WWE Money In The Bank 2013 | 14.07.2013 | A BRIEFCASE FULL OF GLORY

---

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Mark Henry

If the Cenation thought John Cena’s schedule as a WWE Champion would get any easier once he turned back the sizable challenge of Ryback at WWE Payback, they were sorely mistaken.

At Money in the Bank on July 14, The Champ will face a new monster of a contender in the form of Mark Henry, the 400-pound-plus powerhouse who thrives on causing pain and appears bent not just on destruction, but also on capturing the WWE Title around Cena’s waist.

Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero made the championship bout official on the June 17 edition of Raw after The World’s Strongest Man callously leveled Cena only one night removed from The Champ’s Three Stages of Hell Match against Ryback. In the moments immediately preceding the attack, Henry delivered what many believed to be a heartfelt swan song meant to cap off a stellar 17-year career in WWE. Instead, Henry’s retirement speech was merely a ruse, a setup used to lull a respectful Cena into a false sense of security and make him easy prey.

Now, the Cenation leader and Henry are on a collision course for July 14, and if Cena loyalists aren't concerned about their hero’s title reign — not to mention his physical well-being — they ought to be.

Ill-tempered even on the best of days, Henry is sporting a huge chip on his shoulder, and it seemingly has everything to do with a single objective: winning the WWE Championship that has eluded him in his near two decades of competition. WWE fans will remember that Henry set his sights on Cena the night after WrestleMania 29, only to have another monster, Ryback, steal the spotlight with a high-profile act of betrayal.

Lost in the commotion was the fact that Henry pinned Ryback on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Considering how much trouble Cena had overcoming the Shell Shocking Superstar in recent months, will he be up to the challenge of Mark Henry, one of WWE’s few competitors to hold a completely valid pinfall victory over “The Human Wrecking Ball”?

Henry also takes a discomforting amount of pride in being the reckless and ruthless gatekeeper of the “Hall of Pain.” The list of Superstars who have been put out of action by the superheavyweight is lengthy, reading like a “Who’s who” of WWE. Could The Champ — who’s been plagued by injuries as varied as bone chips in his elbow to a nearly torn meniscus to a torn Achilles tendon — be walking into the most dangerous match of his 11th WWE Title reign at Money in the Bank?

Find out what happens when Cena’s indefatigable spirit is put to the test by more than 400 pounds of bad attitude and bone-breaking expertise. To watch all the action, catch WWE Money in the Bank live on pay-per-view on Sunday, July 14.

---

---

World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler

Turnabout is fair play, but did Albert Del Rio cross the line of professionalism? The night after WrestleMania, Dolph Ziggler did what many men before him have done: cashed in his Money in the Bank contract against a vulnerable World Champion, Alberto Del Rio.

At WWE Payback, knowing that new World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler was just medically cleared to compete following a very serious concussion, Del Rio attacked the vulnerable champion, striking Ziggler in the formerly concussed skull repeatedly until The Showoff could no longer defend himself, or the title.

The victory pushed the bounds of acceptability, and since the controversial (and arguably unprofessional) win at WWE Payback, The Essence of Excellence has been hounded viciously by his foe. Del Rio has not been able to appear on WWE TV or Live Events without being mercilessly attacked by the former champion from any and all directions, despite WWE doctors’ insistence that Dolph take time off to recover.

But on the June 24 edition Raw, it was revealed that Ziggler had been medically cleared, and the rematch was set: At Money in the Bank on July 14, Del Rio will know Ziggler is coming for him. Judging by another rabid attack of the wily champion on Raw, Ziggler wants Del Rio to see his retribution coming.

Medical clearance doesn’t matter to Ziggler anymore. Neither does looking good. The Showoff cares about mercilessly battering Alberto Del Rio as much as is humanly possible before pinning his unconscious shoulders to the mat and steal back the two things he loves most: “Big Gold” … and, of course, the show.

Watch WWE Money in the Bank live on pay-per-view on Sunday, July 14, at 8/7 CT!

---

---

Money in the Bank All-Stars

Then-Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero received a firsthand lesson in how to announce a blow-away match when WWE Executive Vice President Stephanie McMahon revealed the Money in the Bank All-Stars who will compete for a WWE Championship Match contract on July 14

Live on pay-per-view, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Christian and the returning Rob Van Dam will all try to scale the ladder and grab the Money in the Bank briefcase containing a guaranteed contract for a WWE Title Match, to be cashed in at the time and place of the challenger’s choosing.

The six former World Champions represent a stunning diversity of styles and an incredible depth of talent, not to mention enough combined big-match experience to give the July 14 bout must-see appeal.

