Money In The Bank (2014) - Wwe Money In Bank

Money in the Bank (2014) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by WWE. It took place on June 29, 2014 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the fifth annual Money in the Bank event.

Eight matches took place at the event, with no match aired on the pre-show. The main event was a Ladder match for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, which was won by John Cena.

The event did 122,000 buys (excluding WWE Network views), down from the previous year's 199,000 buys.

WWE Money in the Bank 2011 Reaction | Doctormoney's Blog

Background

Money in the Bank featured professional wrestling matches that involved wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines that played out on WWE's primary television programs, Raw and SmackDown. Wrestlers portrayed faces (heroes) or heels (villains) as they followed a series of events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

At Payback, after they lost to Rybaxel, Cody Rhodes told his brother, Goldust, that he deserves a better partner than him. Following Payback, Goldust was unsuccessful in defeating Rybaxel with his new partners, chosen for him by Cody. On the June 16 episode of Raw, Cody debuted as Stardust and teamed with his brother to defeat Rybaxel. On the June 24 episode of Main Event, Rybaxel challenged Stardust and Goldust to a match at the pay-per-view, which they accepted.

After previous champion Daniel Bryan was stripped of the title due to injury (and subsequent surgery), Stephanie McMahon announced on the June 9 edition of Raw that instead of being for a championship contract, the titular Money in the Bank ladder match at this event would instead be for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship itself. On the June 2 episode of Raw, Alberto Del Rio qualified for the match by defeating Dolph Ziggler, and the following week, Triple H placed Randy Orton into the match, while United States Champion Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett and Rob Van Dam respectively to qualify. On the June 13 episode of SmackDown, Bray Wyatt qualified for the match after defeating Dean Ambrose (with interference from Seth Rollins). On the June 16 episode of Raw, Roman Reigns qualified for the match by winning a 19-man battle royal, and John Cena won a spot in the match, having qualified by defeating Kane in a Stretcher match. On the June 23 episode of Raw, Kane was added to the match by Triple H, rounding out the eight-man field.

Battle Royal

During the John Cena-Bray Wyatt feud, WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso inserted themselves in the rivalry alongside Cena to ensure his matches with The Wyatt Family were fair and to counteract Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. At Payback, The Usos were once again be in Cena's corner to even the odds and in the process, Cena defeated Bray Wyatt in a Last Man Standing match to culminate the feud. The next night on Raw, Rowan and Harper shifted their attention to The Usos, defeating the latter in a non-title tag team match on the June 2 episode of Raw. Due to this win, they earned a match for the Tag Team Championship at the pay-per-view.

On the June 17 episode of Main Event, Seth Rollins announced that a traditional Money In The Bank ladder match would take place at the PPV. The winner of this match will receive a briefcase with a contract that entitles him to a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at any date, place, and time of his choosing within the next year. Rollins also announced himself as the first participant in the match. On June 23 episode of Raw, Triple H added Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, Rob Van Dam, Kofi Kingston, and Jack Swagger to the match. Later that night (after Dean Ambrose threatened to disrupt the pay-per-view), Rollins requested Ambrose be added to the match, to which Triple H agreed. During the WWE Kickoff Show, it was announced that Barrett was no longer going to compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match due to an injury he had suffered on the June 27 episode of SmackDown.

On the June 23 episode of Raw, it was announced that Daniel Bryan will have an exclusive interview on the Kickoff show before the event on the WWE Network, WWE.com, the WWE app, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Pheed. This will take the place of the traditional pre-show match on previous pay-per-view events.

On the June 17 episode of Main Event, WWE Divas Champion Paige was defeated by Naomi in a non-title match. This would set up a title match at the PPV, with Paige defending against Naomi.

Fandango replaced Summer Rae with Layla as his dance partner and valet. On the May 19 episode of Raw, Rae returned and attacked Layla. They continued to attack each other and interfere in Fandango's matches, thus setting up a match at the pay-per-view, with Fandango as the special guest referee.

Since his debut, Rusev was presented as a Russian super athlete. His manager, Lana, insulted the United States many times, including an attack on WWE Hall of Famer Jim Duggan, known for his patriotic gimmick, until Big E saved him. Big E and Rusev had a match at Payback, but Big E was defeated by Rusev. After the event, they continued to attack each other, setting up a rematch at the pay-per-view.

Event

The pre-show was provided by pre-show panel of Renee Young, Booker T, Christian and Alex Riley. During the pre-show, Daniel Bryan came out to speak about his health and being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Michael Cole welcomed the former champ, who led the Boston fans in an echoing "Yes!" chant. He grinned as the crowd roared for him. Bryan said that his recovery was going poorly and that he didn't know when he'd be back. He promised to return better than ever and to win back his title. Bo Dallas walked down to the ring and tried to cheer Bryan up. Bryan told him to "Bo-leave" before leading another round of chants.

Miscellaneous

The English commentators were Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and John "Bradshaw" Layfield while there were also Spanish and German commentators ringside. Lillian Garcia and Justin Roberts were ring announcers.

