As the WWE gears towards the 2016 Money in the Bank, this author will be going back to review every Money in the Bank PPV in history, this time, it is the 2014 event, featuring only one Money in the Bank match and a WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match to crown a new champion for the vacant belt.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match- The Usos (c) - Luke Harper & Erick Rowan
The Usos started the match working some double teams on Luke Harper but a big clothesline brought an end to that as Erick Rowan entered the ring for the first time to use his sheer size and strength as an advantage.
After a dominant spell from the Wyatt Family more double team work allowed Jey Uso to connect with some huge kicks sending Rowan to the outside as Jimmy Uso dived from the barricade to take the big man down.
A slight distraction from Harper cost Jey Uso on the top rope as Rowan pushed the champion face first into the barricade on the outside and Harper continued the beat down on the outside of the ring.
Harper then cut off the tag before hitting a huge boot to the face which almost put away Jey who was taking major punishment. Jey avoided the spear sending Rowan into the ring post and he managed to make the hot tag to Jimmy Uso who came in flying taking out Luke Harper and Rowan.
Two big superkicks from Jimmy dazed Harper who didn't know where he was before taking flight over the top rope to take out Rowan, but his attempt to get back in the ring was met with a boot from Harper.
A roll-up from Jimmy almost saw them sneak a win but a big powerbomb from Harper ended that momentum before he flew through the middle rope not just once but twice as he took out each Uso individually.
An amazing double team move from the Wyatt's had the match won but Jey made the save for his brother and took out Harper before being squished by Rowan in the corner. Rowan then went to the top rope but the gamble didn't pay off as The Uso's hit a superplex from the tope rope bringing the big man down with authority. Jimmy and Jey both hit Big Splashes from the top rope to defend their titles.
Analysis: That was a very fun match to kick off the show, showing exactly how good tag team wrestling can be when done correctly. A good combination of high flying and power moves made for an entertaining match which started the PPV with a bang.
Divas Championship Match- Paige (c) - Naomi
Naomi took Paige to the outside early and dove over the top ropes taking the champion out before heading to the top rope and hitting a cross body back in the ring, starting the match on fire.
Paige finally got some offense catching Naomi on the top rope but it culminated in a botch as both women fell to the outside in an awkward landing. The champion then locked in a leg submission as Cameron seemed to be enjoying her friend suffering punishment.
Naomi got back in control with some great kicks before hitting Rear-View with Paige kicking out just in time. Paige managed to reverse Naomi and planted her face first to retain the title as Cameron celebrated.
Analysis: This was a solid match that Naomi dominated the majority of but the main story was taking place outside of the ring with Cameron clearly changing her allegiances and starting a slow turn on Naomi.
Damien Sandow - Adam Rose
Damien Sandow started the match aggressively beating Adam Rose to the outside of the ring. Sandow kept up his domination until Rose began to mount a fight back of his own which was quickly stopped by a clothesline.
Rose managed to fight back and produced a very quickly rushed comeback to get the victory with the Party Foul.
Analysis: This was a throwaway match that was a TV styled match the fans were supposed to care about Adam Rose and they barely reacted choosing instead to prefer the heel,Sandow.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank- Seth Rollins - RVD - Jack Swagger vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston - Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose wasted no time in going straight after Seth Rollins taking the fight to him all the way into the timekeepers area whilst the rest of the competitors fight it out to get some early dominance.
Kofi Kingston managed to get the upper hand hitting Jack Swagger with a Boom Drop onto a ladder before knocking him out of the ring with the steel. Ambrose notices Kingston is about to win and scrambles to push him off the ladder but Kingston uses the ropes and springboards onto the rest of the competitors on the outside.
Back in the ring and the former Shield members continue to fight out their personal feud with Ambrose sending Rollins crashing onto a ladder. Dolph Ziggler and Kingston then begin battling it out until Rollins takes both men out with a ladder until RVD did the same to him hitting Rolling Thunder onto a ladder.
RVD then went for the case until he was stopped by Jack Swagger but Kingston was quickly back into the action to level things up as he went toe to toe with the former ECW Champion, RVD. Swagger was back in taking out Kingston before setting a ladder up which created an amazing spot of Swagger power bombing the veteran from near the top of the ladder to the mat.
Not to be outdone, Ambrose met Rollins at the top and hit an amazing superplex taking himself and Rollins out of the action. Swagger then took advantage of the empty ring and attempted to retrieve the case but RVD would halt him until the two former Shield men cleared the ring apart from themselves.
After a back and forth fight between Rollins and Ambrose, it seemed like the Lunatic Fringe had it won until Swagger made the save, but Ambrose reversed the move into a DDT. Ambrose appeared to injure his shoulder during the move and the doctors took him out the match leaving Rollins to climb the ladder until RVD came back to interfere.
Kingston placed a ladder between the ropes and the ladder in the center of the ring to join the two men and he would back drop Rollins onto the bridged ladder taking him out with Ziggler coming in to make the save for everyone as he picked up the pace.
Ziggler hit a Superkick to a ladder in front of Swaggers face before planting Kingston back first onto the steel with a Zig Zag as the Showoff shined in his moment of the match, that was until Swagger locked in the Patriot Lock whilst he climbed the ladder.
