Evolution Schematic 04.04.07: Money In The Bank.
Posted by Mathew Sforcina on 04.04.2007
It's like The Royal Rumble. Except with 6-8, not 30 entrants. Oh, and it's one fall. With a ladder. And at WM, not RR. And the title shot is valid for one year...Actually, it's nothing like the Royal Rumble, is it. Oh yes, I'm back...
Overview
Every tradition must have a beginning. For every long standing, beloved institution, there was, in it's past, a new, still finding it's legs seemingly regular occurrence. There must be a start, for there to be a journey. Often, for such a journey to be powerful and memorable, the start must be small, and at the time unnoticed. To have an avalanche, a single snowflake must fall.
But this is not always the case.
For there are times when tradition begins with power, and impact. Times when things start big and only get bigger. Times when you know Tradition is being born, and you can say ‘I Was There' soon after, not in many years time.
And such is the case with Money In The Bank. There have been only 3 thus far, but 2 have completed their purpose, and led two men to the very top of this industry. A third now waits, having achieved the means, he now waits to obtain the end. But their paths have not been calm. Challenges have appeared, and thus history, however brief, should be remembered, lest a wrong foot is taken. And there is no stigma worse than being the very first failure.
Failure.
Premise- From the creative genius behind ‘The Elimination Chamber', ‘RAW Roulette' and ‘Spoilers'!
Take one briefcase, metal preferably to ensure it can be used as a weapon later on. Place inside one guaranteed, open contract for the holder with no set date, time or place that grants said holder one World Title match. (Note: For this step, one may either specify a single World Title or a few.) Ensure said contract expires at the end of one year, at the end of Wrestlemania (Current Value +1). Hang said briefcase above the ring. Allow 6-8 participants to enter the match, officially. They may be either chosen or qualified, it is unimportant. The first of these participants who grabs the briefcase and pull it off it's hook, wins. Hold at Wrestlemania.
Debut- Let's see, Edge and Christian, check. A couple more Canadians, check. A freak of nature, check. And Kane…Checkmate.
The match began as one of Eric Bischoff's ideas to improve Raw's input into WM. Hence, it being a good idea, no-one cares to mention that. As Raw GM at the time, early 2005, Eric wanted to show that he was a man for the wrestlers, that he was all about opportunity, all about giving wrestlers chances to prove themselves. And out of his mind game a 6 man match, which apparently Bischoff really likes as a concept.
So he hand picked 6 men, 6 Raw Superstars who had no pressing, urgent blood fueds going on that might distract them and remove them from his concept.
Chris Jericho, first Undisputed World Champion, former WCW employee and all around cocky but tough bastard.
Chris Benoit, former World Heavyweight Champion, former WCW heart and all around tough bastard.
Edge, one half of the legendary Edge & Christian team, well known for their success at ladder matches and man desperate for that guaranteed World Title Shot.
Christian, the other half of the legendary Edge & Christian team, also well known for their success at ladder matches and Charisma personified…in his own mind.
Shelton Benjamin, then IC champ, superb athlete needing that one big boost to reach main event status and seemingly yet to unlock his full potential of doing crazy fucking shit in the ring.
And finally Kane, former World Champ, former (not really) burn victim, former freak, current monster and all round guy who reserved the right to destroy people if and when he saw fit.
After ensuring all 6 men understood what was at stake, what was on the line, they quickly agreed, and the match was signed.
And then the match went off, with no so much of a bang as a large nuclear explosion. The match began with a huge brawl, leading to Christian showing everyone his brains by quickly going for the ladder and the case while everyone else was distracted, leading to Jericho trying to show everyone Christian's brains by slamming a ladder into his face. Jericho then sent Benoit and Edge off the apron, then dove out onto Edge.
Christian then jumped out onto all 3 of them.
Then Shelton jumped out onto all 4 of them.
Kane then took everyone out with a dive just for the hell of it.
After everyone recovered, and some more brutal stuff happened, Benoit nailed a German Suplex on Jericho, while Jericho held a ladder. This looked awesome, but no-one remembers it. Kane then ended up going for the case, then getting caught by Benoit in a crossface. Who then caught Edge in a Crossface. Kane then caught Benoit with a ladderface, or more accurately, a ladder-to-the-face.
More stuff I can't do justice to happened, and then came, The Moment. Perhaps the moment than truly ensured that this would not be just another failed experiment. For you see, Jericho was going up, trying to get the case. Christian tried to stop him with a ladder, but Jericho avoided it, Christian's ladder ending up getting wedged into Jericho's like a ramp.
A ramp Shelton Benjamin then ran up to take Jericho out.