Preliminary matches

The first match of the night was a Tag Team match between The Usos and the team of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan for the WWE Tag Team Championship. With The Usos waiting for them, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper slunk toward the ring. Jey Uso attacked first, kicking Harper in the gut before tagging his brother in. The Wyatt Family soon gutted the champs' momentum, though. Uppercuts and boots to the throat briefly had The Usos down. Jey fought back, diving at Rowan and earning a number of near-falls. Rowan snatched back control by pushing Jey off the top rope into the security barricade. The match slowed at this point. It became an alternating showcase of Harper and Rowan's viciousness. After taking a glut of punishment, Jey finally tagged out. Jimmy went on a flurry, dropping both foes. Two superkicks weren't enough to keep Harper down. Near-falls came at a rapid pace after that as the match crackled with energy. Jimmy saved his brother after a two-man slam. He then saved himself by knocking Rowan off the top rope. It took both brothers, but after two splashes, they kept Rowan down for the three-count.

The second match was a WWE Divas Championship match between Paige and Naomi. Shortly after the opening bell, Paige and Naomi locked up on the outside. Naomi flung Paige off the apron onto the floor before hitting a suicide dive on the champ. Naomi controlled the action, forcing Paige to kick out several times. She then twisted her in a submission hold that had the champion's arms bent backward. After a spill outside the ring, Paige used the Stump Puller, testing Naomi's pain threshold. Cameron looked on from ringside unamused. Naomi responded with a short flurry. The Rear View wasn't enough to beat Paige, and a split-legged moonsault attempt failed thanks to Paige's knees to her gut. Paige ended things with a cradle DDT. The Funkadactyls showed more tension after the match. Naomi seemed disinterested in talking to her partner.

The third match was a Singles match between Damien Sandow and Adam Rose. Dressed as Paul Revere, Sandow insulted the Boston fans. Adam Rose soon followed him, joined by his dance-happy entourage. Rose rubbed his butt in Sandow's face, but the Sandow fought back with forearms to the back and elbows to the sternum. Sandow was nasty as he stomped on his foe. Speed had Rose back on top, as he ducked the overdressed Superstar and tagged him with right hands. Moments later, Sandow's missed moonsault cost him. Rose hit the Party Foul afterward for the win.

The next match was a Money in the Bank ladder match. Bad News Barrett was injured and was kept out of the match. That left Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, Rob Van Dam, Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins in the fray. Ambrose hurled himself at Rollins right away. The two former comrades brawled near the timekeeper area while the other combatants battled. Kingston was the early star leaping from, crashing onto and swinging ladders. He went for the briefcase early, but Ambrose pushed him down. Ambrose and Rollins struggled to suplex each other onto a ladder until the former flipped the latter over, flesh hitting steel. Ziggler and Kingston darted up toward the briefcase but soon found themselves tasting a ladder shot to the head courtesy of Rollins. Van Dam went on the attack, sending Rollins out in spasms, knocking Swagger to the mat and clearing the ring for his own attempt at the briefcase. Several wrestlers went on flurries, including Swagger, who sent Van Dam crashing from high above the ring. The powerhouse later emptied the ring and tried for the case. Foes soon pulled at his legs. Ambrose and Rollins traded fists with the briefcase swinging just above them. In the ensuing chaos, Ambrose emerged with his left arm limp at his side. WWE's doctors forced him out of the match. More pain followed. Van Dam soon clutched his hamstring after falling, and Kingston hurled Rollins into a ladder in what looked like something out of a demolition derby. Ziggler emerged from the wreckage, but an injured ankle slowed his ascent too much. Ambrose barreled back into the match and wrecked Rollins' back with steel-chair shots, but Kane ran in and prevented his victory. After a Tombstone Piledriver, Ambrose was out, allowing Rollins to climb to the top and celebrate a win along with the The Authority.

The fifth match was a tag team match between the team of Gold and Stardust and Ryback and Curtis Axel. Crouching in the center of the ring, Stardust inspired a look of confusion from Curtis Axel. Stardust sprinted around the ring, knocking Axel off balance before Ryback tried to slow the face-painted star. Stardust was too agile and quick for The Big Guy, though. It wasn't until Goldust tagged in that RybAxel took control. Axel pounded him before Ryback wrapped his arm around his neck. The heels used quick tags to stay fresh as they kept The Bizarre One down. Momentum shifted when Stardust got back in, as he dodged Ryback's blows, sprang around the ring and sent Axel out of the ring. Ryback went for Shell Shocked, but Stardust turned it into Cross Rhodes. That didn't get him the win, but a schoolboy pin soon after did. The action continued after the bell, the Rhodes brothers fighting off Axel and celebrating in the ring.

