the Zig-Zag!!!! Neville goes up and hits Red Arrow on Sheamus. Ziggler and Neville climb and they trade blows on top of the ladder. Neville knocks Ziggler off but Kane brings Neville down. Super kick by Ziggler to Kane and Kane hits a big boot driving a ladder back into Neville and Ziggler. Kane baseball slides a ladder into Ziggler but walks into the SUPERMAN PUNCH~!!!! SUICIDE PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR BY REIGNS!!!!! The New Day comes out and help Kofi back into the ring. Kofi climbs as New Day cheers from the floor but New Days eat a dropkick from Reigns. Reigns stops Kingston and HE POWERBOMBS KOFI ONTO EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR!!!! Reigns catches Orton with a Spear and he climbs but the lights go out. Bray Wyatt is in the ring and he tips the ladder over to bring Reigns down. Sister Abagail by Wyatt to Reigns. Sheamus climbs but Neville follows up. Neville fires away on Sheamus but Sheamus rakes his face and tosses Neville off by the hair. Sheamus grabs the briefcase!!!
Winner- Sheamus **** (It’s really hard to screw up a Money in the Bank ladder match and I thought this was another great entry into the series. Ziggler, Kofi, and Neville were in their element here and guys like Sheamus and Reigns had some awesome sequences so you got a lot of bang for your buck here. The Bray Wyatt interference is a negative and Reigns gets nothing out of feuding with him while Sheamus winning makes no sense since I can’t see a scenario where he is in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture anytime soon. This was the usual case of awesome action with questionable booking. )

Paige says the Bella Twins hold too much power and she wishes she had allies on her side but she knows she has a bad reputation with the Divas in the locker room. Paige says their dominance ends tonight and she will create change. She dedicates her match to Dusty.

WWE Divas Championship- Nikki Bella © vs. Paige
Nikki rams her shoulder into Paige a few times and Paige stomps away on Nikki so Nikki bails. Back in, Paige dumps Nikki back to the floor and she hits a cannonball off the apron to Nikki. Nikki catches Paige with an inverted electric chair driving Paige into the barricade. Back in, Nikki covers for 2. Nikki rams Paige into the apron and back in, Nikki hits a suplex for 2. Chin lock by Nikki but Paige begins to fight out. Paige rolls Nikki into the Shining Wizard for 2. Clothesline by Nikki gets 2. Slingshot suplex by Nikki gets 2. Body scissors by Nikki but Paige is able to fight out. Paige throws some knees at the midsection of Nikki but Nikki comes back with a facebuster for 2. Chin lock by Nikki but Paige fights out again. Super kick by Paige gets 2. Nikki catches Paige with a spine buster for 2. Nikki misses a charge in the corner and Paige hits a corner knee strike. Paige trips up Nikki and she grabs the STF. Nikki makes the ropes to break. Alabama Slam by Nikki gets 2. Nikki blocks the PTO and Nikki hits the Flying Chuck for 2. Rampage by Paige gets 2!!! Paige puts Nikki on top and she follows up. They catch each other with a forearm and both ladies fall to the ground. Brie Bella pulls off twin magic on Paige and back in, Brie gets a small package for 2 as Paige rolls through for 3!!! Brie tells the ref that she wasn’t Nikki and Paige lays her out with a super kick. Nikki hits a forearm to Paige as the ref called for the match to continue and Nikki hits the Rack Attack for 3.
Winner and Still WWE Divas Championship- Nikki Bella **3/4 (Oh man, that was actually the best Diva’s effort in some time and they killed it with that garbage at the finish. I’ve got to admit it, Nikki has gotten so much better in the ring and she holds her own now in these title matches and Paige had her best effort in some time. That finish was just a mess and left a sour note on what was a pretty good contest.)

The Miz comes out and puts down Ohio. He blames Big Show for not being the Intercontinental Champion and he says his legal team is at work so he gets his title shot. He promises a masterpiece tonight and joins the announce team.

WWE Intercontinental Championship- Ryback © vs. Big Show
Spinebuster by Ryback and he hits the Meathook. Ryback clotheslines Show to the floor and he attacks Miz, tossing him over the announce table. Back in, Show catches Ryback with a Spear. Slam by Show and Ryback fires back. Show overpowers Ryback and Ryback continues to fight back. Cross arm breaker by Ryback and Show makes the ropes to break. Ryback suplexes Show and hits a big splash for 2. Show catches Ryback with the Chokeslam for 2. KO Punch by Show knocks Ryback to the floor. Miz attacks Show and Ryback for the DQ.
Winner by DQ- Big Show *1/2 (This match really didn’t amount to much and is just a place holder to set up the triple threat match likely for Battleground. I don’t care to see these two battle each other again. )

Video package for Cena/Owens airs.

