Who Should Be the Favorites to Win Money in the Bank?
After the June 2nd episode of Monday Night Raw, we now know the six men and women who will be competing at Money in the Bank this Saturday, June 7th. This year’s Men’s and Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match truly has no standout favorite, as you can make a case for each of the 12 participants in the two matchups. Yet, WWE has hinted, at least for one of their superstars, what direction they’ll be going in with Giulia appearing to be interested in taking the Women’s United States Championship from Zelina Vega. The Money in the Bank match is so important, 100% of the women's winners cashed in successfully, while 76% of the male participants have become World Champions due to claiming their case to that briefcase. As we inch closer to this epic event, it’s time to look at who could be the legitimate favorites from the men’s and women’s side of things to climb to the top of the ladder and claim fame to the infamous briefcase.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
In this match, we have Monday Night Raw’s Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, and Stephanie Vaquer. From Friday Night SmackDown, there’s Giulia, Naomi, and Alexa Bliss. To me, Giulia is least likely to win the briefcase, as during the May 30th episode of SmackDown, she started down Zelina Vega and the Women’s United States Championship. Although Giulia is a fantastic performer and certainly has the potential to win it all for years to come, I believe this match will showcase to a wider audience her capabilities in the ring and how special she is. Next, there’s Alexa Bliss, who’s won Money in the Bank before, back in 2018. This is WWE’s safest option, as she’s a great performer and fans adore her. Yet, I wouldn’t consider her a favorite to win. While Rhea Ripley is one of the most popular superstars in the company, and while Mami in the Bank merch would sell out like wildfire, the former champion is always in the World Championship picture. Typically, the briefcase is used to push a superstar to new levels, not like Ripley needs that already, as she’s arguably one of, if not the most recognizable, stars from WWE today.
Let’s talk about Roxanne Perez. If she’s holding that briefcase, her dynamic with the Judgement Day will get a whole lot more awkward. WWE loves to have their main stories with the Judgement Day come around the summertime, just look at Dominik Mysterio betraying Rhea at SummerSlam last year. Perez has the talent, the mic work, and the right storyline to win Money in the Bank. The former two-time NXT Women’s Champion would be a great pick to take the belt off Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky, and this would make Judgement Day members like Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez extremely jealous. Stephanie Vaquer should also be a top-tier candidate to win it all. Vaquer just won her first match on Monday Night Raw, which was that Money in the Bank qualifier against Liv Morgan and Ivy Nile. If there’s anyone the WWE should push into the stratosphere of superstardom, it’s La Primera. It may be a risk, but it already seemed like the crowd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, knew who she was and what Vaquer is all about. However, if there’s a favorite in this match, it certainly has to be Naomi. Last year, time and time again, Naomi lost championship matches, number one contenders’ matches because of the duo of Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton. Months pass by, Stratton betrays Jax, cashes in her Money in the Bank contract, and becomes the WWE Women’s Champion. It would come full circle if a heel Naomi cashed in on Stratton, the person who’s caused Naomi so much agony as a baby face last year.
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
On the men’s side of things, we have Seth Rollins, Penta, and El Grande Americano from Raw, while from SmackDown, there’s Andrade, Solo Sikoa, and LA Knight. As great a performer as Andrade is, he is the least favorite to win this match. While last year’s seven-game series with Carmelo Hayes was awesome, WWE has had no real storyline for Andrade in months. Next, with the way WWE is showing signs, it appears that Sikoa’s next main storyline will involve him feuding with his cousin Jacob Fatu, potentially for the Men’s United States Championship. Solo holding the briefcase would get him back in the main event scene. The problem is, does WWE want him there in the first place? Penta is certainly an intriguing choice to hold the Money in the Bank briefcase, yet, with him losing multiple Intercontinental Championship opportunities, I don’t think Penta is ready for that step, just yet. Eventually, yes, there’s no doubt, but I don’t think he can go from losing to Dominik Mysterio and feuding with the Judgement Day to now being a main stage guy.
Now, El Grande Americano would be a wild choice, but perhaps a smart choice if used correctly. El Grande has never held singles gold in the WWE, and winning the briefcase would signify it’s time for that all to change. His rise to popularity over the last several months could make him a favorite to win this ladder match. Next, Seth Rollins easily has to be a top-tier standout to win. Yet, with CM Punk losing the qualifying match to El Grande Americano, I could see Punk and Sami Zayn, perhaps even Roman Reigns, coming down to try and stop Rollins from taking the briefcase. Now that Punk’s not in this match and not a favorite to win his third Money in the Bank match, I think he interferes somehow, some way, preventing Rollins from winning. The top candidate to win the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match is LA Knight. The Premium Live Event is being held in Los Angeles. Knight has appeared in this match for the past few years now and was easily a favorite to win any of those years. It’s Knight’s time to shine, hold the briefcase, and become a big-time player in WWE’s main event scene.