Tomko then showed up, and got taken out, and then more and more falls, slams and knock out shots occurred, until finally, Benoit was all alone, blood trickling down his forehead, his arm almost dead, all alone, up a ladder, ready to grab the case. So, naturally, Edge swooped in, nailed him in the arm with a chair, then almost ran up a ladder to grab the case and win the contract.
Phase 1b- A threat from…Matt Hardy? Seriously?
Edge was very pleased with his new contract, and took it wherever he went, with his new girl Lita once he acquired her as well. He waited patiently, looking for the right opportunity to win the World Title, then the WWE title when the two switched brands (Eric Bischoff clearly either not specifying which world title the contract was for, or else when the switch occurred replacing Edge's contract to ensure there was no confusion and/or to make sure he didn't jump ship to SD in order to use it). But then the past came back to haunt him.
Matt Hardy returned, looking for revenge, dignity, honor, and everything else Lita took from him, except maybe his System Of A Down CDs. And Edge was, while able to hold Matt at bay, a little off balance. Especially given Matt's refusal to play by the rules. So, after Matt beat him in a cage match, a last time ever match was signed between the two at the WWE Homecoming. A Loser Leaves Raw Ladder match, with the MITB case hanging above the ring, which would also go to the winner. Presumably Lita's heart…Lita's loyalty…Lita's mind…Lita would also go to the winner.
For Edge, it was his greatest night thus far, as in one swoop he removed Matt Hardy from his life ‘forever', and kept his title shot and his girl. Things were looking good. And then they looked a whole lot better.
Phase 1c- Hey, well done man, going through 5 other- MINE!
Edge's opportunity finally came. At New Year's Revolution in 2006, John Cena faced a grueling challenge, defending his WWE title in another Eric Bischoff creation, the Elimination Chamber. And somehow, Cena pulled it out, outlasting Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle to retain his title.
Edge then strolled out, easily dismantled Cena and won the title in less than 2 minutes.
Money In The Bank had paid off.
Phase 2- That was cool. Carlito not getting in, not cool.
So, a month or two later, Carlito realised that if Edge could do that, why not him? So, after a victory on Raw, he ‘suggested' that the idea be used again, maybe as a regular thing? Mr. McMahon, then ‘Interim' General Manager, liked it, and approved it.
However, Mr. McMahon, the Chairman, felt it needed a boost, and thus made it inter-promotional, 3 men from Raw, 3 from SD. Qualifying matches then took place.
On Raw, Rob Van Dam beat Trevor Murdoch, Shelton Benjamin defeated Chavo Guerrero, and somewhat ironically, Ric Flair defeated Carlito. It was Carlito's idea to make it yearly, and he wasn't even in it!
On Smackdown, Finlay defeated Bobby Lashley, Matt Hardy defeated The Road Warrior, and then Bobby Lashley defeated, deep breath, Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, Paul Burchill, Tatanka, Nunzio, The Road Warrior, Orlando Jordan, Sylvan, Simon Dean, Gymini 1 & 2, Scotty Too Hotty, Psicosis, Super Crazy, Jamie Noble, Kid Kash, Brian Kendrick and Paul London in an over the top rope battle royal, eliminating MNM to win the final slot.
When the match went down, it was less chaotic, more controlled. Finlay and Flair both kept things grounded in a way, thus meaning that while the match was not as eye-popping or fun to recap, it was certainly more focused and less wild and crazy. Everyone knew Finlay and Flair would take any small opening and use it to win. So people tried to avoid making those openings.
But Shelton again shocked the world, this time by appearing to come out of nowhere (actually springboard off the top rope after being knocked to the outside) to land effortlessly and perfectly on the ladder RVD was climbing and then trade blows. But this gave one Matt Hardy the opening he needed, and Matt took Shelton down, leaving RVD in perfect position to grab the case and win.
Oopsy.
Phase 2b- It's not fair dammit!
Shelton then bitched about this.
And bitched.
And bitched.
And BITCHED.
Until finally RVD gave in, and at Backlash, the two had a match, Title vs. Contract, RVD defending his MITB shot (in it's snazzy airbrushed case) up against Shelton's IC title. And RVD, not about to let this chance go just yet, held on, fought hard, and ended up winning the match and the IC title with a Frog Splash. He was to lose the IC title shortly after winning it, but he didn't mind, he had a bigger fish to fry.
Phase 2c- Straight up, no funny business, but it's in my house. MY HOUSE!
RVD was not about to pull a stunt like Edge did. He was not the sort of guy to surprise then Champ Cena, wait until John was tired, swoop in, and steal the belt. No, he would give Cena warning, he would name the place, the time, the stips, and let John prepare. But then, how could John prepare?
