Cashing In and Splitting Up

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

WWE's Money in the Bank special may have been touted as a card worthy of Wrestlemania, but not everything was as grand a spectacle as what you'd hope to see on the "Grandest Stage of Them All."  To make up for it, we got at least three matches that we'll not soon forget...just in time for a looming draft to put a monkey wrench into the entire roster's prospective future.

Kickoff Matches

I won't waste a lot of time here.  In fact, I didn't even watch the Kickoff Show.  Apparently the Golden Truth defeated Breezango and somehow the guy making up tag team names still has a job.  The Lucha Dragons defeated the Dudley Boyz and somehow Bubba Ray still wants a job.  Aside from reminding us that there are more than four tag teams in the entire division (which is important going into the brand split), these matches do absolutely nothing for anyone, so while we can appreciate the effort, we likely won't remember they happened when we see the obligatory rematches tonight on Raw.

WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match

WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day defeated Enzo & Cass, The Vaudevillains, and The Club (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson)

This was a solid show-opener, with lots of rapid-fire action.  Sure, there were at least two major clunks in between: the late interference by Gallows to break up what was clearly a clean three-count for Enzo & Cass, and a confusing Trouble in Paradise that saw Enzo fall forward instead of back, but overall this was a solid showing for a strong division that might see its best days behind it heading into the brand split.  If we count the four tag teams (I use that term loosely in two of those cases) from the Kickoff Show, that gives eight tag teams to split between Raw and Smackdown (nine if you're counting the Shining Stars).  Assuming American Alpha makes the rumored ascent from NXT, we could get five teams per brand, but how they maintain the momentum for each of those teams is just as important--if not moreso--than simply filling out your roster.

Baron Corbin defeated Dolph Ziggler

The outcome of this match shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, but the match itself might be.

As a young up-and-comer who supposedly made a statement by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Corbin should be showing me something new every time a WWE Network special comes around.  Instead, I see more of the same, and in this case, something a little worse.

I get that there is a particular pace to a "David vs. Goliath" match: typically the giant stalks his prey as the tinier combatant stumbles around the ring, selling everything thrown at him.  Ziggler is perfectly tailored to this.  Nobody sells better.  But Corbin's slow and plodding pace failed to look dominant, instead lulling the crowd into a round of the infamous "boring" chant.

With little in the way of structure or flow, it's a surprise this match even made the main card.  I'd expect something of this caliber on the Kickoff Show, but it's extra insulting to see it used as "filler" during the event itself.  It's a shame that two guys with so much to give have given me so little reason to be invested.

Also, can someone please tell Ziggler it's not okay to use Sweet Chin Music?  Because it's not.

Ever.

TAG TEAM MATCH

WWE Women's Champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke defeated Becky Lynch & Natalya

Even as I write this, I'm racking my brain for one memorable thing about the contest itself.  For the life of me, I can't come up with anything.  The Champ and her cohort are on the ropes when suddenly Dana Brooke causes Becky and Nattie to collide in what looked like a truly painful bump, and thus costing them the match.

Pretty standard fare, but nothing noteworthy.  Everyone's tired of seeing Charlotte drag someone around to help her win.  She's clearly capable of handling herself, so let her do that, even as a heel.

The most interesting thing about this match is Natalya turning on Becky afterward.  Nattie has a chance to really shine here and elevate Becky to the next level.  Let her come out and complain about how she was left behind in this whole "Divas Revolution," and she's tired of having to share the spotlight with women who (presumably) aren't good enough to lace her boots.  Let her and Becky go back and forth, and let Becky get her shot at Charlotte when it's all done.

Of course, that leaves the question of who will be facing Charlotte for the Women's Championship in the meantime.  That depends on how this draft shakes out and where the title ends up (and if a second title is created).  Paige recently pinned Charlotte on Raw, and we haven't seen Sasha Banks in a while.  Both would be excellent contenders, and since there's no guarantee where everyone will end up after July 19th, you might as well pull those triggers now.

