Ranking Every Mr. Money in the Bank in WWE History
An annual staple in WWE since 2005, the Money in the Bank ladder match is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. It features five to 10 competitors vying for a shot at a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at any time and any place of the winner's choosing.
Outlasting every other combatant and emerging victorious in the contest is one thing, but to cherry-pick the perfect moment to cash in the contract is an even tougher task. Some wait a mere hour before getting their title match while others bide their time and hold on to the opportunistic briefcase for close to a year.
Over the last decade, a total of 14 Superstars have had the honor of calling themselves Mr. Money in the Bank though not all winners of the illustrious match have been successful in turning the briefcase into championship gold.
From Edge to The Miz, the match has made the careers of many a men since its inception, solidifying them as stars in the process.ย Before the next Mr. Money in the Bank is crowned this Sunday, this list will look back at every individual to have held the briefcase and where each ranks among the greatest of all time.
Criteria will include the quality of theย match they won it in,ย how they evolved as a star in the time they held the briefcase, theย fashion in which they cashed it in andย how successful their subsequent title reign was.
14. Mr. Kennedy
1 of 14
There were few stars on SmackDown in 2006 who had as bright a future as Mr. Kennedy. Each week, he boasted about his various wins over former world champions, and it seemed as if he'd one day be wearing world championship gold as well.
Heading into WrestleMania 23, he was the favorite to win the Money in the Bank ladder match, and sure enough, he came out on top. He outlasted the likes of Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, King Booker and others to earn his future opportunity at a world title of his choosing.
At one point, Kennedy made it known that he wished to become the first man to cash in at WrestleMania, but before he could do that, he lost the contract in an impromptu match against Edge on the May 7, 2007, edition of Raw. This was done because it was believed he was injured and WWE needed to take the title off The Undertaker immediately.
Thus, not only was Kennedy's tenure as Mr. Money in the Bank short-lived, but he wasn't even given the chance to cash in the contract. That was his only ticket to superstardom, as he was gone from the company a few years later.
If nothing else, the match he won the contract in was rather entertaining but certainly not among the best of all time.
13. John Cena
2 of 14
Without question, 2012 was easily the worst year in the WWE career of John Cena (in kayfabe, of course). Far removed from the WWE Championship picture, his only ticket to getting another title opportunity was the Money in the Bank ladder match.
In addition to wanting to win the briefcase, Cena also set out to ensure Big Show didn't reign supreme. Having never competed in a Money in the Bank ladder match up to that point, he was at a distinct disadvantage against his competitorsโChris Jericho, The Miz, Kane and Big Show.
Despite that, Cena was the odds-on favorite to win, but that didn't at all hinder the quality of the matchup. The in-ring action was solid, and it was a better bout than expected considering the combatants.
Instead of taking the typical route of cashing in at an opportune time, Cena made it clear to CM Punk one week in advance that he wanted his WWE Championship match at Raw 1000. This made him only the second person, next to Rob Van Dam, to cash in the contract in such a fashion.
It was a grand occasion, sure, but Cena's decision ultimately cost him the gold. Big Show's outside interference caused the contest to be thrown out, resulting in Cena becoming the first Mr. Money in the Bank (with the exception of Mr. Kennedy) to not win the title.
12. Damien Sandow
3 of 14
Damien Sandow made his Money in the Bank debut at the 2012 installment, and while it was too soon for him to win then, he had come a long way in one year's time.
Going into the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank ladder match in 2013, Sandow was riding a wave of momentum following his feud with Sheamus. Although he and his tag team partner, Cody Rhodes, both expressed interest in capturing the contract, there was never any sign of dissension in the ranks until it came time for the match.
Betraying his "best friend" to win the match, Sandow solidified himself as a future world champion...or so fans thought. While in possession of the Money in the Bank briefcase, he lost almost every match he competed in and didn't ascend any higher up the card than where he was before.
One night removed from the Hell in a Cell event, he opted to cash in against an injured John Cena, which was brilliant on his part. However, despite an amazing outing against The Champ, Sandow fell short of victory and became the first Mr. Money in the Bank to lose his championship match via pinfall.
The Intellectual Savior of the Masses was worthy of being Mr. Money in the Bank, but everything that followed his ladder match victory was poorly handled. Worse yet, his breakout performance against Cena was soon forgotten, and he's since been relegated to enhancement talent status.
