Money in the Bank has become a critical pay-per-view on the WWE calendar.
Last year's installment was headlined by the critically acclaimed contest between then-WWE Champion John Cena vs. CM Punk, who had vowed to win the title and leave WWE, as his contract expired that night.
On top of that, the Money in the Bank ladder matches themselves have become a tool to create new stars and revitalize careers that needed a push.
Just look at the past year since Daniel Bryan won the briefcase and started on his path of corruption toward becoming the character he is today. He was a made man once he grabbed that contract.
What's in store for the superstars - and, in the case of AJ, diva - in the spotlight at this year's installment of the show, emanating Sunday night from theU.S. AirwaysCenter in Phoenix?
Ring Posts contributors Adam Testa and Arda Ocal break down the card:
Pre-Show Match
Tag Team Championship
R-Truth and Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Hunico and Camacho
Adam: This is an unfortunate match for a number of reasons. First, why is a tag-team title match being bumped to the pre-show on a card with only four matches announced, especially when both the Intercontinental and United States champions are involved in other matches? Second, why do Hunico and Camacho deserve a title match? I think I can count the number of times they've actually competed as a team on one hand, and I don't recall them winning any of them. Third, at the last pay-per-view, Prime Time Players earned No. 1 contender status, so why aren't they receiving their shot first? All these factors combine to give Kingston and R-Truth a token title defense that won't mean anything.
Prediction: R-Truth and Kofi Kingston
Arda: Why are Hunico and Camacho getting a title shot? What about the Prime Time Players, who actually work, look and act like a tag team? The fact that this match is happening annoys me. Also, how many of you actually forgot that Kofi and Truth were tag champs? This happens all too often, and I feel like I'm campaigning to have the tag titles matter to no avail. Maybe I should stop caring like many others, but I'm hanging on by a thread. Kofi and Truth win and Prime Time Players win soon after.
Prediction: R-Truth and Kofi Kingston
Money in the Bank - World Heavyweight Championship Contract
Christian vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Sin Cara vs. Santino Marella vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Tensai vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow
Adam: This is the more traditional of the two Money in the Bank ladder matches scheduled for the pay-per-view. It features a large number of competitors, mostly from the midcard, and highlights several guys who can pull off the big-time ladder match spots. In the end, I expect Cody Rhodes to win the match and begin his ascension to main-event status, but ultimately, I believe there's more at stake in this match than just the briefcase hanging above the ring. This is a chance for someone like Kidd or Sandow to really step up and earn some much-needed credibility with a strong performance. As for Marella, people (myself included) bemoaned his appearance in the Elimination Chamber match back in February, but he helped add some memorable moments. I'm hoping for the same here.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
Arda: I like this match for so many reasons. For one, there is a lot of talent, like Damien Sandow and Tyson Kidd, that are getting newfound exposure on pay-per-view. There are competitors you wouldn't expect in a ladder match, like Tensai and Santino Marella. You have guys you can count on to produce a stellar match, like Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes. Christian is a ladder match innovator and the glue holding this match together. This is my sleeper pick for show-stealer. As for a winner, Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes are popular picks, but I would like to go off the board and choose Tyson Kidd, only because it would be a pick completely out of left field and he has the goods to back up a possible push.
Prediction: Tyson Kidd
Money in the Bank - WWE Championship Contract
John Cena vs. Kane vs. Big Show vs. Chris Jericho
Adam: The booking of this match baffles me. I got over the "only-former-WWE-champions" stipulation fairly quickly, as I expected others to be added to the match. Rey Mysterio could have returned from suspension; The Miz could have come back from filming his movie. But instead we're left with a four-man match - and at least two of them don't belong in the same match if a ladder is involved. Having a big man in Money in the Bank is OK, as it adds the power dynamic, but the presence of both Kane and Big Show, who WWE is unsuccessfully trying to present as a monster threat, is too much. These four are going to have to work hard to make this match a memorable and significant one.
Prediction: John Cena
