The Shimmy 3.24.08: Money in the Bank Preview and Analysis

Posted by Andy Clark on 03.24.2008

Seven men will compete for a guaranteed World Title shot at WrestleMania in the annual Money in the Bank Ladder Match. What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? And what are their chances of walking away with the fancy briefcase? Find out inside as The Shimmy breaks down the 2008 Money in the Bank Ladder Match!

Hey, everybody, did you miss me? It's good to be back in the saddle again. Happy belated Easter (is there an Easter Monday?) but more importantly Happy WrestleMania Week! This is the biggest week of the wrestling calendar, and this year is even more important with both TNA and ROH getting in on the act. I hope you all have plans to enjoy the WrestleMania festivities as the week progresses. For those of you that can't be in Orlando this weekend be sure to keep your computer here to 411mania.

A few scheduling notes before I get started. You may have noticed that this isn't the final installment of the World Heavyweight Title column. That column has actually been pushed back two weeks, so my apologies for those of you looking forward to that. With the success of the Royal Rumble analysis column I decided I wanted to do a Money in the Bank preview, and since I can practically guarantee the internet will explode next Sunday night/Monday morning, next week's column will be a quick and dirty flex column. So without any further ado, let's get to the Money in the Bank analysis.

Mr. Kennedy

Qualified Over: Val Venis

WrestleMania Experience: 23

Ladder Match Experience: Money in the Bank Match: vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. CM Punk vs. Finlay vs. Booker T (WrestleMania 23)

Previous Championships: United States Title, 2007 Mr. Money in the Bank

Analysis: One year ago Mr. Kennedy rebounded from being a JTTS for the WrestleMania main eventers by winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Those people that say it was a sure thing for Kennedy to win are damn liars. Hardly anybody expected Mr. Kennedy to stand atop that ladder with the briefcase in hind, but he managed to shock us all and pull off the big win. He even beat up Hornswoggle before it was fashionable. Unfortunately for Mr. Kennedy the year that followed really wasn't what he was hoping for. According to him he should have been in the main event of this year's WrestleMania but due to an injury and an opportunistic Edge, Mr. Kennedy ended up losing his Money in the Bank opportunity. As the year continued he would find himself pummeled by Umaga, becoming Jeff Hardy's personal bitch, and even be suspended for impersonating a McMahon. Kennedy has slowly been building momentum, starting with a victory over Shawn Michaels on New Year's Eve, and continuing into his Final Five performance in the Royal Rumble. While he came up on the short end of the stick against Ric Flair he seemed to have regained a lot of the confidence he had lost during 2007. With the unofficial start of the new WWE year on the way, Kennedy would like nothing more than a fresh start. His last month hasn't been much of a way to do that, however. Kennedy competed in the weakest of all the Money in the Bank Qualifying Matches against perennial loser Val Venis (at least when Val Venis was in a qualifier last year he had been on a small winning streak on Heat) and then getting beaten senseless by Finlay. Still, maybe that is the image he would like to project. He wasn't on much of a role last year when he won Money in the Bank, perhaps he will sneak up on his six opponents once again. Despite his recent cold streak I think you have to look at Mr. Kennedy as a serious contender for back-to-back Money in the Bank wins.

Confidence Point: 3

Shelton Benjamin

Qualified Over: Jimmy Wang Yang

WrestleMania Experience: XIX, XX, 21, 22

Ladder Match Experience: WWE Tag Team Title Match: w/ Charlie Haas vs. Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri (Judgment Day 2003); Money in the Bank Match: vs. Edge vs. Chris Benoit vs. Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. Christian (WrestleMania 21); Money in the Bank Match: vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Ric Flair vs. Matt Hardy vs. Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley (WrestleMania 22); World Tag Team Title Match: w/ Charlie Haas vs. The Hardys (One Night Stand 2007)

Previous Championships: Intercontinental Title (3), WWE Tag Team Title (3)

