Money in the Bank Ladder Match Discussion

[Mr. Nerfect]

Wow, this match is likely to be one of the higher point sof WrestleMania this year, and with good reason. Sure it's the WWE being lazy and just slapping guys together, but it does make room for more talent on the already crowded WrestleMania crowd.

Anyway, here's just a place to ramble on about the match and the direction the participants will go before/during/after the match.

I personally don't think the match is completely set-up yet. I'm still awaiting Shelton Benjamin to demand the IC Title is held up with the briefcase. It would really make sense with his "I'm trying to become the greatest IC Champion" angle. Just to add to the match, I think money should be put in the briefcase as well.

As for who wins, I'm leaning toward Kane, Christian or Benjamin. Jericho and Benoit don't really need the win, but I wouldn't object to either winning. Edge shouldn't win. I just don't think it would suit his current character. For some reason I can see Muhammad Hassan climbing the ladder when everyone's down and taking the briefcase and the IC Title.

A win for Christian here would do wonders for him, and I really think they could use the 12-month thing to their advantage with him, and they could really build him up until then, but there's just something about the "anytime" stipulation in the contract. I can see Christian winning the MITBLM, then running out the next night on RAW and rolling-up Batista with his own personal referee counting the 1-2-3. You can then run Christian vs. Batista at Backlash.

Anyway, I'm tired right now, so I'm going to leave it there. I might go into more detail about it tomorrow, but yeah, the floor's open to everyone else to discuss. :y:

[Shaggy]

When it was announced a that there would be a match I was going crazy thinking this would be the best ever. Then they announced 5 of the superstars and I was happier than ever. Then they said Kane was in it and my happiness went down. Dont get me wrong or anything....I like kane but I feel this match could of been more golden if they would of used someone else in the picture. This could of been the perfect time to bring out Kazarian. Im sure most of the people who watch WWE would know him from TNA. And if they didnt well then to damn bad. Sit and watch and you might see something amazing at mania.

Its not that I think Kane was a bad choice for this match. I just feel a little let down that now I wont see what I wanted to see.

[Impact!]

yes Kazarion would have been great but it also would have been good if they had of added matt hardy or even rhyno. just my thoughts though.

[46 & 2]

I have had it with Kane always - ALWAYS - being the "semi-mystery" opponent. It's such a let down anymore. On Raw, when Christian had to fight the unnamed 6th man, before the pyro hit, I was just thinking "please don't be Kane, please don't be Kane, anybody but Kane." Then, sure enough - Kane. Whenever Raw goes to commercial break after Bischoff says something like "Guess what? You've got a match tonight, and it's coming up next, and I'm not going to tell you who the opponent is, though everyone knows it's going to be Kane" - it's Kane. I mean, give us a fucking surprise every now and then.

[Kane Knight]

Kane shouldn't be involved in a fucking ladder match anyway. I'm SO hoping he gets removed from it before WM.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I don't mind Kane being in it, but it's likely that he'll somehow get pulled to go against Snitsky and Matt Hardy whilst Hassan gets to fill the slot.</font>

[Stickman]

When it was announced a that there would be a match I was going crazy thinking this would be the best ever. Then they announced 5 of the superstars and I was happier than ever. Then they said Kane was in it and my happiness went down. Dont get me wrong or anything....I like kane but I feel this match could of been more golden if they would of used someone else in the picture. This could of been the perfect time to bring out Kazarian. Im sure most of the people who watch WWE would know him from TNA. And if they didnt well then to damn bad. Sit and watch and you might see something amazing at mania.

Its not that I think Kane was a bad choice for this match. I just feel a little let down that now I wont see what I wanted to see.

Just because somebody watches WWE doesn't mean they watch TNA. I've only heard of this Kazarian guy from this message board.

[Marcyo]

Just because somebody watches WWE doesn't mean they watch TNA. I've only heard of this Kazarian guy from this message board.

same here.

