WWE Champion Sheamus vs. John Cena (Steel Cage Match)
In WWE, steel remains a confining element, ensuring that competitors cannot flee at the first flicker of danger. When WWE Champion Sheamus defends his title against John Cena in a Steel Cage Match at Money in the Bank, however, those entwined metal shafts will also serve to prevent the intrusion of danger – principally, the seven hazards of The Nexus.
The first hazard on Sheamus’ mind, though, remains his rival. During Fatal 4-Way, the Irishman captured his second WWE Title by defeating Cena, Randy Orton and Edge, thanks in no small part to the interference of The Nexus. Those distractions will presumably disappear, though, when The Celtic Warrior and the former champion meet alone inside the unforgiving structure.
For Cena, the past few months have been like enduring a marathon while competitors repeatedly hurl themselves in your path. Not only has Sheamus thrown down the gauntlet, seven-time WWE Champion Cena has been forced to tolerate the attacks of The Nexus as they attempt to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of WWE.
If Cena does somehow manage to overcome Sheamus, will he also be capable of navigating any traps laid by WWE NXT’s rebellious graduates? As for the Irishman, there’s no question that he has the desire and wherewithal to win, but can the relative rookie really hope to emerge from a Steel Cage Match victorious against a seasoned veteran who still appears to be hitting his stride? One thing is guaranteed: There must be a winner.
To find out, be sure to catch all the action live Sunday, July 18 at 8/7 CT only on pay-per-view.
World Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger (World Championship Match)
At WWE Money in the Bank, newly-crowd World Champion Rey Mysterio will attempt to defend his coveted title against the revenge-fueled aggression of former champion Jack Swagger.
At Fatal 4-Way, “The All-American American” lost his World Title to The Master of the 619, amidst the chaos of a whirlwind Fatal 4-Way main event that pitted four past and present World Champions against each other. In a match already designed to give the incumbent champion only a 25 percent chance of retaining “his favorite trophy,” Swagger was challenged not only by Mysterio, but also Big Show and CM Punk.
In addition to tangling with his three opponents, Mysterio was faced with the looming threat of an irate Kane, who laid waiting in the shadows to seek retribution for the attack on his fallen brother, The Undertaker. Seconds after The Big Red Monster focused his attack on Punk, Mysterio seized the moment, hitting the 619 on Swagger for his miraculous championship victory.
Five days later on SmackDown, a “cheated” Swagger proclaimed that he would evoke his World Title rematch clause at Money in the Bank. Armed with a new-found thirst to make anyone in his path suffer, Swagger unleashed a vicious ankle lock upon Big Show, refusing to release it even after being disqualified.
Then just one week later on SmackDown, Swagger locked Mysterio in the same painful hold and also refused to let go, despite the ref’s insistence.
Then, nine days before their Money in the Bank showdown, while Rey Mysterio was recovering from Swagger's assault, "The All-American American" burst into the trainer’s room and once again locked in his ruthless ankle lock. After dragging his Money in the Bank adversary all the way down the hallway, Swagger presented the broken Mysterio to the WWE Universe.
Though still injured, Mysterio struck back just two days before Money in the Bank, hobbling to the ring as fast as he could and delivering a 619 to Swagger while he had Kane in the ankle lock. The champion's actions paved the way for The Big Red Monster to chokeslam and tombstone Swagger's own father.
Can World Champion Rey Mysterio fully recover in time to withstand the vengeful Superstar who will stop at nothing to get the title back around his waist?
Will his newfound mean streak – combined with his talent for winning at any cost – allow Swagger to regain the World Title?
Find out at Money in the Bank, Sunday, July 18 at 8/7 CT, only on pay-per-view.
Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match
At the first-ever Money in the Bank pay-per-view, live from Kansas City, Mo., eight of Monday Night Raw’s top Superstars will risk it all for an opportunity to challenge the WWE Champion by competing in a career-defining – and threatening – Money in the Bank Ladder Match on July 18.
The rules of this unique bout are simple. Eight Superstars fight to obtain a briefcase hanging precariously over the ring. The one Superstar able to ascend a ladder and snatch the case out of the air becomes the sole owner of its coveted contents: A championship contract. The winner of this match may then “cash in” that contract and challenge the Raw champion at any point over the next 12 months.
The following Raw Superstars are scheduled to compete: Randy Orton, John Morrison, Evan Bourne, United States Champion The Miz, Ted DiBiase, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry (who replaces the Miz-injured R-Truth) and Edge. No stranger to this type of harrowing contest, The Ultimate Opportunist became the first-ever "Mr. Money in the Bank" at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, using his contract to challenge and defeat then-WWE Champion John Cena nine months later. However, in order to duplicate that historic victory, The Ultimate Opportunist will need to overcome seven of Raw's most formidable combatants, including his rival and fellow former WWE Champion, The Viper.
With SmackDown holding its own Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the World Title that same evening, this event marks the first time two of these calamitous contests will be held in a single night. Don't miss this historic night, live on pay-per-view.
SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match
First instituted at WrestleMania 21, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match has become one of the most prestigious and most anticipated contests in WWE. Now, for the first time ever, the match will be the focal point of WWE’s newest pay-per-view on July 18, 2010.
