Implemented in 2010 as a pay-per-view featuring at least one Money in the Bank Ladder match, a match that was previously played at WrestleMania, Money in the Bank has become one of the most anticipated events of the year in WWE, no not only because it defines who can fight for a world title at any time, but also because of the always spectacular ladder fights.
Usually held in the middle of the year (in May, June or July), the PPV has only not had a Ladder match in the main event in two of its first ten editions – in 2011 for good reason, a match rated five stars by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter , something that had not happened in WWE since 1997. So it’s worth checking out our list of the ten best Money in the Bank fights ever, in chronological order.
Money in the Bank 2011
WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
(If Cena didn’t retain the title, he would be fired)
On the June 13 episode of Raw , CM Punk benefited from a distraction caused by R-Truth to defeat champion John Cena in a non- title match. A week later, Punk became the leading contender for the WWE Championship by beating Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio in a Falls Count Anywhere match. After the match, Punk revealed that his contract would expire at midnight on July 17, immediately after the Money in the Bank pay-per-view ended, and promised to win the title and leave the company with the belt.
On the following episode of Monday Night Raw , Punk helped R-Truth beat Cena in a Tables match and made one of the most famous WWE promos ever, proclaiming himself the best in the world [ Best in the World ], giving harsh criticism to John Cena , Vince McMahon and the entire management of the company and promising to defend the WWE Championship in other companies, such as Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
As a result, Punk was suspended and his title shot was taken away . However, Cena confronted Vince McMahon and threatened to leave the company and return the WWE Championship to him if Punk was not reinstated. Vince McMahon relented, but on one condition: if Cena lost the title , he would be fired.
On the July 11 episode of Monday Night Raw , Mr. McMahon tried to get CM Punk to renew his contract to make sure the WWE Championship stayed with WWE. The company president agreed to all of Punk’s demands and apologized to him, but Cena interrupted them and attacked Punk. In response, Punk tore up the contract. And to spice it all up, an extremely important fact: Money in the Bank took place in Chicago, Punk’s birthplace.
Money in the Bank 2012
No DQ – WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
(AJ Lee as guest referee)
Champion since November of the previous year, CM Punk was consecutively retaining the WWE Championship in the months that followed, taking victories over wrestlers such as Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler , Chris Jericho, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Kane and himself. Daniel Bryan . At the same time, Bryan ‘s ex-girlfriend AJ Lee showed interest in Punk and Kane and at the same time rekindled her crush on Bryan . However, Punk and Kane believed that she was destabilized due to the end of her relationship with Bryan .
Following the No Way Out, in which Punk beat Bryan and Kane to retain the title , Daniel Bryan earned the right to the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank after beating Punk and Kane. Weeks later, AJ Lee was named a guest referee. And just before the pay-per-view started, it was announced that the match would be a no disqualification match.
Money in the Bank 2013
Money in the Bank Ladder match: CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus vs. Christian vs. Rob Van Dam
At the previous PPV Payback , it was announced that Rob Van Dam, who had been absent from the WWE ring since 2009, would return at Money in the Bank . The following night, it was announced that WWE Champion John Cena would defend the title against Mark Henry and that world champion Alberto Del Rio would defend the belt against Dolph Ziggler at Money in the Bank .
That said, Executive Vice President Stephanie McMahon announced that CM Punk, Sheamus, Randy Orton , Daniel Bryan , Christian and returning Rob Van Dam would compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match for a contract that guaranteed a shot at the WWE Championship . However, Kane was eventually removed from the match after being attacked by newcomer Wyatt Family on the last Monday Night Raw before the PPV .
Money in the Bank 2014
Money in the Bank Ladder match: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Rob Van Dam
Daniel Bryan was supposed to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank , but the champion suffered an injury that forced him to hand over the title, which would thus be disputed in a ladder match between Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton , Sheamus, Cesaro , Bray Wyatt, John Cena , Kane and Roman Reigns on PPV.
However, a Money in the Bank ladder match was added to the event, with Seth Rollins declaring himself the first entrant during the June 17 episode of the Main Event . Six days later on Raw , Triple H added Bad News Barrett, Dolph Ziggler , Rob Van Dam, Kofi Kingston, and Jack Swagger to the feud. However, Rollins requested that Dean Ambrose be added to the match, something Triple H accepted. On the other hand, Barrett suffered an injury and was removed.
