The 02 Arena in London, England plays host to WWE Money in the Bank for 2023 in the first PPV to be hosted England since 20023. In the main event, the Bloodline officially implodes as the Bloodline Civil War kicks off when Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa face their cousins and brothers, respectively, Jimmy and Jey Uso. Two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches will also take place, as Butch, LA Knight, Damien Priest, Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, Santos Escobar and Logan Paul compete in the men’s ladder match, while Bayley, Io Shirai, Zelina Vega, Zoey Stark, Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch complete the field for the women. Seth Rollins will defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor in a much anticipated match up, while The Ring General GUNTHER will also be in action when he defends the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Matt Riddle, and Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against the reunited former champion, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan. Finally, after weeks of cheap shots and hit-and-ron offence, Cody Rhodes and Dominik Mysterio will face off in sanction in-ring competition.
+ The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) vs The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa) (w/ Paul Heyman): there was essentially no way in which this match was going to be bad, with Reigns’ character and the overarching Bloodline story coupled with the incredible crowd. Still, this was a good showing for all four men, with Solo Sikoa in particular being given a chance to be THE one to watch on his team. Reigns/Solo as a duo may not have quite the chemistry that the likes of New Day do with the Usos, but there was enough positives here to really make this stand out on a show with a very hot crowd
+ Seth Rollins (c) vs Finn Balor (WWE World Heavyweight Championship): overall this match was a lot of fun, but I did not care for the ending, and particularly the result, at all. The story coming into this match was very simple but effective, but the ending was completely at odds with this. I remember both of these men at their peaks not too long ago, and it’s a shame the kind of match they do now compared to, say, less than ten years ago. Balor in particular was once one of the best in the world
+ Bayley vs Io Shirai vs Zelina Vega vs Zoey Stark vs Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch (Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match): maybe my standards for women’s ladder matches are just dirt-low after the *attractions* we’ve seen involving the likes of Shotzi over the past few years, but this was a really good match and probably the best match on the show. All six women involved were more than competent for a ladder match (I’d argue Zelina is the least good of all these women, and Zelina is better than many give her credit for) and it made for a fast flowing and constantly exciting showing
+ A special guest appearance was lots of fun, including the playing off someone else involved in the segment. It’s not a big deal to leave these players unnamed, but the goal of the segment seems very obvious, and I think it succeeded in grand fashion
– Cody Rhodes vs Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rhea Ripley): I’m not scares of saying it, that this was just not good at all. These sort of matches are always a struggle, because the options of potential outcomes are so limited. basically, if Cody takes too long to win, like we all assume he will, then he looks weak; if Cody wins in a rout, Dominik is done for; if Dominik wins no matter what, Cody is done for. And if there’s a non-finish as is so common with WWE, then both men look dumb and I get mad for having my time wasted. Of course, one of these had to happen
– Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler(c) vs Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships): this was not a very good match with a ridiculously garbage finish. I don’t entirely blame the wrestlers though. Liv was looking GOODT
– Butch vs LA Knight vs Damien Priest vs Ricochet vs Shinsuke Nakamura vs Santos Escobar vs Logan Paul (Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match): overall this was one of the better ladder matched, with some crazy stuff and one near death as to be expected, but I can’t help but think it’s just al so standard these days. There is always a ladder bridge, always some sort of finisher from the ladder, some wacky springboard moment; it’s just everything you’ve seen before with, to be completely honest, a cast full of too many people you would never really think stood a chance of winning
Should you watch this event: Overall this was fine, with the second half of the show picking up tremendously. This may be a rare statement, and I don’t know I’ll make it again, but… go out of your way to see the women’s ladder match.
MoshFish Reviews 