For Rob chose the ECW One Night Stand 2006 event, the PPV that was to launch the new era of ECW. Rob was going to go to ECW, and he intended to take the WWE title with him. Cena, despite changing the belt into a spinning, bling vanity prop, still respected the history of the title, and wasn't about to let RVD take the belt to ECW.
But yet, John had faced hostile, even angry crowds before. But nothing, NOTHING, could have prepared him for what lay in store. The Hammerstein Ballroom, where Rob had once fought as an ally of Jerry Lawler and WWE, but was now a focal point of ECW loyalists and faithful. A small, packed arena filled with no-one but loyal, rabid, cult-like ECW fans. All of whom hated John Cena with every fiber of their being, with hatred normally only shown to big fat brawlers in ROH.
And into the valley of the shadow of death, John Cena went in, head held high, prepared to fight, prepared to face RVD in and ECW Rules match. And fight he did, damm near winning, coming this close to defeating RVD in his own crowd, his own people, coming so close to causing a major riot in New York, then a man in black ran in and speared Cena through a table.
Ironically, Edge, the man who a scant hour or so before had been fighting to kill ECW before it could be reborn, a man who disliked RVD, for what he stood for, the former MITB winner, despite hating ECW with every ounce of soul in him…hated Cena that little bit more. Paul Heyman counted the fall, and gave Rob his first World Title.
Money In The Bank was 2 for 2.
Today-…BANK!
And now, as the dust settles, as Wrestlemania 23 goes from in our thoughts to in our memories, we can review the carnage.
Edge, in one fell swoop theoretically losing his WM Winning streak, although he could argue that since he was taken away by EMT's he was no longer in the match and therefore, didn't lose. He may indeed have a title shot at Backlash, so his failure here is not as drastic as it could have been.
So too for Randy Orton. He lost here, but he's possibly gained a shot at Backlash, where he can pin Cena, Edge or HBK to win the WWE title, should Vince decide to give him that chance.
Jeff Hardy got to near kill Edge and make a WM highlight, so he's happy.
King Booker has learnt a valuable lesson. When faced between choosing to save your wife or win a guaranteed title shot, Shots before Sluts.
Matt Hardy…doesn't appear to have learnt much at all, except maybe that working on public speaking leads to more fan support and thus more momentum and thus, maybe, winning important matches.
Finlay has learnt not to let Hornswoggle fetch anything important.
CM Punk has tasted cold hard steel, the cheers of a Wrestlemania Crowd, and the bitter taste of almost but not quite winning.
And finally, there is one Ken Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy, as holder of the 2007 MITB contract, has an interesting time ahead. Since there were 8 men from 3 brands in the match, the contract is valid for any one World Title, of which there are three. So the question becomes, which does he go for?
Does he try and do what so many have tried, try and take out John Cena? Certainly, Cena's track record against the other MITB holders is abysmal, but then John should see Kennedy coming, he'd need a very good set of circumstances to pull off getting Cena in the right place at the right time, all for the WWE Title and to make it 7 Former World Champions to his name.
Or does he go after Bobby Lashley? Sure, he's tangled with Bobby before and come up short, but then if he were to remove Bobby from the top of ECW, if he were to knock Lashley down a peg or two, that would give him major, major kudos from Vince McMahon, and that can only be a good thing.
Or, does he stay at home? Does he use the contract to try and kill the Dead Man? He's done it before, but never when gold was on the line. Can Kennedy pry that World Title out of The Undertaker's cold, dead fingers?
We'll have to wait and see. Because the thing about Money In The Bank, it needs time to mature.
Conclusion
So, despite a short run, Money In The Bank has made many memorable moments, and changed the course of WWE several times. It's made two wrestlers Champions, and a third is highly likely. It's shown the world just what a superb athlete can do when he's motivated. It's caused the best Midget killing this side of WrestleMania III. It's given older men another shot at the big one, and young men their first. But above all, MITB has given us one thing.
A tradition we are here for. We may not have seen the first Royal Rumble live, or been there for the debut of Wargames, or Survivor Series, or King Of The Ring, or any other long standing tradition. But we were there when Money In The Bank began. We were there when Eric created the legacy. We were there. And that will be important, for when we are showing our grandkids the joys and drama of Pro Wrestling.
Bank on it.
Writer's Notes
Well, considering how much fun this was, yeah, I'm back. And we'll try out the weekly dealy again, although if things get outta hand there's always Plan B, Be Like Ron, so huzzah. Enjoy the rest of 411mania, but please, feel free to shower me with praise, attention and all that for my return. After all, that's why I'm here.
