WWE Money in the Bank PPV results
July 14, 2013
Philadelphia, Pa.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

First Hour PPV Results

The live PPV opened with a video package focusing on money. Specific to the PPV, WWE hyped the All-Stars MITB ladder match featuring six wrestlers involved, as opposed to six wrestlers and a potential replacement for Kane. The video package then transitioned to Cena vs. Henry.

Live in the arena, full pyro shot off and Michael Cole hyped the show. Fandango apparently danced for five minutes for the live crowd over the course of the pre-show ending and PPV beginning, as his music was still playing. After Dean Ambrose was introduced to a big reaction - with Cole noting that Ambrose "cut his teeth in Philadelphia" - Zeb Colter brought out Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger. Colter cut a promo before asking the crowd to shout "We the People" with him. Some of the crowd did.

Next out were Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow, who disagreed with Colter that he sees the crowd as criminals, but "just slack-jawed mouthbreathers." Cody tried to talk, but Sandow took over that Philadelphia will no longer be known as the home of that "fictional ignoramus" Rocky, but -- Wade Barrett's music interrupted to keep the mid-card heel parade going. As Barrett walked out, Cole noted that only Jack Swagger was won a MITB ladder match from the participants in this match.

1 -- U.S. champion DEAN AMBROSE vs. FANDANGO (w/Summer Rae) vs. JACK SWAGGER vs. ANTONIO CESARO vs. WADE BARRETT vs. CODY RHODES vs. DAMIEN SANDOW -- World Title MITB ladder match

After the bell sounded, Fandango tried to dance center-ring, but the other heels attacked him. Ladders were then quickly introduced into the match, which Swagger and Colter used to destroy Rhodes Scholars with. Suddenly, Ambrose was alone in the ring with a ladder, but Barrett cut him off and kneed him in the face. The next teaser was Fandango, who popped Barrett in the face, then surfboard leg-dropped him from the ring apron. But, Fandango sold a leg injury, so he couldn't climb the ladder.

For the next phase, Barrett picked up a ladder rung that broke off one of the ladders and proceeded to use it as a weapon. Barrett then tried climbing a ladder, but Ambrose blocked. Colter's gang became involved, but Ambrose cut them off from scaling a ladder. Suddenly, Rhodes showed off some strength by grappling Cesaro on the ladder, putting him in position for a Musclebuster, and dropping Cesaro into a ladder propped up in the corner. Feat of Rhodes Strength.

After the crowd reacted to Rhodes's move, the match reset with Barrett and Swagger battling center-ring. Barrett got the advantage, then touched the briefcase, but Fandango smashed him just above the groin and dropped him with an emphatic sunset flip powerbomb. Summer Rae freaked out ringside, encouraging Fandango to get up the ladder, but he was too injured from the flip bomb. Fandango eventually recovered, but Ambrose cut him off.

At 10:00, Ambrose climbed the ladder, but Cesaro closed the ladder. Ambrose improvised by using the ladder as a weapon, then Cesaro and Swagger chucked him over the top rope. They were trying something crazy and just settled for dumping Ambrose to the floor. Swagger then held up Cesaro to try to climb across the ring to grab the case, but Rhodes kicked him in mid-air coming off the top rope.

After the crowd popped, Rhodes went nuts with Cross Rhodes to anyone in his way. Rhodes freaked out a la his moment with Goldust in the Royal Rumble, then he went looking for a ladder. Rhodes didn't want to settle for your basic ladder, though, and retrieved the Big Boy Ladder. In the ring, Rhodes set up the Big Boy, but Ambrose cut him off. Rhodes and Ambrose slugged it out atop the ladder, and it was apparent that he was bleeding around the eye area. Suddenly, Shield hit the ring and attacked Rhodes to help out Ambrose. Reigns and Rollins knocked out everyone in the ring, leaving Ambrose alone in the ring. Suddenly, The Usos hit the ring to a strong reaction and cleared Shield away from the ring. Chaos everywhere.

In the ring, Ambrose snuck up the ladder and wanted the case, but Rhodes shoved Ambrose off the ladder and into a giant dogpile on the floor. "It's Cody's time!" Cole declared. As the crowd went nuts, Rhodes got the ladder in the ring, climbed, looked up at the case, touched it, and Sandow shoved him off the ladder. His own partner. Sandow then climbed the ladder, reached up, and unhooked the briefcase to win. As Cole freaked out about Sandow double-crossing Rhodes, JBL noted he would have shoved Ron Simmons off that ladder to get a World Title shot.

Post-match, Sandow stood triumphantly on the ladder looking down at Rhodes, who was being tended to by the doctor. Suddenly, Rhodes realized what happened and glared at Sandow, who glared back. Sandow then left the ring and paraded around the ringside area with possession of the briefcase.

