Predictions from the Faculty
WWE Money in the Bank 2011 Edition
July 17, 2011
Predictions by: Wrestleview Columnists and Staff
Written by: Mike Tedesco and Anthony J. Valvo of Wrestleview.com
Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of “Predictions from the Faculty” (Season #3). This weekend, we gathered our thoughts for the upcoming WWE Pay-Per-View, as we will provide our selections for WWE’s Money in the Bank PPV. The show will be held in CM Punk’s hometown of Chicago, IL.
The card currently will have six matches. Since Mr. Valvo will not be available during Sunday’s show. So, if they add any unadvertised match it will not count to the standings. Still, to maintain your Student Standing send all predictions to Mr. Valvo. He will still update the standings during his vacation.
In case you are new to reading these predictions, here is the format. Each Pay-Per-View a few of the columnists, recappers, and radio network hosts on WrestleView provide predictions on who they think will win the matches. We accumulate throughout the end of the Faculty’s year (in this case, the 2012 Royal Rumble).
What makes this entirely different to others is that you, the reader, can provide your picks for a spot to have yours posted in an upcoming PPV. All the readers have to do is either leave me a message on Facebook or e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com. The winner among the “WrestleView Students” will win an opportunity to post their picks as a “Student of the Week” (if they outright defeat the reigning Students of the Week). We all thank you for your participation.
Tie-Breakers will determine standings!
In order to prevent some ties in the standings, I will issue points to Title Matches that are predicted correctly.
Special for this PPV ONLY!!
There are three championship matches on the card. However, since Money in the Bank is very hard to predict I decided to issue bonus tie-breaker points for those as well. So, you are able to get up to FIVE tiebreaker points if one gets them all correct.
But what, to the WrestleView “students”, there is more!
I got approval for this decision, and for the FIRST time in our three seasons the students will compete for PRIZES!!! That is right; we felt that your loyalty to the article shall be rewarded. However, the prizes* will not be handed out until the FINAL PPV Prediction of the season (which will be WWE’s Royal Rumble 2012). So not only will one get a chance to earn a Gold Star and be a part of this game, but it will be for a competition.
*Prizes go out to the top three (the most picked correctly and if needed tiebreaker points) positions and the worst (most matches picked incorrectly with the fewest tiebreaker points).
Current WrestleView Prediction Standings (As of TNA’s Destination X)
2011-2012 Predictions from the Faculty Roster
1) Ryan Rivera (ROH on HDNet Recapper)………………………………………………..52-28 (6-1)
2) Dave Stephens (Raw Recaps/That’s a Wrap/Teachers Lounge)………………….51-29 (5-2)
3) Jose Marrero (Wrestling Rumblings/The Eye Gouge)………………………………..51-28 (3-4)
4) Josh Boutwell (TNA Impact Recaps/Viva La Raza)…………………………………..50-30 (5-2)
5) Wrestleview Students (The Readers of the article)…………………………………..50-30 (4-3)
6) Nicholas Gray (The Velvet Room)………………………………………………………50-30 (3-4)
7) Gregory “Grash” Walek (WWE NXT Recapper)………………………………………49-31 (4-3)
8) Mike Tedesco (WWE Smackdown Recapper)………………………………………..47-33 (4-3)
9) Greg McNeish (The Velvet Room)……………………………………………………47-33 (3-4)
10) Darragh O’Connor (WV International Desk)………………………………………….46-29 (5-2)
11) Evan O’Brien (WV International Desk)……………………………………………..45-35 (4-3)
12) Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V/Teacher’s Lounge)………………………45-35 (3-4)
13) Matt O’Brien (Notes from the Nosebleeds)………………………………………….43-37 (3-4)
14) Andrew Hayman (WWE Superstars Recapper)……………………………………..39-28 (3-4)
Tie-Breaker Points – Which are based on Championship matches correct (I WILL Update Tie-Breaker points when I return this week.)
There will be only ONE WrestleView Student of the Week this week. This honor goes to Randy McWilliams for earning a 6-1 record for TNA’s Destination X PPV.
And of course, the WV Students average will be part of the standings. I have taken out the “Students of the Week” for this season. However, do not worry. Those that scored the highest will still be welcomed to participate in an upcoming article.
The Best of the Class (Top 3 earn a prize. Tie-Breaker Points in parentheses)
Prizes:
1st Place – A DVD Set of our choosing (max 3 disc set).
2nd Place – A T-Shirt
3rd Place – A Coffee Mug
Worst – TNA Victory Road 2009 (or 2011) DVD.
(W/L from WWE’s Capitol Punishment)
(Tiebreaker Points are in second)
Top 5
NOTE ON THE STUDENTS STANDINGS!! Since Mr. V is still “on vacation”, he will NOT update the students standings until Mr. V #129. Sorry for the wait, but after over 120 consecutive columns I need this vacation.
I will just type out the Top Five readers at this time. The first set of parentheses is the W/L record for WWE’s Capitol Punishment. The second parentheses are the Tie-Breaker points.
