WWE Money in the Bank 2019 airs live this Sunday, May 19, live on WWE Network. It’s airing against the series finale of Game of Thrones, so … I guess you’re gonna watch it later. That’s fine. Here’s the complete card as we know it.
WWE Money in the Bank 2019 Card:
1. Universal Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles
2. WWE Championship Match: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kevin Owens
3. Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Sami Zayn vs. Ricochet vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin vs. Ali vs. Finn Bálor vs. Andrade vs. Randy Orton
4. Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Natalya vs. Dana Brooke vs. Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon vs. Carmella
5. Raw Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
6. Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
7. United States Championship Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
8. Steel Cage Match: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon
9. Elias vs. Roman Reigns
10. Cruiserweight Championship Match: Tony Nese (c) vs. Ariya Daivari
11. Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Daniel Bryan and Rowan (c) vs. The Usos
As always, we’ve got your complete rundown of the card and analysis below, featuring predictions for all 11 matches. Make sure to drop a comment and let us know who you think’s winning, and be here on Sunday to see if you’re correct.
Here’s what we think will go down at Money in the Bank 2019.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Daniel Bryan and Rowan (c) vs. The Usos
What Should Happen: Bryan and Rowan should retain because they’re … [checks notes] actually a Smackdown tag team? Unless WWE immediately regrets moving the Usos to Raw and wants to permanently move them back without them taking up two “wild card” slots every week, this should be an entertaining way to get Daniel Bryan an easy and fun pay-per-view pay day and make the Cruiserweights start wrestling before doors open.
What Will Happen: I honestly don’t know how we ended up with the only Smackdown team able to challenge the Smackdown Tag Team Champions on pay-per-view being a Raw team. Not a lot’s been making sense lately. Regardless, and independent of any jokes we’d make about it, Bryan and Rowan kinda have to retain, don’t they? They’re kind of a random pairing in their own right, but the Usos have been there and done that and pressed the souvenir penny.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – After weeks of The Usos embarrassing them, this seems like the perfect opportunity for the Revival to exact some revenge. I just can’t imagine Bryan and Rowan dropping the belts so quickly after winning them.
Emily Pratt – In the era of the Wildcard Rule, why can’t both teams simply be Smackdown Tag Team Champions?
Bill Hanstock – The Wild Card rule still doesn’t make any sense, but what DOES make sense is the Usos losing this match, possibly due to the Revival getting involved so we can finally move that feud along to an actual match. It’s nice that the Smackdown champs are on the show to defend against two Raw wrestlers, while the Raw tag team champs are … lost at sea? Who knows.
Elle Collins – I’m usually in favor of legit established tag teams winning tag matches, but they’ve got something new going with Bryan and Rowan, and it’s clearly not over yet. Also the Usos have had the belts so many times, and aren’t they on Raw anyway? The Wild Card Rule has me all confused. But the Eco Warriors won in any case.
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Tony Nese (c) vs. Ariya Daivari
What Should Happen: This gets turned into a battle royal, which The Great Khali wins. But no, the standard for cruiserweight division matches on pay-per-view kickoff shows is that they kill it for 8-10 minutes and finally get the crowd involved in the final two. That’ll happen again, and Nese will win by doing like six different things in a row really fast.
What Will Happen: I think everyone is picking Nese to retain, mostly because as good as he is, Ariya Daivari doesn’t really feel like much of a threat to the reign. Although hell, I thought Buddy Murphy was a lock to retain at WrestleMania because Nese wasn’t enough of a threat and Nese creamed him, and now Murphy is a ghost in Smackdown locker room.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – I’ve got Nese holding onto the belt at least one more month.
Emily Pratt – My record for guessing Cruiserweight Championship match results is terrible, but I think Nese will retain.
Bill Hanstock – It’s nice that Ariya Daivari is getting a title shot, but we all know that everyone else is just keeping the Cruiserweight title warm until it’s finally Oney time. Nese retains.
Elle Collins – Yeah, Tony Nese is keeping it. It’s cool that Ariya got this match, but there’s a lot of guys higher on the list of people for Tony to drop the belt to than him.
Elias vs. Roman Reigns
What Should Happen: I’d love to see Elias get a big win over an important opponent, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen outside of tights roll-ups and too much outside interference. These two have good chemistry in the ring, though, so I hope they pull off something surprisingly good.
What Will Happen: This definitely feels more like a Raw match than a pay-per-view match. I think it’ll play out a lot like the Drew McIntyre match at WrestleMania, with Roman getting beaten down for a few minutes and then doing his big comeback for the win. Definitely a high percentage chance of ballyhoo outside the ring, though.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – I kind of love Roman not skyrocketing into the title picture, and milling around with guys like Elias and McIntyre. Reigns seems like the obvious choice here.
