WWE Money in the Bank 2023 was another amazing worldwide pay-per-view, headlined by the return of Drew McIntyre, an unexpected cameo by John Cena, and Roman Reigns’ first pinfall loss since 2019.
WWE has routinely blown its main events outside of the United States out of the park over the last two months. Backlash came first, then Night of Champions, and now Money in the Bank. With WWE hoping to earn a large new TV contract later this year, the company’s storylines and PPVs are coming together just in time.
WWE had plenty of moments that will keep fans in the Internet Wrestling Community buzzing all week long on a Money in the Bank programme that featured a surprising turn by Shayna Baszler and a tremendous night for Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest.
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Best No. 5: Shayna Baszler Turns On Ronda Rousey
WWE executed a stunning U-turn when Shayna Baszler turned on Ronda Rousey mid-match, costing the duo their women’s tag team titles. On the surface, Baszler’s decision to lose a championship seemed completely inexplicable.
But it’s long been known that Baszler and Rousey desire to quarrel, which makes sense given their real-life connection and ring similarities. While this change may not bode well for the women’s tag team division as a whole, it may improve Baszler and Rousey’s status as top women’s singles performers.
After all, both stars have been ice cold for the previous year or so, but they now feel refreshed and energised.
Best No. 4: Iyo Sky Becomes Ms. Money In The Bank
Iyo Sky went into Money in the Bank as the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s briefcase, and she delivered.
The “Genius of the Sky” was able to bind Bayley and Becky Lynch together, ascend the ladder, and become Ms. Money in the Bank with the London audience solidly behind her.
Sky appeared to be the latest NXT star to suffer on Raw and SmackDown early in her big roster debut. Sky, on the other hand, began to emerge as a fan favourite at Backlash when she beat Bianca Belair in a tremendous match, and WWE ultimately decided to go all in on her push at Money in the Bank. That was a wise decision.
Best No. 3: Drew McIntyre Returns
WWE and Drew McIntyre were allegedly at conflict for months over creative and contractual problems. Those difficulties appear to have been rectified.
Gunther, who had just defeated Matt Riddle to retain the Intercontinental Championship, confronted the former two-time WWE Champion with a racuous reply. McIntyre planted Gunther with a Claymore kick to create one of the show’s most memorable moments in front of a live London audience.
McIntyre’s possible WWE exit had been a major subject for months, so the fact that he’s back and has his eyes set on Gunther is a great indicator that he’ll be remaining around WWE for the long term.
Worst No. 2: Seth Rollins Vs. Finn Balor Underwhelms
The WWE World Heavyweight Championship fight between Finn Balor and Seth Rollins felt like a byproduct of the ongoing tensions between Balor and his Judgement Day companion Damian Priest, the new Mr. Money in the Bank.
Balor and Rollins have already demonstrated that they have excellent chemistry, but their Money in the Bank bout never really got into second gear. Furthermore, it ended prematurely owing to a (perhaps unintentional) distraction by Priest and one Stomp from Rollins.
What might have been a show-stealing world title battle turned out to be an OK match that continued the pattern of the new world title feeling secondary.
Best No. 2: John Cena Returns, Teases WrestleMania In London
Drew McIntyre wasn’t the only WWE superstar that debuted for the first time since WrestleMania 39. John Cena felt the same way.
The 16-time world champion and longstanding face of WWE also offered some news: He’s hoping to get WrestleMania to take place in London. What a big news from Cena, who didn’t make anything official but did say he was trying to convince WWE executives to bring its flagship show to perhaps the finest wrestling city in the world.
Cena’s comeback and subsequent announcement shook the pro wrestling world, and WWE fans are excited over the potential of the first-ever WrestleMania in England. On a night full of noteworthy events, maybe nothing was more exciting than Cena suggesting that WrestleMania is finally coming to the United Kingdom.
Worst No. 1: Damian Priest Wins Men’s Briefcase Instead Of LA Knight
Damian Priest is one of WWE’s greatest upper midcarders, a favourite of Triple H, and a top-tier talent in the eyes of WWE management. However, he is not LA Knight.
While it’s easy to see why WWE picked Priest as the 2023 men’s Money in the Bank winner, it’s harder to see why Knight didn’t win instead. Knight, like Sami Zayn in 2022, has become the most popular talent in WWE in an organic way.
All you had to do in London was listen to the audience reaction to know that WWE fans were clamouring for Knight to win the briefcase and, maybe, become a future world champion. Who knows, maybe WWE has a long-term strategy to promote Knight, but for now, his inability to win the men’s MITB battle is a dubious booking move.
Best No. 1: Roman Reigns Finally Gets Pinned
WWE has sheltered Roman Reigns more than any other star in recent memory, but he was pinned for the first time since December 2019 at Money in the Bank—by his cousin Jey Uso, no less.
An incredible Bloodline Civil War match ended with one of the biggest upsets of all time as Reigns went down for the first time in three and a half years for the 1-2-3. The result—one of two possible outcomes for the war between Reigns and Solo Sikoa and the Usos—was both startling and essential.
This three-year-long narrative has been kept fascinating by its tendency for twists and turns, with no greater swerve than Reigns losing to Jey at Money in the Bank. WWE can now take this narrative in a variety of areas, almost all of which are quite exciting.
Expect Jey to face Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship at SummerSlam in what may be a Match of the Year contender.
