By Pat McNeill, PWTorch Columnist

Wake the pets and call the neighbors, it's time for our exclusive WWE Network pay-per-view projections!

DISCLAIMER: Projections are based on what the columnist would do if he were booking this event, instead of Paul "NXT" Levesque, Runjin Singh and WWE President Bats--- Crazy Vincent Kennedy Gagne. Projections are not predictions, because this is the column where everything's made up and the points don't matter. This preview has been sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnall's porch since noon today. Some of our departing contestants will receive a selection of billfolds from the Amity Leather Products Company. Remember, if it's stamped "Amity", it's leather. Pat McNeill's wardrobe provided by Rick Pallack. Remember, this is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, please, no wagering. This lineup is based on the best available information as of this writing. These predictions are based on what the columnist would do if he had creative control over WWE, unless it interferes with a joke or a running gag.

When WWE Network started last year, none of us were expecting WWE to have more than twelve pay-per-view style events per year. Apparently we were mistaken.

Unlike the past two pay-per-views, Money In The Bank is a big deal. Seth Rollins managed to turn his Money In The Bank victory into a WrestleMania main event. Granted, not everybody can do that, but there's a decent chance someone like Roman Reigns could capture the magic briefcase and hold on to it for nine months.

This will also be the night Seth Rollins can regain physical possession of the WWE Title. Dean Ambrose stole the title belt, and has hung on to it for two weeks now. Either The Authority is angry at Rollins (in storyline, of course) or Triple H & Stephanie have become soft.

Before we preview Sunday night's show, let's get to this month's edition of the Wrestling History Lesson, because that's why many of you clicked here in the first place. Twenty years ago, on the June 24, 1995 episode of WWF Superstars (pretaped) from Wheeling, West Virginia, our main event saw Bam Bam Bigelow in action against the legendary Mantaur. Vince McMahon and Doc Hendrix had the call.



What was happening in World Wrestling Entertainment fifteen years ago? I'm glad you asked! On June 18, 2000, the World Wrestling Federation presented a fresh (pretaped) episode of Sunday Night Heat from Chicago, Illinois. On that night, former friends renewed an old rivalry as WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero faced WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko in a champion versus champion bout. Michael Cole and Kevin Kelly had the call.



Another Hall of Famer passed away this week, as we lost "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. We might as well bring you a significant match from the Dream's run in the National Wrestling Alliance. On September 9, 1986, Dusty challenged "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson for the NWA Television Title in Columbia, South Carolina. Bob Caudle and Johnny Weaver had the call.



Did you catch this week's episode of WWE Smackdown? Watch it now (sort of). Your main event is Roman Reigns, Randy Orton & Adrian Neville against Kane, Sheamus & Kofi Kingston. Tom Phillips & Jerry Lawler have the call. (If you want to see it, hurry, because WWE will have it down in about fifteen minutes. Or less.)



Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and John B. Layfield will be announcing the show, which means Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton can go suck eggs. On with the program!

My guess is we'll have an unannounced match on this show, something along the lines of Jimmy Uso defeating Bo Dallas.

R-Truth vs. King Wade Barrett: This is the scheduled match for the kickoff show, and it isn't a bad one. Sure, Wade Barrett shouldn't beat protected fellows like Neville, but your King of the Ring has to go over on somebody, right? Projection? Bad News scores the victory with the Bullhammer. As a consolation prize, R-Truth actually gets a full-scale entrance and the chance to rap for a verse or two before the match.

The New Day (Big E. Langston & Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston) vs. Primetime Players (Darren Young & Titus O'Neil) - WWE World Tag Team Titles: Not only are the Primetime Players back together, but WWE is actually going to do something with the team. Isn't it exciting? Projection? Kofi gets to clip No Days Off Young with the Trouble In Paradise and Langston scores the pin. New Day stays on top.

Nikki Bella vs. Paige Knight (WWE Divas Title): The Bellas' act is now the key to the Divas division, where all the other ladies are only relevant when they interact with Nikki and Brie. But there's a group of talented grapplers on the NXT roster waiting to move up. Projection? The Bellas attempt Twin Magic again, Paige catches Brie with an inside cradle, and referee Charles Robinson awards the match (and the title) to Paige. The finish is what Dusty would have wanted.

Ryback vs. Big Show (WWE Intercontinental Title Match): Forget The Authority and Roman Reigns. Big Show returned to the active roster, and he's focused on taking the WWE Intercontinental Title from Ryback. Show's also focused on beating up The Miz, but that's because he is familiar with Miz. You know, in the storyline. Where was I again? Projection? We already saw Ryback hit the Shell Shock on Big Show. We're going to see it again. Ryback keeps the title.

Adrian Neville vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus (Money In The Bank Ladder Match): You know how, every year at "Money In The Bank" one of the participants in this match takes an ugly, soul-crushing bump? If I'm Kofi Kingston, I have Xavier & Big E come out during the match and set up a crash pad at ringside. You'll thank me later, Kofi. Projection? Make no mistake about it, this is Roman Reigns' spot. Orton and Sheamus brawl on top of the ladder, knock each other off the ladder, and Reigns swoops in to grab the magic briefcase.

John Cena vs. Kevin Owens (still non-title): You saw that match two weeks ago? That was awesome, wasn't it? Unfortunately, Rusev is still injured, and we're going to have to stretch this feud out for another two months. Which means John Cena isn't going to get his retribution against Kevin Owens. At least, not yet. Projection? Cena gets to look good here, but he accidentally hits a referee and gets disqualified. Owens goes up 2-0 against Big Match John, and gets to cut a promo on Raw talking about how John Cena is a dirty cheater.

Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE World Heavyweight Title - Ladder Match): Ambrose defeated the champ two weeks ago in Corpus Christi, in a situation where you could argue he should have won the title. When Ambrose does win the title, (and I think that's likely to happen at some point) I hope it will still be special. But I suspect WWE isn't bringing Brock Lesnar back to have him feud with the Unstable One. Projection? Rollins is on defense for the entire match, and it looks like he'll get no help from the other villains. Kane comes to the ring and sets Ambrose on fire, enabling Rollins to get the victory and regain possession of his championship title.

On Monday Night Raw, Rollins is his usual obnoxious self, and refuses to acknowledge Kane's assistance. That causes the Big Red Corporate Monster to reinstate Brock Lesnar. It all leads to Reigns deciding to cash the briefcase in at SummerSlam, and we get our Rollins vs. Lesnar vs. Reigns rematch in Brooklyn. Because that's where the money lies.

Aftermath: We go to Tokyo on July 4th for the big WWE live special, and Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor, John Cena & Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane & King Barrett and, of course, Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston.

***
Pat McNeill has been a PWTorch Columnist since 2001. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina. He'd take Golden State over Cleveland in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. You know, if gambling were legal.

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