Analysis: For two years Shelton Benjamin stole the show in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match but ended up coming just short. Last year he fell to Jeff Hardy in a tremendous Money in the Bank Qualifying Match and had to sit on the sidelines instead of putting on a show stealing performance. This year, however, he has seemingly rededicated himself to his craft. He was been a dominant force on ECW and has yet to be pinned or forced to submit since switching over to the extreme brand. Then again I spoke of his rededication to his craft back before the Royal Rumble and he proved to be the quickest elimination of the bunch. Of the seven men in this match only Chris Jericho has more Ladder Match experience, and yet Shelton Benjamin has never actually won a Ladder Match. He has entertained and taken bodies down with him, but those high risk moves have ended up costing him in the end. If Shelton wants to win this go around he's going to have to be smarter in there and pick his spots. If he can do that he really could be the "Gold Standard."

Confidence Point: 5

Chris Jericho

Qualified Over: Jeff Hardy

WrestleMania Experience: 2000, X-Seven, X8, XIX, XX, 21

Ladder Match Experience: Intercontinental Title Match: vs. Chris Benoit (Royal Rumble 2001); World Tag Team Title Match: w/ Chris Benoit vs. Edge & Christian vs. Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardys (SmackDown, 5/24/01); World Tag Team Title Match: w/ Christian vs. Kane vs. Bubba Ray Dudley & Spike Dudley vs. Jeff Hardy & Rob Van Dam (Raw, 10/7/02); Intercontinental Title Match: vs. Christian (Unforgiven 2004); Money in the Bank Match: vs. Edge vs. Chris Benoit vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian (WrestleMania 21)

Previous Championships: WWE Title, WCW Title (2), Intercontinental Title (8), World Tag Team Title (3), ECW Television Title, European Title, WCW Television Title, Hardcore Title, Cruiserweight Title (4)

Analysis: When Chris Jericho returned in November he was here to "Save Us" from Randy Orton's title reign. Thanks to JBL, that didn't happen. With Jericho preoccupied with JBL, John Cena and Triple managed to slip back into the title picture, leaving Chris Jericho on the outside looking in. He had a nice run inside the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out, but he didn't get nearly close enough to where he wanted to be. You can see the frustration growing inside Jericho as he has developed more of a vicious streak in recent weeks. From hanging JBL at the Royal Rumble, to derailing the red hot Jeff Hardy, to hitting Big Show in the head with the Intercontinental Title, Jericho is a different person then the man that wanted to entertain us back in November. Jericho is 3-2 in Ladder Matches and has plenty of Ladder Match experience to back him up. Of all seven men in this match Jericho probably has the most ring acumen of the group and he could use those smarts to help him win. Jericho shouldn't be concerned with wowing the crowd with big moves, Jericho will have his eyes on the prize and do whatever it takes to be the one to climb that ladder and secure the briefcase. Y2J will be one to watch this Sunday.

Confidence Point: 2

Carlito

Qualified Over: Cody Rhodes

WrestleMania Experience: 22, 23 (Dark)

Ladder Match Experience: Intercontinental Title Match: vs. Jeff Hardy (Raw XV)

Previous Championships: Intercontinental Title, United States Title, WWC Universal Title (11), WWC Tag Team Title (2)

