It’s a WWE PPV in in the traditional arena setting–with fans! And Steve Cook has your WWE Money In The Bank 2021 gambling picks!

Welcome Back Fans!

WWE is back on the road & performing in front of live audiences. The Dickies Arena will be packed and stacked this Sunday for the Money in the Bank PPV, which will consist of the annual men’s & women’s ladder matches along with other good times. The WWE Headquarters ladder matches were fun for what they were, but the presence of a live crowd should make things more exciting & entertaining.

Since there’s a PPV, there could be money to be made off of online gambling sites! Odds here are via BetOnline. As a reminder, this column is purely for entertainment purposes.

Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Asuka (+600) vs. Naomi (+1200) vs. Alexa Bliss (+125) vs. Nikki A.S.H. (+400) vs. Liv Morgan (+350) vs. Zelina Vega (+500) vs. Natalya (+1600) vs. Tamina (+2000)

LIV FOREVER. 🖤@YaOnlyLivvOnce felt the energy of the @WWEUniverse on #SmackDown ahead of the #MITB Ladder Match in this exclusive interview. pic.twitter.com/Owpr7tXe92

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 17, 2021

It seems like whenever fans are critical of WWE creative these days, the talent involved comes out and tells everybody that they came up with the idea that everybody hates and it’s a very special thing. Nikki A.S.H. is the most recent example here. Everybody pooped on the superhero gimmick, so Nikki came out and told us it was her idea, while giving us all the reasons she thinks its great. I mean, it’s been almost twenty years since Hurricane Helms, so it’s probably time for a new one. Also, Nikki Cross was getting random wins but we had no real reason to care because we didn’t really know what she was doing. Now, she’s being a superhero. Or trying, anyway.

It’s certainly easier to explain than whatever Alexa Bliss is trying to do. She’ll also tell us how great it is, and those of you that do think that Alexa’s character work these days is ultra-compelling stuff will agree. I’m not a fan. That doesn’t mean I hate Alexa Bliss as a human being, I’m just saying the character does nothing for me, and hasn’t since all the Bray Wyatt stuff started.

Then there’s Zelina Vega…y’know what, let’s not even talk about her whole deal. Let’s talk about Liv Morgan, who seems to be the sentimental favorite of most to win this thing. And why not? The rest of her Squad got fired, she’s been left on her own and has already been underutilized for most of her WWE career. She’s been the focal point of the SD build, and I get the feeling she’ll get screwed over somehow in this match in favor of…

Zelina Vega. Why else do you think she came back?

Raw Tag Team Championship Match
AJ Styles & Omos (-450) vs. The Viking Raiders (+275)

Imagine allowing me to have a match with absolutely 0 interruption!!! Would that be so hard???? #WWERaw https://t.co/0Rx674NNb0

— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) July 6, 2021

A few weeks ago I wasn’t sure the Viking Raiders were still on the roster. Turns out they are, as Ivar’s neck is all healed up and ready to go. Good news for everyone. They split singles matches on Raw because 50/50 booking, so we can’t read anything into that. We can read something into SummerSlam coming up, and the likelihood of AJ & Omos losing the straps there. Probably in a multi-team match, probably to a team involving one of the people in the next match we’re discussing. The Raiders will get a nice showing, but AJ & Omos are winning this one.

WWE Championship Match
Bobby Lashley (-1100) vs. Kofi Kingston (+700)

Age is clearly just a number. @TomBrady and I gonna keep this Champion lifestyle going until the wheels fall off…and by the looks of it, that’s not happening anytime soon!! 45 years young!! 👊🏾👊🏾#AllMightyEra @WWE pic.twitter.com/ZLcy1kKouO

— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) July 16, 2021

It’s funny that Lashley should bring up the old “age is just a number” talking point, considering who his widely rumored next opponent is. With all due respect to Kofi Kingston, who is a great talent and deserves an opportunity at any championship, he’s not winning here and you shouldn’t be betting on this match. 54 years young Bill Goldberg is apparently going to be the next challenge for Lashley, which makes sense because WWE needs that star power to fill up that stadium in Las Vegas for SummerSlam.

OK, so I’m not a big fan of trotting Goldberg out there at this point. Maybe there is some star power left in there that they could use to put some more shine on Lashley, but it’s not something that’s going to draw my attention to SummerSlam. It’s somewhat mystifying to me that there are still people that buy into things like “Goldberg wrestling for championships”, but then again, most of the things that appeal to the general public mystify me. So, if WWE wants to keep pushing the old-timers, that’s fine by me. Doesn’t affect my view of Raw one way or the other.

