MITB Expectations

**Mr. Nerfect** · 07-17-2010, 09:43 PM

I don't get why people keep expecting someone to lose with the cash-in. It makes very little sense. Especially if that guy is a heel. It's a waste of the gimmick, waters it down, makes the guy cashing in look stupid. An opportunistic cash-in should almost always lead to a title change. The only ideas for cashing in and losing that I like are when a face announces their match ahead of time (and is then screwed in their match) or the idea that the bitter guy attacks the guy cashing in as he is about to win the title, causing the DQ.

I'm going to guess that we'll get a face winner and a heel winner in the respective Ladder Matches. The SmackDown! one is easier to call, as is Hayes' booking in general. Kane won't win, because he likes to put other guys over, and he's got enough of a main event storyline going on as it is. Big Show won't win because he's got so many main event feud ties as it is (he's sort of feuding with Swagger and CM Punk right now). Plus, I got the impression that he was only in the match because CM Punk got injured. I feel that the Ankle Lock was meant to write him out of it.

Cody Rhodes isn't likely to win, as he's just got his new gimmick. Also, he drew with Kofi Kingston, whereas another heel in the match went over Kingston and Christian in back-to-back weeks relatively dominantly. It seems Kofi and Cody are likely to end up feuding over the IC Title post-MITB. Kofi Kingston was going to be my pick ages ago, but I don't think he wins it here, just because they haven't used the many opportunities they have had to take the IC Title off him. They could have moved it to Dolph Ziggler, or Cody Rhodes, or Drew McIntyre, or anyone really. But Kofi remains the champion, and Hayes does treat secondary titles better than most, but I think Kofi would be freed up if he were winning. Plus he lost cleanly to Drew. Matt Hardy won't win because he is Matt Hardy, and the storyline of Matt winning has been exposed too much (he'll be cashing in that night). If Hardy does that, the surprise factor will be gone completely.

Dolph Ziggler won't win, because the WWE is making him work hard for what he has (and Ziggler has been doing that tremendously well). He hasn't even been able to secure an Intercontinental Title reign yet. I can't see him going over more pressing guys. But I do expect Dolph to do some cool spots. That leaves Christian and Drew McIntyre. I wouldn't have put Christian over Kofi Kingston in recent weeks, but with his character being pushed a bit more...differently -- I can't help but wonder. But Drew McIntyre has been pushed very strongly since returning, and they actually brought him back for the match. They could have left him out and put someone like MVP or Chavo Guerrero in there. Hell, even the masked SES member. They want McIntyre in there. Also, they want him to look better than the Intercontinental Title. I think he'll be winning that match.

From there, I see Rey Mysterio defending the World Heavyweight Title successfully against Jack Swagger -- probably with a roll-up counter to the Ankle Lock. After the match, Swagger snaps, and he completely destroys Mysterio. Rey eventually manages to get to his feet, as referees help him up...cue Drew McIntyre's epic titantron. Future Shock, new World Heavyweight Champion.

To counteract that, I think it's more likely a face will win the RAW MITB. Also, with the Nexus running around, it allows you to have Barrett win the WWE Title, but also have that weakness, should a face pick him off when he's vulnerable. But RAW is a lot more of an illogical realm. Anyone could win, but for the sake of trying to use logic:

* Chris Jericho won't. He's going through a phase where he is putting over new talent.

* Edge won't - he really doesn't need Money in the Bank to get a title shot these days. Also, if they wanted him to be a World Champion, they could have put him over any time they wanted since about WrestleMania.

* Evan Bourne could. His push has just begun, and he might rise to the top on his own, though. It also seems a bit unusual that a guy his size doesn't get some token mid-card title reigns, though. I'd expect him to do something crazy, get insanely over because of it, and then beat The Miz for the US Title, rather than actually win MITB (even though it's obvious the WWE wants him to be a star, I think they know force-feeding him won't work).