Analysis: Of the seven men in this match Carlito has the most to prove. At one time Carlito was seen as the future of WWE, a charismatic can't miss star that would more than likely one day wear the big gold. Four years after his WWE debut and Carlito's stock has largely dropped. There was a period shortly before WrestleMania last year where Carlito was more interested with hanging out with the Divas then he was in scoring wins in the ring (and really, who can blame him?) It was that attitude that got him called out by Ric Flair, another man who seemingly had something to prove one year ago. Flair took Carlito under his wing and the two men competed together in a Dark Match at last year's WrestleMania. A 16-time World Champion and a once promising young star were regulated to the DVD Extra match at the biggest show of the year. While this motivated to Flair to get back to his winning ways this motivated Carlito to get out from under Flair's shadow. By the summer Carlito had turned on the Nature Boy in an effort to reclaim the edge he once had. Unfortunately for him that backfired as he was defeated by Flair at every turn. It looked like Carlito may have had a bit of a career resurgence as he got involved in the Intercontinental Title picture at SummerSlam and even was Mr. McMahon's hired gun against Triple H at Unforgiven. Those moments proved to be fleeting as he soon found himself taking high profile losses to the likes of Harry Smith, Hornswoggle, and even Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Ironically enough it may have been a Ladder Match that finally got Carlito back in the main event. At Raw XV Carlito was booked to take on Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Title and while the Caribbean superstar came up on the short end of the stick it was still his best performance in months. He has since had a successful tag team run with Santino Marella and even made a decent splash in the Royal Rumble. While Santino is off warring against Playboy Carlito has an opportunity to grab the brass ring, or in this case the black briefcase, a make a true comeback. Carlito held the WWC Universal Title, the biggest championship in Puerto Rico, 11 times so he knows what it's like to be a major champion. He also knows what it's like to capitalize on being unknown, as he won the United States Title in his first night in the company and he won the Intercontinental Title on his first night on Raw, against an opponent that didn't know who he would be facing. With the Money in the Bank contract Carlito would have the surprise advantage yet again and could possibly end up with the future we all thought he one day might.

Confidence Point: 7

MVP

Qualified Over: Jamie Noble

WrestleMania Experience: 23

Ladder Match Experience: none

Previous Championships: United States Title, WWE Tag Team Title

Analysis: MVP wasn't supposed to be here. Until Jeff Hardy's untimely 60-day suspension it appeared as if Montel Vontavious Porter would find himself elsewhere on the WrestleMania card. Then, shortly after the Rainbow-Haired Warrior's suspension MVP found himself in an unadvertised Money in the Bank Qualifying Match with Jamie Noble at a WWE Live Event. Like he has done for the better part of the last year he won. MVP has held the United States Title for 10 months, a title he won in two straight falls over the late Chris Benoit. Over the course of that reign he has defeated the likes of Ric Flair, Matt Hardy, Kane, and Batista. During that time he even managed to defend the WWE Tag Team Titles with his rival Matt Hardy, defeating former WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce'n'Domino on many occasions. If not for a late-seen ropebreak MVP would have been the man to end Ric Flair's career and it took a chokeslam off the top of an elimination pod to eliminate him in the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out. Over the past year MVP has proven to be better than the competition and there is no reason to bet against him here. It is only fitting the highest paid superstar on SmackDown could soon be known as Mr. Money in the Bank. WrestleMania will also be a homecoming of sorts for MVP, as it will be held in Orlando, not too far from where he used to compete as part of the Full Impact Pro crew. It'll be interesting to see how MVP approaches his match with Chris Jericho this Friday on SmackDown. Will he try and take Jericho out early and gain a mental edge over the competition just days before WrestleMania? Or will the Ballin' Superstar look to keep himself healthy and ready to go when the big day comes? Whatever he decides to do nothing can change the fact that MVP is the hottest young superstar in WWE today and he is most certainly better than you.

Confidence Point: 1

CM Punk

Qualified Over: Big Daddy V

WrestleMania Experience: 23

Ladder Match Experience: Money in the Bank Match: vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Finlay vs. Booker T (WrestleMania 23)

Previous Championships: ECW Title, ROH Title, ROH World Tag Team Title (2)

Analysis: CM Punk is one of two people to have competed in last year's Money in the Bank Ladder Match as well as this year's. The other man was Mr. Kennedy, the winner of last year's match. While there is no clear cut No. 2 winner in this type of match like there would be in say a Battle Royal, Punk did seem to be the last man standing in Kennedy's way. Punk had his fingertips on the Money in the Bank briefcase last year and even had all six announcers rooting him on from behind their desks. Despite not winning the Money in the Bank Match Punk went on to have a very good 2007, winning the ECW Title from John Morrison in September and holding onto it until he was screwed by Edge in his No DQ Match against Chavo Guerrero back in January. Thanks to Chavo he failed to get back in the title picture in the Royal Rumble Match, and he has come up short against Chavo in his two subsequent title shots. It's clear that Punk needs a signature victory to get back on the right track and winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match would definitely be that. Punk may be one of the quickest superstars in the match, second maybe to only Shelton Benjamin. Punk showed last year that he has what it takes to win MITB and with another year of seasoning under his belt, including a run as a World Champion, you have to believe that Punk will have even more of a shot at walking away with the gold. Punk has stated that should he win the Money in the Bank contract that he would use it to go after the ECW Title, but you have to wonder whether or not the temptation to test himself against other opposition on other brands may cause him to renege on his statement. Like MVP this will be a semi-homecoming for Punk who also worked in FIP during his run in the indies. Punk has come a long way since those days, however, and this could be the opportunity for him to truly break that glass ceiling and become one of the top superstars on the industry.

