Harsh Realities From Rewatching Money In The Bank 2021

Money In The Bank 2021 came around a whole five years ago, serving as WWE’s official return to shows with fans following months of zero audience members and the ThunderDome during the pandemic era of professional wrestling. It was a feel good PPV that featured plenty of big names and a thunderous audience, but not everything has necessarily aged well from this historic night of action.

Whether it be bad booking decisions, the wrong choice in winners of title matches or Money In The Bank briefcases, or the power of hindsight that negatively impacts the quality and series of events that were seen across this show, there are some harsh realities to come to terms with when rewatching the 2021 Money In The Bank.

5

WWE Rushed Nikki A.S.H.’s Push

• Nikki A.S.H. won the Money In The Bank contract.
• Her new superhero gimmick was only in its infancy in WWE.
• Vince McMahon rushed (and squandered) her push.

At the 2021 Money In The Bank event, Nikki A.S.H. was the woman who climbed the ladder and retrieved the briefcase… but you’d be forgiven if you’d forgotten all about it. Nikki Cross was repackaged into a loveable, goofy superhero in 2021, but before she’d had a chance to really flesh out and develop her new gimmick, Vince McMahon thrust into an unenviable spotlight. Simply put, this was not a world title level gimmick, and Nikki A.S.H. was put into an unwinnable position.

She cashed in the Money In The Bank contract on the very next night to win the RAW Women’s Title, before being booked as a complete loser ahead of her title loss at SummerSlam. From there, she dropped down the card and never saw the world title picture again. Rewatching this show provides the harsh reality of how badly fumbled this character ultimately was, with the Money In The Bank contract being completely wasted.

4

WWE Wasted The Tag Team Of AJ Styles & Omos

• Omos was initially over in WWE as part of his tag team with AJ Styles.
• They defeated The Viking Raiders at Money In The Bank 2021.
• It wasn’t long until WWE ruined Omos & Styles as a duo.

AJ Styles and Omos walked into Money In The Bank 2021 as the reigning and defending RAW Tag Team Champions, successfully defeating The Viking Raiders to continue their run with the belts. At the time, the duo of Styles & Omos were popular amongst fans, thanks in part to Omos’ statement-making debut at WrestleMania 37.

One of the harshest realities of watching Money In The Bank 2021 is seeing just how poorly handled this tag team was in the aftermath. It wasn’t long until they lost the championships and split up, with Omos squashing Styles and going at it by himself – well before he was ready. WWE should have kept these two together for way longer, with this show a good example of their effectiveness as a team.

3

Big E’s Eventual WWE Championship Reign Was A Dud

• Big E won the men’s Money In The Bank.
• He cashed in his briefcase on Bobby Lashley.
• Big E’s WWE Title reign was awful.

One of the most popular decisions at Money In The Bank 2021 came with Big E’s victory in the men’s ladder match, winning the briefcase and cementing himself as a future world champion in the process. Fans were very excited with the prospect of Big E becoming a major star, handing him a massive reaction when he won the WWE Championship in his cash-in against Bobby Lashley.

Unfortunately, rewatching Money In The Bank 2021 serves as a harsh reminder of how badly WWE booked him as the man with the top prize in the promotion. He was not treated as a major star, his feuds often played second fiddle to other feuds across RAW & SmackDown, he lost in a champion versus champion match against Roman Reigns, and his first main event PPV title defense saw him unceremoniously lose the belt. Sure, his Money In The Bank win was a nice moment, but hindsight deals a terrible blow.

2

Kofi Kingston’s Final World Title Match

• Kingston’s main event run was poorly booked by WWE.
• He was squashed by Bobby Lashley at Money In The Bank 2021.
• Kingston never received another televised world title match.

Despite it being some time since his disastrous squash match loss against Brock Lesnar two years prior, Kofi Kingston walked into Money In The Bank 2021 as the number one contender for the WWE Championship, and it was fresh to see him back in the mix. Bobby Lashley would ultimately deal a devastating assault on Kingston, essentially squashing him in what was a well-executed match that made Lashley look like a beast.

However, a harsh reality from this match is the fact that this was Kingston’s final ever televised challenge for a world championship. WWE mishandled Kingston as a main eventer, and although it would serve him to have a redemption arc after this big loss, WWE didn’t see value in it.

1

Edge Never Won Another World Title In WWE

• Roman Reigns vs. Edge headlined Money In The Bank 2021.
• Edge still felt like a big deal as the main eventer in WWE.
• Edge’s redemption arc was never completed.

The main event of Money In The Bank 2021 saw Edge challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, with Edge following up on his previous loss in the main event of WrestleMania 37. This was a big-fight-feel main event between two defined stars, but it also proved to be the beginning of the end for Edge’s world title hopes.

Ever since he returned to WWE, fans were desperate to see Edge reclaim a world title given that he initially retired as World Heavyweight Champion back in 2011. He lost to Reigns, fell into the upper midcard, and never challenged for a top prize again before his WWE exit. It would have been one hell of a story, but Edge’s loss at Money In The Bank would end his final chance of world title glory in WWE.