By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Money in the Bank
Toronto, Ontario at Scotiabank Arena
Streamed live July 6, 2024 on Peacock
WWE MITB Countdown Pre-Show Notes
-The pre-show was hosted by Michael Cole, Big E, and Wade Barrett in an area inside the venue (the same location as Friday’s Kickoff event). It was noted that Paul Levesque stated there would surprises during the show.
-The first part of Cole’s interview with Seth Rollins aired. Cole noted that Becky Lynch left WWE after losing the Women’s World Championship. Rollins said Lynch is great and is at home with their daughter, who is three-and-a-half and “runs the ship.” Rollins spoke in-character about his WrestleMania XL weekend and how the way everything played out made him feel like it was okay to have surgery and take a break.
-Cole said Ryland James will perform “O Canada” before the show.
-Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn was interviewed by Cathy Kelley in the backstage area. Zayn spoke briefly about his comedy show that was held on Thursday. He said he did not see himself loosing in his home country.
-Bron Breakker was interviewed by Jackie Redmond in another part of the backstage area. Breakker acknowledged that Zayn has the experience advantage over him, but he said Zayn has never been in the ring with an athlete like him. Breakker spoke about winning the championship. Redmond noted that Zayn won the title 91 days earlier and said this would be his fifth title defense.
-Big E dismissed himself from the broadcast desk. Cole said it’s live television and he can’t just take a bathroom break.
-Damian Priest narrated a Money in the Bank video package, which included a cool shot of the various MITB briefcases that have been used over the years.
-Jackie Redmond hosted a video package on WWE’s history in Toronto.
Powell’s POV: I don’t believe the video mentioned “The Big Event” that was headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff in August, 1986 at Exhibition Stadium.
-Shawn Michaels joined Cole and Barrett at the desk and previewed NXT Heatwave. Cole asked Michaels what the first thing he thought when he saw Oba Femi. “Money,” Michaels said before raving about the NXT North American Champion.
-Big E checked in from ringside where he did the “Feel The Power” introduction for MITB rather than New Day. There were scattered fans inside the building. Big E entered the ring and stood next to a ladder. He mentioned Joey Mercury being injured in a past MITB match and said the risk is worth the reward.
-Jackie Redmond replaced Michael Cole at the desk for the second hour. Big E returned to the desk along with Wade Barrett. A fan held up an “I believe in Joe Hendry” sign behind the hosts.
-The second part of Cole’s interview with Rollins aired. Rollins pointed out that Damian Priest needed help to retain his title in his two title defenses on PLEs. Cole asked about the “gentlemen’s agreement” regarding the match stipulation. Rollins said sometimes you have to take that risk. Rollins said Priest’s legacy is who he is as an individual, not as part of Judgment Day. Rollins said more of his career is in his past than in his future, but he feels like he’s just entering his prime.
-Cathy Kelley conducted separate backstage interviews with Tiffany Stratton and LA Knight. Knight acknowledged that Jey Uso is the odds on favorite to win the men’s MITB ladder match, but Knight said he would win the match.
-There were some audio issues, as they played a video package without the audio track. They went to the hosts, yet also played audio from inside the building of the broadcast team being announced. Oops.
-Big E said the six-man tag match feels like The Avengers meeting the worst that Marvel has to offer. He described Jacob Fatu is a monster and said he is a future world champion.
-MITB host Trish Status was shown making her entrance. Once inside the ring, Status said it was so good to be home. She said she was excited to be the person who gets to welcome viewers to a night that would change WWE forever. Status introduced Samantha Irvin, who entered the ring and performed the Star-Spangled Banner (she crushed it). Stratus introduced Ryland James, who sang “O Canada” while standing inside the ring. Let’s play hockey! Wait…
WWE Money in the Bank Main Show
Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show while the Toronto skyline was shown. Footage aired of The Bloodline walking backstage, followed by a shot of Cody Rhodes exiting his tour bus and then playing to fans. Kevin Owens was shown walking backstage while Cole noted that Owens’ mother was hospitalized in Quebec. A separate shot aired of Randy Orton walking backstage. Footage aired of Trish Stratus arriving in a sports car. Seth Rollins was shown playing with a yoyo, and then the male members of Judgment Day and Carlito were shown walking backstage…
The MITB opening video aired… Pyro shot off on the stage, which was covered in ladders. Cole said there were 19,858 fans in attendance at the sold out event. Cole and Corey Graves checked from their broadcast table at ringside. Cole said the men’s MITB match was sponsored by “The Boys” on Prime Video and there would be a video from Vought CEO Ashley Barrett.
