Money in the Bank, like the Royal Rumble, always has the chance to be WWE’s most talked about and controversial event of the year.
It’s because we see a clear choice by the company to either invest in rising stars in order to push them to the main event level, settle for the safe and familiar or go in just a completely bizarre direction.
WWE will have a hard time making a bad choice with the women’s Money in the Bank winner, but things could get interesting on the men’s side thanks to a crossover star such as Logan Paul being involved.
Ultimately, WWE has some pretty clear choices on both sides and it feels like the stories are heading in a direction fans will be happy with if the company just listens and delivers at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday (3 p.m., Peacock).
With a lot at stake, The Post’s Joseph Staszewski tries his hand at predicting how all the matches will play out at Money in the Bank.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler (c) over Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to retain the WWE women’s tag team championships
There aren’t a lot of top-tier teams in the WWE women’s tag division, and we are just getting started between these two with Liv Morgan back from injury.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler just won the title, and having them drop them so quickly would stunt any progress the company is trying to make in the division.
Rodriguez and Morgan will come oh so close, but the champs will find a dastardly way to come out victorious.
Gunther (c.) over Matt Riddle to retain the Intercontinental championship
This match has a chance to very much over-deliver because of how Gunther and Riddle’s styles mesh, and they have shown great in-ring history before their WWE days.
That being said, Riddle is already working an injury angle inflicted by Imperium coming into this, so you have to figure that will play a factor.
The King of Bros likely doesn’t have the cache right not to be the one to beat the Ring General for the title.
Cody Rhodes over Dominik Mysterio
Is there a scenario where Brock Lesnar returns to cost Rhodes this match? Absolutely.
It will give Mysterio something to brag about for a long time.
But Lesnar’s swiftness and craftiness just do not seem like his style — unless WWE has him come out of the crowd.
It feels like a better chance Rhodes wins a very hard-fought match, thwarting Rhea Ripley’s interference and Lesnar leaves him laying after that as we head to SummerSlam.
Doing so with Brandi Rhodes watching somehow would do a lot to ratchet this up.
Seth Rollins (c) over Finn Balor to retain the world heavyweight championship
At first, I was leaning toward Balor actually beating Rollins because, man this would be a great way to reestablish The Prince as a true main-eventer again.
But then I remembered Rhea Ripley’s interaction with Carmelo Hayes on NXT this week where she warned him not to get involved in The Judgment Day’s business or he would become their business.
What better way for that to happen than for Carmelo and Trick Williams to thwart the group’s attempt to cheat Rollins out of the title and to a six-man tag match?
Jimmy and Jey Uso over Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa
The Bloodline Civil War maybe the hardest thing to call on this card because WWE feeling the need to keep Roman Reigns looking strong.
But right now the Tribal Chief is in a state of decline and having family members leave him left and right.
The Osos losing squashes way too much of their momentum and opposition.
The more interesting thing would be Solo Sikoa hesitating on a spike, opening the door for his cousins to pin him for the win.
That could spark the fraying of Reigns and Sikoa’s relationship as we head to SummerSlam and the need for the Undisputed Universal champion to face one of the Usos there.
Iyo Sky over Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, Zelina Vega, Bayley and Trish Stratus to win the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match
The women’s ladder match is much more complicated than the men’s because the choices and the stories are far better.
Becky Lynch could win MITB for the first time.
Trish Stratus is in her first-ever ladder match and could get one more title run or protégé Zoey Stark my elevate herself with a win.
Underdog Zelina Vega would get a second chance at gold after losing to Rhea Ripley at Backlash.
The briefcase has been the point of contention between Iyo Sky and Bayley, so either of them winning plays into that.
The story that needs the briefcase most is Sky and Bayley, especially if the rumor of a failed cash-in happens.
Sky wins Money in the Bank, and Bayley’s jealousy stews for months until she eventually costs her teammate her cash-in.
Boom Damage CTRL implodes and maybe Sky starts the singles run she deserves.
L.A. Knight over Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, Santos Escobar, Butch, Damian Priest and Logan Paul to win the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match
To me, there are three acceptable winners here in Logan Paul, L.A. Knight and Damian Priest.
Paul winning will make it feel like a Vince McMahon call because of the buzz it will cause, but his part-time status should make WWE hesitate because the briefcase holder is likely going after the “workhorse” world heavyweight championship, and that isn’t Paul.
Priest being victorious finally could evaluate him to main event status and cause a little tension within The Judgement Day with Finn Balor.
But it’s really hard not to see the uber benefits of making L.A. Knight Mr. Money in the Bank.
The dude is so over that WWE needs to strike while the iron is hot.
It will allow him to appear on both shows more and why not strike up a feud with Paul for SummerSlam while we are at it?