10 Ways WWE Screwed Up At Money In The Bank 2017
2. The Ellsworth Situation
The biggest talking point coming out of Money In The Bank 2017 isn’t Jinder Mahal’s second major win over Randy Orton, or Baron Corbin’s coronation as Mr. Money In The Bank, but the fact that a man was the deciding factor in the first ever women’s MITB ladder match.
Much of the post-PPV discussion has centered around James Ellsworth’s interference, and rightly so. This was a sham of a decision that derailed what was turning out to be a fun contest ahead, and, more significantly, completely destroyed the “historic moment” WWE were determined to create on Sunday night.
Ellsworth retrieving the briefcase for Carmella completely deflated what should have been a special match. Arguing that it was a good heel move feels like a cop-out: sure, it drew heat, but those jeers felt more like an outright rejection rather than the audience playing along with the Carmella/Ellsworth act, and the post-show response backs this up.
For a company obsessed with “making history” and "creating moments", WWE sure do an excellent job of screwing theirs up. To call this conclusion acceptable because it “got people talking” is Vince Russo logic. It was the worst kind of surprise (swerving for swerving’s sake), and one that completely undermines the company’s hard-working female athletes.