WWE Money in the Bank 2019 aired live from the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Here are 10 takeaways from the PPV:
Bayley Won The Women’s MITB Ladder Match
Carmella, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Nikki Cross , Ember Moon, Natalya, Naomi, and Bayley competed int he women’s MITB Ladder Match to start off the show. Nikki Cross trapped Carmella and Dana Brooke in the ring apron and unloaded a flurry of punches. Cross then put a ladder over her head and started spinning around. Cross took everyone out before Brooke hit her with a Dropkick.
Nikki applied a Sleeper Hold to Moon but Ember slammed Cross into the ladder. Carmella cleared out the ring and set up a ladder in the corner. Natalya launched Carmella into the ladder but then turned around into an Enziguri from Naomi. Carmella hit Bayley with a Superkick. Mandy then booted the ladder into Carmella and she grabbed her knee. Rose went to attack Carmella but Carmella told her to get away and rolled out of the ring.
The medical staff started bringing Carmella up the entrance ramp as Dana Brooke set up Moon on the ladder. Dana flipped onto Moon and then traded shots with Bayley. Natalya and Mandy sandwiched Bayley inside a ladder and slammed it on her several times. Naomi then hit Bayley with a Moonsault as Cross leveled Natalya with a Spear.
Cross through Naomi to the outside and then hit Ember with a spinning Neckbreaker. Dana bounced the ladder off of Nikki’s face and then made her way towards the briefcase. Mandy joined her on the ladder and started trading punches. Bayley and Naomi hopped on the ladder and Nikki tried to climb to the top. Natalya shoved over the ladder and then turned around into an epic Eclipse from Ember Moon.
Mandy Rose slammed Moon onto a ladder and was then alone in the ring. Rose set up the ladder and Carmella started limping down the entrance ramp. Carmella bashed Rose’s face off the ladder several times and then launched her into the barricade surrounding the ring. Carmella made her way towards the briefcase but Sonya Deville dragged her to the canvas. Deville leveled Carmella with a Spear and then rolled Rose back inside the ring.
Sonya lifted Mandy onto her shoulders and started climbing the ladder. Bayley climbed up the other side and shoved both Deville and Rose to the mat. Bayley then grabbed the briefcase and won the match.
Bayley absolutely deserved to win this match and capture the MITB contract. In a perfect world, I would have liked to see someone like Ember Moon win this match since she has been completely overlooked since joining the main roster.
Rey Mysterio Captured The United States Championship
Samoa Joe defended his United States Championship against Rey Mysterio tonight at MITB. Mysterio got in some offense to start off the match and hit a Joe with Setnon off the top rope
Joe somehow broke his nose during this exchange. Joe went to Powerbomb Mysterio but Rey countered into a Hurricanrana for the pinfall victory. Samoa Joe’s shoulders were clearly up during the cover but the referee missed it.
After the match, Rey’s son came down and celebrated with him on the ramp. Joe attacked Mysterio and hit him with a Uranage in the ring as Dominick pleaded with him to stop. Joe hit Rey with a Senton and started taunting Dominick before leaving the ring.
I haven’t been able to get into this feud at all. Joe squashed Rey and WrestleMania and then lost the belt in goofy fashion tonight. I enjoyed Joe taunting Dominick while beating his father down, but it doesn’t change the fact that the match was a letdown.
Shane McMahon Stole Another Victory
The Miz battled Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage Match at Money in the Bank. Miz dominated the match early and hit Shane with a series of It Kicks. Shane caught Miz and Powerbombed him into the cage.
Shane stomped on Miz in the corner of the ring and then made his way to the top rope. McMahon went for the Coast to Coast Dropkick but Miz caught him and locked in the Figure Four in the middle of the ring.
Shane broke free and tried to escape through the cage door. The Miz caught him but Shane was able to bring a steel chair into the ring. Miz booted Shane to the canvas and won the race to the steel chair.
The Miz stood over Shane as McMahon pleaded for mercy. Shane tried to escape through the door again but Miz bashed him with the chair several times. The Miz bounced Shane’s head off the cage door and continued to hit him with the chair.
Miz then hit Shane with the Skull Crushing Finale on the steel chair. The Miz went for the cover but Shane got his foot on the ropes. The announcers pointed out that the referee shouldn’t have stopped the count during a cage match as the crowd chanted “bullsh*t!”.
Shane knocked Miz to the canvas and started climbing. The Miz hit Shane in the leg with the chair a couple of times and joined him on the top. Miz slammed Shane’s face into the cage and threw him to the canvas. The Miz then connected with one of the worst Frog Splashes I’ve ever seen for a near fall.