WWE’s all-time most seasoned Money in the Bank performer, Kane, who boasts a record-setting six appearances in the multi-man, Ladder Match melee, was originally scheduled to be the seventh competitor in the much-anticipated contest. The arrival of The Wyatt Family on the July 8 episode of Raw, however, altered those plans.

Brutally attacking The Devil’s Favorite Demon after his victory over Christian, Bray Wyatt’s imposing followers – Erick Rowan and Luke Harper – decimated the 11-time Tag Team Champion and battered him with the steel ring steps, leaving him with head and neck trauma. On Friday, in a WWE.com exclusive, it was confirmed that Kane is indeed unable to compete on Sunday after the vicious assault.

It remains to be seen who — if anyone — will replace The Big Red Monster in the match or if the six remaining Superstars have one fewer opponent to worry about. If another “All-Star” does step in, could it be Big Show or Kofi Kingston making a quick return from injury? The Great Khali is a former World Champion with the size and experience to claim the priceless contract. Maybe Rob Van Dam won’t be the only celebrated ring veteran making a return at Money in the Bank? Whether or not Kane is replaced, there is no shortage of dangerous possibilities with the Superstars who will attempt to scale the ladder.

Leading the charge is The Straight Edge Superstar, a former two-time WWE Champion who has competed in three Money in the Bank Ladder Matches and won two of them (in 2008 and 2009). While a strained relationship with Paul Heyman and a run-in with Brock Lesnar have somewhat marred his comeback somewhat, Punk insists he remains undeterred in his ultimate goal of reclaiming the WWE Title that he held for 434 days during his most recent reign.

Daniel Bryan returns to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match format two years after winning a World Heavyweight Championship contract in just such a contest. The versatile ring general may have spent the bulk of the last year in tag team competition, but he recently made it clear that WWE’s most cherished prize is now squarely in his sights.

Randy Orton will enter the Money in the Bank Ladder Match as the most decorated competitor in terms of WWE Championship reigns, at six. Yet, The Viper has not been active in the WWE Title picture for many months, underscoring how precious an opportunity this will be for WWE’s ever-dangerous Apex Predator, who also happens to be a veteran of two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches.

Two-time WWE Champion Sheamus, similar to Orton, is seeking to reenter the WWE Title picture with a winning performance at Money in the Bank. The Celtic Warrior’s lone experience in the match format came in 2010, and although he came up short that night, Sheamus nonetheless made a huge impression with a characteristically intense outing that saw him fold up Sin Cara with a powerbomb through a ladder.

Arguably, Christian will be the hungriest Superstar battling for a guaranteed contract on July 14. Coming off a nearly yearlong sabbatical from the ring, Captain Charisma has been immediately thrust into contention for a championship that’s eluded him for 15 years, the WWE Title. The cagey veteran has five Money in the Bank Ladder Matches under his belt and is the second most experienced “banker” in the bout.

Last but not least is Rob Van Dam, the only competitor in this match to have cashed in a Money in the Bank contract against a WWE Champion (John Cena in 2006). Not only is “Mr. Pay-Per-View” all but custom-built for a high-risk match like this one, but his match on July 14 will be only his second bout in a WWE ring in six years. Moreover, Van Dam’s homecoming takes place in Philadelphia, the former home of ECW, where the letters “R-V-D” first gained traction.

With its participants accounting for 11 WWE Title reigns and 13 Money in the Bank outings combined, the veritable all-star lineup of this year’s WWE Championship Contract contest makes the bout among the most loaded and intriguing Money in the Bank Ladder Matches of all time. To find out which Superstar will rise about the rest and leave Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center with a title contract, don’t miss Money in the Bank when it airs live on pay-per-view Sunday, July 14, at 8 ET/5 PT.

---

---

World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match

While this year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view is already set to unleash the “Money in the Bank All-Star” showdown, featuring seven former World Champions, it will also look to the future!

That’s because in the World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match, seven of WWE’s most prominent up-and-coming Superstars – Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Dean Ambrose, Fandango, Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro – will put their bodies and careers on the line in one of WWE’s most dangerous contests, with a golden contract for a World Heavyweight Title opportunity literally hanging in the balance.

At the urging of WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, Senior Advisor to the SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long revealed the electrifying lineup, giving seven skilled Superstars a date with destiny on Sunday, July 14.

As a three-time Intercontinental Champion, Wade Barrett is a true standout in the match. A fierce participant in the 2011 Money in the Bank battle for the World Heavyweight Title contract, the British brawler has tasted his share of WWE success and is eager to prove that the Barrett Barrage has only just begun.

