WWE MONEY IN THE BANK 2012
July 15, 2012
Phoenix, Arizona
MATCH 1: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT MONEY IN THE BANK MATCH
Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. Santino Marella vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Sin Cara vs. Tensai (w/Sakamoto) vs. Christian
Tensai dominates everyone to start. He brings in two ladders. Kidd gets a slingshot face first into the ladder. Kidd and Christian gang up on Tensai with ladder shots and double up to take Tensai out. Before Christian turns on Kidd. Santino, Christian and Kidd all climb the ladder, but Sandow tips them over. He then tried to climb, but Ziggler dropkicks him off. Cody and Ziggler battle. Ziggler goes face first into the ladder. So does Cody. Cody avoids the fameasser and boots Dolph low. Cody launches Sin Cara, who dropkicks Ziggler. Running headscissors on Cody. Dolph and Sin Cara then try something off the top, which goes very wrong. Welcome back, Sin Cara! Sin Cara avoids a powerbomb from Kidd. Christian shoves Sin Cara off the top, but misses a frog splash on Kidd and eats ladder. Disaster Kick catches Sandow by mistake. Kidd with a springboard dropkick. He goes up. Tensai brings him down, so Santino tries. Tensai tries a powerbomb, but everything and everybody collapses. He tries the same to Kidd, who headscissors’s (?) him over the top. Sandow sees his chance. Fans not happy. Sin Cara cuts off Sandow. Me not happy. Sandow tries again and touches the case. Christian climbs over him. Sandow counters a Killswitch and pulls Christian down. He sets the ladder in the corner. Christian escapes with a reverse DDT and teases the Spear. Sandow blocks and tries a clothesline, ducked, Spear into the ladder! Dolph and Cody swing Christian face first into the ladder! They both race up, but Tensai pulls them down. Tensai goes up. Kidd springboards onto the ladder. Santino and Sin Cara try to stop Tensai but he fights them all off. Christian and Santino finally wear Tensai out with another ladder. Santino with the hiptoss and headbutt on Dolph. Cobra! Santino climbs, but is struck by acrophobia. The Cobra bats at the briefcase. Cobra for Sandow, but Cody dropkicks Santino off onto another ladder. Cody throws a ladder at Santino. He goes up. Vickie climbs the other side to distract him. Zig Zag off the ladder!
Ziggler climbs and the crowd are definitely behind Ziggler. Christian intercepts. Tyson climbs the middle of the ropes with a ladder. He springboards, propping his ladder against the one Dolph’s on and hits a SUNSET POWERBOMB OFF THE LADDER, FACE FIRST! That was pretty incredible. Sandow gets a ladder in the face. He and Christian go over the top. Tensai props a ladder between the announce table and apron. SIN CARA GETS POWERBOMBED ONTO IT! He bounced about a foot off the ladder. Ziggler then runs over, but Tensai grabs him and throws him OVER the announce table, HEAD FIRST ONTO THE ANNOUNCERS CHAIRS! AAAH! That was terrifying. Cody hits two Disaster Kicks on Tensai. Cody, Tyson, Christian and Santino all try to climb. Kidd gets a Gordbuster off the ladder! Christian then Spears Cody off the ladder! Christian and Santino slowly make their way up. Ziggler crawls across the ladder bridge. Christian runs Santino down the ladder. He touches the briefcase. Ziggler rushes in, shoving Christian off. And Ziggler grabs the briefcase to a huge pop! “Three times the charm” cries Cole. Eh, close enough.
That was eight people with a point to prove. The final stretch was crazy. I thought the Santino teases would get more of a reaction considering his reaction at Elimination Chamber, but it seemed like this crowd wanted Ziggler to win from the start. So, the right guy won. A couple of ugly moments aside, this was a worthy match in the Money In The Bank canon.