Powell’s POV: I normally avoid plugging sponsors, but I’m a big fan of the show and hopefully the video will be fun. I guess this means Amazon isn’t too upset about WWE striking a deal with Netflix. By the way, it doesn’t look like the majority of fans played along with WWE asking them to wear white for a “white out.”
Jey Uso made his entrance through the crowd. Cole noted that Jey’s uncle Sika was buried earlier today. Cole said Jey wanted to be there, but he knew his uncle would want him to do what he does best. Andrade made his entrance wearing his black mask that means way more to him than the viewers. LA Knight came out next and intentionally walked under a ladder at ringside.
Chad Gable made his entrance and was taunted with “you suck” chants. Carmelo Hayes made a standard entrance. The final entrance was made by Drew McIntyre. The crowd chanted “CM Punk” while McIntyre headed to the ring. Ring announcer Samantha Irvin introduced each wrestler as they made their entrance…
1. Jey Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Cody Rhodes, er, Homelander from “The Boys” was shown on the LED boards. Knight and Uso ended up along in the ring. They opted to take out opponents on the floor rather than lock up. They returned to the ring and jawed at one another, but McIntyre battered them and other entrants with a ladder.
McIntyre set up the ladder and reached the briefcase with his hand, but Gable climbed up the other side. Gable put McIntyre in an armbar. Andrade executed a springboard leg drop on Gable. Hayes hit Andrade with a springboard clothesline to knock him off the main ladder. A “we want tables” match broke out less than four minutes into the match.
Andrade and Hayes executed a Splash Fly spot from the middle rope onto a ladder, which drew the first “holy shit” chant. McIntyre and Uso went face-to-face, which drew a “CM Punk” chant. The crowd chanted “yeet” whenever Jey punched McIntyre and popped when he hit McIntyre with a Samoan Drop. Cole said Jey’s last ladder match was TLC in 2015. Gable took out Uso with a German suplex.
Gable performed the Chaos Theory on Hayes and then dumped a ladder onto Andrade. The crowd responded with a “you still suck” chant. Gable set up a ladder and made a play for the briefcase, but Knight pulled him down and put the boots to him while the crowd chanted “yeah” with each kick. Gable avoided a charging Knight in the corner and then hit him with a dragon screw leg whip. Graves said he once watched Gable dribble a bowling ball and emphasized that it was a true story.
Knight placed a large ladder over the apron and the broadcast table. Knight picked up Hayes in powerbomb position, but Hayes slipped away. The first “this is awesome” chant of the night broke out. Hayes and Gable set up two ladders in the ring. Gable had a foot on each ladder while putting Hayes in an ankle lock. Gable released the hold to fight Andrade, who climbed up the other side of one of the ladders. Gable knocked Andrade down.
McIntyre pulled Gable down and ran him into one of the ladders. McIntyre booted Andrade out of the ring with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre went for the briefcase, but Jey stopped him and hit him with a superkick. Knight put McIntyre down with a BFT and then Jey followed it with an Uso Splash on McIntyre.
Knight and Uso climbed opposite sides of a ladder. Jey got a hand on the briefcase, but Knight punched him. Hayes tipped over the ladder, causing Knight and Uso to bump onto the ropes. Hayes hit Jey with Nothing But Net. Hayes set up the ladder and made a play for the briefcase, but Andrade returned and pulled him down. Andrade picked up a ladder and tossed it on Hayes, then created a ladder bridge over the middle rope and the main ladder.
Andrade climbed up the main ladder. Hayes followed up the other side while Knight climbed up behind Andrade, who got his hand on the briefcase. Knight shoved Andrade over the ladder and into a sunset bomb from Hayes onto the ladder bridge. Knight went for the briefcase, but Gable climbed up behind him and pulled him down.