McMahon locked in the Triangle submission in the middle of the ring. The Miz countered into a cover for a two count. The Miz catapulted Shane towards the cage but McMahon grabbed on and started climbing. Miz caught him again and set up for a Superplex from the top of the cage. Shane desperately held onto the cage and then slipped out of his shirt. Shane fell to the floor to win the match.
I thought this match was quite disappointing. Shane and Miz put on a much better show at WrestleMania and I was hoping that this feud would wrap up tonight. Judging by the way this match ended, I’m guessing The Miz will still be out for revenge in the weeks to come.
Tony Nese Retained The Cruiserweight Championship
Tony Nese defended his Cruiserweight Championship against Ariya Daivari tonight at Money in the Bank. Nese ducked under a Clothesline and hit Ariya with a Leg Drop for a near fall to start off the match.
Daivari raked Nese’s face off the top rope and then slammed him to the canvas. Daivari followed it up with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. Tony sent Daivari to the outside and flipped onto him.
Back in the ring, Nese connected with the 450 Splash and went for the cover but Daivari kicked out at two. Daivari hit a Superkick and followed it up with a Splash off the top rope. Ariya connected with the Hammerlock Lariat for another near fall.
Nese hit a Hurricanrana off the top rope and then a running knee to the face in the corner of the ring. Tony then covered Daivari to retain the Cruiserweight Championship.
Becky Lynch Retained The RAW Women’s Championship
Becky Lynch defended her RAW Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans tonight at the PPV. Lynch also had to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair later tonight.
Lynch started off the match with a Dropkick that sent Evans tumbling out of the ring. Becky went after her and slammed Lacey into the barricade surrounding the ring. Back in the ring, Evans took control and slammed Lynch to the canvas as the crowd sang Becky’s theme.
Evans targeted her attack on Lynch’s arm and slammed it against the steel ring post. Lacey connected with a springboard Elbow Drop for a near fall. Evans followed it up with a Neckbreaker for another two count.
Becky battled back with a Clothesline off the second rope and both superstars fell to the canvas. Lynch hit a boot to the face and followed it up with an Exploder Suplex. Lynch made her way to the top rope and hit a Dropkick that sent Lacey out of the ring.
Lynch hit her with a forearm off the apron and brought her back inside. Lacey connected with a knee for the face for another near fall. Becky went for the Dis-Arm-Her but Evans quickly grabbed the rope. Evans hit Becky in the back of the knee and rolled her up but the referee didn’t count for some reason. Lynch countered into the Dis-Arm-Her for the submission victory.
Bayley Cashed In And Won The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Charlotte Flair came down to the ring with a huge grin on her face and said that the match was happening right now. Becky had the option to wait to have the match when it was originally scheduled but Lynch got into the ring.
Flair drove Becky to the corner and beat her down. Charlotte climbed to the top rope but Lynch caught her with a punch to the face. Lynch slammed Charlotte to the mat and went for the cover but Flair kicked out at two.
Charlotte hit Becky with a few chops as the crowd chanted “woo!”. Lynch went for a Dropkick but Charlotte caught her. Flair locked in a Boston Crab in the middle of the ring but Becky fought through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Lynch dodged a kick and hit Flair with a Clothesline. Charlotte blocked the Dis-Arm-Her and sent Becky to the apron. Flair went for Natural Selection but Becky held onto the ropes and Charlotte fell to the floor outside the ring.
Lacey Evans ran down to the ring and hit Becky with the Woman’s Right while the referee wasn’t paying attention. Lynch rolled up Charlotte for a near fall and then Flair connected with a big boot for the victory. Charlotte Flair is the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
After the match, Becky attacked Lacey Evans outside the ring. Flair then hit Becky from behind and asked Evans to help her bring Lynch into the ring. Evans held up Lynch as Charlotte hit her with a few chops.
Bayley’s music hit and she rushed the ring with the briefcase. Bayley leveled Charlotte with a Clothesline and then sent Evans to the outside. Charlotte charged at Becky but Bayley dodged it and sent Flair into the turnbuckle.
Bayley then said she was going to cash in her MITB contract. Bayley made her way to the top rope and hit the Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory. Bayley is now the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Bayley then celebrated in the crowd as the crowd chanted her name.
This was a cool moment for Bayley, and the crowd gave her a great reaction when she won the title. However, both the title matches, and the majority of the show so far has seemed disjointed. While Lynch and Flair usually put on great matches, tonight it felt like they couldn’t get on the same page. Lynch’s match with Evans was also underwhelming.
