WWE Money in the Bank 2019 predictions

WWE returns to pay-per-view (PPV) — if your cable provider is carrying the event, of course — tomorrow night (Sun., May 17, 2019) live from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut with its Money in the Bank event starting at 6:00 pm ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 7 pm ET on the WWE Network.

Set for the card: Two Money in the Bank ladder matches, AJ Styles challenges Seth Rollins for the Universal championship, Kofi Kingston puts the WWE title on the line against Kevin Owens, two Becky Lynch title matches, and more!

Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.

Let’s get to it.

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Money in the Bank predictions

Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match

Geno Mrosko: This works well for both a heel and someone who frequently switches brands. That makes it a lot more interesting. There’s really only one guy who fits the bill, in that case. Pick: Sami Zayn

Sean Rueter: He doesn’t like me any more, but I still like him. Pick: Sami Zayn

Kyle Decker: Even if he’s in a lame trio, they’ve been protecting Drew since he came up to the main roster. They’ll likely pull the trigger on a title win this year and the briefcase is a way to do it. (Drew used a briefcase to win the Impact title from Matt Hardy years back so he knows what he’s doing.) Pick: Drew McIntyre

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: With word on the street being that the powers that be really want to make this year’s winner a star in a big way, that narrows the field a bit for me and opens the door for a somewhat sentimental pick— WWN mainstay and former Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate Champion Ricochet picks up the briefcase and makes his way to win the Big Red Belt later in the year. Pick: Ricochet

Cain A. Knight: Now that Braun Strowman is (thankfully) replaced with Zayn, this match should be absolutely spectacular. Seven great workers plus a very tall Baron Corbin should make for the match of the night. The only bad choices for a winner would be Orton or Corbin, so it will be hard for WWE to screw this one up. Pick: Drew McIntyre

Stella Cheeks: The best Money in the Bank matches end with the spotlight on a talent that deserves to get shoved into said light and who is more deserving that Ali? Plus, the story writes itself! Kofi only got his moment because Ali got hurt and now Ali has the ultimate leverage over Kofi. It’s practically Shakespeare! Pick: Ali

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Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match

Geno Mrosko: As a fan, I’m devastated Alexa Bliss is out. What’s strange is the list of potential winners after her is short, at least in my mind. I’m going to go out on a limb and say a certain Hugger gets the briefcase. Pick: Bayley

Sean Rueter: My heart would take Bayley. Or Nikki Cross. Or Naomi. Or... I love a lot of the performers in this match. And not that I dislike her, but there is one I’d say I’m least excited about. And that’s my pick. Pick: Mandy Rose

Kyle Decker: I thought my Mandy Rose pick would be unique and then I jump into write it up and see Sean and Claire already picked her. It makes sense, though. Word was she was supposed to have a WrestleMania title match prior to Asuka losing the title. Here’s the opportunity to make up for it. Pick: Mandy Rose

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Unlike my man Sensational Sean, I am very much for anything that brings the title one step closer to South Jersey Lesbian Squad, and of all the entrants, Mandy feels like one of the better picks for the traditional briefcase dork “lose lose lose SHOCK WIN” experience, so... Pick: Mandy Rose

Cain A. Knight: Nikki Cross wasn’t even in this bout when she won a match on Raw against Natalya, Naomi, and Dana. That indicates what WWE thinks of those three women and how unlikely they are to win the contract. Nikki also won’t win since she’s only here due to Alexa’s injury. That means one of the SmackDown women will win. It really needs to be angry Bayley, but Mandy also has a decent shot at it. Pick: Bayley

Stella Cheeks: If they don’t give this to Bayley then it may be time for her to hang up the pony tail. She’s the only four-horse woman who feels incidental. But a MITB win could reinforce her new “non-hugger” attitude, give her character actual motivation, a story line, and dare I say it, a successful title run. Plus, Bayley vs The Man sounds amazing. Or it’ll be Mandy Rose because she’s hot and blonde...whatever. Pick: Bayley

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Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles

Geno Mrosko: I just hope it’s a good match. Pick: Seth Rollins

Sean Rueter: Fire destroys what even the best Architects build. Oh wait! Seth is also a builder of things! Dang, there goes my bad metaphor. I wish there was more story here for me to get excited about, and that this was 2015 AJ Styles, but it should still be a hoot and a half. Pick: Seth Rollins

Kyle Decker: It was odd to see that they’d book this match so soon after Seth Rollins won the title given the first feud after such a big victory is usually an automatic win. So the interesting question is what’s the long term story? A Styles heel turn? A longer feud? Does someone interrupt this match to delay it a bit? Seth isn’t losing the title though. Pick: Seth Rollins

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I think, much like his championship feud against Seth’s Shield brother Roman Reigns a few years ago, this is the match where AJ comes so very, very close and gets a bit of help from a couple of Good Brothers that might start him back on a dark path. Pick: Seth Rollins