The sixth match was a singles match between Rusev and Big E. After planting the Russian flag at ringside, Rusev bowed in the ring. Lana struggled to get her speech started thanks to "USA!" chants. Once she did, she praised Vladimir Putin and looked down on America, as per usual. Big E and Rusev slugged it out. The sound of fists on ribs filled the TD Garden. Big E went for the spear off the apron that he hit at Payback, but Rusev waited for him with a knee to the jaw. Rusev then smashed his foot into Big E's back and head. After Big E dropped Rusev on his head, Rusev grew angry, swinging his fists like clubs. Big E responded with slams and suplexes before nailing the spear off the apron he went for earlier. Both men were stunned and rolled back into the ring. A kick to Big E's ear got him control of the match once more. He riled himself up, howling along with Lana before bending his foe's back in The Accolade. Big E fought to escape but eventually tapped out.

The next match was Divas singles match between Summer Rae and Layla with Fandango as the Special Guest Referee. Summer went to kiss Fandango, but Layla attacked her, bent Summer's legs in a submission hold as Fandango swiveled his hips. Summer came back, tossing her opponent around by the hair. Layla knocked Summer, over and Fandango had no issue counting to 10.

Main Event match

The final match was a Ladder Match for the vacated WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The participants were Alberto Del Rio, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, John Cena, Kane, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns and Sheamus.The Authority watched from ringside as all eight men entered the ring. The bout opened with a brawl where old rivals went after each other. Sheamus and Cesaro collided, as did Wyatt and Cena. Cesaro and Del Rio fought over a ladder but still managed to crack it against Orton. Wyatt flung himself into it, sending his foes rolling out of the ring. Reigns had a moment alone on the ladder, but Sheamus charged at him. Kane then ruined Sheamus' hopes of winning. Several competitors climbed up at the same time, but Kane started pushing everyone aside. Kane then held the ladder for Orton, but Reigns cleared the way for himself. The match picked up intensity here. Wyatt forced Sheamus and Cesaro to hang above the ring. Orton and Sheamus brawled outside the ring. Using a propped-up ladder, Orton hit The Celtic Warrior with a DDT. Orton looked to be en route to the titles when the entire field converged on the ladder. Kane thinned out the battle before slugging it out with Sheamus. The Irishman went on a run, hitting ring-rattling slams on everyone within reach. One ladder crammed into another until they became a central figure. Men fought atop the contraption as others pushed it and slammed each other into it before Kane dismantled it. Reigns hit a pair of Superman punches that sent Kane and Orton out of the ring, then ran around the ring nailing folks with dropkicks. That left Cena and Reigns alone in a one-on-one battle that Reigns won courtesy of the spear. It looked as if Orton was going to win, but he couldn't climb high enough. Sheamus, Cesaro, Wyatt and Del Rio also had close calls. Kane looked to help Orton once more, but Cena knocked both men over and yanked the championship off its hook, thus winning his 15th world championship.

Aftermath

Randy Orton received medical assistance after the event. He received 12 staples to close the gash in his head suffered during the main event of Money in the Bank.

The following night on Raw, The Authority held a mock celebration for John Cena and revealed he would be featured on the cover of the WWE 2K15 video game, but Cena made it clear that he would not allow The Authority to control him. Triple H then announced Cena would defend the championship at Battleground in a Fatal four-way match against Orton, Kane, and Reigns. In a tag team match between those four superstars later in the night, Seth Rollins attempted to cash in his briefcase against an assaulted Cena for his championship, but was stopped by Dean Ambrose, who earlier in the show declared that he'd be there to stop Rollins from cashing in his briefcase successfully.

Also on Raw, AJ Lee returned and successfully challenged Paige for the Divas Championship for her second reign.

Bad News Barrett, who was scheduled to compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match, had been stripped of his Intercontinental Championship due to injury (and subsequent surgery), and The Authority announced a battle royal for the vacant championship at Battleground, which was won by The Miz.

Cameron completed her villainous turn on the July 7 edition of Raw when she brawled with Naomi after they lost to AJ Lee and Paige, signaling the end of The Funkadactyls. It was announced that the two would face each other at the Battleground Pre-Show in a singles match, which was won by Cameron.

At WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins successfully cashed in his MITB briefcase, making the match between the champion Brock Lesnar, and the challenger Roman Reigns, who had won the Royal Rumble Match, into a triple threat match. He pinned Reigns to win the title, and is facing Orton, Ambrose, and Reigns in a Fatal-Four-Way match at Payback for the title.

Reception

PWTorch James Caldwell described the Money in the Bank Ladder match as an "excellent MITB ladder match that had a little bit of everything", focusing in the Ambrose-Rollins feud and gave it ****1/4. Also, he compared the Money in the Bank match and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match and said that "not as good as the similar MITB ladder match, as there were too many wrestlers in the match, the middle really dragged, and this felt more disorganized and cluttered than the nicely-structured previous match." He gave the main event ***.

PWInsider Dave Scherer criticized the decision to crown John Cena as champion. According to him, he "hated the result" and "it's the wrong decision and I think the crowd was very representative of how many fans felt tonight as they cheered for a lot of new talent and groaned at a lot of the older talent". Also, he liked the opener, the Money in the Bank ladder match and the Rusev-Big E match.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave the Money in the Bank ladder match ****1/2 while the WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match was given a ****.

Exclusive: HQ WWE Money in the Bank 2011 DVD Cover w/ CM Punk ...

Results

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References