The show began with our Women's Money in the Bank Match - Becky Lynch vs. Asuka vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Liv Morgan vs. Shotzi vs. Lacey Evans. Watching this match, it was very, very apparent who the experienced workers and who has not had as much time on "the big stage," least of all in a match involving ladders. Raquel Rodriguez, for example, struggled with a number of power spots and, at one point, Shotzi took a back bump onto a ladder that looked like it could've really messed up her tailbone. Lynch and Asuka were the linchpins of the match but there was only so much they could to keep this one on the rails and moving. But while the ugly spots were ugly, one can't deny the tremendous effort that the women put into this match and the risks that they were taking. The right woman won too as the crowd was very much behind Liv and her with the briefcase not only felt like a big "feel good" moment but also adds some much needed variety to the women's division main event scene on RAW. (2.5/5)
Austin Theory is not someone I'm generally very high on, but against Bobby Lashley, I finally saw at least some of what Vince must see in the guy. Lashley was mega over with the live crowd and Theory got good heat playing the chickenshit heel. There was plenty of back-and-forth action going on until Theory slowed things down with a headlock that went on a touch too long for my liking. From there, things didn't pick back up until Lashley regained control and got to show off his offense. Watching this, I don't know how someone could think Lashley didn't deserve the victory because he looked fantastic here while still making it believable that Theory might somehow eke out a victory. Another "feel good" win and a heck of a performance out of the All Mighty. (3/5)
Backstage, Liv Morgan spoke about winning the briefcase and mentioned the possibility of challenging for one of the titles at WrestleMania.
From here, we got video package explaining how Carmella became the number one contender for Bianca Belair's RAW Women's Championship. At TLC 2020, Carmella had a very good match against Sasha Banks, so I was curious how this one would go. Belair has had some undeniably great matches, but they've usually been against top talent. While Carmella has improved considerably from when she started out, she's never been a top 5 in-ring worker in the company. Early on, Carmella went for a hurricanrana and got backbreaker'd twice instead in an impressive feat of strength by Belair. Carmella went to the outside but got flattened by a shoulder block too. Things got a little sloppy when Carmella took over on offense, Belair telegraphing a kick on the ropes terribly. This wasn't the only moment when it seemed like Belair and Carmella slowed down to prep for a spot either, but on the positive side, when it came time for the big strikes - elbows and superkicks and whatnot - they both laid them in and made them count. I also very much appreciated the definitive, straight-to-the-point finish rather than any sort of "spamming" or nearfalls-for-the-sake-of-nearfalls foolishness (though Carmella did get some heat back by attacking Belair after the match). (2.5/5)
Logan Paul challenged The Miz for SummerSlam in a video shot on the day he signed with the company.
We then got a very, very dumb WWE Visa "commercial" featuring Alexa Bliss talking to her doll. It was awkward to watch.