Winner (18:30): Dolph Ziggler (****)
Josh interviewed Sheamus. Sheamus said he didn’t want to worry about the future when questioned about Ziggler. So Josh asked about facing Del Rio, who was technically a future opponent. But, semantics. Sheamus said he was a car enthusiast too. His father told him “you can judge a man by the car he drives”. He said he’d send Del Rio and Ricardo to the scrapheap tonight.
The Miz was introduced to the crowd, after a two month absence. Miz has ditched the fauxhawk. Some of the crowd missed him it seems. Miz said he’d been filming a movie and there, he was treated with the respect he deserved, after being overlooked for too long. He said he’d won Money In The Bank before and he was sick and tired of being overlooked. He entered himself into the Money In The Bank match. Which got a surprisingly good reaction. He promised to win because he’s The Miz, he’s a movie star and oh yeah, he’s AWESOME.
MATCH 2: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheamus (CHAMPION) vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)
Del Rio goes after the arm, but Sheamus forearms him to the floor. Del Rio gives Sheamus a slap and earns a beating. Turns into a slugfest, which Sheamus wins. Del Rio tries for an armbar. Hard knee from Sheamus for 2. More knees. Del Rio hits a dropkick. He misses a second and gets caught in the ropes. Sheamus suplexes him back in. Flying shoulder block gets 2. Del Rio tries to escape. Ricardo distracts and Del Rio catches Sheamus on the apron with a climbing enziguri! Del Rio attacks the arm outside. And slaps Sheamus again. Flying attack by Del Rio for 2. Armbar. Sheamus headbutts out, but whiffs on a polish hammer. Single arm DDT for 2. Back to the arm goes Alberto. Pair of roundhouse kick gets another 2. Sheamus fights back, but Alberto hits a headbutt. He runs into a boot. Swinging neckbreaker by Sheamus. Sheamus gets cut off with a clothesline and Del Rio gets 2. Sheamus posts his shoulder. Kick against the post from the floor and Del Rio gets 2. Alberto wins a brief brawl. Sheamus escapes the cross armbreaker. Del Rio pulls the rope down but Sheamus hangs on. Slingshot shoulder block, but Del Rio turns it into an armbreaker across the knees! Only 2 and Alberto looks frustrated. He taunts Sheamus. Sheamus comes to life. Running kneelift. Powerslam for 2. Sheamus hits the ten forearms on the apron. Del Rio hangs the arm up though. But he runs into the Irish Curse for 2. Alberto tries his armbreaker again but Sheamus counters. He misses a Brogue Kick and his leg gets caught over the rope. Backstabber gets 2! Del Rio misses the corner enziguri. White Noise! Sheamus follows up with the Brogue Kick for the pin.
It seemed like this was building to something that never really came. I enjoyed it for what it was, despite the slow pace. But the finish never really picked up like you’d hope and the Brogue Kick seemed pretty abrupt. More Smackdown main event than PPV, but not bad by any means.
Winner via pinfall and still champion (14:25): Sheamus (***1/4)
After the match Ricardo jumps Sheamus and Alberto attacks. They beat Sheamus down until Ziggler returns with the Money In The Bank briefcase! Ziggler wants to cash in, but Del Rio isn’t finished with Sheamus and takes exception. Ziggler hits Alberto with the briefcase and chases off Ricardo. But Sheamus recovers and hits a Brogue Kick to Ziggler before the bell can ring to start the match.
They replayed a Daniel Bryan interview from the Pre Show, with Josh. Bryan took exception to AJ being called his ex girlfriend, saying she was his future wife. Josh pointed out that she slapped him. Bryan said he didn’t know anything about women and claimed it was “intense passion”. He asked if AJ would make the tough but neccessary decisions tonight? YES. Will she be fair? YES. And would Bryan emerge with the WWE Title and AJ’s heart? YES YES YES.
