The D'Amore Drop: Why WWE's Money In The Bank books best with a heel winner
WWE presents its annual Money in the Bank PLE this weekend from Los Angeles.
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Money in the Bank is two great concepts in one.
First, it's the continuation of the ladder match, which always reminds me of where it originated: Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, which ran from the 1940s to the 1980s up in Calgary. As hardcores know, Bret Hart brought the idea to WWE in the early '90s and then it was made world famous by Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall, was elevated by Edge and Christian, then the Hardys and the Dudleys in the 2000s, and now takes its place alongside the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber as an annual WWE super-gimmick.
There's a rumor that Triple H doesn't love the MITB match, but used sparingly it can be an amazing spectacle, and I expect two classics this Saturday.
Then there's the second part of Money In The Bank — the concept of having two wrestlers (one man, one woman) who can claim immediate WWE title shots at any time by cashing in the contracts in the briefcases.
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My old roommate Adam 'Edge' Copeland established the concept back in 2006, cashing in on John Cena after Cena had barely survived a brutal Elimination Chamber. It's a gimmick that works best when a heel has the briefcase, as he or she becomes a storm cloud over the champion. At any moment, at the worst moment, that lighting can be called down upon them.
Most people expect Seth Rollins to secure the briefcase in the men's match — and I'd agree that seems the most logical choice.
We took some abuse for 'copying' the Money In The Bank gimmick with the Call Your Shot Gauntlet in TNA.
In our defense, the original concept was that the winner of Call Your Shot would be able to schedule a title match for themselves — much like the X-Division Champion has the 'Option C' to be able to give up their title in exchange for a World Championship match at an upcoming event.
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But we wanted to do the shocking end to Bound for Glory in 2021, when Josh Alexander didn't even get three minutes with his long-awaited world title before Moose came in and ruined it.
We were going to tell a more in-depth story where the referee panicked and only thought Moose had the right to call for the match to start there and then, but it'd be ruled that — sorry Josh, you agreed to the match and the ref started the match.
In the end, we felt fans would get it and we told the story quicker.
Likewise, the popular Ultimate X matches in TNA — that was the result of TNA thinking, 'How can we do something like a ladder match, but without the ladder?'
The main event of Saturday's PLE is Cody Rhodes returning to team with World Champ Jey Uso versus WWE Champ John Cena and Logan Paul.
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Paul was given a WWE title challenge in his third-ever professional match, losing to Roman Reigns back at the 2022 Crown Jewel, but that was a cash-in and attention grab using his celebrity outside WWE. No one thought he was beating Reigns that night.
Now, going into his 20th match, he's getting presented as if he belongs there with Rhodes, Cena and Uso. And some in wrestling really don't like that.
Here's my two cents: Logan is an unbelievable athlete. He deserves comparisons to the likes of Owen Hart, Seth Rollins and the others who just had 'it' from their very first match. He works hard, he takes his bumps and clearly has a passion for the business.
Even his detractors have to admit his performances are really good.
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Now, Logan is a hard guy to like and one of the most shameless self-promoters to ever walk the Earth. That gives him the chops to be a natural heel, but also makes him a target for accusations that he hasn't earned his spot.
Well ... of course he hasn't! He's there because of his massive online celebrity.
There's a part of me that shudders that a part-time celebrity gets handed these top spots. This isn't Dennis Rodman showing up in the nWo for a couple of months, or Bad Bunny having a one-off match … Logan Paul is entering his third year as a fixture at or near the top of the WWE card.
Back in my day as an active performer, you had to pay dues and learn the craft by wrestling seven nights a week and twice on Sundays. You learned through repetition and you got good or the small-hall fans would let you — and your promoter — know that you sucked.
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But the whole business has changed. It's fine if you don't like those changes but they are here no matter your feelings.
Logan Paul knows how to make you hate him. (Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images)
(WWE via Getty Images)
How much has wrestling changed since I was a in-ring talent in the '90s? Well, Logan Paul is praised for buying himself a full-sized ring and flying training partners to his house to practice his matches.
When I was in WCW, I got mocked relentlessly when I accepted an offer to go work out at the WCW Power Plant in Atlanta. I had more than one veteran come up to me and flat-out tell me I was a mark for 'wrestling for free.' They thought since I was in WCW, I shouldn't be taking bumps without getting paid.
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I remember thinking, 'Do you really think Tom Cruise doesn't practice delivering his lines? That the top NFL teams don't practice?'
But that was the mindset then. Now it's expected that wrestlers never stop working on their craft. It's one of the reasons that we see more five-star matches today than 30 years ago.
AEW made the most of their special four hour Dynamite last night. The big news, of course, was Kenny Omega will wrestle Kazuchika Okada once more at AEW All In on July 12 in Texas.
This is a return to one of — if not the best — wrestling feud/match series ever. These two going at it in classics was huge part of NJPW's glory years and part of the buildup to the movement that lead to the formation of AEW.
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Wrestling historian Dave Meltzer gave one of their clashes seven stars — the only match he's ever ranked so highly. I can't wait to see them share a ring once more.
Speaking of Omega, him vs. Brody King vs. Mascara Dorada vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the AEW International Title was an amazing four-way. All the better for being on free television. It went 20 minutes but it was so fast-paced that it felt like a sprint the whole time.
Great to see Maple Leaf Pro alumnus Kevin Knight scoring a big win in AEW when he, Mike Bailey (another MLP regular) and Mexican star Komander scored a win in a six-man tag over Rush, Dralistico, and Mortos.
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Looks like we might be heading for a Kevin Knight vs. Rush feud — and I'm here for it. I've said it before and will keep screaming from the roof tops: Knight will be a star!
I understand fan frustration that Ron 'R-Truth' Killings has not had his contract renewed by WWE after 17 years with the company.
Ron is one of the nicest guys in the industry — as has been underlined by so many WWE stars saying how much they will miss him.
If Ron wants to, he'll be able to make a fortune and do some really cool things by following the example of Matt Cardona.
Ron has made a success of every single role he's ever been given — from a main-eventing world champion who delivers amazing matches to one of the funniest comedy acts of all time. He's an all-time great. I am excited to see what he does next.
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