In a red-hot premium live event on Peacock, WWE’s 2023 edition of Money in the Bank from London, England was a wild ride with a series of show-stopping moments and storylines that will keep interest in pro wrestling at an all-time high.

Let’s break this down by saying, Shemar Moore’s (ex-Malcolm, Y&R) line announcing to Susan Lucci (ex-Erica, AMC) that she finally won the Daytime Emmy for Lead Actress, ‘the streak is over’, can apply to a huge moment at MITB.  WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns was actually pinned and lost a match for the first-time in over three and a half years! That streak for the dastardly Reigns is now over.

THE USOS vs. ROMAN REIGNS AND SOLO SIKOA 

While Reigns was not defending his championship, he was given the three count, when his cousin Jey Uso secured the win in the Bloodline Civil War tag-team match main event.

“Main Event” Jey Uso came of the top rope with a frog splash and pinned his cousin for the first time since December of 2019.  This was an absolute epic match with stellar storytelling, all of it would not go over as much as it does without the performances of Reigns, who plays every beat of the story through his looks and motivations and words in and out of the ring, as much as the wrestling action.  The loud and boisterous crowd from London’s O2 Arena, chanted “Stand up if you hate Roman Reigns” throughout the match, and like clockwork, the whole place was standing up amplifying the heel heat on Reigns.

In addition, the match left you with questions. Where does the Usos younger brother, Solo Sikoa’s allegiance really lie? Throughout the match, Sikoa’s face, at times, appeared very conflicted as he continued to let Reigns decimate his older brothers.  Those that were waiting for a complete turn by Sikoa, hoping he would join forces with his brothers, will have to wait another day.  But from the looks of it, that day is coming.

Now, with his entire ‘Bloodline’ on the brink of collapse, his cousin Jey Uso a threat once again to his Universal Championship, and the WWE creatives allowing Reigns to be pinned, it looks to set up a title match between Jey and Roman this August at SummerSlam. Will WWE book that match? Stay tuned. The ‘Bloodline’s’ story has continually paid huge dividends for the WWE with record-high attendance and high television ratings, and there’s more to the story to come.

MEN’S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

In a brilliant move to start the show with the highly competitive men’s Money in the Bank ladder match the field included: Butch, Ricochet, Shisuke Nakamura, Logan Paul, Damian Priest and L.A. Knight.

Photo: WWE

Social media superstar and influencer, Logan Paul, who has proven he belongs in the WWE, was not the favorite with the crowd and he played up that fact. However, the one that everyone in London was rooting for, and many at home, was L.A. Knight. This is the guy who has it all, but has never been given the proper push by the WWE.  It seemed like this would be his moment to elevate him to where he should be.  However, it was not meant to be Knight’s night.

In the post event press conference, Triple H said on L.A. Knight’s loss at Money in the Bank, “I know LA Knight was a massive favorite coming in tonight, continuing that ascent. But great things come to those who wait, right? I think that that rise is just getting started.”

Another very deserving star, Damian Priest, ultimately climbed to the top of the ladder and secured the briefcase which means he now has a shot to win a WWE championship at any time.  The moment Priest secured the briefcase, and with his Judgment Day teammate Finn Balor facing Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship later in the night, all eyes were going to be on Priest, if he showed up at ringside to cash in. (More on that below).

There were outstanding bumps and spots throughout the ladder match. One moment occurred when Ricochet summersaulted from the ring slamming Paul off the apron into two tables. The replay seemedto indicate Paul hurt his head, but he actually wound up slicing his shoulder.

WOMEN’S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

As the WWE Universe would say, “This was awesome!” The women’s Money in the Bank ladder match was so creative and featured high-flying spots and double-crosses, that you really did not know which way it was going to go – although the smart money was on Iyo Sky.  Competing for the briefcase were: Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, Bayley, Sky, Zoey Stark and Zelina Vega.

Photo: WWE

During the match, Stark, working alongside “Thank You” Trish Stratus, tried to handcuff Becky Lynch to the ring post, but she only got the cuffs around on one of her wrists. As the decorated Lynch (who has never won Money in the Bank) tries to climb her ladder to victory, Bayley was on the opposite side of her with a ladder trying to beat her to the top.  Then, came Iyo Sky’s brilliant thinking! She handcuffed her Damage CTRL mentor, Bayley, and Lynch to each other so they could not use their arms to further climb their ladders, enabling Sky to get to the top and grab the briefcase and become the winner.

