Alternative ways to book the MITB briefcase holder

[darkship]

Sheamus's exasperatingly predictable cash-in on Roman Reigns would make you think there were no new ways of booking the Money in the Bank briefcase. Indeed, this was at least the second time someone won the title, then immediately lost it to the MITB caseholder. Yet Seth Rollins' electrifying redemption of the contract showed that there were possibilities if someone felt like being creative with it.

 

So: how would you book the cash-in and/or the MITB holder in a way that doesn't feel like a retread of old Edge angles?

 

Here are some that I thought of, which may conclusively prove why I should not be allowed anywhere near a booker's pencil.

 

- The champion declares at the start of their reign that they agreed that if they won the title, they were exempt from MITB cash-ins. The MITB holder is therefore compelled to get the title off the champion before being eligible to cash in. Rollins as champ and Ambrose as briefcase holder would be the obvious thought.

- The opposite: the title shot is only valid while the current champion holds the title, putting Mr MITB in a position where they're forced to assist the champ in their title defences.

- Freebird rule: Someone like The New Day are co-holders of the briefcase.

- Andre rule: A proxy challenger wins the belt for someone, Andre/DiBiase style.Bray Wyatt is the obvious beneficiary but I could see Del Rio paying someone off to win him the title.

 

I also thought of the novelty of having someone low-ranking like Curtis Axel holding the briefcase, but I guess Sandow already did the "jobber with the briefcase" angle...

 

Any other ideas?

[DCW]

I'd get rid of it for a year or two. The roster is too thin these days and there's no strategic booking anymore, so 99% of the time the cash ins are shite.

[Briefcase]

I would extend the time as to when to use it, so instead of doing the yearly contract the winner could cash in whenever and in effect the moment the case is cashed in a new MITB match would take place at possibly the next PPV. Then scrap the MITB PPV as well. 

 

The danger would be that knowing the WWE they would have three MITB matches per year but also makes things less predictable as we all knew Sheamus wasn't going to cash in anytime between the rumble & mania so was always likely to cash in around now. 

 

Also means they can put it on someone and try build them rather than rushing a cash in, likewise when things need freshening up they can have a cash in then have another MITB match at a PPV (e.g. maybe now if the roster is lacking big names.

[Arch Stanton]

After ten years the concept has really worn thin and has facilitated nothing but lazily booked and totally unfulfilling title switches for years now. I'd much sooner it was dropped altogether, although if it was to be used again I'd like to see a popular but perhaps unlikely babyface win it and do the honourable thing by declaring their intention to cash it in ahead of time by making the match for an upcoming PPV. It's a totally obvious direction, but it's logical and hasn't already been done to death. Could work well for someone like Cesaro.

[darkship]

I like the idea of the time limit being about to run out and the challenger desperately rushing to cash in as the time runs out. Not sure exactly what you'd have the idiot doing for the other 11 months, though.

 

Also like the idea of the MITB holder winning the title without cashing in, just for the possible options. Seemed like an option when Sheamus ended up in the tournament, but it wasn't explored.

[darkship]

EDIT: Double post! Damnit!!

[air_raid]

Can't be arsed going through it again. Have a read ; https://ukff.com/topic/136731-cashing-in/

[Sergio Mendacious]

Make it transferable

[Jackpot]

Knock it on the head as far as the WWE Title goes and instead make it for the IC or US Title. It gives them an added dimension, which they're badly in need of. 

 

Alternatively, if they're going to keep it with the WWE Title (which they obviously will) then force it to be defended if it hasn't been cashed in every month. It probably makes the teased cash ins even more of a thing, which very few seem keen on. But at least it'll keep the actual briefcase at the forefront of people's minds rather than just the holder poncing about doing nothing until the actual cash in comes about like Sheamus has been ever since he won the briefcase.

 

If the holder continues successfully defending the briefcase, it gives them a bit of momentum.

[Mr.E]

Whilst it may not be the best idea, I had thought, have somebody win the briefcase, tease cashing in like they normally do for a month or so, then do a "injury" storyline, writing the holder off TV for a while. Not that WWE would do it, but I'd play the long con, until everybody has forgotten about the wrestler in question, whilst also building up to a big title match, then have the MITB holder come crashing in some 8-10 months later, total suprise etc.

[Chest Rockwell]

After ten years the concept has really worn thin and has facilitated nothing but lazily booked and totally unfulfilling title switches for years now. I'd much sooner it was dropped altogether, although if it was to be used again I'd like to see a popular but perhaps unlikely babyface win it and do the honourable thing by declaring their intention to cash it in ahead of time by making the match for an upcoming PPV. It's a totally obvious direction, but it's logical and hasn't already been done to death. Could work well for someone like Cesaro.

I like this and there's plenty of mileage in a heel champ doing what they can to try to dodge the match that will make for a decent build. Say they win MITB, cut a big emotional speech right after saying how much they've dreamed of the moment and they know exactly when they want to cash it in and they'll tell us on RAW tomorrow night, followed by a promo on RAW to announce their intention for upcoming PPV in a couple months' time.

 

Then you can have the heel champ try to take them out in advance to avoid a fair fight. Get caught, have a contract signing with a restraining order clause - familiar stuff but at least you've got momentum coming out of MITB, and a programme that puts the challenger in the picture with the champ and establishes them as a threat without the two of them actually fighting.

