Review for WWE Money in the Bank 2011

I love CM Punk. Everyone loves CM Punk and yet (as he points out) WWE never seemed to capitalise on this with lack of exposure for the Straight Edge Superstar. No ice cream bars, no Slurpy cups. Nothing! The build to this PPV was possibly the best build that I have ever witnessed since Survivor Series 1997. Sometimes WWE catch lightning in a bottle and this was one of those times when every wrestling fan, whether they were casual or hardcore were talking about WWE. The build for this PPV was perfection.

CM Punk's contract was expiring and having won himself a titleshot at Cena at Money in the Bank it seemed WWE had forgoitten that his contract legitimately expired the day after the PPV. This had happened before when Jeff Jarrett's contract expired while he was still Intercontinental Champion and he blackmailed Vince McMahon for a huge payout to wrestle at the PPV. People in the industry, fans, critics, everyone was convinced this was all just smoke and mirrors and that it was just a story. It wasn't. Punk's contract legitimately ended the day after the PPV and so Vince had the problem:

What if CM Punk wins the belt?

He could (as was the fear with Bret Hart) show up on a rival show with the belt. Punk delivered a number of real or shoot interviews on Raw, making fun of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and breaking a lot of taboos in terms of breaking kayfabe. This was possibly some of the most perfect interviews in WWE history, ranking up there with any from Stone Cold or The Rock.

Really do you need to know anymore? This PPV was perfect. Utter perfection. The two Money in the Bank matches were fine and though I still don't agree with Alberto Del Rio winning (If he couldn't get over with a Rumble win what makes WWE think a Money in the Bank win would be any different), but I do like the fact they are taking a chance with Daniel Bryan a guy who I feel should not do the sneak attack cashing in that most of them have done and actually arrange for a match and why not wait until Wrestlemania to build it up even more.

Both of the matches are spotfest galore, but then you would expect that from this type of match, but I guess that is the appeal of them and as long as they are only every year and not every few months then that is fine. Big Show vs. Mark Henry was a waste of time and didn't belong here and I'd like to say the same about the Divas match between Kelly Kelly and Brie Bella, but I do like the heel feel to the Bella twins and I only wish they had the working ability to go along with it. Christian vs. Orton was fine, but felt like I'd seen this match every other month...mainly because I had.

As for Cena vs. CM Punk? So far it is my match of the year and it is the first match from WWE to be awarded Five Stars by Dave Meltzer in fourteen years. The match was amazing. CM Punk and John Cena put on the best match that I have seen from either of them in a long time and to be honest I am trying hard to think of the last time I saw a WWE match that I instantly wanted to watch again. This was what a main event should be and this is how a PPV should end. It is a shame that the DVD doesn't include any of the interviews or promos that CM Punk gave as they really were great and would have made this even more of a must have item.

Money in the Bank PPV used to be all about the two ladder matches, but this year WWE proved that they didn't need the gimmick to sell the PPV and by creating a truthful and wonderful story they were able to produce one of the best PPVs in a long time and one that I would rcommend to all wrestling fans.