11. Jack Swagger
4 of 14
In the largest Money in the Bank ladder match in WWE history and the final one to occur at WrestleMania, Jack Swagger was the last person everyone expected to win. He had been a regular fixture on WWE Superstars for weeks, at one point losing to Santino Marella.
Thus in no way was he considered a threat.
To the shock of many, he ascended the ladder and pulled down the briefcase, earning himself a future shot at a world championship of his choosing. He wasted no time in attempting to cash it in, nearly catching then-WWE champion John Cena off guard the night after WrestleMania 26 but to no avail.
It was only days after on SmackDown that he cashed in on Chris Jericho to win the World Heavyweight Championship. From there, he embarked on one of the most lackluster title reigns in the championship's illustrious history before dropping the strap in June, never to reclaim it.
Needless to say, Swagger wasn't ready for the Money in the Bank push, and even after winning it, WWE should have given him time to grow instead of immediately having him capture the big one. It did him no favors in the long term, as he's now floundering in the undercard.
10. Alberto Del Rio
5 of 14
From the moment he arrived in WWE, Alberto Del Rio was destined to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. The luxurious briefcase fit his persona to perfection, and it was inevitable it would eventually be in his possession.
Although he came up short of beating Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 27, his quest for gold was far from over. He was sent packing to the Raw brand via the 2011 WWE draft, and almost immediately upon his arrival were his sights set on the WWE Championship.
The Raw Money in the Bank ladder match in 2011, albeit not as good as the SmackDown version, was highly enjoyable, with everyone taking spills to ringside at one point or another. In clever fashion, Del Rio ripped the mask off Rey Mysterio's face and capitalized on the opportunity to win the briefcase.
It was that very same night that he attempted to cash in against a departing CM Punk, but it wasn't until SummerSlam that he finally captured the gold. This came after Kevin Nash stormed through the crowd and laid out Punk, allowing Del Rio to pick up the scraps and the title.
In the matter of one year, Del Rio fulfilled his destiny of becoming WWE champion though his title reign was short-lived. He lost the title to John Cena the following month at Night of Champions, and he was never the same threat to the main event scene after that point.
9. Randy Orton
6 of 14
Although the Money in the Bank ladder match is known to make careers, it isn't uncommon for an established star to hold the briefcase. In fact, the entire cast of competitors in the WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match in 2013 solely consisted of former world champions.
With it being heavily rumored that he was slated to face John Cena for the title at SummerSlam, Daniel Bryan was the fan favorite to win. Lurking in the shadows, however, was Randy Orton, who hadn't been involved in the title picture for several years.
Featuring the returning Rob Van Dam, the all-stars ladder match was nothing short of epic and is regarded as one of the best MITB matches since the inaugural one in 2005. Almost every competitor was legitimately hurt by way of the insane bumps they took, going to show what all of them were willing to go through in order to earn that golden opportunity.
Following in the footsteps of Alberto Del Rio, Orton opted to cash in the contract at SummerSlam and pinned a downed Bryan, whom Triple H had already laid out. Not only did it mark The Viper's first title win in nearly two years, but it also signaled a dawning of a new era in WWE: The Authority era.
Everything about Orton's cash-in was near-perfect except for the aftermath. At long last, he was back to being a dastardly heel, but any momentum he had from that title win was wasted with a loss to Bryan at Night of Champions.
8. Kane
7 of 14
After being marginalized for the better part of the late 2000s, Kane finally experienced a career resurgence in the summer of 2010 when he set out to find his brother'sโThe Undertakerโattacker. He instantly became the focal point of the SmackDown brand, making him relevant for the first time in years.
En route to solving the mystery, he entered himself into the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match. Drew McIntyre, whom WWE was also prominently featuring going into the contest, looked to be the eventual winner, but Kane was determined to shock the world with a victory.
Fans were skeptical that the Money in the Bank ladder match as a pay-per-view match concept wouldn't grow tiresome, but the match, in which Kane won the briefcase, proved otherwise. The young up-and-comers of the blue brand put on a showcase and wowed the crowd with their incredible athleticism.
In addition to winning the contract, Kane chose to cash it in on then-World Heavyweight champion Rey Mysterio that very same night, becoming the shortest-tenured Mr. Money in the Bank in history. He may have been in the twilight of his career, but his reign as world champion was a successful one.
