Nerd Watch Wednesday: Money In The Bank 2011

Dec 11, 201917 min read

Updated: Jun 3, 2020

Ro only writes in these articles when it is his pick and after picking ECW December To Dismember and taking an age to reveal his selection this week, I was fearing the worst as to what card we would be reviewing.

I was pleasantly surprised when he went for Money In The Bank 2011 - an event with a 9.59 rating on Cagematch! Cannot wait to get stuck into this one...

SMACKDOWN MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

By Ross Casey

The entrances for this match alone take an age. Highlights include Sheamus' old theme, Sin Cara getting mega pyro and Daniel Bryan being called a nerd by that alpha male, Michael Cole.

Former Nexus members Slater and Gabriel have a nice little narrative of working together before Slater turns on his former partner. The match breaks down almost immediately, which is understandable considering the match and number of participants involved.

Everyone does an aerial move over the ropes - including Slater who hits a corkscrew con hilo! Spanish fly off the top rope from Sin Cara on Daniel Bryan! The crowd are cheering and booing corresponding to the wrestler going up for the briefcase, which is most enjoyable. That's how we should settle the election, I reckon. They love Bryan, like Sin Cara and HATE Slater.

HOLY SHIT! Sheamus powerbombs Sin Cara through a ladder which was balanced between the apron and the commentary table. Sin Cara convulses on the floor and has to be stretchered out. It actually was revealed later that he had failed a wellness policy test and was suspended for 30 days. As punishments go, a powerbomb through a ladder seems fairly severe!

Little Guido is one of the refs!

We then get the much desired Corre reunion when Barrett, Slater and Gabriel all stop Kane from climbing the ladder. Barrett appears to convince them to allow him to climb and win the match, but they drag him down and scramble for the case themselves, before Cody pushes them off.

Daniel Bryan takes a doomsday device from Kane and lands on a ladder when flipping backwards off Sheamus' shoulders. That looked horrendous for the 'King of the nerds'. Sheamus then goes on a rampage and appears set for the win only for Kane to thwart him with a CHOKESLAM on a balanced ladder. He bounces horribly.

Justin Gabriel somehow stands on a ladder on the top rope and hits a 450 splash on Kane! Holy shit this match is nuts! Bryan delivers savage elbows to Barrett and kicks him off the ladder and the crowd POPS realising he is all alone. Bryan reaches the briefcase and wins!

That was a pretty flat finish for the madness that proceeded it, but blimey what a lot of fun this match was. The nerd won and we all go home happy. HE'S ONE OF OUR OWN! HE'S ONE OF OUR OWWWN! DANIEL BRYAN, HE'S ONE OF OUR OWN!

If you have 25 minutes to spare I recommend you reacquaint yourself with this one, it really is a blast to watch. A forgotten gem and a nice piece of history as it is the beginning of a much loved wrestler becoming main event worthy.

WINNER - DANIEL BRYAN BY BOOT TO FACE

WWE DIVAS TITLE MATCH: KELLY KELLY (C) v BRIE BELLA

By Matt Connolly

So my match this week is from an era where I was not watching. I'm not sure I would of bothered watching this outing even at the time to be honest considering the calibre of wrestlers on show but maybe these broads will surprise me. This was at a time when the Women were taken for granted though so I'm not hopeful.

Challenger Brie Bella is out first. Thankfully she enters with sister Nikki so my ears are saved from maybe the worst entrance music in WWE history. Seriously, that Brie Mode song was Aids. I wish this match had Nikki in it. I think she was vastly under-rated by people. If she had a proper neck she would still be around the title picture now. Anyway this match isn't really about her although I won't be stunned if we get some twin magic at some point. Lawler is horrible on commentary here. He comments that he wants to give the Girls a spanking and that he wants them to "wink at him and he will do the rest". It's a threat I don't really understand but I still hate it. THIS IS 2011!

Kelly squared is out next and my ears do receive some Aids because her intro is horrific. Cole and Booker are trying to add a bit of context to this match to be fair to them. Cole is pro-Bella's because this is in the middle of that Heel run he tried and Booker is giving good reason as to why Eve Torres is backing up Kelly Kelly. Cole then shits on it by advertising Maryse and proclaiming he wants to interview her so he can get a kiss. Hmmmm.

