WWE Money in the Bank 2023
WWE moved into the O2 Arena in London on Saturday for its annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view in which the fortunes of two competitors would change forever in the men’s and women’s same-titled ladder matches.
Elsewhere on the bill, The Bloodline engaged in a bitter civil war, and Seth Rollins defended the World Heavyweight Championship against The Judgment Day’s Finn Bálor.
The packed card marked the next stop on the road to SummerSlam and provided fans with the latest chapters in some of the most intense rivalries in professional wrestling.
Find out who emerged victorious on Saturday and built momentum ahead of The Biggest Party of the Summer on August 5, with grades and analysis for every match.
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Credit: WWE.com
Participants: LA Knight, Shinsuke Nakamura, Logan Paul, Ricochet, Santos Escobar, Butch and Damian Priest
Damian Priest built on a breakout performance at Backlash against Bad Bunny by earning the biggest win of his career at the top of Money in the Bank, winning the men’s same-titled bout and a guaranteed championship opportunity at any time over the next year.
To do so, he beat the people’s choice, LA Knight, who managed to benefit even in defeat.
The crowd was totally behind The Megastar, but a late push by The Archer of Infamy doomed him to defeat. The good news? The crowd is still desperate for a Knight win, meaning he will likely maintain his momentum, as long as WWE does not fumble the ball coming out of the PPV.
Kudos also to Logan Paul, who took big bumps and did not use his celebrity to protect him from dangerous moments. The match was better for the social media star being there, as the crowd’s disdain for him aided in the overall heat of the contest.
Result
Priest defeated Knight, Paul, Ricochet, Nakamura, Butch and Escobar
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- There was enormous, main event-level pop for Knight. Only a few have the charisma he has.
- The crowd’s desire to see Paul get his ass kicked is exactly why WWE loves him. He’s as good a heel as anyone on the show not named Roman Reigns or Dominik Mysterio.
- Ricochet launched himself through the ladder and out of the ring in an awe-inspiring spot.
- Paul’s frog splash on Priest was great. Even better? The audience chanting “You still suck” in response.
- Ricochet probably made a few front-office types shriek in fear backstage following a Spanish Fly that drove Paul head, neck and face-first through a table.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Credit: WWE.com
Shayna Baszler stole the headlines in Saturday’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match when she attacked partner and best friend Ronda Rousey, leaving The Baddest Woman on the Planet to endure the Tejada Bomb and ObLIVion.
Moments later, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan earned a measure of revenge over Rousey and regained tag team titles they never should have lost.
The crowning of new champions was secondary to the big angle that unfolded, with the commentary team questioning why Baszler would suddenly attack her friend.
Not just querying it to create intrigue but legitimately questioning it because it made zero sense within the context of the build to the match or anything that happened within.
Maybe she was fed up with the UFC Hall of Famer stealing the spotlight, but the champs have competed so infrequently that there has been no time for that to appropriately play out.
It was a booking decision that felt a bit too much like Attitude Era WWE under Vince Russo, when stuff just happened for the sake of happening, but the impending story and match should at least be interesting if nothing else.
Result
Morgan and Rodriguez defeated Rousey and Baszler
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Morgan dressed as Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell, something an astute Wade Barrett was quick to point out.
- Rousey and Baszler quickly targeted Morgan’s previously injured shoulder.
- “We’ve got a one-armed Liv Morgan who has just been tagged back into the match,” Barrett called the action while simultaneously noting the lack of logic of it all.
- The Queen of Spades inexplicably wiped out Rousey, applying the Karifuda Clutch to her before leaving her to suffer the pinfall loss.
Intercontinental Championship: Matt Riddle vs. Gunther
Credit: WWE.com
Saturday felt like a casual day at the office for Gunther, who quickly targeted the injured ankle of Matt Riddle and ultimately tapped him out with an ankle lock to successfully defend the Intercontinental Championship.
The match itself, little more than perfectly acceptable wrestling, was secondary to what occurred afterward.
