WWE Money In The Bank 2022: 5 mistakes that happened as part of the show
Money in the Bank began the build-up to SummerSlam, WWE's biggest party of the summer. The event will take place in around three weeks' time, and this Saturday's show was obviously meant to plant some seeds ahead of it.
The company has two new champions coming out of the premium live event, and Theory will now be seen as the holder of the Money in the Bank contract over the course of the next year.
While there were some fantastic moments throughout the event, several left the WWE Universe shaking their heads.
#5. Theory was beaten clean but was still fresh enough to be added to the Money in the Bank ladder match
If WWE was going to have Theory lose to Bobby Lashley so that he could go into the Money in the Bank ladder match, then there were better ways of going about it. Lashley cleanly defeated the young star, but somehow, despite enduring The Hurt Lock, he was able to recover enough to be part of a multi-man ladder match and walk away with the win.
Lashley may be the new United States Champion, but this outcome completely undersells what he did to Theory in the match and how effective his Hurt Lock is. The match could have ended following a distraction or something that would make it seem like Theory was still fresh enough for a second bout.
#4. Liv Morgan cashed in on the same night to become champion
WWE seems to be following the same plan with the women in recent years since Carmella won the 2018 Money in the Bank ladder match and was able to hold her contract for 287 days. All other women after the inaugural winner have had relatively short reigns as Miss Money in the Bank.
Alexa Bliss opted to cash in her contract the same night she won the ladder match. When Bayley won the bout, she cashed in the same night on Charlotte Flair, while Nikki A.S.H. waited just one day. Asuka didn't even have to cash in her contract because she was announced as the champion by Becky Lynch the following night.
One of the best parts of Women's Money in the Bank is that it can be teased and doesn't have to be cashed in immediately. But because Morgan has already cashed in her contract, this aspect of the briefcase will not be a factor this year.
#3. No tease from The Street Profits regarding a split
The Street Profits are in the middle of a lengthy run without championship gold. The two stars are destined for greatness as singles competitors, but the company has continued to push them into a feud they will never win.
It was believed that a loss last night would end their rivalry with The Usos and allow Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to split up and move forward. Instead, Ford was pinned when his shoulders were not down. As a result, the challengers will likely be granted another match, and this rivalry might be extended into SummerSlam instead.
#2. There was no big return, as WWE added Theory to the Money in the Bank ladder match
WWE had many options when it came to potential returns for Money in the Bank. Bayley was reportedly in a place where she could make her return, or Zelina Vega could have come back to set up a feud with Carmella. On the men's side, John Cena could have been the reason why Theory lost his United States Championship.
Instead, Theory lost his title clean, there was no significant return, and the only real headline news was that Liv Morgan cashed in to win the gold. Rumors that Theory may not face Cena until WrestleMania next year could be one of the reasons why the show panned out the way it did. However, there could have been a show-stealing return to pop the fans instead of a cryptic video.
#1. Ronda Rousey hugged Liv Morgan after she pinned her
Liv Morgan cashed in her Money in the Bank contract merely an hour after she was able to climb the ladder and unhook the briefcase last night. Morgan's story is about her being an underdog, but despite enduring a brutal ladder match; she was still able to come out to the ring and go toe-to-toe with Ronda Rousey.
Though Rousey was injured, she tried to fight before Morgan rolled her up. Before Saturday, the former champion had only been pinned by Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Her loss could have been built up much better, which could have augmented Morgan's triumph. Instead, the moment was wasted on the same show, and Rousey's build over the past few months has all been for nothing.
The Baddest Woman on the Planet then hugged Morgan following her defeat and exited the ring. This was the perfect time to turn the former UFC star heel, and WWE completely missed it.