The build-up for WWE’s Money in the Bank 2024 was phenomenal. Every single episode of Raw and Smackdown was great to watch, and going into this show, there was a sense of excitement and unpredictability. But did this PLE held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto live up to the expectations? Let’s find out.
The host, WWE Hall of Famer and Toronto native Trish Stratus, kicked off the show. Ring announcer Samantha Irvin then sang the U.S. national anthem, and artist Rylan James sang the Canadian national anthem.
Men’s Money in the Bank Match
The finish was an excellent work of storytelling with several false endings. Gable went full “Perc mode” and blasted LA Knight onto a ladder out of the ring. Gable went to get the briefcase, but Uso moved the ladder, leaving Gable hanging off the briefcase. Jey was in a great position to win, but McIntyre hit him with a ladder, knocking him off. McIntyre climbed the ladder and grabbed the briefcase, securing his championship opportunity. Was this a good decision? In my opinion, no. Not only have they wasted the cash-in on a feud that didn’t need it, but we now find ourselves in a predicament where no Mr. Money in the Bank will be around for a full year.
The finish was an excellent work of storytelling with several false endings. Gable went full “Perc mode” and blasted LA Knight onto a ladder out of the ring. Gable went to get the briefcase, but Uso moved the ladder, leaving Gable hanging off the briefcase. Jey was in a great position to win, but McIntyre hit him with a ladder, knocking him off. McIntyre climbed the ladder and grabbed the briefcase, securing his championship opportunity. Was this a good decision? In my opinion, no. Not only have they wasted the cash-in on a feud that didn’t need it, but we now find ourselves in a predicament where no Mr. Money in the Bank will be around for a full year.
Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn vs Bron Breakker
In a thrilling match, Sami Zayn leveraged his home-country advantage against a determined Bron Breakker. Zayn, not one to be easily defeated, surprised Breakker with his resilience. The contest showcased their contrasting styles and Breakker’s significant improvements as a performer after his main roster debut. Despite his loss, Breakker looked strong and had moments that showed why he’s going to be a champion sooner rather than later.
The match featured several high-impact moves, including a Frankensteiner and a flying clothesline from Breakker. Anyone could have made the case for either star to win, but ultimately, Zayn retained his title with a massive Helluva Kick. Both competitors put on a compelling performance. I wouldn’t be surprised if they run this match again at SummerSlam with a more compelling story.
John Cena Surprise Announcement
Trish Stratus announced a surprise guest, 16-time WWE Champion John Cena. As his music hit and he came out, the writing on his merch was ‘The Last Time is Now’. Suddenly, it was clear what was about to happen. After showing appreciation to Canadian fans, Cena revealed he will retire from WWE in 2025.
At the after-show press conference, Cena took a lot of questions and made everything clearer. He announced the retirement tour will last from January to December 2025. During this time, he will be available for 30-40 dates, and after that, he will retire as a wrestler. So yes, 2025 will be the last run for arguably the GOAT John Cena.
World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest vs Seth Rollins
Damian Priest and Seth Rollins engaged in a high-intensity match filled with powerful strikes and impressive moves. With their trademark moves—Rollins’ Curb Stomp and Priest’s Razor’s Edge—both wrestlers tried to finish the other off for a three-count, but neither was able to do so. Rollins showed why he is still one of the best in the ring despite returning from a devastating injury. The match was fast-paced and showcased their athleticism and chemistry. However, there was a confusing moment when Rollins hit the Falcon’s Arrow and went for the pin on Priest. Even though it didn’t look like Priest kicked out, the referee didn’t count to three. This botched count led to the match going off the rails for all the wrong reasons.
McIntyre came out and cashed his Money in the Bank contract that he won earlier that night, making it a triple-threat match. McIntyre went for the Claymore Kick on Rollins to take the title, but Priest clotheslined him. Then CM Punk emerged and unleashed a relentless assault on McIntyre, hitting him with a chair and choking him out with a cable. Punk took the championship title and knocked McIntyre out with it. Priest delivered a chokeslam to McIntyre to retain his title.
This was no place for the CM Punk/Drew McIntyre feud. The two men already had enough enmity towards one another; the Money in the Bank didn’t need to be wasted on this. Punk could have cost McIntyre the Money in the Bank match if they had wanted him to get involved. Here, the Money in the Bank was squandered, the champion Priest appeared fragile before facing Gunther at SummerSlam, and an excellent match lost momentum. Rollins was caught in the crossfire as well because he can’t challenge for the title until Priest remains champion. In the post-show, we saw Drew McIntyre having a meltdown. He even went on to attack Adam Pearce, the Raw General Manager.
Women’s Money in the Bank Match
Women’s Money in the Bank matches are getting better and better. Last year was a banger. This year, the women stole the show, and this deserves to be in consideration for Match of the Year. While each competitor got their chance to shine, it was Zoey Stark and Iyo Sky who truly brought the house down at the end of the bout. The women took a while to get going in this match. A German Suplex spot off the ladder and Naomi’s splits were interesting and brought the crowd out of their seats.
The finishing flurry had some brutal ladder spots, especially Zoey Stark taking a cringe-worthy bump. Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green were the clear favorites to win the match. They were the MVPs of the contest, and their finish, including a fantastic table bump from Green, was a great way to top off this match. Tiffany was a great choice to win. She is getting over huge and deserves a title run. Stratton got a little rub later in the night during a segment with Trish Stratus, so that could lay the groundwork for a possible SummerSlam match.
New Bloodline vs. Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton & Kevin Owens
It was interesting to see this as the main event of the show, but the star power did support a closing slot. The viciousness of The Bloodline shined through the chaos of this match, particularly Fatu, who has been built up to be the biggest weapon in the stable. The ref taking his bump was expected as it led to this match going into all-out chaos. With Kevin Owens driving Fatu through the announcer’s table, the bout became precisely what everyone had hoped it would be.
The action got brought into the ring, and when Cody Rhodes went for three CrossRhodes on Sikoa, Fatu got up and took the champion out. He set up the new “Tribal Chief” with a Samoan Spike. The referee was dragged into the ring for the count, and Sikoa got the pin on the champion for the win for this new Bloodline in its first major victory. Sikoa pinning Rhodes is a major development moving forward as it gives him immediate credibility as a threat to the American Nightmare’s title reign.
Overall, it was a show full of excellent in-ring action but questionable booking decisions. Money in the Bank is now considered one of the big PLEs just after the Big Four. With the type of build they had, it was evident that they had major plans for the night. But the outcome was not as satisfying as expected. Maybe now we have to wait and see what Triple H’s regime has in store for us as we are officially on the road to SummerSlam.
