The PPV Run-Down: Money in the Bank 2012

What a difference a year makes.

It was around this time back in 2011 that i and many others were salivating over what we had just witnessed at WWE's Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View: on his last day at the office, CM Punk captured the WWE Title in his home town of Chicago Ilonious from John Cena , making him the first man in WWE history to leave the company with the prestigious championship. This historic moment among others made Money in the Bank 2011 one of the best WWE Pay-Per-Views of the last 10 years. To this day, the lead up to and the pay off of Money in the Bank 2011 stands as one of my all time favorite time periods in WWE history.

This year did NOT trump last year's efforts. Not even close. The build up for the matches, bar the Del Rio/Sheamus match, were either non-existantly thin compared to last year's effort or overly detracting. While some of the matches ranged from good to great , the overall PPV suffered from a lack of publicized matches, finishes to matches that felt undercooked and a lack on "must-see/special" moments that Money in the Bank is usually known for. Sure, WWE Money in the Bank 2012 is one of the better WWE PPVs of the year. Unfortunately, It just lacked the sting that usually accompanies an event where 2 World Title contracts are on the line in 2 laddder matches. In short, i expected more.

SO without further ado, lets delve into what made this PPV tick.

Match Results:

 Match No.1:  Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a World Heavyweight Championship Contract

 Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vicki Guerrero)

def

Tyson Kidd, Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes, Sin Cara, Intercontinental Champion Christian, Tensai (w/ Sakamotto) and United States Champion Santino Marella

to earn a World Heavyweight Championship match for anytime for up to 1 year

Rating: *** 1/2

Comments:

A very smart and overall entertaining opener to this year's Money in the Bank PPV. However, in saying that, this was one of the worst Money in the Bank matches i have seen and i STILL gave it ***1/2!

For the Money in the Bank ladder match to work properly, the high-flying spots presented must come across as naturally occurring (ie spots are set up in a not-too obvious manner) and they need to be executed with precision and ease. While Smackdown's Money in the Bank offering had a ton of young, athletic and hungry talent this year, most involved failed to stick to the two aformentioned elements of this Ladder Match.

This bout was, as Jim Ross would say, "bowling-shoe-ugly". This is what happens when you have over 8 performers in the ring at the same time. Because most involved saw this match as a chance to showcase their skill sets and "get noticed", a lot of risky maneuvers were attempted with little to no effect. In short, there were a lot of dangerous botched spots here where i cringed and cringed BIG TIME.

This is what happens when WWE has everyone on the same low to mid-card level. These young performers think that they need to bump massive and deliver "career-altering" moves to get a ticket into the main event slot. In a sick and twisted sort of way, the botched spots looked awesome if you didn't realize they were botched to begin with. But for a fan like myself, a botched move takes me out of the "disbelief zone", so i couldn't appreciate them the way i should of.

That being said, the match had some decent moments where the Sandows and the Caras got their time in the sun. However, due to Sandow not being as over as he should be and Cara being somewhat buried in the last few weeks, these moments didn't hook the crowd the way they should. That being said, there were standout performances like there are every year. Tyson Kidd went hard in this match and looked as though he belonged with the Cody Rohdes/Christian/Dolph Zigglers of the match. Speaking of Rhodes and Ziggler, this was the first time that i can remember that the announce team actually recognized the overall favorites of the match. Furthermore, there were multiple spots where this logic played into either Ziggler and Rhodes potentially retrieving the contract. Its not always a bad thing to play up to the most obvious of finishes.

In the end, Ziggler was the winner AND the star of the match: exactly what he needed. For as long as i live, i will NEVER forget the image of Tensai grabbing Ziggler by the head with both hands on the outside, launching the "Show Off" high into the air and landing him head-first into Michael Cole's announcing chair. That bump looked ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL! While i was happy for Ziggler to get the win and the upcoming attention of being Mr. Money in the Bank, his victory definitely felt undercooked. This is because he has a contract for a World Title Match against Sheamus: a man that has brutalised Ziggler the last 6 times they have met! Why would i ever think Ziggler has a chance against the Celtic Warrior? Thus, backwards booking by WWE hurt the finish to a very dangerous, but overall acceptable Money in the Bank Ladder Match. 

