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The sands of time are running out for Money in the Bank. In just a few short days, WWE will present its annual Money in the Bank Pay Per View. This year features not one, but two high stakes ladder matches.
Those Superstars who are tough, tenacious enough and lucky enough to ascend the lofty heights of a rickety steel ladder will be able to claim the contract guaranteeing a title opportunity whenever the winner chooses to cash it in.
Not only are the ladder matches looming large over the PPV, so too are the title matches. Nearly every belt in the WWE's Smackdown and Raw brands will be up for grabs, with the sole exception being the Intercontinental championship.
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The eyes of the wrestling world are also on Becky Lynch as she prepares to defend not one, but two titles at the MITB PPV.
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Given the importance of this event, it's no surprise that the wrestling rumor mill is spinning up to full speed.
Here are a list of the rumors--note that none of them are confirmed, which is why they are rumors and not facts--circling around this month's WWE Pay Per View, as well as speculation about how accurate they might be.
Also, for those into wagering, the betting odds for the MITB matches will be provided.
#1 The Authors of Pain may return to wreck havoc on the Smackdown Tag Team Division
The spiritual successors to teams like the Road Warriors and the Demolition, the Authors of Pain were an instant sensation in NXT. The two young, powerful and gigantic men seemed poised to run roughshod over the main roster of WWE upon their debut.
Unfortunately, uneven booking kept them off of television for a long time, and then Akem went down with a knee injury.
However, it looks like Akem has been cleared to compete, and the AOP are due to make their return to television any day now. Most likely they will end up on the Smackdown Live brand, but they could make an appearance at Money in the Bank.
Chances of this rumor being true: 75%. Akem is definitely off the injured list, and the WWE wants AOP back on television soon, but there's no direct evidence it will happen at the MITB show. However, it would make a lot of sense and give their return a 'special' feel.
#2 Dana Brooke was a replacement in the women's MITB match for Sasha Banks
In many ways, you have to feel sympathy for Dana Brooke. When she was first hired with the company, many believed that her beauty and fitness competition experience would make her a natural wrestling star.
However, for whatever reason she has yet to break into the main event scene. From being packaged into a non wrestling role with Titus Worldwide to losing to Asuka in mere seconds, Dana Brooke has felt like something of an afterthought on WWE television.
That has been changing in recent weeks, as Dana Brooke seems to be demanding that fans, and the WWE, take her more seriously. Competing in the MITB match just seems like a natural extension of that.
The rumor has it, however, that Brooke is only a replacement for Sasha Banks, who is sitting out her contract due to dissatisfaction with the way WWE has been using her.
Chances of the Rumor being true: 80% likelihood. Banks is a major star and no doubt would have been included in the MITB match, and Dana Brooke helps round out the numbers while also implanting the idea that a dark horse winner (ie, Brooke) could pull off the upset.
#3 Kofi Kingston was originally supposed to defend his title against Daniel Bryan, not Kevin Owens, at MITB
Sunday at the Money in the Bank pay per view, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston will defend his title against Kevin Owens. However, the rumor has it that the original opponent wasn't supposed to be Owens, but Daniel Bryan.
Apparently, Daniel Bryan suffered an undisclosed injury which made WWE officials fearful he might miss the upcoming pay per view.
The company had originally wanted to keep Kevin Owens a babyface, but he was changed to a heel due to a lack of serious heel contenders for Kofi's title.
Chances of the rumor being true: 50-50. Bryan allegedly was working with an injury, but Kevin Owens makes a more compelling heel than babyface. With no direct evidence it's impossible to know, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
#4 The WWE has Major Plans for the MITB match winners
The whole point of the Money in the Bank match was to give chances to mid and low card wrestlers to enter the main event picture. However, in recent years the results have been somewhat lackluster.
According to rumor, the WWE wants to pull out all the stops and guarantee that the Money in the Bank match winners will become major stars.
Looking back at previous two year's winners of the men's matches, Baron Corbin and Braun Strowman, you can see why the WWE might think they need to make some changes. Neither man has made much impact in the time since their victory, and neither was able to successfully cash in, either.
Chances of the Rumor being true: 99%. There's no doubt that both Corbin and Strowman's victories and subsequent cash ins were underwhelming. If the WWE doesn't make the effort to elevate their MITB match winners, the event will lose its special feel.
#5 Becky Lynch will lose at least one of her titles at the Pay Per View
One of the things that WWE has gotten spot on correct is their elevation of Becky Lynch from also-ran to arguably the biggest star in the company.
From her social media battles with Ronda Rousey, to her take no prisoners antihero persona, Becky Lynch has taken the sports entertainment world by storm.
Rarely has one seen the mix of technical acumen, physical toughness, and charisma that Lynch exhibits each and every time she performs.
Her success story culminated in victory at Wrestlemania 35--the first ever Wrestlemania to feature women in the main event, another accolade--where she won both the Smackdown and Raw women's championships.
However, rumor has it that Lynch could be losing at least one of her belts at the PPV. The idea is that the MITB women's match winner might cash in on Lynch after her second title defense, allowing for a new champion while still making Lynch look strong.
Chances of the rumor being true: 50-50. Clearly, there is a time limit on how long Lynch can hold both belts, but it remains to be seen if she will be stripped of one of them soon.
#6 Money in the Bank Odds: Men's ladder match
On Sunday, eight men will climb into the ring to do battle for a title match contract dangling high over head. This year, the field of contenders features six men who have never worn one of WWE's 'big belts.' Only Orton and Balor have held that honor.
Here are the odds for the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match, as well as analysis.
Drew McIntyre 3/2
Andrade 2/1
Sami Zayn 8/1
Ricochet 6/1
Mustafa Ali 7/1
Baron Corbin 10/1
Finn Balor 10/1
Randy Orton 10/1
It looks like the odds on favorite to win the bout is the chosen one Drew McIntyre. This makes sense given the booking he's received since joining the main WWE roster after returning from injury.
It seems like former champions Balor and Orton are considered long shot victors, which also makes sense as they don't need the MITB match to enter the main event picture.
The second odds on favorite after Drew is Andrade, whom the WWE seem to be very high on. If Andrade does win, expect Zelina Vega to play a major part in that victory.
#7 Money in the Bank Odds Women's match
The Women's Money in the Bank Ladder match has seen a major change since the original planned match.
Due to an injury, Alexa Bliss will no longer compete at MITB. Her replacement is recent NXT call up Nikki Cross, who was one of the most popular and featured wrestlers on the yellow brand.
The addition of Cross pleased many in the WWE Universe, who have been chomping at the bit to see the Scottish Psychopath have a larger role in the company.
The odds for the women's MITB match are as follows:
Ember Moon 2/1
Bayley 3/1
Nikki Cross 5/1
Naomi 5/1
Mandy Rose 6/1
Carmella 8/1
Dana Brooke 10/1
Natalya 10/1
It seems the odds on favorite to win the MITB match is Ember Moon. The former NXT women's champion has been derailed by injury after her main roster debut, but now may be the time for her to shine.
Things don't look good for Dana Brooke, Sasha Banks' rumored replacement, or Natalya, who is a no questions asked contender and doesn't need a MITB victory to catapult her to the title picture.
There you have it: The Money in the Bank 2019 rumor round up, and betting odds for the ladder matches. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article, and as always thanks for reading!
