Settling The MITB 2017 Observer Ratings Specials From The Weekend

In the days and weeks leading into WWE Money in the Bank 2017, a couple of sports betting agencies published proposition and specials markets where customers could wager on how Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor, Dave Meltzer, rated certain aspects of the show.

The markets were to be settled in the days following the release of the newsletter issue. It came out in the early hours of this morning.

In this post, I'll go through all of the specials that were available leading up to Money in the Bank 2017. I'll point out how the wagers will be settled if they haven't been already.

Paddy Power's Wrestling Observer Specials

The Paddy Power Sportsbook released four specials that focused on Dave Meltzer's star ratings. 

Dave Meltzer To Give 4 Stars Or More To The Women's Ladder Match

This was first installed on Monday June 12th. The odds stayed at 10/11 from day one right up to the time of closing. I wasn't too keen on this market, so didn't bet on it. Dave Meltzer ended up rating it three stars, so my instinct was right to avoid it. This will be settled as a loss.

Dave Meltzer To Give 5 Stars To The Women's Ladder Match

If I didn't like the 4 stars option, I certainly didn't like the 10/1 for Meltzer to rate this match five stars or more. The odds were way too short. I'll get to my reasons why later on. As you're sure to have figured out, this was a loss.

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Dave Meltzer To Give 5 Stars Or More To The Men's Ladder Match

Just like with the '5 Star' or more market for the women's version of the ladder match, I didn't like the chance of this one coming in. The 7/1 odds were far too short as well. Keep reading if you want to know why I thought the odds were too short.

Dave Meltzer To Give 4 Stars Or More To The Men's Ladder Match

This was a selection I did like. I published a post on Saturday June 10th giving reasons for backing this one to come in. From there, the odds fell continuously from 5/6 and closed at 1/5. 

The match was given four-and-a-half stars, so this will be settled as a win when the traders find out the results.

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Kambi's Wrestling Observer Specials

The oddsmakers from Kambi published their Observer Star Rating Specials on the Friday before the PPV. 

Any Match To Be Given 5 Stars

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Remember earlier in this post where I wrote about disliking the '5Star' offerings from Paddy Power? Well, here's why. Kambi have been offering between 15/1 to 20/1 on any match being graded five stars or more on a show in the months that they have been releasing these specials. For Money in the Bank, the offer was 15/1. It didn't win, but there was value in backing the 15s - and having every match on the card in contention - than there was in taking the 10/1 (Women's) or 7/1 (Men's) at Paddy Power.

WWE Championship Match Over/Under

The oddsmakers published a proposition where clients could wager on the WWE Championship match - which saw Jinder Mahal defend the strap against Randy Orton - having over or under three stars.

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As the betting points to, the punters took the 'Under 3 Stars' option in the latter part of betting. After opening at 9/10, the option was at 18/25 by 11:30pm BST on Sunday night.

The match was rated three-and-a-half stars, so the underdog, if you can call it that, was the winning selection. It opened 4/5, but was EVS late on Sunday.

Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match Over/Under

Just like with the above market, the Kambi trader priced up an over/under prop where clients could wager on how the male Money in the Bank ladder match would received by the newsletter's editor. The line was set at four-and-a-quarter stars.

The late bets came in on the match being credited with more than 4 1/4 stars as it went from the opening 18/25 into 3/5 by Sunday afternoon. Then - by 9pm BST - it had been cut to 1/2. I checked back in at 11:30pm and the odds were still at 1/2.

As you already know, the match was given four-and-a-half stars, so those that backed the over were on the right side.

Highest Rated Match Of The Night

The oddsmakers put up a market where customers could bet on what they thought would end up being given the most stars in this week's issue of the Observer. Unlike most of the previous editions of this kind of market, the traders put out two options - 'Men's Money in the Bank' or 'Any Other Match'.

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The ladder match was backed almost instantly as it had been cut from 1/2 to 21/50 within the first few hours of the market being installed. The odds had fallen to 2/5 within the first day. It was 1/3 by Sunday evening. 

The punters were spot on. No other match on the card beat the **** 1/2 that the men's MITB ladder match scored.

I'll return with a look back at the Great Balls of Fire Observer Ratings bets on the Thursday following that PPV. I know I'll be doing this because Kambi has already installed an Observer O/U market for the Great Balls of Fire main event. You can read about it in this post. 

The markets above were available on the following pages:

Paddy Power's WWE Betting Page

SportsBet Australia's WWE Betting Page (Owned by Paddy Power)

Unibet's WWE Betting Page (Kambi Odds)

32Red's WWE Betting Page (Kambi Odds)

LeoVegas' WWE Betting Page (Kambi Odds)

And More