Apollo Crews def. Sheamus

Once again, I can't think of anything notable about this match.  It was a solid effort, but so was every match on this card.  Similar to Corbin vs. Ziggler, it's a shame that a talent like Crews has failed to stand out on the main roster.  Say what you want about Sheamus, he's a very good performer and a perfect guy to help get the next generation of stars over.  Unfortunately, it's hard to do that when you're given limited time and virtually no story to work with.

A.J. Styles defeated John Cena

For me, this was the match of the night.  It was clearly Styles' best showing since coming to the main roster, and it was helped by John Cena's willingness to sell everything Styles hit him with.  Honestly, I haven't seen Cena sell a beating like that since Brock Lesnar.

Obviously, letting Styles win was the right move as it elevates him to main-event status.  People will complain that the win wasn't "clean," but--newsflash, everyone--AJ is a heel.  It's what heels do.  Don't believe me?  Go lookup the Four Horsemen.  I'll wait.

The match was all about Styles, but major props should be given to John Cena, here.  For all the flak that he takes for burying talent (something Styles himself mentioned a few weeks ago), he's one of the few guys on the roster whose credibility is such that when he loses, it makes the victor look a million times better than he did before.

The two told a great story.  Cena simply couldn't get any momentum going as Styles seemed to counter everything he did.  At one point, Styles even took time to literally run circles around WWE's golden boy.  After taking Cena down to the mat for what felt like the hundredth time, Styles looked to the crowd and yelled, "Is that all he's got?  Sh*t!"  Both men played their parts perfectly.  The Club's interference guarantees that Cena's integrity is protected and cements Styles as the biggest heel in professional wrestling.

Hopefully we get a couple more bouts from these two.  I'm sure John Cena will be looking for revenge come Monday night.

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Sami Zayn

If you couldn't decide who you wanted to win this match, you probably weren't alone.  Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and Dean Ambrose all made strong contenders for the top spot, here, and all put their bodies through hell to get there.  One particularly nasty spot saw Kevin Owens go spine-to-spine with a ladder, and I honestly thought for several moments he was seriously hurt.

The backstage promo between Owens, Jericho, and Del Rio was magic.  In particular, I think Owens and Jericho have a tremendous chemistry that could carry them forward in a feud that is as much about words as it is about wrestling.  Their confrontations in the ring last night seemed to indicate we are headed there, and that could only mean one thing:

Dean Ambrose emerged as Mr. Money in the Bank.

The rest (as you will see) was academic.

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

WWE United States Champion Rusev (with Lana) vs. Titus O'Niel

There is an art to match placement that goes largely overlooked in the business of pro wrestling.  When done properly, it allows an event to slowly build as the stakes are steadily raised until the tension explodes in the main event.

When done poorly, two solid performers get thrown to the wolves when they are smashed between two truly epic matches.

Rusev vs. Titus O'Niel had all the makings of a solid bout, particularly with Titus' family at ringside.  That fact alone lent itself to a good story, but it was a story that was scarcely told in the less than ten minutes the match lasted.  Though his feats of strength were impressive, Titus never got a chance to look strong in front his children (in particular, he never got to do his trademark barking from the corner).  Never at any point was I convinced Titus had a chance of winning, and that's a shame because rather than looking like "enhancement talent," O'Niel could have looked every bit Rusev's equal.  Even if he was going to come up short, there's a difference between getting completely dominated versus having the victory slip from your grasp.

Now of course we have to wonder who Rusev's next opponent will be, and we likely won't find out for another month.

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

The wrestling in this match was very, very good, but it's also probably the best story Roman Reigns has ever told in or out of the ring.

The most surprising aspect of this match was the hints of a "double-turn" right from the start as the alleged babyface Reigns beat down underdog heel Seth Rollins, even going so far as to palm his face away and call him names.

Suddenly Rollins was fighting from underneath instead of looking like the dominant champion he used to be.  Reigns' facial expressions were key, because you could see the disgust in his face as he glared at his former Shield brother and listened to the cascading boos that fell on him whenever he hit any kind of offense.

