Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Robert DeFelice, Wes Keefer, and Ben Guest will be giving their opinions on the SmackDown exclusive pay-per-view, Money in the Bank. With not one but two Money in the Bank briefcases up for grabs, Jinder Mahal defending his WWE Championship in Randy Orton's hometown, and a few surprises surely coming our way, the Smark Out Moment team looks at what they expect to see this Sunday.


DeFelice: Money in the Bank is very much the summertime version of the Royal Rumble. The ladder match itself offers quite a few scenarios stemming from its outcome therefore, it's not as easy to predict like most matches throughout the year. In this year's case, A lot of the attention will be on the fact that there are two different versions, one for the men and one for the women. It's a history making night, so let's get right into it.

The male Money in the Bank match is rather star-studded this year and I can't help but wonder if that's to make up for the still mostly underwhelming champion that the blue brand has. Now, personally I usually bet on the wrong horse in this kind of situation because this is one situation where I go with who I am the biggest fan of, but I'm going to break it down into a few categories: Longshot, tossups, dark horse, and winner.

LONGSHOTS: For this particular match, I'm going to say that the longshots are Kevin Owens and Shinsuke Nakamura, both in any other circumstance would be strong candidates to win the thing but they both have different roles then make them unlikely to win. Kevin is in the middle of a revamp as the face of America with the United States championship. Nakamura just showed up and has a ways to go before reaching championship level. I predict that both will put on a good showing and end up in a program with each other with the first big showdown at SummerSlam.

TOSSUPS: This category should be self-explanatory. It's the two guys in the match that I think could win believably but probably won't. Dolph and AJ Styles are the two that come to mind for this match. AJ had a fantastic year in 2016 and he could easily continue that momentum here, however, he doesn't need the victory but he very well could be the one that steals the show with one spectacular moment. Dolph, on the other hand, is heavily rumored to be leaving the company and I'd love to see him win to show that the company still sees the drawing power that he has always possessed.

DARK HORSE: Sami Zayn. To put it simply, there is no better or more beloved fan favorite than this man. I don't 100% expect him to win but I do think he would make a helluva choice because his cash and moment can work as a long drawn-out storyline or as a shot in the arm feel good moment that everybody will love and talk about. He's very much become that RVD type character in the sense that he's very much always going to be super over but never fully gets the brass ring. He's easy to beat and easy to build up again but this could be a great moment for him and this might be one that they should not sleep on.

WINNER: Baron Corbin. Simply put, he is one of the most unique things going in the landscape today. This is kind of a funny thought because a few years ago he would've been another case of wash, rinse, repeat. However, since the smaller superstars taken over, guys like Baron Corbin are a real rarity. I'm a huge fan of his and I want him to take the briefcase home and I think logically, he very well could. He has shown great improvement and intensity and while I do have my reserves that I will get to in the next section, I'd like to see him take it all.

As far as the women are concerned, I'm looking forward to seeing them make history and now I will break down their match.

FEMALE TOSSUPS: For me, three out of the five women are tossup situations. I think Charlotte has had way too many opportunities to make history and I think she should sit this one out. Tamina comes across like a longshot, but in actuality now would be a perfect time for her to break out finally. Unfortunately for Natalya, I just can't help but feel like it's too little too late for her. However, that doesn't mean that they won't surprise me.

FEMALE DARK HORSE: I'm going with Becky Lynch as my dark horse. I really think they can use this match to switch her character into more of a cold blooded tactical machine of sorts. I, of course, have my doubts but I can dream.

FEMALE WINNER: Carmella. I've said in the past that I think she is the hidden gem of the division. This match and the Money in the Bank briefcase and moniker can really elevate her to that next level, not to mention the gold that will be Ellsworth carrying around her briefcase for her.

KEEFER: Money In The Bank is by far my favorite event of the year. Yes, even more than SummerSlam and sometimes WrestleMania. The Ladder matches are just full of action and big spots and, in the early years, you could hardly predict the winners. The women of the company have been greatly improving over the years and handing them their own MITB ladder match is a major breakthrough that I doubt they will let slip.

MALE LONGSHOT- Dolph Ziggler is probably the least likely to come away with a win here, as he has been rumored to be looking elsewhere for a new opportunity. In his past, Ziggler has also not been given the role as a top superstar for very long, as he had two short stints as world champion,

MALE DARK HORSE- Sami Zayn seems like an underdog in this match, as he is in most matches as of late. The other men involved in the match have been bigger pushes than Zayn, who seems a little lost in the mix. His underdog story is just the thing that could make him a likely winner of the briefcase. Owens and Styles have proven they can already hang around in the main event picture. Corbin and Nakamura are on the verge of breaking into the championship scene and Ziggler has been there before. Zayn winning the briefcase could fix the issues of his character and make him a real threat.

