Triple H Has Led WWE To Its Best Creative Level In Decades, But There’s One Obvious Change He Needs To Make To His Booking

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As a veteran wrestling aficionado who has witnessed the highs and lows of WWE since the days of Hulkamania, I must say that the current state of the Money In The Bank briefcase is akin to a once-shiny trophy now tarnished by overuse.

In the past, this iconic artifact was a beacon of opportunity, a springboard for emerging stars to ascend to main event status. However, under the creative reign of Triple H, it seems to have morphed into a prop used to generate cheap drama rather than nurturing potential superstars.

Take Tiffany Stratton, for instance. A promising talent with the potential to rival the likes of Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch, yet she’s been reduced to a buffoonish caricature due to her prolonged interaction with the briefcase. It’s like giving a master painter a box of crayons and expecting a Mona Lisa to emerge.

Now, I’m not saying Tiffany should have grabbed that briefcase and vanquished Nia Jax in one fell swoop. That would be too predictable, wouldn’t it? Instead, she could have been given a moment of hesitation, a strategic decision, a calculated risk that would have solidified her as a formidable force rather than a cartoon character destined to lose.

I fear that if this trend continues, we may see another promising career squandered in the pursuit of cheap excitement. I can almost hear Vince McMahon now, “Let’s make ’em dance!” But instead of dancing, let’s give these stars a chance to shine.

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if Triple H were to get his hands on the briefcase. Would he cash in at a random Raw or SmackDown, leaving us all scratching our heads and muttering, “What just happened?” Now that would be a sight worth seeing!

It feels wrong to complain about anything related to WWE right now. 2024 was, by just about any measure, the best the product has been in a long time. Maybe you like The Attitude Era better. Maybe you like The Golden Era better. That’s fair. I’m not necessarily saying right now is the best fans have ever had it, but it’s certainly the best it’s been in a long time. Because of that, I’ve hesitated to put this negativity out into the universe. Some form of this article has been in my drafts section for months, but I just can’t take it anymore. We need to talk about the Money In The Bank Briefcase.

For those of you who are relatively new to WWE or haven’t followed for a while, I’d like to briefly catch you up. Since 2005, WWE has hosted an annual ladder match known as Money In The Bank. Originally, this event took place at WrestleMania each year, but now it has its own standalone pay-per-view (PLE). During the match, several wrestlers strive to climb a ladder and grab a briefcase hanging above the ring. The one who retrieves the briefcase earns a contract that can be cashed in at any point for a title match within WWE. They can choose to announce their cash-in ahead of time or surprise everyone, particularly when the champion seems most vulnerable.

In simpler terms, The Elimination Chamber match isn’t called The Royal Rumble, but it’s arguably WWE’s best gimmick contest. Historically, it has provided a terrific platform for rising stars to become main events in the programming. If they win the Money in the Bank briefcase, they instantly become a challenge for the biggest championships WWE offers. This opens doors for them to deliver speeches and work alongside top superstars. Essentially, winning the briefcase can serve as a shortcut to success, making the annual decision about who should receive the men’s and women’s briefcases one of the most crucial choices the writers have to make each year.

It seems that since Triple H took over creative control, having the briefcase hasn’t led to significant success for Austin Theory, Damian Priest, or now Tiffany Stratton. Instead of enhancing these characters, they’ve been used primarily to generate inexpensive enthusiasm on weekly shows, which has not been advantageous for them.

As a long-time WWE fan, I can’t help but be captivated by the suspense surrounding the Money In The Bank briefcase. With each appearance of that iconic briefcase and a champion in sight, I find myself on the edge of my seat wondering, “Is this finally the moment?” Triple H knows just how to build tension, and he does it masterfully. As someone who has followed the WWE for years, I can appreciate the art of storytelling that goes into creating such a thrilling moment every single time. It’s no wonder that the Money In The Bank ladder match is always one of the most highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar.