Cain A. Knight: Hey look it’s AJ Styles, the guy who is keeping this spot warm for Seth’s more important upcoming championship feud with Baron Corbin. Pick: Seth Rollins

Stella Cheeks: How lame would it be for Seth to beat Brock Lesnar only to lose a month later? Pick: Seth Rollins

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Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens

Geno Mrosko: This is a lot more interesting now that Sami Zayn has shown up to help Owens. I feel like the play here might be a surprise appearance from Big E, because it’s hard to imagine a title change. Pick: Kofi Kingston

Sean Rueter: I don’t expect it to last a whole lot longer, but I really want it to last at least a little bit longer. Pick: Kofi Kingston

Kyle Decker: I fear a bit that Kofi winning two title matches two days in a row was to make it look better when he lost the title quickly. But I can’t pick against him. He’s doing well as champion and there’s more mileage to be had from his run. Pick: Kofi Kingston

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Owens is a filler feud to some extent and they’ve been giving Kofi a lot lately, but I think this is it for Kingston’s time in the spotlight. It bums me out but I think this is it. I’d love to be wrong, or even better, to be making a correct pick due to DQ or something, but... Pick: Kevin Owens

Cain A. Knight: Shane McMahon is the top heel in the company right now, so if any heel is going to transition the WWE Championship from Kofi to Roman, it will probably be Shane. That means Owens won’t win here. Pick: Kofi Kingston

Stella Cheeks: I’m still upset that we only got gyrating KO for two weeks. We deserved to see KO happy, dancing and eating pancakes. I guess I’ll just have to settle for a bomb match between two of the best wrestlers on the roster. Pick: KOFIMANIA FOREVER

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Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair

Geno Mrosko: I think it’s at least possible Becky leaves without a single title over her shoulder. I think she at least loses one. Pick: Charlotte

Sean Rueter: If Bex can beat her best friend/mortal enemy, I imagine she’s ripe for a cash-in. So this is kind of a prediction of “someone other than The Man” here, but given these two choices... Pick: Charlotte Flair

Kyle Decker: I think Becky wins both matches to solidify her as a star, even if she loses a third in the form of a Money in the Bank cash in. Pick: Becky Lynch

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I’d be here for a Charlotte win if the brand split was still in full force, but Wild Card rules mean none of that matters and I think the drama is in Becky having to defend both titles at every show for a few months before something finally gives. Pick: Becky Lynch

Cain A. Knight: I think there is a strong chance that Becky drops the SmackDown title before the Raw title, but the best way to go about it is with a MITB cash-in rather than another title reign for Flair. Pick: Becky Lynch

Stella Cheeks: I truly think Charlotte vs Becky is an all time great feud, but every feud needs a cool off period. We’re only one month out from WrestleMania and Becky barely won. The Man needs to look the part to back up the Twitter game. Pick: Becky Lynch

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Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans

Geno Mrosko: It’s clear they’re high on Evans, and she does have a quality to her, but it’s not quite time for Becky to lose this title. Pick: Becky Lynch

Sean Rueter: Cash-ins, Charlotte’s presence, and WWE’s willingness to book Bex as vulnerable means I can’t rule anything out, but I really hope they don’t have The Man go 0 - 2 this weekend. Pick: Becky Lynch

Kyle Decker: Even if Becky were to lose a match, I don’t think it’s this one. Though props to both Lacey and Becky for making the newcomer Evans feel like she belongs here. Pick: Becky Lynch

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: See my prediction for the SmackDown title above, but with added disappointment that a feud that could have gone to some really interesting gender-y places has just been “You’re not a real lady!” / “What was that, Charlotte II?” ad nauseum until the punching starts. Pick: Becky Lynch

Cain A. Knight: It would be truly bizarre to book the person who pinned Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania to lose to Lacey Evans on the very next pay-per-view. With that in mind, I’m expecting that Evans will get her lass kicked by The Man. Pick: Becky Lynch

Stella Cheeks: Look, I know we’re living in a dystopic pseudo dictatorship, but do we really need a 1950’s housewife gimmick? No. No, we do not. I can’t wait to watch Becky choke Lacey with her truly terrible hat. Pick: Becky Lynch

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Roman Reigns vs. Elias

Geno Mrosko: I can imagine a loss leading to something more in the next show, like Shane McMahon interfering and screwing Reigns over. Pick: Elias

Sean Rueter: The man NBCUniversal and Fox are fighting over ain’t losing. Pick: Roman Reigns

Kyle Decker: The song remains the same. Sorry, Elias. Pick: Roman Reigns

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: The Big Dog is the only good dog in my book. Pick: Roman Reigns

Cain A. Knight: I remember last year when Roman Reigns fought Jinder Mahal at Money in the Bank and it felt like a ridiculous mismatch. It’s even worse here; a match pitting Reigns against Elias simply has no business being on pay-per-view. Roman Reigns has main evented four WrestleMania events, whereas Elias has never even won a match on pay-per-view. Come on now. Pick: Roman Reigns

