Every single year, WrestleMania delivers. Some are better than others, but every year, on the trot, since maybe 2003 (WM X8 wasn’t so hot) the annual Supercard lives up to (WM 19, XX, 24) or exceeds expectations (WM 23).

A parallel of that can be drawn with the event’s now-traditional Money in the Bank Ladder Match. A high-spot crammed spectacular, supposedly the brain-child of Chris Jericho, the bout is the TLC match of today. It always provides high-octane excitement, occasionally a surprise, and usually memorable moments. This year, the Money in the Bank line-up sucks.

At the time of writing this, the participants thus far for 2009 are: Finlay, CM Punk, Kane, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Mark Henry, with two more spots to go. I would assume those will fall to Evan Bourne, and Rey Mysterio (who may receive a second chance, and look like a douche as usual, although a similar alteration may occur in the Smackdown title match…). This is horrible stuff.

I’m all for having a lumbering big man included, in order to work a couple of big “catching” spots, or power-moves into the equation. But two? Kane AND Mark Henry?

Who on earth could possibly be intrigued by the opportunity to see Henry in a ladder match? The barely mobile, Henry? Kane has a great deal of experience in this sort of big-match deal, and can bring the qualities of a veteran to proceedings. His previous appearances have benefited the bout, offering something different from the other participants. But Mark Henry generally sucks. As ECW Champion, he was great last year, but that was generally because of (a) Tony Atlas and (b), he was booked in cleverly worked singles bouts that protected him. In multi-person environments, he generally looks clumsy and confused, even without a ladder (or four, or five) in the mix.

The other problem is that Henry, as one of like, 5 legitimate contenders on the ECW brand, will receive countless shots at the gold anyway, so why bother including him? Likewise Kane; an old guy, with hundreds of World title attempts to his name, and one brief run with Gold, is surely overqualified for this tie.

Why the hell did Finlay (an ECW roster member), defeat Brian Kendrick (a Smackdown talent), in order to qualify for this match? Or did I miss something there? Surely it would make complete sense, (KAYFABE everyone) that because of the roster sizes, two ECW people qualify, and three from each of the Raw and Smackdown line-ups. Is that not sensible? The match between Finlay and Kendrick defies belief in numerous ways. So they fought on Smackdown, in itself an issue, but one that I’m sick complaining about.

Okay, so maybe we can justify the contractual issues associated with talent “signed” to specific shows, randomly appearing constantly wherever takes their fancy, because it’s the run-up to WrestleMania. Well, we could, except this occurs all the time, all year round. But even so, they’d have to explain it properly. Regardless, the bigger problem is that ECW, as per usual, comes off as the aborted twin of a brand. Nobody gives a crap about this show, not the least the WWE, but they should be pretending to do so…

Back to Finlay, who I do really like. He shouldn’t be in this match. He’s guaranteed shots at ECW gold over the next year anyway, by virtue of the slender roster, and should not be interested in gold elsewhere (Kayfabe again!). Additionally, he was in the match two years ago, and pretty much accomplished all he can in this sort of gimmick. Why not throw someone fresh in there? It’s the match that sells, not the competitors in this case (not that Finlay draws anyway…).

Shelton Benjamin’s inclusion is completely understandable, but a missed opportunity. He’s clearly there to provide some spectacular spots, which he does every year, will do again, and it will be tremendous. Why not make a storyline out of this? Add to his character? Isn’t that the job of Creative? Shelton should be cutting promos for the next few weeks dealing with how he’s sick of the stigma that he never wins the damn thing, despite being featured in it more than anybody. He could whinge and moan that he provides the entertainment, busts his ass more than anybody, and yet always comes up short because the other guys sit back, and watch him crash and burn. Hey, it would be different, would add some heat to his heel character, and could also enable them to highlight some of his previous (breathtaking) stunts.

CM Punk should sadly, not be in the match. He won it last year. You win it, the theory is that you are elevated, and thus there’s no reason to be included again. How pointless is the bout, if you continue to end up in it? Who is elevated? Or is it just for perennial losers/has-beens/transitional champs? Otherwise, time has stood still. Other than that, he’s also the Inter-freakin’-continental Champion, and should be defending that strap at the big show. How lame is the IC title, when the holder of it is more interested in winning another belt?

Although MVP did little of note last year in the MITB (aside from allow room for a Matt Hardy run-in), being in the 2009 bout makes sense. He’s a talent they still have high hopes for, but who has, of late, been lacking any sort of ongoing usage. Nevertheless, it would benefit him greatly to be featured in April’s big show, and this is clearly the sensible way to go.

Who are the remaining spots going to? Ricky Ortiz? JBL? Knox? Khali? Koslov? Umaga? Mr Kennedy? Rey? Who knows, because right now, the line-up defies belief? They’re playing favourites, rather than worrying about giving us, the fans, the best match possible.

How would I have booked the Spot-fest? Well for starters, I’d have booted out CM Punk, to allow him to defend the strap that he is currently wearing. Ideally, I’d also have stuck him against Rey Mysterio for the IC title in a rematch from their excellent Armageddon bout (Punk himself has admitted Rey would be the perfect opponent for Mania).

I’d also free up John Morrison and The Miz in order to facilitate a tag team contest somewhere on the card (this could still transpire…), because I think this is a crucial element that’s been tragically absent from recent Mania efforts. I’ve championed the need to unify the tag belts for ages, and while it’s too late now to properly build up such an encounter, it would still be great to see maybe an eight-man tag on the super card, with Miz/Morrison, teaming with Carlito and Primo, to take on Legacy, and Cryme Time. Or even a Four Way tag bout. Something, anything, to get the ball-rolling on this lost art.

Mark Henry, I’d leave off Mania (Pre-show), as I would with Finlay (sorry dude).

Instead I’d go with The Brian Kendrick, R-Truth, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Santino, Evan Bourne, and Jamie Noble, Guys who aren’t likely to earn title shots anytime soon – guys who are capable of having an exciting, high-flying spot fest. Why pretend otherwise? Isn’t that what Money in the Bank is supposed to be? Okay so Kane isn’t meeting that criteria, but I’ve already discussed why his inclusion is completely justified. As for Santino…well, he’s far from a polished performer… but he’s one of the most entertaining characters to come along in years, and as such, it would be a horrible mistake to leave him off WrestleMania…

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback and I can be contacted at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!