-From Phoenix, AZ
-PRE-SHOW:
-Scott Stansford & Matt Stryker run down the card, including announcing that the WWE Championship match is now no-DQ.
-Zack Ryder & Santino have their fun spoiled by Damien Sandow, who reminds Ryder that he has the night off because Sandow beat him in their Money in the Bank qualifying match.
-Pre-Show Match: WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth VS Hunico & Comacho
-Truth consults with Little Jimmy, so Hunico pisses him off by stomping on Truth's imaginary friend. Kofi gets in, and hits a flying clothesline for one. Champions hit a double hiptoss, and Truth follows up with the Crazy People's legdrop for two. Comacho gets in, and hits Truth with a butterfly suplex for one. Hunico gets in and walks into a leg lariat. Kofi takes over on Hunico, and hits the Boom Drop. Hunico avoids Trouble in Paradise, and goes back on offense.
Comacho prevents a Kofi springboard, and Kofi is officially the face-in-peril. Hunico hits a swank school boy into a powerbomb for two. Kofi springs up the turnbuckles and hits a sweet flying headscissors. Tags on both ends, and Trush spikes Comacho with a DDT. Kofi takes Hunico out, then sends Comacho into the Little Jimmy for the win at 8:23. Average undercard tag match.
-Josh Matthews gets some words from Chris Jericho, who has his fans in attendence. Jericho breaks out some of his old catchphrases, and gets pops for them.
-Video package previews Sheamus/ADR.
-Daniel Bryan says AJ is his future wife. Matthews reminds Bryan that AJ slapped him in the face, to which Bryan replies that Matthews must not know much about women. Bryan says he's going to leave with both the WWE Championship, and AJ's heart.
-Video previews the WWE title match.
-MAIN SHOW:
-Match 1 for the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Contract: Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) VS United States Champion Santino Marella VS Cody Rhodes VS Damien Sandow VS Tyson Kidd VS Sin Cara VS Tensai (w/Sakamoto) VS Intercontinental Champion Christian
-Ring gets cleared out quickly. Santino tries to jump and grab the case. Tensai catapults Kidd face-first into a ladder. Tensai tries to set Christian up, but gets caught and double-teamed by Christian & Kidd. Christian takes Kidd out and climbs, but is cut off by Santino. Kidd joins the fun, but they all get wiped out by Sandow. Sandow climbs, but is dropkicked off the ladder by Ziggler. Ziggler misses the famouser on Rhodes, but Rhodes then tosses Cara into a dropkick on Ziggler. Cara takes Rhodes out, then badly blows a Flux Capacitor on Ziggler.
Cara puts Kidd on a ladder, but gets shoved down by Christian, who then misses a frogsplash on Kidd, hitting the ladder. Rhodes hits the disaster kick on Sandow, but is then sent out of the ring by Kidd. Kidd gets cut off by Tensai, who also catches Santino and tosses him. Tensai catches Kidd climbing again and tries to powerbomb him, but Kidd counters into a hurricarana over the top and out. Sandow gets stopped by Cara. Sandow takes Cara out and almost has it, but is stopped by Christian. They go at it for a while, and Christian counters a running powerslam into a ladder and hits an inverted DDT.
Sandow avoids one spear, but not the second, and is sent right into a ladder. Christian is cut off by Ziggler & Rhodes, who then fight it out before getting taken out by Tensai. Tensai climbs, but has to stop Kidd, who springboards onto the ladder and almost gets the case first. Tensai fights off Santino, but takes ladder shots from Christian, then Christian & Santino. Santino & Dolph square off. Santino hits the saluting headbutt and THE COBRA on Dolph.
Santino climbs, but does so very slowly, since he's afraid of heights. Santino cobras Sandow, but then takes a springboard dropkick from Rhodes to knock him over. Cody climbs, but is distracted by Vickie, and Dolph sneaks in with a Zig Zag off the ladder. Ziggler fights with Christian while Sandow sets up a ladder and Kidd waits for his opportunity. Kidd leans one ladder into the one Ziggler & Christian are climbing, then goes for a sunset bomb on Ziggler, taking Ziggler's taint in his face for his troubles.
Tensai bridges the ring and the announce table with a ladder, and powerbombs Cara on it, then throws Ziggler, who almost breaks his neck on Booker T's chair. Rhodes uses two disaster kicks to drop Tensai. Cody tosses Kidd off a ladder, but then takes a spear from Christian off the same ladder. Ziggler slowly emerges from behind the announce table as Santino and Christian climb. Christian takes care of Santino, but is then dumped by Ziggler, who grabs the briefcase at 18:29. Pretty much what you should expect from one of these matches; total car wreck spots and guys disappearing until their segment comes up. Ziggler almost killing himself off the Tensai throw was something else though. The right guy won here. Now he needs a successful cash-in and a good length title reign to get to the next level, where he should be.
-The Miz makes his return after filming THE MARINE 3, with a grown-up haircut and modest facial hair. Miz enters himself into the WWE Championship Money in the Bank match.
