WWE Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Who Should and Who Will Win Briefcase

Over the span of 11 years, the Money in the Bank ladder match has evolved into one of the most popular and anticipated gimmick matches in professional wrestling—and rightfully so.

Not only is it the equivalent of a human demolition derby, with Superstars throwing caution to the wind and their bodies into ladders, but it is also the beginning of a journey for one lucky competitor that may last a matter of minutes or months.

The winner of the match builds anticipation for his eventual cash-in, a moment in which he hopes that his lifelong dream of capturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship comes true. Over the course of the decade-plus existence of the match, some of the most iconic stars in WWE history have turned their briefcases into championship gold.

Edge, CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Kane are just four of the Superstars who have helped add to the unpredictability of the Money in the Bank match. On Sunday, six new competitors will vie for the opportunity to etch their names alongside those industry greats with a win in the prestigious bout.

One of the six, Alberto Del Rio, has the opportunity to become a two-time Money in the Bank winner, while another, Chris Jericho, has the chance to win the match he created. For Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose and Cesaro, the bout represents their greatest opportunity to shatter the glass ceiling that has kept them out of the main event scene for so long.

Which of the six will win Sunday in Las Vegas, and which one should?

Who Will Win: Dean Ambrose

Credit: WWE.com

No matter how many times he has battled Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns or John Cena in high-profile main events, Ambrose has remained a step below them all, kept at bay by a losing record in those bouts and WWE Creative's reluctance to pull the proverbial trigger on a sustained push.

With the brand extension on the horizon and an opportunity to finally (and permanently) elevate Ambrose via a MITB victory and eventual cash-in, WWE Creative has no more excuses. Factor in a brilliant segment of television on the June 13 episode of Raw, in which Ambrose teased using it on former Shield teammates Rollins and Reigns, and you have a ready-made story just waiting for the writing staff to tell.

Ambrose is one of the most consistently popular stars on the roster. He is a frenetic performer with outstanding energy, one who fires up a crowd in any arena he sets foot in. Letting him tease cashing in the briefcase for a few weeks before finally doing so would provide either Raw or SmackDown with the drama and mystery that would make either show worth viewing.

After months of start-stop pushes despite thunderous ovations, Ambrose will finally leave his current hometown of Las Vegas with the briefcase and, in the process, make the night's main event between Rollins and Reigns that much more interesting.

Who Should Win: Kevin Owens

Credit: WWE.com

The Canadian competitor exploded onto the scene this time last year, defeating John Cena at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and establishing himself as a rarity in WWE: an honest-to-goodness heel. In the 12 months that have followed, he has been one of the most consistently great elements of WWE television, a performer fans could look to for entertainment regardless of his position on the card.

His blend of ruthless aggression and brash arrogance, not to mention his engaging mic skills, has made him a complete performer, someone capable of eliciting hate from fans on the microphone and paying off a story with a phenomenal in-ring showing.

He has repeatedly shown an ability to recover from defeat, remaining over with audiences with the way he carries himself and the strength of his performances. With Raw and SmackDown splitting up, what better way to establish a credible heel to build a show around than by giving Owens the Money in the Bank briefcase?

Let him spar with Reigns both in the ring and in promos. Let the two of them steal the show on television and pay-per-view. If not on Raw, how about on SmackDown, where he could renew his rivalry with Cena and be part of more Match of the Year candidates?

Owens has repeatedly proved himself, overcoming preconceptions about his weight and look to become an elite WWE Superstar. It is about time his work pays off in the form of a golden ticket to be cashed in for his championship prize.