source: WWE
With Backlash in the rear view, we begin the road to Money in the Bank with three MITB qualifying matches!
source: WWE
Kurt Angle announces Money in the Bank qualifying matches
Kurt Angle comes to the ring and announces that he has two triple threat qualifying matches for Money in the Bank. Upon announcing the participants, Braun Strowman comes out, angry he is not getting the opportunity to qualify for the MITB match.
Kevin Owens comes out, justifying that since the wrong man was pinned last night, the ref’s ruling should be reversed and he and Sami Zayn should’ve one. KO says that he should automatically qualify for the MITB match,
Angle announces that Strowman will have a qualifying match against none other than Kevin Owens, and that match starts now.
source: WWE
Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman
MITB Qualifying Match
Winner: Braun Strowman
Highlights:
Strowman shoves Owens and Owens is sent into the referee
KO delivers a tornado DDT to Braun outside the ring
Braun catches Kevin’s cannonball with a hand to his neck and bounces him off the ropes, hitting him with a big boot
Owens is sent flying into the barricade twice after Strowman hits him with a running shoulder on the outside
Strowman puts Owens away with a running powerslam
Opinion:
Just thinking about Braun Strowman in a ladder match—let alone the MITB match—makes me nervous and excited. It’s disappointing that only 6 men and women can be in this special match—I can think of several people off the top of my head who deserve the opportunity and won’t get it.
source: WWE
Titus Worldwide and No Way Jose vs. the Revival and Baron Corbin
Winners: Revival and Baron Corbin
Highlights:
Corbin sends Crews face first into the apron
Baron Corbin nails No Way Jose with an End of Days for the victory
Opinion:
This match was boring and difficult to pay full attention to.
source: WWE
Ember Moon vs. Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott
Winner: Ember Moon
Highlights:
Sarah Logan grabs Ember Moon’s legs, distracting her and allowing Ruby Riott to capitalize
Moon dropkicks Riott off the apron
Sasha Banks launches herself over the top turnbuckle into the Riott Squad
Ember delivers a suicide dive to Sasha
Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan break up Sasha’s pin by pulling her out and attacking her
Bayley comes out to save Sasha from the attack and takes out the Riott Squad
Ember Moon hits Riott with an Eclipse for the win
Opinion:
This match was amazing and refreshing. These three normally put on good matches, but this triple threat was fantastic. I’m curious as to what will happen between Sasha and Bayley, and I’m so glad Ember gets to be in the MITB match.
source: WWE
Jinder Mahal vs. Chad Gable
Winner: Chad Gable
Highlights:
Gable locks Mahal’s arm in a submission over the ropes
Chad Gable delivers a moonsault press to Jinder
Jinder hits Chad with the Khallas for the three count
Mahal attacks Gable after the match
Opinion:
I was kinda disappointed that Jinder got his revenge and shut down Chad Gable. WWE was onto something with Gable’s win the other week, and now it’s just been reversed. I don’t think Jinder deserves to be in the MITB match so I don’t know why they’d have him win.
source: WWE
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Winners: Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
Highlights:
Ziggler drops Slater with a reverse Alabama slam
Dolph and Drew hit Heath with the Claymore/Zig Zag combination for the victory
Opinion:
McIntyre and Ziggler stay dominant this week, and I’m happy about it. With the right build, they can be eventual challengers to the Deleter of Worlds, and in due time they will take the tag division by storm.
source: WWE
Bobby Roode vs. Elias
Winner: Bobby Roode
Highlights:
Roode interrupts Elias’ concert as Elias hates on the fans of New York
Elias traps Bobby in a crossface similar to that of a Bank Statement
Elias tries to send Roode into the metal connecting the turnbuckle and post like he did last week, but Roode counters with an elbow
Roode hits Elias with the Glorious DDT for the victory
Opinion:
I really like this story right now, and I hope it continues on Raw each week. This is a good example of a feud that maybe can’t make it to a co-branded PPV, but it’t still entertaining. I hope Roode gets an opportunity to be in a MITB qualifying match.
source: WWE
Seth Rollins vs. Mojo Rawley
Winner: Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins comes out to the ring, restating that he is going to be a fighting champion. He reminds fans that he knows a little bit about Money in the Bank, and he issues an open challenge to anyone who wants to challenge him for the Intercontinental Championship.
Mojo Rawley comes out, saying that Raw is Monday Night Rawley. He tells fans he’s gonna knock down Rollins just like how he did Zack Ryder, and the Long Island fans boo him. A match starts.
Highlights:
Mojo runs toward Seth, sending him crashing into the barricade
Rollins hits Rawley with two consecutive suicide dives
Seth goes for the stomp but Mojo picks him up and drops him
Rollins delivers the stomp for the win
Opinion:
I was hoping that Zack Ryder would have some TV time (besides a backstage segment) in his hometown, so having Mojo come out was a smart move as he’s a heel and was recently involved with Ryder.
source: WWE
Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel vs. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Winners: Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Highlights:
Hardy hits Dallas with a Side Effect
Bray slams Curtis with a Urinagi
Matt and Bray double team Axel with a modified Sister Abigail
Opinion:
I like Hardy and Wyatt’s new double team finisher in the double Sister Abigail. I think that no matter how often Dallas and Axel lose, they’ll still be entertaining. Their pre-match promo that aired during their entrance was hilarious, and they don’t make much sense but they aren’t a bore to watch.
source: WWE
Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn vs. Roman Reigns
MITB Qualifying Match
Winner: Finn Balor
Highlights:
Zayn and Balor team up to beat down Reigns
The action spills out to the crowd, and Zayn delivers a Helluva Kick to Reigns into the tech area
Balor hits Roman with a Coup De Grace in the tech area
Reigns flies over the barricade onto Zayn
Roman derails a potential Helluva Kick to Finn with a superman punch to Sami
Reigns goes for a spear but is knocked down by Jinder Mahal
Zayn hits Reigns with a Helluva Kick
Balor delivers a Coup De Grace to Zayn for the win
Opinion:
I am intrigued by a possible Jinder-Roman feud. It’s possible that we see that match at MITB, which I’m not yet thrilled about but I’m also not yet bored by it. I’m excited that Balor finally gets a chance to be in the MITB match.