Emily Pratt – I remember these two having a banger match on Raw a while back when Roman was doing the IC title open challenge thing, but Roman Reigns often has better matches on TV than he does on PPVs for some reason. I’m rooting for this one to be good, but I’m skeptical.
Bill Hanstock – The only thing that can keep Reigns from winning this match is SHENANIGANS, so let’s say Shane McMahon stabs Roman with a big knife and then these two can blow off the feud at Stomping Grounds.
Elle Collins – Either Roman wins or there’s shenanigans. I’m going to be bold and predict there will be shenanigans, but Roman will still win.
Steel Cage Match: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon
What Should Happen: While I’m not hype to see a Shane McMahon match (again, ever), I appreciate that they’re playing off his “run away!” tactics at WrestleMania 35 and all his weekly TV sneak attacks by putting him inside a steel cage. It’s a rare example of WWE actually understanding what steel cages matches were originally for. You’re trying to keep someone in, and keep everyone else out. Miz should win, strong, to end this feud. By pinfall or submission, preferably, because groggily exiting a cage door doesn’t prove anything to anybody.
What Will Happen: Same. Miz needs to win. If he doesn’t, he’s going to look like a real dipshit.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – This totally ends with Miz pulling a Shane and doing something absolutely insane off the top of the cage, but McMahon crawling out the door after her misses, doesn’t it? That’s what I’m banking on.
Emily Pratt – The true loser of this match is me, a person who is going to lose her mind when commentary puts over the striking ability of Shane McMahon while watching him wrestle the Miz in a cage. A great thing about the internet is that the products of so many wrestling promotions are easily available and literally never feature Shane McMahon!
Bill Hanstock – By all rights, this should be the end of the Miz/McMahon beef, but I fear there aren’t really any other plans for these two, so perhaps the Lashley/Elias/Corbin connection will help Shane win and lead us to a Last Man Standing match, or perhaps even Hell in a Cell? I’m rooting for a Miz victory, but I don’t think it’s in the cards.
Elle Collins – Shane won at Mania (he shouldn’t have), so Miz wins here (he should).
United States Championship Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
What Should Happen: Dominick is kidnapped by ninjas and forced to paint a tribal dick on his face? No, honestly I think this will be a “make good” match for the super short thing they did at Mania, where they got shuffled into a death slot after Kingston vs. Bryan, and where everyone had gotten tired and frustrated that it was like 11 PM and the main event was still four matches away.
What Will Happen: Joe wrecked Mysterio in a minute at WrestleMania, so the logical followup is Joe wrecking him for several minutes, and Mysterio pulling off some kind of ridiculous counter to steal the United States Championship. Then we can ease into the “murder Dominick” stuff we’re all shocked they haven’t started doing already. Custody of Dominick’s corpse ladder match at WWE Stomping Grounds.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – There’s been a whole lot of Dominick recently, so I’d wager he’s involved here somehow. It certainly seems like they’re grooming him alongside his father, so I’ve got him costing Joe the belt.
Emily Pratt – I just want to know if Rey Mysterio’s tall adult son is going to be within Coquina Clutching range during this match.
Bill Hanstock – The way I see it, there are three distinct possibilities: a Rey title win, another squash retention for Joe, or outside interference to cost Rey the title. On that third front, I picture either Dominick turning on Rey and leading to FATHER/SON BLOOD FEUD, or Cesaro aligning with Joe to become the NÜ BAR. I’m penciling in a Rey title win.
Elle Collins – Samoa Joes will and should win, but after more of a match than they had at Mania.
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
What Should Happen: Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans should do the Fusion Dance and merge into a single, enormous Murder Barbie and challenge Lynch for both belts. I think I’d rather have one really good Becky Lynch match than two so-so ones.
What Will Happen: In all honesty, Becky 2-Belts doesn’t seem to be the big hook they seemed to want it to be, and this could be a really way to revert the Smackdown Women’s Championship back to Smackdown after it got needlessly added to the WrestleMania main event. If Lynch beats Evans first, which she obviously should, it’d allow her to lose to a second, much better opponent without losing too much face. Plus, it’d give Charlotte another shitty thing to brag about: having won the championship from someone who’d already had a match that night. Bonus points if Lynch vs. Evans ends in DQ when Charlotte beats her to death with a chair, leading directly into their match.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – Lynch isn’t dropping both belts in one night, so I’ve got her beating Flair after a hard-fought match with Evans.
