The landscape of the WWE was set to be changed forever as the second annual WWE Money-in-the-Bank came to you, live on pay-per-view, from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. After revealing several weeks ago that his contract with the WWE expired on the night of Money-in-the-Bank, CM Punk has left a trail of controversy in wake of this announcement, letting the world know that he intends to leave the WWE with the prestigious WWE Championship and, after suspensions, speeches, and public negotiations with WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, it all comes down to CM Punk challenging John Cena for the WWE Title in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, but if Punk wins the WWE Title, then Mr. McMahon has decreed that he will personally fire John Cena.
For weeks, Christian has been doing everything he can to get yet another rematch against Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Title and, with a new title match contract drawn up by his lawyers, Christian will get another shot at the gold and, if Orton is disqualified or the referee makes a “bad call” in the match, then Christian will be crowned the new champion.
After attacking Mark Henry last month, Big Show has been at the top of Mark Henry’s most wanted list as “The World’s Strongest Man” has sent Big Show through the announce table, through a steel cage, and off the staging area, but at Money-in-the-Bank, these two giants collide as “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show goes one-on-one with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry.
On a night where the WWE Championship could cease to be a part of the WWE, eight Superstars were set to wage war for the right to hold a briefcase containing a contract, a contract that allows them to challenge the WWE Champion at any time for up to one year as R-Truth, “The Mexican Aristocrat” Alberto Del Rio, “The Master of the 619” Rey Mysterio, last year’s RAW Money-in-the-Bank winner The Miz, Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, and Kofi Kingston would all compete in the RAW Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match to earn the prestigious opportunity.
SmackDown also had their Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match with the winner earning a guaranteed shot at the World Heavyweight Championship in the coming year as “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, last year’s SmackDown Money-in-the-Bank winner Kane, Wade Barrett, “The International Sensation” Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Heath Slater, and Justin Gabriel would all face off for their future shot at SmackDown’s top prize.
The Divas Championship was also on the line at Money-in-the-Bank as Kelly Kelly looked to overcome some Twin Magic as she defends the Divas Title against former champion Brie Bella, with her twin sister, Nikki Bella, at ringside.
Match Results
- SmackDown Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match: Daniel Bryan def. Sheamus, Kane, Wade Barrett, Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, Heath Slater, & Justin Gabriel to win the SmackDown Money-in-the-Bank briefcase.
- Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly (c) def. Brie Bella by pin following the K2 to retain.
- Mark Henry def. Big Show by pin following the World’s Strongest Slam and two World’s Strongest Splashes.
- RAW Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio def. Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, The Miz, Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, & Kofi Kingston to win the RAW Money-in-the-Bank briefcase.
- World Heavyweight Championship: Title Changes Hands on a DQ or “Bad Referee Call”: Christian def. Randy Orton (c) by DQ following a low blow by Randy Orton (c). As a result, Christian wins the World Heavyweight Title.
- WWE Championship: CM Punk’s Final Match: Title or Career: CM Punk (with Mr. McMahon & John Laurinitis) def. John Cena (c) by pin following the GTS to win the WWE Title in his final match in the WWE.
Detailed Results
The show kicks off with the namesake of the Money-in-the-Bank event as “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, “The Big Red Monster” Kane, Wade Barrett, “The International Sensation” Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, “The American Dragon” Daniel Bryan, Heath Slater, & Justin Gabriel all faced off in the SmackDown Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match with the man who climbs the ladder and retrieves the briefcase hanging high above the ring earning a guaranteed shot at the World Heavyweight Title that can be cashed in at any time in the coming year. During the course of the dangerous match, Sheamus got his hands on the man who defeated him on SmackDown as “The Celtic Warrior” sent Sin Cara crashing through a steel ladder with a powerbomb, leaving “The International Sensation” convulsing on the floor before referees and EMT’s stretcher the high flyer out of the arena. Later on in the match, Sheamus temporarily took out several of the Money-in-the-Bank competitors before attempting to scale the ladder to retrieve the briefcase, but Kane grabs Sheamus by the throat, delivering the chokeslam off the ladder onto a second ladder! After scratching, clawing, and refusing to stay down throughout the match, it was one kick to the skull of Wade Barrett that allowed Daniel Bryan to survive his seven determined opponents before scaling the ladder and securing the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase, earning Daniel Bryan a guaranteed shot at the World Heavyweight Title for any time in the coming year! Daniel Bryan is SmackDown’s “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank”, but the question remains, when will Daniel Bryan cash in and can he become the new World Heavyweight Champion?
