WWE
TD Garden (Boston, MA)
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
The Money in the Bank ladder match has garnered the reputation as a foolproof gimmick match. The gimmick – six or more guys in a ladder match – lends itself to at least a solid match. The traditional NWA/WCW War Games concept was often viewed in a similar fashion. In both cases, the theory is that the gimmicks themselves make it easier to have great matches regardless of who is actually in the match (within reason, of course). With Money in the Bank matches, it is a pretty solid bet that the match will at least be entertaining.
This was the first of two MITB-style ladder matches on the 2014 Money in the Bank PPV and was probably the better of the two. That is despite the fact that 4/6th’s of the participants served very little importance beyond being warm bodies. The only issue in the match was between ex-Shield members Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
Ambrose – who, true to form, has gone off the deep end following Rollins’ betrayal – attacks Rollins immediately upon entering the match. Rollins and Ambrose are not always in the ring (together or separately) but they are always the focus of the match. Swagger, Kofi, Dolph, and RVD all get their moments, but the issue between the former Shield teammates is presented as the centerpiece.
There were many ladder bumps and neat spots in this one, but two stand out above the rest.
The first came when Kofi was perched on a ladder with a few of the other wrestlers in the match standing around outside the ring. Ambrose tipped the ladder to keep Kofi from grabbing the belt. As the ladder fell, Kofi jumped off and landed a plancha on the guys on the outside. It was perfectly executed and not telegraphed at all.
The second great – or insane, if you prefer – spot saw Kofi backdrop Rollins off of a vertical ladder onto a horizontal ladder that had been propped up by the 1st ladder and the ring ropes. Rollins’ back hit HARD off of the ladder causing him to bounce up in the air before landing on the mat – just an insane move.
Ambrose was taken out mid-match with an arm injury. Heroically, he returns near the end of the match to keep Rollins from winning (temporarily). The match ended – as it should – with Ambrose and Rollins as the only two wrestlers left standing. That is until Kane came out to put away Ambrose and hand the briefcase to Rollins.
This was a fun ladder match with a few insane spots. The focus on Ambrose and Rollins gave the match an additional focus beyond “six guys fighting for a title”. The angle of Rollins holding the briefcase while Ambrose does everything in his power to prevent his former teammate from cashing in could be a lot of fun. Both guys have been excellent in their post-Shield roles thus far.
Diagnostics
Ladder Match | Watch It | Quality & Bumps