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WWE Money In The Bank 2019 Results: News And Notes After Brock Lesnar Shockingly Wins MITB Briefcase

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Brock Lesnar captured his first Money in the Bank briefcase in shocking fashion.

Credit: WWE.com

Brock Lesnar shockingly won the 2019 men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, swooping in at the last minute to replace a fallen Sami Zayn. Lesnar, who is rumored to challenge Seth Rollins in Saudi Arabia for the WWE Universal Championship, could very well cash in the briefcase for a match at WWE Super ShowDown, where he would be in position to capture the WWE Universal Championship in Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year.

WWE's viewership has slowly increased over the past two weeks after bottoming out at the close of April, however SmackDown Live logged yet another record low going head-to-head with Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Concern will continue to linger as WWE's significant year-to-year declines in viewership will continue to face stiff competition in a looming NBA Finals almost sure to feature strong drawing card Golden State Warriors—who currently have a commanding 3-0 lead in their Western Conference Finals series against the Portland Trailblazers—not to mention the return of Monday Night Football in the fall.

Up against the worldwide and cultural phenomenon that will be the series finale of Game of Thrones, WWE is fortunate that no data will be readily available to the public for Money in the Bank's first-run viewership.

WWE Raw Viewership—Last Five Weeks
Air Date WWE Raw Viewership 
May 13, 2019 2.349 million viewers
May 6, 2019 2.224 million viewers
April 29, 2019 2.158 million viewers
April 22, 2019 2.374 million viewers
April 15, 2019 2.665 million viewers
WWE SmackDown Live Viewership—Last Five Weeks
Air Date WWE SmackDown Live Viewership 
May 14, 2019 1.827 million viewers
May 7, 2019 1.931 million viewers
April 30, 2019 1.833 million viewers
April 23, 2019 2.072 million viewers
April 16, 2019 2.219 million viewers

WWE Money in the Bank Key Competition: 

  • Game of Thrones Finale
  • NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3: Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors

From the Forbes WWE Vault:

WWE Total YouTube Viewership for Raw this past Monday: 11,201,566 views (Down from 13,463,424 views)

  • Most-Viewed: Bray Wyatt Reveals Dark Secret on "Firefly Fun House" (2,671,338 views) 
  • Least-Viewed: The Revival Says the Ball is in The Usos' Court (83,213 views)
  • Median Viewership: 287,050

WWE Total YouTube Viewership for SmackDown Live this past Tuesday: 5,845,595 views 

  • Most-Viewed: Reigns and Usos vs. Bryan, Rowan and Elias (1,657,947 views) 
  • Least-Viewed: Don't Try to Get Into Aleister Black's Head (63,089 views)
  • Median Viewership: 380,762

Estimated Attendance for "A City": 9,235

Average WWE Money in the Bank Ticket Price at the XL Center$103

Estimated Live Gate for WWE Money in the Bank: $951,205

WWE Money in The Bank 2019: Sunday, May 19, 2019 

The Usos def. Daniel Bryan and Rowan (Kickoff Show) 

The Usos "whoa" chant is quite possibly the most fun chant in all of professional wrestling.

Daniel Bryan has gone from defending the WWE Championship to battling "Spongebob Squarepants!" chants on the pre-show. He's being booked like I thought he would when he decided not to go to Saudi Arabia last year. Y

Bayley def. Nikki Cross, Naomi, Ember Moon, Mandy Rose, Carmella, Natalya and Dana Brooke—Women's WWE Money in the Bank Ladder Match 

Naomi was dressed like she'd be a lock to win this match if there was a honeycomb hanging above.

You could tell by the somewhat dismissive tone the announcers used during Carmella's entrance that she was a longshot to win her second Money in the Bank briefcase.

Naomi repeatedly dazzled with very impressive athletic spots throughout this Ladder Match. If she goes on to lose, it falls in line with how Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston and so many other, um, athletes before her are typically booked in these matches.

Sadly, Carmella suffered a knee injury earlier in this match, which was heartbreaking to watch. Update: I got worked.

Judging by the reaction for Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke as they ascended up the ladder, these fans wanted no part of a third straight blonde Money in the Bank winner.

Popularity based on the reaction to climbing the ladder:

  • Naomi
  • Nikki Cross
  • Bayley
  • Carmella
  • Dana Brooke
  • Mandy Rose

Rey Mysterio def. Samoa Joe—WWE United States Championship

This might have been the worst United States Championship victory in WWE history. Even the post-match attack was disappointing after Samoa Joe refused to lay a finger on Dominick.

The only thing more terrifying than Samoa Joe is a bloody Samoa Joe.

Shane McMahon def. The Miz—Steel Cage Match

The "CM Punk" chants directed at Shane McMahon for calling himself "best in the world" is not the storyline direction WWE wanted to go with this feud.