Drew McIntyre returned to WWE television for the first time since WrestleMania 39 to a thunderous ovation and laid out The Ring General, making it clear he wants a shot at the title.
It was a noteworthy moment that silenced all questions about the contractual status of The Scottish Warrior, at least for the time being.
McIntyre will likely challenge Gunther for the gold at SummerSlam on August 5, a match that could steal the entire show. Whether he dethrones The Ring General and where he goes from there will ultimately decide whether he made the right choice to return to WWE.
For now, though, fans should look forward to the prospects of McIntyre and Gunther beating the life out of each other at Ford Field in Detroit.
Result
Gunther retained
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Cole and Barrett introduced footage of Gunther damaging the left ankle of Riddle from Raw, laying the groundwork for the story of the match. Good use of the often overdone video recaps.
- McIntyre leveled The Ring General with a Claymore, a rare moment of weakness for the IC champion.
Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio
Credit: WWE.com
With or without Rhea Ripley by his side, Dominik Mysterio never stood a chance against Cody Rhodes, and their match Saturday reflected as much.
The American Nightmare overcame multiple attempts at interference and defeated Mysterio in what amounted to a nice little TV match.
Nothing that happened here had any real consequence on any ongoing storyline. If anything, it was an excuse to get both guys on the card and give Rhodes a win after his loss to Brock Lesnar in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.
Nothing more, nothing less.
That is far from a bad thing as Mysterio had an opportunity to work with a main event guy, got experience working with Rhodes and will be better for it.
Result
Rhodes defeated Mysterio
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Rhodes ripped off the cast, stunning Dominik by revealing his left arm to be completely healed.
- Ripley distracted Rhodes and then pulled him off the apron, allowing Mysterio to deliver a tope suicida and seize control of the match. It was predictable but had to happen for the heel to have any realistic shot at getting any kind of sustained offense.
- The crowd never really bought into Mysterio as potentially winning, hurting the match’s heat to an extent. But the heel’s entire shtick is that he should not be winning these matches without incessant interference. Ripley tried, but to no avail.
John Cena Returns
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
John Cena made a surprise appearance, hitting the ring and pandering to the crowd by campaigning for a WrestleMania to be staged in London.
Grayson Waller interrupted and argued for Australia instead, and he issued several backhanded compliments to the 16-time world champion.
A sneak attack by the heel and an Attitude Adjustment from the babyface wrapped up a noteworthy time filler that teased a historic PPV, gave us the surprise of a Cena appearance and presented Waller with another opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a top star on the mic.
The Aussie loudmouth succeeded and likely won some over behind the scenes in a way that Austin Theory didn’t earlier in the year during his opportunity to go head-to-head with Cena.
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- “I’m here to try and bring WrestleMania to London,” Cena said, drawing the loudest pop of the night.
- “I’m here because I know when they play those trumpets, people watch and people listen,” he added.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Credit: WWE.com
Participants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Zelina Vega, Iyo Sky, Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark
Much like Priest earlier in the night, Iyo Sky followed up her breakout performance at Backlash with a Money in the Bank victory, overcoming the selfish intent of her friend and Damage CTRL partner, Bayley, and cleverly handcuffing her to Lynch before securing a championship opportunity.
Trish Stratus, in the first ladder match of her career, took some quality bumps despite some early struggles with the ladder itself.
Speaking of bumps, Zoey Stark took a nasty one from Zelina Vega, who again impressed in limited spots.
Sky winning was probably the right call and provides the jealousy necessary for Bayley to completely divorce The Genius of The Sky from the group.
Their matches will be a load of fun, and the potential for Sky to mix it up with WWE women’s champion Asuka in the future is exciting for the fans.
Result
Sky defeated Lynch, Bayley, Stratus, Stark and Vega
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Stratus struggled more than once to pull off a spot on the ladder, which is understandable given her lack of experience in this match type. Women were not exactly allowed the opportunity to have ladder matches at the height of her popularity. Times have changed for the better.
- The fans in the UK will forever love Bayley and sang proposals to her for the second time in as many nights.
