Ask John Cena, the truth hurts. The WWE universe was heartbroken after R-Truth announced his release from the company. Fans and fellow superstars rallied behind Truth, spurring his comeback six days later at Money in the Bank.
Truth emerged from the crowd at the climax of Saturday's pay-per-view, costing Cena his tag team match against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. The match, which also featured Logan Paul, featured several highlight reel moments.
Elsewhere on the card, the pair of namesake matches for the event saw some incredible action as 12 superstars battled for two Money in the Bank briefcases and their guaranteed shot at a world title. In the end, Seth Rollins earned the men's contract thanks to a little help from his new enforcers and one betrayal, and Naomi shocked many by winning the women's contract over some top names like Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss.
CBS Sports was with you through the event, providing updates as the action unfolded in the live blog below.
Naomi picks her spot, comes out on top in a chaotic Money in the Bank ladder match
Ripley's physicality served her well as she systematically dismantled her opponents, but the former women's world champion drew too much attention to herself. Perez countered a Razor's Edge, sending Ripley crashing into a rope-leaning ladder. Perez followed up with a beautiful springboard moonsault onto Ripley. Instead of retrieving the briefcase, Perez and Giulia wisely chose to remove Ripley entirely. They sandwiched Ripley between the ladder before tossing her outside and burying her under a pile of additional ladders.
Giulia and Perez's alliance was a refreshing note to the match. While most mid-match pacts are short-lived, the NXT alum -- who were recently called up to the main roster together -- worked amply together. The pair tossed Bliss into the air and dropped her painfully onto the edge of a ladder. That was their final moment of cohesion as Perez inevitably turned on Giulia. While Perez hung onto the ropes, her feet dangling off the ring apron, Ripley emerged from the sea of ladders like the shark from "Jaws" hunting her prey.
Ripley returned to her thrashing ways, tossing superstars into each other and various objects. The match highlight belonged to Vaquer, bringing the crowd to life by smashing Ripley's head into a ladder two feet off the ground with Devil's Kiss. She was nearly one-upped by Perez and Bliss, landing dueling Code Red's on Vaquer and Naomi, respectively, off the center lander onto two horizontal ones. The match concluded with Ripley and Bliss racing up the ladder, only for Naomi to hurl them off face-first into another ladder. Naomi sprinted up the ladder, surveyed her surroundings, and unclipped the briefcase.
A solid ladder match that showcased WWE's evolving women's scene. Ripley's presence elevated the match. Naomi is a reliable choice who can benefit from the briefcase. Naomi def. Bliss, Giulia, Perez, Ripley and Vaquer by retrieving the briefcase. Grade: B+
Dominik Mysterio casts Judgment on AAA's Octagon Jr.
Octagon fought with spirit in his second match of the day, but the deck was stacked against him. The AAA star, who won a six-man tag team match earlier at Saturday's Worlds Collide crossover event, got to a hot start in this intercontinental championship match. Octagon blitzed the champion with rapid techniques and aerial offense. Octagon's springboard moonsault looked crisp, and his crucifix bomb and fisherman's neckbreak had snap. The luchador's momentum started trending the wrong way after Liv Morgan got involved. A distraction allowed Mysterio to take control, landing a 619 and a frog splash for the finish. A solid match and a fun surprise addition to the card. It's great to see WWE give AAA the extra shine, but the crowd wasn't invested in a short match with minimal build and a participant they don't know well. Mysterio def. Octagon via pinfall to retain the intercontinental title. Grade: B
Becky Lynch steals the women's intercontinental title, pushes Lyra Valkyria too far
Lynch vs. Valkyria were wrestling for more than the women's intercontinental championship. If Lynch won, Valkyria would have to raise her hand and acknowledge her former mentor as superior. If Valkyria won, Lynch could not challenge for the title so long as her pupil was champion. Valkyria outwrestled Lynch in their previous title match at Backlash. Lynch wisely adopted a brawling approach, seeking to beat down the champ instead of outmaneuvering her. Lynch effectively executed her game plan early, grinding down her opponent. Valkyria capitalized on the few openings she found, dazing Lynch with rapid-fire kicks and impressive power moves, like a deadlift powerbomb. Lynch showed off her technical skills with a Disarmher, but Valkyria countered into a single-leg Boston crab.
With everything at stake, the intensity picked up and eclipsed their previous match. Valkyria crushed Lynch with a diving leg drop off the barricade. Lynch responded with a Manhandle slam off the middle rope. The action spilled back outside, exchanging signature moves on the hard floor. Dramatically, both women dove into the ring microseconds before being counted out. Valkyria and Lynch traded hard strikes before a final exchange. Valkyria countered a Mandhandle slam into the same roll-up she won with at Backlash. However, this time Lynch reversed the pin with a handful of tights.
