3 Things WWE Did Right and 2 Things They Did Wrong at Money in the Bank

WWE’s Money in the Bank from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans had two ladder matches, a new Women’s World Champion, and a main event that kept the crowd loud all night. Here is what worked and what didn’t.

Good: Roman Reigns vs LA Knight Got a Clean, Earned Finish
Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship with a solo win and no interference, and the match was better for it. The New Orleans crowd was firmly behind Knight, who kept coming. He hit a superplex and a burning hammer, and he kicked out of a spear and a super spear before Reigns finally put him away. Knight looked like a credible threat even in defeat, and Reigns got a win that needed no help from anyone.

Bad: The Women’s Money in the Bank Match Never Found Its Footing
Six women were crammed into a ladder match that ran about 15 minutes, less than half the 32 minutes the men’s match got. Tiffany Stratton won her second briefcase by using it as a weapon on Lash Legend before unhooking it. At least one major outlet graded the match a C-, citing awkward moments. A match with that much talent deserved more time and a cleaner finish than it got.

Good: Oba Femi Survived Everything the Vision Threw at Him
Femi beat Bronson Reed in 11:34 despite interference from Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri and Logan Paul. Dupri handed Reed brass knuckles, and Reed landed them twice, then hit a Tsunami, but Femi kicked out. He chokeslammed Theory, caught Reed after a missed moonsault, and finished with Fall From Grace. It was a physical, believable heavyweight match, and it kept Femi’s run going without making Reed look weak.

Bad: Vaquer’s Reign Ended Almost as Soon as It Began
Stephanie Vaquer won the Women’s World Championship in front of her home crowd in Chile roughly four weeks earlier, a moment WWE spent real effort building. At Money in the Bank she lost it in a Triple Threat when Liv Morgan hit Oblivion while Vaquer was distracted. A reign that short undercuts the emotional payoff of the Chile win, and the distraction finish made it feel like the title changed hands cheaply.

Good: Penta’s Win Capped an Excellent Men’s Ladder Match
CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Bron Breakker and Penta went 32 minutes, and the match delivered on its star power. Penta climbing to retrieve the briefcase gave one of WWE’s most popular performers a big moment and a briefcase that will keep him in the title picture. The crowd was behind him from the start.