Roman Reigns Buried Elias
Roman Reigns was set to face Elias tonight and was shown backstage making his way towards the ring. Elias snuck up behind him and struck him with his acoustic guitar.
Elias then brought an electric guitar into the ring and insulted the Hartford crowd. Elias performed a song that insulted Roman Reigns and claimed the Whalers left this city because Hartford is a disgrace.
Roman Reigns hit Elias with a Superman Punch on the entrance ramp and then brought Elias to the ring. The match then started and Roman connected with a Spear for the pinfall victory.
Seth Rollins Retained In A Terrific Match Against AJ Styles
Seth Rollins defended his Universal Championship against AJ Styles tonight at WWE Money in the Bank 2019. The match started out back and forth as the crowd applauded both superstars.
Seth connected with a Clothesline and followed it up with a chop in the corner. Rollins followed it up with a knee to the face for a near fall. AJ battled back with a Dropkick and a Backbreaker.
AJ went for the Styles Clash off the apron but Seth escaped at the last second. Styles then hit Rollins with a knee to the face but Seth shrugged it off and hit a Suicide Dive through the ropes.
Rollins hit another Suicide Dive and then the action returned to the ring. Seth hit the Slingblade and followed it up with a Flying Clothesline for a two count. Rollins went for a knee to the face but Styles countered with a Neckbreaker.
Seth slammed AJ to the canvas and hit a Frog Splash off the top rope for a near fall. Styles lifted Rollins up in the Torture Rack and transitioned into a Powerbomb for a two count.
The crowd chanted “this is awesome” as AJ made his way to the apron. AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Rollins blocked it and perched Styles on the top turnbuckle.
Rollins hit an inverted Superplex off the top rope and then the Falcon Arrow for another two count. Seth went for The Stomp but AJ countered into the Calf Crusher in the center of the ring.
Seth broke the hold with a boot to the face and both superstars regrouped on the canvas. Styles was the first to his feet and connected with a reverse DDT for a two count.
AJ charged at Rollins but Seth hit a Superkick out of nowhere and both superstars fell to the mat once again. Back to their feet, Rollins and Styles traded shots as dueling chants broke out. Rollins hit an Enziguri and then dodged a Pele Kick from Styles.
Rollins went for The Stomp but AJ beautifully countered into the Styles Clash and went for the cover. Rollins somehow kicked out at two and the crowd erupted as Styles had a look of disbelief on his face.
“This is awesome” chants broke out again as Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm. Rollins countered with the Ripcord Knee and then hit a Superkick. Seth followed it up with The Stomp for the pinfall victory.
After the match, AJ Styles got back into the ring and stared at Seth. Rollins raised the title and then Styles offered his hand. Seth shook AJ’s hand and Styles exited the ring.
I hope we get to see this match again soon because Rollins and Styles have amazing chemistry in the ring. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and the only complaint I have is that the match didn’t go on longer.
Kofi Kingston Retained The WWE Championship
Kofi Kingston put his WWE Championship on the line against Kevin Owens tonight. Kingston leveled Owens with a Clothesline to start things off. Owens rolled out of the ring to try and regroup but Kingston followed him and hit another Clothesline off the steel steps.
Kingston sent Owens into the barricade and followed it up with a Splash off the top rope. Back in the ring, Kevin dropped Kingston with a Superkick and then stomped on him in the corner of the ring.
Owens shouted “that is why this is my show!” and slammed Kington into the turnbuckle. Owens connected with a Senton for a one count and immediately started shouting at the referee.
Kevin slammed Kingston to the floor outside the ring and hit him with a Frog Splash off the ring apron. Back in the ring, Owens went for a Powerbomb but Kofi countered into a Back Body Drop.
Kofi went for the Boom Drop but Owens countered into the Boston Crab. Kingston escaped and hit a Double Stomp that slammed Owens into the ring apron. Kofi then leaped off the top rope but Owens caught him with a Superkick.
Owens went for the cover in the ring but Kingston kicked out at two. Kofi blocked the Pop-Up Powerbomb and the Stunner and connected with the SOS for a near fall. Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise but Owens countered into another Boston Crab.
Kofi broke the hold and hit Owens with a Superkick. Owens battled back with the Pop-Up Powerbomb for another two count. Owens shouted at the crowd to stop clapping and then geared up in the corner.
Kevin went for the Stunner but Kingston avoided it. Kofi connected with Trouble in Paradise but Owens tumbled out of the ring. Kingston rolled Owens back inside the ring and then walked right into a Stunner from Owens. Kevin went for the cover but Kofi grabbed the bottom rope to break up the cover.