-RAW MOMENT: Tony Schiavone announces Mick Foley winning the title on Nitro, and 600,000 viewers immediately changed from Nitro to Raw.
-Match 2 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus [c] VS Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)
-Back-and-forth start, with ADR trying to work the arm he injured on Smackdown. Sheamus hits a kneedrop for two. Sheamus hits a flying shoulderblock off the top for two. Ricardo provides a distraction, allowing ADR to dropkick Sheamus off the apron. ADR goes back to work on the arm. Sheamus hits a couple headbutts, but whiffs on an Irish hammer, and ADR gets an armbar takedown to retake control. ADR hits a couple buzzsaw kicks for two.
ADR runs into a boot, and Sheamus follows up with a swinging neckbreaker. Sheamus hits a couple Irish hammers, but runs into a knee to the shoulder to put ADR back on offense. ADR sets up for the cross-armbreaker, but Sheamus fights out. Sheamus immediately crashes shoulder-first into the ringpost. ADR uses a headbutt to win a slugfest. Sheamus again fights off the cross-armbreaker, but slingshots right into a double-knee code breaker on the arm for two.
ADR talks shit, and Sheamus fires up, hitting a big powerslam for two. ADR tries, but can't fight off the Irish Hand Granade. ADR runs right into the Irish Curse for two. ADR avoids the Brogues Kick, and hits a lung blower for two. ADR whiffs on the step-up enziguiri, and Sheamus immediately hits White Noise, followed by the Brogue Kick to retain at 14:24. This was the first time in a long time that I can remember someone calling for their finisher, and actually hitting it for the win. This was really good, and I wouldn't mind seeing a rematch, as these two look to have good chemistry.
-Ricardo helps ADR attack Sheamus for the post-match revenge attack. Ziggler runs out to cash in his briefcase, having to stop to clock ADR with the case, then walking right into a Brogue Kick before the bell can be rung to start the match, so no cash-in.
-Match 3: The Prime Time Players (w/ A.W.) VS Primo & Epico (w/Rosa)
-Kofi & Truth join the announce table. P & E hit a low dropkick/missile dropkick combo on Titus for two. P & E then double team Young before taking O'Neil out too. Epico hits a dive on both Players. Epico plays face-in-peril. Young holds Epico on the ring apron while A.W. combs Young's afro. Titus hits a backbreaker followed by a fall-away slam for two. Primo breaks up the cover, prompting A.W. to yell out "hey, this ain't Taco Bell!". Titus & Rosa have a dance-off, which Titus loses, allowing Epico to make the tag.
Primo gets in and fires up on Young, hitting a springboard twisting splash for two. Primo springboards right into a gutbuster, but catches Young with a rollup for the pin at 7:30. Match was fine, but had no heat.
-The Players confront Kofi & Truth, and Truth ends up throwing a drink in A.W.'s face. A.W. has to be held back, and R-Truth has to hold Little Jimmy back.
-AJ isn't sure what she's going to do tonight.
-Match 4 for the WWE Championship: CM Punk [c] VS Daniel Bryan [No DQ, Special Guest Referee AJ]
-Punk goes right after Bryan, who manages to turn the tide by whipping Punk into the barricade. Bryan hits the YES kicks, but Punk gets a quick schoolboy for two. Bryan rips at Punk's face, then they exchange chops before Punk hits a European uppercut. Bryan avoids a legdrop and hits more YES kicks. Punk comes back with a dropkick followed by a suicide dive. They fight on the entranceway, then when they get back in the ring, Bryan shoves Punk right into AJ, knocking her off the apron.
Bryan whips Punk into the steps as AJ is lead to the back. Bryan hits more kicks, then a flying knee off the apron. Bryan sends Punk into the barricade again, but Punk then backdrops Bryan into the time keeper's area. Punk hits a flying clothesline off the barricade. Crowd stops with dueling chants to call for tables. Punk tries to ablige, but Bryan attacks him before he can. Bryan grabs a kendo stick, but can't get a good shot in until he counters a Punk springboard flying clothesline with a shot to the stomach for two.
Bryan wears Punk out with the kendo stick, and gets two. Bryan pounds away in the corner, then hits a snap suplex, but then misses a diving headbutt. Punk wins a strike exchange, and hits a swinging neckbreaker for two. Punk hits a high knee, avoids a clothesline, and hits a snap powerslam for two. They avoid each other's finishers, and Bryan's counter of the GTS is a hurricarana rollup for two. Bryan locks on a surfboard, but Punk gets a hold of the kendo stick, and wears Bryan out for two.
Punk goes up top, but gets caught with a superplex. AJ returns to ref the rest of the match. She skips around the ring, then lays a chair in between them, ignoring Bryan's pleas that she hand it to him. Bryan gets the chair anyway, and drills Punk 4 or 5 times, getting two off that. Bryan talks with AJ, and Punk takes the opportunity to get a schoolboy for two.
