Why Damian Priest Needs To Cash In At WrestleMania 40
Highlights
- Damian Priest's credibility as a World Champion has suffered due to failed cash-ins, setting up for a potential major breakthrough.
- A possible cash-in on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 could be the big payoff to Priest's ongoing Money in the Bank saga.
- Winning the World Heavyweight Championship could elevate Priest's career, creating new feuds and potential storylines for Judgment Day in 2024.
For nearly eight months, Damian Priest has been carrying a gift and a curse. Back in the summer of 2023, when he reached to the heavens and pulled down the Money in the Bank briefcase, the exalted Priest appeared to be on an ascent to main event status. It would take some time, sure, but the Judgment Day behemoth was bound to find his spot in the limelight. Fast forward to the onset of spring 2024, and Priest looks like a badly spoiled Easter egg. His failed cash-in attempts have piled up, including a potentially star-making moment at Survivor Series that was ruined by the returning Randy Orton.
Damian Priest: Age, Height, Relationship Status & Other Things You Didn't Know About Him
WWE's Damian Priest has risen to great heights as part of Judgment Day and Mr. Money In The Bank. Learn his age, height, relationship status and more.After several months of MITB mishaps, Damian Priest's credibility as a prospective World Champion has clearly been damaged. One could even say that his character has sustained plenty of punishment (pun fully intended). With his MITB contract close to expiring, is there an end in sight to Priest’s downward spiral as a World Title contender? Yes, there is. As a matter of fact, it might be one of the lasting images of April 6, 2024.
Damian Priest Cashing In On Seth Rollins At WrestleMania 40 Makes Sense
Seth Rollins Cashed In And Became WWE Champion At WrestleMania 31
If there’s anything that we’ve learned from the Triple H regime of creative, it’s this simple storytelling technique: Everything counts. More often than not, The Game takes great care of his characters by giving them detail-oriented storylines that take months to unravel. There’s a good chance, then, that Priest’s MITB woes are building up to a strong payoff.
That payoff could be fulfilled under the bright lights of WrestleMania 40. If the Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns encounter closes out Night 2, it’s likely that Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Title defense takes place the night before. While Priest could still end cashing in on Reigns—or even Intercontinental Champion Gunther, whom he confronted on the Feb. 26 Raw—there are some pretty compelling reasons that point to Priest going after Rollins.
Every Seth Rollins World Heavyweight Championship Title Defense So Far, Ranked
Seth Rollins has had an amazing run as World Heavyweight Champion. While some of his title matches were outstanding, others were disappointing.In terms of character beats, this would be poetic justice for the man who once fancied himself an Architect. Back at WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins pulled off the so-called “heist of the century” by cashing in his MITB contract in the middle of the Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns title match. 13 years later, karma could finally catch up to Rollins as a hungry, opportunistic contender takes advantage of the MITB privilege and fleeces him of the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Visionary, of course, has some real-life wellness issues that demand significant time for recuperation. There was an element of truth to his back injury storyline involving Shinsuke Nakamura, and there was nothing kayfabe about the knee injury that he sustained on the January 15 episode of Raw. Losing the World Heavyweight Championship to a Damian Priest cash-in could be just what the doctor ordered for Rollins to have an adequate recovery period.
A Successful Cash-In At WrestleManiaCould Take Damian Priest To The Next Level
Will Damian Priest Be Kicked Out Of Judgment Day?
- Thus Far, Priest's WWE Accomplishments Include Tag Team Title Reigns, A Stint As US Champ, And One WrestleMania Match
- He Has Never Achieved True Main Event Status
- A World Title Win At WrestleMania 40—Via A Money In The Bank Cash-In—Could Be The Pivotal Step In Priest's Ascent
As beneficial as this scenario is for Rollins, it’s a tremendous career boost for Priest, a Ring of Honor alum who began his wrestling career in 2005. Though he has United States and World Tag Team Title reigns—as well as a WrestleMania appearance—on his resume, Priest has never quite risen to the status of headliner. Cashing in his MITB contract and winning the World Heavyweight Championship in Philly could elevate him in ways that Bad Bunny couldn’t.
5 Best Title Reigns Following A WWE Money In The Bank Cash-In (& 5 Worst)
WWE's Money in the Bank is one of its coolest concepts, but it has led to championship reigns that have drastically varied in quality.What’s more, Priest has ready-made opponents for his first high-profile title defenses. While Rhea Ripley might beam with pride at his accomplishment, the rest of The Judgment Day might be none too pleased with Priest grabbing the brass ring. Reminiscent of Randy Orton’s banishment from Evolution in 2004, Priest might be violently kicked out of Judgment Day by his jealous cohorts—perhaps as early as the Raw after WrestleMania.
Priest can then solidify his new babyface character by putting his World Title on the line against the gifted technician Finn Balor, long-time rival JD McDonagh, and mega heel Dirty Dom. By no means, however, should Priest's exit from Judgment Day mean the demise of the group. On the contrary, the vacancy he'd leave could be an opportunity for a new member or two to infuse fresh blood into the faction, which can then continue to be a significant part of Raw storylines for the rest of 2024.
A MITB Win And World Title Reign Can Restore Damian Priest's Credibility
With Solid Booking, Damian Priest Can Become A Bona Fide Main Event Player On Raw
How long should Priest reign as World Heavyweight Champion? While that answer greatly depends on the audience's reaction to him as a title holder, reaching Roman Reigns territory is not an absolute necessity in his case. In 2024, what Damian Priest needs more than anything else is to reestablish his credibility as a singles competitor. Even if his stint as World Champion lasts just three or four months, his stock will nevertheless be in a better position if credible opponents and emotionally driven title defenses are lined up for him every week.
If Triple H and his crew play their cards right, Damian Priest could be one of the top acts to watch out for at WrestleMania 41. In order for that to happen—in order for his massive potential to not go to waste—the booking of the Archer of Infamy should hit a bullseye at this year's Showcase of the Immortals. With a successful cash-in and World Heavyweight Title win, Señor Money in the Bank turns his fool's gold into a king's ransom.