Stella Cheeks: Woof. Pick: Roman Reigns

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Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio

Geno Mrosko: This match is, somehow, much more about Mysterio’s son than either of the wrestlers. And, somehow, that actually greatly adds to its appeal. Pick: Samoa Joe

Sean Rueter: WHY, DOMINICK, WHY!?!?! Pick: Samoa Joe

Kyle Decker: I’m going to say Rey here. Smart money says Joe, but I think Rey wins one to celebrate with his son. Plus this would make up for the Mania squash. Dominick can turn on him later if that’s the plan. Pick: Rey Mysterio

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Something something Dominick something something escalate to some kind of stipulation match next month something something Pick: Samoa Joe

Cain A. Knight: Something really tragic will happen to Mysterio here. Either Joe chokes out Rey’s son, or Dominick will turn on his father. Pick: Samoa Joe

Stella Cheeks: Wish this was a Dominick on a pole match. Pick: Samoa Joe

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The Miz vs. Shane McMahon

Geno Mrosko: If Shane McMahon is going to switch over to focus more on feuding with Roman Reigns, he’s got to get out of this thing with Miz. So it’s time for the clean win. Pick: The Miz

Sean Rueter: Shane O’Mac does something dastardly which makes it seem like he’s gonna escape. Big Uce (hopefully with an assist from Mr. Miz) scares him back into the cage, and a waiting Skull-Crushing Finale. Pick: The Miz

Kyle Decker: Shane won by technicality at Mania but needs to lose for real here. Then he can go on to feud with Roman Reigns, a feud we’re all asking for. Pick: The Miz

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Miz gets his win back, although I feel like it’s even odds that he gets it back in a really stupid way, like Shane takes him off the top of the cage with a Spanish Fly or something that causes Miz to land first. Pick: The Miz

Cain A. Knight: It looks like we’re heading to a match between Shane and Roman at some point down the line, so it would be strange to book Shane to lose to a mid-card guy like Miz. At the same time, maybe Miz wins here and then Shane takes a rubber match in Saudi Arabia, which is where the story between these two guys began. I hope it’s the former scenario, because the idea of watching any more matches between Shane and Miz turns my stomach. Pick: Shane McMahon

Stella Cheeks: This is a ridiculous waste of time. The Miz deserves better than to be stuck in a feud with a middle age baby who doesn’t know how to wrestle despite having literally endless wrestling connections. Will Shane jump off something? Of course. Will he be sweaty in 30 seconds? Of course. Will The Miz win? Hopefully. Pick: The Miz

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Tony Nese vs. Ariya Daivari

Geno Mrosko: Pick: Tony Nese

Sean Rueter: Yeesh. No offense to either of these guys or the show in general, which I still enjoy when I find time for it in my schedule. But this is not the title match of a division WWE has big plans for. Pick: Tony Nese

Kyle Decker: Yeah, I know nothing about this feud or anything. But I have heard that Daivari is one of those guys people think is really underrated so I’m going to pick him. :shrug: Pick: Ariya Daivari

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Ariya Daivari is not going to be a WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Pick: Tony Nese

Cain A. Knight: I’ve thought about this one long and hard, and I’ve concluded that Tony Nese is going over. Pick: Tony Nese

Stella Cheeks: No one watches this show. It’s cute that they keep pretending that anyone cares. Pick: ... Tony?

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Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. The Usos

Geno Mrosko: I can’t imagine doing this match and putting over the Wild Carders. Pick: Bryan & Rowan

Sean Rueter: The Revival get their revenge via distraction/interference, Usos/Top Guys starts on Raw, and the new champs pick up a supposedly meaningful win. Pick: The Planet’s Tag Team Champions

Kyle Decker: Tag belts on the line or not, Bryan and Rowan are winning this. You think the Usos are getting Ucey hot in those shorts? I think not. Bryan and Rowan (who is a genius remember) are way too savvy for that. Therefore, no advantage for the Brothers Uce. Pick: Bryan & Rowan

Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Daniel Bryan is a learned man and he knows that the Uso Penitentiary isn’t a real place, ergo the Usos’ intimidation tactics will have no effect on him and he will win. (Sidebar: Rowan, sweet shirts, my dude, but stop being a coward and wear a Sodom shirt one of these days!) Pick: Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan

Cain A. Knight: You know a pay-per-view card has way too many matches when Bryan and the Usos are relegated to pre-show duty. Basic logic would seem to dictate that the former WWE Champion should not be presented as a pre-show performer, but basic logic was clearly abandoned a long time ago. Pick: Bryan & Rowan

Stella Cheeks: Honestly, the fact that we don’t have eco friendly tag belts is an insult to the planet. I guess Daniel Bryan really has sold out. Pick: Bryan & Rowan

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That’s how we see the card playing out.

You?