Kevin Owens vs. John Cena
Both men overpower each other to send an early statement. Clothesline by Cena and Owens comes back with a dropkick. Back senton by Owens gets 2. Owens grabs a chin lock but Cena fights out and connects with a dropkick. Cena cleans house and Owens returns the favor. Blue Thunder Bomb by Owens!!!! FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE BY OWENS!!!!! Cena rolls through an AA attempt into the STF but Owens is able to fight out of it. Reverse suplex by Cena gets 2. Codebreaker by Owens gets 2. Blue Thunder Bomb by Cena and he hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Release German suplex by Owens and he hits the Cannonball into the corner for 2. Owens swings Cena into the Air Raid Crash for 2. Owens goes up for the Swanton Bomb but it eats knees!!! Sit-out inverted Electric Chair by Cena gets 2. Attitude Adjustment by Cena gets 2!!! Cena puts Owens on top and follows up. Owens escapes the AA attempt and he catches Cena in a sit-out powerbomb for 2. Cena counters the Pop Up Powerbomb with a hurricanrana but Owens answers back with a super kick for 2. Tornado DDT by Cena gets 2. Cena goes up and misses the guillotine leg drop. Package Powerbomb by Owens gets 2. Owens goes up and misses the moonsault off the top. AA by Cena gets 2!!! Cena puts Owens on top and follows up. Owens counters the superplex into the Fisherman’s superplex for 2!!! Cena catches Owens into the STF but Owens makes the ropes to break. CODE RED BY CENA GETS 2!!!! Pop Up Powerbomb by Owens gets 2!!!! Owens tells Cena to stay down and goes to dump him but Cena comes back with the springboard Stunner and hits the AA for 3!!!
Winner- John Cena ****3/4 (I ADORED this match and thought this topped their Elimination Chamber match. I loved Cena’s reactions to near falls and catching Owens off guard with offense he never resorts too because beating Owens MEANT something to Cena. This had a more electric atmosphere than their first match and this was top quality wrestling. This is my WWE match of the year so far, this was outstanding. )

After the match, Cena gives Kevin Owens props and they shake hands. Cena raises Owens’ hand but Owens kicks him to the floor!!! Apron Bomb by Owens!!! Owens holds up both the NXT and US Championship.

Dean Ambrose says since Seth Rollins and Kane screwed him last year he has been counting down the days until this moment and he says the WWE World Heavyweight Championship belongs to him. He says their alone tonight and he will walk out champion.

Video package paying tribute to Dusty Rhodes airs.

WWE Tag Team Championships- The New Day (Xavier Woods and Big E.) © vs. Primetime Players (Titus O’Neal and Darren Young)
Prior to the match, Xavier Woods declares Kofi Kingston was robbed of Money in the Bank again and Big E. calls the people of Ohio cheaters. Woods begins to freak out when the crowd doesn’t chant along with them properly but Big E. calms him down. Woods and Young start. Young with the early advantage but Big E blind tags in and hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Big E stomps away in the corner and Woods tags in to work him over. Tag to Big E and they hit a big splash/legdrop combo for 2. Abdominal stretch by Big E but Young fights out. Belly to belly suplex by Big E gets 2. Tag to Woods and he grabs a key lock. Young fights out so Woods takes him down with a lariat for 2. Back to the key lock but Young fights out again. Big E tags in and hits the Urinage for 2. Big E charges in the corner but misses and hits the post shoulder first. Tag to Titus and he cleans house. Back breaker to Woods and he hits an Avalanche in the corner. Pounce by Titus gets 2 as Big E saves. Big E spears Young off the apron and to the floor. Woods rolls Titus up for 2 and Titus hits the sit-out spinebuster for 3!!!
Winners and NEW WWE Tag Team Champions- Primetime Players ** (If the idea is that without the three man unit the New Day is no match for anyone in the tag divison, then I’m OK with this result. This will probably end up being a short reign for the Players and they were probably thrown a bone here. This was nothing special but it won’t amount to anything in the long term so this was harmless.)

Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt is announced for Battleground.

Video package for Rollins/Ambrose airs.

The Authority watches Seth Rollins backstage and Kane says the future is now history. Stephanie McMahon says the company is on his shoulders and he is the only one to blame if Ambrose walks out as champion tonight. Triple H tells Seth to clear his mind and show them why he is the man.