Backstage, video shot earlier in the night showed WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon arriving with the Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinitis and a lawyer as the trio apparently looks to convince CM Punk to sign a new WWE contract!
The Divas Title was on the line at Money-in-the-Bank as Kelly Kelly, with Eve in her corner, defends the title against former champion Brie Bella, with her twin sister, Nikki Bella, in her corner. In the end, it was Kelly Kelly hitting the K2 on Brie Bella en route to successfully retaining the Divas Title.
After weeks of unmatched destruction against Big Show, as well as Kane and an audio technician, all initiated by an attack by Big Show last month, “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry collides with “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show. During the match, Mark Henry repeatedly attacked the previously injured knee of Big Show and, towards the end of the match, Big Show went for a chokeslam on Henry, but Henry exploited the injured knee, hitting the World’s Strongest Slam on Big Show. However, Big Show managed to kick out of the move, which sent Henry on a rage as “The World’s Strongest Man” hit a second World’s Strongest Slam, followed by two World’s Strongest Splashes, finally putting Big Show down for the three count! After the match, the destructive and seemingly unstoppable Mark Henry definitely took things too far as Henry went to the outside of the ring and grabbed a steel chair. Mark Henry then proceeded to place the steel chair around the ankle of Big Show before using all of his 400 lbs. to crush the ankle of “The World’s Largest Athlete”, which led to Big Show having to be hauled out of the arena! What is the status of Big Show following this vicious attack by Mark Henry?
Backstage, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon is asked about his efforts to re-sign CM Punk to a new WWE contract, but the Chairman reveals that Punk continues to refuse the most lucrative of contracts offered as Punk simply told McMahon to “get out” the last time McMahon tried to offer him a contract. The Chairman continues, saying that the CM Punk fans cannot put him at “fault” for Punk leaving the WWE because he tried his best. McMahon then states that everything that has happened is all on John Cena because Cena caused all of it. The Chairman concludes by saying that, if Cena loses the WWE Title to CM Punk, then “may god have mercy on John Cena’s soul”!
Then it was time for the RAW Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match as “The Mexican Aristocrat” Alberto Del Rio, “The Master of the 619” Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, The Miz, Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, and Kofi Kingston all squared off in the dangerous match with the winner earning the RAW Money-in-the-Bank briefcase, guaranteeing that individual a shot at the WWE Title at any time for up to one year. The match kicks off in unusual fashion as all eight participants entered the ring carrying ladders of various sizes and, as the bell rang, all eight ladders clashed as seven participants targeted the man who attacked them with a ladder on RAW, Alberto Del Rio! Later on in the match, The Miz went to stop Evan Bourne from grabbing the briefcase, but both men found themselves falling off of the ladder, but Miz got the worst of it as Miz looked like he hyperextended his knee on the landing, leading to referees and EMT’s helping The Miz to the backstage area. In the end, it came down to familiar rivals Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio as the two Superstars battled atop a ladder, but it was Del Rio resorting to ripping the mask off of Rey’s face that ultimately allowed Del Rio to grab the briefcase and become RAW’s “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank”! Now the question is, when will Alberto Del Rio cash in his Money-in-the-Bank briefcase to score a shot at the WWE Title?
