It’s that time of year again, with Money in the Bank just around the corner.
It has become a staple in the WWE calendar, beginning life as a WrestleMania showpiece in 2005 before taking ownership of its own pay-per-view event five years later.
Since its inception we’ve witnessed 16 MITB matches, 14 of which have gone on to deliver new champions.
The very nature of the match guarantees high-flying, all-action, wrestling and has generally pitted some of the most daring, exciting Superstars against seasoned veterans able to work the match to perfection.
This year’s battle for that title contract will be no different and in the guise of Sami Zayn vs Cesaro vs Chris Jericho vs Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens vs Alberto Del Rio there is a match riddled with potentially historic spots, fierce rivalries – it reeks of innovation.
It could take the match to another level, which is no mean feat as this list of our five favourite MITB matches of all-time should explain.
Which is your favourite of these matches and who do you think will win this year’s MITB contract?
Share with us your thoughts and prediction by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook.
WRESTLEMANIA 21 – THE FIRST
Conceived at the whim of Chris Jericho (kayfabe), the first ever Money in the Bank ladder match really set the tone for what was to follow. It had all the intrigue and sense of unknown that these new concepts do to engage the Universe and with a stellar cast on the grandest stage of them all it did not disappoint. Edge saw off Jericho, Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin (who was immense) and Kane before going on to win the WWE Championship against John Cena 280 days later, the longest any winner has held on to the contract.
WRESTLEMANIA 25 – PUNK’S DOUBLE
Having won the previous year’s match and subsequently won and then lost his World Heavyweight title, CM Punk came back to WrestleMania to once again claim the briefcase. This was another match littered with top spots and alongside Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker it salvaged an otherwise underwhelming ‘Mania. Kofi Kingston was a breakout star in this match, one that combined big guys and high flyers to pretty decent effect.
MONEY IN THE BANK 2013 – ORTON GETS RANDY
Billed as a MITB All-Stars match, this one delivered with a cast of protagonists that included Rob Van Dam, Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Christian, Sheamus and Randy Orton. Van Dam and Christian were sure things, having made their names in such matches, while CM Punk was at his best and Bryan provided one of the best moments of the match by going nuts with the ladder. Orton went on to claim the W in true Viper fashion.
WRESTLEMANIA 23 – THAT’S MR. KENNEDY TO YOU
A ladder match list is not complete without the Hardy Boyz being involved, the brothers’ only MITB appearance together coming back in 2007. This kicked off the main show at that year’s WrestleMania and it whet the appetite superbly. The Hardys had old foe Edge to trade blows with, while Orton, Punk, Finlay and King Booker made up for a list of participants to rival the All-Star match above. However, the somewhat surprise winner was Mr. Kennedy, who was seen as a rank outsider among some pretty illustrious names. Kennedy went on to lose his contract in a match with Edge, who cashed it in to win his first ever WWE Heavyweight title one month after WrestleMania.
MONEY IN THE BANK 2014 – ROLLINS REIGNS SUPREME
Not only was this one of the best matches in MITB history, it also served up one of the greatest post-event storylines so far. Seth Rollins overcame Kingston, Van Dam, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Rob and Dean Ambrose to win this one. It ultimately led to Rollins and Ambrose waging war, a rivalry centred around the golden briefcase, before Rollins made history as the first man to cash in at WrestleMania, first to win the championship by not pinning the champion and also cash in while a championship match was ongoing.