Likewise, Cody Rhodes has held plenty of WWE championship gold as a former Intercontinental, World Tag Team and WWE Tag Team Champion. After competing in Money in the Bank Ladder Matches the past three years, the fourth time could prove to be the charm for the second-generation Superstar.

Rhodes’ “study buddy,” Damien Sandow, who also squared off in last year’s contest, will surely look to use this golden opportunity as a stepping stone to proclaim his intellectual and moral superiority. Since there can only be one winner, however, will Team Rhodes Scholars’ teamwork come into play? Or, will it truly be every man for himself?

As the reigning United States Champion, Dean Ambrose likely has the most momentum of any Superstar in the match, in addition to his particular tenacity and eccentricity that could carry him to victory amidst the chaos of a Ladder Match. Members of the WWE Universe have learned to believe in The Shield, but a victory here would force them to become true Ambrose believers.

Fandango may be a newcomer to Ladder Matches, but the toe-tapping Superstar boasts impressive victories over not only Chris Jericho, but also Barrett. After missing time due to a concussion, the multi-talented, high-flying competitor could return with authority on July 14 and announce his presence in the World Title picture.

Two of the Superstars associated with Zeb Colter – Swagger and Cesaro – round out the seven combatants. Swagger, who won the WrestleMania XXVI Money in the Bank Ladder Match and successfully cashed it in to claim the World Heavyweight Title, is the lone former World Champion in the match.

Cesaro, on the other hand, is recognized for his incredible physical strength and hugely impressive 200-plus day reign with the United States Title. Much like Team Rhodes Scholars, however, it remains to be seen whether the common link of Colter will make Swagger and Cesaro stand in solidarity, or if their alliance could go right out the window.

Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center is in for an explosive night when seven of the hungriest, most talented Superstars who represent WWE’s future put it all on the line in the World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match. And, while it is uncertain who will emerge victorious, it is clear that a new threat is rising to the World Title, with a guaranteed championship match at the time of his choosing. The question is: Who will it be? Watch WWE Money in the Bank live on pay-per-view on Sunday, July 14, at 8 ET/5 PT!

---

---

The Miz vs. Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel

At WWE Payback, rising star Curtis Axel captured the Intercontinental Title in a Triple Threat Match against Wade Barrett and The Miz. Now, The Awesome one gets a chance at retribution when he goes one-on-one with the “Paul Heyman Guy” at Money in the Bank.

If you’re looking for a Superstar hungry for a championship victory, look no further than The Miz.

A natural in the limelight, Miz successfully defended the WWE Championship against John Cena at WrestleMania XXVII. Certainly, headlining The Show of Shows is the dream of every Superstar on the planet, and Miz isn’t shy about reminding anyone and everyone about his major accomplishment. In a championship drought as of late, Miz would like nothing more than to add a third Intercontinental Title reign to his resume.

But standing in Miz’s way is a tough up-and-comer who is striving to live up to the name of his legendary father, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig. With Paul Heyman in his corner, Axel appears well-poised to continue his upward trajectory in WWE.

Money in the Bank could truly be a turning point for both Superstars. Successfully defend his title and Axel proves he is no flash-in-the-pan champion. If Miz wins, he quickly gets his career back on track.

Coincidently, it was at Money in the Bank 2010 that Miz’s career hit a turning point when he won the Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Later that year, he successfully cashed in his WWE Title opportunity on Randy Orton to capture the most illustrious prize in sports-entertainment.

Will the July pay-per-view prove to be “money” once again for The Awesome One, or will the “Paul Heyman Guy” chalk up another major win to continue propelling his career forward?

Catch all the action live on pay-per-view Sunday, July 14, at 8 ET/5 PT.

---

---

Divas Champion AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn

With no love lost between them, Divas Champion AJ Lee and Kaitlyn will once again clash in a highly personal rematch for the butterfly-emblazoned title at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view!

After several weeks of sending texts and gifts under the guise of a feigned secret admirer, AJ and her friend Big E Langston publically humiliated a hopeful Kaitlyn on Raw — psychologically crushing the object of her ridicule to such an extent that it helped the unhinged Diva capture the championship from her one-time best friend at WWE Payback.

But the humiliation would hardly stop there, as AJ emerged on the June 24 edition of Raw in a stuffed muscle suit, looking to further mock Kaitlyn with an unflattering imitation.

On the following SmackDown, however, Kaitlyn would strike back. Dressing up as her eccentric adversary and suggesting that, in addition to the number of Superstars she is known to have dated, AJ had also dated several of the WWE personnel seated at ringside. Then, as she skipped around the ring, the distraction by the Hybrid Diva allowed third-generation competitor, Natalya, to pick up a quick pinfall victory over the reigning titleholder.