Match No. 2: World Heavyweight Championship

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus
def
Alberto Del Rio (w/ Ricardo Rodriguez)
to retain his World Heavyweight Championship

Rating: *** 1/4

Comments:

I had high hopes going into this match after the great job WWE had done in building up Del Rio as a threat to Sheamus's World Title reign. Unfortunately, what we got was a well-worked Smackdown main event match, NOT a PPV-quality World Championship Match. Here's why.

The story that had been built was that Del Rio was "more aggressive than he has ever been". THIS was the determining factor that could decide a new World Champion. Instead of Del Rio playing this new aggressive streak into his match with Sheamus, i felt as though he produced his same, paint-by-numbers match he did with the Celtic Warrior after Wrestlemania 27. Not that the match was bad because it wasn't. It just wasn't all that exciting and didn't follow storyline consistancies the way i thought it would.

It started slow and methodical with alot of "feeling out", maybe a bit too much. When things finally picked up, the match became great. I liked both of Del Rio's counters as they relate to Sheamus' finishers (The Brogue Kick counter into a Backstabber was especially good.) but at no point did Del Rio make me believe he was going to win the World Title. Why? Because the match never utilised the one dramatic element that would of made this match reach the emotional climax that it deserved: Del Rio's Cross-Arm breaker! Before i knew it, Sheamus hit the White Noise and the Brogue Kick for the finish out of nowhere. I was dumbfounded. You spend an entire match with Del Rio working on Sheamus' arm and not even have Del Rio strap on his finisher for added dramatic effect???!? While it was great Sheamus went over so strong, i felt as though the finish made Del Rio return to his "just another wrestler" gimmick he was playing for the latter half of 2011.  He was handily defeated by the already established babyface. Sure, Del Rio is in the main event picture, but like Ziggler, there comes a time when the heel has to win the title convincingly. All in all, a good match with

Speaking of the new Mr. Money in the Bank, the infuriations continued as Dolph Ziggler rushed to the ring post-match to attempt to cash in his MITB briefcase. Instead of looking deadly, Ziggler ate a Brogue Kick in seconds for the 1309218409143257th time and looked like an absolute looser in the process. I sometimes wonder if WWE Creative expect us to forget the many many beatings Ziggler has taken at the hands of Sheamus for the last 2 months.   

Match No. 3: 

Epico and Primo

def

The No. 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship

The Prime Time Players (w/ AW)

Rating: ** 1/4

Comments:

 This was the 1st of 3 matches WWE put on the PPV card without any promotion or hype. 2 of the 3 of these matches actually had a story to them so it is mindboggling why WWE failed to promote them to begin with leading up to this event. Yes, the Money in the Bank Ladder Matches and the World Title Matches are what attract audiences primarily. However, if you fail to highlight your mid-card in a promising light, audiences quickly learn that the matches they are involved with DON'T matter. This tag match is a prime example of this.

While this match was probably one of PTP's best bouts to date (especially for Darren Young) fans could care less about this one. Its not surprising considering WWE only gave us a a lame DQ finish, a pull-apart brawl and one singles match to get us hyped about PTP vs The Colons. As i have written before, management failed to propperly turn Epico and Primo babyface to begin with. This is a big reason why the live crowd had no idea how to react. Furthermore, it was also weird how the Tag Team Champions were the ones commentating on the PPV, not wrestling. Wouldn't this match been more suited for the YouTube pre-show?

Regardless, these teams provided a fun tag match that i really enjoyed. The Colons show that they are serious ring generals when they get a chance to work with 2 young, green rookies and the veterans kept a good pace considering. I especially liked Darren Young's mid-air Gut-Buster on Primo in the dying minutes of the match. Unfortunately, while i liked the body of this match, i HATED the finish. Primo and Epico beat the No. 1 Contenders clean as a sheet..........WHY!? If you took this finish and judged it without considering current storylines, it was actually pretty good. But i'm not that kind of wrestling fan. Sue me.

