The latest pay-per-view offering from World Wrestling Entertainment, Money In The Bank will take place next Monday (10:00am AEST), and is an eagerly anticipated one for both fans and performers alike.

Featuring superstars from both RAW and SmackDown, Money In The Bank promises to provide no small amount of twists and turns, and over the years has gained a reputation as one of the most important nights of the year for the company.

Ironically, the show will emanate from Chicago’s Allstate Arena and features a former UFC Champion – Ronda Rousey – while last weekend the premier MMA organisation held UFC 225 from the same city, and included a former WWE Champion on their card in CM Punk.

It isn’t much of a stretch to say that Rousey fares undoubtedly better in her outing than Punk did in his, but I digress.

Since WrestleMania 34 in April, WWE seems to have been stuck in something of a holding pattern as it figures out the direction moving forward, but whatever direction the needle is intended to point should become much clearer following Money In The Bank.

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
The Bludgeon Brothers (c) versus Luke Gallows and Karl Andersen

Despite making their debut as part of the Wyatt Family in 2013, it wasn’t until WrestleMania this past April that the intimidating duo of Luke Harper and Erik Rowan won their first pair of titles in the WWE. After defending the gold against The Usos at the Greatest Royal Rumble event, the champions will face the experienced team of Luke Gallows and Karl Andersen on the Money In The Bank kick-off show.

It was The Usos who Gallows and Andersen defeated to earn the opportunity, and they will more than likely face the same fate when they challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

Bobby Lashley versus Sami Zayn
When he returned to the WWE the night after WrestleMania on Monday Night RAW, the New Orleans crowd welcomed back Bobby Lashley with open arms. While he failed to ultimately live up to his potential during his first run with the company from 2005-07, many were eager to see Lashley make his mark this time around.

While fans are still enthusiastic to see Lashley back in the WWE, his second go-around has thus far has been rather uninspiring. Following a brief feud with Elias, whom he defeated at Backlash, the former Intercontinental Champion set his sights on Sami Zayn, himself a new addition to RAW following the Superstar Shake Up.

While undoubtedly an intriguing match on paper, it has accentuated the strengths of Zayn, while doing the opposite for his opponent. Sami Zayn, the supposed heel coming into the match, has come across as being more charismatic and likeable in varied attempts to embarrass his rival, while Bobby Lashley has been portrayed as rather stale and clueless, despite the intention being for him to appear likeable to the crowd.

This will become evident at Money In The Bank, as Chicago is a city notorious for its passionate and strongly opinioned wrestling fans. Although Lashley is the favourite to win, it may be a victory which will come to a cost for the Kansas native.

Daniel Bryan versus Big Cass
One of the most popular superstars in WWE history, Daniel Bryan made a triumphant in-ring return at WrestleMania 34, teaming up with Shane McMahon as they defeated the team of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Two weeks later on SmackDown, Bryan found his next foe following a violent attack at the hands of the seven-foot-tall Big Cass, himself a recent returnee after being laid out for over six months with a knee injury.

Although Bryan was able to defeat Cass at Backlash, their feud would continue throughout the ensuing weeks, as the much larger Big Cass continued to provoke Bryan due to their size differences. The latest instalment in their rivalry came on the May 29 edition of SmackDown. Following a gruelling triple threat match, won by Samoa Joe, in which both men competed, Big Cass laid out an injured Bryan with a boot to the face.

The last Money In The Bank event to have taken place in Chicago resulted in one of the biggest wins of Daniel Bryan’s career, and while a win this weekend wouldn’t quite as important in his career trajectory, it is a victory that the overwhelming majority will be hoping for.

Intercontinental Championship Match
Seth Rollins (c) versus Elias

In the absence of the Universal Championship, the Intercontinental title has become the most prestigious trophy on RAW. This is in no small part due to the credibility that Seth Rollins has brought to the championship since winning it at WrestleMania 34.

(photo: WWE)

Since becoming Intercontinental Champion, Rollins’ in-ring performances have often been the highlight every Monday night, and his successful title defence against The Miz at Backlash was arguably the best match of the evening. Although winning the gold would be enough to establish Elias’ credibility, he made his rivalry against Seth Rollins personal after he attacked the reigning champion with a guitar, sending Rollins crashing off the announce table and to the concrete – a fall of almost ten feet.

Following this ambush, a wounded Rollins would challenge Elias on social media to a match at Money In The Bank, a request which was duly accepted, albeit only under with the stipulation that the Intercontinental Championship be put on the line. In what promises to be an enthralling contest, Rollins is favoured to retain his Championship, although the threat posed by Elias isn’t to be underestimated.

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Carmella (c) versus Asuka

It was during last year’s Money In the Bank that Carmella won the opportunity to challenge for the Women’s Championship, and she returns a year later to the same event holding the title after using her money in the bank briefcase to become champion. Asuka, meanwhile, is looking to snatch the prize from Carmella and avenge her loss at WrestleMania in April, which was the first defeat of her WWE/NXT career.

While on paper it seems something of a mismatch, one can never be too sure whenever Carmella is involved, especially considering she defeated Charlotte in her first title defence at Backlash. Keep in mind that it was Charlotte who had broken Asuka’s undefeated streak in New Orleans. Rumours of a surprise James Ellsworth appearance at the pay-per-view are a hot talking point for WWE fans, and if it were to take place at any point during the night, this would be the most appropriate match in which to make his presence known.

Even without taking him into consideration, Carmella’s title reign seems to have some life left in it, even if it means incorporating dubious methods to leave Chicago as champion.