Owens ripped off Kofi’s shoes and then climbed to the top rope. Owens went for a Swanton Bomb but Kingston got his knees up. Kingston then hit Owens with the Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory. Kofi Kingston is still the WWE Champion.
Both the Universal Championship and WWE Championship matches were great tonight. AJ and Seth clearly stole the show, but Kingston and Owens put on a hell of a match as well. I’m not really sure what the point of taking Kofi’s sneakers off for the finish of the match.
Brock Lesnar Won The Men’s MITB Ladder Match
Earlier in the PPV, Sami Zayn approached Triple H backstage. Zayn stated that he wanted protection from Braun Strowman but Triple H laughed it off. Braun was then shown looking for Sami backstage. Later on the show, Sami was found hanging upside down backstage and was ruled out of the match. Triple H confronted Strowman backstage but Braun denied that he was involved in the attack on Zayn. Triple H didn’t buy it and told Strowman to leave the arena.
Baron Corbin, Finn Balor, Andrade, Ali, Randy Orton, Ricochet, and Drew McIntyre made their way to the ring for the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The match started out in a brawl between the 7 superstars. Ricochet charged at Orton but Randy slammed him onto the announce table.
Orton took his sweet time setting up a ladder in the middle of the ring and started to climb. Andrade knocked the ladder over and sent Randy to the outside. Corbin and. McIntyre brought ladders into the ring and set up them in opposite corners.
Ali hit Corbin with a Facebuster and then took out McIntyre with a Suicide Dive. Ricochet sent Andrade out of the ring and then tried to climb the ladder. Ali stopped him and then both superstars climbed up opposite sides. Corbin and McIntyre brought them back down and Baron sent Ali into the ladder in the corner. McIntyre then launched Ricochet into the other ladder in the corner of the ring.
Randy planted Corbin with DDT on the ropes and geared up for an RKO. Corbin blocked it and McIntyre hit Orton with a Claymore Kick. Finn hit Corbin with a Slingblade and then Dropkicked McIntyre into the ladder. Balor hit Corbin with a Double Stomp and slammed the ladder onto McIntyre’s back.
Balor made his way up the ladder but Andrade knocked him back down. Andrade set up a ladder in between one of the rungs and on the top rope. Andrade started climbing but Balor joined him on the ladder in the middle of the ring.
Andrade then hit Balor with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb that dangerously sent Finn into the ladder. The crowd lost their minds at this spot and then comically transitioned into a “yowie wowie!” chant.
Ali and Ricochet got back into the ring and Ali hit an unreal inverted Frankensteiner that spiked Ricochet into the mat. Andrade hung up Ali in one of the rungs and set up another ladder in the ring.
Ali escaped and joined Andrade at the top of both ladders. Ali planted Andrade with an awesome Spanish Fly off the top of the ladders. McIntyre set up a ladder from the apron to announce table. Ali Superkicked McIntyre but turned around into a Chokeslam from Corbin through the announce table.
Corbin finally stabbed McIntyre in the back and sent him flying over the barricade. Baron then Chokeslammed Balor on top of the ladder. Ricochet knocked Corbin out of the ring and went for a Suicide Dive but Baron countered into a Deep Six. McIntyre came out of nowhere and leveled Corbin with the Claymore Kick.
Drew Suplexed Balor onto the ladder and then slammed Andrade on top of him. McIntyre set up the ladder again but Ricochet flew into frame and hit Drew with a Clothesline. Ricochet started climbing but McIntyre brought him down and sent him flying onto the ladder set up from the apron to the announce table.
McIntyre then started climbing the ladder but Orton brought him down with an RKO. Corbin threw Orton into the ring post and made his way to the top. Ali brought him down and sent Baron to the outside. Ali started climbing but Lesnar’s music hit. Brock shoved the ladder over and Ali fell to the floor. Lesnar then climbed the ladder and grabbed the MITB briefcase.
The men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match was set up to be a match of the year candidate and still should be, but this ending was terrible. Brock Lesnar will now likely face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at Super Show-Down in Saudi Arabia. Thus, seven superstars put themselves through hell to set up a rematch that not too many people were asking for.
You cannot build up new talent if you constantly rely on the past. Brock Lesnar winning this match didn’t piss me off in the way that WWE wanted it to. I was just disappointed that after an excellent match, WWE managed to take a step back and deliver more of the same garbage. Money in the Bank 2019 had some great matches, but the biggest thing it did was get me even more excited for Double or Nothing next weekend.