[Kane Knight]

Just because somebody watches WWE doesn't mean they watch TNA. I've only heard of this Kazarian guy from this message board.
It's a logistics issue. TNA pulls in what, a quarter of the WWE's ratings for Raw or Smackdown? That would mean that if every fan who watched TNA also watched the WWE shows, that a quarter of the WWE fans would know who Kazarian is, and not all of them would care.

Now, that's assuming a static set of figures, static viewership, etc., but it's a "for dummies" example, not intended to be the pinnacle of statistics.

[Fignuts]

That is far too short for an Alienoid post.

[Loose Cannon]

I'm almost certain a heel will win this, so that eliminates 4 guys right there. It's between Christ(ian) and a lying no good cheater. There is no doubt good will prevail here.

[Marcyo]

yeah, and it's about time Xtian gets a title shot.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'd much rather see Hassan in the match than Kane.

[Fignuts]

I'm thinking edge comes out on top. As angry as WWE is with his shenannigans, Edge is the most logical choice. He's got more heel heat than anyone in that match, not to mention the highest on the card. If Batista does beat Triple H, I don't see them being able to push christian anywhere near the main event level in the amount of time before backlash. Although eventually, I too would like to see it as well. But I want it done right. Not rushed.

[Kane Knight]

I'm thinking edge comes out on top. As angry as WWE is with his shenannigans, Edge is the most logical choice. He's got more heel heat than anyone in that match, not to mention the highest on the card. If Batista does beat Triple H, I don't see them being able to push christian anywhere near the main event level in the amount of time before backlash. Although eventually, I too would like to see it as well. But I want it done right. Not rushed.
Edge has a lot of heel heat? Are you watching a different "Raw" than I am? :?:

[Marcyo]

(...) I don't see them being able to push christian anywhere near the main event level in the amount of time before backlash. Although eventually, I too would like to see it as well. But I want it done right. Not rushed.

Not rushed? :wtf:

Xitian should've had a title shot YEARS ago. :-\

[Fignuts]

Yeah but he's not in the position right now to be Batista's next challenger.

[MVP]

I don't see anyone besides Edge winning, and his title shot will probably be used as a filler match to pass time during Batista's reign.

Sad, but most likely gonna happen.

[Gouda]

See my post in: http://www.tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27416

[The Answer]

I'd much rather see Hassan in the match than Kane.

Something tells me Hassan will be invloved with the whole Piper's Pit Steve Austin thing at Wrestlemania. I don't know why I think that I just do. As for the 6-Way ladder match im pulling for a Christian win

[Savio]

Jericho/Benoit wins then jobs.

[Karlsberg]

I can't see anyone other than Edge winning also i am not so sure that he would get the title shot at Backlash. Something tells me he will have a shot on raw.

[Kane Knight]

Something tells me Hassan will be invloved with the whole Piper's Pit Steve Austin thing at Wrestlemania. I don't know why I think that I just do. As for the 6-Way ladder match im pulling for a Christian win
I dunno. I see Hassan working his best to get into the ladder match.

[Ruien]

This may be Sheltons push, and god I hope it is.

[Karlsberg]

This may be Sheltons push, and god I hope it is.


Iwould like to think so aswell though to be at the top of the pecking order i think he needs a little more to his character than just "i want to be the best IC champ ever"

[Mr. Nerfect]

Whoops, I forgot there was another ropic on this. Oh well, we'll keep things up here, anyway.

I don't mind Kane in the match. He adds a presence of dominance, and he could take some good bumps. Hassan in the match would be nice, but I can see him winning the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania (don't ask me why).

I have a feeling this match will just be a finisher of the top rope/ladder fest. The winner can be ANYONE in this match, which is why I am so excited about it.

I'm going to take a look at the competitors and discuss why I think they will/won't win. Just for arguement's sake, I'll assume the IC Championship is on the line in this match.

Chris Jericho
Jericho is the guy behind this match, so it makes sense that he has some kind of advantage. If Jericho wins, he'll probably be used as fodder for the winner of the main event at Backlash.

