WrestleMania 27: Excluding the Money in the Bank Ladder Match is a Mistake

As I stated in a past article, I firmly believe that WrestleMania 23 was the last of a dying breed. Despite my comments and three lackluster WrestleManias to follow it, I always found salvation each time one particular match began.

The Money in the Bank ladder match.

Lately, rumors that the match wouldn’t make it to WrestleMania seemed like a ploy by dirt sheets to create an outrage of the displacement of the match. With the match being the main attraction for a brand new WWE ppv, the idea of the match’s absence from Mania wasn’t as far fetched.

Almost three weeks away from Mania, there’s been no announcement of the match and a rumored WM card circulating online excludes the match as a part of the event.

As I sit here bewildered by the WWE’s choice to leave out a number of mid-carders and place them in filler matches, I ask the question: do they want to create new stars?

Believe it or not, most mid-carders need that WrestleMania exposure and without the Money in the Bank and a suitable replacement, the WWE snatches the opportunity from their clutches.

When Jericho pitched the idea to Eric Bischoff in 2005, I was ecstatic—a briefcase that could make any normal mid-carder one of the top WWE Superstars and Edge was the first to taste the gold.

After sending Chris Benoit crashing to the mat after a chair shot to an already injured arm, Edge ascended to the top and pulled down the briefcase.

The match featured amazing spots by each competitor, most notably MITB MVP, Shelton Benjamin.

When WrestleMania 22 rolled around, RVD was on a triumphant return but faced stiff competition in Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin so a winner wasn’t as clear as most predicted. Despite this, the Whole F’n Show pulled down the briefcase.

Now the WrestleMania 23 MITB is probably the most star studded in history. Edge, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Mr. Kennedy and King Booker were all a part of this one. The ultimate spot of the night came when Jeff Hardy jumped off an extremely high ladder landing on Edge and snapping a ladder into pieces.

Neither was able to continue the match carried on without the ladder match veterans.

As CM Punk crawled toward the briefcase, his face was scrambled by Mr. Kennedy who then ascended to the top and claimed the briefcase as his own.

Mr. Kennedy had been a big deal but no one expected him to win the Money in the Bank.

I didn’t and for the first time ever, I noticed the unpredictability of the match.

The 2008 MITB ladder match was structured around the misfortune of Jeff Hardy and the inclusion of Chris Jericho. Despite being the favorite to win it all, Jericho was trapped in a ladder my eventual winner, CM Punk.

That was truly a mark out moment for me as Punk was my favorite at the time and the thought of him being a World Champion in the imminent future was extraordinary.

Then he did it all once again at the next year's WrestleMania and earned his second World title after a cash in on Jeff Hardy.

Now, 2010’s Money in the Bank ladder match is the definition of an unpredictable win. Jack Swagger had faded into RAW’s mid card after being drafted to RAW and no one gave Swagger a chance of walking out with the briefcase.

The favorite was Drew McIntyre, who was given multiple matches by Vince McMahon to assure Drew’s place in the match.

RAW’s favorite was Kofi Kingston who was fresh off a feud with Randy Orton. Unfortunately, Jack Swagger shocked the World and took the briefcase for himself.

After Swagger’s win the match was made into a ppv with a briefcase for RAW and one for Smackdown. In another shocker, The Miz won RAW’s briefcase after tilting heavy favored, Randy Orton, of the ladder. Only moments earlier, Kane won the briefcase over favorites like Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston.

The Smackdown portion evolved around a growing feud between Matt Hardy and Christian and most thought one of the veterans would claim the briefcase for their own purpose.

Now that the match has been turned into a gimmick for a ppv, the WWE has ultimately decided to take away the thrill of the MITB.

That certain unpredictable ending that each WWE fan searches for around WrestleMania time has been taken from us.

While the WWE still has three weeks to change the card, it’s highly unlikely that the event will feature the storied match. Hall of fame commentator Jim Ross also believes that MITB qualifying matches would be a long shot at this point.

The WWE may ultimately decide to have a filler match such as Morrison, Kelly and Trish Stratus vs. Dolph Ziggler and LayCool.

It won’t replace MITB and without the ladder match, WrestleMania is missing something special.