The match definitely took its toll on WWE legend, Trish Stratus, 47, as it appears she broke her nose.  Vega and Sky provided the jaw-dropping spots throughout the match including powerbombs off the top of the ladder and Sky, taking to the sky, to land on all her opponents outside the ring.

After Sky’s recent performances, including at WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico against Bianca Belair, it was only a matter of time before she got her big push. Now the question becomes, which WWE women’s champ will she cash in on?

LIV MORGAN AND RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ VS. RHONDA ROUSEY AND SHAYNA BASZLER

In the “WTF” moment of the entire show, Shayna Baszler out of nowhere turned on her tag team partner Rhonda Rousey during their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.  If you went away from your screens or blinked, you may have missed this turn of events. After going ballistic on her partner, Baszler walked out on the match, leaving a vulnerable Rousey to easily get pinned by Rodriguez.

Photo: WWE

Morgan and Rodriguez regain the tag championships they lost.  Where does this go from here? Most likely, Rousey vs. Baslzer at SummerSlam, but we just are on sure of what are the motivations for Shayna to beat down Rhonda.

JOHN CENA MAKES A SURPRISE APPEARANCE

In a shocker, and a major moment of the night, 16-time WWE champion, John Cena came out to the ring to the adoring crowd and propped up London as a potential home for WrestleMania, much to the delight of the over 19,000 in attendance.

Cena shared, “I want the world to know that you are under-appreciated. I’m here to try to bring WrestleMania to London.”  While the pop was deafening, this has to be something in the works for the superstar to say that.  The first open WrestleMania would be 2025, since WrestleMania is booked for Philadelphia in 2024.  With AEW about to sellout Wembley Stadium this August with their first massive stadium show, it’s clear that WWE went on the offense to bring an even bigger moment to London town.

Photo: WWE

To give Cena a foe during his segment, Grayson Waller came out to talk trash to Cena and to say that WrestleMania should come to Australia not London. Eventually, Waller attacked Cena, but Cena got the upper hand with his ‘attitude adjustment’ before his time in the ring ended.

Just having Cena show up was massive for fans young and old at O2 Arena. Reports indicated that John was already in London filming a movie so it was easy to get him to come across time and give some love to the London WWE Universe.

SETH ‘FREAKIN’ ROLLINS VS. FINN BALOR

In this WWE World Championship match, Balor had an ax to grind against Rollins.  Ultimately, this match was really about furthering another storyline rather than this match itself.

Damian Priest, fresh off winning the Money in the Bank ladder match, came out to the ring ten minutes into the match-up.  As many had hoped, would this be the moment that Priest would cash in on Rollins if he was weakened by Balor, or would he swerve his Judgement Day buddy, Finn Balor, if Balor got the victory?  What did happen was Priest brought the intimation factor to ringside with his MITB briefcase in hand.

Photo: WWE

Ultimately, Damian did not cash in. Instead, he faked like he would as Balor went to the top rope for his finisher the coup de grace, but he was distracted by Priest and fumbled the move. Rollins was then able to knock Balor off the top rope and hit him with his patented curb stomp and secure the win.

There will be more dissension between Priest and Balor in the weeks to come. Will Priest leave the Judgement Day? Will one or the other cost each other a title opportunity? More to come.

In other key moments ….

GUNTHER VS. MATT RIDDLE

While it looked once again that Gunther was dominant in his win vs. Matt Riddle to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship, the real threat to his title arrived on the scene when Drew McIntrye returned to action after months away and his contract negotiations still underway.  In the ring, McIntrye challenged Gunther and landed a Claymore to Gunther’s face for good measure. It was at WrestleMania 39 that Gunther, McIntrye and Sheamus were involved in that triple-threat match for the title, that many believed was one of the best of WrestleMania weekend in Los Angeles.

CODY RHODES VS. DOMINIK MYSTERIO

Rhodes secured an easy win here over Mysterio, and now he is on to continue to ‘finish the story’.  We would assume, next up, the third match-up with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, before returning to his quest for the WWE Universal Championship currently held by Roman Reigns.

This card had everything and we have to give it a solid “A”.  Following Money in the Bank, Michael Fairman and pro wrestling reporter, Luis Ruiz went on to You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for another edition of their What’s Up? Wrestling series to give their thoughts and reactions immediately following the premium live event on Peacock.  You can catch that below.

So, what did you think of WWE’s Money in the Bank 2023? What were your favorite moments? Let us know in the comment section.