Match opens with a open handed slap from Kelly to Bella and then a tidy Lou Thesz press. Maybe this will be decent? No. Kelly then attempts to run the ropes and its like the ring is made of treacle as she ambles across. It's then followed by a less than smooth Hurricanrana. We find out via Comms that The Bella's are annoyed that Kelly was airbrushed for a Maxim photoshoot. YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT!

As this is explained Kelly hits a decent splash that clears both Bella's on the outside. The crowd are not completely dead for this but their interest is definitely questionable. Match gathering a bit of pace though. Kelly dropped on her face on the outside whilst attempting a tarantula. That looked cool.

Nikki puts the boot in as the ref turns and I am desperately trying to ignore Lawler but he obnoxiously laughs after every dated joke. Brie locks her legs around Kelly and starts to try and submit her. The crowd do rally and try to give Kelly some support. Brie keeps working the mid section though and I must admit that this isn't the bottom of the barrel I was expecting.

Nikki screams "Learn how to count ref!" after a failed pin and I feel a strong connection right there. Brie stretches Kelly's abdomen out and this is ok. Kelly fights out and drives Brie's head into the mat three times with babyface vigour. She puts a couple of moves together that are pretty lame.

They exchange more moves for the sake of it and then Kelly hits a shitty looking move that is kind of a fameasser for the win. Woeful music hits. Lets all go home. This wasn't the car crash I was expecting but was very close in that last minute. Booker T tried valiantly to steer the match in a direction but Lawler and Cole didn't care. Let's never go back to these days.

WINNER - STILL DIVAS CHAMPION, KELLY KELLY BY KIND OF A FAMEASSER

MARK HENRY v THE BIG SHOW

By Nineties Mike

I genuinely forgot how good this PPV is and how many moments I remembered from it. The crowd here in Chi-Town is molten and was all the way through. Mark Henry vs The Big Show was a well that WWE went to a few too many times in some fans’ eyes, and they had to do something different here to avoid it being just another big man match. Would they be able to break the mould with this?

This feud had been going since the June 17 episode of SmackDown, Big Show was forced to face Henry in a match. Big Show knocked out Henry before the bell, creating a fierce rivalry between the two. Henry interfered in Show's match with Alberto Del Rio at Capitol Punishment and again on the June 27 episode of Raw in a steel cage match. A grudge match was later announced for Money in the Bank. And here we are…

Henry out first, and we get to hear that wonderful entrance tune, but he’s got a mean look on his face. Michael Cole tells us cameramen and other technical staff didn’t want to come to work due to their fear of the rampage The World’s Strongest Man is carrying out of late. And here comes The Big Show to a minor pop from the crowd. Lawler sells the vintage “irresistible force meets the immovable object” line from yesteryear and I’m in for this! Don’t let me down, lads!

Here we go! Punches from Henry, but Show is unmoved and responds in kind with some big old knife edge chops. Tale of the tape from Cole on commentary (these guys are both bloody big and bloody strong, basically!). Massive shoulder tackle from Show and Henry rolls out for a breather. Show eventually follows him out and hits a forearm and Henry is down already! Both men looking for power moves onto the Spanish Announce Table and Señors Cabrera and Savinovich are out of here!

Show throws Henry into the steps and Henry dropkicks the stairs into Big Show’s bad knee. Henry smells blood and he’s all over it, chopping down the World’s Largest Athlete. Our first pin gets a standard 2.01 count, but Henry is not done. He originally grabs the wrong leg, but quickly realises and continues the focussed offence. Big Show is in trouble here. Henry talking smack, and now puts Show in a one-legged crab, putting huge pressure on the knee and back.

Show slowly crawls and grabs the ropes, which obviously frustrates Henry, but is he a man you want to make mad? Show up onto his feet and battles back with a middle rope shoulder tackle! But he landed on his injured knee. He is up first, bizarrely, and calls for the Chokeslam… but Henry battles back by kicking the knee and hits World’s Strongest Slam… just a 2.5 count as he didn’t hook the massive leg!

This can’t go on much longer, Show is struggling big-time! Henry is shocked, frustrated and angry all at once, but takes a second to compose himself. He hits another World’s Strongest Slam and two absolutely monumental splashes and that is that. Henry continues his winning streak.

He’s not satisfied, though. He has evil intentions, grabbing a chair to further the onslaught on Show’s knee. He wraps the chair around the knee, climbs to the second rope and… splashes onto the chair! Big Show is in bits, screaming at the referees to stay away and get off of him. He says to the doctor that he heard his ankle crack. Here come the EMTs and a stretcher.

