Here's your wrestling news for July 4th 2022
We’re kicking off this Independence Day edition of the news with Theory, who captured the Men’s Money in the Bank briefcase last Saturday night.
Theory hasn’t teased at when he will attempt to cash in his title match, which at this time would see him face off with Roman Reigns, but he did have a message for another WWE megastar.
Speaking to the fans after Money in the Bank went off the air, Theory cut a promo and mentioned his likely next feud John Cena.
“Whether you like it or not, you can’t deny the future, you can’t deny the gifts, you can’t deny the talent. You can’t deny that at only 24 years old, the youngest Mr. Money in the Bank in WWE history.
Just remember one thing Las Vegas, I’m going to enjoy my night as Mr. Money in the Bank.
Hey, it ain’t easy being the best looking, the best in the ring. Going straight forward to the top, ain’t nobody can touch me. Not even John Cena. Everyone else’s time is up, and my time is now.”
It has been rumoured for some time that WWE were planning Cena Vs. Theory for Summerslam, but more recent reports have suggested that the match will happen at WrestleMania 39 instead.
Theory could be the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion by the time the Cena match happens, and while his focus will now be on Roman Reigns, Mr. Money in the Bank hasn’t forgotten about Big Match John.
With his win, Theory became the youngest Money in the Bank winner of all time, but the personal protégé of Mr. McMahon also set a new record that nobody really wants.
Like we said, Theory both won Money in the Bank and lost the U.S. title in the same night, the first time a briefcase winner has ever lost a championship during the same show.
We’ve seen plenty of occasions of Money in the Bank winners winning a title on the same night by cashing in, including Kane, Dean Ambrose, Alexa Bliss and most recently, Liv Morgan.
Now, Theory is the first money in the bank winner to leave the event a championship title lighter, and while it was indeed a history night for him, we doubt this is an accolade the cocky Superstar will be bringing up.
Theory’s win at Money in the Bank was arguably the biggest victory of his career to date, and the latest step in a monumental push he has received over the past year, and this is something WWE had planned in advance.
When Ringside News asked about the last-minute addition winning, they were assured that the plan was always for Theory to win Money in the Bank, despite WWE not even advertising him for the match.
It’s said that WWE always planned on having Theory lose the United States title in the evening as well, and despite his late appearance, the company never considered anyone else for the all important briefcase.
As Mr. Money in the Bank, Theory now has a guaranteed Undisputed WWE World Championship, and we’ll have to see what’s in store for the young Superstar.
More from Money in the Bank, as both the men’s and women’s ladder matches had explosive finishes, as Morgan and Theory did all they could to win the briefcases.
In Morgan’s came, the finish came when she knocked Becky Lynch off a ladder, while Theory traded blows with Riddle before the Original Bro was shoved to the mat.
It’s reported by Sean Ross Sapp behind Fightful’s paywall that WWE did not disclose any details about Money in the Bank finishes until the day of the show.
Sapp said that by Saturday morning, the roster still had no idea what the finishes for the two ladder matches would be, but presumably had at least told Morgan and Theory that they would be winning.
vMorgan has already cashed in successfully, while Theory is yet to take his shot at a World Championship, but hopefully he gets a bit more heads up about his inevitable world title match than
what happened last Saturday night.
Money in the Bank took place in front of a packed crowd at the MGM Grand Arena, though this wasn’t what WWE had planned.
Initially, the show was booked for Allegiant Stadium, and while WWE never reported why it was moved, many believe that low ticket sales at the much bigger Stadium forced the change.
According to Fightful, WWE’s decision to move the event surprised many in the company, as Nick Khan had been hyping up having more Stadium Shows down the line.
One source said that WWE should have waited until after June’s Hell in a Cell event before confirming the location for Money in the Bank, to see how the ticket sales would be.
WWE announced Allegiant Stadium before UFC announced their own major event for that same night, and many believe that WWE were early as they expected the UFC to host a show, which
a show, which could’ve taken place at Allegiant Stadium.
The decision for Allegiant Stadium is being called one of Khan’s first misfires since joining WWE as the company’s President, and it’s a mistake that the top-tier executive of the company is hoping not to make again.
Money in the Bank saw Ronda Rousey retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the event against Natalya, but did not leave the show as champion.
Hours after winning Money in the Bank, Liv Morgan cashed in to win her first title in WWE, but this isn’t just what the fans and WWE wanted, but it’s apparently what Rousey wanted as well.