These two worked magic together, and if it weren't for Cena vs. A.J. an hour before they may have had the match of the night.  Their efforts may be overshadowed by what followed, but if nothing else these two men both proved they deserve to be main-event stars; and yes, that includes Roman Reigns.  It may be the "in" thing to boo Roman every chance you get, but anyone who goes back to Survivor Series 2015 when Roman won his first title will see a clear difference in the quality of his wrestling and his storytelling ability in the ring.  I'm still not going out to buy his t-shirt, but I simply find it hard to dislike the guy when he's worked so hard to prove himself a fickle generation of merciless fans.

Giving Rollins the win was key, as it was Seth's first match back from what seemed a career-ending injury.  More importantly, it set up what followed that night, and what is inevitably waiting around the next bend.

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

People were chanting for Dean Ambrose before the final bell had rung for Reigns and Rollins.  From the moment "The Lunatic Fringe" captured the precious briefcase, we all knew what would happen next, even if we weren't sure how the night would end.

From the looks of things, the fans weren't the only ones expecting Ambrose to cash in.  The second Dean's music hit, Rollins was waiting in the ring with the look of a hungry wolf waiting for his next prey.

Unfortunately for "The Architect," Ambrose's attack came from behind as he smashed the briefcase over Rollins' head, knocking him virtually unconscious.  Ambrose then cashed in the weapon as Seth got back to his feet just in time to be met with Dirty Deeds.

In an unprecedented turn of events, each member of the Shield held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a single night, and with Reigns and Rollins both owed a rematch, one can only assume a Shield Triple-Threat is in the works for Battleground.

The Draft and Battleground

Of course, this is all assuming that all three ex-Shield members wind up on the same brand after the draft.

Perhaps more interesting than any outcome from the night itself is the prospect of the draft and how the landscape of WWE will change after everyone is assigned to their respective roster.

As much as we'd love to see these feuds move forward and continue, chances are some of them will be disrupted by the flow of talent from one side to the other.

Obviously, the creation (or rebirth) of a second World Championship is eminent, but how that champion will be determined is a big question.  Will we see a second Women's Championship, a second tag team title?  Where will the Cruiserweight Championship fit in to all of this?

Tonight's Raw may hold some clues as to the future of WWE's roster, but there will be a lot of question marks until the draft shakes out and we see who gets a chance to be a bigger fish in a much smaller pond.

What's Next for Nakamura?

Despite their reputation for notoriously short memories, I'd be surprised if most fans didn't hold the Austin Aries vs. Shinsuke Nakamura from last night's NXT Takeover: The End as a Match of the Year candidate by year's end.  The epic encounter is a classic example of perfect pacing, hold-your-breath moves, and superb athleticism from two men who have virtually done it all in the business.

That being said, the shakeout from the event is arguably the most intriguing aspect of the entire affair.  I don't think anybody acquainted with these two wrestlers doubted their match last night would steal the show.  By most accounts, it was the most anticipated bout of the evening.  Nakamura's victory, coupled with his already overwhelming popularity with fans, assures him the sky is the limit; but is now the time to make that future a reality?

Shinsuke Nakamura is not new to hardcore fans who have followed his career through New Japan, but his arrival in NXT has now made him a household name among the casual fan as well.  He's managed to back that up with two stellar performances at consecutive takeovers against Sami Zayn and Austin Aries, assuring us that the hype is to be believed.  But there's precious few other "big" stars to wrestle in NXT (particularly with rumors swirling that the roster will be largely dispersed to feed the Raw and Smackdown brand extension).  There's only one person left on the roster with the sort of name recognition deserving of a main-event-style billing, and he just so happens to be the same person holding championship gold.

A feud between NXT Champion Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura is inevitable, especially now that Finn Balor has officially failed to recapture the belt and seems destined to reappear on one of the main rosters (perhaps to reclaim the Club he founded).  Nakamura as NXT Champion is all but a certainty to happen sooner rather than later, but how soon is too soon?

When answering that question, it's important to consider three people.  The first, of course, is Nakamura himself.

"The King of Strong Style" is by far the greatest showman NXT has ever seen, and his oozing charisma has weaved its way into the fans' hearts at rapid-fire pace.  Despite being a product of the "indie scene" (if you can call New Japan an indie promotion), Nakamura is the epitome of Vince McMahon's sports-entertainment: a larger-than-life presence with world-class athleticism and a die-hard passion for pro wrestling.  As the most popular star on his roster (with the possible exception of Bayley), it seems only logical to gift him with the most coveted prize that roster has to offer and make him your Champion.