Gable slammed the back of Knight’s head onto the main ladder, then suplexed him over the top rope and onto the ladder that was bridged over the apron and the broadcast table. Gable was about to unhook the briefcase when Jey took the ladder out from under him. Gable held onto the hook for a moment and then fell to the ring. Jey speared Gable.
Jey set up the ladder and was about to unhook the briefcase when McIntyre hit him with another ladder that knocked him down. McIntyre knocked Jey out of the ring with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre climbed up the main ladder and unhooked the briefcase to win the match…
Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso, Carmelo Hayes, Andrade, LA Knight, and Chad Gable in 16:30 to win the men’s Money in the Bank match.
An Ashley Barrett video aired. She had a line about “living under a rock or in Canada.” The video featured footage from the current season of The Boys…
Powell’s POV: The briefcase even had a small Vought logo on it. This was a good MITB match. I like that some of the wrestlers looked like they were truly about to unhook the belt and didn’t just clumsily bat the briefcase around until someone stopped them. McIntyre winning the contract now makes the World Heavyweight Championship match even more interesting.
A video package set up the Intercontinental Title match. Samantha Irvin introduced the challenger and the champion while they made their entrances for the match…
2. Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship. Zayn performed an early Arabian Press. Breakker scrambled to get in position and sold (hopefully) his shoulder after taking the move. Back in the ring, Breakker ducked Zayn moves twice while running the ropes and then put him down with a clothesline. “That wasn’t a clothesline, Michael Cole, that was a Steiner Line,” Graves said.
Zayn rallied a short time later with a rope walk into a tornado DDT for a near fall. Zayn sent Breakker to ringside and joined him on the floor. Zayn went for a moonsault off the barricade, but Breakker caught him. Zayn slipped away and then shoved Breakker into the ring post. Breakker caught Zayn with a clothesline on the floor.
A short time later, Zayn leapfrogged Breakker at ringside, but this time Breakker stopped short of the ring post. Breakker ended up jumping from the apron and clotheslining Zayn, who was seated on the broadcast table. Back inside the ring, Zayn performed an exploder in the corner. Zayn charged for his finisher, but Breakker jumped and hit him with a knee strike.
Breakker slammed Zayn to the mat and then went for a spear, but Zayn caught him with a kick. Zayn waited for Breakker to stand up and then hit him with a Helluva Kick and pinned him.
Sami Zayn defeated Bron Breakker in 13:15 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, Breakker seethed while sitting on the floor next to the barricade while watching Zayn celebrate his win…
Powell’s POV: A pretty good match with a clean finish win for Zayn, which surprised me. I thought Breakker would win or there would be a cheap finish. One loss isn’t going to ruin Breakker, but I am surprised and curious to see what’s next for both men.
An ad aired for WWE Bad Blood on Saturday, October 5 in Atlanta. Tickets go on sale on July 19. Cole said it was the first time that Bad Blood will be held in 27 years. Graves noted that Bad Blood featured the first Hell in a Cell match…
Footage aired of downtown Toronto and then the show went to break for Peacock’s ad-based users while viewers on the ad-free tier saw footage from the WrestleMania XL Behind The Curtain documentary…
Trish Stratus stood on the stage and strolled down memory lane for a moment before recalling that she was once a mystery partner for a certain someone. Stratus introduced John Cena, who headed to the ring to a big ovation.
The front of Cena’s t-shirt read “The Last Time Is Now” and “John Cena’s Farewell.” The back of the t-shirt featured a door and read “After This You Can’t C Me.”
“Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” Cena said. He said he would explain why he was announcing it now and in Canada. He spoke of WWE being on fire. He also spoke of being down and out when only the most hardcore fans stood by his side. Cena said that whether WWE is hot or cold, Canadians always show up. The crowd responded with a “Cena” chant.
Cena said the fans built all of this and that makes it in his mind the perfect place to say what he had to say. Cena asked why now, then said it’s because it’s Money in the Bank, which he called the ultimate opportunity. He said the farewell doesn’t end tonight. He spoke about Raw debuting on Netflix in January and said he would be there.
