WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie Review

Worth the money.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 13, 2013

Wrestling fans recently enjoyed a primer on the Money in the Bank extravaganza in WWE Home Video's excellent compilation piece, a program that chronicled the history of the event from its origins as a WrestleMania showpiece to its transition to its own Pay-Per-View spectacle. Now it's time for the full-length feature. Money in the Bank 2013 plops the July Pay-Per-View onto a single disc with a few bonuses thrown in for good measure. The nearly three-hour marathon of wrestling greatness showcases a wide array of top-tier superstars, up-and-comers, and old favorites all either participating in bookend Money in the Bank ladder matches or battling for hardware in between. From a classic match-up between Mark Henry and John Cena to the return of Rob Van Dam in the final battle, this PPV exhibits boundless energy from the beginning and never relents. It's easily one of the best wrestling events of 2013 and proof positive of the marketability, high profile, excitement, and staying power of the Money in the Bank event.

...and they all fall down!

Though the July 14, 2013 evening at Philadelphia's packed Wells Fargo Center saw plenty of terrific matches and a slew of superstars participating in them -- two Money in the Bank ladder matches, a classic WWE Championship match, and several other intriguing battles -- the night belonged to Rob Van Dam, the former ECW and WWE Superstar whose comeback to participate in the night's final match was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from fans. Van Dam, the crowd favorite in the match, doesn't disappoint and plays a significant part in defining the nights second-best match. Oddly enough, Money in the Bank 2013's finest moment doesn't involve ladders or briefcases. It's instead the aforementioned Championship match between two legendary wrestlers, the larger-than-life Superstar John Cena and the larger-than-everyone-else Mark Henry. The modern poster boy and the world's strongest man don't disappoint. Theirs is an epic confrontation between brute force and strength against wrestling finesse, technical mastery, and heart. It's nice to see Henry finally earn his shot on the biggest stage for the hardware he deserves. The match proves one of the best of the year; it's hard-fought with plenty of incredible moments and momentum swings that will leave viewers breathlessly on the edge of their seats, even if the outcome is known ahead of time.

From a technical perspective, Money in the Bank 2013 is pure WWE Home video. There are no surprises and the release simply reflects the Pay-Per-View event broadcast with no extra bells or whistles in the main program, at any rate. And for a release of this nature, that's just as it should be. It's a significantly cheaper means of catching the event, with the only penalty a several months delay in seeing it. It would be nice if WWE Home Video could gets these out sooner, but given the logistical nature of doing so the four-month window seems about as small as possible. Once again the release fails to offer event fallout supplements to support the included pre-event RAW and SmackDown moments that are key to fully appreciating all of the nuance and plot points. That oversight remains the only major shortfall of these WWE Home Video PPV releases. Otherwise, this one's good to go and it's something fans are sure to enjoy over and over again.

The following matches comprise 2013's Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View event:

• Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship Contract: Dean Ambrose vs. Fandango vs. Antonio Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger vs. Damien Sandow vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Wade Barrett.
• Intercontinental Championship Match: Curtis Axel vs. The Miz.
• Divas Championship Match: AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn.
• Money in the Bank Match: Chris Jericho vs. Ryback
• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Alberto del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler.
• WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Mark Henry.
• Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the WWE Championship Contract: Rob Van Dam vs. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Christian vs. Sheamus.

WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Money in the Bank 2013 features a typical WWE Blu-ray transfer. The 1080i presentation comes framed in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. As usual, the image looks quite nice but does show some compression related problems across some backgrounds. Otherwise, it's largely good to go. Colors are plentiful and vibrant. Wrestler attire, the excess of green signage around the stadium and particularly around the entryway, and fans signs all offer bold, natural colors. Clarity is largely excellent, and image details is such that faces in the crowd are often well defined even at medium distance. Close-ups reveal intricate flesh details, the texture of the ropes and the ladders, and even the ever-present sweat on Mark Henry's brow. Black levels appear natural, particularly back up into the depths of the crowd. Likewise, skin tones appear accurate. This is a typical but effective and enjoyable WWE Home Video presentation.

WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Money in the Bank 2013 features the tried-and-true WWE Home Video Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Despite the absence of a lossless option, the presentation largely excels. There's excellent stage presence, spacing, and clarity to overlay music. Likewise, in-arena music, largely in the form of blasting wrestler entrance music, usually makes a good impression with a big, blasting sensation. Likewise, crowd ambience is fairly immersive, whether general din or specific cheers and chants. While these latter two elements cannot replicate the sensation of being in the arena, the Blu-ray does a fair job of recreating the basic experience. More specific to the main content, various thuds and crashes to the mat are presented robustly. Ringside commentary, as always with these new releases, enjoys pinpoint clarity and front-center presence. All in all, a normal but enjoyable listen from WWE Home Video.

WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Money in the Bank 2013 contains the usual supplemental suspects, including a pre show match and key RAW and SmackDown happenings from the week leading up to the event.

• WWE Tag Team Championship Match (HD, 11:21): Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. The Usos. Money in the Bank Kickoff. Money in the Bank -- July 14, 2013.
• RAW Moment (HD, 12:05): Mark Henry Confronts John Cena. RAW -- July 8, 2013.
• RAW Moment (HD, 16:51): Vickie Guerrero's Job Evaluation. RAW -- July 8, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 11:10): Kane vs. Christian. RAW -- July 8, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 15:32): CM Punk vs. Randy Orton. RAW -- July 8, 2013.
• SmackDown Moment (HD, 7:30): Divas Championship Contract Signing. SmackDown -- July 12, 2013.
• SmackDown Match (HD, 15:00): Sheamus vs. Randy Orton. SmackDown -- July 12, 2013.

WWE: Money in the Bank 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Money in the Bank 2013 is one of the year's best events. Every match is a winner, even the lesser battles mixed in between the bookend briefcase ladder matches and that fantastic Championship match between John Cena and Mark Henry. The release is straightforward as always for a WWE PPV event transferred to Blu-ray, with supplements that cover the lead-up but not the follow-up. WWE Home Video needs to get on the ball with that one. Otherwise, picture and sound are typical 1080i and Dolby Digital 5.1, and both perform admirably. Highly recommended to wrestling enthusiasts, and this isn't a bad release at all for casuals or those looking to check out what the modern WWE is all about.