That’s according to her personal photographer, who was at Money in the Bank, and on social media, praised the ex-UFC fighter for her work while revealing the Hot Rod’s demand:
Respect to Ronda Rousey, who never wanted or asked to be champion… and demanded that the most passionate pro wrestler be awarded the most prestigious title in our industry
Returning to WWE in January, many have been surprised to see Rousey’s reign with the title end so quickly, less than two months after winning the gold at WrestleMania Backlash.
Compared to her 200+ day reign as Raw Women’s Champion, Rousey lost her title very quickly this time around, but that’s exactly what the Baddest Woman on the Planet wanted.
Rousey wasn’t too upset about losing the title to Morgan, as the two embraced after the latter’s huge championship victory.
Fans will have noticed that Ronda had something to say to Liv after the win, but WWE’s microphones didn’t pick up on what that was.
In her first interview as SmackDown Women’s Champion, Morgan was asked about her post-match diaglogue with Rousey, and revealed the ex-UFC fighter’s salient advice:
“She said, ‘You deserve it.”
After years in WWE and some not so great storylines, including the dropped angle with Lana, many are saying that this title win has been a long time coming for Liv Morgan, and it looks like
Ronda Rousey certainly agrees with that view.
This is Morgan’s first ever championship reign in WWE, and many have been questioning what’s in the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, it was discussed that the current plan is for Morgan to defend her title at Summerslam against Rousey, and this could mean a short reign for the plucky Superstar:
The fans won’t be happy with [Liv losing the title at SummerSlam]. But I don’t think the idea is to go with Ronda as a heel, because Charlotte Flair is going to be her opponent when she comes back.
When Bryan Alverez said that WWE taking the title off Morgan and putting it on Rousey at Summerslam could see the fans turn on Ronda, one source suggested that the smart thing is for
Charlotte Flair to return, if WWE does plan on Liv’s reign being a short one.
If that was to happen, it’s likely that Flair and Rousey would rekindle their feud from earlier this year, leaving Morgan out of the title hunt despite her recent win.
A lot of people have waited a long time to see Liv Morgan with a championship in WWE, but with Ronda Rousey and possibly Charlotte Flair on her heels, Morgan’s reign may end as suddenly as it began.
One Superstar who came up short at Money in the Bank is Alexa Bliss, but her loss in the Women’s Ladder match wasn’t the only time fans saw her.
Later in the show, Bliss had a backstage segment with her doll Lilly, asking how the inanimate stuffed toy had paid for several tiny dresses, which was of course with her official WWE credit card.
Fans quickly saw the ad for the product placement it was, and the crowd in attendance made their displeasure known.
Several reports have stated that the crowd inside the MGM Grand Arena started loudly booing the segment, and people online shared their own reactions to the cringe worthy segment.
The fans certainly didn’t appreciate the segment, and while Lily may have been able to buy lots of dresses, as well as some undersized roller skates for Bliss, the respect of the fans is something that you
can’t get with a WWE credit card.
And we’re ending today with the Street Profits, who came up short in their attempt to dethrone the Usos at Money in the Bank, with a controversial finish to the match.
The shoulders were not down when the referee counted the three, but Montez Ford is already looking to the future.
Sitting down with Wrestling Inc, Ford was asked about his career so far, and what would happen if the Street Profits are split up in an upcoming WWE draft. He said:
“If the draft happens and they, you know, we’re forced to go our separate ways, we’re definitely going to keep that support there,” said Ford. “Keep bringing it 100 percent. I know as a kid, speaking
for myself, I’ve always had dreams of being a WWE World Champion. “That dream just never fades away man. You know, when you’re here, I feel like if you’re not trying to
be the guy or the team, then what are you here for? You know besides the money. But still at the same time, like you want to create a legacy.”
After teaming with Angelo Dawkins for years, Ford has established himself as a tag team wrestler, but him as a singles Superstar doesn’t seem too farfetched.
According to reports on Wrestling Observer Radio, some in WWE are very high on Ford at the moment, and there are rumours of a planned singles push for him.
It’s said that Ford’s impressive physique has wowed those behind the scenes, and his charisma is always a key factor in WWE’s opinion of him.
At Money in the Bank, Michael Cole teased dissention by saying that Ford and Dawkins hadn’t been getting along, and WWE fans may be about to see the end of the Street Profits.