The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE Money In The Bank

Robert Roode Ricochet
WWE.com

It seems unnecessary to tally the losses suffered by Baron Corbin and Carmella.

The Money In The Bank pay-per-view debuted on 18 July 2010, approximately seven months before Triple H ostensibly introduced the part-timer era, on the 28 February 2011 RAW. Triple H surveyed that locker room, and simply challenged The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak, for a second time, because none of them were worthy of the honour. In that time, that full-time roster, and who comprises it does not matter, has traded wins arbitrarily for seven years. Ricochet’s main roster win/loss record is probably not too dissimilar to Tyson Kidd’s.

Money In The Bank, and its empty symbolism, spawned the 50/50 booking mentality that has repelled so much of the audience away. The briefcase was considered armour by WWE, and WWE rained down bullets on those who wore it. In a way, the audience is complicit in its biggest complaint: by reacting so fervently to the cash-in, which hasn’t lost its appeal as an in-the-moment spectacle, WWE has received the message that wins and losses do no not matter, and has applied it across the entire spectrum of programming.

If a performer requires no build to receive a star reaction, why bother creating a backstory ahead of a NXT promotion? What we have arrived at now is a constant series of diminishing returns. The briefcase has infected WWE’s willingness and ability to build something meaningful. Laziness breeds stupidity.

CONT'D...(4 of 5)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!