MATCH 3: The Primetime Players (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, w/AW) vs. Primo and Epico (w/Rosa Mendes)
Kofi and Truth joined commentary to watch their number one contenders, the PTP. Primo and Epico’s theme should play on a loop during their matches. Catchy. Epico and Primo get the better of Titus. Young tags in and attacks Primo. Primo reverses a whip. Headstand in the corner, into a headscissors. Epico tags in. Leapfrog by Primo sets up a headscissors by Epico. Suicide dive by Primo. Epico lowers the rope on Titus. Somersault dive onto everybody by Epico! Slingshot hilo by Epico for 2. Titus tagged in. Epico escapes a back suplex but gets clubbed. Young opens the ropes and Epico crashes to the floor. AW asks for a round of applause. He doesn’t get it. Epico sent into the post. Gutwrench slam. Tag to Young, who gets front suplexed onto Epico. Young asks AW to fix his afro before clubbing Epico in the chest. Titus stretches Epico around the post. Backbreaker and a fallaway slam, but Primo breaks the count. “This ain’t Taco Bell!” AW says Rosa can’t dance and gets Titus to show her how it’s done. “Macarena on his ass!” Rosa dances in response. Primo and Young both make tags. Primo runs wild. Springboard chop. Legsweep, legdrop and a rolling senton off the middle rope for 2. Primo dropkicks Young in the back. Flying body attack through the middle rope. Young counters a springboard with a double knee gutbuster! But Primo surprises Young with a rollup for the 3!
This was fine. AW’s role as mic’ed up manager really seems to be working, I’m betting this wouldn’t have had as much crowd reaction without him. And the PTP’s act as a whole is coming together.
Winners via pinfall (7:33): Primo and Epico (**1/4)
AW says it doesn’t matter because they’re still number one contenders. They tease getting into it with Kofi and Truth. Truth throws water over AW and the PTP have to hold AW back, while Truth holds Little Jimmy back.
Striker interviews AJ before the WWE Title match. He asks if her performance will be affected tonight. AJ says she’s taking her role very seriously and she was in full control. She says just because Punk broke her heart in front of the world, doesn’t mean he’s not an amazing human being. And Bryan was her first love, even if he did lie and use her. She started weirding out, but composed herself and left.
MATCH 4: WWE CHAMPIONSHIP, NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
CM Punk (CHAMPION) vs. Daniel Bryan, SPECIAL REFEREE: AJ
Bryan had a bit of a new look. He kisses AJ’s hand before Punk came out.
Punk and Bryan jockey for advantage. Dragon screw by Punk who attacks with kicks. He throws Bryan outside and hits some chops. Punk gets whipped into the barricade. Bryan returns the chop favour. Bryan stomps Punk’s elbow. YES kicks. Punk gets 1 with a rollup. They battle in the corner. Exchange of chops, then leg kicks. Punk with a backbreaker. Middle rope legdrop misses. More YES kicks. Bryan gets a 1 count. Shoulder block. Punk hits a dropkick. And a suicide dive. They battle up the aisle. Bryan gets dropped on the barricade. They go back inside but Bryan shoves Punk and AJ is knocked off the apron! Punk goes to check on her. Bryan attacks from behind and sends him into the steps, then shows concern and tells the referees to take AJ to be checked on. Bryan with kicks to Punk. Running knee off the apron. That looked nasty. Front suplex on the steps and more kicks. Punk whipped to the barricade. But Bryan gets backdropped into the timekeeper’s area. Bryan crotched on the barrier. Punk springboard clotheslines Bryan off the barricade! Punk responds to the crowd and brings out a table. Slam on the floor by Bryan though. Bryan tries to use a kendo stick on Punk. A stand off ends with Punk getting the cane. But Bryan cuts him off. Punk tries a springboard but gets hit with the cane for a 2 