Confidence Point: 4

John Morrison

Qualified Over: The Miz

WrestleMania Experience: 22 (Dark)

Ladder Match Experience: Intercontinental Title Match: vs. Jeff Hardy (Raw, 11/06); WWE Tag Team Title Match: w/ Joey Mercury vs. Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. The Hardys vs. William Regal & Dave Taylor (Armageddon 2006)

Previous Championships: ECW Title, Intercontinental Title (2), WWE Tag Team Title (3)

Analysis: The last man to qualify for the Money in the Bank Match, John Morrison is a bit of an enigma. A year ago Morrison was in a career slump, coming of a great series of battles against Jeff Hardy and a brief reunion of the MNM tag team, prior to WrestleMania he found himself mired in the midcard. He had lost a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match to CM Punk and lost in his second chance at a MITB shot in a Battle Royal a few weeks later. Morrison would find himself on the outside looking in at WrestleMania for the second straight year and shortly thereafter would form a tag team with Kenny Dystra, another lost superstar. That team never really got off the ground and finally Morrison was whisked away to ECW in the Supplemental Draft. He would shock the world at Vengeance: Night of Champions when, in his first match on the ECW brand, he would substitute the no-showing Chris Benoit and defeat CM Punk to win the ECW Title. Soon thereafter he completely his transformation from Johnny Nitro to John Morrison and would hold onto the ECW Title for three months. A 30-day suspension would keep Morrison away from the title scene for a bit, but when he returned he found that The Miz was also in the mix. As the two fought with CM Punk over the belt they found that they had a great chemistry together and would soon team together to win the WWE Tag Team Titles. Since winning the titles in November Miz & Morrison have been a fantastic tag team, turning away all challengers and being one of the most fightingest champions in recent memory. Interestingly enough Morrison had to defeat his own tag team partner to qualify for this match. How will Morrison respond to being in a singles situation again after primarily being a tag team worker the past several months? He is the Guru of Greatness after all so he'll probably be able to adapt. Except for possibly Chris Jericho, who has a substantial experience edge, Morrison may have the most varied moveset and that could be an asset here. John Morrison could be the real dark horse in this match and he probably has a better chance then my confidence point indicates.

Confidence Point: 6

So there you have it, the seven men that will be vying for a guaranteed World Title shot at WrestleMania. Will WWE swerve us and add one more superstar to the match at the last minute? A certain someone that will not die perhaps? We'll have to keep watching to find out just who will be the 2008 Mr. Money in the Bank.

The Shimmy Likes It Raw!

What's on tap for tonight's show?

Wow, we know surprisingly little for the last Raw before WrestleMania. Normally there is a big main event planned, but they haven't announced anything as of this writing. Weird.

Well, according to Dave Meltzer Ric Flair is scheduled to have the last great promo of his career tonight. That certainly sounds like must watch television to me because he and Shawn Michaels have been great on the mic the past few weeks.

Will Jerry "Stupid" Lawler fight for his honor and his delicious Subway sandwich or will Santino Marella have the last laugh? Lawler has never competed at WrestleMania. Santino's got nothing to do Sunday night. Why don't we make something happen, eh?

There is a Tide in Affairs of Men

One Tree Hill celebrated their 100th episode with a wedding and plenty of drama. Check it all out at an Unkindness of Ravens in the TV/Movies Zone, out later this week!

That does it for me, guys. Enjoy WrestleMania week. I'll see you all next Monday. Until then, don't die. Clark…out.