1) Jason Namako…………………………………………………52-21 (2-5) (22) – #1
2) Michael Fox……………………………………………………51-22 (4-3) (23) – #2
3) Paul Meade……………………………………………………..51-22 (5-2) (22) – #3
4) Nick Latham…………………………………………………….50-23 (5-2) (23)
5) Jordan Benterman…………………………………………..50-23 (6-1) (22)
The person with the most picks incorrect is currently 43-30 with 16 tiebreaker points. Therefore, I deem that score the worst.
Also to those that have participated in all PPVs, keep it up. This by all means is nowhere close to being over! Don’t give up!
And now, the moment you all have been waiting for…
Predictions for WWE’s Money in the Bank
** Non-Title Match **
Singles Match
The Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Ryan R. – THE BIG SHOW.
Dave S. – MARK HENRY
Jose M. – MARK HENRY.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – MARK HENRY.
Greg W. – MARK HENRY.
Mike T. – MARK HENRY.
Greg M. – MARK HENRY; Everybody on Smackdown has a fresh pairing ready to go next week, other than Henry & the WHC competitors. Mark Henry has never shown the ability to stay over for an extended period of time (for a variety of reasons), so they’d better strike while the iron’s hot, and the World’s Strongest Man is hot right now.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – HENRY.
Anthony V. – MARK HENRY. Talk about a guy who is very underrated, it seems like he loses steam quick. With a PPV win over Big Show, this sets the table of a solid payoff for Summerslam. This could be a great brawl.
Matt O. – MARK HENRY.
Andrew H. – MARK HENRY
Randy M. – THE BIG SHOW.
CONSENSUS: The faculty overwhelmingly thinks that Mark Henry will come out on top in this match. Mark Henry will arrive for the first time since 1996.
MARK HENRY 10; The Big Show 2
** Championship Matches **
Singles Match for the WWE Divas Championship
Kelly Kelly (c) vs. Brie Bella
Ryan R. – KELLY KELLY.
Dave S. – KELLY KELLY.
Jose M. – KELLY KELLY.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – KELLY KELLY.
Greg W. – KELLY KELLY.
Mike T. – KELLY KELLY.
Greg M. – KELLY KELLY; Week after week, Brie is falling further and further behind Nikki, as the more interesting Bella. No way does she get her butterfly back.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – KELLY.
Anthony V. – KELLY KELLY. This is by far the easiest pick of the bunch on Sunday. Kelly is the face of the divas and the WWE got this right. No need for a title change now.
Matt O. – KELLY KELLY.
Andrew H. – KELLY KELLY.
Randy M. – KELLY KELLY.
CONSENSUS: It’s unanimous! Kelly Kelly will win this match and retain the Divas Championship.
KELLY KELLY 12; Brie Bella 0
Singles match for the WWE (Smackdown) World Heavyweight Championship
Stipulation: If Orton is disqualified or if the referee in charge screws up, then Christian is the new champion.
Randy Orton (c) vs. Christian
Ryan R. – RANDY ORTON.
Dave S. – RANDY ORTON.
Jose M. – RANDY ORTON.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – RANDY ORTON.
Greg W. – RANDY ORTON.
Mike T. – RANDY ORTON.
Greg M. – RANDY ORTON; I really hope they are ready to put this feud to bed. It’s still got a bit of juice behind it, but not enough for a Summerslam.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – ORTON.
Anthony V. – RANDY ORTON. This is going to be pretty weird because of the stipulation, and a good one for Christian’s story. I say Orton wins via a referee mistake. Christian then becomes the champion, but I will stay with Orton.
Matt O. – CHRISTIAN.
Andrew H. – CHRISTIAN by count-out.
Randy M. – CHRISTIAN.
CONSENSUS: Even though this is Christian’s 1,000,000 shot at the title, the staff still feels that Randy Orton will come out on top.
RANDY ORTON 9; Christian 3
Singles match for the WWE (Raw) World Championship
Stipulation: If CM Punk leaves Chicago with the WWE Title, Cena is fired.
John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
Ryan R. – JOHN CENA.
Dave S. – CM PUNK.
Jose M. – CM PUNK.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – JOHN CENA.
Greg W. – CM PUNK.
Mike T. – CM PUNK.
Greg M. – CM PUNK; Screw it, I’m going for it. I’ve gone on record saying that Punk will be at Summerslam, and I stand by it. The wording of “if Punk leaves Chicago with the title,” rather than “if Punk beats Cena,” for the firing stipulation, leads me to believe that we’re going to get a swerve. More on this later.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – CENA.
Anthony V. – JOHN CENA. CM Punk has a solid chance at winning, but my heart says Cena. However, if Punk wins I think the winner of the Raw MITB cashes it in the same night. If not, Cena wins and we get a Punk revolution.
Matt O. – JOHN CENA.
Andrew H. – CM PUNK.
Randy M. – CM PUNK.
CONSENSUS: In a surprising development, the staff feels that CM Punk, despite this being his last night, will walk out of Chicago as the WWE Champion.