count. Bryan hits Punk repeatedly with the kendo stick. YES. YES. YES. Punk kicks out at 2. Bryan lays in more kicks and a snap suplex. Flying headbutt misses! Kick exchange. And forearms. Punk wins out. Leg lariat. Swinging neckbreaker gets 2. Punk hits the knee in the corner. Bryan counters the bulldog, but misses a roundhouse and Punk hits a powerslam for 2. Bryan escapes the GTS. And counters a second into a hurricanrana for 2! Roundhouse kick by Bryan! Bryan with the kendo stick. Surfboard. Punk gets free and batters Bryan with the kendo stick! He gets a 2 count. Superplex by Bryan! AJ returns and takes over as referee. She skips around the ring and gets a chair. AJ teases both, then drops the chair in the middle and lets them fight over it. Bryan ends up hitting Punk in the ribs repeatedly for 2. Bryan asks AJ nicely to count to 3. Punk rolls him up for 2. Bryan hits a ton of YES kicks. Punk catches Bryan running in with a clothesline. Chair shots from Punk. He wedges the chair in the corner, but AJ stands in the way. Bryan hits a running dropkick in the corner. Bryan goes for the kendo stick, but AJ steps on it. Bryan begs. Roundhouse kick from Punk! He slams Bryan with the chair. Flying elbow on the chair misses! YES Lock, with the kendo stick! Punk escapes. Slingshot into the ring post. GTS! Punk is slow to pin and only gets 2! Punk sets Bryan up on the table. Bryan crotches him! But Punk slips free and crotches Bryan! Punk hits the Bryan elbow combo. BACK SUPERPLEX THROUGH THE TABLE! And Punk gets the pin! AJ looks conflicted afterwards as Punk celebrates.
No screwy finish. No turn. AJ played a role sure. And it still wasn’t the main event. But, in the end, they let these two go out and have a great match for nearly 30 minutes with a clean finish. So it’s kind of hard, or failing that petty, to argue too much. I marginally preferred the Over The Limit match, but this was still a great match.
Winner via pinfall and still champion (27:48): CM Punk (****1/4)
MATCH 5: TWO ON ONE HANDICAP MATCH
Ryback vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
Hawkins and Reks both lost in singles matches against Ryback, so here they tried as a team. “Goldberg” chants. Hawkins gets overpowered. Flapjack and a running boot send Hawkins outside. Blind tag works as Hawkins kicks Ryback and Reks hotshots him. Clothesline and Ryback goes down. Reks gets a 0 count, but that’s progress. Reks and Hawkins get the advantage and work Ryback over. Reks slams Hawkins onto Ryback for a 1 count. Progress. Double gordbuster gets 1. He hits a powerslam on Hawkins. Shoulder blocks on Reks. Backdrop. Spinebuster on Hawkins and a deadlift powerbomb. Hawkins gets thrown hard to the floor. Lariat for Reks. Cole calls it the “Meathook”. Ryback hits his finisher, which is apparently “Shell Shocked”, on Reks for the win. People did the “Feed Me More” chant afterwards.
Well this wasn’t your typical Ryback squash. Ryback getting worked over didn’t seem to get much reaction though, so they’re in a tricky spot with him now.
Winner via pinfall (4:22): Ryback (3/4*)
MATCH 6: Layla, Kaitlyn and Tamina Snuka vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Eve
Kaitlyn’s theme, Layla’s theme (aka Tiffany’s theme) and Eve’s theme? In one match? That’s an extra star automatically. Natalya and Tamina start. Natalya with a shoulder tackle and mocks the Snuka pose. Hiptoss by Tamina and a double chop. Kaitlyn tags. Backbreaker gets 1. Natalya tags Beth. They slap each other and Beth decides to tag Eve. So Kaitlyn slaps her. And Natalya. Crossbody gets 2. Eve hits an enziguri for 1. Beth misses a body attack on the ropes. Layla tags and runs through Beth. Roundhouse kick. Double springboard crossbody only gets 1. Layla misses a spinning roundhouse. Press slam, but Layla counters into a pin. All hell breaks loose. Tamina superkicks Beth. Lay Out gets Layla the pin.
