WWE Money in the Bank: Is Kevin Owens the Next Mr. Money in the Bank?

Kevin Owens made his presence known on the opening segment of the May 21 edition of Monday Night Raw. The resident bad boy of WWE interrupted Roman Reigns and was booked in a one-on-one match for his trouble. That match became a tag team affair when Jinder Mahal and Seth Rollins both got involved.

KO has more spotlight on him these days thanks to the upcoming Money in the Bank event on June 17. Owens is one of eight WWE Superstars that will compete in the ladder match to determine the next Mister Money in the Bank. So how close is he to actually winning it?

Right now many WWE fans are putting forth their best predictions. It’s only logical, considering there are eight opportunities to get it right and everyone has their own personal favorites. KO has just as much of a chance as anyone else to go over but it could all go south for him at the last moment.

The biggest issue for Owens is the unknown. He could very well be in this match because WWE wanted to fill it with top talents. Guys like KO always step up their game when it counts the most and he will surely do exactly that on June 17.

But is he just there to make the match look good? If so, it’s understandable. Money in the Bank is a big deal and when booked properly, the event can have a lasting impact in the company for months to come. The man that pulls down the briefcase can either realize his dream of becoming champion or he can come up short and live to fight another day.

The Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner can directly affect the main event of WrestleMania. That is indeed a very big deal. This bout needs Superstars that can deliver on every level. Kevin Owens is undoubtedly one of those Superstars.

But now that he’s enjoying a bit more main event exposure, Owens is reminding fans of just how good he is. He’s so good that he could win the Universal Championship at any time and immediately get over on Raw. KO was the second Universal Champ, after all, and he did very well as the top titleholder on Monday nights.

Good performers should be rewarded for their efforts and while the titles themselves are not necessarily handed out based on that criteria, certain guys sometimes deserve the recognition. Owens is one of those guys. However if he does win, what sort of title run would he have?

This is the second biggest issue for Kevin Owens and it’s one that fans cannot ignore. Yes, he was a smug and cocky champion. But that was precisely what he needed to be and if he wins it again, he will surely return to form.

However the main concern regarding Owens’ first Universal title run was how fans received it. While they enjoyed Kevin’s attitude and personality as always, his antics did become somewhat distracting. Heels cheat to win and heel champions cheat to keep their belts. Fans know this and they’ve always known it.

But when it came to Kevin Owens, his routine grew very tired very quickly. That was due to his ability to get it done in the ring, which is something everyone seems to recognize about him. He didn’t really need to break the rules every time out but he did just that. It became frustrating for fans that appreciated his work but also felt he deserved better.

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Of course Chris Jericho is not around this time. He and Owens made a great team and were the most entertaining act in WWE. But now Owens is running with Sami Zayn, who has not always been the most dependable partner for him.

If KO were to become Universal champion again, he could decide that he no longer needed Zayn anymore.

Then there’s the painfully obvious fact that no one can forget: Brock Lesnar is the current WWE Universal champion. While anything could happen between a Kevin Owens MITB win and eventual cash-in, it does not appear that Lesnar is losing his title any time soon.

So fans are not only facing the question of a potential Owens win, they’re also facing the unlikely possibility that he could actually pin The Beast Incarnate. What are the chances that KO could become the one to hand Brock Lesnar his second loss since November of 2016? What are the chances that anyone can do that?

The man to finally take down Lesnar is likely the next man on top. WWE has not spent all of this time booking Brock like a monster only to give it away in a fluke loss now. So if Kevin Owens does win at Money in the Bank, he may not have to win over Brock Lesnar. But he could win over Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins.

Next: WWE Raw Review: May 21, 2018

That scenario would work and would give KO the chance to become the man on Monday Night Raw once again. He’s looking like the top guy right now and only Rollins is outshining him. If those two could wage war for the Universal Championship, fans would surely find no fault in that. Kevin Owens looks ready. But is WWE ready?