After weeks of petitioning and lawyers, it was time for the World Heavyweight Title to be put on the line as Randy Orton defended the World Heavyweight Title against Christian in a match where, if Orton is disqualified or if the referee makes a “bad call”, then Christian will be crowned the new champion. As soon as the match began, Christian tried to get in the head of Randy Orton by sliding a steel chair into the ring to Orton, but Orton tossed the chair to the outside. Later on in the match, Randy Orton went for the RKO, but Christian quickly dodged the move, backing into the corner. However, when Orton went to pursue Christian in the corner, Christian spit in the face of the champion, which sent Orton over the edge as Orton pummeled Christian with left and right hands before delivering a low blow to Christian, earning Christian the disqualification win and, per the stipulations set up for the match, earned Christian the World Heavyweight Title! After the match, Randy Orton went berserk on the new World Heavyweight Champion as Orton tackled Christian, taking both men over the Spanish announce table before Orton tore the announce table apart and blasting Christian in the skull with a television monitor! Randy Orton then went beyond unhinged as the former World Heavyweight Champion delivered the RKO to Christian on top of the Spanish announce table, but things got even worse for the new champion as Orton, after initially starting to make his exit, came back to ringside and, despite the pleas of SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long, Orton delivered a second RKO to Christian on the Spanish announce table! What else will Randy Orton do now that Christian has used his lawyers to ultimately become the new World Heavyweight Champion, screwing Orton out of the title in the process?
Then it was time for a main event that would forever alter the history of the WWE as, in his hometown of Chicago, the controversial, outspoken, and one-of-a-kind CM Punk challenges John Cena for the WWE Championship in Punk’s final match and, if Punk wins the WWE Title, he has vowed to leave the WWE with its most prestigious championship and, if that happens, then John Cena will be fired by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon! During a stellar, WrestleMania quality match, CM Punk hits the GTS on John Cena, but Cena lands on the outside of the ring, forcing Punk to head to the outside where Punk rolled Cena back into the ring. However, before Punk could re-enter the ring, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon and Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinitis emerge, which briefly distracts Punk. This momentary distraction allows Cena to recover as Cena locks in the STF on CM Punk and, as soon as the move is locked in, Mr. McMahon signals for the bell to be rung, but the referee does not see McMahon, so the Chairman sends John Laurinitis down to end the match! However, Cena relinquishes the STF on Punk to head to the outside and deliver a right hand to the VP of Talent Relations, cutting Laurinitis off at the pass! Cena then confronts McMahon, telling the Chairman that they are going to do the match his “way”!
However, the distraction caused by Laurinitis and the time Cena took to confront the Chairman allowed CM Punk to recover as, upon re-entering the ring, Cena was caught by Punk as Punk delivers the GTS to Cena! Then the moment that Mr. McMahon and the entire WWE feared became a reality as, a three count later, CM Punk is crowned the new WWE Champion on his final night in the WWE! While CM Punk celebrated with the WWE Title in the ring, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon marched to ringside where he rips the headset off the head of Jerry “The King” Lawler to order the producer of the show to get RAW Money-in-the-Bank winner Alberto Del Rio out there to cash in his title opportunity on the new WWE Champion, CM Punk! Alberto Del Rio does as instructed as Del Rio rushes out with his Money-in-the-Bank briefcase, ready to cash it in, but CM Punk catches Del Rio with a kick to the head before Del Rio gets the chance to hand the briefcase over to the referee, preventing the match from starting! Punk then makes a quick exit from the ring before exiting through his hometown and exiting the WWE with the WWE Championship in his possession! The worst fears of Mr. McMahon and the entire WWE have been realized as CM Punk has won the WWE Championship on the final night of his WWE career and, despite the Chairman’s best efforts, the most prestigious championship in the entire history of the WWE now belongs to CM Punk, who is now open to go to whatever wrestling organization he pleases with the gold! How will Mr. McMahon respond to the WWE Championship no longer being a part of the WWE? What will become of John Cena after the Chairman’s decree to fire the former champion if he lost the title to CM Punk? How will Mr. McMahon respond to the WWE Championship no longer being a part of the WWE?
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