- Lynch and Stratus teamed up to drive Vega off the ladder and to the mat before resuming their battle.
- Vega delivered a Code Red onto a ladder that nearly turned Stark inside out.
- Bayley dumped Sky off the ladder, costing her teammate the briefcase in a moment that will likely spell the end of Damage CTRL sooner rather than later.
- Sky handcuffed Lynch and Bayley together, preventing them from climbing the ladder. She scaled over The Role Model to the top and won the match in a great finish.
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor
Credit: WWE.com
The same mounting frustration that threatens to destroy Damage CTRL could threaten The Judgment Day, thanks to dissension between Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
Priest teased cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase in the middle of the World Heavyweight Championship match between the Irishman and Seth Rollins, with the momentary distraction allowing The Visionary to secure a successful title defense.
We have seen Balor backstage, chatting up star pupil JD McDonagh and creating questions about his commitment to The Judgment Day as it stands.
With the tension between him and Priest now at a high, it would not be surprising to see if Bálor becomes excommunicated from the faction and returns to his babyface ways against Priest, who is ready to assume leadership of the faction now.
As for the match, the two competitors have wicked in-ring chemistry and this was as good as advertised. It could have benefited from a few more minutes to achieve greatness, but even a very good Rollins-Bálor bout is better than most.
Result
Rollins defeated Bálor to retain
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Cole informed the audience that during a live event Friday night, Bálor executed another sneak attack on Rollins that left the champion with injured ribs. He wore K-tape to help sell that, and the injury played into the match. Intentional or not, it was a hell of a sales pitch for WWE live events.
- Every time Rollins mounted any kind of momentum, Bálor cut him off and never allowed him to string together many offensive moves at once.
- Priest appeared with his briefcase to tease a cash-in.
- Bálor set up Rollins for the Coup de Grace, but Priest distracted his Judgment Day teammate, allowing The Visionary to recover and deliver the Stomp for the win.
The Bloodline Civil War: The Usos vs. Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns
Credit: WWE.com
The Usos defeated Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa in the main event of Saturday’s show, with Jey Uso becoming the first Superstar to pin The Tribal Chief in over three years.
It was a phenomenal contest, a representation of the various stories and angles that have occurred over the entirety of Reigns’ dominant run atop WWE.
Left alone following the disposal of Sikoa to the floor, The Tribal Chief faltered and failed.
It was a banner moment in the careers of all involved, most importantly The Usos. Jimmy and Jey benefited from their partnership with Reigns, achieving newfound heights in WWE. Saturday, they delivered the performances of their careers.
The fans responded accordingly, the commentary team put over the enormity of the moment and the fans can now look forward to the next chapter.
What happens when Reigns isn’t invulnerable anymore? Who knows, but one thing feels certain: The Tribal Chief vs. “Main Event” Jey Uso at SummerSlam.
Result
The Usos defeated Reigns and Sikoa
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
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- Jey and Reigns squaring off carried such a big-match feel.
- “My Tribal Chief, do you want your sons sitting at his table?” Paul Heyman said, hyping Reigns up and giving a little more insight in how integral the special counsel is to motivating The Head of the Table. Reigns fired up from there. Great storytelling.
- Jey broke out odes to The Rock and Rikishi during the big babyface comeback spot, which was glorious.
- The Usos delivered a double Spear to Reigns, and only a last-minute save from Sikoa prevented The Tribal Chief from suffering his first pinfall loss in three years.
- Jimmy tried for the top rope splash, but Reigns caught him in the guillotine. Jimmy fought through it, powered up to his feet and drove The Tribal Chief into the corner.
- The Usos delivered the 1-D, but a referee bump prevented the three-count. Rather than setting up a screwy finish, it gave way to a false one as Reigns and Sikoa stacked the twins and pinned them, only for both to kick out at two.
- Jey pinned Reigns, becoming the first competitor to put The Tribal Chief down for a count of three since December 15, 2019 and setting himself up for a championship opportunity at SummerSlam, one would have to assume.
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