Emily Pratt – Lynch vs. Flair part twenty should be pretty good if there aren’t too many shenanigans… and it seems like there could be a lot of shenanigans. I’m guessing Lynch retains.
Bill Hanstock – Lynch will be worn down from her match with Lacey, leaving her ripe for the picking so Flair gets her title back. the Becky Two Belts era comes to an end, and we get champions on both shows again. (Except when they Wild Card.)
Elle Collins – This one could go either way. In fact, whichever way it goes I fully expect to hear on Monday that they booked the ending at the very last minute. After Becky went through that table on Raw, though, I’m currently predicting her to keep both belts.
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
What Should Happen: See the “what will happen” section of Lynch vs. Flair.
What Will Happen: I think this is intended to be a star-making performance for Lacey Evans, who hasn’t really shown … well, anything on the main roster besides her ability to walk in a straight line and punch a jobber in the face. I’m guessing the finish is Lynch dodging the moonsault and turning into the Disarmer for the submission win. If anyone’s beating Lynch at Money in the Bank, it’s Charlotte. Charlotte winning gives Smackdown their championship back, and leaves Lynch on Raw.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – Seems like an almost certainty that Lynch would beat Evans and then possibly drop the title to Flair, but WWE loves the shock factor. Going with Evans earning the huge upset here.
Emily Pratt – I’m guessing Becky will either lose one of these title matches or be so beaten down by two matches in one night that she is successfully cashed in on. If she’s going to lose either of the title matches, my money’s on this one after she’s been weakened by a match with Flair. This seems really early to put a belt on Evans but also Raw hasn’t been making much sense lately!
Bill Hanstock – Becky will keep her Raw title. It will either be through a strong title defense against Evans, or via Charlotte attacking Lynch ruthlessly during this match and giving Evans the DQ win, but not the championship.
Elle Collins – Becky wins this, of course. Lacey’s place as a heel that matters is already cemented, and it would be ridiculous to actually put the belt on her right now.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Natalya vs. Dana Brooke vs. Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon vs. Carmella
What Should Happen: Nikki Cross should whoops-whoopsie Alexa Bliss before the match by revealing that her win on Raw actually gave her Bliss’ spot in the match, which she then goes on to win. Because I want very few things in this life, and the happiness and success of Nikki by God Cross is one of them.
What Will Happen: It would be very, very Bayley of Bayley to win the match in a triumphant moment, announce a cash-in for the next pay-per-view, and then lose the championship match. Alternately, it’d be great to see Bayley actually triumph, if only to give her some forward momentum after the whole Sasha Banks thing. Hey, maybe Sasha Banks will show up to help her win? Maybe? Yes? No? No.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – If Mandy Rose is ever going to make the splash WWE has been teasing for the last year, this seems like the perfect spot. Picking Bliss to snag the briefcase, but could definitely see someone like Dana Brooke finally climbing into the title picture.
Emily Pratt – I wouldn’t be shocked to see any of the women not named Natalya or Dana Brooke in this match win the briefcase, but my guess/personal pick is Bayley. She’s already adjacent to the women’s title picture on Smackdown and has that new, more badass character direction going on. This could be an interesting way to further what’s going on with her.
Bill Hanstock – It’s tempting to say Nikki Cross will play the Ellsworth role and help Bliss get the briefcase, but that seems a little too retread-y, even for WWE. I think either Carmella becomes the first three-time winner (yes, they officially count the MITB and SD matches as two wins for her) to bump another Punk record off the books, or Ember Moon gets it to do something with her for a change. (I’m also not ruling out Dana or Bayley or Mandy. This might be the toughest match to predict on the card!)
Elle Collins – I’ll honestly be happy as long as someone who hasn’t held the briefcase before and isn’t Canadian wins. In my heart, though, I want it to be Bayley, and she’s my prediction.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Sami Zayn vs. Ricochet vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin vs. Ali vs. Finn Bálor vs. Andrade vs. Randy Orton
What Should Happen: SAMI ZAYN ALL DAY. Sami should win the Money in the Bank briefcase, Kevin Owens should win the WWE Championship (possibly with Sami’s help), and then Sami should immediately turn on him and cash in. It would be the world’s most glorious dose of karma, especially if Zayn reveals he’s just been doing this asshole character to get in good with Owens again so he could swerve him.