MALE WINNER- The overall favorite seems to be Baron Corbin and I agree. He just seems to fit the mold a bit better. Most MITB winners are heels and heels make sense as the briefcase holder. He is an opportunistic and a big brute who could easily be the next top heel in the company.

FEMALE LONGSHOT- Charlotte might be the most prestigious superstar in this match and with the most accomplished this far into her career. It seems she was added to the card for some starpower and to be in the spotlight. However, she is the one star that does not need this win to put her over.

FEMALE DARK HORSE- Natalya is the veteran in this match and has had quite a career. She is 35 and on the decline in her career. She has been in the spotlight a lot lately, but hasn't been taken as a real threat. Winning this match and putting all of new generation on their toes could be an excellent way to end her career in WWE.

FEMALE WINNER- Carmella is said to be the big favorite, but Becky Lynch makes more sense to me. She seems to have been put on the back burner for the championship, but she deserves much more. Winning the match and going heel could bring new life into her character.

GUEST: For the men's match I think everyone except Dolph Ziggler could easily work very well. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are two of the best wrestlers on the roster and could probably make almost anything work. Sami Zayn would be interesting as a very stereotypical baby-face and it's much easier to imagine a heel with the briefcase, so I would love to see how that dynamic would be presented and how Sami would pull it off. However, Baron Corbin is the man I think will and should walk away as Mr. Money in the Bank. An up and coming star who in a couple of years could be a staple of the main event and I think towards the end of the year, he should cash in on someone who is very over (maybe Nakamura, Styles or Zayn) and go on a small title run before losing the title just before WrestleMania.

As for the women, I think there is a genuinely interesting story, no matter who wins. Natalya could play the old-timer proving that she can still hang with the new era, using heel tactics at every turn of course. Becky Lynch could turn heel in the middle of holding the briefcase, or even during her cash-in. Charlotte… well, she's one of the best wrestlers in the world and I trust her in any situation. Tamina would be interesting and give her the legitimacy she probably deserves, or at least needs. But my favourite to win is Carmella. I think Carmella has been somewhat overlooked and with her stooge, Ellsworth, could have a very interesting time holding the briefcase, before cashing in on the most over baby-face on the roster, whoever that is at the time.


DeFELICE: One of my biggest issues with the contract in recent years has been its application as kind of a get out of jail free card. I think Corbin will cash in when they are in a bind of some sort and somebody else's injured. Carmella, on the other hand, being from New York I expect her to cash in at some point during SummerSlam or the SmackDown right after. I would like to see the briefcase use more to build stories and not just fill time or something worse but for now, I just know that they will use it as their free pass at some point in the year.

KEEFER: There is a chance that either winner could cash in the contract the same night, For Corbin, if Mahal retains the belt, he can pounce on the ultimate opportunity. The reason? Ratings are down since Mahal won the title and he hasn't gotten over as well as the company had hoped. Lynch could shock the WWE Universe and turn heel later in the night and attack Naomi after she retains. However, both should have decent runs with the briefcase and use it to build up their characters. Corbin could cash in if Cena comes back and becomes champion. This would push him greatly having beaten the future Hall of Famer. Becky Lynch could tease a cash in over several months in a feud with Naomi and the other top faces.

GUEST: For some reason, I think the women's contract will be used on the same night, but I hope they build up a babyface to the point where Carmella will become the biggest heel, simply for cashing in on her. I don't really know when or exactly how I want them to do it, but they need to make Carmella the most hated woman in the company. As for Corbin, I either want him to cash in on Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania or for him to take the title sometime in December, then lose it at the pay-per-view before WrestleMania (but not get his rematch at WrestleMania), so he can have some kind of redemption storyline.


DeFELICE: This match is as much of a pick em as the one they had at Backlash. On the one hand, Randy is a safe bet and a lot of times the WWE likes the safe bet. On the other hand, however, Mahal is making the most of his success and proving that anything can happen. I'm going to go ahead and pick the Maharajah to retain. I think it's too early and people are still excited so he can keep the championship. With John Cena coming back on July 4, I see him teasing going to the red brand but ultimately deciding to stay after my whole makes fun of America. Those two will do battle at SummerSlam with John Cena officially breaking the mainstream record and reaching 17 championships. Randy will move down to a feud with the Money in the Bank winner whoever that may be.

KEEFER: Jinder Mahal needs to retain the title in order to keep his career alive. Losing to Orton so soon would throw all his credibility he has established. John Cena is coming back soon and will most likely go after the title. This match would skyrocket Mahal's stock, even if he loses but still comes close. SmackDown's "anything can happen" attitude is working for them and they need to continue with "the impossible." Orton should not and will not win in his hometown, but will remain in the picture.

GUEST: No. I think Jinder loses against someone like Styles or Nakamura at...Battleground? SummerSlam? What's the next SmackDown pay-per-view? There are too many pay-per-views!