WWE Money in the Bank 2020 comes to us on May 10, probably from the WWE Performance Center, and we take a look at how the entire night could turn out.
While originally scheduled to take place in Baltimore, WWE Money in the Bank 2020 now looks set to broadcast live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.
WWE has yet to confirm the location, but considering Royal Farms Arena has already confirmed their event has been cancelled due to the threat of COVID-19, and WWE has continued to advertise the event and date without mention of a location, it’s safe to expect to see it at the WWE PC.
The only matches currently confirmed are the two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, with some qualifying matches having already taken place and others announced to take place soon. Here, we’ll take a look at how the full card could shape up based on WWE’s recent episodes of SmackDown and Raw, and the likely winners of each match.
Kickoff Match: Air Force One (Ricochet & Cedric Alexander) vs. Angel Garza & Austin Theory
While a match on the Kickoff Show isn’t really needed when there’s no physically present crowd to hype up, that probably won’t stop WWE from putting one on. The most likely candidate features two relatively new tag teams pitted against each other in what would easily be a fast-paced way to set the pace of MITB 2020.
Ricochet and Cedric Alexander aren’t officially dubbed Air Force One just yet, but I certainly hope the name (which was mentioned by them on Twitter) sticks. Garza and Theory have been recent mainstays on Raw and unsuccessfully challenged for the Raw Tag Team Titles, making them an easy choice against hopefully eventual champions Air Force One.
Prediction: Air Force One def. Angel Garza & Austin Theory
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: The Miz & John Morrison (c) vs. Heavy Machinery
The Miz and John Morrison were still the SmackDown Tag Team Champions by the end of WrestleMania 36, but did so by the skin of their teeth. While The New Day and The Usos are currently clamoring for a rematch this Friday on SmackDown with the opposite partners that competed at WrestleMania, I expect Miz and Morrison to narrowly retain once more.
That leaves them in need of new challengers, and it’s absolutely time to put Heavy Machinery in that spot. After Otis scored a big win over Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania 36, this is the perfect opportunity to see Heavy Machinery capture their first titles in WWE.
Prediction: Heavy Machinery def. The Miz & John Morrison to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Raw Tag Team Championship Match: Street Profits (c) vs. The Viking Raiders
After The Viking Raiders picked up an impressive victory over Air Force One (it’s gonna be a thing, I promise), they motioned for the titles and Erik could be seen mouthing “we want the smoke.” The message was clear, and they seem primed to get that championship opportunity at Money in the Bank.
While The Viking Raiders will certainly provide a stiff challenge to Street Profits, especially considering their success against them in NXT. However, I still expect Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to walk out of Money in the Bank as the reigning champs.
Prediction: Street Profits def. The Viking Raiders to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
Grudge Match: Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville
At WrestleMania 36, we had the shocking reveal that Sonya Deville had intentionally sabotaged the budding relationship between Mandy Rose and Otis. In a fury, Rose came out and attacked Deville at ringside.
This Friday, they’ll be face to face about the situation, and it’s not a stretch for this to extend into a grudge match between former tag team partners at Money in the Bank. While I’d love to see Rose get her comeuppance, I think this will actually see Deville, potentially with help from Dolph Ziggler, take the victory and later turn her focus to the SmackDown Women’s Title.
Prediction: Sonya Deville def. Mandy Rose
United States Championship Match: Andrade (c) vs. Kevin Owens
After an undeniable WrestleMania moment when he defeated Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36 after jumping off the massive WrestleMania sign, Kevin Owens will be looking for success to prove that WWE Raw is still The Kevin Owens Show. The prime target would be Andrade, who started a rampage this week with Angel Garza and Austin Theory by his side.
Owens is no stranger to having the odds stacked against him, having dealt with Seth Rollins relentless supply of followers for what felt like months on end. Andrade could be on the path to leading a dominant young faction on WWE Raw, and he’d make a big statement towards that by knocking off former Universal Champion Kevin Owens.
Prediction: Andrade def. Kevin Owens to retain the United States Championship
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Drew Gulak
After Daniel Bryan failed to defeat Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 36, I don’t expect him to have another opportunity soon, despite the interference that helped Zayn retain. However, that doesn’t mean Bryan can’t lead someone else to victory.
