WWE Money in the Bank 2016: Making the Case for Each Star to Win Ladder Match

When WWE crowns its 2016 Money in the Bank winner, it could either leave the audience shaken by surprise or stirred up by an emotional victory.

Having an emerging Superstar like Kevin Owens or Sami Zayn pull down the contract-filled briefcase on June 19's pay-per-view would thrill the WWE fanbase. That win would announce WWE is entering a New Era, a fresh face now armed with a world title shot at a time of his choosing.

Selecting a veteran like Alberto Del Rio would tell a much different story. It would upend the crowd's expectations, making Del Rio a hated man.

A variety of potential stories and moments are at WWE's fingertips. The company has to choose what it wants the Money in the Bank ladder match to accomplish. Will the bout catapult a new star or cement an established one's dominance?

The Case for Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio is a long shot to be the next Mr. Money in the Bank despite being the only previous winner in the field. Only CM Punk has won the annual ladder match twice.

Should Del Rio join Punk in the record books, it would be one of the most unexpected results in recent memory. There's power in that. Daily DDT's Carl Gac wrote, "The element of surprise is one of the greatest assets that professional wrestling has, maybe now is the time for a surprise result."

A Del Rio victory would mean that all four Internet Wrestling Community favorites in the match—Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Dean Ambrose—would come up empty. That would anger a big portion of the audience, resulting in tons of heat on Del Rio.

WWE could use that to make Del Rio a major heel again. Having Mexico's Greatest Export snatch the briefcase would reinvigorate a former headliner.

The Case for Cesaro

WWE has never fully taken advantage of Cesaro's popularity.

When he won the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, he was on the verge of exploding, but too little came of it. When crowds began bringing "Cesaro Section" signs to the arena, no real push followed.

A win in the Money in the Bank ladder match would be that moment of triumph many have been waiting for.

Cesaro is an entertaining in-ring worker who would thrive in a main event spot. The briefcase would provide entry to that place on the card.

In addition, it would be a narrative that gives The King of Swing needed direction. Suddenly, his gimmick would be less about tearaway pants and more about picking the right time to pounce on the champion.

Cesaro is also in a unique spot. He is both established and emerging, both a potential keystone of the New Era and a familiar face. That makes him an intriguing pick as the next Mr. Money in the Bank.

The Case for Chris Jericho

The future Hall of Famer taking home a prize usually designed to launch up-and-comers would be the curveball of the year. As much as WWE tried to foreshadow a potential Y2J win by having him grab hold of the briefcase on this week's Raw, he remains the man few would bet on to win at Money in the Bank.

Like with Alberto Del Rio, a Jericho win would be a major surprise that generates big heat for him.

And Jericho's recent work as a brash, narcissistic villain has been excellent. We would get to see more of that on display, as a greater spotlight would be afforded to him after winning the Money in the Bank ladder bout.

Few members of the roster would be as entertaining as Jericho while bragging about owning that coveted briefcase.

The Case for Dean Ambrose

The story writes itself should Dean Ambrose win the Money in the Bank ladder match.

His two former stablemates, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, are already in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture. Should The Lunatic Fringe cash in on his former brethren from The Shield, a Triple Threat match for the ages would be ready to go.

That's a WrestleMania main event in the making, something that ups the value of an Ambrose Money in the Bank victory. 

Ambrose is on the verge of top-tier status. He's popular and talented, but he's not quite a megastar. That has the potential to change with a win at Money in the Bank.

Dave LaGreca of Busted Open Nation said of Ambrose, "You put that briefcase in his hand? Guess what? That guy is on the next level."

After he almost won the briefcase two years ago and had the WWE title in his hands in a battle with Rollins last year, Ambrose fans have to be brimming with anticipation to see him finally get a career-changing win. He is among the potential winners who would leave the audience elated should he take home the prize.

The Case for Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens should be one of the Superstars WWE leans on as it transitions into its New Era. He has been spectacular since arriving from NXT. As Ryan Glasspiegel of USA Today's Big Lead put it, "Over the past year, Kevin Owens has been arguably the most entertaining WWE performer when you combine matches with microphone."

Scripting him to pull the briefcase down at Money in the Bank would be a clear sign that the New Era has kicked in.

He would make a stellar world champion, and his chase for the title would be a fun one. Owens would be sure to brag like crazy, deftly rubbing his win in all of our faces. 

And Owens carrying around the briefcase would create an intriguing dynamic, whether Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins is champion. Either of those foes would have a top-notch feud opposite the Canadian bruiser.

The Case for Sami Zayn

The Money in the Bank ladder match ending with Sami Zayn victorious would tell a powerful underdog story.

Zayn isn't the typical world champion. He doesn't have John Cena's physique or Roman Reigns' magazine-cover looks. Instead, he's just a hard-working, likable, skilled pro wrestler. 

Crowning him as the next Mr. Money in the Bank would be a statement of WWE embracing substance over style, a willingness to change its view of what a top-tier Superstar looks like. Zayn could well be the next Daniel Bryan, and taking home the briefcase would be a huge step in that journey.

A Zayn victory would be unexpected, signifying a faster rise than most would have predicted. It would make for a huge moment, overtaking Zack Ryder's WWE Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania as this year's best feel-good tale.

Zayn is a new face in a time when WWE is talking up a New Era. Having him outlast his foes would be an unmistakable sign that the company is serious about ushering that in.