Thread Rating:
07-05-2011, 12:54 PM
Smackdown Money in the Bank
Heath Slater, 50-1. It's great that he's getting some PPV time in something other than a tag team match, but he's an unremarkable part of the roster with zero personal heat coming in. Likely, he'll be on the receiving end of a big spot from Kane or S(h)eamus.
Justin Gabriel, 45-1. Let's all face it - he's in the match solely so he can hit a 450-splash from the top of a ladder. He may also be here to finally split from Slater and Barrett.
Kane, 35-1. He won last year, and doesn't strike anyone as a viable 2-time winner. He took the WHC last year out of dire need for a stable champion, but with Orton and Christian at the top of the heap, Kane doesn't need to come to the rescue this year.
Sin Cara, 30-1. He just lost his first match, and despite being "Triple H's pet project," he's no place close to a major title shot. He'll botch some big spots and he'll hit some big spots, but he is a crash and burn away from being an after thought in this match.
Daniel Bryan, 25-1. He's a babyface with very little momentum. That never bodes well in a match like this, which favors heels seeking a breakout. Bryan is a great mid-card worker, but not a guy I see holding a briefcase.
Wade Barrett, 10-1. Odds suddenly improve when we get to my top 3. Barrett just dropped the IC title to Big Zeke, and is now seeking a new program. I have too strong a feeling that the MITB ladder match is the venue against which the Corre will finally split, which means Barrett getting his chance wrecked by Gabriel and Slater is just too likely.
Cody Rhodes, 6-1. The Dashing One has really come into his own as of late, and I could absolutely see him as a clear foil to Randy Orton in the short term. I still don't think he's a long term championship contender, but he's a guy who could very feasibly win this match.
Shamus, 3-1. The big man from Ireland has been on the fringe of the Orton / Christian feud for some time now, and has heat with both men. Plus, since he's a two-time former WWE Champion, a Smackdown main event at Summer Slam consisting of S(h)eamus and Orton would be a draw. The potential foil here is the fact that S(h)eamus clearly doesn't "need" the Money in the Bank briefcase to be a relevant title contender, but he'd sure be a safe bet. Overall, though, unless you want to donate your money, don't bet outside of the top 3.
Raw Money in the Bank
Alex Riley, 45-1. Too new, too green, and embroiled in an unresolved feud with The Miz. Last night's Raw further showed us that there is still bad blood with Riley and Miz, and with Riley 2-0 against his former friend, Miz will be pre-occupied with ending Riley's chances.
Evan Bourne, 40-1. Just like Justin Gabriel and Sin Cara on Smackdown, Bourne isn't a serious contender for the briefcase here. He is there to do some amazing high spots - probably with fewer botches than Sin Cara - and then get flattened.
Jack Swagger, 38-1. He's won the Money in the Bank before, and won the World Heavyweight Title as a result. And from there? One of the worst world title reigns ever. Swagger has been embarrassed by Evan Bourne for weeks now, and last night on Raw had a HUGE win <smirk> over...Sgt. Slaughter!?
The Miz, 20-1. I don't generally like the guys who are in unresolved feuds coming in to these matches. Miz's feud with Riley is heating up, which makes Miz a prime target of a big let down in this match. Plus, Miz had the case for MONTHS last year, and if he had it again now, fans would get a little annoyed.
Kofi Kingston, 20-1. Same odds as Miz for many similar reasons. He's still in a feud over the US title with Dolph Ziggler, who is oddly not in this match at all. I'd not be shocked if Ziggles interferes. Kofi is also a face (MITB favors heels) in whom I lack confidence to be able to carry that briefcase around for a while.
R-Truth, 15-1. As interesting as Truth with the Money in the Bank case would be - for about 2-3 weeks - the Little Jimmy puns would run their course really fast. Truth is a strange case of a heel who works better when the odds are stacked against him. Comspiracy claims and all. Plus, there wasn't very much too fascinating about his one-month program with Cena that makes ANYONE want to see it again.
