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

Third Hour PPV Results

In-ring: Mark Henry's music played and the mood changed in the building. Henry marched out to the ring as Cole noted that Henry had his first WWE match against Jerry Lawler in Philadelphia. Lawler talked about that match as Henry made his way to the ring setting the tone for a big-fight atmosphere.

After a pause, John Cena's music played to loud boos mixed with cheers from the Cena-friendly portion of the audience in attendance. Cena strolled out on-stage and noted it's a hot time in the City of Brotherly Love. Cena then held up his title belt, saluted, and stormed the ring to complete his pre-match routine as Henry stood off in the corner.

Once everyone was assembled in the ring, Justin Roberts handled formal ring introductions. Henry was cheered and he let Cena know that he's his tonight. Cena sold concern, then got himself fired up when his name was announced. After a pause, the bell sounded to begin the WWE Title match.

6 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA vs. MARK HENRY -- WWE Title match

After the bell sounded, the crowd was hot with dueling chants and Cena was reluctant to come out of the corner. When he did, Henry road-blocked him to the mat and taunted him. Henry then corner-smashed Cena and continued to slow down the pace. Henry then headbutted Cena out of the ring, sending Cena to the floor to recover. Henry didn't want to wait for Cena, so he chased him down on the outside and proceeded to suplex Cena stomach-first across the ring steps. JBL called it an old fashioned East Texas beat down.

Back in the ring, Henry covered Cena, but the champ kicked out. Cena sold the effects of kicking out, though, giving Henry the mid-section as a target. Henry followed with big body smash, but Cena kicked out. Henry then loaded up for a right hand, but Cena blocked, only to run right into a forearm smash to quiet Cena. Henry then did Cesaro's Giant Swing that sent Cena rolling to the outside.

On the outside at 5:30, Henry scooped up Cena to deliver another Big Swing, which sent Cena flying into the barricade. Back in the ring, Henry shouted to the crowd: "That's what I do." Henry then wanted a corner attack, but Cena avoided. Cena tried to follow with a Feat of Strength, but Henry fell on top of Cena to squish Cena for a two count. Henry couldn't follow up, though, and Cena finally got Henry off his feet with two shoulder tackles. Cena followed with a side-suplex, then sold immense back pain.

Cena wanted the Five Knuckle Shuffle, and he connected. "Now what do you do now?" Cole noted. Cena tried the Attitude Adjustment as JBL slipped in a Rock reference that Henry is not The Rock at WrestleMania, then Henry fell on top of Cena's back as Cena tried the AA. Henry covered Cena, but Cena kicked out. After a pause, Henry noted to Cena, "Get yo ass up," then he lifted Cena in the air for a power move, but Cena countered with half of a DDT. Cena then squatted Henry in the air for an AA, positioned Henry, and delivered, but Henry kicked out just before three.

At 10:30, Cena recovered to a seated position and tried to figure out how Henry kicked out. "Two?" Cena asked the ref. Cena then climbed to the top turnbuckle for a high-risk move, but Henry caught him in mid-air. Henry wanted the World's Strongest Slam and he connected, but Cena kicked out, going tit-for-tat. The crowd popped for the nearfall, Cena talked to the ref as he sold the effects, then the the vocal males chanted, "One more time."

At 12:00, Henry removed a turnbuckle pad, which PWTorch specialist Benjamin Tucker noted was loosened a few minutes into the match. Henry then left the ring to grab a chair, which the ref admonished him for. During the confusion, Cena smashed Henry stomach-first into the exposed turnbuckle. Cena then slapped on the STF as vocal males on the front row desperately called for Henry to grab the bottom rope for a break. And, Henry did, ending the sequence.

Suddenly, Henry shoved Cena away and the ref was bumped in the process. Henry then kicked Cena low, covered, the ref was slow to recover, and it was only good for a nearfall. Henry got The Look in his eyes, then he wanted World's Strongest Slam again, but Cena hopped over Henry and slapped on the STF. Cena dragged Henry back to center-ring, Henry fought the hold, but had to tap out, giving Cena the win.