Bobby vs. Kofi should be fun though. And as some have pointed out, it’s the fourth time in WWE PPV history that two Black men have fought for a world championship. Hopefully representation encourages different minorities to get into pro wrestling, which is a good thing for everybody. I just wouldn’t put any money on the match, that’s all.

Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Big E (+175) vs. Seth Rollins (+250) vs. Drew McIntyre (+400) vs. Riddle (+400) vs. Kevin Owens (+1000) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (+1200) vs. John Morrison (+1600) vs. Ricochet (+1600)

🐢😂🐢😂🐢#WWERaw @SuperKingofBros @mikethemiz pic.twitter.com/a8kB5kKpqP

— WWE (@WWE) July 13, 2021

I’ve been saying for years that the whole MITB concept is played out, and I haven’t changed my mind on that. I’ve also been saying for years that I could go the rest of my life without seeing another ladder match, and I haven’t changed my mind on that either. With all that being said, I’m not opposed to any of these guys getting a title shot down the road. As for who we should bet on?

• Big E: People want E to be a champion, but winning MITB & doing the cash-in gimmick wouldn’t be a great way to do it. So I’m ruling out the favorite here, which is fine because we want to make money.
• Seth Rollins: Rollins chasing Reigns could be interesting, and since WWE loves re-living old gimmicks it’d make sense to put the briefcase back on Rollins after all these years.
• Drew McIntyre: Seems like the obvious pick given the booking of the last match with Lashley, so obvious that people are talking themselves out of it.
• Riddle: Getting a ton of airtime lately. I think Randy Orton makes sure he doesn’t win.
• Kevin Owens: Would be a good way to get him back in the title picture.
• Shinsuke Nakamura: Not likely, but he’s been fun lately with Rick Boogs.
• Ricochet: Not likely, but he’s getting more chances to shine lately so maybe don’t completely rule it out.

My longshot pick? John Morrison. Here’s the idea: Morrison wins it in crazy fashion. Miz thinks that his best friend is going to give him the briefcase, because he’s Miz and should always have the briefcase. Morrison’s all like “Hey Hey No No”, thus beginning issues between the two and Morrison getting pushed up the card and actually getting to do things. I enjoy this idea, so it must happen. Plus, a heck of a payout there.

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
Rey & Dominik Mysterio (-200) vs. The Usos (+150)

7x … COMING SOON. 👊#SmackDown #MITB @WWEUsos pic.twitter.com/3aqXYSpVJY

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 17, 2021

Heh, people actually thought Jimmy Uso was going to get punished for a DUI. It was so cute. Those of us that knew better because Jimmy’s connected weren’t surprised when WWE did nothing, and we’ll be even less surprised if The Usos win here. Gotta put all the titles on the Bloodline, right? Get some heat on the heels now that the fans are back!

Raw Women’s Championship Match
Rhea Ripley (-140) vs. Charlotte Flair (+100)

WWE Hall of Famer @RicFlairNatrBoy offers insight on @RheaRipley_WWE.@WWETheBump pic.twitter.com/gSQqhIBRLj

— WWE’s The Bump (@WWETheBump) July 14, 2021

Yep, this is still going on. It’s still two women that are superior athletes and can have very good matches with each other, and it’s still a feud that has gone out of its way to not make any sense & be less than entertaining. If you don’t watch Raw and just see these two wrestle on a PPV, you’ll probably love it. Unless they book a lame finish like they did last time, which is highly possible since we’ve got SummerSlam coming up.

I think Rhea gets the win, with Charlotte still getting some kind of out to set up a re-match (or a variation of a re-match depending on if somebody’s available *coughBeckycough*). But since we’re trying to make money here, I’ll take Charlotte Flair as an underdog here. Might lead to another pretty short title reign, which they like doing with her.

Universal Championship Match
Roman Reigns (-500) vs. Edge (+300)

Once they experience the #IslandOfRelevancy..
They always want more.

Edge’s Bucket List: ✅

ROMAN REIGNS vs EDGE.

1 v 1.

FIRST TIME EVER.

LIVE CROWD. LETS GO! #MITB https://t.co/aj5mTzRopr

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) June 26, 2021

Closer than usual for the Tribal Chief. Any chance he loses? Nah. No way he’s not heading into SummerSlam as Universal Champion. I know Edge is a favorite of the people and some believe his return to championship glory would truly revolutionize WWE, but it’s not his time. It’s the time of Roman Reigns and people just need to acknowledge it.

You just hope Edge emerges in one piece.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the Money! Put it in the bank if ya want.