WWE, having not skipped a beat throughout the coronavirus pandemic that's halted sports and entertainment, continues its pay-per-view schedule on Sunday night with the Money in the Bank event. Once again, the traditional briefcases will be up for grabs as 12 men and women will be vying to capture the guaranteed world title shot afforded to the victor within the next calendar year. This year, the stakes have been raised in the Money in the Bank ladder match like we've never seen before, however.
In one of the more creative twists that we've seen in company history, not only will both the men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches be going down simultaneously, but the chaos will emanate from WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The 12 total men and women will begin the match on the ground floor of Titan Towers and battle all the way to the roof where the coveted briefcases will be waiting above a ring. Between this unique Money in the Bank format and championship matches on tap, we could be in store for another memorable PPV from WWE during a time we could use the entertainment the most.
Money in the Bank will begin at 7 p.m. ET with the show expected to last anywhere from three-plus hours, not counting the kickoff show, which starts one hour prior to the main card at 6 p.m. CBS Sports will be with you the entire way on Sunday with live results, highlights and analysis.
Let's take a closer look at who our CBS Sports experts predict will come out on top at WWE Money in the Bank.
2020 Money in the Bank predictions
Jeff Hardy vs. Cesaro (Kickoff match)
After weeks of video packages highlighting his career, Hardy returned on the go-home SmackDown where he dove right into the Sheamus feud that we've all seen coming. Before he clashes with Sheamus one-one, however, he has to deal with his former The Bar teammate first in the Money in the Bank kickoff. Should be an easy, clean victory for Hardy here before he gets in the ring with his Irish nemesis. Pick: Jeff Hardy wins -- Jack Crosby
R-Truth vs. MVP: The Hardy-Cesaro match announced on Saturday made some sense. This one, however, came a little out of left field. It seems like MVP is gearing toward a full-time managerial role on Raw, so a victory here for the former United States champion is the likely outcome. Pick: MVP wins -- Jack Crosby
SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The New Day (c) vs. The Miz & John Morrison vs. The Forgotten Sons vs. Lucha House Party
One of the toughest calls on the entire card because there's good reason to put the titles on any of the top three teams listed above. An immediate flip back to Miz & Morrison would make little sense for the titles to have changed in the first place, while the Forgotten Sons are ultimately too green to carry the straps despite their shocking win over New Day last week. Let's stick with a retention here considering New Day just won the damn things. Pick: The New Day retain the titles -- Adam Silverstein
I understand it seems well out of the realm of possibility for WWE to slap the tag team titles on the Forgotten Sons this quickly after debuting. But, you know what else hasn't made all that much sense? WWE's obsession with this faction dating back to its debut in NXT. For better or worse, they've been picking up momentum on Friday nights week after week, and I think the four-way format here provides the perfect opportunity for the shocking title change. Pick: The Forgotten Sons win the titles -- Jack Crosby
SmackDown Women's Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Tamina
There's really not a whole lot to break down here aside from the obvious. The intention is clearly to build toward the eventual showdown between Bayley and Sasha Banks, presumably at SummerSlam, so Tamina is seemingly being a title opportunity here to fill the time as a reward for her longstanding service to the company. Bayley comes away with this one while the tension continues to mount between her and Banks. Pick: Bayley retains the title -- Crosby (also Silverstein)
Universal Championship: Braun Strowman (c) vs. Bray Wyatt
The Mr. Rogers version of Wyatt is 1-0 with a win over The Miz, but Wyatt was champion at that time, and Strowman should be booked far stronger than The Miz. While I initially did not see how they could have Wyatt lose again so soon after dropping the universal title to Goldberg, it would make booking sense for him to fall here and then come back to beat Strowman as "The Fiend" at the next show or perhaps even SummerSlam. Ultimately, pulling the title off Strowman so quickly would be a mistake, but Wyatt also needs to stay strong after a couple poor decisions with him regarding his feuds with Goldberg and Seth Rollins before that. Pick: Braun Strowman retains the title -- Silverstein (also Crosby)
WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Seth Rollins
While Seth Rollins has been thriving in this Monday Night Messiah heel role, there's simply no excuse or rationalization to take the title off McIntyre so soon after a monumental win over Brock Lesnar. These two should put together a solid match, but in the end, Rollins falls victim to McIntyre. Whether this match is a one-and-done in the feud, though, will be interesting to see. Pick: Drew McIntyre retains the title -- Crosby (also Silverstein)
Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Nia Jax vs. Asuka vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Lacey Evans vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke
The best way to pick matches like these are by process of elimination. Carmella is not winning again, Brooke is not getting a push to this degree, and people would revolt at Jax taking the briefcase. Evans needs it the most as she has neither gotten over as a heel nor face yet seems firmly in WWE's plans. Asuka needs it the least, but her carrying the briefcase for months -- stalking both champions -- would be highly entertaining. Baszler would be the most threatening with the briefcase, and her cashing in on Becky Lynch would be a reasonable end to Lynch's dominant, year-long title reign. Evans is the longshot, but Baszler deserves to be the favorite. Pick: Shayna Baszler wins -- Silverstein (also Crosby)
Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match: AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Otis vs. King Corbin
As previously discussed, let's discuss by eliminating. Neither Bryan nor Mysterio need the briefcase, and the latter is not on TV enough to carry it. Otis, while talented and entertaining, is not main event material. Like with Jax, fans would revolt at Corbin winning, especially because he's already King of the Ring and it would be his second briefcase. With faces as champions on each brand, Styles is the clear and understandable favorite; he may even do the best job with the briefcase. But Black has been the subject of a long-term build since his call up, and I don't see why that should change. So I'll go with my long-term expectation as opposed to my recent change of heart since Styles entered the fray. Pick: Aleister Black wins -- Silverstein
Up until this past Monday night, I was convinced Aleister Black was taking home the briefcase as his momentum continues to skyrocket on Raw. Hell, even when reports leaked that Styles was returning Monday night and he was likely winning the gauntlet match to earn his way into the field, while intriguing, I still sided with Black. It wasn't until I saw Styles work and heard him speak upon his return where my mind did a 180 on me. On the heels of one of the more memorable matches in WrestleMania history and a one-month vacation to go along with it, Styles seems poised to take over the top heel spot on Raw. That begins with emerging victorious in the most unique Money in the Bank match we have ever witnessed. Pick: AJ Styles wins -- Crosby