They show the splash another couple of times and none of the angles look good for Show. He has a protective boot on and the crowd show how much they care by chanting for CM Punk. Show is on the stretcher and is wheeled toward the ambulance, but Booker T wants to see the splash again!

This was a big match, and a big moment that added to the "Hall of Pain" storyline Henry had going. Three months later, Henry would beat Randy Orton clean for his first ever World Title win.

This match went a long way in building up Henry for that, and I’d argue it was one of the few times around this period that WWE got a long-term build right. Mark Henry is a deserved member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and I’m sure Big Show won’t be far behind following him in.

WINNER - MARK HENRY BY MONUMENTAL SPLASHES

RAW MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

By RJF

So here we are, the Raw MITB match. Out first, in a Lamborghini worth a lot of money according to Michael Cole, Alberto Del Rio. “That’s what I ordered for dinner last night” is all King has to say about the Lambo, moron.

Next out, here comes Kofi Kingston followed by Jack Swagger, everyone following Del Rio’s lead bringing a ladder into the ring with them. Next here is Evan Bourne, also brings a ladder. Now here comes the 429 time 24/7 champion R-Truth, man never ages. Truth brings a ladder. Next Alex Riley heads to the ring with a really small ladder, bit pointless. Here comes the Miz and finally Rey Mysterio heads to the ring.

All men now in the ring, all with ladders in hand. Del Rio stuck in the middle and gets squashed by everyone before swagger destroys him with a ladder on the outside and everyone throws ladders on top of him. The Miz then throws Rey onto the pile of the ladders.

After a few brawls Truth and Miz the last two men in the ring who duel with their ladders before Swagger comes from nowhere and wipes them both out. Jack tries setting up a 6ft ladder, god knows why as even he couldn’t reach the brief case from that low down.

Kingston and Bourne climb either side of the ladder as swagger holds it up. Bourne and Kingston fight over the ladder and as King says “they are fighting over a ladder that won’t reach the briefcase”. I guess he talks sense once in a while.

After a brawl Riley is the last man standing and starts to climb the ladder before he is stopped by the Miz. The action spills to the outside and Truth hits a group of men with a Swanton over the top rope.

Where is Del Rio, he has not been seen since being taken out in the first 20 seconds of this fight. Kingston and Rey head to the top and hit the men on the outside with synchronised dives. Now Bourne is at the top of a giant ladder outside the ring and goes airborne to hit all the men below.

Some may say this is spot fest... not much psychology behind that dive from Bourne... all men are down. Apart from Del Rio who is nowhere to be seen. Bourne sets up the ladder in the middle of the ring. He is stopped by the Miz, but Bourne gets one hand in the brief case.

But wait, who is this... Del Rio our of nowhere pushes over the ladder and both Bourne and Miz come crashing to the ground. Doctors are looking at the Miz, the ladder hit his knee on the way down.

Del Rio starts to climb the ladder but Truth is right behind him to pull him back down. The Miz is being carried to the back. Truth and Del Rio try to climb the ladder but Bourne and Rey climb over them and get a hand each on the briefcase.

Truth and Del Rio make the stop so Bourne and Rey hit synchronised hurricanrana’s sending Truth and Del Rio to the outside but also hurting themselves a little. Who’s that lurking on the outside? Enter Jack Swagger...

Big boot on Bourne, clothesline on Rey from swagger, but as he heads to the ladder Kofi leapfrogs him to start to climb. Swagger locks in an ankle lock on Kofi on the ladder and now Alex Riley makes his way up the ladder. Swagger slows him down before Truth throws both men off by pushing over the ladder.

Truth and Rey begin to fight in the ring. They set up an inventive spot for Kofi, who jumps from the top turnbuckle, onto the ladder wedged on the second rope all to land on Truth with a leg drop, lovely stuff.

Rey hits a 619 on Kingston who was between the ladder. Rey is cleaning up here right now. He sets up the ladder and begins the slow climb. You would thing wrestlers would practice climbing ladders, none of them are very good at it.

Riley meets Rey at the top and Del Rio and Bourne start slowing them down and set up a ladder each next to the ladder. Rey is the closest to the brief case as Kingston and Swagger now set up ladders and climb to the top. 7 men pushing the brief case around as Truth enters the Miz.

Now they start hitting each other, Del Rio hits the canvas first, then Swagger, then Bourne.

Kingston ends up alone at the top, but Swagger back from the dead climbs to pull him down.