Ladder Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship- Seth Rollins © vs. Dean Ambrose
Flying forearm by Ambrose and he works over Rollins. Rollins fights back and he stomps away on Ambrose in the corner. Rollins dumps Ambrose and Ambrose comes back by suplexing Rollins into the ring. Corner forearm into the bulldog by Ambrose. Rollins comes back with a flatliner into the corner and he hits a knee to the back knocking Ambrose to the floor. Rollins slams Ambrose on the floor and he sends Ambrose into the steps. Ambrose comes back with a suicide dive and Rollins attempts the save but Ambrose blocks with the ladder. They both prevent each other from climbing and Ambrose tosses Rollins into the ladder. Butterfly suplex into the ladder by Ambrose!!!! Ambrose goes up the ladder and hits the standing flying elbow off the ladder!!!!! Ambrose clotheslines Rollins to the floor and he climbs the ladder. Rollins nails Ambrose twice in the leg with a chair to bring him down. Rollins drives the ladder into the leg of Ambrose and he hits a dragon screw leg sweep. Rollins sandwiches Ambrose’s leg in the ladder and he wraps Ambrose’s leg off the post. Post Figure-4 by Rollins and he grabs the Figure-4 in the ring. Ambrose is able to turn it over, forcing Rollins to break the hold. Rollins puts Ambrose in the tree of woe and drives the chair into the leg again. Rollins goes up and hits Warrior’s Way on Ambrose. Rollins climbs but Ambrose tips the ladder over, bringing Rollins down to the mat. Rollins uses the ladder to block the Jawbreaker Lariat and he repeatedly uses the chair to drive a ladder into Ambrose’s leg. Rollins goes up but Ambrose tosses a chair at Rollins to bring him down. Ambrose crotches Rollins when he attempts to springboard in and he hits the lariat to bring Rollins down to the mat!!! Ambrose fires away and he clotheslines Rollins to the floor. Rollins tosses the ladder to the floor but Dean is able to move out of the way. Super kick by Rollins and Ambrose attempts the Jawbreaker Lariat but Rollins blocks with the enzuigiri. AMBROSE COMES BACK WITH THE JAWBREAKER LARIAT ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT!!!! They brawl in the crowd and back at ringside, Rollins places a ladder between the announce table and the ring. AMBROSE RUNS ACROSS THE ANNOUNCE TABLE AND DIVES ONTO ROLLINS!!!! Back in, Ambrose backdrops Rollins onto the ladder on the floor!!!!! Ambrose climbs but Rollins stops him. Ambrose counters a powerbomb into a hurricanrana onto the floor. Ambrose clotheslines Rollins taking both of them over the Spanish announce table!!! Ambrose blocks the Pedigree and HITS DIRTY DEEDS ONTO THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!!!! Ambrose climbs but Rollins uses a TV monitor to bring Ambrose down!!! Rollins climbs but Ambrose stops him so Rollins hits the Pedigree on Ambrose. Rollins climbs but Ambrose stops him again. Ambrose dumps Rollins to the floor and Rollins pulls Ambrose out to prevent him from climbing. Rollins drives Ambrose head first into a ladder and he powerbombs Ambrose into the barricade!!!! A SECOND ONE BY ROLLINS!!!!! Rollins piles up some chairs and ladders on the floor and he hits a running sit-out powerbomb onto the pile!!!!! Rollins buries Ambrose under the pile and he climbs. Ambrose crawls up the ladder after Rollins and both men grab onto the title. They both crash to the mat and Rollins was able to pull the belt away for the win!!!!
Winner and Still WWE World Heavyweight Champion- Seth Rollins ****1/4 (Rollins and Ambrose finally had that killer match that I wanted from them. They had thirty five minutes to do their thing and in that thirty five minutes I never lost interest in what they were doing. They had an intense, physical match with a lot of emphasis on Ambrose’s leg that forced Ambrose to go on sheer will to stay in the match. The finish blew since it continues the trend of making Ambrose look like a choke artist and I had issues with the short recovery time on certain spots, but this was a hell of a match and finally lived up to my expectations of what these two can do together. )

After the match, Seth Rollins declares himself the best the WWE has to offer and that he is the greatest champion of all time.

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This is a tough one to rate. On one hand, the in ring work was the best for a non WrestleMania or NXT show since Payback of last year. The two ladder matches delivered and Cena and Owens had a border line classic. Under normal conditions, this would be considered a classic show and would have generated a ton of buzz. However, the finishes and some of the booking decisions (Sheamus' win being the standout but not the lone issue) were horrible and soured people's enjoyment of the show. If you can somehow overlook the bad decision making here, this is an absolute must watch show, as the three main matches hit it out of the park and covered for a lackluster undercard. This is going to get a high score and a strong recommendation on the basis of the quality wrestling but I really hope that WWE can turn the corner on their booking because it is really damaging the enjoyment and perception of their product right now.