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In one of the most inspired moves WWE has made all year, Big E has won the 2021 Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. He outlasted the rest of the field after one of the greatest matches of its kind, filled with huge spots and impactful moments.
Big E has been on the cusp of greatness ever since resuming his singles career last year on SmackDown. The Money in the Bank contract could give him a boost to reach the next level. But what comes next?
The two world champions on RAW and SmackDown are both incredibly dominant right now. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley has ruled the red brand, while Roman Reigns stands atop the WWE mountain with the Universal Championship. Both stars would be intriguing targets for Big E to cash in on.
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The two-time Intercontinental Champion will likely have to go through one of these forces of nature to win a world title in WWE. Both options seem like a good idea, with a few factors supporting either one.
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Who would you rather see Big E cash in his Money in the Bank contract on - Bobby Lashley or Roman Reigns? Sound off in the comments section below.
#3. Cash-in on Bobby Lashley: Big E could avenge the destruction of Kofi Kingston at Money in the Bank
Bobby Lashley spent Money in the Bank picking Kofi Kingston apart. He took his sweet time decimating the New Day member, showcasing his dominance right from the start of the match. The All-Mighty WWE Champion's squash of Kingston might have drawn Big E's attention.
Despite being a singles star on SmackDown, Big E is still very much allied with his New Day brothers. He could move to RAW and challenge Lashley in an attempt to avenge his partner's devastating defeat at Money in the Bank.
It makes sense from that storytelling point of view, with friendship and brotherhood prevailing over destruction.
Big E could appear as soon as tonight's episode of RAW or he could bide his time until the WWE Draft, eventually reminding Bobby Lashley of the suffering he caused for Kofi Kingston. This is the kind of long-term booking the red brand desperately needs.
If Big E does go after the WWE Title, Lashley's feud with Kingston should be the basis for his impending cash-in.
#2. Cash-in on Roman Reigns: Big E has a history with The Usos
Among Big E's biggest rivals as part of The New Day were The Usos, who are the cousins of Roman Reigns. The twin brothers put on a plethora of tag team classics against any combination of Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston. The two teams later developed a connection through mutual respect.
This came to a head when Jimmy and Jey refused to wrestle The New Day in a gauntlet match in the build-up to WrestleMania 35. However, The Usos are not noble babyfaces anymore. They are essentially henchmen for The Tribal Chief, even after becoming SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
The link between them and Big E could play into Mr. Money in the Bank's decision to cash in on Reigns. It could intensify further if Kingston and Woods move back to SmackDown during the WWE Draft.
If Big E decides to target the Universal Champion, we could get a full-blown feud between The New Day and The Bloodline. The potential six-man Tag Team Match is a mouth-watering prospect. Big E's first world title victory would also be tied together with a significant period in his WWE career from years prior.
#2. Cash-in on Bobby Lashley: RAW needs fresh babyfaces like Big E
WWE RAW is in dire need of Superstars like Big E. The red brand is desperately short on top babyface stars, especially with Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre exhausting their feud. Keith Lee and Bray Wyatt have been absent for months, while Riddle and Randy Orton are in the tag team division.
The fact that WWE may need to bring Goldberg back to face Lashley shows how much RAW needs fresh babyface stars. Big E is the perfect man to solve that problem in the short term, while the company can fix the broader issue during the WWE Draft.
The All-Mighty WWE Champion is seemingly out of viable challengers, besides potentially Goldberg at SummerSlam. With such a gap wide open, the company has a huge opportunity to create a new babyface star in Big E.
Big E would be a great WWE Champion, with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston still loosely connected with him on-screen. The New Day reuniting on RAW would definitely help Monday nights get more enjoyable. However, it will be important for WWE to distinguish Big E from the group to further elevate him during his title reign.
#1. Cash-in on Roman Reigns: It would immortalize Big E as a WWE megastar
While Big E could become a star if he cashes in on Bobby Lashley, RAW needs him more than he needs the red brand. The New Day member would be just fine on SmackDown. He spent months in a holding pattern with Apollo Crews, but the Money in the Bank victory will set him onto bigger and better feuds.
Big E has mentioned that he would rather cash in his contract on Roman Reigns, due to him being at the top of the industry. It does make sense in terms of making a statement and establishing his legacy.
If he is the one to finally end The Tribal Chief's long Universal Title reign, Big E would forever be immortalized. It is an honor waiting for the right man. Perhaps that right man is holding the Money in the Bank contract.
As the honorable babyface he is, Big E could announce his cash-in on Reigns. This would help create a groundswell of support for the two-time Intercontinental Champion.
In this day and age, if Big E wins the WWE Championship, he becomes a star. But if he wins the Universal Championship, he becomes a megastar.
#1. Cash-in on Bobby Lashley: Big E has a higher chance of success against him
The one downside to Big E staying on SmackDown and targeting Roman Reigns is the fact that The Tribal Chief might not let go of the Universal Championship before WrestleMania 38. He could face The Rock at the event and will likely be kept strong for it.
If that is the case, Big E's window of having a successful Money in the Bank cash-in is severely diminished. Reigns' eventual downfall should ideally happen at a major pay-per-view like WrestleMania or SummerSlam, which could extend his title reign until August 2022.
This prospect completely rules out the possibility of Big E successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on The Head of The Table. That would be a shame, considering the aforementioned storytelling possibilities involving The Bloodline and The New Day.
So, Big E should target Bobby Lashley as there seemingly aren't any extremely long-term plans for him as WWE Champion. If he does face Goldberg at SummerSlam, as reported, Mr. Money in the Bank should continually tease his involvement in the match.
Big E has stated his desire for a match with Goldberg, so a mid-match Money in the Bank cash-in at SummerSlam would be the ultimate dream for him. Whether this scenario happens or not, Big E's chances of becoming world champion are much higher on RAW than on SmackDown at the moment.