As i have stated many times, PTP are still ROOKIES in the eyes of the fans. They need every win they can get so they can establish some actual credibility. Instead, they are a team who have a "gimmick" that involves them loosing all the time and proclaiming "they are still the No. 1 Contenders!". WWE, don't cry when these two guys win the Tag Team Championship and get zero to nothing in regards to crowd reaction. WWE backwards booking strikes again: have the No. 1 Contenders loose every match going into their Tag Team Championship bout!!

Match No. 4: No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship 

(AJ as Special Guest Referee)

WWE Champion C.M Punk

def

 Daniel Bryan

Rating: *** 3/4

Comments:

Like the Del Rio match, i had high expectations for this one. It's hard not to get exicted when your dealing with CM Punk and Daniel Bryan: WWE's best wrestling combination. 

I liked this match. Alot. The aggressive start from these two gave this bout a different feel from the matches they have had before. Thankfully, AJ was ejected from the match early which gave the fans time to focus on the mastery that is Punk and Bryan. Furthermore, there were many intelligent spots littered throughout (surprise, surprise) that made use of the "No DQ" rules such as Bryan - after having Punk in the Yes Lock for a good minute and-a-half - used a Kendo Stick to further wrench on Punk's injured neck. The AJ-involved spots were harmless and didn't detract from the match and were actually quite entertaining (ie: i really liked the spot that involved AJ placing a chair between Punk and Bryan, encouraging both men to hurt themselves further for her pleasure). 

However, I didn't love it for multiple reasons. Hence the *** 3/4 rating.

Firstly, i felt as though the match went a bit two long and had a flat finish. Everyone should know by now that i am a big fan of lengthy wrestling matches. Particular combinations of wrestlers flourish under such liberties (Flair and Steamboat imediately come to mind). However, i don't believe Punk and Bryan did on this night. Maybe it was the random "No DQ" stip that was placed on the match with no explanation. Maybe it was that these two are best suited to a traditional wrestling environment. Whatever it was, i found myself looking at the clockhands wondering when these two were "going home". The finish had Punk deliver a Top-Rope Back Suplex through a table. I can't remember the last time i saw this move being used to retain the WWE Championship. Considering the finish we got at Over The Limit between these two (ie The Yes Lock/Anaconda Vice sequence), i was expecting something epic. What i got was a finish that was unexpected no doubt, but a finish that failed to convey what these two are truly capable of. In short, a undercooked finish to a very good match.

Secondly, seeing Punk and Bryan fight regularly on RAW leading up the PPV made this match feel less special. There is no doubt that both guys gave it their all. They always do. But there are only so many times someone can watch Bryan slap the Yes Lock onto CM Punk. They attempted to freshen things up with a brawl-like attitude to their sequences. But when it came to the key spots of the match, i felt as though i had seen them in some form or fashion in the last few weeks. Note to WWE: If you have a main event that appeals to BOTH the hardcore fanbase and the casual fanbase, keep the combatants away from each other leading up the the PPV. That way, the eventual battle between Champion and Challenger feels fresh and ultimately comes across as most compelling.

Match No. 5: 2 on 1 Handicap Match

Ryback

 def

Curt Hawkins and Tyler Rex

Rating: * 1/2

Comments: 

Ryaback can't sell well. Is anyone surprised?

Furthermore, Ryback found CURT HAWKINS AND TYLER REX  a legitimate challenge to beat.........ill be honest, i was surprised by THAT. Why WWE didn't have Rybakc run through these guys like he has done with everyone before is a complete mystery. Now is NOT the time to show off the skills of Hawkins and Rex. As a result of this, Ryback came off SO WEAK.

Ill give Hawkins and Rex credit. They wrestled really well with a lot of quick tags and short, decisive strikes to Ryback. I enjoyed their effort. However, they competed in yet another match that i did not pay to see. This RAW match was well executed by the tag duo, it was poorly wrestled by Ryback (who looked VERY average on the offensive) and it was the buffer between the WWE Championship match and the main event. 

I can only care so much.

Match No. 6: 6-Woman Tag Team Match

Tamina Snuka, Kaitlyn and Divas Champion Layla

def

Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Eve Torres

Rating: * 1/2

Comments:

I was fine having one buffer match before the main event. I was NOT happy with having two. This killed the momentum of this PPV for me.