Turning the tables on the original plan of Gulak helping Bryan close holes in his own in-ring strategy, we could see Bryan now try to help Gulak to the success he couldn’t manage.
With Bryan at ringside to mitigate interference, and his experience lent to his ally, we just might see Drew Gulak knock off Sami Zayn to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
Prediction: Drew Gulak def. Sami Zayn to become the new Intercontinental Champion
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Asuka vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Nikki Cross
So far, we’ve got three confirmed names for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match including Asuka, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax. The other three are likely to come from SmackDown, and my picks would be Sasha Banks, Naomi, and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Nikki Cross.
While Bliss might seem the more experienced option, the unpredictability of Cross could add an interesting element to a match that already includes forces like Asuka and Shayna Baszler. As for a winner, the perfect pick has got to be Shayna Baszler, who would provide a truly terrifying threat carrying the Money in the Bank briefcase in the upcoming months.
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Aleister Black vs. Apollo Crews vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin vs. Elias
There are three qualifying matches already announced for the upcoming episode of WWE Raw, and the victors I expect to emerge from those are Rey Mysterio, Aleister Black, and Apollo Crews. That leaves SmackDown to fill out the rest of the field with the most likely choices being Shinsuke Nakamura, Baron Corbin, and Elias.
As for a winner, this one is harder to predict. While a veteran like Shinsuke Nakamura or Rey Mysterio could certainly take the briefcase, my prediction goes to the recently dominant Aleister Black. Just imagine the threat of Aleister Black, and a devastating Black Mass, lurking at the end of every potential WWE Championship or Universal Championship match.
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Bayley (c) vs. Tamina
This coming week, we’ll see Tamina take on Sasha Banks to see if Tamina can earn an opportunity at SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. It was Bayley who hand-picked Banks, which The Boss didn’t exactly seem thrilled by.
If WWE is smart, they’ll hold off on Banks and Bayley’s eventual collision at least until SummerSlam, and Tamina is a great choice in the interim. Tamina’s victory over Banks would only add tension between The Boss and The Role Model, but I’d expect Bayley to take the win and leave Money in the Bank still holding the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Prediction: Bayley def. Tamina to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair
At WrestleMania 36, we saw Becky Lynch defy the terrifying threat of Shayna Baszler and leave as still the Raw Women’s Champion. She’s now held that title for over 365 days, which begs the question of who could possibly take the title from her.
While her victory might be a longshot, it’s certainly possible The EST of WWE could shock the world at Money in the Bank and knock off The Man to become the new Raw Women’s Champion. After making her impact by taking out Zelina Vega and declaring herself a member of the Raw roster, Belair would be an instant main event star if she could dethrone Lynch at Money in the Bank.
Prediction: Bianca Belair def. Becky Lynch to become the new Raw Women’s Champion
WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Drew McIntyre went through two behemoth-sized challengers in one night at WrestleMania 36. In the main event, McIntyre dethroned “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar to become the new WWE Champion, and even successfully defended less than half an hour later against The Big Show.
After Rollins ambush of McIntyre on Raw, “The Monday Night Messiah” seems acutely focused on regaining his spot at the top of the food chain. Seth Rollins will provide a perfect challenge early in McIntyre’s title reign, but The Sexy Scotsman is sure to exit Money in the Bank still holding the WWE Championship.
Prediction: Drew McIntyre def. Seth Rollins to retain the WWE Championship
Universal Championship Match: Braun Strowman (c) vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
In the night’s main event, we’re likely to see recently crowned Universal Champion Braun Strowman taking on his former Wyatt Family leader in “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.
Of course, Bray is a far cry from who he was back when Strowman was part of his flock. We saw Wyatt clearly target Strowman at the end of last week’s edition of SmackDown, and Strowman didn’t back down from the challenge.
The reality is that Strowman is only champion because of the last minute withdrawal of Roman Reigns, who understandably chose to worry about his health more than WrestleMania 36. Because of that, I expect “The Fiend” to follow up his unforgettable Firefly Fun House victory over John Cena by dethroning Braun Strowman to once again become Universal Champion.
Prediction: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt def. Braun Strowman to become the new Universal Champion