Holy shit, Swagger takes a massive fall from the giant ladder onto his back, that must have hurt, especially as Kofi and the ladder also hit him once he down. The crowd start rumbling, what’s this... the Miz going full Io and Candice by coming back from the dead running to the ring....

The Miz starts to climb. He’s hopping on one leg, Rey is having none of it and quickly makes the stop. The Miz is done as he’s powerbombed off the ladder. Rey climbs the ladder but is stopped by Del Rio.

Rey pushes Del Rio away and continues to climb, but Del Rio comes back, oh shit.... Del Rio rips off the mask of Rey so he has to hide his face and now 7 ladder come crashing down as Rey does his best to not let his face be seen. I don’t think Rey was supposed to know all the ladders over like that....

Del Rio is still standing though. He throws Rey’s mask away, he sets up a ladder and begins to climb, no one is around, the briefcase is in reach. And there is is, Mr Money in the Bank, Alberto Del Rio! He celebrates at the top of the ladder.

What a match, fast pace from the get go, some inventive spots, some crazy spots. Lovely stuff.

WINNER - ALBERTO DEL RIO BY MASK RIP

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: RANDY ORTON (C) v CHRISTIAN

By Simon Mehdi

This match has an interesting stipulation which is if the champion gets disqualified, he will lose his title to Christian. Which already tells us that he will do all he can to light the short fuse of the Apex predator, Randy Orton.

Christian is first to enter the ring. The commentators already dismiss Christian’s chances as they claim he’s had too many opportunities to win the title and if he blows this one he would have to go to the back of a very long line for a rematch. Christian is made out like the underdog in this match, despite the stipulation and Randy Orton’s anger management issues which are immediately highlighted when he enters the ring.

The mind games begin instantly as the bell rings with Christian introducing a steel chair into the ring to try and goad Orton into using it which would obviously result in him losing his title. Orton picks it up but doesn’t rise to the bait. Christian then slaps Orton to goad him even further but is immediately met with several strikes as Orton’s temper gets its first spike.

After a brief exchange, the pair are met outside the ring where all eyes are on Orton to see if temptation would get the better of him. Randy takes a risk and sends Christian flying into the steel steps. Back in the ring Christian gets the upper hand with a flying elbow to Orton which gets a only a 1 count. Christian continues the assault with Orton on the floor and nearly gets himself disqualified by using his boot to choke Orton. Christian is cruising and full of momentum at the moment, not allowing Orton to get into this match.

Both wrestlers go back and forth with near falls to which the crowd seem to enjoy as the noise levels rise. Christian now looks like the frustrated one as he attempts his Killswitch manoeuvre but it met with a counter and both men are sent outside the ring again. A double count out would not help Christian in this match.

Back in the ring, the intensity of the match turns up a notch as the wrestlers again go back and forth with near falls and reversals. This is actually more entertaining than I remember. Christian ends up on the top rope and delivers a flying headbutt to Orton getting a close two count.

Christian looks exhausted while he tries to gather his thoughts but before we know it Orton attempts his RKO which is countered yet again. Finally then, Christian hits the Killswitch but only gets a two count much to the surprise of the audience who believed that was the finish.

As both wrestlers get up, Christian remembers his best mate Edge and goes for the spear but sadly Orton avoids it and executes an awesome neckbreaker for another two count. In disbelief, The Viper tees himself up for his infamous punt. Christian avoids contact but is met with a powerslam followed up by his trademark rope hung DDT. The champion has the upper edge now as things look bleak for Christian.

Orton is now setting Christian up for the RKO by slithering his way towards Christian but is rather disgustingly held on his tracks as Christian commits a foul act by spitting in The Viper's face. An understandably pissed off Orton pounds on Christian and breaks before the count of five, before eventually letting his anger get the better of him by booting Christian in his bollocks.

The referee calls for the bell and Randy Orton is disqualified. Christian wins the psychological bout and is the new World Heavyweight Champion.

I love it when a plan comes together. Despite the nasty method of Christian finally pushing Orton over the edge I thought this match was very well worked. Christian looked smart and despite losing his title, Orton didn’t look weak at all though out the match. The crowd seemed to enjoy the concept as well as the pop was huge at the conclusion of the match.