Cena announced that the 2025 Royal Rumble will be his last. He said the 2025 Elimination Chamber will be his last. Cena announced that WrestleMania 2025 will be the last WrestleMania he competes in. Cena said he would kick off the press conference right after the show and would field any and all questions about his retirement and told viewers they wouldn’t want to miss it.
Cena said he wanted to say thank you, which the crowd responded to with a “Thank you, Cena” chant. Cena called it an incredible gesture of kindness. His voice cracked as he thanked fans for letting him play in the house that they built. He thanked the fans for their voice and said it’s honest and beautifully brutal.
Cena thanked the fans for letting him be there so let the world know they are planning something beautiful that would involve him returning to Toronto to kicks some ass. Cena said the WWE superstars could come get some “because the last time is now,” Cena closed. Cole said he still has a few more matches left to call in Cena’s career. Cena went to the stage area and waved to the fans and thanked them again…
Powell’s POV: Cena has been stating in interviews that he intended to retire from WWE before he turned 50. If he actually retires at WrestleMania, he will do so a few weeks before his 48th birthday. The retirement tour should do big business for WWE and the guy obviously deserves a great sendoff.
Damian Priest was warming up in the Judgment Day clubhouse. Finn Balor told him it was time to punish Seth Rollins. Priest told Balor, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Carlito not to get involved in his match no matter what happened. Once Priest left the room, Balor’s demeanor changed and he said, “Whatever you want, boss”…
A video package spotlighted the World Heavyweight Championship match and then entrances for the match took place with the challenger coming out first followed by the champion. Cole noted that MITB winner Drew McIntyre tweeted “I told you… Remember what I said.” Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match.
4. Damian Priest vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship. The “gentlemen’s agreement” stipulation is that if Priest loses, he must leave The Judgment Day. If Rollins loses, he won’t be allowed to challenge for the title again while Priest is champion.
Rollins set up for a Pedigree during the opening segments. Priest stuffed that and grabbed Rollins by the throat, but Rollins avoided the South of Heaven chokeslam. Priest performed a Broken Arrow and then worked over Rollins in a corner of the ring before hitting a Flatliner that led to a two count a minute into the match.
Rollins clotheslined Priest over the top rope and then Priest landed on his feet. Rollins looked to the entrance and called for Drew McIntyre, then hit Priest with a pair of suicide dives. Rollins hit a third suicide dive and knocked Priest over the broadcast table. Rollins tossed Priest back inside the ring and then springboarded over him.
Rollins put Priest down and then set up for a move, which Graves somehow knew was going to be something new. Rollins performed a springboard swanton and a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Priest came back briefly before Rollins rolled him into a pin for a two count. When both men stood up, Priest put Rollins down with a clothesline.
Priest looked to the entrance area. Priest set up for a Razor’s Edge, but Rollins slipped away. Rollins put Priest down and then went up top and frog splashed the champion for a near fall. Rollins kicked the back of Priest’s knee and then hit him with a forearm shot to the back of the head.
Rollins went up top and was cut off by a Priest uppercut. Graves said both wrestlers were going big early with the goal of winning and getting out of Dodge. Rollins hit Priest with a Buckle Bomb. Priest came right back with a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Priest looked to the entrance area.
Priest slapped Rollins a few times. Rollins fired back with a slip and then both men traded elbow strikes. Priest beat Rollins to the punch with a kick to the gut that looked like it legitimately surprised Rollins. Priest threw more kicks and set up for his finisher, but Rollins stuffed it and set up for his own finisher. Priest backdropped Rollins, who caught Priest with a clunky looking Stomp that led to a near fall.
Rollins stood over Priest and asked him if he wanted to be the man. Rollins encouraged Priest to get up and then pulled him up and pushed him into a corner. Priest hoisted up Rollins and hit the Razor’s Edge for a near fall. Moments later, both wrestlers fought on the ropes.
Priest got the better of it and knocked Rollins down, but Rollins ran back up the ropes and executed a superplex. Rollins went for the Falcon Arrow, but Priest stuffed it. Rollins fought back and then hit the Falcon Arrow. The referee made stopped his count for some reason.
