Money in the Bank Predictions
By Josh Roth
Lana vs. Naomi- Smackdown Women’s Championship
This will be Lana’s first one on one match on the main roster and whether she deserves it or not, it will be a title match too. I am genuinely curious about how she will perform in the ring. I have some faith that it will surprise people and that she will show that she can actually go in the ring. Naomi should win this match, but as we have seen on Smackdown with their current WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, anything is possible. Plus can you imagine the heel heat she would get if she won.
Prediction: Naomi retains (Watch out for a cash in here, but I think it would be best to hold off)
New Day vs. the Usos- Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Man did I miss New Day! They really have brought back legitimacy to the tag team picture on Smackdown (although kudos to Usos and Breezango for getting me interested in that division again). Usos have been desperate for a good adversary and New Day is obviously that. I am looking for a nice long feud between these two, so in order for that to happen we likely need to see Usos retain. There should be some underhanded tactics going on in this match and would not shock me if Usos got themselves disqualified from this match.
Prediction: The Usos retain
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal- WWE Championship
I believe that the WWE universe is still in a bit of shock from Jinder Mahal’s upset victory over Randy Orton at Backlash to win the WWE Championship. I don’t think Jinder will be holding on to this title for very long, but it is hard to see him losing it right away here. Now if you want a quick cash in with the winner of the money in the bank and if the winner is a heel you could obviously have Orton win here, but I don’t think there will be a quick cash in. Plus there are a couple big elements going against Orton here: hometown curse and Singh Brothers.
Prediction: Jinder Mahal retains
Women’s Money in the Bank (with Odds and Prediction)
Becky Lynch- Odds: 20%
It’s tough to determine her odds. She is clearly one of the best faces in the business and with Naomi currently holding the title, it doesn’t seem very likely that they would put that briefcase on her and typically the briefcase is given to heels. However if Lana were to win, this would be a perfect person to put that briefcase on.
Carmella- Odds: 35%
This has to be the favorite and there is one big reason why: The Big Hog James Ellsworth. I would love to see him climb the ladder at somepoint in this match and it would be cool to see him go up, get the briefcase and hand it to Carmella. Carmella also draws a good amount of heat and with Naomi holding the championship it only furthers her odds.
Charlotte- Odds: 18%
Charlotte will likely be the star of this match and I expect some great spots for her. However, I don’t feel like she needs the briefcase because she will likely get a title shot here soon anyways. Plus she is currently working as a face and if I would give the belt to anyone as a face it would be Becky. You can never rule out the genetically superior one, but I don’t expect her to walk out of this match on top.
Natalya- Odds: 22%
This is who I would like to see win. Natalya was the one that got the “Welcoming Committee” together and is a big reason why Carmella and Tamina are in this type of a match. She also is a great in ring worker. Having the briefcase with the committee surrounding her would make the most sense and would further her heel character. However, I feel like they are really lining this up for Carmella.
Tamina- Odds: 5%
Tamina will have the lowest odds to win simply because she has not been around that long and probably needs time to re-establish herself. I am a big fan and think she would be a nice surprise to hold the briefcase and would certainly strike fear to whoever was holding the championship. Still I expect the other Welcoming Committee counterparts to have a better shot.
Prediction: Carmella
Men’s Money in the Bank (with Odds and Prediction)
AJ Styles- Odds: 10%
I am so excited for this match and this is a big reason why. I don’t expect AJ to win, because he is simply phenomenal and does not need a briefcase to get the title. He will be in the title picture shortly and would not be surprised to see him as the WWE champion going into Summerslam. This briefcase needs to be saved for someone who needs it.
Baron Corbin-Odds: 27%
This is going to be one of the odds on favorite. Personally I would like to see him go after the US Championship first and have a run with that before heading into the WWE Championship picture, but if you are trying to establish new talent and main event guys, Baron would certainly be one of the guys that would benefit with the briefcase. Plus he could have the champion on edge night in and night out until he decided to cash in.
Dolph Ziggler- Odds: 5%
Was likely added because he has experience in this match and tends to put on a great show in ladder matches. However I think it would be a pretty good move to put the briefcase on Dolph to enhance the heel heat and could you imagine the reaction he would get if he cashed in on AJ Styles? Don’t expect Dolph to actually win though with the likes of Baron Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn all need a proper push.
Kevin Owens- Odds: 15%
I am having trouble pegging his odds. I like the idea of him going around saying he is the face of America and soon to be the face of the world, but like AJ Styles I think he will get a shot at the WWE Championship soon. Also, like mentioned above, others are in need of the briefcase more.
Sami Zayn- Odds: 20%
Admittedly I am a Sami Zayn mark, but I honestly feel like this should be the guy with the briefcase. Nothing would be better than seeing him overanalyzing when he should cash in and who he should cash it in on. Plus I think with his current feud with Baron Corbin it could intensify it and we could see some nasty back stage brawls, which in turn would help further Corbin’s character and career. Plus wouldn’t it make sense to have Sami eventually cash it in on Kevin Owens.
Shinsuke Nakamura- Odds: 23%
The current consensus is that the winner will either be Corbin or Shinsuke. Nakamura would be nice, but his character doesn’t need it. He already is out here pinning Kevin Owens and is being pushed like crazy, he doesn’t need the briefcase to get into that title picture. However, Nakamura is fresh blood and would be a good option to have cash in on Jinder especially if you want to see AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Summerslam. I feel like Sami and Baron could use it more though.