I don't mind the idea of the winner running out and rolling-up the World Heavyweight Champion on an edition of RAW and taking the title when we least expect it. Why not even do it at a house show to try and boost interest in WWELive! events? The only three guys doing this are Jericho, Christian & Edge.

Jericho doesn't need to win a ladder match to get a title shot, though. He can easily come out tomrrow night and say he wants a match and he'd be likely to gt it storyline-wise. It would be a waste to give him this win.

If Jericho won this match, Jericho would shatter his own record, and become the only eight-time IC Champion in WWE history. Does this really need to happen? He would shatter two of his records (He'd also become the only man to win the IC Championship three-times in a Ladder Match). This would make history, but I don't think they need to do this. The IC Championship has been on Y2J enough, and the title shot could go to someone that needs help getting a footing in the main event scene (*cough*Christian*cough*).

Chris Benoit
2004 was "Year of the Wolverine" for Benoit. I can very easily see 2005 being the same.

If Benoit beats Triple H this week on RAW, he has a win over the World Heavyweight Champion, which automatically rises him up the ladder of contenders, no pun intended. He's been booked quite strongly recently, with wins over Muhammad Hassan and Shelton Benjamin. He's not quite there, though, so a win in the MITBLM could really do it for Benoit. If they're just using the winner for fodder at Backlash, I wouldn't agree with this method, though.

I know so many people would be against this, but I wouldn't mind seeing Randy Orton cost Batista the match at WrestleMania. This allows them to run Batista vs. Randy Orton with Ric Flair as the Special Guest Referee at Backlash, and it leaves Triple H without an opponent. Benoit would make a decent challenger, and a good candidate to take the belt from Triple H.

A new lead heel is needed on RAW, IMO, and Randy Orton may be the person to fill that role. He could really get over if he took the title from Benoit for a second time. An Orton>Benoit>Triple H effect would be created, and you ca then build-up Randy Orton vs. Batista for Vengeance, and have Orton scrape by with the title. Then at Summerslam we have a Hell in a Cell where Batista finally takes the title.

I've gone off track a bit, but Benoit winning wouldn't be the best for the WWE, but it certainly wouldn't be the worst. A win for the Wolverine would probably give him a boost into the main focus again, but it may not exactly help the product.

So between Jericho and Benoit, who would I rather see win it? I'm leaning towards Jericho. Y2J could do everything Benoit could do with the win storyline-wise, the only difference is that Jericho would break more records with a win (assuming the IC Title is on the line).

Edge
Edge is a guy that really needs a big win to get somewhere. Him winning here seems perfect, except I can't really see him waiting with a title shot, unless they run a "I'm waiting until there is no chance I will be screwed" angle.

Edge running out and Spearing Batista at an odd time and pinning him for three would be an interesting way to see Edge win his first World Heavyweight Championship.

With all the personal stuff going on the in lockerroom involving Edge, this may not be the time to put him over your entire upper-midcard. I truly believe that Edge's career shouldn't be affected by his private life, but I'm not sure if putting Edge over in a match that can pretty much go either way is a good idea.

Edge won't lose too much heat if he loses, and other guys can gain just as much as Edge from a win here (Kane, Christian & Benjamin). I'd avoid giving the win to Edge here if I could.

Kane
The Big Red Machine is a nickname that doesn't really apply to Kane anymore. He's maskless, shirtless and characterless at the present time. They had the perfect chance to revive his character at the beginnig of the year, but they decided to have him keep on playing his role of the protective father out to get Gene Snitsky.

The Lita/Kane marriage is something we'd all be happy to forget, and the best way to do that is to have Kane win this match, IMO. Kane could use this win as a chance to revive his character, and he could get new attire, a mask, etc. and really try and push himself to becomming the monster he once was, and maybe, just maybe, we will see Kane win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22.

Just before they went through with the marriage angle, they seemed to be grooming Kane for a makeover of sorts. I'm BEGGING the WWE to go back to this idea and play it through. Kane needs to be salvaged, and this ladder match could be the thing to do it.

