Forecasting Money in the Bank
And will we see someone cash-in on Saturday?
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Contents for The Week in Wrestling:
Forecasting the Money in the Bank winners
An inside look at the past week in wrestling
Will someone cash-in on Saturday?
Tweet of the Week
A look at who will win Money in the Bank
Money in the Bank is a unique concept, one that features a multitude of ladders and a title contract that can be cashed in at any time. It is pure excitement every time someone climbs the ladder, and over the past decade, this has become one of WWE’s top four events, along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble.
And that is where we are on the calendar, as this Saturday marks the time to make that climb toward stardom.
Even though there are six wrestlers in both the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches, there are fewer actual contenders. Starting with the men, let’s go through the list one-by-one:
Solo Sikoa
Chances of winning: Non-existent
It is worth recalling that Solo Sikoa has pinned John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns. Sikoa even headlined last year’s SummerSlam. Despite the attempt, he has not developed into a monster heel. And there is absolutely no chance for him to win this year’s Money in the Bank, at least not without the crowd being extremely disappointed.
With Sikoa in the match, it would make sense to see Jacob Fatu and Jeff Cobb JC Mateo make a cameo, leading to an outrageous spot or two. Sikoa will help the match, but he has no chance of winning.
Penta
Chances of winning: Less than Sikoa
Known for his success in ladder matches, Penta is a wonderful addition to the match. He would even bring a whole new feel to Raw if he were to win the briefcase, but chasing Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship is not in his immediate future.
After his Intercontinental title dreams were shattered by the rising popularity of Dom Mysterio, it is much more logical to think that the first time Penta will taste gold in WWE will be beside his brother Fenix as tag champs. Speaking of Fenix…
Andrade
Chances of winning: Zero
Why is Andrade in this match? The spot should belong to Fenix, who would have the added element of working beside Penta. Andrade has no momentum to build off, which makes it impossible to get excited about his presence in this match. Watching Penta and Fenix play off one another would have been compelling, particularly if there was a spot where both were climbing the ladder.
Instead, we’ll get Andrade. Hopefully this leads to something for him, but I’m not too optimistic about it.
LA Knight
Chances of winning: Possible
The only real wild card in this match, LA Knight has the type of popularity that would make him an outstanding choice to win the Money in the Bank match. He could hint at going after either Uso or John Cena, and a victory here would afford him an opportunity to climb to an even higher tier in WWE.
Yet, every time there is a chance for Knight to gain genuine momentum, it is very quickly put to a swift end. That is what happened when he challenged Roman Reigns for the title two years ago, as well as when he sputtered in neutral during his two runs as United States Champion. Every time Knight gets close, it feels like something is holding him back.
But he has the crowd behind him, which is critical. And he’ll have their attention every time he climbs the ladder.
Seth Rollins
Chances of winning: High
Seth Rollins is the most logical (and compelling) choice to win Money in the Bank. He could then threaten to take the belt from Uso throughout the summer and fall, and the possibility would also exist that he could cash in on Cody Rhodes1.
The briefcase would fit in perfectly with Paul Heyman’s new alliance. And while CM Punk is bound to interfere and try to cost Rollins the win, I still feel like Sami Zayn–who was seen shaking hands with Punk on Raw–is going to turn on Punk and join Heyman.2
It will be a legitimate surprise if Rollins does not win on Saturday. Paul “Triple H” Levesque is building Raw around Rollins, and he is the man to carry WWE programming throughout the remainder of 2025.
El Grande Americano
Chances of winning: Marginal
Chad Gable’s role here is important, but it is highly unlikely that it will result in a victory.
Gable wrestles Vikingo that afternoon for the AAA Mega Championship at Worlds Collide. If Gable wins the belt, it will be interesting if he wears the title as El Grande Americano. But his presence in this match is to extend his feud with Penta, Fenix, and Vikingo3, not claim the briefcase.
As for the women, it is a more difficult match to predict.
Stephanie Vaquer
Chances of winning: Unlikely
As with Gable, this is a chance for Vaquer to shine at Worlds Collide and then again at Money in the Bank. She looked phenomenal on Raw this past Monday. Her time isn’t now, but it will come. And Money in the Bank is a wonderful chance for her to show why this is only the beginning of her run as a major star.