Unlike the other two non-promoted matchups on this PPV, this one had no storyline credentials what so ever. This was a house-show Divas match that had ok wrestling and did nothing to extend anything. Snuka brought some physicallity with stiff kicks. Layla had a good spot reversing Beth's Gorilla Press into a Sunset Flip. 

Thats pretty much it. 

Its the Diva's division. What do you expect?

Match No. 7: WWE Championship Money in the Bank Ladder Match

John Cena 

def

Big Show, Chris Jericho, Kane and the Miz

to win a WWE Championship Match for anytime up to 1 year.

Rating: **** 1/4

Comments:

By this point, i was dying for a memorable match that was worthy of being on this PPV.

Thankfully, 5 of WWE's biggest stars put forward a match that was deserving to be on a PPV and deserving to be this year's Money in the Bank main event.

I truly loved this match and i certainly wasn't thinking i was going to. What i forgot was that, unlike the Smackdown MITB match, everyone involved in this bout were seasoned pros. They all knew how to build a match expertly to the point that everyone would be going crazy for the finish. As a result, every spot was executed properly, at the right time and played to the character archs of everyone involved. For example, we had Big Show destroy everyone (and nearly every ladder!) with Knock-Out punches and brute strength. We had Cena use his unimaginable power to deliver a devastating FU on Big Show through the announcer's table and bury him in ladders in a spectacular series of events. We even had Jericho out-wrestle Cena on top of a ladder with a Sleeper Hold and almost capture the Money in the Bank Briefcase. All these sequences built expertly to a finish that gave the allusion that anyone could of won. That's the beauty of the ladder match or any match: when you really don't know who is going to pull out the "W".

The inclusion of The Miz (while it could of been publicized along with half of this PPV) was an unexpected, logical, yet an exciting addition to the match. His new look complete with facial hair made him look older and more suited to the main event slot. His effort between the ropes were good and showed little to no ring rust which is amazing considering his first match back was in a PPV main event.

While everyone did their jobs well (including the 45-year old Kane taking flat back bumps onto a steel ladder), it was the finish that took the cake for me. I seriously thought that my boy Jericho was going to sneak in and win the match that he initialy created. Alas, Cena had a tremendous sequence with Show that played into the storyline leading up to the match. He detached the Briefcase and slammed it into Show's head. The indent in the case caused by Big Show's scalp was a tremedous visual.

Was i upset with Cena winning? Not at all. This is because Cena's reaction was a picture perfect example of how one should feel after they go through the hell that is a Money in the Bank Ladder Match and win. He could not STOP SMILLING! He was OVERJOYED! This reaction separated itself from the usual "carefree" attitude of WWE's biggest star. If fans see their babyface show emotions of joy, happiness and excitement as it relates to winning, they will ultimately cheer them and join in his or her's happiness. That was the case for the closing moments of Money in The Bank 2012. A great main event that i won't forget about anytime soon.

Final Thoughts:

A Pay-Per-View is different from RAW and Smackdown for a reason. Fans pay money to watch this event.

Not too long ago, WWE had 6-8 matches promoted for their PPVs every month. Each match had some sort of storyline that built to a pay-off at the monthly event. Regardless if the storylines were good or not, the mid-card was treated as an attraction NOT a random addition.

In 2012, WWE seems to be developing a trend where they see the mid-card as something fans don't and shouldn't want to pay for. Thus, these matches involving up-and-coming talent become "bonus matches" that buffer the action between the promoted bouts. Considering the lack of true star power in this company, this is VERY short-sighted.

For me, Money in the Bank 2012 had too many of these "random" mid-card matches that could of been suited to RAW or Smackdown. Matches involving the PTP, Ryback, and the Divas didn't feel special. They just felt random. If you condition your audience to think and feel this way, it will be even harder to get stars to where WWE wants them to be.

In saying that, there were still alot of good matches on the card. The main event was tremendous and worth watching for those who havn't seen it. The rest of the card was good to great. However, they lacked the "must see" moments that usually make matches like Del Rio/Sheamus and Punk/Bryan ultra special.

It was no Money in the Bank 2011, but MITB 2012 did what it needed to do to make it one of the better WWE events of the calendar year.

Thanks for reading folks! 

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