Follow my blog with Bloglovin The odds were in Baron Corbin's favor. Of the 17 men who have won the Money in the Bank ladder match, 13 have successfully cashed-in and won the heavyweight championship. Corbin failed to do that with his cash-in against Jinder Mahal and joins the ranks for John Cena, Mr. Kennedy and Damien Sandow. I put Kennedy in that company because he lost the briefcase to Edge, but I digress...
Cena gets whacked
Courtesy: WWE
Regular readers of this blog and listeners to the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast know I'm no fan of Corbin. My blog before MITB this year was titled: My Pick for MITB is ABC (Anyone But Corbin). But I never expected him to fail in his attempt to cash-in. I also believed he would wait until Nakamura beat Jinder at SummerSlam and then win the title himself.
Pinned!
Courtesy: WWE
It's strange to me that the company was seemingly so high on Corbin since calling him up to the main roster. He won the Andre the Giant Memorial in his debut and then picked up MITB. It appeared they were grooming him for a top dog status. I didn't agree with it, but I had come to accept it. I wonder what happened. My first instinct is he must have pissed someone off backstage. Not just because he lost the opportunity but how quickly and cleanly he lost it. Some fans online have said it was too early for Corbin to win the gold. I agree with that assessment, but let's face it, the contract is valid for a year, so he still had 10 months. That's a lifetime in this business. Working with Cena at SummerSlam and adding some opponents like AJ Styles and Randy Orton would certainly have put him in a better position by the spring. But obviously, there wasn't a plan in place for that to happen.
The agony of defeat
Courtesy: WWE
Even though the character hasn't grown on me, I'm sympathetic to the fact that the guy has missed out on a golden opportunity. In my 1-2-3 cents, there is always a chance to grow and develop and turn me into a believer. Now I'm curious to see what happens with him and Cena Sunday at SummerSlam.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin I'm looking forward to this year's Money in the Bank event for a few reasons. Number one, I'll be there. I'm joining some friends from the Stride Pro Wrestling roster along with my buddy Weston (who will be on the podcast with me reviewing the show, it'll drop later than usual on Monday). Chad will be there too, but he's got primo seats near the ring. Before the show starts I'm going to the live Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard show too. It's going to be a great day. Here are some quick thoughts on the show. The Hype Bros will beat the Colons. But something tells me one of the Hype Bros will turn on the other. I can't imagine fans booing Zack Ryder, especially since he's returning. I just don't want him to become the Jannetty of the team. Naomi will retain the SmackDown Women's Championship against Lana. The New Day will become SmackDown Tag Team Champions after beating the Usos. Carmella will win the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. I never thought I'd say that, but the others involved in this don't need the prop of the briefcase. I can see Carmella and James Ellsworth working the case into their current gimmick. Jinder Mahal will retain the WWE Championship against Randy Orton. "Losing in your hometown" trumps the "never bet against Orton" mantra that I have.
I'm still divided on who will win the men's Money in the Bank match. I've said it before, as long as it's anyone but Baron Corbin, I'll be content. But since I need to name someone, I'm going with Kevin Owens. Like Carmella, I can see him milking the gimmick of Mr. Money in the Bank the best. However, if Orton wins the belt back, I could see Corbin winning the case and cashing in that night, but who knows what order they're going to go with the show.
Money in the Bank is right around the corner and I'm pretty excited because I will be in the crowd that night in St. Louis. It'll be even more fun because I missed WrestleMania this year and I'm going with a group from Stride Pro Wrestling along with my long lost pal Weston. Chad and his nephew will also be there, so it's going to be a fun night. I'm also hitting up the Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard show earlier in the day. But I digress...
I have not picked a winner yet for MITB, I think it's too early to do that. As we know U.S. Champion Kevin Owens, Nakamura, AJ Styles, Baron Corbin and Sami Zayn are the combatants. My title says ABC, which means Anyone But Corbin. It pains me to say that because I have really focused on trying to be more positive with my posts in recent months. But I do not understand the love for Corbin from within the machine.
Corbin talks, I don't listen
Courtesy: WWE
I have nothing but respect for anyone who becomes a WWE Superstar. But that doesn't mean they're all going to be liked by the fans. Corbin falls into that category for me. His character hasn't connected with me. That's not to say it never will, as there have been past Superstars I didn't like but then became a fan of later. Brock Lesnar, Billy Gunn and Albert/Tensai are just a few.
Once MITB gets closer I'll expand more on my thoughts of a winner. I hope the rumors of a Baron Corbin push are just that and he does not ascend to the top of the ladder and grab that briefcase on June 18. But if he does, I'll get over it. I survived the Diesel years after all.
Let me start off by saying I do not hate Randy Orton. I'm not even sure I dislike him. But there is something about him I'm not 100% sold on. I think it's partly because of the things I've read about his past behaviors backstage. Maybe I shouldn't let that influence my opinion of the man, but I have.
My question in the headline is simple. On the Raw following Money in the Bank, Michael Cole referred to Orton as "Mr. Money in the Bank." I understand the reference, of course Orton won ONE of the Money in the Bank ladder matches. He's earned a shot at the WWE title whenever he wants it. But Damien Sandow also won a Money in the Bank match. So why does one superstar get the moniker? While we're on the subject, why does Sandow start off his "push" with a loss and Orton rolls over the competition?
Damien Sandow wins
Photo courtesy: WWE
In the 24 hours after the pay per view, it would appear that Sandow will get the Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler treatment of 2011 and 2012. Both men won their respective MITB ladder matches for the World Heavyweight Championship. Each man also struggled through the year leading up to their cash in. Bryan dropped the title in 18 seconds to Sheamus after holding it for roughly four months. Ziggler lost the title back to Alberto Del Rio about two months after cashing in his briefcase. I think it's partly lead to the devaluation of the WHC. The company has made it clear the WWE title is the more important championship. I'm still of the opinion the two titles should be merged, but that's a topic for another day.
Granted both Bryan and Ziggler are still in the hunt for gold today, I am just a bit frustrated with the fact that the SmackDown or WHC winner seems to get stuck in a rut once they've won the briefcase. Yes, Randy Orton has accomplished more in his career than Damien Sandow has. Is that the reason for the new nickname? I'm probably reading way too much into the situation and should just let it go. It's certainly nothing to lose sleep over, and it'll all work out in the end I'm sure. I just wanted to see if others noticed the name reference and share similar feelings as me.
