The WWE Premium Live Event Money in the Bank is known and loved for its thrilling multi-opponent ranked match where participants try to retrieve a briefcase hanging over the ring. Inside that briefcase is a unique contract that guarantees a chance at a championship match anytime, anywhere within one year of winning the case. So it stands to reason that the men and women involved in this battle for everything will stop at nothing to climb the ladder and claim the iconic briefcase. And with the 14th MITB themed event set to take place this Saturday in London, M&F caught up with two of the challengers to find out how they plan to outlast all the competition and become the owners of this fateful briefcase. It could be an epic night for the Latino World Order stable as Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega win their respective WWE Money in the Bank matches.
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Santos Escobar drops his WWE opponents thanks to dropsets
"I'm no stranger to ranked games," says Escobar, a second-generation grappler from Mexico City, Mexico, and the son of the legendary Lucha Libre star; El Fantasy. As for his training, Escobar needs to use his time wisely. "I try to do as much as possible in as little time as possible," he says, considering a WWE Superstar's crazy touring schedule. "I always try to train my body so that there is strength and flexibility." When it comes to going to the gym, the LWO member is a big proponent of warming up, especially as he struggles with the wear and tear, that the ring brings with it. As for planning his sets, the exciting wrestler likes to perform drop sets in the order of 15, 12, 10 and 8 reps. Dropsets are a great way to promote muscle hypertrophy, which leads to increases in muscle size and endurance. wonder he drops his opponents too.
For arm and back workouts, Escobar performs dumbbell curls, barbell drag curls, dumbbell preacher curls, dumbbell rows, and the T-bar row, all of which use the same drop set pattern. Escobar takes working hard off the ring very seriously, but it's difficult to plan the perfect practice session for handling the steel ladder that will be in play on Saturday. "I've often been asked what the biggest threat in a Money in the Bank ladder game is," says Escobar. "And I said the biggest threat is the ladders! Why? Because you can use them to retrieve the briefcase and use it to punish your opponents. It's crazy and at the same time I'm looking forward to it.”
For many pro-wrestling fans, the Money in the Bank event is the most exciting and history-making night on the WWE calendar, offering their favorite grappler the potential to secure a title shot once they get their redeem contract. Who can forget Seth Rollins dethroning Brock Lesnar during his impromptu title fight at WrestleMania 31 (2015), or Carmella's surprise cash-in against Charlotte Flair that took place on the episode of SmackDown that followed WrestleMania 34 (2018)? But while it takes strong arms to snatch that suitcase high up in the rafters, well-trained legs are just as important.
Zelina Vega develops explosive leg strength with plyometric training for WWE Money in the Bank
A key part of Vegas' strategy for MITB was developing her explosive leg strength through plyometric training. Plyos includes exercises that both contract and stretch the muscles, such as running, squats, skipping, and box jumps. As you practice the movements, your muscles will adapt and performance will improve. Plyos are a great way to prepare the body for high-intensity sports, and by developing your stabilizing muscles, you can also help prevent many potential injuries. For Vega, plyo training helps prepare for a ranked match. "There just aren't that many ladders to climb at home," jokes Zelina Vega. She is fully aware that the cosplay lover needs to be well conditioned to outlast her enemies, with bodies flying around and mad scrambles to climb the ladder.
"Actually (now) I'm doing a lot more high-intensity cardio, a lot more HIIT cardio, because I feel like in moments like this you have to make sure you can reach into your power bank and get it out of you. if necessary,” she says. In fact, Vega tells M&F she now has a wrestling ring as part of her home gym setup so she can train in the square circle for as many hours as possible. But what about the ladder itself: is it heavy? "It's really hard," says Vega. "A lot of people don't understand that, I'm a lot smaller so it's such a big, clunky thing I have to make sure I can handle it. It's definitely something not fun to wear!”
This year, the stakes seem to be higher than ever for the winner in London as thrilling men's and women's matches await. "I'm so happy to be here," says Vega as the chime approaches. "The fans are so passionate here." For the men, it will be Santos Escobar, Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, LA Knight, Butch, Damian Priest and Logan Paul looking to make money. For the women's briefcase, the contenders are Zelina Vega, Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, Bayley, Iyo Sky and Trish Stratus.
To find out if the LWO's hard training is paying off, don't miss any of the action from WWE Money in the Bank broadcasting live on Saturday, July 1 from London's famed O2 Arena via Peacock in the United States and WWE is broadcasting Connect Everywhere Else.