WINNER: Sandow at 16:25. Great moment in the careers of both Sandow (winning) and Rhodes (stealing the show and getting the big near-grab tease) to set up what could be a hot summer feud between Rhodes and Sandow on Smackdown. The action was hit or miss at times with the wrestlers trying a variety of different creative moves, but credit them for creativity to try to stand out from the previous set of MITB ladder matches. The hot crowd aided the match full of mid-card heels. (***1/2)

After the match and post-match, WWE continued to focus on Sandow's victory, really reinforcing the match outcome.

In-ring: Justin Roberts was standing by to introduce the new Raw GM, Brad Maddox, for the comedown segment. After jogging to the ring sans music, Brad thanked "Jeff" for the intro before trying to butter up the crowd. Brad thanked Mr. McMahon for his "keen insight, knowledge, and belief in me to get the job done" before cracking a joke about not being able to fill Vickie Guerrero's shoes because he doesn't wear high-heels.

Maddox continued that he decided to honor Vickie by putting her on the PPV pre-show panel. Brad asked for a spotlight, and Vickie begrudgingly accepted his acknowledgement. Brad said he thinks everyone would like to thank her for her dedication and contributions to Raw. He said he thinks everyone in the warm-hearted city of "Phil-a-DELPHIA" will join him in chanting, "Thank You, Vickie." It didn't catch on, of course.

Next, Brad offered a career retrospective video package on Vickie's career set to sad music. Included were clips of Vickie eating, tripping and falling, kissing Hornswoggle, the night when Austin, Tex. wouldn't let her talk with John Cena in the ring, and, of course, Vickie shrieking and screaming. Back at the NBA on TNT studio, Vickie was not impressed. Brad asked for a final ovation for Vickie, then The Miz's music interrupted.

Miz came out on-stage, then patted Brad on the back on the way to the ring. Once in the ring, Miz did his smarmy "let me hear you" pose on the ring ropes before Curtis Axel's music played to bring out the IC champion flanked by Paul Heyman back in Philly.

2 -- IC champion CURTIS AXEL (w/Paul Heyman) vs. THE MIZ -- Intercontinental Title match

Axel knocked Miz to the floor early on. On the floor, Miz tried to pull an Eddie Guerrero by slamming himself to the floor as Heyman stood near him. The ref then came around, saw Miz on the floor, and decided that Heyman knocked him down. Despite Heyman's protests, the ref booted Heyman from ringside. Heyman freaked out and shouted, "I'm Paul Heyman!" before departing to the back. The crowd chanted, "We Want Heyman," before Axel and Miz settled into a one-on-one match.

Left alone on an island, Miz and Axel exchanged control before Miz acknowledged boos from the crowd. Miz egged on the boos, then lost control to Axel, who delivered a Perfectplex, but Miz kicked out. Lawler noted that not too many people kicked out of Mr. Perfect's finisher back in the day. After a reset, Miz yanked down on Axel's knee to set up for the figure-four leglock center-ring. The crowd booed and Whoo'ed, mixed on wanting to pop for Ric Flair's move, but not appreciating Miz being the one to execute it. Axel teased tapping out, but reversed the pressure on Miz. Miz sold, then reversed the pressure to boos. Axel reached the ropes for a break this time.

Miz and Axel reset at 9:00, then Axel popped Miz in the mouth near the ropes. It allowed Axel to hit his twisting neckbreaker finisher. It was good for the three count and the win. After the match, JBL noted he did it without Paul Heyman's presence and Cole added that Axel was the first one to reverse pressure on Miz's figure-four leglock.

WINNER: Axel at 9:20 to retain the IC Title. Okay match. They were stuck in a tough spot with the crowd more into Heyman than Miz as a face and Axel as a heel. (**)

Video Package: WWE stars when they were young, including part-timer Triple H. The video eventually revealed that it was setting up Summerslam. Apparently the idea is top WWE stars "reaching for the stars" to complete their dreams.

In-ring: A.J. Lee was introduced along with Big E. Langston for the Divas Title match. Out next was Kaitlyn, flanked by Layla, before WWE replayed highlights from their contract signing on Smackdown to highlight the aggressive nature of their feud.

3 -- Divas champion A.J. LEE (w/Big E. Langston) vs. KAITLYN (w/Layla) -- Divas Title match

As the bell sounded, Cole noted that Kaitlyn has an injured elbow following her spear to A.J. on Smackdown. The match unfolded with A.J. taking advantage of Kaitlyn's injury situation as Layla sold concern ringside. Kaitlyn made her comeback and nailed a spear, but she was too injured and could not score an immediate three count. A.J. came back with an innovative-looking step-into Black Widow submission. It was good for the win after Kaitlyn tapped.

WINNER: A.J. via submission at 7:20 to retain the Divas Title. Not at the level of their previous encounter as the crowd continued to "come down" from the opening match.

SECOND HOUR COVERAGE CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM . ...

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