Kane maintained possession of the prestigious prize for a whopping 154 days before dropping it to Edge at the TLC event in December. The only factor keeping Kane from being ranked higher is that he didn't hold on to the briefcase longer.
7. Daniel Bryan
8 of 14
Very few people actually thought Daniel Bryan, the guy who was among the first eliminated from the inaugural season of NXT, would ever amount to being world champion material in WWEโmuch less be the main event at WrestleMania and win. Long before he was battling against The Authority, though, he was a valiant competitor hungry for success.
Bryan had a nice reign for himself as United States champion on Raw, but it was evident he was never going to get beyond a certain level on the flagship show. Thus the move to SmackDown was the best thing that could have happened to him, and there, he was at home.
The SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match in 2011 consisted of many young talents who had never before been world champion, including Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes and Bryan himself. The unpredictability of not knowing who was going to win made the match exciting and exhilarating to watch.
When Bryan pulled down the briefcase, the Chicago crowd roared with elation. Of course, rumors began to run rampant that he was going to be the first Superstar to cash in and lose, and his lack of direction while Mr. Money in the Bank didn't help quell the fears of fans.
Initially, Bryan announced he would wait until WrestleMania to be granted his title match, but instead, he opted to cash in at the TLC event in December on Big Show, who had just gone to war with Mark Henry in a chairs match. Following his first world title win, he went on to reign as champion through WrestleMania 28, and from that point forward, he was never looked at as anything less than a main event player.
6. Rob Van Dam
9 of 14
In the early 2000s, it was considered a crime Rob Van Dam had yet to win a world championship in WWE given how popular he was with fans. It seemed as if he'd never escape the midcard scene. But then, the Money in the Bank ladder match came along.
RVD was out with an injury for the inaugural match, but upon his return in early 2006, he was cleared to compete in the match at WrestleMania 22. He and the rest of the contestants put together a very nice match that saw the one-of-a-kind competitor emerge victorious with the briefcase in tow.
Before cashing in the contract, RVD became the first man to hold championship gold and the Money in the Bank simultaneously, beating Shelton Benjamin for the intercontinental title at Backlash. He then went on to challenge Cena for the WWE Championship on his own turf at ECW One Night Stand.
In what will be remembered as one of greatest Money in the Bank moments of all time, RVD scored his first taste of world title gold that night with his win over Cena. It was an electric atmosphere, and nowhere else would the win have been as sweet as it was.
Interestingly enough, he's one of the few Superstars on this list who had a better reign as Mr. Money in the Bank than he did as world champion. Due to a run-in with the law the next month, he was forced to relinquish both the WWE and ECW titles.
5. The Miz
10 of 14
Looking back on his early days in WWE, The Miz was never looked at as being a championship-caliber competitor. But as time progressed, he honed his skills both in the ring and on the mic and proved he belonged among the elite.
He went from serving as the host of the Diva Search to forming a tag team with John Morrison to finding success in singles competition. By the summer of 2010, he was ready for the big push toward the top, and WWE made its faith in him clear when he won the WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match.
What was so perfect about Miz's run as Mr. Money in the Bank was that he was exceptional at shoving in people's faces how wrong they were about him and how he was told he would never amount to anything in WWE. At the same time, he held the United States Championship, worked the main event of Raw on several occasions and mixed it up with the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton.
In the four months he was Mr. Money in the Bank, Miz gradually transitioned from being a midcard mainstay to a top-tier talent. As a result, when he cashed in on Orton on the November 22 edition of Raw, Miz didn't feel completely out of place as WWE champion.
His underrated reign as WWE champion saw him headline pay-per-views and win in the main event of WrestleMania. While the briefcase launched him into another level of superstardom, he has yet to reclaim his spot in the world title picture.
4. CM Punk
11 of 14
It's amazing to think how differently everything would have gone down in 2008 had Jeff Hardy, who was originally penciled in to win the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 24, not gotten himself suspended. CM Punk might have found another way of getting to the top, but the briefcase was his meal ticket to becoming an overnight sensation.
That year's Money in the Bank ladder match was among the best to ever be contested at WrestleMania, with each combatant being given their time to shine. Punk proved his naysayers wrong when he emerged from the matchup as the new Mr. Money in the Bank, but it seemed as if he'd be the first Superstar to cash in unsuccessfully.