Now that Kaitlyn has met AJ on her level, she will attempt to reclaim her place on top of Divas mountain. When the bell rings on the heated Divas dust-up, who will hold the championship in their grasp as their No. 1 accessory? Don’t miss Money in the Bank, Sunday, July 14, at 8/5 PT, only on pay-per-view.

---

---

Chris Jericho vs. Ryback

Sometimes, a great rivalry can be started by the most offhanded of incidents. A coffee spill, a stolen tag, a mispronounced name and the perceived rejection of a heartfelt gift have all led to some of the most ferocious collisions WWE has ever seen. It’s a tried-and-true rule of the ring, and Chris Jericho and Ryback are the latest additions to the pantheon of opponents whose conflict began rather unceremoniously. History will show their battle began on the June 24 edition of Raw when they both barged in on Vickie Guerrero with a bone to pick and ended up slated to meet at Money in the Bank 2013.

On first glance, the match seems like an impulsive bout made by a managing supervisor who is under more and more scrutiny from the McMahons as each week passes. Jericho and Ryback both demanded matches at Money in the Bank — Jericho in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the WWE Championship Contract, and Ryback against John Cena for the WWE Title — and Vickie, seemingly in a last-ditch effort to appease both frustrated Superstars and WWE’s first family in one fell swoop, pitted the two against each other. The decision may smack of desperation on the “Queen Diva’s” part, but at second glance, a Jericho-Ryback tilt makes perfect sense.

Jericho is coming off a hard-fought (and high-profile) loss to CM Punk at WWE Payback (his fourth consecutive to The Straight Edge Superstar), one in which the inaugural Undisputed Champion seemed to almost be banking on his opponent not showing up at all. Ryback’s rampaging challenge for the WWE Title met its abrupt end in the bay of an ambulance when Cena vanquished the beast in a Three Stages of Hell Match, but his own problems run deeper than that: Since mounting his first conquest for the WWE Title at Hell in a Cell 2012, Ryback has not won a single pay-per-view match.

At Money in the Bank, an event where the future of both World Title pictures will be decided, two perennial contenders will go head-to-head to avenge their previous misfortunes. Victory will not be a given for either; Ryback towers over Jericho in stature, but Y2J has slain giants before. And as Daniel Bryan previously showed, all it takes is a little heart to leave a big man down. But whether that will be enough for Jericho — or whether Ryback’s frustrations will carry him back to long-awaited glory — is a matter for July 14 in Philadelphia. Until then, all the WWE Universe can do is wait and wonder which of these two hardheaded Superstars will be left in the lurch, and who will be in the proverbial money as the final bell tolls.

---

---

WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. The Usos (Kickoff Match)

At Money in the Bank, WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns will put their illustrious titles on the line against The Usos. Can the formidable Samoan combination crack The Shield?

To say that The Shield has dominated WWE since arriving on the scene at last year’s Survivor Series would be an understatement – unleashing a hostile takeover that has swiftly laid waste to the likes of The Undertaker, Big Show, Randy Orton and Team Hell No. Their rule was cemented when Rollins & Reigns seized tag team gold from Kane & Daniel Bryan in a Tornado Tag Match at Extreme Rules on the same night that their fellow Hound of Justice, Dean Ambrose, captured the United States Title. Like a runaway truck, The Shield has shown no signs of slowing down ever since.

However, if anyone can provide the perfect roadblock to their destructive romp through the ranks of the squared circle, it’s Jimmy & Jey Uso. Hailing from a legendary wrestling lineage – sons of the great Rikishi – it would be hard to argue that greatness isn’t destined for them.

The explosive brothers utilize a hybrid style that combines a high-flying attack with smash-mouth brawling aggression. And their new war paint look is hardly the only indication that they are ready for a higher form of battle. Just four days after winning the right to challenge Reigns & Rollins for the championship gold in a fierce Triple Threat No. 1 Contender’s Match, they teamed with two-time World Champion Christian on the June 28 edition of SmackDown to hand The Shield only their second clean loss in a Six-Man Tag Team Match!

Rollins & Reigns are a truly formidable force of ruthless aggression who, alongside Dean Ambrose, have worked the numbers game to perfection. But in the face of their tremendous Samoan opposition, it will remain to be seen whether they will leave Money in the Bank with the WWE Tag Team Titles in their grasp. Find out who will emerge victorious.

Watch the Money in the Bank Kickoff, streaming live on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google+, Pinterest, Xbox 360 and Samsung Smart TVs this Sunday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

---