As first revealed by SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long, eight SmackDown Superstars will compete for a contract giving the bearer the right to challenge SmackDown’s World Heavyweight Champion at any time, at any place, for up to one year.
To earn the tremendous opportunity, a Superstar must climb the ladder and obtain the briefcase holding the coveted championship contract within.
The following SmackDown Superstars are scheduled to compete: Former World Champion Big Show, Matt Hardy and Christian, two veterans when it comes to Ladder Matches, high-flying Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston, second-generation Superstar Cody Rhodes, ruthless up-and-comers Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler as well as the diabolical Kane.
Considering the outstanding success rate for those who have cashed in the contract in becoming World Champion, the briefcase’s value has driven Superstars to great lengths (and heights) in its pursuit.
And for the first time ever, there will be two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches contested at one pay-per-view, as the Raw roster will also compete in its own eight-man battle for glory. (Preview)
Watch live on pay-per-view on July 18 at 8 p.m. ET to see who will be the next Superstars to earn the “Mr. Money in the Bank” moniker.
Unified Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty vs. Jimmy & Jey Uso
Two of WWE’s most fiercely competitive families will collide at Money in the Bank, where The Hart Dynasty will defend their Unified Tag Team Championship against Jimmy & Jey Uso.
Signed to Raw by then-General Manager Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Jimmy & Jey– with the devious Diva, Tamina, by their side – made their mark in WWE by targeting Tyson Kidd, David Hart Smith and the beautiful Natalya to send a message not only to the “first family in sports-entertainment,” but to the entire WWE Universe: The Usos have arrived, and they’re here to obliterate all opposition.
When The Hart Dynasty asked The Excellence of Execution why he would set the Usos loose on Monday Night Raw to stalk his own flesh and blood, the WWE Hall of Famer affirmed that Kidd, Hart & Natalya needed to “face a little adversity,” which they did at Fatal 4-Way, competing against the Usos & Tamina in an explosive Six-Person Tag Team Match. Dedicating the match to their ailing mentor – who was still recovering from a savage beatdown by The Nexus the previous week – the Harts had their arms raised high in victory when Natalya scored a pinfall on Tamina. But the Usos’ hunger for family recognition is hardly sated, nor is their thirst for their first championship win in WWE.
With Natalya and Tamina in their respective families’ corners, will Kidd & Hart retain their coveted championships? Or will Jimmy & Jey Uso prove that there’s a new dominant family in WWE? Tune in to Money in the Bank Sunday, July 18, only on pay-per-view.
Divas Champion Alicia Fox vs. Eve
Divas Champion Alicia Fox has been determined to hold onto the attention of the WWE Universe as well as her title, even if it means faking injuries to “outfox” her opponents in the process. But it remains to be seen if the cunning Diva’s acting chops will be of any use at Money in the Bank, when she defends the Divas title against Eve.
These two contentious Divas have collided several times in the past, but it was Eve’s Divas Championship rematch on the July 5 edition of Raw that raised the temperature of this already heated rivalry. Using a feigned ankle injury to prey on Eve’s sympathies, Alicia was able to steal a victory from the Jiu-Jitsu expert. This didn’t sit well with Eve, and it certainly didn’t sit well with the anonymous Raw General Manager. Via e-mail to Michael Cole, the GM decreed that due to Alicia’s despicable act of deception, she would defend her title against Eve yet again at Money in the Bank.
Can Alicia – who won the title at Fatal 4-Way – steal yet another victory at Money in the Bank? Or can the WWE Universe “bank” on a second Divas Championship reign for the sexy, smart and powerful Eve? Find out this Sunday, only on pay-per-view.
Women's Champion Layla vs. Kelly Kelly
Ever since defeating Beth Phoenix earlier this year to claim the Women’s Championship, Layla has had little problem flaunting her accomplishment. And with Michelle McCool at her side, the self-proclaimed “Co-Women’s Champions” tout themselves any chance they get.
But team “Lay-Cool” hasn’t been as entirely “flawless” as they claim to be. Quietly making a name for herself is Kelly Kelly, who boasts recent victories over both Michelle (PHOTOS) and Layla (PHOTOS). Now, in her first title opportunity ever, Kelly is looking to get a victory when it really counts.
Although Kelly has proven she has what it takes to win, can she avoid two potential obstacles – besides Layla – that stand between her and the Women’s Championship?
The first possible problem for Kelly is Michelle. Will the self-proclaimed “Co-Women’s Champion” accompany Layla to the ring at Money in the Bank? If she does, what role may she play in how things unfold?
Secondly, could Official SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero exert her power in some form? In recent weeks Vickie’s attention has been on Dolph Ziggler and his quest to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match (preview), but certainly Vickie has not forgotten about Layla. After all, Layla won the title in a Handicap Match orchestrated by none other than Vickie herself. (More)
Despite the associates that Layla has surrounded herself with, Kelly can claim the smart, sexy and powerful Tiffany as someone she can count on. If Tiffany is at Money in the Bank, certainly she will be in Kelly’s corner.
Watch live on pay-per-view on July 18 at 8 p.m. ET to see who will return to Friday nights as the Women’s Champion.
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