Money In The Bank 2019 Preview: Controversial title change, Big twist in men's ladder match revealed? (05/19)

Money in the Bank is the first major stop in the post-WrestleMania season. Usually, the MITB PPV takes place in June, but the Saudi Arabia show in early June may have forced WWE to change their schedule.

The product has been in an interesting place, but it hasn't all been good. Luckily enough, the Money in the Bank 2019 card is quite a solid one and has many potentially great matches with a great consequence - not only of the immediate future, but the entire year as well.

MITB has grown a lot in importance over the past decade, with many fans even feeling like it has replaced Survivor Series in the "Big 4" PPVs. Whether you choose to look at it as "Big 4" or "Big 5" is irrelevant, because the card has some major promise.

The two kickoff show matches are:

Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs The Usos - Non-title match

Tony Nese (c) vs Ariya Daivari - WWE Cruiserweight Championship

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#9. The Miz vs Shane McMahon - Steel cage match

The rivalry could come to an intense climax at MITB

The rivalry between Shane McMahon and The Miz has been going on for the last two months. They went all out at WrestleMania 35, with Shane McMahon picking up a fluke victory over The A-Lister. For the third year in a row, The Miz changed brands during the Superstar Shake-Up, but that hasn't stopped his rivalry with the SmackDown commissioner.

Though McMahon has had Elias help him throughout SmackDown and RAW against both The Miz and Roman Reigns, the two rivals will settle it inside a steel cage. The 8-time Intercontinental Champion will look to settle the score against the self-proclaimed "Best in the World" - Shane McMahon.

#8. Becky Lynch (c) vs Lacey Evans - RAW Women's Championship

Becky Lynch's first challenger after WrestleMania

Lacey Evans wasn't doing much prior to WrestleMania, but immediately after the show of shows, she instantly inserted herself into title contention. Becky Lynch came off the greatest moment of her career - a victory in the main event of WrestleMania, where she became RAW and SmackDown Women's Champion.

Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans have engaged in a war of words as well as unsanctioned brawls prior to their big match at MITB. Will the up-and-coming Evans play the spoils to Becky Lynch just a month after her WrestleMania moment?

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#7. Becky Lynch (c) vs Charlotte Flair - SmackDown Women's Championship

Charlotte Flair seems unable to let go of Becky Lynch

Once again, Becky Lynch will face Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Championship. The Queen may not have won the main event at WrestleMania, but she hasn't stopped her chase for the SmackDown women's gold.

With Flair chasing history, Becky Lynch finds herself with a daunting task, willingly taking on her old rival in her second match of the night.

#6. Kofi Kingston (c) vs Kevin Owens - WWE Championship

A short-lived alliance

Kofi Kingston reached the pinnacle of his career at WrestleMania 35 when he defeated Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. It was the one title eluding him and against all odds, The Dreadlock Dynamo now finds himself holding the most prestigious title in wrestling history.

After WrestleMania, it was revealed that Big E had suffered a serious injury and is set to miss the rest of 2019. Kevin Owens offered to be a replacement member. His alliance lasted all but a week when he turned on Kofi Kingston and declared his intentions to become WWE Champion.

Kofi Kingston proved his relentlessness on the road to WrestleMania, but his fairytale ending could come to a crashing halt at the hands of the former Universal Champion. We all know that Vince McMahon isn't in favour of Kofi Kingston as WWE Champion.

Will Vince McMahon unexpectedly help Kevin Owens get a controversial WWE title win?

#5. Roman Reigns vs Elias

Roman Reigns has a new target in mind

Roman Reigns became the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history. Though he has been appearing frequently on RAW after the Wildcard rule, his first SmackDown rivalry happens to be against Elias, who jumped over from RAW as well.

Shane McMahon has played an extra hand in making life a living hell for Roman Reigns, but The Big Dog is expected to get the big win against Elias.

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#4. Samoa Joe (c) vs Rey Mysterio

Samoa Joe vs Rey Mysterio is a grudge match in every way

At WrestleMania 35, Samoa Joe handed Rey Mysterio the most humiliating defeat of his career when he submitted the legend in one minute to retain the United States Championship.

Since then, Rey Mysterio has been bringing his son Dominick to RAW and his son was even quick to get into a verbal altercation with Samoa Joe. Mysterio did get a win back over Joe in a non-title match, which is what earned him a rematch at MITB. Will the legend walk out as United States Champion?

#3. Women's Money in the Bank ladder match

Nikki Cross serves as a last-minute replacement for Alexa Bliss

The women's Money in the Bank ladder match certainly is an interesting field of competitors. Some have even argued that it's the most interesting ladder match since women started competing in it around 2017.

Alexa Bliss was expected to be the fourth participant from RAW in the ladder match, but the 2018 winner wasn't medically cleared by WWE, prompting them to give Nikki Cross the spot. Cross, who had been neglected for much of the last few months, stepped up to the plate when she took Bliss' spot in a Fatal-4-Way match on RAW.

Her win undoubtedly shot her into contention, but she faces seven other hungry competitors. Will Carmella snatch her second MITB win or could it be any of the other SmackDown competitors?

Bayley and Mandy Rose remain heavy favourites to win the briefcase. But one can never tell what will happen.

#2. Men's Money in the Bank ladder match

Sami Zayn replaced Braun Strowman in a stacked match

There's only one word that can describe the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match - exciting. The field of competitors is incredibly stacked and filled with high flyers. All eight superstars have a legitimate claim to be Mr. Money in the Bank - but as we know, there can only be one.

Sami Zayn replaced Braun Strowman on the final RAW before MITB after The Monster Among Men put his spot on the line. It was Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre who helped Zayn become the fourth person to pin Strowman.

His addition has added a lot of interest to the match, with some speculation that Strowman could shock the world and help Sami Zayn win. Realistically speaking, Drew McIntyre is the favourite to walk out as Mr MITB.

However, there are two former winners in Randy Orton and Baron Corbin, with the likes of Finn Balor, Ricochet, Ali and Andrade set to make the match an enthralling affair.

#1. Seth Rollins (c) vs AJ Styles - Universal Championship

Seth Rollins and AJ Styles clash for the first time ever in WWE

It's a clash for the first time ever in WWE when Seth Rollins defends the Universal Championship against AJ Styles. Seth Rollins is just off arguably the biggest win of his career against Brock Lesnar.

Fulfilling his own destiny and becoming Universal Champion, The Beast Slayer has made it Monday Night Rollins again - but he faces a challenge like never before. AJ Styles, as you know, is no ordinary competitor. He may only have been in WWE for a little over 3 years, but he's proven to be even greater than people made him out to be, with two WWE Championship wins, two United States Championship wins as well as being the face of SmackDown Live from the summer of 2016 till April 2019.

However, Styles and Rollins haven't exactly been friendly with each other. Despite being on the same side, they've had a war of words and fists as well, with AJ Styles going nasty when he felt the need to.

Will there be a major heel turn from AJ Styles in the epic main event?

Follow our live coverage of Money in the Bank 2019 to find out more!