If Kane wins this match it makes him undefeated in ladder matches, and a three-time IC Champion (assuming the belt is one the line). I can see nothing wrong with either accomplishment at this stage. Out of Jericho, Benoit, Edge and Kane, The Big Red Machine takes the lead in my picks.

Christian
Not much to say about Christian, other than he really needs the win here more than anyone. Kane can get a makeover when Tomko destroys him with a ladder or something, but Christian can't launch himself into the main event without a MAJOR win. This is what I'd call a MAJOR win. Christian would become a four-time IC Champion, a lead heel and could use the cheap title win scenario I've mentioned before, and could potentially headline the RAW side of WrestleMania 22 if they book him right.

Christian takes the lead in my picks, narrowly scraping ahead of Kane.

Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin is another guy that would benefit a lot from a win in this match. He's my pick to headline RAW's side of WrestleMania 22, and he can do that with a win here, as well as becomming perhaps the greatest IC Champion of all-time.

I can see Benjamin as the only guy that can have a feud built heading out of this match. He just seems like a guy that chases the winner of the match if it isn't himt hat takes that honour.

Benjamin and Christian are pretty much neck-and-neck in my opinion, but I'd give the edge to Christian, just because most people already see Benjamin as a future major player anyway. There's also the fact I can see Benjamin chasing Christian after WrestleMania (assuming Captain Charisma wins), but I cannot see it happening as effectively the other away around.

Muhammad Hassan
I can just see this guy running out when everyone is down and taking the briefcase and IC Championship down from the ladder and walking off.

Or better yet, he switches the breifcases and has one filled with a contract to kiss his ass or something. Hassan has the open contract in his possession and signs it, without specifying a date.

This way the match is officially ruled No Contest, and Shelton Benjamin remains IC Champion, and Hassan gets a title shot whenever. You have Benjamin climb the ladder and open it to find the wrong contents and you have an instant feud for the IC Title heading into the RAW Exclusive period coming up, with Backlash, Bad Blood and Vengance on the way. A blowoff match at Summerslam would be interesting.

Or you could just have Hassan put a bomb in the briefcase. :shifty:

Sorry that was horrible.

Anyway, my favourite scenario is Christian wins the match, but does so screwing Shelton when the briefcase is pulled up out of reach when Benjamin climbs the ladder.

[The Icon of Elisim]

Heres how I book it if each guy wins

Jericho:
-Gets drafted to Smackdown and takes on a conspiracy victim character and turns heel

Edge:
-Gets drafted to Smackdown and takes on a conspiracy victim character but angrier and more violent

Benoit:
-Filler for Batista

Christian:
-Plays the pussy heel card and gets his own ref, time keeper,ring announcer etc. to follow him around waiting for the best time to pin Batista. One week he could challenge Batista, lose then say that it was just a practice round. Or get a title match, lose then say that he never said he wanted to use his title shot and it was Batista's choice. I think he could get pretty over with this routine.

Kane:
-Filler for Batista

Shelton:
-Turn him heel as the newest member of Evolution

[Mr. Nerfect]

Heres how I book it if each guy wins

Jericho:
-Gets drafted to Smackdown and takes on a conspiracy victim character and turns heel

Edge:
-Gets drafted to Smackdown and takes on a conspiracy victim character but angrier and more violent

Benoit:
-Filler for Batista

Christian:
-Plays the pussy heel card and gets his own ref, time keeper,ring announcer etc. to follow him around waiting for the best time to pin Batista. One week he could challenge Batista, lose then say that it was just a practice round. Or get a title match, lose then say that he never said he wanted to use his title shot and it was Batista's choice. I think he could get pretty over with this routine.

Kane:
-Filler for Batista

Shelton:
-Turn him heel as the newest member of Evolution

I like those ideas. :y:

I want to see Jericho win the match just to see him go to SmackDown!, now. You could probably get the same result with him getting drafted after having him lose that match, and then get drafted. He could do Booker T's "SmackDown! is the B show" routine.

