With Money in the Bank approaching, we can now reminisce on those who have won the briefcase in the past. The Money in the Bank ladder match is highly anticipated due to its unpredictability and high stakes. It also presents a significant opportunity for the wrestler who wins.
Above the ladder hangs the dream of many WWE superstars: a championship opportunity, anytime and anywhere. Over the past decade, we have seen a handful of superstars win the briefcase in surprising ways. Let’s take a look back at some of these winners of the MITB match.
Dean Ambrose (Money in the Bank 2016)
This one felt like a long time coming. After being in The Shield, all three members, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns, have been top guys in the company. However, Ambrose didn’t see as much success as Rollins or Reigns as quickly as they had.
It became a pattern for Ambrose to become so close and have the rug ripped out from under him when it came to winning the World Heavyweight Championship. At Money in the Bank 2014, the briefcase was in his hands until Kane came out and helped Rollins win. At Elimination Chamber 2015, Ambrose defeated Rollins, and everyone was convinced he was the new champion until the referee decided it was a disqualification.
Even though he wasn’t the new champion, he did leave with the title that night. There were many more instances where he came so close, yet didn’t win the championship.
With Ambrose winning the Money in the Bank briefcase, it finally felt like he was going to get his chance. He didn’t waste time taking it, as he successfully cashed in later that night, defeating Seth Rollins to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Ambrose had a long journey, but it made the win that much more meaningful.
Carmella (Money in the Bank 2017)
Carmella made history as she became the first women’s Money in the Bank winner, and she also had to win it twice. James Ellsworth was teamed alongside Carmella, and his interference in the match is why they had to have a rematch on SmackDown Live.
Ellsworth had originally retrieved the briefcase for Carmella, creating the controversy with her win. However, on SmackDown Live, she proved the doubters wrong as she won the briefcase. Ellsworth did try to interfere in the match, but Carmella ultimately retrieved the briefcase on her own.
This was the first and only time that there has been a Money in the Bank rematch. Even if controversy may surround the first win, she went down in history in various ways over this.
Having the first Money in the Bank rematch, technically winning it twice in the same year, and being the first woman ever to be Ms. Money in the Bank – these were unforgettable wins.
The Miz (Money in the Bank 2020)
Some people may forget that The Miz held the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2020. This is because he didn’t win the briefcase in the ladder match that year, along with having a failed cash-in.
Otis was the winner of the 2020 Money in the Bank ladder match. It wasn’t until Miz and John Morrison decided to begin a feud with him that the ownership of the briefcase would be put into jeopardy. Miz took the steps to present Otis with a lawsuit for him to relinquish the Money in the Bank briefcase, leading to their match at Hell in a Cell 2020.
Miz defeated Otis and became the new Money in the Bank holder after Tucker turned on Otis. This was a very unconventional win and run, as it was also during the pandemic and under different circumstances. That night, Miz became a two-time Money in the Bank holder.
Tiffany Stratton (Money in the Bank 2024)
The women’s Money in the Bank ladder match in 2024 was highly anticipated by fans. Going into the match, the two favorites to win were Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green. They were also the last two fighting on the ladder before the end of the match, until Stratton knocked Green off the ladder and through a table, onto the floor.
The match itself was insanely physical and incredibly impressive. With the two fan-favorites battling it out at the top of the ladder, the crowd erupted when Stratton grabbed the briefcase. The replay of Green falling off the ladder through the tables was shown for weeks after the event.
This Money in the Bank win by Stratton turned into arguably one of the most memorable women’s runs with the briefcase.
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