Storyline Progression/Pay-per-view Build
In this section, we take a look at all the storyline advancements that took place on each show as Money in the Bank draws closer.
Raw
Finn Bálor does a stupid thing
Raw didn’t open with Kurt Angle for once but instead with the ‘Monster Among Men’ Braun Strowman, who said that after he wins the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match, he’ll be referred to as “Mr. Monster in the Bank”. This prompted Finn Bálor to come out, who Strowman called a “little guy”, leading to Irishman slapping the ‘Abominable Strowman’. What a genius. Kurt Angle came onto the stage and made a match between the two official to open the show.
Braun Strowman throws a ladder really, really, really far
Kevin Owens was on commentary for that match and offered words of encouragement for both men throughout. I don’t think they were particularly appreciated. As mentioned earlier, Owens prevented Bálor from landing a second Coup de Grâce, thus ending the match on a DQ. Owens pulled a ladder from under the ring and ambushed Bálor, but Strowman pulled the ladder from ‘KO’s grasp, and launched it halfway up the ramp, only just missing a fleeing ‘Prizefighter’.
Elias must have really wanted to sing
Before Seth Rollins defended his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Jinder Mahal, Elias tried to perform a concert. However, after Elias told the WWE production team how to do their jobs, he ran out of time and was cut off by the ‘Kingslayer’.
After Rollins retained his title, he celebrated on the announce table, but the ‘Sinister Songsmith’ struck him with a guitar, thus leading to the IC champ being helped out of the arena by medical personnel.
It’s likely that this planted the seeds for Elias to challenge Rollins for the IC Title, be that on TV, or at Money in the Bank. There have actually been reports that WWE has no plans for Rollins for Money in the Bank, so this could be a way to write him off TV for a while, so there’s a storyline reason if he isn’t in Chicago come June 17. I’d say the first scenario is more likely, though.
Nia Jax is a bully, so the last couple of months were a complete waste of time
Well, it turns out Alexa Bliss was right.
Only a couple of months removed from an emotion-filled rivalry with Alexa Bliss, which involved Jax crying because the ‘Goddess’ insulted her size, and a great feel-good moment at WrestleMania 34 in the ‘Irresistible Force’ capturing the WWE Raw Women’s Championship, it seems she’s suddenly had a change of heart.
Jax was set for a match against local competitor Michelle Webb, who’s pro-wrestling name on the indie circuit is Madi Maxx, and Ronda Rousey joined Cole, Graves and ‘Coach’ at the announce desk.
Instead of actually starting the match, Jax dissected Webb, hitting her signature moves in an attempt to demonstrate what she plans to do to Rousey at Money in the Bank.
Braun gives his hands to everyone
Following his lucky win over Bobby Roode, Kevin Owens was greeted by Braun Strowman. Strowman proceeded to land two Running Powerslams on the former WWE Universal Champion, much to the joy of Roode. This joy was short-lived, as Strowman also nailed Roode with his finisher to stand tall.
Sami Zayn demands an apology. Probably from WWE’s writing team.
Following last week’s absolute disaster that was the “Bobby Lashley’s sisters segment”, Sami Zayn issued a “public apology”. He, quite rightly, received the “What!?” treatment.
He then decided that it’s him that should be apologized to, not the other way around. If he was referring to the WWE creative team, I completely agree with the poor bloke.
Bobby Lashley came out, challenged Zayn to a match at Money in the Bank, and really hurt Zayn’s hand for some reason. Again – poor bloke.
The B-Team’s Memorial Day BBQ
Right then.
Basically, in an attempt to convince all the other tag teams that the B-Team should be named number one contenders for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship, Axel and Dallas held a Barbecue in the ring.
Titus O’Neil critiqued the food, the ungrateful so-and-so, and along with Heath Slater, disagreed that the former Miztourage would be worthy challengers for the Deleters of Worlds.
The leader of Titus Worldwide then proceeded to pour baked beans all over Dallas, resulting in a massive food fight.
The B-Team showed a more vicious side on Monday though and put Rhyno through a table to end the segment.
Matches made for next week:
- Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens
- Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Roode
- Nia Jax vs. Natalya
- Tag Team Battle Royal – WWE Raw Tag Team Championships Number One Contender’s Match
Money in the Bank Build:
- Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn made official
- Sasha Banks qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match
SmackDown Live
Be patient, people
Heading into SmackDown, we all thought that we were going to bear witness to a first-time-ever-in-WWE “dream match” between Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe.