Drew McIntyre’s entrance theme played and he headed to the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase. McIntyre handed his briefcase to the referee and it was made official by the referee and ring announcer.
Damian Priest fought Seth Rollins to a no-contest in 13:00 in a World Heavyweight Championship match.
4. Damian Priest vs. Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre in a Triple Threat for the World Heavyweight Championship. Less than a minute into the match, CM Punk hit the ring and attacked McIntyre. Punk tossed McIntyre over the barricade and into the timekeepers area and then beat him with several chair shots to the back.
Punk looked at the World Heavyweight Championship belt on the podium and then looked at the chair. Punk dropped the chair and then grabbed the title belt. Punk went to the apron and struck McIntyre with the belt. “What the hell are you doing, Phil?” Cole asked Punk, who was seated on the broadcast table. Priest hit McIntyre with a South of Heaven chokeslam and pinned him.
Damian Priest defeated Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins in 1:40 in a Triple Threat to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
After the match, Rollins sat dejected on the floor while Cole explained that Rollins could not challenge for the title while Priest is champion. Priest didn’t look any happier even though he won the match. Punk remained seated on the broadcast table while Cole said he wasn’t the Second City Saint, he was more like the Second City Devil.
Rollins approached Punk. Graves stood up and tried to talk down Rollins while Punk stood on the table and looked at Rollins, who was jawing at him. Cole said Punk affected the entire future of WWE. Cole said that Punk was doing his typical “Who Me?” and had turned WWE upside down…
Powell’s POV: The Priest vs. Rollins portion of the match had some rough moments. I’ll have to go back to figure out what happened when it seemed like Priest didn’t kick out. Normally, I can watch a replay on my laptop and keep the show streaming live on my television, but The Cock has been a hot mess on my laptop tonight. I wonder if Punk is working toward a heel turn given the way Cole was talking about him. Either way, I can see why this match didn’t close the show, as Punk interfering felt predictable and this would have made for a flat ending. Not that it really matters, but shouldn’t the gentlemen’s agreement have ended along with the singles match?
Cole hyped that Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship was now official for SummerSlam… A Gunther video package aired for ad-free Peacock subscribers…
The broadcast team plugged the post show and thanked the musical artist for the MITB theme song. They said the women’s MITB match was up next and then went to another video package while ads aired for subscribers on the ad-based tier…
Samantha Irvin delivered introductions for the women’s MITB match as they came to the ring. Naomi made her entrance for the MITB match. Zoey Stark was out next and had three lines of face paint. Lyra Valkyria was out third. Cole said it was a decade ago today that Valkyria entered the ring for the first time.
The crowd popped when Tiffany Stratton made her entrance. Stratton pointed at her wrist while Cole said it’s Tiffy Time. Chelsea Green received an even bigger pop from her home country fans. There was a “Chelsea” chant once she stood on the apron. Cole noted that a pre match video established that Green is afraid heights. The final entrance went to Iyo Sky…
5. Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Cole noted that CM Punk was the only person to win MITB back-to-back while adding that Sky has a chance to do the same. Green was left alone in the middle of the ring when the other entrants went to ringside to get ladders. Green comically jumped in the air.
Green took a ladder from Sky and then set it up, but she chickened out and teased using the ladder to try to knock down the briefcase, but she ended up using it as a weapon. Sky kicked the ladder into Green. A “Tiffy Time” chant broke out while Stratton and Sky fought inside the ring. Sky dropkicked Stratton into a ladder that was leaning in a corner of the ring and then hit her with a meteora.
Valkyria returned to the ring and worked over Sky before setting up a ladder underneath the briefcase. Valkyria had to ignore Stark until she performed a springboard dropkick on her. Stark suplexed Valkyria and then clotheslined her. Valkyria went for a springboard move, but Stark caught her and dumped her onto a ladder.
Stark placed Valkyria on top of a lying ladder and went for a move over the ropes that missed. Stark appeared to slam her on head onto the mat, which was acknowledged by the broadcast team. Naomi worked over Stark and then placed her on a ladder. Naomi ran the ropes and performed a splits leg drop and then a split-legged moonsault onto Stark.