WINNER - NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, CHRISTIAN BY BALL BAG PAIN

WWE TITLE MATCH: JOHN CENA (C) v CM PUNK

By Ro Ahmad

The build to this match was one of the best for a WWE title match as it followed the infamous Punk Pipe Bomb promo. The cracking video package featuring Vinnie Mac, Cena and Punk served its purpose of hyping the match and is definitely one of the best Kevin Dunn’s team have produced.

The story going in was Punk hated WWE but had this WWE title match set on the same day his WWE contract expired so he threatened he would not renew it even if we won the title - essentially leaving the WWE as champion.

Vince then warns Cena he has to win or be FIRREEEDDDD!!! I’ve not seen this match since the actual PPV back in 2011 but remember it being awesome so it was one of the main reasons for choosing this PPV for this nerd watch.

The “polarising” reaction both men get is crazy. Punk comes out first to a THUNDEROUS ovation as expected with it being his hometown and kayfabe last match in WWE. Cena knows he would be getting booed out of the arena so he just walks to the ring with none of his horrible salute and pandering. The commentary team mention their history as back in 2006 at Mania 22 (one of the most underrated mania’s in my opinion) in this very building Punk played the role of a gangster during Cena’s cringe entrance…. how far he has come.

The crowd are on FIRE and chanting “you can’t wrestle” to Cena. Seriously this atmosphere is unbelievable… imagine what it would have been like being there in the arena live. They exchange offence and basically anything Cena does gets major heat and anything Punk does, the crowd is more moist than AJ Lee for.

Punk hits a big knee to the back outside leading to a near fall. Punk hits a cross body off the second rope, landing on Cena’s knees which looks panful.. Cena hits back with a suplex from the apron to the outside. Back in the ring, they trade shots with the crowd going back and forth. Then Cena goes into the FIVE MOVES OF DOOM and the crowd HATE IT until… Punk counters mid-way and falls on his ass before missing the corner knee.

Punk blocks the Five Knuckle Shuffle, throws Cena outside and follows with a suicide dive. Cena still hits the shuffle and tries the FU (not calling it the AA) but Punk lands on his feet and sweeps him up for a two count. Punk hits Cena with two hard high knee strikes to the jaw! Cena kicks out of the Macho Man top rope elbow before catching Punk in the STFU.

Punk gets to the ropes and gets two on a kick. He goes up top for a cross body that Cena rolls through and hoists him up for another failed FU attempt. Punk counters into the GTS but Cena catches the knee into a stunning STF counter. Punk reverses that into the Anaconda Vice. Cena survives and finally nails the FU for a NEAR NEAR fall.

Cena goes up top for his shitty diving Fameasser thingy but Punk catches it into an impossibly botched powerbomb for a near two count. The crowd is so into this they are electric the whole way through. Cena then nails a second FU but the hometown hero kicks out again. Cena pleads to the ref to confirm if it was a 2 count as the crowd GOES NUTS!. Cena looks pissed and loads up Punk for a super FU off the top rope but Punk fights out of and hits a top rope hurricanrana!

Loving this… forgot how good this was! Punk hits the GTS but Cena lands outside. Punk rolls Cena in the ring and here come Vince and John Laryngitis to major BOOOOS. Cena tells them something to not get involved in the match before slapping on the STF. Vince orders Johnny to pull another Montreal screwjob but Cena doesn’t want the screwy finish so lets go of the hold and lays out Jonny.

He talks smack to Vince that this match isn’t going to end that way and enters the ring again and Punk suddenly scoops him up hits the GTS for the 1… 2… 3 and a THUNDEROUS ovation!!! Punk wins the title and the crowd goes BESERK! WHAT A MATCH!!!! Both men were on form but Cena surprised me here as this was easily one of his best matches along with his one vs HBK on that UK Raw after Mania 23.

I can see why Meltzer gave this match a 5 star rating as everything was on point! The build, story, crowd, match itself, counters, result and drama were the best thing in WWE in recent memory.

Post-match Vince gets on commentary and demands for Alberto Del Rio (who had won the Raw MITB briefcase earlier) to come out for a desperation cash in… anything to keep the title in WWE.

He runs out with his briefcase but before he can attack, Punk kicks him in the head. As Vince looks on helplessly, Punk blows a kiss at Vince and exits through the raucous hometown crowd to end the PPV.

This match is a full 5 stars from me too Meltzer! Just a shame they followed this up with the trashy angle where Punk came back too soon and the shitshow that was Kevin Nash texting himself from HHHs phone.

WINNER - CM PUNK BY GO TO SLEEP