What Will Happen: I want Sami Zayn to win, but there’s no way he got that spot without Braun Strowman being booked to do a big run-in and rip a ladder in half or whatever. Sami’s definitely getting tossed into an aluminum garbage can and dropkicked into the sun. My head says “if Drew McIntyre doesn’t win this I’ll be shocked,” but … shit, it’s going to be Baron Corbin, isn’t it? My pick is “anyone but Baron Corbin, please God.”
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – This one could really go to anyone, but Ali, McIntyre and Corbin seem like the front-runners. Going to go with the dark horse, Zayn, who has really reinvented himself during his time away.
Emily Pratt – The real question going into this match is how many crazy flips off the ladder are we going to get? Upwards of three? Since I guessed a babyface for the women’s match, I’ll guess this MITB winner will be the more classic choice of a heel, Sami Zayn. Think of all the obnoxious physical acting he could do with a briefcase. Also, he’s barely doing anything right now, so if we could get a few guaranteed Zayn vs. Rollins matches in the future that would be cool.
Bill Hanstock – This seems like McIntyre’s match to win, especially after he’s been treading water for so long, but you shouldn’t rule out Baron Corbin getting another chance at holding the briefcase that tanked his career and got him to this point. Yikes!
Elle Collins – I’d love to see Sami Zayn win after his late entry, and I think Andrade with the briefcase would be great. Realistically, though, I think the wind’s blowing in Drew McIntyre’s direction.
WWE Championship Match: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Kevin Owens
What Should Happen: See my men’s Money in the Bank “what should happen” prediction. It won’t happen in a million years, but if it does, I’m taking a victory lap.
What Will Happen: My heart says Kofi retains, but my head says Owens wins it. Kofi got his “WrestleMania moment” and will forever have “WWE Champion” on his resume — the actual WWE Championship, too, not the World Heavyweight or Universal or Weird Supplementary Champion — and the tag division might need him more than the Heavyweights. Especially since Daniel Bryan’s running with the Smackdown Tag Team Championship right now, and Xavier Woods has got shit to do without Big E. I definitely don’t want Kofi to lose, but Owens could probably do more with the belt. Kofi can go to Ghana with the belt he won without the timeline of when he went really mattering. I don’t know, I’m torn.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – What I would pay to see KO running around in a midriff, yelling about pancakes and slapping hands with the New Day again. But alas, the fun only lasted for a few weeks before he went right back into angry, beat everyone up KO. It just doesn’t seem like the time for Kofi to drop the belt, though, and he’ll get revenge for his former buddy putting the boots to Xavier Woods.
Emily Pratt – WWE’s going to release a thing about Kofi Kingston going to Ghana soon-ish, so I’m guessing he retains! This match should be very good though!
Bill Hanstock – Kofi’s going to be taking a celebratory trip to Ghana as champ after this match, so … uh … you’ll probably get ’em next time, KO.
Elle Collins – Kofi’s not done with that belt yet. Eventually I hope KO gets to hold it for a while too, but it’s not time yet. It’s still Kofi time.
Universal Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles
What Should Happen: The Club vs. The Shield! Just kidding, no part of that works anymore.
What Will Happen: I’m going to abandon my AJ Styles pay-per-view championship match cynicism for a month to say this should be the match of the night, and a match of the year candidate. Rollins seems like he has something to prove, and the Universal Championship desperately needs some great defenses by a great champion without a big penis sword on his chest. I hope they give this like, 20 minutes instead of the Triple H 35, and that they tear it the hell up the entire time. Rollins retains.
Staff Picks
Raj Prashad – This one has all the makings of a Match of the Night contender, with Rollins having one of the best years in recent memory. These guys should put on a show, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Styles somehow gets disqualified, giving Rollins the win and keeping the belt on him.
Emily Pratt – It’s pretty cool that this match is happening and to have something different going on in the Universal Championship picture. I’m guessing Rollins retains since he hasn’t done much as champ yet.
Bill Hanstock – Rollins isn’t losing the title yet, and he’s certainly not losing it to the Flat Eart’ That Runs The Yurt. My main hope is that they finally go all the way with a heel turn for Styles, as I think everyone will have fun booing the guy for a little while.
Elle Collins – It really feels like Seth’s the man right now. I mean technically he’s the Man’s boyfriend, but as far as the Men’s Division goes it seems like they’re finally into giving him a substantial babyface run, and I really don’t think he’s dropping the belt yet.
Those are our thoughts on Money in the Bank 2019. Who do you think’s winning what, and why? Let us know down in the comments section, give the column a share on social media to get some fresh voices in the discussion, and make sure you’re here all weekend for our Money in the Bank coverage.
You can watch Game of Thrones on your TV and read about the pay-per-view on your phone, right?