The Usos defended their Unified Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits next. These team faced off at Extreme Rules 2021, so this wasn't their first meeting (I'm sure they've squared off on TV quite a few times too). Dawkins and Jimmy Uso started things off as the crowd started up a chant for "the smoke." Dawkins hit a huge dropkick early on as Montez got the crowd going with a series of crotch chops before getting tagged in. He and Jey traded some moves with McAfee and Graves noting how much muscle Ford has taken on (it is quite noticeable). The Usos took control from there, eventually hitting Dawkins with a double suplex into the corner post on the outside. Dawkins' spent the next few minutes selling like he was trapped in carbonite, the match slowing to a near-halt at one point. Ford got the hot tag but flew right into an Uso superkick to cut off his offensive flurry before it even began, the match again becoming mostly just the Usos making mean faces and the babyfaces selling on the mat. The Usos hit a nice double team maneuver a minute or so later and then Jimmy followed it up with a series of chest chops. The Usos dominance continued as Jey applied a chinlock to Ford, this match going all in on the "face-in-peril" formula. Ford finally got to rally momentarily but was, again, cut off by a Jimmy Uso uppercut. Onto the apron they went and Ford was able to suplex Jimmy and then make the big tag to Dawkins, who hit a somersault plancha onto both Usos on the floor and then a flying elbow back in the ring onto Jimmy. Dawkins hit a spinning corkscrew neckbreaker (thanks Michael Cole for calling the move) for 2 and shoulder-blocked both Usos on the floor before tagging in Ford to hit a slick double-team move that I'm not sure I've seen before (Dawkins essentially "alley-ooped" Jimmy into Ford, who caught him with a one-legged flapjack). The Profits hit their two-man blockbuster, but still couldn't put away the Usos. Dawkins and Jey traded strikes and the Profits looked like they might be taking over until Ford got caught with a double superkick for another big nearfall. Ford fought off both Usos, eventually getting them onto the floor so that he could hit a tremendous dive over the post. From here, Ford hit his frog splash to a huge pop from the crowd and made the cover - only for Jimmy Uso to make the save in an absolute heartbreaker moment. In a cool moment, both teams slowly got to their feet and we got a bit of a staredown before the fight continued, the Usos eventually landing another double superkick before landing their finish to end the match with a rather flat ending (it didn't help that there seemed to be a moment of confusion right before it). As the commentators hyped the match as being an all-time classic, it was shown that Montez Ford had his shoulder up during the pin - which, like the flat ending, worked against the idea of this being the "masterpiece" that I'm sure some fans will describe it as. (3.5/5)
A bizarre video played next that featured crosses, a dangling medal, and a guy walking. Gable Stevenson ad maybe?
Ronda Rousey defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Natalya next. This was an interesting match as Rousey allowed Nattie to control large parts of the match and really put her over strong. Credit to Nattie too as she busted out a variety of big submissions and, at one point, took an absolutely nasty bump into the corner post in one of the match's highlights. Another highlight was Rousey applying the Sharpshooter and then doing the Shawn Michaels pose, a great bit of trolling there. Both women showed off a number of counters into and out of ankle locks, Rousey eventually tapping Natalya out with the armbar. On one hand, Rousey gave a full wrestling performance here, showing vulnerability and fighting spirit, but on the other hand, Rousey felt more like your average wrestler than at any other point in her WWE run. (3/5)
After the match, Liv Morgan cashed in her briefcase and, after surviving the initial shock of getting caught in an ankle lock and what would've been an absolute crowd-killing moment, managed to roll up Rousey after kicking Rousey in her injured leg. Like her briefcase victory, this got over huge with the crowd, who chanted "You Deserve It" as she celebrated. (+1)
A video package hypes the next installment of the never-ending Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar rivalry. The narration called their upcoming match at SummerSlam the "final chapter" and also confirmed that the match will be a Last Man Standing match, which I'm not sure was previously announced. Then again, I don't watch the weekly programming so...