[Boondock Saint]

I just don't see Kane fitting in this match, well any ladder match. He's...I dunno. Too tall? Just seems out of place. But with Tomko cheap shotting him last week, maybe he'll ask to face Tomko at Mania, allowing Hassan into the match? I dunon. I don't want to see Kane/Tomko at the biggest show of the year, so I'd prefer Kane staying where he is.

They'll prolly just have a blowoff match on a RAW before Mania between those two.

But I just don't know see where Hassan can fit into Mania, however him being involved in Pipers Pit could be an interesting idea.

[Savio]

What if the challenge Batista right after he beats HHH.

[Kane Knight]

I just don't see Kane fitting in this match, well any ladder match. He's...I dunno. Too tall? Just seems out of place. But with Tomko cheap shotting him last week, maybe he'll ask to face Tomko at Mania, allowing Hassan into the match? I dunon. I don't want to see Kane/Tomko at the biggest show of the year, so I'd prefer Kane staying where he is.

They'll prolly just have a blowoff match on a RAW before Mania between those two.

But I just don't know see where Hassan can fit into Mania, however him being involved in Pipers Pit could be an interesting idea.
I don't much care who the 6th slot goes to, but I sure wouldn't mind getting Kane out of it. Leave Kane to something more his style, like getting squashed by Vince's paperboy or something. Put someone who would better fit into a ladder match in, instad of cramming Kane in.

[Mr. Nerfect]

*HEAT/THIS WEEK'S RAW SPOILERS*

Kane's facing Christian & Tyson Tomko in a Handicap Match on RAW this week, so maybe some kind of storyline will be run there?

I still like the idea of Kane being in the Ladder Match, though. :-\

[James Steele]

Tombstone off the top of the BIG ladder!


*RANDOM MATT FACT ON TPWW: Matt would love to see that... on Edge and Lita!*




:shifty:

[tucsonspeed6]

Doesn't anyone see the similarities here? This is TLC 3 all over again. In TLC 3 you had three legitimate tag teams with the Hardys, E&C, and for the most part the Dudleys (at the time...). But you also had the "Super tag team" of Jericho and Benoit who pretty much ate up the other three teams. That's the three teams who had been built up over the course of 2 1/2 years. Yes, it gave Jericho and Benoit a big push as a team, but do you think they stuck together as a team, to be remembered in the great wrestling hall of fame? Shit....they split after a month.

So now we have 5 legitimate atheletes, Benoit having been considered as the best wrestler (in kayfaybe of course) in all of wrestling last summer and into the fall. Shelton Benjamin is one hell of an athelete who I KNOW will entertain in the ladder match, Jericho's the same, and Edge and Christian have both proven themselves to be awesome on ladders. My point is, here we have a great showdown of the best of who's not already in a match, and then we throw them to the lions....Kane.

Now, imagine I'm a retarded mark for a moment (shouldn't be that tough...:shifty: ). Am I going to say, "Oh man, wouldn't it be awesome to see Jericho win, reserve his match for WM 22, and then also win the Royal Rumble in January and compete for both titles in the same night, being the only man to compete in TWO WM main events in the same night? Damn, it looks like the WWE is going to finally give that man the push he has deserved his entire career!" or am I going to say, "DERF! O wnt KAN 2 wim cuz h3z b19R 7h3n thoz l1t13 guiz!1!" (Please note that the preceeding was written in a computer language used by horny school children and perenial virgins, and is not the viewpoint of myself or anyone associated with this website.) My point is, the WWE isn't going to be pretty with this one at all.

[Cool King]

I dunno if this has been said but I see Edge winning the Ladder match then he uses his title shot at the Main Event so now its Triple H Vs Batista Vs Edge,Batista wins by pinning Edge but Edge says that he cheated,so he and Batista have a strong rivalry and that leaves Triple H out of the Title race for a while and that lets some new faces main event.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I dunno if this has been said but I see Edge winning the Ladder match then he uses his title shot at the Main Event so now its Triple H Vs Batista Vs Edge,Batista wins by pinning Edge but Edge says that he cheated,so he and Batista have a strong rivalry and that leaves Triple H out of the Title race for a while and that lets some new faces main event.