Ziggler fought off Swagger but it would be Rollins with a chair that ended his chances of winning as he began to climb the ladder himself until Ambrose made his way back to the ring and used the chair to get out his aggression on Rollins before throwing him out of the ring.
Just as Ambrose had it won, Kane made his way down to the ring and hit a Chokeslam allowing Rollins to crawl his way back into the ring and to victory.
Analysis: That was a very good ladder match with a great story running throughout. It was clear before the bell rang that either Rollins or Ambrose would be walking out with the case but everyone else played their part in making this an entertaining battle. Kane's interference helped get Rollins over as a sneaky heel character and him winning the match was no surprise.
Goldust & Stardust - Ryback & Curtis Axel
Stardust kicked off the match in impressive fashion sending Ryback backtracking but the Big Guy managed to get the upper hand when Goldust entered as Curtis Axel beat down the veteran.
After a dominant spell for the heels, Goldust finally made the hot tag and Stardust hit the Cross Rhodes but Axel managed to make the save just in time. Axel then accidentally hit Ryback and Stardust got the victory with a roll-up.
Analysis: This was a decent match that was always going to end this way as Stardust was a brand new character in the WWE, Rhodes portrayed the character well and the crowd was behind him which helped.
Rusev w. Lana - Big E
Rusev was in dominant fashion right from the start as he refused to allow Big E's strength and power to come into play until he missed wildly with a splash allowing E to hit a belly to belly.
Rusev became even more aggressive after suffering some punishment but Big E managed to reverse and hit several big clotheslines before spearing Rusev through the middle ropes.
A big kick for Rusev followed by another gave him the opportunity to lock in the Accolade to pick up the win.
Analysis: A decent match but nothing overly special, it was a battle of two power wrestlers but both men can work at a fast pace and are very agile which helped here.
Layla - Summer Rae- With Fandango as Special Guest Referee
Both women started the match getting some offense in before trying to impress Fandango with dancing and flirting at every chance, Layla hit a big kick to the face to pick up the win in a quick match.
Analysis: This was a throwaway match that didn't even go five minutes, there is very little to be said about it sadly.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match- Kane vs Cesaro vs Randy Orton - John Cena vs Sheamus vs Alberto Del Rio - Bray Wyatt - Roman Reigns
The match begins with a brawl until Cesaro and Alberto Del Rio introduce the first ladder and take out several participants until Bray Wyatt charges into the ladder and wipes out both of them before throwing John Cena onto the steel.
Sheamus and Roman Reigns then sandwich Kane with two ladders before setting them up as Del Rio and Cesaro join them at the top, that was until Kane pushed both ladders.
The Big Red Machine then helped Randy Orton climb the ladder for The Authority until Roman Reigns put a stop to it. Sheamus and Cesaro both had a title held each until Wyatt removed the ladder leaving them hanging until they fell.
On the outside Sheamus and Orton brawl on top of a ladder bridged between the ring and the announcers table as Orton deals with a major cut to the top of his head before DDT'ing Sheamus from the ladder to the floor.
Everyone then attempted to climb one ladder with people constantly pulling each other off. The Celtic Warrior then took out everyone in a major rampage but he was stopped this time by Kane until he was sent into the stairs.
On the other side of the ring Cesaro set up a bridge between the top rope and the ladder, Reigns then pushed the ladder which balanced on an angle as Cesaro and Sheamus continued to brawl which was a unique spot.
Kane once again cleared out the ring in an attempt to help Orton win the match but he was Speared through the middle of the ladder leaving just Reigns and the Viper.
Reigns then went around the ring clearing guys would with Spears and Drive-By's leaving him and Cena one on one in the ring. Orton returned to save the match, hitting a back breaker from the ladder to Reigns but Wyatt hit Sister Abigail to a thunderous reaction stopping him.
Then Del Rio made his way to make the save with a kick to Wyatt allowing him to reach the titles until Sheamus put a stop to it, pushing him off the ladder and hitting a Brogue Kick for good measure.
Next, it as Cesaro saving the match with an uppercut from the ladder to the Celtic Warrior before he tasted an RKO from the ladder. Reigns stopped Orton's progression for a brief period but Kane then came to his aid again. Cena would then hit an AA to both Kane and Orton and make his way to the top of the ring to win the match and become champion.
Analysis: This was a slightly underwhelming main event that could have been better considering the talent involved in the match and the stakes on the line but it was fine for what it was. There seemed to be too many singles interactions with people spending a lot of time on the sides after receiving little offense which was the main problem. Orton and Kane stood out here putting on an impressive display with the Viper getting bust wide open on the top of his head. Cena winning was the happy way to end the show to make sure that The Authority didn't have their way in both ladder matches which makes sense.
Overall this was another solid Money in the Bank PPV, by this point the WWE has got the formula nailed, two good ladder matches and some solid matches around it builds for a strong card which is exactly what this was.
Match of the night: The Money in the Bank ladder match stole the show on this night, filled with stars who were clearly out to steal the show and that is exactly what they did.
Star of the night: Dean Ambrose put on an amazing performance and had the crowd eating out of his hands with everything he did, they were desperate to see him win which made Rollins winning even better.
Rating: 8/10