Roman Reigns versus Jinder Mahal
Since losing to Brock Lesnar at both WrestleMania and Greatest Royal Rumble, Reigns has seemed to be treading water as he diverts his attention away from the Universal Championship, albeit temporarily. Jinder Mahal, who returned to the RAW brand at the Superstar Shakeup, is coming off a banner 2017 in which he became the WWE Champion, holding the title for seven months.

After he cost Roman Reigns a chance to compete in the money in the bank ladder match, Reigns would take out his frustrations on Mahal through a series of backstage altercations, one of which led to Reigns delivering a spear to the ‘Modern Day Maharaja’ through a wall. Mahal would gain a measure of retribution this past week on RAW when he attacked Roman Reigns with a steel chair, along with his tag team partner Seth Rollins.

Although it will undoubtedly be a hardly fought, physical contest, perhaps the biggest challenge for this match to overcome will be the Chicago crowd, large portions of which won’t react too kindly to either Superstar. With Extreme Rules on the horizon and the match being something of a filler due to the other contests on the card, I expect neither Roman Reigns nor Jinder Mahal will walk out as clear victors, but for a disqualification or ‘no contest’ to take place.

RAW Women’s Championship Match
Nia Jax (c) versus Ronda Rousey

In what shapes to be one of the more intriguing contests of the evening, Nia Jax defends her RAW Women’s Championship against former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. Rousey’s last in-ring appearance for the WWE took place at WrestleMania, and her match – in which she paired with Kurt Angle to face the team of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon – stood out as one of the highlights of the show.

(AFP, Frederic J Brown)

On the same evening, Nia Jax won her title, the first time in her career she was able to do so. It was Jax who made the challenge to Rousey, on May 14 at the NBCUniversal Up Front event in New York. Rousey would eventually accept the challenge, despite the two being presented both as fan favourites and not having had any history with each other.

It came as a surprise to many, as Ronda Rousey wasn’t expected to challenge for the gold so quickly, let alone in just her second match. Much like the Women’s Championship encounter on SmackDown, one can’t imagine his title bout finishing in a clear-cut fashion. Although it can’t be written off completely, it is most likely that Rousey will leave Money In The Bank without the gold, even if it means not actually losing the match.

Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship
AJ Styles (c) versus Shinsuke Nakamura

The AJ Styles versus Shinsuke Nakamura feud was a mouth-watering prospect for every WWE fan, but when it came to fruition at WrestleMania, the reality proved more disappointing than the fantasy, particularly when taking into account the legendary battle these two men had at New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom event in 2016.

While the in-ring action thus far has been good, it hasn’t lived up to the admittedly lofty expectations. A Nakamura heel turn at WrestleMania did add more interest, but the follow-up has failed to deliver.

At Money In The Bank, Styles and Nakamura have an opportunity to make up for previous disappointments in what promises to be their final encounter before each Superstar changes their respective focus toward different foes. The last man standing stipulation ensures that the finish of the match will not be blighted by the same controversy which blighted their two previous encounters at Backlash and Greatest Royal Rumble.

Although making a definite statement in regards to the outcome due to the unpredictable nature of the contest, a win for Shinsuke Nakamura would not only result in his first WWE Championship but also add a lot of much-needed interest in his career going forward.

Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Charlotte Flair versus Alexa Bliss versus Sasha Banks versus Becky Lynch versus Ember Moon versus Naomi versus Natalya versus Lana

While the first-ever women’s money in the bank ladder match took place at last year’s event, Money In The Bank 2018 will be another year of firsts as women from both RAW and SmackDown compete in the match. While Nia Jax and Carmella have their hands full with the contenders at hand, there is a lot of intrigue in who will leave Chicago with the briefcase, which brings with it an opportunity to win the championship at any time or place of their choosing.

History will be on the winner’s side, as Carmella was able to transition her money in the bank win last year into her first ever title victory. While each woman in the match impressed in their respective paths to Money In The Bank, there are a select few whose chances are far greater than others. Although she hasn’t made much of an impact since losing the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2016, Becky Lynch emerges as a real threat.

As a proven entity in both NXT and SmackDown, despite her recent lack of success Lynch no doubt deserves to be taken seriously in this match. From the RAW brand, it is Alexa Bliss who seems likeliest to win, and earn an opportunity at the title she lost at WrestleMania.

Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
The Miz versus Braun Strowman versus Kevin Owens versus Finn Bálor versus Bobby Roode versus Rusev versus Samoa Joe versus a member of The New Day

In the absence of Brock Lesnar – and his Universal Championship – from RAW, there has been extensive focus placed on this match during the last few weeks. Without the top title, the biggest focus each Monday night has been on who will contend for it. As such, the RAW participants in this year’s money in the bank ladder match seem far greater a threat than their SmackDown counterparts.

There is a degree of uncertainty surrounding the issue of exactly which New Day member will compete in the ladder match. Although Big E is the most likely candidate, Kofi Kingston will garner a tremendous amount of support from the Chicago crowd if he were to step up to the plate. In typical New Day fashion, it isn’t unlikely that all three men will compete at some point either.

Braun Strowman will undoubtedly go into the contest as an overwhelming favourite, despite the problems that his size advantage create in a ladder match environment. On the SmackDown side, especially if AJ Styles were to retain his Championship, all eyes will be on Samoa Joe to successfully retrieve the briefcase, which he would have the opportunity to subsequently cash in on his former TNA foe.

Arguably the most star-studded money in the bank matches in history, regardless of the winner it will no doubt provide plenty of memorable moments for years to come; in fact, the same could be said for the entire Money In The Bank pay-per-view.