Stratton returned to the ring and Alabama Slammed Naomi hard onto a ladder that was lying near the ropes. Another “Tiffy Time” chant broke out. Stratton used a ladder to drive Sky into a corner of the ring, then walked up the same ladder and climbed onto the top rope before executing a Swanton onto Naomi, Stark, and Valkyria on the floor.
Green returned to the ring and set up a ladder. Green fired herself up and started to climb the ladder, but Sky hit her from behind with another ladder, which drew boos from the crowd. Sky dumped Green to ringside and then made a play for the briefcase, but Valkyria pulled her down.
Valkyria climbed the ladder, but Sky pulled her so that she was hanging upside down with her legs in between rungs. Sky kicked Valkyria and then tried to climb over her, but Valkyria suplexed her while standing hanging from the ladder. Stark booted Valkyria, which freed her from the ladder. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Stratton and Stark climbed opposite sides of a ladder and fought while Naomi set up another ladder next to their ladder. Naomi ended up with a foot on each ladder in near splits position and then executed a DDT on Stark. Cool spot. Naomi got her hand on the briefcase, but Stratton pulled her down and tossed her to ringside.
Some fans cheered when Stratton was alone inside the ring, but Naomi pulled her to the floor and ran her into the barricade. Naomi pulled out a table, which received a big pop. Naomi pulled out a second table and then Green attacked her from behind.
Green and Stratton opted to work together and set up the two tables on the floor. Valkyria and Stark fought on the two ladders. Sky springboarded onto the other side of one of the ladders. Sky created a ladder bridge over the middle rope. Green slammed Sky’s face on the bridge, but then Sky launched her on top of it. A second bridge was created on other side of one of the standing ladders.
Valkyria made a play for the briefcase, but Stark broke it up and dumped her on one of the ladder bridges. Graves said it was becoming uncomfortable. Cole said he felt sick for enjoying it. Naomi went for the briefcase, but Green pulled her down. Naomi and Green both ended up on one of the bridges. Green drove Naomi onto one of the bridges. Graves said it was ugly and effective as hell.
Stark got both hands on the briefcase. Sky cut her off and they fought on top of a ladder. Stark punched Sky in the gut and set up for a suplex the Sky stuffed. Sky slammed Stark’s head on a ladder and then put Stark on her shoulder and slammed her onto one of the bridges. Green dumped Sky to ringside and then climbed the ladder and got her hands on the hook.
Stratton cut off Green and launched her from the ladder and through the two tables on the floor at ringside. Stratton unhooked the briefcase to win the match…
Tiffany Stratton defeated Chelsea Green, Iyo Sky, Zoey Stark, Naomi, and Lyra Valkyria in 16:50 to win the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Powell’s POV: Damn. The wrestlers took some insane bumps. Cole said afterward that everyone involved deserved a standing ovation and I can’t disagree. I really enjoyed the men’s match, but the women upstaged them. Here’s hoping that everyone came out of that match in one piece. Stratton was my pick to win. Get ready for the broadcast teams to ask if it’s Tiffy Time whenever she teases cashing in.
Cole and Graves stood up and applauded again coming out of a commercial break and put over the women’s MITB ladder match. They shifted the focus to pushing SummerSlam on August 3 in Cleveland. They set up a video for ad-free users while other users saw a commercial break…
Jackie Redmond tried to interview Trish Stratus backstage, but Tiffany Stratton interrupted and boasted. Stratus advised her not to get too cocky and questioned whether she would be a Hall of Famer like her or a flash in the pan…
Cole hyped the MITB post show and said John Cena had a plan for his retirement run and would address it during the show…
The Bloodline members Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa made their entrance. Tama Tonga was wearing a suit, so he will not be in the six-man tag match. Cole said WWE had to pull strings to get Fatu into Canada. Cole said Triple H had to pull strings to make it happen.
