REVEALED: WWE's Original Plans For Brock Lesnar At Money In The Bank 2019
This year's MITB pay-per-view was almost a LOT different...
WWE sparked controversy in last week's men's Money In The Bank ladder match, with former Universal Champion Brock Lesnar taking the ambushed Sami Zayn's spot late in the bout, marching down the ramp, destroying all before him, and seizing the big green briefcase.
A genuine shock, and one that divided the internet. It wasn't WWE's original plan for the match, though.
Per Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, "those who needed to know" backstage were informed that Ali would be winning Money In The Bank. These plans had changed from Drew McIntyre - the original winner.
The other wrestlers in the bout were later told that Ali wouldn't be winning, but that he'd be in control of the bout when Zayn's replacement arrived, knocked him down, and took the prize. They weren't informed who this mystery entrant would be, but were led to believe it was Braun Strowman.
Ali himself was only told about the last-minute change "right before the match started." WWE specifically ordered him to keep it quiet.
Whether or not Ali would have made a better Mr. Money In The Bank than Lesnar is subjective, but his victory may at least have helped WWE build a new star.