WWE WrestleMania 28: Top 5 Possible Winners of the Money in the Bank Match

Load up on your merchandise, design your placards and paint your faces, because ladies and gentlemen...it's WrestleMania season again!

Which means we can prepare ourselves for the best segments, promos and matches of the year, and then nurture hopes for the rest of the year that there's even better to come. At times, there is (MITB 2011), and at other times—and unfortunately rather usually—there is not. So, until proven otherwise, these are our golden months of wrestling.

WrestleMania 28 brings with it a controversial and once highly anticipated John Cena vs. The Rock matchup, along with a fitting Triple H vs. Undertaker fight and a potential history maker in the form of CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho. However, three matches cannot hope to define a show for four hours (I mean c'mon, it's not like Undertaker will take double the time for his entrance), so WWE wisely made the decision of bringing back the Money in the Bank match—much to the fans' delight (and R-Truth's fright).

We know for a fact that we'll lose most of our main-eventers after WrestleMania because they're only here for this PPV and maybe the RAW to follow. There won't be a lot of Undertaker, Triple H, Rock or Jericho (though rumors state he's likely to stay for a while), so this WrestleMania needs to create more stars out of their roster. Sheamus is heading that way, and the MITB winner will follow him.

So here's my list of who I think could win (apart from Super Santino, of course) the Money in the Bank match at WM 28...

Honorable Mention: Wade Barrett: Barricading the Barrage

Wade Barrett would have made it to this list as a top contender for battling his fear of heights and spiders by claiming the MITB briefcase and consequently the contract, but that was before Big Bad Big Show threw a Ziggler right at his unsuspecting arm.

It's a pity for the Barrage man as he's been booked really well and displayed great credibility in his tenure as a SmackDown heel—a tenure that was likely to result in a championship run in the future. WWE might still do a Gobbledy Gooker in an effort to rock and shock the IWC and include and give the win to a semi-healed Barrett, but crawling up and grabbing the briefcase at the last moment isn't atypical of heel Barrett. 

Daniel Bryan maybe, but not Barrett. Heck, even Ricardo Rodriguez, but definitely not for Wade Baaraat Garage. 

5. Kofi Kingston: Battling Afterthoughts

The Boom Dropper has been booked well and to his amazing ability lately, and that spells great television for everyone involved. His antics in the Rumble and Elimination Chamber haven't gone unnoticed, and hopefully will restore him back to the ceiling mid-card credibility that previously defined him.

Kofi Kingston got his biggest push in 2009 when he began feuding with Randy Orton, but was bogged down for inane reasons—reasons that had a lot to do with Randy's whining and a little bit with Kofi's botches.

But hey, even Sin Cara botches moves all the time. Okay, wrong example.

The point is, Kofi has shown amazing skill in the ring lately, and his mic skills are just lying dormant. His short and neglected promo in the EC Debate showed us that he isn't a Great Khali on the microphone—which means he knows the difference between a punch and a kick. And more.

If the WWE Title scene is too crowded, in a surprising move Kofi could try for the World Heavyweight Title instead. 

Ooo, what a shocker.

4. The Miz: Really? Really? Maybe.

Given the truckload of heat he has resting on his mohawk, I wouldn't have placed Miz on this list if it wasn't for his strong showing at the Elimination Chamber PPV. His performance oozes confidence that the Creative dotes on him and wants him at the top. This might excite some fans, but not me. 

He's great on the mic, I'll give you that, but his wrestling ability is questionable. Given my life-long pledge of not transgressing the self-imposed barrier of neutrality, I won't say (or well, type) further. 

My indifference towards his matches aside, for whatever wrestling judgement I foster in my veins, I have to admit that a Miz victory is a possibility.

But if he's the one who sends anonymous messages about The Rock, then "I'm Awesome + Future Endeavored!" merchandise should be hitting the market soon.  

3. R Truth: Running Mate Lil' Jimmy Commands You to Overcome Spiders & Heights

Sorry Jimmies, but R-Truth's face turn is slowly heading out to be a letdown.

