WWE: Early MitB Predictions and Preview

In a month’s time, we head to the next WWE Pay Per View, which is the 2013 Money in the Bank, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – home of the original ECW. The anticipation for the PPV has already picked up, and the buzz surrounding the PPV is quite similar to the one in 2011 which took place in Chicago, Illinois. This year, however, it isn’t due to just one individual, but because of some brilliant storylines and feuds which have already been set into motion. Also, it will mark the return of Mr. Monday Night, Rob Van Dam, to WWE after nearly four years; the last time he was seen in WWE was at the 2009 Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant. So with these highly anticipated returns and feuds, this year’s PPV is shaping up to be a great one.

Now, coming down to the title picture, this past week on RAW, Mark Henry teased retirement, but blindsided John Cena and delivered a huge World’s Strongest Slam to the WWE champion. For the past couple of weeks, there have been rumours about Daniel Bryan possibly facing John Cena at the Money in the Bank PPV for the WWE title, but I suppose we have to wait for that. With Cena defeating Ryback at Payback, their feud finally culminated with John Cena picking up an impressive victory over the monster. WWE wants to build Cena as an impressive ‘Monster slayer’ – esque character, and the next choice was either Mark Henry or The Big Show. Show hasn’t been involved in any of the feuds lately, and WWE wanted to push Henry, so that came as an obvious choice.

Coming down to the World Heavyweight championship scenario, Dolph Ziggler lost the title to Alberto Del Rio last Sunday at Payback. Things became interesting when Alberto Del Rio started to show heel traits, while Ziggler wouldn’t let the referees or the officials stop the match, thus still going at it even when he was unable to stand on his own two feet. Alberto took advantage of that and hit a standing heel kick to the back of Ziggler’s head for the pin and the win, and immediately the Chicago crowd booed ADR out of the building, while cheering on Ziggler for his efforts. Alberto then cut a promo about how Ziggler was cheered when he took advantage of an injured ADR, and finally confirmed his turn the next night on RAW. I, for one, was very impressed with how WWE went about with the double turn, and I hope they stretch this feud out for at least a couple of months, and make Ziggler go on a title hunt, culminating in a feel good victory over ADR.

And we get to the main match on the card. It is being rumored that there might only be one MiTB ladder match this year, as the brand extension doesn’t exist anymore. If that is indeed true, then Daniel Bryan deserves to win the brief case this year, as he has been the hottest star in the company. But we already know that the other participant in the contest will be Rob Van Dam! RVD will get the pop of the night without a shadow of a doubt, as he will be going back ‘home’ to Philadelphia. It will be interesting to see who will be RVD’s first opponent. While I don’t think he will win the ladder match, his first feud might start from there with one of the other participants. Also, Christian might be added to the match, as he made his long-awaited return this past week on RAW. With Bryan winning the bout, he can cash it in at Summerslam and headline the PPV with John Cena for the WWE title!

And last but not least, CM Punk needs a feud to carry on to Summerslam where he will face Brock Lesnar. If creative doesn’t have any plans for Curtis Axel, we might see Heyman turning on Punk and proposing a match at the Money in the Bank PPV with his new client, Curtis Axel. Axel won the WWE Intercontinental title in the three-way bout last Sunday, and hence will get into the big league if he faces CM Punk. Lesnar can make an appearance and cost Punk the match, thus escalating the animosity between the two ‘Paul Heyman guys’. This year’s PPV has all the tools to be as memorable as 2011’s PPV, so let’s hope that WWE creative will find a way to make it one of the best PPVs of the year.