In the months that followed, he teased going after Edge's World Heavyweight Championship, and at a time when no one expected it, he took the title from the Rated-R Superstar on the June 30 edition of Raw one week removed from being drafted to Raw.
His subsequent title reign caused fans to perceive him as a fluke, and had it not been for his second victory in the ladder match the next year, he likely would have been ranked lower on this list. His tenure as Mr. Money in the Bank wasn't much different in 2009, but it was then that he became the fantastic heel he was primed to be.
Neither of his championship runs in 2008 and 2009, respectively, were particularly memorable, but the matches he won the briefcase in along with cash-ins themselves make him a perfect example of how Money in the Bank can create stars.
3. Dolph Ziggler
12 of 14
If you blinked, you missed Dolph Ziggler's time in the main event scene in 2011 along with his 15-minute reign as World Heavyweight champion. He deserved another shot at superstardom, but to get there, he had to work from the bottom up.
Over the next year, he scratched and clawed his way through the midcard, winning the United States Championship and holding his own in title matches against CM Punk and Sheamus. It was then that officials started to see him for the bright star he was and always had been.
The argument can be made that Ziggler didn't need the briefcase since he was already in contention for the World Heavyweight Championship at that point, but it allowed him to grow as a performer before jumping back into the title picture.
Following the mess of a match he captured the contract in, he transitioned into a feud with Chris Jericho, whom he soundly defeat and sent packing from WWE on the August 20 edition of Raw. From there, he scored various victories over the likes of Randy Orton and John Cena, the latter occurring in the main event of the TLC pay-per-view.
While it would have been cool to see him become the first to cash in at WrestleMania, there's no denying that his title victory the next night on Raw made for one of the most monumental moments in the show's decorated history. His reign as world champion didn't last long at all, but his buildup as a top-tier talent was unparalleled.
2. Seth Rollins
13 of 14
Only weeks before the 2014 Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Seth Rollins sent shock waves throughout the WWE Universe when he turned on his Shield brethren. Who knows who was originally pegged to win the Money in the Bank ladder match before this happened, but it became obvious at that moment that the briefcase wasn't far from Rollins' grasp.
Oddly enough, the announcement of the traditional Money in the Bank ladder match came shortly prior to the event due to Daniel Bryan vacating the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and a ladder match being held to determine a new champion. But once Rollins was set for the contest, the ending outcome was never in question.
Still, the match itself was excellent, and there was never a dull moment. There were a handful of sensational spotsโincluding Rollins' back body drop on the ladderโthat made the match memorable, but it was only after interference from Kane that Rollins gained possession of the contract.
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has been booked as exceptionally well as Rollins has since his WWE debut, most notably during his rise to the top. He was rarely ever pinned, and when he was, it usually came in marquee matches against John Cena and Brock Lesnar.
At WrestleMania 31, Rollins became the first man to cash in the contract on the grandest stage of them allโand during an ongoing match at that. The jury is still out on how he has fared as WWE World Heavyweight champion, but it's been so far so great with The Architect.
1. Edge
14 of 14
The name most synonymous with the Money in the Bank concept is undoubtedly Edge, and rightfully so. Had things not panned out with him as the inaugural winner, what the future of the gimmick would have been is uncertain.
Prior to taking part in the first-ever Money in the Bank ladder match, Edge was already contending for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, he likely would have never beaten John Cena, Triple H or any other established star for the belt without the briefcase.
There have been some stellar Money in the Bank ladder matches over the last decade, but it's tough to top the original. The cast of competitors was flawless, and because of that, Edge's victory was made all the more impressive.
He teased cashing in on the champion more than once, but in waiting close to nine months (longer than any other Mr. Money in the Bank) to take advantage of his ultimate opportunity, he was able to work his way up the card and solidify himself as a star on the rise.
When Edge eventually cashed in on John Cena at New Year's Revolution 2006, it was a magical moment close to a decade in the making for the Rated-R Superstar. The WWE Hall of Fame-worthy career he had from there on is well documented, making him the mold for what every Mr. Money in the Bank should aspire to be.
Grahamย Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major atย Endicottย College. Visit his website atย Next Era Wrestlingย and "like" his officialย Facebook pageย to continue the conversationย on all things wrestling.
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