Each instance where a character hesitates about cashing in, or attempts but fails due to slips, delays, or interference from others, consistently portrays the Briefcase holder as uncertain or even foolish. This can be overlooked once or twice without affecting our perception of the wrestlers. However, if it occurs every week, it creates an impression of weakness and folly.

1. In a straightforward manner: When Tiffany Stratton attacks someone and boasts “It’s Tiffy Time” to the audience, she appears arrogant, assertive, and ruthless. However, when she gazes at the Briefcase, looks towards the referee, glances back at the Briefcase, observes Nia Jax lying on the floor, then looks back at the Briefcase again before hesitantly taking it, she appears incredibly foolish. She doesn’t project power; instead, she seems like a bumbling character who will ultimately fail.

2. In a more colloquial style: Tiffany Stratton acting all big and bad after beating someone up and yelling “It’s Tiffy Time” just makes her look cocky, strong-willed, and downright mean. But when she keeps staring at the briefcase, looking at the ref, looking back at the briefcase, checking on Nia Jax passed out on the floor, then looking back at the briefcase again before being indecisive about using it, she looks like a total dunce. She doesn’t seem powerful; instead, she comes off as a clumsy, cartoonish character who’s bound to lose in the end.

3. In a more casual and conversational style: Tiffany Stratton being all tough after beating someone up and yelling “It’s Tiffy Time” makes her look cocky, strong-willed, and straight-up mean. However, when she keeps checking out the briefcase, looking at the ref, looking back at the briefcase, making sure Nia Jax is still down on the floor, then looking back at the briefcase again before being unsure about using it, she looks like a total goofball. She doesn’t seem powerful; instead, she comes off as a clumsy, cartoonish character who’s destined to lose in the end.

As a long-time wrestling fan with over two decades of watching this sport, I’ve seen it all – from iconic cash-ins to characters ruined by poor storytelling. In the case of Damian Priest last year at WrestleMania, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and disappointment. On one hand, the moment was historic and will go down as one of the greatest cash-in moments in history. But on the other, it seemed like Damian had been building up to this for months only to come off as a temporary champion due to his character’s previous actions.

You see, I remember when he first debuted – he was a force to be reckoned with, full of potential and charisma. But as the months went by, it seemed like he was just running around as a henchman, making mistakes and missing opportunities. This left many fans, including myself, doubting his ability to carry the title for any length of time.

If only Damian had held onto the briefcase and surprised everyone at WrestleMania instead of carrying it around like a trophy beforehand, he would have come out looking so much stronger in my eyes. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the moments of drama and anticipation leading up to the cash-in – it just felt like his character took a hit because of it. And as a shameless Damian Priest fan, I can’t help but wonder what could have been if he had taken a different approach.

As a long-time WWE fan and observer, it appears that something needs to be addressed regarding the Money In The Bank ladder match and its impact on the careers of some wrestlers. Austin Theory, who took part in this year’s event, is still struggling to recover from the aftermath, as his performance left many fans unimpressed.

Tiffany Stratton, who won the women’s Money In The Bank briefcase, seems to have suffered a setback rather than moving closer to main event stardom. Her current position in the roster feels weaker compared to before her victory.

Damian Priest had his moment to shine with the men’s briefcase, but it may have come at too great a cost for his character development. The way fans perceive him now is not as favorable as it was before the match.

Even Drew McIntyre’s recent run with the briefcase, which was short-lived, did not go down well with some members of the fanbase.

It seems that there needs to be a reevaluation of how the Money In The Bank ladder match is managed, as it appears to have negative consequences for some wrestlers’ careers rather than propelling them forward.

This year, I’m unsure about who will emerge victorious in the Money in the Bank match. There are numerous rising stars with immense potential, eager to seize their next opportunity. I’m excited to see what they can accomplish with the briefcase, but only if Triple H alters his approach when selecting winners – preferably not using it as a means to create artificial excitement. If we’re heading down the same road, it would be better for him to keep these promising talents away from the briefcase, as it could potentially harm their careers in the long run.

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2025-01-02 04:38