Prediction: Sami Zayn
Lana vs. Naomi- Smackdown Women’s Championship
This will be Lana’s first one on one match on the main roster and whether she deserves it or not, it will be a title match too. I am genuinely curious about how she will perform in the ring. I have some faith that it will surprise people and that she will show that she can actually go in the ring. Naomi should win this match, but as we have seen on Smackdown with their current WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, anything is possible. Plus can you imagine the heel heat she would get if she won.
Prediction: Naomi retains (Watch out for a cash in here, but I think it would be best to hold off)
New Day vs. the Usos- Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Man did I miss New Day! They really have brought back legitimacy to the tag team picture on Smackdown (although kudos to Usos and Breezango for getting me interested in that division again). Usos have been desperate for a good adversary and New Day is obviously that. I am looking for a nice long feud between these two, so in order for that to happen we likely need to see Usos retain. There should be some underhanded tactics going on in this match and would not shock me if Usos got themselves disqualified from this match.
Prediction: The Usos retain
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal- WWE Championship
I believe that the WWE universe is still in a bit of shock from Jinder Mahal’s upset victory over Randy Orton at Backlash to win the WWE Championship. I don’t think Jinder will be holding on to this title for very long, but it is hard to see him losing it right away here. Now if you want a quick cash in with the winner of the money in the bank and if the winner is a heel you could obviously have Orton win here, but I don’t think there will be a quick cash in. Plus there are a couple big elements going against Orton here: hometown curse and Singh Brothers.
Prediction: Jinder Mahal retains
Women’s Money in the Bank (with Odds and Prediction)
Becky Lynch- Odds: 20%
It’s tough to determine her odds. She is clearly one of the best faces in the business and with Naomi currently holding the title, it doesn’t seem very likely that they would put that briefcase on her and typically the briefcase is given to heels. However if Lana were to win, this would be a perfect person to put that briefcase on.
Carmella- Odds: 35%
This has to be the favorite and there is one big reason why: The Big Hog James Ellsworth. I would love to see him climb the ladder at somepoint in this match and it would be cool to see him go up, get the briefcase and hand it to Carmella. Carmella also draws a good amount of heat and with Naomi holding the championship it only furthers her odds.
Charlotte- Odds: 18%
Charlotte will likely be the star of this match and I expect some great spots for her. However, I don’t feel like she needs the briefcase because she will likely get a title shot here soon anyways. Plus she is currently working as a face and if I would give the belt to anyone as a face it would be Becky. You can never rule out the genetically superior one, but I don’t expect her to walk out of this match on top.
Natalya- Odds: 22%
This is who I would like to see win. Natalya was the one that got the “Welcoming Committee” together and is a big reason why Carmella and Tamina are in this type of a match. She also is a great in ring worker. Having the briefcase with the committee surrounding her would make the most sense and would further her heel character. However, I feel like they are really lining this up for Carmella.
Tamina- Odds: 5%
Tamina will have the lowest odds to win simply because she has not been around that long and probably needs time to re-establish herself. I am a big fan and think she would be a nice surprise to hold the briefcase and would certainly strike fear to whoever was holding the championship. Still I expect the other Welcoming Committee counterparts to have a better shot.
Prediction: Carmella
Men’s Money in the Bank (with Odds and Prediction)
AJ Styles- Odds: 10%
I am so excited for this match and this is a big reason why. I don’t expect AJ to win, because he is simply phenomenal and does not need a briefcase to get the title. He will be in the title picture shortly and would not be surprised to see him as the WWE champion going into Summerslam. This briefcase needs to be saved for someone who needs it.
Baron Corbin-Odds: 27%
This is going to be one of the odds on favorite. Personally I would like to see him go after the US Championship first and have a run with that before heading into the WWE Championship picture, but if you are trying to establish new talent and main event guys, Baron would certainly be one of the guys that would benefit with the briefcase. Plus he could have the champion on edge night in and night out until he decided to cash in.
Dolph Ziggler- Odds: 5%
Was likely added because he has experience in this match and tends to put on a great show in ladder matches. However I think it would be a pretty good move to put the briefcase on Dolph to enhance the heel heat and could you imagine the reaction he would get if he cashed in on AJ Styles? Don’t expect Dolph to actually win though with the likes of Baron Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn all need a proper push.
Kevin Owens- Odds: 15%
I am having trouble pegging his odds. I like the idea of him going around saying he is the face of America and soon to be the face of the world, but like AJ Styles I think he will get a shot at the WWE Championship soon. Also, like mentioned above, others are in need of the briefcase more.
Sami Zayn- Odds: 20%
Admittedly I am a Sami Zayn mark, but I honestly feel like this should be the guy with the briefcase. Nothing would be better than seeing him overanalyzing when he should cash in and who he should cash it in on. Plus I think with his current feud with Baron Corbin it could intensify it and we could see some nasty back stage brawls, which in turn would help further Corbin’s character and career. Plus wouldn’t it make sense to have Sami eventually cash it in on Kevin Owens.
Shinsuke Nakamura- Odds: 23%
The current consensus is that the winner will either be Corbin or Shinsuke. Nakamura would be nice, but his character doesn’t need it. He already is out here pinning Kevin Owens and is being pushed like crazy, he doesn’t need the briefcase to get into that title picture. However, Nakamura is fresh blood and would be a good option to have cash in on Jinder especially if you want to see AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Summerslam. I feel like Sami and Baron could use it more though.
Prediction: Sami Zayn