Alexa Bliss
Chances of winning: Unlikely
Bliss would benefit from a run with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but it isn’t in her future, either. She brings a veteran presence (and crowd favorite) to this match, but she isn’t here to win.
And would it help to have the Wyatt Sicks involved here? The group has reinserted itself on SmackDown, but it just feels too forced. Perhaps attempting to help Bliss, especially if she balks at their help, could serve as an interesting (non-superhuman) storyline that would benefit the Wyatts and Bliss.
Roxanne Perez
Chances of winning: Highly unlikely
Perez gets a high-profile opportunity at Money in the Bank. Like Vaquer, she is not expected to win. But this is her chance to make a lasting impression with the WWE fan base. She’s known as someone who had a lot of success in NXT, but a solid showing here could start her rise on the main roster.
Giulia
Chances of winning: Unlikely
Giulia isn’t here to win. She’s in this match to show what makes her such a special talent.
The women’s match offers a chance to see the future of the division in Vaquer, Perez, and Giulia. It is an excellent choice to open the show and highlight what makes these three so multidimensional in the ring.
Rhea Ripley
Chances of winning: Likely
Naomi
Chances of winning: Highly likely
To me, this is a two-woman race.
Ripley would make sense, especially considering she could cash-in on Iyo Sky. But Naomi cannot be ignored.
While a briefcase would help Ripley, it could altogether change Naomi’s trajectory. She has displayed glimpses of greatness in her new persona, and a run as Ms. Money in the Bank is exactly what she needs to take the next jump.
With all that being said, I’m going with Rollins… and Ripley.
This past week…
If John Cena and Logan Paul defeat Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso, then what direction does the Cena-Rhodes feud take?
R-Truth and Carlito are two of the talents WWE is not renewing. Truth’s departure has clearly impacted the roster.
Mariah May has officially left AEW, and she made her debut last night in NXT. While I expected to see her on the main roster, it is crowded with new talent, so it makes more sense to have May run the scene in NXT.
My pick for breakout AAA talent at Worlds Collide? Psycho Clown.
Kosei Fujita defeated Yoh this past weekend in Tokyo at Ota-City General Gymnasium to win New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. At 22, Fujita becomes the youngest wrestler to win the vaunted BOSJ tournament.
Ad space continues to be gobbled up in WWE, with Slim Jim the latest to buy space on the ring mat–and on the tables under the ring. We’ll see how it plays out, but ads on the table feels like it will only diminish the moment.
Will either winner cash-in at Money in the Bank?
Based off Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s booking, we should see a Money in the Bank winner cash in their title shot very soon… just not on Saturday.
Let’s look at the recent history, beginning with last year when Drew McIntyre won the MITB ladder match. He cashed in his title shot later that same night, but fell short as CM Punk cost him a chance to regain the title. That same night, Tiffany Stratton won the briefcase, which she held onto until she successfully cashed in on Nia Jax months later in January.
That is the booking pattern. One winner holds on to the briefcase for a lengthy run. The other makes an immediate move for the title.
In 2023, Damian Priest won the briefcase. “Señor Money in the Bank” held it tight until WrestleMania 40, which is when he successfully cashed in against Drew McIntyre. Iyo Sky was also victorious at that Money in the Bank, and she cashed in her contract at SummerSlam. In 2022, Liv Morgan won–and cashed in that night. A year prior, Nikki A.S.H. won–then cashed in the very next night. Both of those years saw longer runs with the briefcase on the men’s side (2022-Austin Theory, held the contract for five months; 2021-Big E, held the contract for two months).
That is the same pattern that should unfold this year, with one key change. It feels like Levesque will give an extended run to the men’s winner while the women’s winner will cash in this week on television. It would make sense for it to happen as soon as this Monday, which would be a nice boost for Raw on Netflix.4
Tweet of the Week
Here’s to a full recovery for JR.
Assuming, of course, Rhodes is the one to dethrone Cena.
Yes, I am aware that Bronson Reed just joined the group. But that was more of a surprise reveal. Sami joining would be a full-fledged turn, and it would allow him to work major programs with Punk and Uso.
Especially if Gable takes the AAA Mega Championship from Vikingo earlier on Saturday at Worlds Collide
And that is why I am choosing Ripley instead of Naomi.