Rey Mysterio, 10-1. It's no secret that I am not a Mysterio fan. I respect Oscar Guttierez, but I am way past the Rey character. The 619 is the most obnoxiously overdone finisher since the Worm. But that said, the guy is consistent and always a threat in a match like this. Let's just say for a second that Punk somehow beats Cena for the title. Wouldn't Rey be a magnificent choice for Punk's first defense? The two have had wars in the ring. Even Cena vs Rey would be interesting because it would test the loyalty of WWE's 6-14 year old market. Puberty be damned!
Alberto del Rio, 2-1. My overwhelming favorite, much the way he was for the Royal Rumble. There's just something so natural about del Rio riding into an arena in a Bentley and emerging from the drivers seat with the MITB case in hand and odd scarf (mid-summer, mind you) around his neck. He's a logical future contender for John Cena, and as he won the "new" #1 contenders match last night on Raw, he is sort of left twisting in the wind. del Rio was sent to Raw to be a top heel to John Cena. If Punk did not and does not resign, it's del Rio's "brass ring" to grab.
Heath Slater, 50-1. It's great that he's getting some PPV time in something other than a tag team match, but he's an unremarkable part of the roster with zero personal heat coming in. Likely, he'll be on the receiving end of a big spot from Kane or S(h)eamus.
Justin Gabriel, 45-1. Let's all face it - he's in the match solely so he can hit a 450-splash from the top of a ladder. He may also be here to finally split from Slater and Barrett.
Kane, 35-1. He won last year, and doesn't strike anyone as a viable 2-time winner. He took the WHC last year out of dire need for a stable champion, but with Orton and Christian at the top of the heap, Kane doesn't need to come to the rescue this year.
Sin Cara, 30-1. He just lost his first match, and despite being "Triple H's pet project," he's no place close to a major title shot. He'll botch some big spots and he'll hit some big spots, but he is a crash and burn away from being an after thought in this match.
Daniel Bryan, 25-1. He's a babyface with very little momentum. That never bodes well in a match like this, which favors heels seeking a breakout. Bryan is a great mid-card worker, but not a guy I see holding a briefcase.
Wade Barrett, 10-1. Odds suddenly improve when we get to my top 3. Barrett just dropped the IC title to Big Zeke, and is now seeking a new program. I have too strong a feeling that the MITB ladder match is the venue against which the Corre will finally split, which means Barrett getting his chance wrecked by Gabriel and Slater is just too likely.
Cody Rhodes, 6-1. The Dashing One has really come into his own as of late, and I could absolutely see him as a clear foil to Randy Orton in the short term. I still don't think he's a long term championship contender, but he's a guy who could very feasibly win this match.
Shamus, 3-1. The big man from Ireland has been on the fringe of the Orton / Christian feud for some time now, and has heat with both men. Plus, since he's a two-time former WWE Champion, a Smackdown main event at Summer Slam consisting of S(h)eamus and Orton would be a draw. The potential foil here is the fact that S(h)eamus clearly doesn't "need" the Money in the Bank briefcase to be a relevant title contender, but he'd sure be a safe bet. Overall, though, unless you want to donate your money, don't bet outside of the top 3.
Raw Money in the Bank
Alex Riley, 45-1. Too new, too green, and embroiled in an unresolved feud with The Miz. Last night's Raw further showed us that there is still bad blood with Riley and Miz, and with Riley 2-0 against his former friend, Miz will be pre-occupied with ending Riley's chances.
Evan Bourne, 40-1. Just like Justin Gabriel and Sin Cara on Smackdown, Bourne isn't a serious contender for the briefcase here. He is there to do some amazing high spots - probably with fewer botches than Sin Cara - and then get flattened.
Jack Swagger, 38-1. He's won the Money in the Bank before, and won the World Heavyweight Title as a result. And from there? One of the worst world title reigns ever. Swagger has been embarrassed by Evan Bourne for weeks now, and last night on Raw had a HUGE win <smirk> over...Sgt. Slaughter!?
The Miz, 20-1. I don't generally like the guys who are in unresolved feuds coming in to these matches. Miz's feud with Riley is heating up, which makes Miz a prime target of a big let down in this match. Plus, Miz had the case for MONTHS last year, and if he had it again now, fans would get a little annoyed.
