WWE Money in the Bank 2016: Examining Importance of Briefcase to WWE Universe

Since its introduction at WrestleMania 21, the Money in the Bank ladder match has become one of the most important events on the WWE calendar.

Of course, the consistently exciting multi-man melee has a great deal to do with the enduring popularity of the pay-per-view that bears its name. However, it's the all-important briefcase that makes Money in the Bank such a gripping spectacle.

The briefcase is a shortcut to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, giving its bearer the fastest possible route to the highest summit in North American pro wrestling.

Here's why the briefcase that will hang above the ring on June 19 is of such great importance to the WWE Universe.

Climbing the Ladder

When the MITB ladder match was first conceived in 2005, it was intended to serve two purposes. The first was of course to contribute an action-packed showcase of the upper midcard to WrestleMania.

The other was to give a top prospect the opportunity to enter the main event picture by force.

Edge had long been a standout talent thanks to his work in a tag team with Christian, his impressive singles run in the early 2000s and consistently impressive performances on SmackDown after the brand split. However, he had never quite been able to emerge as a main event talent.

That all changed after he became Mr. Money in the Bank at WrestleMania 21. The months that followed would see Edge home in on his Rated-R Superstar persona, take part in his memorable feud with Matt Hardy and finally capture his first world title from John Cena.

After that, Edge was a made man. He retired in 2011 as an 11-time world champion and was subsequently inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Edge set a precedent for wrestlers like Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler and even The Miz to claim the briefcase and then the gold. Fans understood that Money in the Bank gave competitors who might otherwise never have broken through into the main event scene the opportunity to reach their potential.

Already On Top

To really understand the importance of the Money in the Bank briefcase to fans, you need to look at the winners who haven't been received with open arms by audiences.

Most would point to John Cena's win in 2012 as the biggest waste of the Money in the Bank concept. Cena cashed in his opportunity on the 1,000th episode of Raw, failing to dethrone the reigning champion CM Punk.

The problem with this outcome is that a competitor like Cena is always going to be in line for a world title shot, whether or not he has the briefcase in hand. Given that Cena chose to announce his cash-in ahead of time, the match could easily have come together without the prop.

Credit: WWE.com

Considering that Money in the Bank has been used to such great effect in elevating deserving talent, to see Cena given the case just to hype up a milestone episode of Raw was a disappointment.

In effect, it's the same problem that played out the following year. Damien Sandow could have reached new heights with a successful cash-in, but his run with the briefcase only led to a failed attempt at Cena's World Heavyweight Championship—and The Intellectual Savior never quite recovered.

A similar scenario played out at last year's MITB pay-per-view when Sheamus grabbed the briefcase. The Irishman had already enjoyed several world championship reigns, so it seemed like a suboptimal outcome—but the cash-in was later used as a middling attempt to spice up Roman Reigns' journey to the top.

The Money in the Bank briefcase can transplant deserving competitors to the main event. Seeing someone who is already established claim the prize is always going to dismay fans who hope that their favourite wrestlers will finally make the jump.

Who's Next?

The 2016 Money in the Bank ladder match could potentially be the best yet—and that's because there are good odds we'll see the briefcase used properly.

The six men currently announced for the bout include two former world champions and four up-and-comers who have yet to wear the gold. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose would all benefit enormously from having the briefcase in their possession.

WWE is preparing for a brand extension, which means that the company will have to create more top-tier superstars to flesh out both Raw and SmackDown. A carefully plotted run with the briefcase could make any of the four names mentioned above a bona fide main eventer on either broadcast.

Credit: WWE.com

The current roster is packed with names that deserve to be in a better spot than they are currently occupying. We've seen too many talented wrestlers hit the upper midcard and never progress any further—and that's incredibly frustrating for fans.

The Money in the Bank briefcase offers a way to clear any obstacles and head straight for the top prize, and the upward mobility it can give to deserving superstars is the biggest reason why it's so important to the fans.