That extra star was metaphorical, by the way.
Winners via pinfall (3:25): Layla, Kaitlyn and Tamina Snuka (1/2*)
MATCH 7: WWE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT MONEY IN THE BANK MATCH
Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. The Miz vs. Big Show vs. John Cena
Ring clears to leave Cena and Big Show. Cena clotheslines Show over the top. Show sends him into the steps. Miz tries to climb with everybody outside, but Cena pulls him down. Big Show ploughs through Cena and Miz, then knocks Jericho off the apron. And then throws a ladder onto him! Ouch. Kane and Big Show face off. Running DDT is countered into a slam. Miz gets chopped flying off the top. Jericho comes in with a ladder but Big Show just deflects him off. Jericho avoids a chokeslam. Codebreaker! Kneeling DDT by Miz. Kane clothesline Show outside, to Cena. Cena hits an AA through the announce table! Everybody buries Big Show under ladders. Jericho takes out Kane and Miz with a ladder. He goes up, but Miz cuts him off. Jericho applies the Liontamer! He dropkicks a ladder into Kane. Suplex on Miz. Jericho puts a ladder on the top turnbuckle and stops Miz. Miz gets whipped face first into the ladder. Jericho climbs. Cena stops him, but Miz pulls him down and hits a DDT. Miz goes up, but Kane throws a ladder at him. Kane then climbs. Jericho gets caught and Kane tries a double chokeslam, but Miz and Jericho hit a double suplex on a ladder! Cena shoulder blocks. Miz and Jericho both get slammed on the ladder. Double Five Knuckle Shuffle on the ladder. Kane returns and goes for a Chokeslam. Cena counters with an AA, onto Miz who’s on the ladder! Jericho throws a ladder to take out Cena. He drops a ladder on Miz and goes for the case. But Big Show emerges and breaks the ladder to stop Jericho. He hits Jericho with half the ladder and throws one onto Kane. Chop for Miz, who gets a ladder dumped on him too. Show squashes Cena behind a ladder. He goes under the ring and brings out the Super Re-Enforced Big Show Ladder! Big Show slowly makes his way up. Kane cuts him off. They both try a chokeslam. Big Show hits the KO punch. Cena rushes up but gets a headbutt. Jericho hits Show with a chair to bring him down. Jericho and Cena climb. Cena tries an AA, but Jericho locks on a sleeper! Cena tries to climb with Jericho on his back. But he passes out. Miz is knocked down. Cena falls off the ladder and Jericho gets to the face, but Miz reappears. They both fight for the case. Jericho ends up SWINGING OFF THE CABLE briefly. Miz tries a suplex. Big Show climbs up and KOs Jericho! He takes out Miz too. Cena blocks the KO punch with the briefcase and hits Big Show repeatedly. The briefcase handle snaps off and Cena wins, I’m guessing not 100% as intended but good enough! He keeps hitting Big Show until he falls and that’s that.
I know some people were worried about this going in and to be fair, that was before Miz was added. But, is it possible to have a bad Money In The Bank match? They even managed to come up with a unique finish, completely by accident (I’m guessing). Cena winning is interesting (not often you can say that), just in the sense that John Cena level guys never win Money In The Bank, so what now? This wasn’t at the level of the first MITB, but still really good.
Winner (20:03): John Cena (***3/4)
So, all in all, Money In The Bank was another good PPV. As it always is. Not as good as last year, obviously, but there’s three matches worth watching and they’re the three you’d have expected to deliver going in.
WWE clearly has a formula for their PPVs now (unannounced Ryback match, unannounced Diva match). And it’s a well-trodden path already. But, at least you know what you’re getting with Money In The Bank. Ladders, mainly. And while it’s very easy to just roll eyes at John Cena winning the main event, between young guys getting a chance in the opener and Punk and Bryan getting time in their match, there’s enough fresh air around to not be put off by it.