Money in the Bank 2013: Two Great Ladder Matches Reshape the Summer

The opening Money in the Bank Ladder Match immediately gives the show a major-event pace, with seven heels fighting for a World Heavyweight Championship contract. Cody Rhodes becomes the emotional center by surviving repeated attacks, creating several spectacular ladder sequences and appearing to have the briefcase won. The Shield's interference adds another layer without completely taking over the match, and The Usos' response keeps the outside involvement from becoming one-sided. Rhodes finally clears the field and begins climbing alone. Damien Sandow suddenly shoves his tag-team partner off the ladder and takes the contract for himself. The betrayal is both a strong finish and an immediate storyline launch, giving the match excellent replay value beyond its collection of high-risk spots.

Curtis Axel's Intercontinental Championship defense against The Miz is a competent midcard match placed between two much larger attractions. Miz tries to create openings around the Figure Four, while Axel keeps the pace measured and repeatedly returns to straightforward offense rather than trying to match the spectacle of the opener. The match gets enough time to become competitive, but the crowd never treats the championship as a major event-level prize. Miz produces a late burst and appears ready to shift momentum. Axel cuts him off, lands the Hangman's Facebuster and scores the clean pin. The retention keeps Axel's reign moving and avoids unnecessary interference, though the bout feels more like a solid television defense than a memorable pay-per-view title match.

AJ Lee and Kaitlyn continue their personal Divas Championship rivalry with a match that is stronger than the short runtime might suggest because the emotional stakes are already established. Kaitlyn attacks with more urgency than in a routine title challenge, while AJ looks for ways to neutralize the power difference and bring the match toward the Black Widow. The challenger creates several believable openings and forces AJ to survive rather than simply control the pace. AJ finally catches Kaitlyn after avoiding another power sequence. She locks in the Black Widow and forces the submission. The clean finish gives AJ a meaningful retention and protects the rivalry's intensity, even if seven minutes prevents the match from developing into a more substantial championship showcase.

Ryback and Chris Jericho work a conventional singles match designed to repair Ryback's momentum after a string of major losses while giving Jericho enough offense to keep the result competitive. Jericho uses speed and veteran timing to avoid prolonged power exchanges, and Ryback repeatedly tries to turn any mistake into a short finishing sequence. The match is technically sound but never develops a compelling larger story beyond whether Jericho can overcome the size difference. Jericho misses the Lionsault after Ryback rolls away. Ryback immediately catches him in a roll-up and scores the pin. The protected finish gives Ryback the victory without making Jericho look weak, but the match remains a supporting attraction on a card dominated by ladder-match stakes.

Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler continue the World Heavyweight Championship rivalry with another physical match built around Ziggler trying to reclaim the title he lost at Payback. Ziggler's pace creates several strong comeback sequences, while Del Rio repeatedly attacks with kicks and tries to keep the challenger from building sustained momentum. The wrestling is good enough to support a cleaner conclusion, which makes the finish especially frustrating. AJ Lee enters and strikes Del Rio with the Divas Championship belt. The referee immediately calls for the disqualification, giving Del Rio the victory and the retention. The angle advances Ziggler's breakup with AJ and the Big E Langston story, but it sacrifices the championship match's own payoff for the next television chapter.

John Cena and Mark Henry turn Henry's celebrated fake-retirement angle into a strong WWE Championship match built around power, survival and the possibility of one final career-defining title win. Henry controls long stretches with strength and repeatedly forces Cena to fight from underneath, giving the champion fewer easy comeback opportunities than usual. Cena gradually creates openings with movement and repeated attempts to apply the STF. Henry reaches the ropes during the first successful application and briefly escapes. Cena pulls him back toward the center and reapplies the hold. Henry eventually submits, giving Cena a decisive retention while preserving the gravity of Henry's challenge. The match cannot fully match the brilliance of the retirement promo, but it delivers a credible championship payoff.

The main-event Money in the Bank Ladder Match is a loaded all-star attraction built around six established names and Rob Van Dam's return to WWE competition. The match continually rotates between major pairings, ladder crashes and near-win moments without losing sight of the contract as the central prize. Daniel Bryan appears especially close to winning before Curtis Axel interferes, and CM Punk later seems to have the match secured until Paul Heyman turns on him. That betrayal creates the night's biggest emotional shock and launches Punk toward Brock Lesnar. Rob Van Dam makes one final climb, but Randy Orton pulls him down and lands an RKO. Orton then takes the briefcase, earning the contract that will reshape SummerSlam one month later.