That is actually a fairly good idea. Edge could say he wants to be added to the main event, and the commentators could say that Edge can always play up the fact he already wrestled in a Ladder Match earlier if he loses.

I'd have Batista kick Edge's ass, then have him squash Triple H, with Edge coming back into play saving Triple H from being pinned and showing some real main event stuff. Batista manages to get rid of Edge by powerbombing him through the one remaining announced table, and then goes back in the ring, toys around with Triple H for a bit and hits the Batista Bomb for the 1-2-3.

[M. Banana]

Todd Grisham said "Four of these six men have had experience in ladder matches."

Um, everyone but Shelton. On my count that's five.

Edge: Duh...

Christian: Duh...

Jericho: Teamed with Benoit in the Fatal Four Way Tag TLC on SmackDown

Benoit: Teamed with Jericho

Kane: Defended the tag titles alone in a ladder match when Triple H and Ric Flair took out Hurricane.

Shelton: Um, I dunno about him.


Anyway, I hope Jericho or Christian wins it. It could help both of them greatly.. if Kane wins it...

[I-Hate-You]

Latest WWE poll:

Who do you think will win the Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21?

Christian 5.47 %
Edge 5.42 %
Jericho 12.40 %
Benoit 13.85 %
Kane 58.20 %
Benjamin 4.64 %

Total Votes: 536923

[M. Banana]

Fucking marks.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Shelton: Um, I dunno about him.

For some reason, I think I remember Shelton being in a ladder match with the World's Greatest Tag Team. I may just be thinking of this one time on a video game, though.

[Crashnburn]

I dunno if this has been said but I see Edge winning the Ladder match then he uses his title shot at the Main Event so now its Triple H Vs Batista Vs Edge,Batista wins by pinning Edge but Edge says that he cheated,so he and Batista have a strong rivalry and that leaves Triple H out of the Title race for a while and that lets some new faces main event.


No, that leaves HHH in the title picture because he will say he was never pinned. That Batista never beat him and therefore Batista shouldn't be champion.

BTW I love how in all these scenarios everybody is saying so and so will go on to face Batista. Anybody even possibly considering that HHH might win? Look at it this way, so far HHH hasn't gotten the upper hand over Batista and when that happens usually it means that HHH is going over at the ppv. Just something to think about.

[Crashnburn]

What if the challenge Batista right after he beats HHH.


I thought about that too and you have to remember that whoever gets the right to challenge for the title will have just gone through six way ladder match so they're going to be pretty banged up.

[Chavo Classic]

For some reason, I think I remember Shelton being in a ladder match with the World's Greatest Tag Team. I may just be thinking of this one time on a video game, though.

Yeh, wasn't it against Tajiri and Eddie a while ago?

[The Dub]

Christian headlining WM 22 would be the greatest! I'd stop watching if Edge ever became World Champ. I just can't see it. I wouldn't mind seeing Jericho headlining another Mania, either. Kane's involvement is pointless, Benoit doesn't need the win. Benjamin would also be a good choice to win the match. Basically, as long as Edge doesn't win, I'll be happy. Think of the drawing power of Captain Charisma!

[Mr. Nerfect]

You know, if they really want to damage the belt's credibility, they could have Batista squash Triple H, then The Game say he wants to cash in his rematch now. Batista has the match rapped up, but Flair costs him the win,a nd Triple H becomes a six-time World Heavyweight Champion. Batista then cashes in his rematch, and beats Triple H again to become the first repeat winner of the World Heavyweight Championship that ISN'T Triple H.

Christian then runs out (after winning the Ladder Match) and school boys Batista for three. Batista then cashes in his second title reigns' rematch and beats Christian for the title. Christian then either saves his rematch, or he utilises it then, and Batista retains the title for the first time in his three reigns as World Heavyweight Champion.

So that's like five World Heavyweight Championship changes in the main event(s) of WrestleMania. I know people will be dead-set against this idea, but I think it would be extremely entertaining. It shows how vulnerable a World Champion is, and it would be the first time the title has really felt up in the air.