Main event time - the Men's Money in the Bank Match: Riddle vs. Seth Rollins vs. Omos vs. Madcap vs. Sami Zayn vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre....vs. Austin Theory, who got inserted into the match at the very last minute. Adding him to the match drew jeers from the crowd, the audience clearly hoping for someone that hadn't already appeared on the show - maybe AJ? maybe Owens or Ezekial? Edge? With him added to the match at the last minute, it also seemed like a bit of a "tell" that Theory would win the match. Omos controlled early, eventually prevented from climbing to the top by an awesome Claymore out of McIntyre. A few minutes later, McIntye and Sheamus had a nice moment together using Theory as their punching bag before that was broken up by Rollins (with ladder in hand). Rollins set up Riddle for a pedigree on a ladder, but Riddle back body dropped him and then him with a senton before getting sent out of the ring by Sami Zayn. Before Zayn could climb up the ladder, Madcap brought him down and the two SmackDown stars went at it. Madcap was a waste body in this match as he seemed to have absolutely no chance of winning. Though the same could be said for Sheamus, the Celtic Warrior is at least a multi-time champion. Moments later, Riddle attempted to climb the ladder again but was brought down by an Omos powerslam. Omos then chokeslammed Theory from the ladder as well, the big man dominating until he was sent to the floor by a Madcap and McIntyre clothesline. On the floor, Omos was then beaten down considerably and buried under a mountain of ladders, which wasn't very original but worked as a means to explain his absence for an extended stretch of time. Back in the ring, Sheamus, Rollins, and Zayn all found themselves near the briefcase, eventually joined by Theory too. Sheamus shoved Rollins and Zayn down but was then sent down by Theory, who was picked off the ladder by Madcap. Madcap hit an ugly fallaway slam and tried to grab the case, but got distracted by Zayn. Madcap and Zayn fought in the corner, Madcap eventually hitting Zayn with a huge powerbomb into a ladder in the corner. God bless Zayn for taking that bump. Back up the ladder Madcap went, where he brawled with McIntyre. McIntyre nearly grabbed the case but was stopped by Sheamus, who pulled him down and hit him with the White Noise. Riddle came in but ate an Irish Curse for his trouble. Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick but ended up getting his leg caught in a ladder, allowing Riddle to hit him with the Hangman DDT in a nod to his tag partner. Riddle then went on a flurry, taking out Madcap, McIntyre, and Rollins. Riddle then hit a huge Floating Bro on a pile of guys, drawing arguably the biggest pop of the match. At this point, Omos came into the ring and demolished everyone that came at him, sending Madcap and McIntyre to the floor. Omos looked like he was ready to climb the ladder, but Riddle jumped on his back. After throwing Riddle off his back, he caught Theory with a two-handed chokeslam off the ladder only to get hit by a series of big kicks from Sheamus and Zayn. Riddle caught him with an armbar on the ropes and Omos got dumped by Madcap, hit with a headbutt from McIntyre, and then Curb Stomped on the apron by Rollins. At this point, Omos got powerbombed by 6 men through a table to finally put him out of action for good (with the crowd chanting "Holy Shit" in praise of the move). An all-out brawl followed, allowing for Zayn to sneak his way towards the case. Before he could climb the ladder, McIntyre caught him. Of course, Sheamus wasn't far behind. Sheamus attempted to whip McIntyre into a ladder in the corner but got DDT'd. McIntyre set the ladder up on top of Sheamus and it looked like he may have the match won only for Butch (Pete Dunne) to interfere. With Budge on his back, McIntyre ate a Brogue Kick. Sheamus pinned Drew under the ladder and climbed to the top, but McIntyre used his impressive strength to push the ladder up, tilting Sheamus away from the briefcase. McIntyre hit the Claymore on Butch and once again went for the case, but Sheamus cut him off, the match basically having turned into a 1-on-1 battle for the past 3-4 minutes with Rollins, Theory, Riddle, and Madcap just sleeping outside the ring. Zayn, Madcap, and Rollins eventually woke up and made attempts for the case, Riddle even bringing in the "super ladder" and hitting Rollins with an RKO from the top of it (to another huge pop). Riddle looked like he might have the match won but Theory climbed the ladder and the two traded strikes until Theory shoved him off the top and grab the briefcase. This finish drew boos from the audience and maybe helps explain why they gave Liv the feel good win (knowing that this ending was not going to be well-received at all). A fun match that really seemed to be built around Riddle and Omos more than anyone else, but not one that I would consider to be particularly great or one of the better Money in the Bank matches in history. (3/5)
With an overall Kwang Score of 3.08-out-of-5, this year's edition of Money in the Bank 2022 was an overall good show with great performances coming from a number of performers who one might not have necessarily suspected would have career nights - Liv Morgan obviously, but also Omos and Riddle, Dawkins of the Street Profits, Natalya, and Carmella. Unfortunately, this meant some of the bigger stars on this show, like Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, faded into the background a bit. As I noted above, Ronda Rousey and Natalya had a fine match...but it was also one in which Ronda came across as a WWE wrestler and not as the legit MMA bad-ass that was initially what set her apart from everyone else in the company (save for Brock Lesnar).
FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand
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