It's been said many times and many ways, but a main event can make or break any show. However, that rule becomes even more prevalent for gimmick pay-per-views, like TLC, Hell in a Cell, Elimination Chamber and the titular Money in the Bank. As such, this review will actually be quite simple. I get to rag on 90 percent of this show, which I love doing, and then I get to gush about a Match of the Year candidate, which is slightly less fun.
- You know, between this main event, the five-way at Extreme Rules and the Elimination Chamber in February, maybe the future of WWE main events is multiple man clusterf***s. This was a near perfect match in almost every notion, with all six men getting an opportunity to shine. Not only was this match filled with insane spots(you ain't getting paid enough for this sh**, AJ), but there was also an element of storytelling normally missing from ladder matches. I LOVED Corbin jumping Nakamura during his entrance, setting up Shinsuke for a hero's welcome later in the match. And everyone will be talking about his showdown with Styles, their first physical encounter in the WWE. Heck, even Dolph Ziggler looked good, and when I'm saying that, then you know they killed it.
6/10
I'm probably being way too generous with that grade, but I enjoyed the main event so much, it made up for literally everything else. SmackDown, you going down a very slippery slope here. I hope you know what you're doing.
Money in the Bank 2016 Score: 8/10
- I went through my whole routine of criticizing the two women's matches on the card yesterday, so I won't bore you with it again. SmackDown likes to pretend they've got a thriving women's division, which is cute, but this match showed just how much work needs to be done. Compare this to the first Money in the Bank match, back in 2005, and you'll understand why this was so underwhelming. Not much more needs to be said: tepid and predictable match, a lack of big spots and a finish that makes everyone look bad.
- Lots of talents have been enhanced by the brand split, but in my opinion, two of the biggest winners have been The Usos. Going from the stalest of stale, they've become a force to be reckoned with, and have put on some really good matches. Unfortunately, this one wasn't one of them. Coming off of the previous match, the crowd was pretty dead, and neither team did much to wake them back up. Add in a second non-decisive finish and a few glaring botches, and you've got the recipe for an underwhelming match.
- Give her credit, Lana may be the last person on the roster who should be getting a title shot, but she's clearly put in some work over the past few months. In a way, she actually looked better than the champ, who's selling wasn't great. This was a surprisingly decent match, but nothing for the record books.
- Hey, it's the WWE Championship. Look how far that belt has fallen. I liked this match a little more than Jinder and Randy's first at Backlash, and I enjoyed the presence of the legends at ringside. Randy killing the Singh Brothers is always fun, and Jinder got a good win, so everyone looks good.
- Remember when Breezango were fighting for the tag team championships? Those were the good ole days. They had a match with The Ascension, which is the highest praise I'm willing to offer this match. Time killing has never been so stylish.
- You know, between this main event, the five-way at Extreme Rules and the Elimination Chamber in February, maybe the future of WWE main events is multiple man clusterf***s. This was a near perfect match in almost every notion, with all six men getting an opportunity to shine. Not only was this match filled with insane spots(you ain't getting paid enough for this sh**, AJ), but there was also an element of storytelling normally missing from ladder matches. I LOVED Corbin jumping Nakamura during his entrance, setting up Shinsuke for a hero's welcome later in the match. And everyone will be talking about his showdown with Styles, their first physical encounter in the WWE. Heck, even Dolph Ziggler looked good, and when I'm saying that, then you know they killed it.
6/10
I'm probably being way too generous with that grade, but I enjoyed the main event so much, it made up for literally everything else. SmackDown, you going down a very slippery slope here. I hope you know what you're doing.
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