I've personally enjoyed all his promos—right from his chicken dances dedicated to the Miz to his election speeches, but he isn't backing whatever powers Lil' Jimmy has bestowed on him in the ring. 

He was one of the first to be eliminated in the Royal Rumble and the first in the Elimination Chamber. Ladies and gentlemen, with utmost regret I'd like to inform you that Lil Jimmy's aura of awesomeness is starting to fade.

But—and there's always a huge world-changing "but"—WWE considers R-Truth one of their biggest and most popular faces (speaking solely on the way he's treated at press conferences and so on), and MITB matches are used to restore long-lost credibility, so why not? 

As long as R-Truth keeps his edge and regains his wrestling dominance (if he ever had one), who wouldn't want to see a Lil' Jimmy champion?

Of course, all that is possible if and only if he is able to undergo strenuous training to combat his perilous fear of spiders and heights. Spider stews may take care of the former, but nothing's saving him from the latter.

2. Cody Rhodes: The Sinister Rhodes

If you're wondering why SmackDown is thriving despite not having it's biggest face in the form of Randy Orton for a major part of 2012, then you need to look at three names: Mark Henry, Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes.

The deranged brother of Goldust and son of American Dream Dusty Rhodes has been on one fiery roll ever since he tweaked his gimmick, and has produced some great matches and segments. His promo work has been top notch, and he's finally gotten great entrance music and done some solid work in building up his Alabama Slams and Disaster Kicks.

SmackDown proudly holds the distinction of having created solid heels out of Mark Henry and Daniel Bryan through refreshing title runs—could create another living, walking and talking best out of Cody Rhodes?

The guy's got style, skill, agility and an elder brother who prances around in a golden wig. What's not championship material? 

Speaking of style, how cool does he look in the picture on this slide?

1. Dolph Ziggler: It's Not Showing off If You Can Back It Up Seriously

As a fan of wrestling—the thing this entire organization is based on—I'd love to see Dolph Ziggler in more main events and weekly matches and promos. And trust me, this isn't the same love I have for Epico and Primo because of Rosa Mendes (because geez, Vickie Guerrero), but it is due to the genuine entertainment and excitement that Dolph Ziggler brings with him in the ring. 

Dolph Ziggler could take a Cobra like a bunch of Tombstone Piledrivers and leave you in doubt over his physical well-being. Some call him an oversell, but I don't. And since this is my article, that counts. 

Jokes.

But in all seriousness, Dolph Ziggler is main-event material in every aspect of his game now. For those who still doubt his mic skills, take a sneak peek at some of his Youtube ventures (WWE Download is the name) and you'll see shades of Ric Flair and shades of originality. 

He is my pick to win the Money In The Bank ladder match because as much as I hate to see Vickie walk down that ramp, I believe a man hopping around with a pink shirt stuffed in his underpants and still managing to pull it off awesomely is pure television gold.  

Conclusion

Money In The Bank ladder matches are seen as a way to elevate talents—talents that don't usually get Contender matches handed to them through Battle Royals or deciding Triple Threats or Fatal Four Ways. Which is why Mark Henry lost out in this list.

It is also used to bring former thrashed and trodden champions back into the fray, which is why Miz made it to the list.

It is however not used to make a joke of championship titles, which is why Jack Swagger lost out on this list. Well, not to make a joke anymore, that is.

Apart from that, a name I haven't forgotten is Christian. I also haven't forgotten his catchphrase of "one more match!", which I believe will eventually get him what it states. I can guarantee you that. (guarantee on Undertaker's hair, as always)

And I do know that Cody might start a feud with Big Show if Shaq doesn't come to WrestleMania, but I'd rather have Big Show punch Chris Brown and let Cody win the briefcase. It'll be a win-win all the way, and CM Punk can thank Big Show by squashing Daniel Bryan later on. 

Thanks for reading.

Shalaj Lawania is gradually getting older at Bleacher Report and that's about it. You can become a fan of his on Bleacher Report if you like his work or follow him on Twitter (@_Apex_Predator_) if you really can put up with his useless tweets. Annoying tweets or not, do leave a comment for this article!