While the discussion of Money in the Bank being considered one of the top Pay Per Views in the WWE calendar every year is still in full stride, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Money in the Bank constantly produces new stars and fresh exciting feuds heading into the Road to WrestleMania. Since its creation in 2005, the Money in the Bank ladder match has helped blossom the careers of The Miz, CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler. It has also kept the likes of Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio and Randy Orton relevant when it seemed the COMPLETE opposite would continue to be the case. This year’s pay per view was no different. The Raw Ladder Match, no matter how many different and great stories were told, had no new Superstars really getting time in the limelight quite like Smackdown’s Ladder Match. The former best friend/on-again-off-again tag team of Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes gave the entire WWE Universe a payoff for their time as a tag team like no one could have predicted. The stage has been set for two new Superstars to step in and change up the whole main event scene that sometimes exists only on life support.
Most of the time, WWE Creative lacked any ideas for a third generation professional wrestler like Cody Rhodes. Cody’s father is not only a living legend, but his brother was one of the stars of the oft-worshiped ‘Attitude Era’. Cody possesses all the tangibles that make a great WWE Superstar but has little to no time to show them off other than to job to main event talent. Even though he didn’t win the Money in the Bank match itself the crowd let the people in the back know it’s his time. Rhodes being pushed off the ladder by his best friend not only was an instant babyface turn but was the first brick laid on the road to a successful, constant role for Rhodes on television every week. The WWE has already dropped the ball with Rhodes on more than one occasion in his six year tenure with the WWE. As a part of ‘Legacy’ with Randy Orton and Ted Dibiase, it seemed like another ‘Evolution’ was happening; then nothing. He molded into the narcissistic ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes very well and had a great feud with Rey Mysterio; then nothing. Rhodes’ time with his former tag team partner and Mr. Money in the Bank Damien Sandow was a complete swing and a miss. Instead of becoming tag team champions leading to what would have been a great feud with The Shield, the newest, hottest tag team was used…to enhance other talent. Cody has more then paid his dues and bided his time. Rhodes is a big time player, let us all just hope someone other than his father sees it.
The winner of the Smackdown Money in the Bank match, Damien Sandow, is a whole other story compared to his former best friend. Sandow is in his second stint with the WWE, and just when it looked like his time would never come Sandow swooped in, tossed his friend off the ladder and latched onto that briefcase (oddly enough the WWE will rib him just like they did with Ziggler last year) like this was his last hope in the world. Damien no doubt has the in ring work down and he can talk on a higher level than most of the roster above him; yet he continued to push forward and even brought out the ‘good’ ol’ Sheamus last month. Once Sandow cashes in his briefcase, assuming it’s successful, he will have some say on how long he will continue to stay relevant. Yes, I understand a lot of blame lays directly on the shoulders of the ones writing and booking the WWE Superstars but once you hold one of those precious WWE titles you have the chance to change everyone’s minds for the better. Even though I am high up on Sandow, he won’t be around or as relevant as Cody Rhodes. But hey, crazier things have happened in pro wrestling.
At the end of the day the Money in the Bank pay per view is quickly becoming a wrestling fan favorite. It isn’t quite ready to overtake the likes of the Royal Rumble or SummerSlam (and it shouldn’t by the way). It isn’t an instant ticket to a match at WrestleMania, it has become more of a running joke until it’s your time to cash it in. Dolph Ziggler was booked almost as bad as his debut as Dolph Ziggler; John Cena, the biggest star in professional wrestling, became the first WWE Superstar to UNSUCCESSFULLY cash in his briefcase and now it’s Damien Sandow’s turn. Will he suffer the same fate? Has Money in the Bank become the new star maker or the new rib taker?
Until next week guys, leave a comment, tell a friend, listen to the latest HTCWrestling PulseCast on iTunes or HTCWrestling.com, follow me on Twitter @CamDougharty and let’s talk rasslin!
