The Money in the Bank ladder match has been a fan favorite since the concept was introduced in 2005. It has created stars and resulted in many legendary WWE moments.
The MITB contract allows for a superstar to change their career by becoming a World Champion. Whether the cash-in happens on Raw or WrestleMania, it is always one of the top moments of the year.
As we look ahead to this year’s Money in the Bank PLE, here are the top 10 cash-ins in WWE history.
10. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam won the second Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania 22. Unlike the previous winner Edge, RVD announced his cash-in ahead of time.
He faced John Cena at ECW One Night Stand for the WWE Championship. In one of the most rowdy crowds in WWE history, RVD won the title.
The venue is what makes this cash-in special. The ECW crowd was on fire for RVD as they booed Cena out of the building.
While the following title reign was cut short, RVD becoming ECW and WWE champion remains one of the most iconic moments of MITB history.
9. Carmella
Carmella was the first women’s MITB winner and she remains the best. After winning the ladder match at the 2017 Money in the Bank PLE, Carmella held the briefcase for 287 days.
She found her opportunity on the April 10, 2018 edition of WWE SmackDown, cashing in on Charlotte Flair after she was attacked. Carmella quickly won to become SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Carmella was the perfect winner for the first women’s MITB match. The briefcase fit her heel character and she was elevated to the main event scene because of it.
Many women have cashed in immediately after winning the briefcase. While same-night cash-ins are exciting, Carmella’s run was how the MITB should be used.
8. CM Punk
CM Punk is the only back-to-back Money in the Bank winner, winning in 2008 and 2009. His second cash-in was the superior one.
Jeff Hardy beat Edge to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Extreme Rules 2009. Punk saw his chance, took it, and won the title from Hardy.
The crowd was left heartbroken to end the show. This was at the height of Hardy’s popularity.
This unexpected cash-in began one of the greatest feuds of the era. Punk soon turned heel and established himself as a top talent in the company.
WWE corrected their mistake from the previous year with Punk and he capitalized.
7. Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose’s MITB cash-in capped a historic night in professional wrestling. At the 2016 Money in the Bank PLE, all three members of The Shield were WWE champions.
Roman Reigns walked into the night champion before losing the belt to Seth Rollins in the main event. Ambrose then attacked Rollins from behind and cashed in to end the night as champion for the first time.
The Shield was one of the most impactful groups in WWE history and there is no better proof of their success than that night. Seeing Ambrose walk away with the title was also a great moment as he had been somewhat overshadowed by Reigns and Rollins.
This left no doubt that he was on their level.
6. The Miz
The Miz’s Money in the Bank run and cash-in in 2010 is the blueprint for a MITB holder. Miz was a tag team and mid-card wrestler up until he won the MITB contract.
He ran with the opportunity and made himself a star. The cash-in itself was excellent as well.
After Randy Orton barely retained his title against Wade Barrett on the November 22, 2010, episode of WWE Raw, Miz decided the time was finally right to make a move. After an Orton comeback, Miz countered the RKO into the Skull Crushing Finale to become champion.
This was one of the most memorable endings to a Raw, and it solidified Miz’s spot at the top of the card.
5. Randy Orton
One of the most impactful cash-ins we have seen occurred at SummerSlam 2013. Daniel Bryan had just defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship.
The crowd was roaring with the, “YES!” chants. In a shocking move, special guest ref Triple H hit Bryan with a Pedigree, turning heel for the first time in many years.
Randy Orton immediately cashed in and became champion. This was the beginning of The Authority with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon crowning Orton the new face of WWE.
The Yes movement grew even stronger, leading to Bryan’s eventual win at WrestleMania XXX. The surprise and heartbreak make this a memorable cash-in deserving of a top 5 spot.
4. Damian Priest
The most recent Money in the Bank cash-in was undoubtedly one of the best. Only the second man to cash in at WrestleMania, Damian Priest defeated Drew McIntyre just 5 minutes after he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins.
While rubbing the win in CM Punk’s face, Punk attacked McIntrye, providing the moment for Priest to strike. This was an electric moment that propelled Priest into being a top star in the company.
Every part of this cash-in was executed to perfection. Priest proved all the doubters wrong and the rivalry between Punk and McIntyre was taken to a new level.
This was a thrilling start to night 2 of WrestleMania XL and it set the tone for the rest of the show.
3. Dolph Ziggler
One of the biggest pops in WWE history occurred when Dolph Ziggler cashed in his contract to become World Heavyweight Champion. Despite being a heel, the crowd loved Ziggler and everyone was just waiting for him to cash in.
After waiting for months, Ziggler finally found his opportunity at the Raw after WrestleMania 29 on Alberto Del Rio in front of a raucous New Jersey crowd. After a short back-and-forth, Ziggler hit the Zig-Zag to become champion.
In one of the greatest moments ever on Raw, Dolph finally got the moment that he deserved.
2. Edge
Edge was the first holder of the Money in the Bank briefcase after winning the ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Since it was a new concept, nobody knew what to expect from a cash-in.
After 280 days, Edge decided the time was right at WWE New Year’s Revolution 2006. After WWE Champion John Cena defended his title in an Elimination Chamber match, Edge came out to pick the bones and win his first World Title.
The cash-in perfectly fit Edge’s opportunistic heel persona and helped launch him as a mainstay in the main event scene. This was an excellent first cash-in and gave the fans an idea of what to expect out of the Money in the Bank.
1. Seth Rollins
There was no doubt what number 1 was going to be. Michael Cole dubbed it the Heist of the Century.
Seth Rollins’ cash-in at WrestleMania 31 will likely never be topped. Rollins was the first to cash in at the Grandest stage of them all. Roman Reigns took on Brock Lesnar in the main event of the show.
The fans were tired of Brock as champion but they also rejected the idea of Reigns becoming the new face of the company. Rollins ensured the fans went home happy by cashing in mid-match, making it a triple threat, and pinning Reigns to win the title.
Everything about this Money in the Bank cash-in was perfect and it remains one of the best endings ever to a WrestleMania.
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