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, Dallas Allsopp, Robert DeFelice and Bodeen Green preview WWE Money in the Bank 2021.
It is the time of year to determine the Money in the Bank briefcase winners, who will be able to challenge for either men's or women's World Championships for a calendar year, anytime or anywhere. But just who will be walking out of the show as a briefcase holder?
Question 1: Who will win the women’s Money in the Bank match? Will they successfully cash-in?
ALLSOPP: I have to go with Liv Morgan, who has been built up as a credible threat on SmackDown. Originally, it appeared she would have to defeat all of the remaining challengers from SmackDown, but Bayley’s injury put an end to that. But will she successfully cash-in? Yes, I do believe she will. This is because I feel WWE sees something in her that they can market, and SmackDown in general seems light on semi-credible options to hold the SmackDown Women’s Championship. They could do a lot worse than to get behind Morgan.
DeFELICE: Gun to my head, my answer is Liv Morgan. However, Alexa Bliss is alive and breathing, so she is always a possibility. Additionally, Nikki A.S.H. could very well secure the briefcase to put a button on her push.
As for whether or not they will successfully win a Women’s Championship when they cash-in, the women have yet to lose with the briefcase. So there's always the possibility of a first-time offence. However, I do think whoever cashes in will be successful.
The lack of any surprise entrants is a detriment to the match, but it will be great to see these women get a chance to shine in front of a live crowd.
GREEN: My big pick would have been the last remaining member of the women’s Money in the Bank match who hadn’t been named yet. Whilst I was probably being too optimistic, and know that WWE were likely to put another person in the match and announce it on social media, I do hope we see a huge surprise at Money in the Bank or on SmackDown, with this surprise being an NXT call up such as Toni Storm, or a returning Sasha Banks. But just with the named participants, I am gonna go on the Raw side of things and go with Alexa Bliss.
Question 2: Who will win the men’s Money in the Bank match? Will they successfully cash-in?
DeFELICE: My heart still says it will be Big E, but he has less of a chance of a same-day cash-in on Bobby Lashley now as I saw there is currently a plan to do Goldberg vs Lashley at SummerSlam. That said, Big E is still the best choice to win the briefcase and therefore, I think he will.
GREEN: Personally, I would love to see Big E get the Money in the Bank briefcase. Not only does it create a potentially amazing storyline with him and Roman Reigns that could see The New Day reunite to take on the Bloodline, it could also create some tension if Kofi Kingston does the impossible and gets an upset win over Bobby Lashey. Whilst not every team in WWE needs to break up, as The New Day have shown with their incredible legacy, the thought of Big E being conflicted between being WWE Champion and cashing in does make an interesting narrative, and the shock value of Big E betraying Kingston for the WWE Championship can create a great moment down the line, if done right.
ALLSOPP: Surely it has to be Drew McIntyre? Assuming Bobby Lashley retains his WWE Championship, the stipulation that he cannot challenge for the WWE Championship whilst The All Mighty holds the belt means that McIntyre would be unable to actively cash-in. This could create a dynamic where his need to become WWE Champion again results in a heel turn by costing Lashley the title, thereby allowing him to consequently cash-in. This scenario is why I am adamant that he will cash-in, whilst it is also important for the future success of the concept to have him win and successfully cash-in.
Question 3: Who will walk out of Money in the Bank as WWE Universal Champion? Would Edge be a bigger draw for SummerSlam as WWE Universal Champion?
GREEN: Just like Mr Allsopp, I am torn in two about this match. Whilst I would love to see Edge win the WWE Universal Championship and have his big moment, Roman Reigns is firing on all cylinders right now and can do no wrong. Whilst Edge winning could be a big draw for nostalgia, a big question is what can he do in the long run as Champion, especially given his health, which comes first no matter what. There's also the fact that if Reigns beats Edge, it elevates his status in a huge way and makes him the big star WWE wanted him to be years ago. Ultimately, I am going to go with my gut feeling and say Reigns wins this, but I also would not be surprised if we see a wildcard of sorts happen and see a cash-in from someone like Seth Rollins, especially as it seems WWE doesn’t like having two Money in the Bank holders at the same time for too long.
ALLSOPP: I’m torn on this one, as I am unsure if the John Cena rumours have any legs. If Cena is to compete at SummerSlam for the WWE Universal Championship, a match against Roman Reigns seems to be the bigger prospect. However, if this is not happening, I would genuinely make the switch and give Edge a run with the belt. This is not to say that Reigns deserves to lose it, because he has actually been the best wrestler in the company since his return. WWE needs to capitalise on Edge’s popularity whilst he is fit and healthy, therefore it makes more sense to take advantage of what is one hell of a draw for the company.
DeFELICE: Listen, Edge is my number two favorite wrestler of all time, and nothing would make me happier than seeing him become WWE Universal Champion, but I think the moment to do that was at WrestleMania and currently, Roman Reigns is just too strong to have him lose to anybody, especially with a supposed showdown with John Cena on the horizon.
Personally, I believe Seth Rollins gets involved and he and Edge set up a match for SummerSlam.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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