Joe opened the show by grabbing a ladder from under the ring, climbing said ladder, and pulling down the Money in the Bank briefcase. He then quotes the Bible for some reason and basically said he was going to batter Daniel Bryan.
This prompted Bryan to come out and he challenged Joe to a fight there and then.
And then Big Cass came out. “Boooooooooooooooooo!”
Cass announced that it was actually going to be him, not Bryan, to face the ‘Destroyer’, like what was meant to happen last week if Bryan didn’t hurt Cass’ poor little knee.
Paige later confirmed that it would, in fact, be a Triple Threat match between all three men, in the final Money in the Bank qualifier.
I’m pretty confident they’re saving Joe vs. Bryan for a WWE Championship match somewhere down the line, so don’t be too angry about them taking it away from us just yet.
Absolution isn’t dead
It seems Absolution are pals again. Hanging around backstage and helping each other out in matches. Oh.
I can’t even pretend to care.
A grown man counts to 10 multiple times because he can, I guess
Shinsuke ‘Nutcracker’ Nakamura seems really proud of the fact that he can count to 10, and after attempting to do it multiple times during his match with Tye Dillinger, finally managed to complete to sequence following a Kinshasa to the back of the ‘Perfect 10’s head after the match.
2018 SmackDown Live or 2011 NXT?
So, despite the recent “Women’s Revolution/Evolution”, instead of having a wrestling match, Lana and Naomi had a dance-off.
Rusev live-streamed it on his Instagram, and the Usos and Aiden English were also in the ring supporting their respective dancers.
It all looked like fun and games, and Lana and Naomi even danced together for a brief moment, before the ‘Ravishing Russian’, (still not sure if she is actually still Russian or not), landed a Neckbreaker “OUTTA NOWHERE”, leading to a mass brawl between the six ‘Superstars’.
It was later announced in the show that next week, Naomi will team up with her husband Jimmy Uso, to take on Lana and Aiden English.
Expect English to do something stupid and Rusev to be annoyed with him, otherwise, it would have just been Rusev teaming with his wife, wouldn’t it?
Bludgeon Brothers can hack TVs
The ‘Good Brothers’, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, were in the process of being interviewed about their match at Money in the Bank against Harper and Rowan for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships, but before Gallows could call them “NNNEEERRRRDDDSSS”, the mallet-wielding maniacs somehow managed to create a static effect on a TV, (in 2018!), and cut a spooky promo in a dark red room.
Maybe they’re just good pals with Kevin Dunn or something.
Please don’t be like Banks vs. Bayley
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch were bickering over who’s going to win at Money in the Bank before Paige appeared and made a match between the two for next week.
Hopefully, this is just a one-off and doesn’t end up going around in circles for 27 years like the Sasha Banks and Bayley program on Raw.
He’s Mexican? Just put him in a feud with Sin Cara then.
I do think this is a great idea.
Putting a bit of a “fantasy booking hat” on, I would have a short-ish series of matches between the two, with Almas unmasking Cara in their final bout.
This would reveal Hunico, who could work really well as an accomplice of sorts, and a way for Almas to pick up some decent wins against upper-mid-carders, as Zelina Vega builds a new faction.
But, knowing WWE, they’ll probably just have a match next week, Sin Cara will win, and that will be that.
Big Cass vs. Daniel Bryan is probably happening again. Yay?
After the main event which was won by Samoa Joe, Big Cass struck Daniel Bryan with a Big Boot.
They’re probably going to have another match. Likely at Money in the Bank.
I hate being negative, but they really have taken the “magical” feeling away from Bryan’s return.
Matches made for next week:
- Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch
- Naomi and Jimmy Uso vs. Lana and Aiden English – Mixed Tag Team Match
Money in the Bank Build:
- Samoa Joe is the final entrant into the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match.
The Verdict
Raw doesn’t really have that much going on. All the red brand’s Money in the Bank entrants are just taking it turns to have matches against each other, the tag team division is having barbecues, and Sami Zayn is still moaning about Bobby Lashley’s sisters.
Not too much happened on SmackDown Live either though, with the only real heated program being Cass vs. Bryan, which should have ended at Backlash.
The win just goes to the red brand this week.
‘Storyline Progression/Pay-per-view Build Winner – Raw
6 years ago by Liam Winnard
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