After the match, Cena clutched his title belt and stood his ground in-case Henry wanted to attack him. But, Henry sold a leg injury and was helped out of the ring by the referee. Cena then let his guard down as he saw Henry being helped away from the ring. After a replay of the high points from the match, Cena was shown exiting still the WWE champion.

WINNER: Cena via submission at 14:42 to retain the WWE Title. Strong PPV title match that could have gone 20 minutes and not over-stayed its welcome. For Cena, it's another match on Cena's journey to a circuit-to-circuit title run. For Henry, if he's on the way out, he's doing the best work of his career, finally putting it all together in the ring, on the mic, and with his character. (***1/4)

After the match, the announcers reset with a video package on how the Wyatts took out Kane on Monday's Raw, which eliminated Kane from the MITB All-Stars main event.

Back live, WWE focused on the red MITB briefcase hanging above the ring. After a long pause, Rob Van Dam's music played to a big reaction. RVD then emerged on-stage to a big reaction and a "I'm back" look on his face. It was about the level of C.M. Punk in Chicago at Payback and the announcers went silent to let the moment speak for itself. After RVD celebrated with ring announcer Justin Roberts, the music stopped and the "R-V-D" chants picked up. RVD then did the Sabu pose toward the MITB briefcase hanging above the ring.

Christian was out next to a solid reaction. Out next was Daniel Bryan to a loud reaction; Cole called him the "hottest Superstar today." Loud "Yes! / No!" chants, then Bryan hit the ring and the crowd went wild with "Yes!" chants. Next out was Randy Orton sporting a scruffy-looking beard. JBL said he's all business tonight. Sheamus was out next to a mix of light boos and some cheers. More like indifference for a babyface character that needs some help.

After a pause, Cult of Personality played to bring out C.M. Punk to another loud reaction. Punk came out alone and posed on-stage before marching to the ring with a determined look on his face. Punk stood tall in the ring as RVD, Orton, Sheamus, Bryan, and Christian stood their ground. Interesting that it feels like a collection of very good #2 stars without the presence of a perennial #1 star in the main event. The bell sounded, so no replacement for Kane.

7 -- C.M. PUNK vs. DANIEL BRYAN vs. ROB VAN DAM vs. RANDY ORTON vs. SHEAMUS vs. CHRISTIAN -- WWE Title MITB All-Stars match

After the bell sounded, all six men stood their ground, then the crowd picked up an "R-V-D" chant. Van Dam acknowledged it with a "Who me?" expression, then tried the thumbs-to-shoulder chant, but the other five wrestlers jumped him and dumped him to the floor to "welcome him back to WWE." The match then came down to Bryan vs. Punk for a mid-ring staredown to throw it back to early-days ROH in Philly.

RVD then re-entered the ring and cleaned house with trademark offense, looking more motivated than he has in a few years. RVD paused for the crowd to cheer for him, then he press-slammed Christian into the air to show off some strength. RVD and D-Bryan then locked up, leading to RVD dropping Bryan with Rolling Thunder on a ladder. RVD then wanted a Five-Star Frogsplash on Orton on a ladder, but Christian popped RVD with a ladder to knock him to the floor, cutting off the big teaser.

Suddenly, Christian found himself alone in the ring. Christian scaled a ladder, touched the case, and Sheamus cut him off from behind. Sheamus then punched Christian through a rung of the ladder that sent Christian reeling to the floor. Sheamus, by himself, started climbing the ladder, but RVD yanked the ladder out from under Sheamus, who crashed hard onto the ladder. But, Sheamus recovered and slammed RVD onto the ladder.

On the outside, Sheamus continued to dominate folks before trying to powerbomb Bryan onto a ladder, but Bryan escaped, then delivered a running knee to Sheamus's face. Back in the ring, Punk and Orton had a moment in the spotlight. The Battle of the Beards then involved Christian, who tried to climb a ladder, but Bryan re-entered the ring with a second ladder. Suddenly, Sheamus and RVD re-entered. It looked like the PPV poster with a bunch of guys standing on ladders trying to grab the case, but the spot turned into everyone falling down to the mat.