* John Morrison is another who could. He's been getting a weird sort of backwards push lately, though. That could be either good or bad. Morrison is always a great worker, has a DVD out, moves a certain amount of merchandise for the WWE. Without him really doing anything, a win here and a feud with Ted DiBiase (I could imagine a briefcase vs. Million Dollar Belt feud) could be interesting.

* Mark Henry is one guy people rule out right away, but I can't bring myself to do that. The WWE loves the guy. Even though it seems like he was added to the match at the last minute -- was he really? Why was R-Truth even taken out? Mark Henry wouldn't be the most exciting choice of winner from the IWC's standpoint, but the casuals love him. With SmackDown! being able to offer a more creative winner, RAW might half-ass it and just give it to Henry. But I do feel that even they see they have better options.

* Randy Orton could win, just because he is so fucking over -- but who does that really help? Orton can get a title shot on his own, and I am still thinking he might stay away from the belt until WrestleMania next year, after he wins the Royal Rumble and challenges in the main event.

* Ted DiBiase is a really good pick to win. The WWE has this massive crush on him, and he's not without talent or anything, but I just don't see what they see, I guess. Regardless, his character has been getting adjusted, and beyond winning Money in the Bank, what is there for him, really? If a face wins the SmackDown! MITB, DiBiase is so likely to win the RAW MITB. Also, even though SmackDown! is more logically booked, they will be forced to follow suit to what RAW has planned, I feel. So we might get Christian winning, after all.

* The Miz was my original pick to take the whole thing, but now I can see R-Truth costing him the match as he has an "MVP moment," and looks like he is about to win the match. It keeps The Miz looking good, but it doesn't blow their load with him, either.

So it's really John Morrison or Ted DiBiase, I feel. Evan Bourne has got a really good chance to, and I feel that people are underestimating Mark Henry's chances. But with my pick on SmackDown! being Drew McIntyre, I feel that they'll counter-balance it with John Morrison from RAW. Hopefully. Otherwise, I think we could see DiBiase & Christian win.