Post-match, Valkyria reluctantly raised Lynch's hand. Lynch demanded that Valkyria continue raising her hand for the remaining three sides of the audience to see. Valkyria conceded, but Lynch wasn't satisfied. To further demean her former student, Lynch told Valkyria to put the title around her waist. Valkyria did so before planting Lynch with a German suplex and Nightwing. Valkyria walked off as Lynch laid flat in the middle of the ring. A sequel almost on par with their original. The finish kept both women strong while leaving room for more. Great work. Lynch def. Valkyria to win the women's intercontinental title. Grade: B+
Seth Rollins wins Money in the Bank, Jacob Fatu hates Solo Sikoa
On SmackDown, Rollins executed a bold plan to improve his chances tonight. Rollins' faction softened up Andrade, LA Knight and Penta before Money in the Bank. Rollins put a major target on his back, and his three opponents immediately sought payback. Sikoa, who also had a run-in with Rollins on Friday, laughed as Rollins was beaten down. Sikoa's confidence was misplaced; after all, he'd made plenty of enemies himself. Rollins got the better of an extended exchange with Sikoa, curb-stomping the Bloodline leader. With the ring cleared, he made his ascent. Rollins wound up in a terrible position, dangling upside down from the ladder with El Grande Americano wrenching his ankle. Andrade and Penta climbed the same ladder. Andrade planted Americano with a sunset flip powerbomb off one side of the ladder; meanwhile, Penta suplexed Rollins off the ladder into one leaning in the corner. The highlight reel moment came shortly after, when Penta spiked Andrade with a Mexican destroyer on a ladder suspended horizontally off the mat, bending the ladder.
El Grande Americano retrieved possibly the tallest ladder in WWE history from beneath the ring, a ladder planted by Chad Gable's American Made pupils. Americano placed his head between the center rungs of the ladder and spun in circles, knocking down his opponents like a steel tornado. Americano gingerly strolled up the enormous ladder, cut off by Penta's headbutt. The match kicked into overdrive from there. Americano climbed a ladder leaning against the outside corner of the ring, then rode a second ladder into the center ladder like a swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow. Americano dropped Penta with a steel-plate assisted headbutt, but was intercepted by a scary avalanche backdrop from Knight. The superstars frantically fought atop the ladder. The chaos spurred Rollins to call for reinforcements. Bron Breakker sprinted down the ramp and ragdolled Americano with a spear. Rollins' heavies cleared the field before turning their attention to Sikoa.
Before they could pounce, Jacob Fatu's music hit. Fatu and JC Mateo exchanged blows with Rollins' troops. Breakker speared Mateo through the ringside barricade. Inside the ring, Fatu planted Reed with an unbelievable pop-up Samoan drop followed by a suicide dive. Sikoa embraced Fatu as they set up the ladder. Sikoa climbed the ladder but with the briefcase just out of reach, Fatu snatched his ankle. "Solo, I hate you!" Fatu shouted before yanking Sikoa from the ladder. "The Samoan Werewolf" laid out his former leader with a Samoan drop and a Spinning Solo through a ladder ringside. Fatu walked off as Rollins, after a brief interruption from Knight, unhooked the briefcase. One of the best Money in the Bank ladder matches in recent memory. Multiple storylines were incorporated and advanced, Rollins' wielding the briefcase makes him a major threat, and the high spots were terrific. Rollins def. Americano, Andrade, Knight, Penta and Sikoa by retrieving the briefcase. Grade: A
R-Truth returns, costs John Cena the match
The cohesion between Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso, former undisputed tag team champions, was apparent from their matching gear. The fan-favorites got to a strong start, but Logan Paul and Cena isolated Uso before long. Rhodes became increasingly frustrated at how well his opponents dissected Uso. Last week, Cena and Paul struggled to get on the same page. They were more cohesive this week, but their partnership could not sustain the weight of their egos. Paul tagged himself into the match, inciting Cena to do the same. This escalated to shoving and shouting matches, giving Uso the space to tag Rhodes in.
The villains rallied long enough to hit Rhodes with a combination knockout punch and Attitude Adjustment, forcing Uso to break the pin. Their harmony was short-lived as Paul's inexperience continued rearing its head. Paul tried to break up a pinfall with a springboard splash, but landed directly on his partner as Rhodes rolled away. The back half of the match was riddled with big moves. One of the more creative spots featured a first-person drone shot. The drone flew to the center of the ring and over to Paul's hand. Rhodes leaped to the top rope, flattening Paul with a superplex. Uso added insult to injury with an Uso splash. All of this was captured from the drone's perspective.
Outside of the ring, Uso ran across one announcer's table and speared Cena onto the second table. Shortly after, Paul landed a stunning springboard Asai moonsault, driving Uso through the table. While the referee attended to Uso and Paul ringside, Cena clocked Rhodes with the undisputed WWE title. Cena looked poised to win the match before a masked assailant attacked Cena. The individual removed his mask, revealing himself to be R-Truth, who was released from the company last week. The shocking return gave Rhodes the leverage to hit a Cross Rhodes for the win
What a match! It wasn't a technical classic, but the back half was great sports entertainment. The drone spot was clever, Paul's springboad moonsault was perfect, and R-Truth's return was one of the best surprises in recent memory. If wrestling is about moments, you won't find many better ones this year. Rhodes and Uso def. Cena and Paul via pinfall. Grade: A