Money in the Bank 2015
John Cena vs. Kevin Owens
On the May 18 episode of Raw , then- NXT Champion Kevin Owens responded to an open challenge from then-U.S. Champion John Cena . However, instead of facing Cena , Owens attacked him and said that they were both going to fight, yes, but in his own way. That same night, a match between the two was scheduled for Elimination Chamber.
At that pay-per-view, Owens surprised everyone and everything, winning after executing a second Powerbomb Pop-up . However, a rematch was scheduled for Money in the Bank.
Money in the Bank 2016
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
On the May 30 episode of Raw , John Cena returned to WWE programming after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the ring for five months. AJ Styles showed up to welcome him, until his former teammates at The Club, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, showed up ready to fight. Cena and Styles seemed prepared to fight Gallows and Anderson, but Styles betrayed Cena and attacked him along with his friends, turning heel and returning The Club.
Days later, a match was scheduled for Money in the Bank that WWE described as a “ WrestleMania Dream Match”. On the June 13 episode of Raw , Cena presented Styles with two contracts: one allowed Gallows and Anderson to be present in the vicinity of the ring, the other banished them from the area adjacent to the ring. And Styles chose the latter.
Money in the Bank 2016
Money in the Bank Ladder match: Dean Ambrose vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Cesaro vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
On the May 23 episode of Raw , Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Chris Jericho, Dean Ambrose, and Kevin Owens qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder match by defeating Sheamus, The Miz, Apollo Crews, Dolph Ziggler , and AJ Styles, respectively. . Three days later on SmackDown , Alberto Del Rio beat Zack Ryder to qualify.
Money in the Bank 2017
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
For the first and only time in history, the Money in the Bank PPV was exclusive to one brand , SmackDown . Therefore, the winner of the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match would receive a shot at the blue brand ‘s most important title , the WWE Championship .
With champion Jinder Mahal defending his belt against Randy Orton , Shane McMahon announced on the May 23 episode of SmackDown that AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler , Sami Zayn, and Baron Corbin would be the contestants. US champion Kevin Owens argued that he should also participate as he retained his Backlash title after his victory over AJ Styles, an argument to which Shane was sensitive.
Later that night, Zayn defeated Corbin in a Backlash rematch , while Styles and Nakamura teamed up and beat Owens and Ziggler . The following week, Owens and Corbin attacked Nakamura, but Zayn made the save , which led to a tag team match in which Nakamura and Zayn emerged victorious; and Ziggler beat Styles, but lost seven days later in a rematch. However, Corbin attacked Zayn and later Nakamura, who had just beaten Owens.
Finally, on the last SmackDown before Money in the Bank , Styles, Nakamura, and Zayn beat Owens, Ziggler , and Corbin in a six-man tag team match , but after the feud, everyone involved engaged in a brawl.
Money in the Bank 2019
WWE Universal Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ Styles
On the April 22 episode of Raw, Triple H scored two triple threat matches whose winners would face off to determine the new main contender for Seth Rollins ‘ Universal Championship. In one of the matches, AJ Styles beat Rey Mysterio and Samoa Joe. On the other, Baron Corbin defeated Drew McIntyre and The Miz. Afterwards, Styles beat Corbin and became the leading contender for the Universal Title at Money in the Bank.
Money in the Bank 2019
Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Brock Lesnar vs. There vs. Andrade vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor vs. Randy Orton vs. ricochet
During “A Moment of Bliss” on the April 29 episode of Raw , Alexa Bliss announced the four Raw participants in the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match : Braun Strowman , Ricochet, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. On the following night’s SmackDown , it was revealed that Ali, Finn Bálor, Andrade, and Randy Orton would be representing SmackDown.
On the following week’s Raw , Robert Roode had the opportunity to replace Ricochet if he won, but was unsuccessful. On the other hand, Sami Zayn defeated Strowman in a Falls Count Anywhere match on the May 13 episode of Raw after interference from Corbin and McIntyre and took Strowman ‘s spot .