07-17-2010, 09:43 PM	#27
Mr. Nerfect Posts: 61,568	I don't get why people keep expecting someone to lose with the cash-in. It makes very little sense. Especially if that guy is a heel. It's a waste of the gimmick, waters it down, makes the guy cashing in look stupid. An opportunistic cash-in should almost always lead to a title change. The only ideas for cashing in and losing that I like are when a face announces their match ahead of time (and is then screwed in their match) or the idea that the bitter guy attacks the guy cashing in as he is about to win the title, causing the DQ. I'm going to guess that we'll get a face winner and a heel winner in the respective Ladder Matches. The SmackDown! one is easier to call, as is Hayes' booking in general. Kane won't win, because he likes to put other guys over, and he's got enough of a main event storyline going on as it is. Big Show won't win because he's got so many main event feud ties as it is (he's sort of feuding with Swagger and CM Punk right now). Plus, I got the impression that he was only in the match because CM Punk got injured. I feel that the Ankle Lock was meant to write him out of it. Cody Rhodes isn't likely to win, as he's just got his new gimmick. Also, he drew with Kofi Kingston, whereas another heel in the match went over Kingston and Christian in back-to-back weeks relatively dominantly. It seems Kofi and Cody are likely to end up feuding over the IC Title post-MITB. Kofi Kingston was going to be my pick ages ago, but I don't think he wins it here, just because they haven't used the many opportunities they have had to take the IC Title off him. They could have moved it to Dolph Ziggler, or Cody Rhodes, or Drew McIntyre, or anyone really. But Kofi remains the champion, and Hayes does treat secondary titles better than most, but I think Kofi would be freed up if he were winning. Plus he lost cleanly to Drew. Matt Hardy won't win because he is Matt Hardy, and the storyline of Matt winning has been exposed too much (he'll be cashing in that night). If Hardy does that, the surprise factor will be gone completely. Dolph Ziggler won't win, because the WWE is making him work hard for what he has (and Ziggler has been doing that tremendously well). He hasn't even been able to secure an Intercontinental Title reign yet. I can't see him going over more pressing guys. But I do expect Dolph to do some cool spots. That leaves Christian and Drew McIntyre. I wouldn't have put Christian over Kofi Kingston in recent weeks, but with his character being pushed a bit more...differently -- I can't help but wonder. But Drew McIntyre has been pushed very strongly since returning, and they actually brought him back for the match. They could have left him out and put someone like MVP or Chavo Guerrero in there. Hell, even the masked SES member. They want McIntyre in there. Also, they want him to look better than the Intercontinental Title. I think he'll be winning that match. From there, I see Rey Mysterio defending the World Heavyweight Title successfully against Jack Swagger -- probably with a roll-up counter to the Ankle Lock. After the match, Swagger snaps, and he completely destroys Mysterio. Rey eventually manages to get to his feet, as referees help him up...cue Drew McIntyre's epic titantron. Future Shock, new World Heavyweight Champion. To counteract that, I think it's more likely a face will win the RAW MITB. Also, with the Nexus running around, it allows you to have Barrett win the WWE Title, but also have that weakness, should a face pick him off when he's vulnerable. But RAW is a lot more of an illogical realm. Anyone could win, but for the sake of trying to use logic: * Chris Jericho won't. He's going through a phase where he is putting over new talent. * Edge won't - he really doesn't need Money in the Bank to get a title shot these days. Also, if they wanted him to be a World Champion, they could have put him over any time they wanted since about WrestleMania. * Evan Bourne could. His push has just begun, and he might rise to the top on his own, though. It also seems a bit unusual that a guy his size doesn't get some token mid-card title reigns, though. I'd expect him to do something crazy, get insanely over because of it, and then beat The Miz for the US Title, rather than actually win MITB (even though it's obvious the WWE wants him to be a star, I think they know force-feeding him won't work). * John Morrison is another who could. He's been getting a weird sort of backwards push lately, though. That could be either good or bad. Morrison is always a great worker, has a DVD out, moves a certain amount of merchandise for the WWE. Without him really doing anything, a win here and a feud with Ted DiBiase (I could imagine a briefcase vs. Million Dollar Belt feud) could be interesting. * Mark Henry is one guy people rule out right away, but I can't bring myself to do that. The WWE loves the guy. Even though it seems like he was added to the match at the last minute -- was he really? Why was R-Truth even taken out? Mark Henry wouldn't be the most exciting choice of winner from the IWC's standpoint, but the casuals love him. With SmackDown! being able to offer a more creative winner, RAW might half-ass it and just give it to Henry. But I do feel that even they see they have better options. * Randy Orton could win, just because he is so fucking over -- but who does that really help? Orton can get a title shot on his own, and I am still thinking he might stay away from the belt until WrestleMania next year, after he wins the Royal Rumble and challenges in the main event. * Ted DiBiase is a really good pick to win. The WWE has this massive crush on him, and he's not without talent or anything, but I just don't see what they see, I guess. Regardless, his character has been getting adjusted, and beyond winning Money in the Bank, what is there for him, really? If a face wins the SmackDown! MITB, DiBiase is so likely to win the RAW MITB. Also, even though SmackDown! is more logically booked, they will be forced to follow suit to what RAW has planned, I feel. So we might get Christian winning, after all. * The Miz was my original pick to take the whole thing, but now I can see R-Truth costing him the match as he has an "MVP moment," and looks like he is about to win the match. It keeps The Miz looking good, but it doesn't blow their load with him, either. So it's really John Morrison or Ted DiBiase, I feel. Evan Bourne has got a really good chance to, and I feel that people are underestimating Mark Henry's chances. But with my pick on SmackDown! being Drew McIntyre, I feel that they'll counter-balance it with John Morrison from RAW. Hopefully. Otherwise, I think we could see DiBiase & Christian win.