So why shouldn't you?

It all comes down to the age-old wrestling paradox of whether or not a particular star needs the title.  As pointed out by many greats of the past like Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels, there's a huge difference between "the title making the man" and "the man making the title."  In the case of Nakamura, it's probably more of the latter as he brings with him his body of work overseas and infuses it into what he's established her in the States.  Nakamura would elevate the Championship, no doubt, but his meteoric rise to prominence suggests that he doesn't need the title to be your main event.  His work speaks for itself.  His charisma speaks for itself.  He speaks for himself.

Better yet, by keeping the title away from Nakamura, you have the chance not just to build him as an underdog scraping from the bottom, but the chance to elevate other stars on your roster, especially with the obligatory injection of new blood coming as much of the upper card moves to the main roster(s).  What could a match against Nakamura do for men like Tommaso Ciampa or Johnny Gargano?  Even in defeat, these fledgling stars could be given a chance to truly showcase their skills and prove that they can "go".  It helps their careers and proves to the fans that the future of the brand is in very capable hands.

The second person to consider is Austin Aries, who will go largely uncredited for the masterpiece of last night's match, but deserves almost as much, if not more applause for the effort.  Aries has a tremendous story to tell: a devil-may-care heel with a chip on his shoulder because he came in just in time to be eclipsed by someone who was deemed a bigger draw.  His match against Nakamura was by far his best showing since coming to NXT, and hopefully fans who haven't gotten a chance to know him will now take notice and see the merit in his words.

Whereas letting Nakamura flounder in the mid-card for a while could elevate the unknowns of your roster, the same cannot be said for Austin Aries.  It's not because he lacks the ability; but the loss to Nakamura means "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" ends up looking less than great.  A victory over Aries at this point would be the equivalent of kicking a man when he's down.

Instead, Aries needs to be the one to ensure Nakamura never attains that NXT Championship.  Despite not qualifying for a title match himself, he can be the thorn in Shinsuke's side.  Every time "The King of Strong Style" seems to have a title victory in his grasp, Aries is there to spoil it.  Eventually, Samoa Joe gets fed up with Aries and decides to put his title on the line against A-Double in an effort to shut him up for good.  And that's when Aries wins.  Suddenly Aries sits atop the mountain, triumphantly clad in the Championship that was always meant to be his: everything he's ever said is true.  All the doubters see their folly.  All the naysayers are forced to acknowledge him as truly "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived."

Now enter an enraged Nakamura who's tired of being screwed out of every opportunity and sees the man who has thwarted his every attempt to be Champion holding a title he doesn't deserve.  Nakamura returns and beats Aries for the Championship, cementing himself as the brand's biggest star.  Samoa Joe can then return to insist on a rematch for the title that was stolen from him, and that's when we get the inevitable Joe vs. Nakamura match.

The most important thing here is that everybody wins, everybody looks good.  Aries doesn't look like a loser.  Nakamura still looks like a hero.  Joe still looks like a badass.  Nobody has to "job out" or fade away.  With a thin top-card, NXT needs all three of these men to carry their brand forward until the next crop of superstars is ready to take the mantle.

Finally, there's Samoa Joe.  Similar to Aries, the biggest issue for Joe is that there are few stars on his level that qualify as legitimate threats to his title.  For this reason, it's probably obvious to stick he and Nakamura in a feud immediately.  But since we have a couple of months til NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 2016 at Summerslam, I'd suggest that Joe spend at least a few weeks just running through the lower card enhancement talent and asserting that there's nobody left on the roster to threaten him.  That's when the above scenario kicks in and a Joe/Nakamura feud can ensue, eventually bringing Austin Aries to the fore as your NXT Champion.

WWE is famous for their short-term memory, but even more infamous for their short-term booking.  In a time where the NXT brand is jeopardized by the expansions of Raw and Smackdown, a slow build of the next big star is what's needed while the new blood gets their sea legs under them so they can one day carry their fellow stars to the next generation.  Last night may have been The End, but it's really just the beginning.