Kevin Owens made his entrance while Cole recapped Owens’ mother being hospitalized in Quebec. Cole said Owens was working the show because that’s what his mother would want. Randy Orton made his entrance and the crowd sang along with his entrance theme. Cole said Orton won his first world championship twenty years ago in Toronto. Cody Rhodes made his entrance to a big reaction…
Powell’s POV: They have been using the decibel meter graphic at times tonight. Paul Levesque indicated that it’s legitimate. If that’s actually the case, they have to know that the graphic looks so cheesy that it makes it seem fake. By the way, I was mistaken. Tonga Loa is wearing the suit, so he is not wrestling. I corrected the line above to avoid further confusion.
6. “The Bloodline” Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga (w/Tonga Loa) vs. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens in a six-man tag match. Cole noted that it was Fatu’s first match in WWE. There was a loud “We Want Roman” chant just before the opening bell. There was also “F— you, Solo” chant.
Powell’s POV: It’s nice not having the audio censored. I’ll go with “Tonga” for Tama Tonga and “Loa” for Tonga Loa.
Solo teased starting with Cody, but he tagged in Tonga instead. After a brief exchange, Owens tagged in and received a big pop while he worked over Tonga. Orton checked in and had his eye poked by Tonga, who tagged in Fatu. Orton sidestepped Fatu, who ended up at ringside. Orton caught Fatu trying to return to the ring and hit him with a Draping DDT.
Fatu popped up. Orton dropped down for the Viper’s Pose and acted shocked that Fatu was back on his feet. Fatu performed a Samoan Drop on Orton. Fatu dragged Orton to The Bloodline corner, kicked him in the gut, and tagged in Sikoa. Another “F— you, Solo” chant broke out. Another “We Want Roman” chant broke out while Sikoa roughed up Orton. Tonga tagged in and eventually Orton tagged in Owens.
Owens knocked Fatu off the apron and then hit Tonga with a cannonball. Owens hit Tonga with a Swanton and went for the pin, but Fatu broke it up. Fatu dragged Tonga to his corner and then tagged in. Sikoa tagged in and was booed loudly again before another “F— you, Solo” chant started. The heels isolated Owens.
Loa took a cheap shot at Owens from the floor. Owens threw punches at Sikoa, who dropped him with one shot and then jawed at him in the corner. Sikoa hit a running hip attack and then tagged Fatu, who hit an even better hip attack on Owens.
Owens threw chops at Fatu and then ran the ropes, but Fatu shoulder blocked Owens. Tonga tagged in and worked over Owens with punches. A “Fight Owens Fight” chant started, but the heels were able to keep him isolated in their corner. Sikoa took a cheap shot at Cody to knock him off the apron. Sikoa went after Owens, who avoided him and then pulled the top rope down, causing Sikoa to tumble to the floor.
Owens was about to tag out, but Loa pulled Orton off the apron to prevent it. Owens fired up and traded punches with Sikoa, who got the better of it. Sikoa headbutted Owens, who then avoided a hip attack. Fatu tagged in and went back to work on Owens. A “We Want Cody” chant started. Fatu went for a corner splash that Owens avoided, causing Fatu’s head to hit the ring post casing.
Cody and Sikoa both tagged in. Cody powerslammed Sikoa and followed up with a Disaster Kick. Tonga ran in and took a Cody Cutter. Cody clotheslined Fatu over the top rope to the floor. Cody hit Sikoa with a suicide dive. Cody rushed back to the ring and went for a suicide dive on Fatu, who was pushed out of the way by Loa, who took the move instead.
Cody dumped Fatu into the timekeepers area and it looked like the ringside doctor barely avoided Fatu’s leg. Cody returned to the ring where he was speared by Sikoa, who covered him for a near fall. Cody set up for a Pedigree. Sikoa escaped and then tried to hit Cody, who ducked, which led to the referee being struck by Sikoa. REF BUMP!!!
Owens hit Sikoa with a frog splash. Orton followed up with an RKO on Sikoa. The referee was still down at ringside. Cody went to ringside and cleared the broadcast table. Cody, Orton, and Owens set up for a Triple Powerbomb, but Fatu broke it up. Owens avoided a charging Fatu, who crashed into the referee.
Owens put Fatu through the broadcast table with a frog splash from the barricade. Owens rolled Tonga back inside the ring while a “this is awesome” chant started. Owens set up Tonga for a move, but Loa entered the ring and low-blowed Owens twice. Orton put Loa down with an RKO, then hit another RKO on Tonga. Sikoa put Orton down with a Samoan Spike.