Bryan gets more YES kicks in, but then runs into a clothesline. Punk sets the chair up in a corner, but AJ steps in front of it to prevent Punk from whipping Bryan into it. Bryan takes advantage by hitting a running dropkick. Bryan tries to grab the kendo stick, but AJ steps on it. Bryan walks into a roundhouse kick, then Punk adds a chair slam. Punk misses the Savage elbow, hitting the chair. Bryan gets a kendo stick-assisted YES lock, but Punk escapes, hits a catapult, followed by the GTS for two.
Punk sets up the table, lays Bryan on top of it, but Bryan crotches Punk on the top turnbuckle. Bryan looks to hurricarana Punk into the table, but Punk crotches him to counter. Punk hits a series of elbows, then a belly-to-back suplex through the table to retain at 27:46. Man, this was a WAR and well worth going out of your way to see. Glad to see the AJ angle didn't completely overwhelm the match.
-As Punk celebrates, King points out that AJ doesn't look too happy that she wasn't more involved in the decision.
-Match 5: Ryback VS Curt Hawkins & Tyler Reks
-Hawkins and Reks have to tag. Ryback throws Hawkins and follows up with a push kick. Reks gets in, and takes Ryback down with a clothesline. Hawkins & Reks (mostly Reks) work Ryback over as the crowd silently waits for Ryback's big comeback. He does in short order, and the crowd responds with a "Goldberg" chant. Ryback finally finishes with Shell Shock (fisherman drop) at 4:19.
-RAW MOMENT: Chris Jericho debuts by interrupting The Rock.
-Match 6: Divas Champion Layla, Kaitlyn, & Tamina Snuka VS Beth Phoenix, Natalya, & Eve Torres
-Natalya and Tamina do a short sequence, the Kaitlyn takes on all three heels. Beth & Layla get in, then the match completely breaks down. Tamina hits Beth with a superkick, and Layla finishes her with the Layout at 3:23. NEXT!
-Match 7 for the WWE Championship Money in the Bank: Kane VS Chris Jericho VS The Miz VS Big Show VS John Cena
-FUN FACT: The WWE title has yet to main event a PPV this year. The World Heavyweight title hasn't even come close. Only the Royal Rumble & John Cena's matches have gone on last so far this year. Everyone save Cena & Show go outside right off the bat, then Cena knocks Show outside, before Show takes Cena out and whips him into the steps. Cena stops Miz, then both are taken out by a spear from Show. Show blocks a Kane DDT, then chops a flying Miz and floors a charging Jericho.
Show then takes a Code Breaker, DDT from Miz, and a big boot to the outside from Kane. Cena then puts Show through the Spanish announce table with the AA. Everyone else then buries Show under a pile of ladders. Jericho gets Miz in the Walls of Jericho, then takes out an intruding Kane. Jericho stops Miz from stealing the win, takes him out, then climbs himself before getting cut off by Cena.
Miz stops Cena, and hits him with a DDT. Kane takes Miz out and climbs, but is cut off by Jericho. Kane tries a double chokeslam on Jericho & Miz, but ends up taking a double suplex onto a ladder. Cena cleans house, then hits Jericho & Miz with a double Five Knuckle Shuffle, then an AA on Kane.
Jericho ends up by himself and almost wins it, but Show finally gets up and stops Jericho. Show ends up breaking a ladder in half while using it to batter Jericho. Show takes care of Miz, then works Cena over. Show sandwiches Cena between the ropes and a step ladder, then hits a running butt bump on the ladder. Show then goes under the ring and grabs the special ladder he had for a MitB match a couple years ago. The announcers of course act like they've never seen it before.
Show takes a while to set it up, then climbs. Kane cuts Show off, but then gets tossed off the ladder. Cena gets in there, and the same thing happens to him. Jericho finally uses a chair to get Show away from the briefcase. Cena & Jericho fight over the case. Cena almost gets the AA off the ladder, but Jericho counters into a sleeper. Cena climbs back up to the top of the ladder while still in the hold. Jericho almost puts Cena to sleep, but has to release the hold to take care of Miz.
Cena finally goes out from the sleeper. Jericho is all by himself. Miz quickly climbs the ladder and both men almost get the briefcase. Show ends that fight by knocking both out. Cena gets to the stop, and uses the briefcase to block the WMD and starts hitting Show with it, accidentally taking the briefcase off the hook early to win at 20:01. This was the lesser of the two MitB matches by far, as this one didn't have anyone willing to take the suicidal bumps, and instead tried to use the marquee value of the people in the match to carry it.
-Cena makes goofy faces while triumphantly holding the briefcase. Replay shows the hook actually broke off while Cena was hitting Show with the briefcase.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, but not blow-away awesome like last year's. The main event MitB wasn't that great, and the bathroom break matches after Punk/Bryan stopped the momentum of the show cold. The Smackdown MitB and the two title matches delivered, but there was a lot of filler on this show.
