WWE WrestleMania 28: Who Should Be in Money in the Bank This Year?

The Money in the Bank match used to call WrestleMania home, but in 2010, one of the most exciting matches in WWE history relocated. 

Although MITB developed a reputation as a show-stealing bout during its WrestleMania run from 2005 to 2010, WWE officials gave the math its exclusive pay-per-view two years ago, and for the first time since 2004, there was no MITB at the company’s biggest PPV in 2011. 

For the last several months, though, there have been rumblings that Money in the Bank was heading back to WrestleMania this year, and there’s recently been talk of a unique stipulation being added to the bout in 2012. 

From the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via SEScoops.com): 

"

WWE creative is discussing the possibility of holding a Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania that would feature only former world champions as the particiapts. 

The idea could include the likes of Jack Swagger, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio, Mark Henry, Christian and Kane battling it out to see who gets the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase. 

"

The Money in the Bank match should definitely move back to WrestleMania because it gives more deserving wrestlers a spot on the card and adds an incredibly entertaining match to the show. 

But limiting the match to only former World champions completely defeats the purpose of it. 

Since its inception seven years ago, the MITB match has been used primarily to elevate upper midcarders to the main event, not to give someone who’s already had a title run yet another opportunity and subsequent push. 

There have been 10 MITB matches in WWE history, and on seven occasions, the winner of the bout has gone on to win his first world title in the WWE: Edge (2005), Rob Van Dam (2006), CM Punk (2008), Jack Swagger and The Miz (2010) and Alberto Del Rio and Daniel Bryan (2011).

As you can see, the Money in the Bank bout has served as a means to catapult perennial upper midcarders to the World title picture in the past, so why change that now by only including former champs in the bout? 

Though having a few former titleholders to increase the match’s star power is obviously a smart move, the point of MITB is to give new stars new opportunities, and that’s exactly what should happen at WrestleMania 28. 

The top four WrestleMania matches have already been set, but there are still a number of worthy superstars who should get a chance at the MITB briefcase and the guaranteed World title shot that comes along with it. 

With it looking more and more like Cody Rhodes could face The Big Show (and Kane might take on Zack Ryder) at the pay-per-view, here are the eight—sorry, but 10 is way too many—competitors I’d put in the bout: 

Kofi Kingston

One of the WWE’s most athletically gifted superstars, he’s shined in the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches recently. He’d probably be in this bout just to make it better with a few insane spots, though I’d love to see him win it. 

Dolph Ziggler

Technically, he’s been a World champion before, but that controversial reign lasted for like 15 minutes. This guy’s the future of the business, and would be my pick to win the bout. 

Christian

He’s one of the best ladder match competitors of all time, and he doesn’t figure to have a bigger spot on the card. I’d have him in here as the glue to hold the match together. 

""

Alberto Del Rio

ADR had a great ladder match against Christian at Extreme Rules last year and a really good one at WWE TLC as well. His stock has fallen as a World title contender, so throwing him in the MITB match is the perfect way to use him this year. 

The Miz

What else is he going to do? Although he headlined WrestleMania last year, he’s as stale as ever at the moment and isn’t going to get a singles match. 

R-Truth

Truth’s going to be a comedic midcarder for most of the rest of his career, and though he’s not a real threat to win this match, he could add some name power and athleticism to it. 

Wade Barrett

Assuming he’s healthy, Barrett should be in the MITB match as one of the favorites to win it. He’s hovered around the World title/main event scene for most of his career, but has never actually won a World title. He’s the perfect candidate for a match like this.

Drew McIntyre

His losing streak gimmick has to go somewhere, so I’d have it end just before WrestleMania, leading to a gimmick change and renewed push. This guy is loaded with talent, but it’s just a matter of the creative team getting behind him like they were a couple of years ago. 

Chances are that we won’t see the MITB match at all because a number of these superstars could be thrown into the likely GM vs. GM match between John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long. 

But to be honest, that match has a lot less appeal than Money in the Bank, which is one of the most popular gimmick matches in wrestling history and is almost always a show-stealer. 

The bout should be held, and ideally, it would give someone who’s never won a World title a chance to do just that.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions on Formspring.