CM PUNK 7; John Cena 5
** Money In the Bank Ladder Matches **
Stipulations for both: The winner of the match earns a championship match until July 2012 (or if the bump MITB to a early or later date).
The Smackdown Money in the Bank Match
Participants: Kane, Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, and Wade Barrett
Ryan R. – SHEAMUS.
Dave S. – SHEAMUS.
Jose M. – CODY RHODES.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – SHEAMUS.
Greg W. – SHEAMUS.
Mike T. – CODY RHODES.
Greg M. – WADE BARRETT; He’s one of the two people I can see winning the briefcase (Rhodes being the other), and I’ve been bouncing back and forth between the two for weeks (bordering on months). The tipping point was this week’s Smackdown, and Barrett being paired with Sheamus. That’s an elevation of opponents, which is something we’re not seeing with Rhodes. Barrett has started to click in-ring, and that promo ability is simply obscene. If there’s one man to slow-burn the MITB with, it’s Wade Barrett.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – SHEAMUS.
Anthony V. – WADE BARRETT. Sheamus (as much as I want to see it) did the “I will cash it in on the same night” speech. I don’t think he wins. Slater and Gabriel? No way. Kane won’t win it again, as his run was hot at first but fizzled with the title. Rhodes and Bryan are marred in a mid-card feud that still has some legs, so I doubt they win. Sin Cara has a chance, but I think Wade Barrett wins because out of all these guys Barrett looks, acts, and speaks the part of a World Champion for the WWE. Barrett will cash it in on his time.
Matt O. – WADE BARRETT.
Andrew H. – CODY RHODES.
Randy M. – WADE BARRETT.
CONSENSUS: Sheamus will win the match by a very slim margin of votes.
SHEAMUS 5; Wade Barrett 4; Cody Rhodes 3; The rest 0
The Raw Money in the Bank Match
Participants: Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, The Miz, Alex Riley, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, and Kofi Kingston
Ryan R. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Dave S. – REY MYSTERIO.
Jose M. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Josh B. – N/A
Nicholas G. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Greg W. – ALEX RILEY.
Mike T. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
Greg M. – REY MYSTERIO; The final piece of the WWE Title puzzle. A same-night cash-in keeps Cena from getting fired, while motivating Punk to stick around (so he can go out on his terms). Rey’s also the perfect guy to transition the title to ADR, for a fall program with Cena. I could get hammered in these predictions, but if I’m going down, I’m going down with guns blazin’.
Darragh O. – N/A
Evan O. – ALEX RILEY.
Anthony V. – ALBERTO DEL RIO. It is his destiny! Plus, in the short history I don’t think anyone has ever won MITB and the Rumble in the same year. Let’s make history! I already took out Kingston, Bourne, Swagger, and Riley because I can’t see any of them being a champion on the Raw brand. R-Truth will be on the ladder before the case is won, and will cry conspiracy. The Miz and Mysterio have a great chance, but I just think that Del Rio can tell a better story. If CM Punk wins, then the Mexican aristocrat joins forces with McMahon to keep the title in the WWE. If not, then I can see Del Rio holding onto the case for a while.
Matt O. – ALEX RILEY.
Andrew H. – KOFI KINGSTON
Randy M. – ALBERTO DEL RIO.
CONSENSUS: The staff is a little more decided on this one than for the Smackdown one. Alberto Del Rio will win… it’s his destiny!
ALBERTO DEL RIO 6; Alex Riley 3; Rey Mysterio 2; Kofi Kingston 1; The rest 0
Dismissal
Well, that does it for the twelfth round of Predictions from the Faculty for the 2011-2012 season.
And remember students, this is YOUR column too! Please present to me your choices for the winners of any PPV by e-mail at mistervwv@hotmail.com or by sending me an inbox message on Facebook. Winner of each PPV receives a coveted (and NEVER duplicated) Gold Star in my next column and will be named the “Student of the Week” for the next Predictions article. Also, you are one step closer to a prize that if one is in the top three they will win a prize (and even the last place person as well, no one in between). Well, that does it for us, class. On behalf of my peers on WrestleView I bid you farewell. We will be taking a 21-day recess and will be back with our predictions for TNA’s Hardcore Justice PPV. As always, thank you for reading our predictions. Now go and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Be sure to check out all the VIP material before WWE’s Money in the Bank. Also, for $4.99 a month you get so much for your money, including this weekend’s Pay-Per-View Post-Show hosted by Adam Martin, Hunter Golden, and Doug Lackey.
While you are at it making predictions, why don’t you work on filling out those 2011 Readers Choice awards, found at this link:
http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1310321315
(Mr. V Note: I would like to thank Mike Tedesco for taking over this article for me. He posted each set of predictions while I was on vacation. Mike, give yourself a Gold Star. They stand next to my coffee mug.)
Thank you for reading and to those that do, participated in the column. We appreciate your feedback.
Once again, here is how you can join in on our predictions game. Please use these methods. If you post them under the “comments”, they will not be counted.
Facebook: Inbox Message to Anthony J. Valvo E-Mail: mistervwv@hotmail.com
Twitter: @TheMisterV