How WWE Could’ve Booked An NXT Money In The Bank Ladder Match
I enjoy taking a trip in the what if machine. Whether it's historical events, personal life events, or even WWE. One of my favorite match types is Money in the Bank, along with Elimination Chamber, Royal Rumble and the Championship Scramble (can we being that back?). When the fake leak of an NXT Money in the Bank came across my twitter feed, it got my gears in my brain turning. What do I think an NXT Money in the Bank should look like? I decided that eight guys from NXT is to much, so I picked four guys from NXT and four from NXT UK. Now just who made the cut?
Roderick Strong
Here is a guy that has been on fire since joining the Undisputed Era. While their is tension now within the group, Strong is just ready for a run in the singles division. He has the wrestling ability that NXT wants, and has the perfect build for the match. While he is someone that has always come up just short in the past, a Money in the Bank briefcase is just what Strong would need. Imagine this scenario if you will. It’s Takeover: Toronto, and Johnny Gargano just had a grueling match with someone. He is struggling to stand, and then Undisputed Era jump him and beat him down. Then Roderick Strong cashes in and wins the title. That would further the tension in Undisputed Era and further that story for us to enjoy.
Jaxon Ryker
Here is the definition of a guy that needs something to have fans invest in him. As a member of Forgotten Sons, he is somewhat the odd man out as Wesley Blake and Steve Cuttler are the ones that make up the tag team. But Ryker is someone who is not unused to the spotlight, as he is a former main event player in Impact Wrestling as Gunner. While he could be the next challenger for Velveteen Dream’s North American Championship, he needs a little more exposure. A match like this is perfect for that. Before Wrestlemania 23, who really thought that CM Punk could be one of the faces of WWE. I think that we look at Ryker’s skill set is a little rough around the edges but he is someone that is very physical wrestler, and that is his advantage in this match type. He has the physicality to be very good in a match like Money in the Bank
Keith Lee
Talk about under utilized personal, but it is a good reason for that. All the champions right now are faces, and are all underdog faces. Keith Lee is also a face, but is that dominant face that beats down the heels, a lot like Braun Strowman. What helps Keith Lee is that he is a fantastic wrestler. He has flown high with the likes of Ricochet, he can grapple and wrestle with David Starr, and he can go strike for strike with WALTER. Lee’s versatility is his best asset, and he is ready for a run to the main event scene. A spot in the NXT Money in the Bank would help many fans see what fans of Keith Lee have known for years. After the current crop of champions are gone, I fully expect Keith Lee to jump to the main event scene and be a big player in NXT.
Killian Dain
If you need proof of what Killian Dain can do in a ladder match, just go to NXT Takeover: New Orleans. Dain was fantastic in the 6 man ladder match for the NXT North American Championship. Dain has joined Tyler Breeze and gone back to NXT. When he was in NXT the first time, Dain was a part of the group Sanity, and didn’t wrestle much as a singles competitor. This match would be the perfect way to reintroduce him to the NXT crowd. You can have him destroying some of the smaller guys from NXT UK, as well as him having fantastic big man spots with Keith Lee. I am someone who is very excited for Dain’s future, and want to see him succeed in WWE, and with someone of his skillset, you can see just that.
Flash Morgan Webster
Let’s talk about one of the most unique wrestlers in the business today. Webster plays a very good face, but where he thrives is as a sniveling heel. He is someone that has a lot of potential and is in the perfect place for that in NXT UK. Not many people outside of the UK may know exactly who Webster is, so he can use the time in NXT UK to develop and get more mainstream. In the ring, the Welshman is someone who has an unorthodox style of offense, which is something that is very helpful for Webster. He has a style that not to many people are used to. If you add in ladders and a guaranteed title shot whenever he wants, that will be a big thing for Webster. I think that there is a star in the making in Webster, and he just needs that chance to show the entire world just how good he is.
Dave Mastiff
This guy is one of the best kept secrets on the UK scene, as he has looked fantastic since the beginning of NXT UK. I think that their is a lot to build up with Dave Mastiff and he could be a big name for the show. Mastiff has been one of the interesting wrestlers on the roster, as there really is nobody quite like him. The best comparison to make for fans that haven’t seen Mastiff wrestle, is Otis from Heavy Machinery. The big difference is that Mastiff is a singles wrestler and is someone that is already an established name. Mastiff is in this match to help show fans just how good NXT UK is and show why fans should invest in the show. Mastiff is someone that doesn’t really need the briefcase, as he can be seen as a credible challenger without it. It also seems that is the direction they are building towards, and Mastiff vs WALTER for the NXT UK Championship is a match that I want to see.
Mark Andrews
One of the staples of the Money in the Bank ladder match is a highflyer that is willing to do crazy things in the match just to get the win. Mark Andrews is the perfect one for this, as he is someone that is already over with the entire UK scene. Andrews is a guy that would thrive in any ladder match, and has a ton of experience in big matches. He is the guy that fits the permanent ultimate underdog role, just like Rey Mysterio. Andrews is never going to be the bigger dog in the fight (unless he faces Cheeseburger somehow), but that is what Andrews wants. He is someone that would be a great pick for the briefcase, as he is someone that would struggle against the likes of WALTER and Dave Mastiff as he would be a lot smaller and doesn’t match up to well against those types of wrestlers. Also, I would love to see him hit a Shooting Star Press off the top of a ladder. That would be a thing of beauty.
Jordan Devlin
The Irish Ace is an interesting wrestler. He was trained by Finn Balor, looks like Finn Balor, and is even from Bray County Wicklow, Ireland just like Finn Balor. What sets Jordan Devlin apart from his mentor, is his intensity. Devlin always looks for the next hard hitting and aggressive move. He is someone that has a ton of momentum right now. He just won the Over The Top Wrestling World Championship over WALTER in a huge upset, and he just reached the finals of Super Strong Style 16. In that tournament, he beat the winner of this years wXw 16 Kart Gold tournament Lucky Kid. He then beat Kyle Fletcher to reach the semifinals, and matched up with Kyle O’Reilly in the semifinals. That match was fantastic, and Devlin was victorious in what was described as a fantastic match. Devlin followed that up with a fantastic showing in the finals against David Starr. If there was someone with all the momentum behind him and someone who would feel like a good pick to win an NXT Money in the bank, I would say Jordan Devlin would be that pick.
If I had to pick a winner in the match, it would be very challenging. I think someone from NXT UK makes more sense, simply because they have a more dominant champion in WALTER. I think that Jordan Devlin would be the perfect winner, as he seems to be someone that they want to build around as the next face of the UK Independent scene, and possibly NXT UK at some point. I think a wrestler like Devlin would be perfect with the briefcase.
If I had to pick a winner in the match, it would be very challenging. I think someone from NXT UK makes more sense, simply because they have a more dominant champion in WALTER. I think that Jordan Devlin would be the perfect winner, as he seems to be someone that they want to build around as the next face of the UK Independent scene, and possibly NXT UK at some point. I think a wrestler like Devlin would be perfect with the briefcase.