After a reset, Sheamus stood up and destroyed everyone with Polish Hammers and Irish Curse backbreakers and a White Noise. Sheamus was left alone in the ring, drawing boos. Sheamus tried to climb, then popped RVD in the face when Van Dam tried to come after him. Sheamus tried climbing again, but D-Bryan met him on the ladder with "Yes!" strikes. Suddenly, Sheamus spun Bryan around and delivered Ten "No!" forearms to the chest. Sheamus had the case in his grasp, but Punk yanked him down to the mat as Sheamus dangled in the air.

As RVD was tended to on the outside after apparently being cut open, Punk and Sheamus battled in the ring. Punk knocked down Sheamus with the ladder, then took a bow for the appreciative crowd. But, Orton re-entered and battled Punk before Punk could think about climbing a ladder. Neither man could gain an advantage, though.

The match reset with RVD and Christian battling mid-ring as the crowd chanted for tables, which ruffled Lawler's feathers. Christian popped Christian in his injured eye, then set up a ladder mid-ring. He wanted to climb, but RVD met him atop the ladder. RVD and Christian traded blows, RVD got a hand on the case, and Christian fell off the ladder, but RVD landed on his feet on another ladder in the ring. RVD steadied himself, did the R-V-D pose, and followed with a big splash to Christian. "He splashed Christian!" Lawler shouted as RVD sold the effects and Christian rolled to the outside.

At 19:30, RVD set up a ladder center-ring, but Sheamus cut him off again. RVD-Sheamus feels like a new feud coming out of this PPV, by the way. In the ring, RVD knocked Sheamus down, but Sheamus recovered and shoved RVD off the ladder into the top rope. D-Bryan then entered the ring and gave a kick to RVD, then Sheamus, then RVD, then Sheamus, and repeat. Both men took decisive kicks, then jammed a ladder into Orton's gut after Orton re-entered the ring. Bryan followed with a flying suicide dive to Punk on a stack of ladders on the outside. Signature wild-man offense from Bryan.

At 21:11, Bryan smashed everyone with ladders, including smashing Sheamus off the top turnbuckle through a ladder on the floor, splitting the ladder in-half. Back in the ring, Bryan was prepared to climb and ascend, but IC champion Curtis Axel suddenly appeared and smashed Bryan off the ladder. The crowd was indifferent to Axel's arrival and the announcers did not understand why he was out there. As Axel surveyed the fallen bodies, Punk suddenly sprung up and dropped Axel with a GTS. Suddenly, Paul Heyman emerged and shouted down at Axel: "What is wrong with?!" Heyman continued to sell anger with Axel as Punk slowly rolled into the ring.

The crowd chanted for Brock Lesnar as Punk slowly rolled into the ring with no one in his way. Heyman led the crowd in a "C-M-Punk" chant as Punk very slowly climbed the ladder. But, Punk sold being too injured to make it to the top. Heyman then entered the ring and encouraged Punk to climb, but then grabbed another ladder and jammed Punk with it. The crowd booed as Heyman stared down at Punk with evil intentions written on his face. Heyman then smashed Punk's head in-between two ladders and left the ring. Heyman disappeared and Punk's face was covered in blood.

Suddenly, RVD emerged and started climbing the ladder, but Orton cut him off and delivered a mid-air RKO off the ladder. Sick. Orton wanted to climb, he looked around to see no one around him, then he looked up to the briefcase, unhooked it, and won. The crowd was accepting of the finish, but not over-joyed if it were Punk, Bryan, or RVD.

Post-match, WWE showed a cleaned-up Punk sitting down on the floor selling emotional distress over the loss. WWE then replayed high points from the match, including Heyman turning on Punk. WWE then went back to a shot of Punk leaning against the ring apron, Orton standing tall on the ladder holding the briefcase, and JBL signed off with hyperbole about the main event. Orton then hopped off the ladder and posed as Cole officially signed off at 10:52.

WINNER: Orton at 26:38 to win the WWE Title MITB briefcase. Strong main event complete with a big angle involving Punk and Heyman to set up Punk vs. Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. Orton back in the title picture is a good move to take advantage of his marketability to the general audience and revisit a Cena-Orton issue that could be fresh again, RVD had a very good showing (but can he keep it up in regular, standard wrestling matches?), D-Bryan didn't seem like the next guy in line to challenge Cena for the title, though, despite a good showing, and everyone else played their roles well. (***1/2)

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