WWE Money in the Bank: Ronda Rousey shines in first singles match as AJ Styles retains title in Shinsuke Nakamura feud
Styles is still WWE Champion but it's another thumbs up for former UFC great Rousey
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Your support makes all the difference.Ronda Rousey proved she'll be a success in wrestling as she proved a hit in her first WWE singles match at Money in the Bank.
Rousey, an imminent inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, has been used sparingly inside a wrestling ring as she continues to make the transition to the world of sports entertainment. But this first singles bout against Raw Women's Champion Nia Jax was another hit.
Firstly it showed her willingness to take some heavy hits. While wrestling may be a predetermined form of entertainment compared to the live combat of the Octagon, there's still plenty of physicality to endure. Jax is not exactly the smoothest worker in the game and so there were a few nasty landings for Rousey to contend with, but she looked undeterred and sound in her own offence as - nailing a fine top rope cross-body to Jax that belied her relative inexperience.
Rousey didn't claim the championship she was going for. As part of a wider storyline, she was made to make do with a win as the match ended by disqualification after Alexa Bliss - having just won a stellar Women's Money in the Bank Ladder match - cashed in immediately to dethrone Jax and take the gold for herself and exact some revenge for her own loss at Wrestlemania.
Such a brief summation doesn't do enough to praise the rest of the women's division in WWE who again shone in that ladder match - Charlotte Flair and good friend Becky Lynch were particularly impressive before Bliss stole victory at the last to once again ensure she'd go on to wear the crown.
The men's ladder match was won by Braun Strowman as the signs now seem clearer than ever that he will be one of the stars of the future for WWE. The contest at times lacked some of the action of its female counterpart but the roles of Fin Balor and Kofi Kingston - the latter always shining in such affairs - shouldn't be understated.
Yet again AJ Styles delivered a standout performance at Money in the Bank as he finally saw off rival Shinsuke Nakamura to successfully retain his WWE Championship. The two have been battling since the Spring but, after an epic Last Man Standing match, it was Styles who kept hold of his crown to maintain a title run that's stretching towards a ninth month.
In stark contrast, the sublime was mixed in with some of the not-so-good as Roman Reigns continued to support claims that Seth Rollins really ought to be WWE's next pick as the company's top superstar over the Big Dog.
Reigns stuttered to a win in a disappointing affair against Jinder Mahal to once again prove that while his size, charisma and presence are all there, something key is still missing from the former Shield member's overall ability when it comes to performing in the ring. Equally as average was a disturbingly-short win for Bobby Lashley over Sami Zayn.
Rollins himself, in the midst of perhaps the hottest streak of his career, fared much better in a great bout for his Intercontinental title. He defeated the talented Elias as part of an ongoing feud that looks like it still has a way to go. To the contrary, Daniel Bryan should have seen the last of Big Cass now after his latest win over the seven-footer in one of the better matches Bryan has enjoyed since his in-ring WWE return,
Elsewhere, there were title retentions for the Bludgeon Brothers and Carmella as they saw off challenges from Gallows & Anderson and Asuka respectively - the latter thanks to an assist from the returning James Ellsworth.
WWE Money in the Banks results
Ronda Rousey DEF. Raw Women's Champion Nia Jax by DQ
Alexa Bliss defeated Nia Jax (Money in the Bank Cash-In) - New Raw Women's Champion
Braun Strowman DEF. Bobby Roode, Finn Bálor, Kevin Owens, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Rusev, Samoa Joe
WWE Champion AJ Styles DEF. Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins DEF. Elias
Alexa Bliss DEF. Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Ember Moon, Lana, Naomi, Natalya, Sasha Banks
Roman Reigns DEF Jinder Mahal
Smackdown Women's Champion Carmella DEF. Asuka
Smackdown Live tag team champions The Bludgeon Brothers (c) DEF Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (pre-show)
Daniel Bryan DEF. Big Cass
Bobby Lashley DEF. Sami Zayn
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