Cody hit Sikoa with CrossRhodes twice. Cody set up for a third, but he gave it up when he spotted Fatu, who hit him with a dive from the ropes. Fatu DDT’d Cody and then helped Sikoa to his feet. Fatu held Cody while Sikoa told Cody to acknowledge him. Sikoa hit Cody with a Samoan Spike. The referee was shoved back inside the ring and he made the three count.
“The Bloodline” Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga defeated WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens in 24:40 in a six-man tag match.
After the match, The Bloodline members stood inside the ring and raised their index fingers. Cole said it was time for the post show and they cut back to the area where the pre-show was held…
Powell’s POV: A good brawl with the expected outcome of Sikoa pinning Cody to set up their likely WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. I love the way they made Fatu seem human for a second when Orton hit him with the Draping DDT only to have Fatu pop right up like a horror movie villain.
Overall, a very good show. All but one of the match outcomes felt predictable, but I like the storyline direction in terms of what they are setting up for SummerSlam. I will have a lot more to say about the show when I team up with Jake Barnett for our same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of WWE MITB by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below.
Samanta Irvin or Lilian Garcia.
Who’s better?
Irvin
I think it’s a tie. Samantha was right with Lillian and delighted me.
“I don’t believe the video mentioned “The Big Event” that was headlined by Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff in August, 1986 at Exhibition Stadium.”
It’s odd how WWE seems to ignore the guy who drew the second biggest amount of money with Hogan.
Might have been purposely left out. Maybe orndorff and family on bad terms w WWE.
Men’s MITB opening leaves us with the possibility that Drew wins, cashes in later, and defends against Punk at SS. Or Punk interferes in this match and we get LA Knight or Chad Gable winning the briefcase.
So I guess Drew is Butcher?lol
Could he cash in on Cody later?
So what do we think of Bron’s music now?
Sami winning clean is an absolute shocker.
Rollins vs Punk just got escalated back near the top of main event matches in the coming months. That’s a solid way to keep the belt on Priest while extending two major feuds out in some potentially very interesting ways.
That might be my favorite women’s MITB so far. Tiffy was the only one who could win and not have the crowd angry about Chelsea losing.
I’m enjoying these 5-6 match cards WWE is doing in between their major shows. It’s a desperate need in a world of two night WrestleManias and 15+ match, 6-7 hour AEW shows.
NWA has been doing the same thing as AEW but with shorter matches. It’s ridiculous.
Ouch at throwing NWA and AEW in same conversation.
I admit that I am a CM Punk mark – and I don’t think we’re seeing a heel turn. At least not yet. It’ll be CM v Drew at Summerslam. It’s unavoidable now. CM v Seth is longer term and it was the plan before Punk tore his tricep.
I feel like such a mark because, at this point, I don’t think that I’ve ever hated a wrestler more than Punk. Kudos to the writers!
“but The Cock has been a hot mess on my laptop tonight”.
Yikes
Look at a certain someone gushing over this PPV after all the predictable moments. I tell you – I know of ONE person in this thread that if they saw a kick out botch in a AEW title main event, or some of the other ones in this show (and let’s add the insane bumps taken by people) – this ONE person would GREATLY be screaming from his mom’s basement about how awful it all was. He’s also be all over how TK is the worst, and add all his other racist, sexist, misogynistic, and stereotypes he gets away with posting on this forum.
He STILL had to even take a dig at (the living rent free in his head) AEW because they presented gave a great show filled with wrestling (too hard for some of you to watch, for some reason), but blows his load over a show with so much filler in between matches. I’m glad I PVR these now so I don’t waste my time. But, I digress. The hypocrisy is just mind blowing.
Seek professional help. Seriously, you’re fucking sick in the head.
Maybe I’m being too critical, but it seemed like there were a lot of botched spots throughout the night. Not badly botched, but some slips, people having to visibly move into the path, for a diving move, etc.
Yep, including the botch on the crotch shot in the main event. Show was a B for me because of that little bit of sloppiness.
Well, the women’s money in the bank ladder match was the best match for me.