Apparently, putting your foot on the rope should not force a rope break during a three count during a Steel Cage match. Michael Cole pointed this out, and in the XL Arena chanted "bull---t" and everybody seemed to be aware of this rule except me.

The Miz just might have delivered the worst Frog Splash in recent memory for an extremely awkward nearfall.

If there is a third match between these two, Shane McMahon will win via a wet floor.

This was the rare Shane McMahon stunt match where McMahon didn't even come close to dying.

Tony Nese def. Ariya Daivari—WWE Cruiserweight Chmpionship 

Becky Lynch's music hit and nobody reacted, which was concerning until I realized it was actually Tony Nese's music and the Cruiserweight Championship was about to be defended.

Ariya Daivari, something, something, something Alberto Del Rio.

Just as fans were gearing up to turn on this match, Tony Nese hit an emergency 450 splash to get them right back into it.

Becky Lynch def. Lacey Evans—WWE Raw Women's Championship 

Lacey Evans wrestled Becky Lynch first, meaning she benefited from a video package. WWE should air a video package for the Charlotte-Becky feud for the sake of both equal time and Becky Lynch getting a breather.

Lacey Evans joined the likes of D'Angelo Dinero and Donald Trump as wrestling personalities who have used money in an entrance, though Trump's money was real.

Fans seemed more excited to cheer Becky Lynch throughout this match than actually invest in what was happening in the ring.

Charlotte Flair def. Becky Lynch—WWE SmackDown Women's Championship 

If Bayley fails to cash in on a golden opportunity against a weakened Becky Lynch after this match, her and Finn Balor should form a tag team during the next WWE Mixed Match Challenge.

Becky Lynch countered a Natural Selection while on the apron by holding on to the middle rope, sending Charlotte flying to the outside. It was an awesome spot that unfortunately failed to resonate with the crowd.

The referees were screwing up left and right, including the climactic parts of this match. Perhaps WWE threatened to double their fines if they don't call the match as a shoot.

Bayley def. Charlotte Flair—WWE SmackDown Women's Championship 

It was a few short weeks ago that Bayley was booed in Montreal in residual nerd rage that was really directed at an absent Sasha Banks. The way WWE pulled off this cash in, which is typically a heel tactic, made her the biggest babyface in the building. Hugs all around indeed.

Roman Reigns def. Elias

If Elias could get his hands on a Money in the Bank briefcase, a backstage ambush with an acoustic guitar wouldn't be a bad way to cash it in.

This match was everything it had to be but Roman Reigns still feels like he's running in place. In due time he'll settle back into the main event.

Elias' sparkling kimono and the electric guitar combined for perhaps his best look yet.

Seth Rollins def. AJ Styles—WWE Universal Championship 

A friend of mine who doesn't watch wrestling was watching Seth Rollins cut a promo and she asked me what "Burn it Down" means and what Seth Rollins stands for. I've never struggled to answer a question so much since high school calculus.

As bored as fans were for this feud on television, this match was a clinic between two Superstars who are limited in promo ability but soar in the ring. Excellent match.

Lars Sullivan Destroys the Lucha House Party 

Lars Sullivan beating up the Lucha House Party was like watching his own Bodybuilding.com fan fiction play out in real time.

If I was to guess the direction of Lars Sullivan's career coming out of his latest scandal, I'd say Alt-Right.

Kofi Kingston def. Kevin Owens—WWE Championship 

Thankfully, this match did not have to follow Seth Rollins-AJ Styles, and the breather seemed to help fan engagement throughout this match.

I refuse to believe Kofi Kingston is 37. 37-year-old wrestlers are rarely this spry.

Kofi Kingston came into this match on a 32-match winning streak per Cagematch.net. Just a thought.

Not going to lie, I got nervous watching Xavier Woods' post-match celebration with Kofi Kingston, but there was no heel turn in sight. I know they always say they'll never break up, but WWE's unofficial catchphrase is "never say never!"

Brock Lesnar def. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, Ali, Andrade, Finn Balor, Randy Orton and Ricochet—Men's WWE Money in the Bank Ladder Match 

WWE casually moved forward with seven Money in the Bank participants. I didn't buy that there wouldn't be an eight. Nobody did.

Ricochet and Ali came face to face early in this match but, sadly, nobody cared. It's too early for that tease but in a year or two that could be a hot feud.

At this point, fans chanted "yowie wowie" multiple times during this match. Hopefully, it won't be in vain.

Michael Cole screaming "how is Finn Balor still alive?!" and "what is wrong with these guys?!" following a pair of high-risk ladder stunts was pure gold.

This match was insane. By today's standards, by just about any standard, it was insane in the best way.

Popularity based on the reaction to climbing the ladder:

  • Brock Lesnar (Brock Lesnar?!)
  • Andrade
  • Ricochet
  • Randy Orton
  • Finn Balor
  • Ali
  • Drew McIntyre
  • Baron Corbin (loud boo's)
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