 

You could stretch it further by having the match contract stipulate the participants, so to try and duck it the heel champ decides he's going to have a title fight with his mate and intentionally drop the belt to him until after the PPV in question so the contract is voided. Our challenger makes the save out of nowhere to take out the champ's mate, and cause the champ to lose by DQ and retain his title. Ends with another stares down because they're not allowed to touch each other because of the restraining order. Or at some point there may be a big brawl between all their mates, in which they can get involved but avoid each other, and then it ends with them being the only two standing and staring each other down.

 

Uh.. whatever. There's a reason I don't book wrestling. But I definitely think there's potential in the idea!

[4tehlulz]

I think a baby face winning MITB and announcing he's cashing in on a PPV in a few months in his home town. He can spend the time building up getting ready for his big shot, putting it across that this is there big shot and they want to prove there the best not cheat there way to the title.

[Doctor Whos Next]

Have the contract be for a match for any stipulation – someone cashes in, a face winner books a match where the authority must disband if he wins. He doesn’t win, or the authority squeaks back in if he does, and afterwards, the contract is changed so that it’s a guaranteed shot at the title at Summerslam.

Or, what I think would have been brilliant this year…

 

Promo in the back, Ambrose is folding a paper dart.   Reigns comes up to him, Reigns asked him why he isn't focused on their match.  Ambrose shrugs, saying origami helps him focus,.  The Dart will be like him, fast, focused and ready.   It might help Reigns focus on just their match too, one on one.  He chucks it at him and walks off.   Reigns unfolds and reads it and smirks.    

 

At the end of the match Sheamus hands over the briefcase pins Reigns, but Dean Ambrose gets a mic. He knew that Sheamus would try this, and he might want to check the case.

So, the ref opens the case, and its empty, the decision is overturned.   Trips can't declare a new contract because he's knocked out, the show cuts to black, the end.  

[Undefeated Steak]

Agree with Arch. Not sure why they don't do it. It's an easy way to fill up a few week's worth of writing.

 

Not sure if they've done something like this before but have the winner sell it to somebody in a dark, wobbly-cam^tm backstage skit where you don't see who's bought it.

[Statto]

Give it to one of your part-timers, a version of Mr. E's injury angle. Don't talk about who holds the briefcase, or it's existence, every single time the champion is on screen. Then when they show up to cash-in, it's a surprise on two fronts.

 

How you book the cash-in depends on who holds it. If it's RVD or Jericho or whatever, you could do the sneaky surprise cash-in (and ideally have them lose too, so the champ who appeared vulnerable ends up looking strong at the expense of a guy fans perceive well but doesn't show up on TV every single week).

 

If it's Lesnar or Rock or Taker, they show up at the start of Raw when the champ is cutting a promo, and announce they're cashing in at the end of the night, or even at the top of the next hour. Plenty of time for social media buzz to get people to switch their TVs over, the guy cashing-in doesn't look like a sneaky pussy. Getting one of the aforementioned to do the ladder match is the toughest sell.

 

Or, have a guy who isn't in the match show up & 'steal' the briefcase. Really wanted that to happen 2 years ago when Ambrose didn't qualify for the match but said he would do anything to stop Rollins winning it. He is (and remains, I think) the perfect character to do this.

 

Doesn't have to be another sneaky pussy thing either, coming in at the end when everyone's fucked up and taking it. Really, how do you stop a guy who isn't supposed to be in a multi-man no-DQ match from competing? Really thought that was what they were going to do with Ambrose two years back. Have him beat up a bunch of security guys trying to stop him as well as 'competing' in the match. There's a fun opportunity to get some (actually indy workers/'unknown' NXT guys, obviously) 'civilian' security guy(s) to take a big bump for a surprise pop.

 

How you play it afterwards gives you several options too. Ideally, have The Authority declare the contract null and void afterwards, then you get the added bonus that you don't have to retread the same old cash-in angle that year.

Give it to one of your part-timers, a version of Mr. E's injury angle. Don't talk about who holds the briefcase, or it's existence, every single time the champion is on screen. Then when they show up to cash-in, it's a surprise on two fronts.

 

How you book the cash-in depends on who holds it. If it's RVD or Jericho or whatever, you could do the sneaky surprise cash-in (and ideally have them lose too, so the champ who appeared vulnerable ends up looking strong at the expense of a guy fans perceive well but doesn't show up on TV every single week).

 

If it's Lesnar or Rock or Taker, they show up at the start of Raw when the champ is cutting a promo, and announce they're cashing in at the end of the night, or even at the top of the next hour. Plenty of time for social media buzz to get people to switch their TVs over, the guy cashing-in doesn't look like a sneaky pussy. Getting one of the aforementioned to do the ladder match is the toughest sell.

 

Or, have a guy who isn't in the match show up & 'steal' the briefcase. Really wanted that to happen 2 years ago when Ambrose didn't qualify for the match but said he would do anything to stop Rollins winning it. He is (and remains, I think) the perfect character to do this.

 

Doesn't have to be another sneaky pussy thing either, coming in at the end when everyone's fucked up and taking it. Really, how do you stop a guy who isn't supposed to be in a multi-man no-DQ match from competing? Really thought that was what they were going to do with Ambrose two years back. Have him beat up a bunch of security guys trying to stop him as well as 'competing' in the match. There's a fun opportunity to get some (actually indy workers/'unknown' NXT guys, obviously) 'civilian' security guy(s) to take a big bump for a surprise pop.

 

How you play it afterwards gives you several options too. Ideally, have The Authority declare the contract null and void afterwards, then you get the added bonus that you don't have to retread the same old cash-in angle that year.