WWE Money In The Bank 2018: Star Ratings For All 10 Matches

1. Men's Money In The Bank Ladder Match

Jinder Mahal STAR RATING 1
WWE.com

Unapologetically framed as Braun Strowman's big moment - wrestling is good when it's predictable - the decision to anchor the entire match around him was to its benefit.

Banished beneath the ladders in logical shared strategy by the rest of the field, that field sprinted through their own attempts to retrieve the briefcase, powered by an anxious sense of urgency to get the case before the next jump scare. Strowman was put over well before he retrieved the briefcase. He was put over even when he wasn't involved in the match; his presence and his absence drove everything.

Kevin Owens was reckoned with via his spectacular bump from a comically gigantic ladder he showed no compunction climbing. Still, that strange and inevitably retconned character trait couldn't detract from the drama. The Miz, and this is a major compliment, sold for Strowman with the palpable terror of Arn Anderson confronted by Sid. Finn Bálor somehow contrived not to cave Bobby Roode's chest in with a brutal Coup de Grâce. Samoa Joe, one of few WWE performers not tainted by WWE's bullsh*t promos, adopted a similarly no-frills in-ring approach. Kofi Kingston absorbed incredible punishment with an uncharacteristic but no less great low-key sell-job.

The best moment of the match - and a necessary one, given the comedic shade endangering Braun's Monster movie aura - saw Braun break a bloody ladder in half by running through it.

This is the Braun the fans have chosen to replace Roman Reigns.

This is the man to conquer the Beast, and WWE did a superb job in making that a credible and anticipated prospect here.

Star Rating: ****1/2

Contributor
Contributor

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!