Kofi Kingston, 20-1. Same odds as Miz for many similar reasons. He's still in a feud over the US title with Dolph Ziggler, who is oddly not in this match at all. I'd not be shocked if Ziggles interferes. Kofi is also a face (MITB favors heels) in whom I lack confidence to be able to carry that briefcase around for a while.
R-Truth, 15-1. As interesting as Truth with the Money in the Bank case would be - for about 2-3 weeks - the Little Jimmy puns would run their course really fast. Truth is a strange case of a heel who works better when the odds are stacked against him. Comspiracy claims and all. Plus, there wasn't very much too fascinating about his one-month program with Cena that makes ANYONE want to see it again.
Rey Mysterio, 10-1. It's no secret that I am not a Mysterio fan. I respect Oscar Guttierez, but I am way past the Rey character. The 619 is the most obnoxiously overdone finisher since the Worm. But that said, the guy is consistent and always a threat in a match like this. Let's just say for a second that Punk somehow beats Cena for the title. Wouldn't Rey be a magnificent choice for Punk's first defense? The two have had wars in the ring. Even Cena vs Rey would be interesting because it would test the loyalty of WWE's 6-14 year old market. Puberty be damned!
Alberto del Rio, 2-1. My overwhelming favorite, much the way he was for the Royal Rumble. There's just something so natural about del Rio riding into an arena in a Bentley and emerging from the drivers seat with the MITB case in hand and odd scarf (mid-summer, mind you) around his neck. He's a logical future contender for John Cena, and as he won the "new" #1 contenders match last night on Raw, he is sort of left twisting in the wind. del Rio was sent to Raw to be a top heel to John Cena. If Punk did not and does not resign, it's del Rio's "brass ring" to grab.
![[-]](https://bluegrassrivals.com/forum/images/lifestyle/collapse.png)
07-05-2011, 05:39 PM
I don't know anything about handicapping but I would agree that MITB is certainly a great match for heels.
I will take Sheamus or Sin-Cara for Smackdown.
Sheamus is a strange case because I can't figure out if he is a main eventer or a mid-carder because WWE uses him so strangely. I like him as a contender, so I am holding out hope that he becomes a serious contender again.
I thought, and still do think, they are trying to give Cara a huge push to set up a match between him and Rey Mysterio Jr. Few single events could give him a bigger push than winning this match.
I will take Sheamus or Sin-Cara for Smackdown.
Sheamus is a strange case because I can't figure out if he is a main eventer or a mid-carder because WWE uses him so strangely. I like him as a contender, so I am holding out hope that he becomes a serious contender again.
I thought, and still do think, they are trying to give Cara a huge push to set up a match between him and Rey Mysterio Jr. Few single events could give him a bigger push than winning this match.
07-06-2011, 04:09 AM
I'm predicting Cody Rhodes winning the Smackdown MITB.
Del Rio winning the Raw MITB.
Del Rio winning the Raw MITB.
07-06-2011, 09:34 AM
LWC Wrote:I don't know anything about handicapping but I would agree that MITB is certainly a great match for heels.
I will take Sheamus or Sin-Cara for Smackdown.
Sheamus is a strange case because I can't figure out if he is a main eventer or a mid-carder because WWE uses him so strangely. I like him as a contender, so I am holding out hope that he becomes a serious contender again.
I thought, and still do think, they are trying to give Cara a huge push to set up a match between him and Rey Mysterio Jr. Few single events could give him a bigger push than winning this match.
Bottom-line, Vince has made a commitment to push every possible individual on the roster. He is going to a "Throw it all on the wall and see which one sticks". I like what he has done with R-Truth, Miz, Reiley, Sin-Cara, Sheamus, Mark Henry. He is trying to put every guy in a Main Event environment to see who the fans show emotion.
R-Truth has been doing a good job even though it has been very sloppy. Wht he is doing has not been done in a long time, and I'm liking it. I'd almost expect to see someone who we would not think win on of the MIB just to give another new person a push.
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
