Since its inception in 2005, the Money in the Bank ladder match has become one of the most popular and important matches in the WWE calendar.
Part of its obvious charm is the ability to change careers and offer an air of predictability to proceedings by way of the Money in the Bank cash-in.
GiveMeSport countdowns the ten best cash-in’s we’ve seen from the famous shiny briefcase.
10
Bayley
Money in the Bank 2019
We still awaiting a defining Money in the Bank cash-in from the women’s ladder match, but this Bayley triumph was one to remember and led to career-altering run that would make her one of the leading lights in the women’s division.
Bayley’s baby face NXT character had never quite crossed over fully to the main roster, however by her Money in the Bank win in 2019, that underdog spirit had resurfaced, and fans were gagging to her champion. They didn’t have to wait long. The Hugger cashed-in her newly won briefcase that same night, taking advantage of a weary Charlotte Flair following her defence over Becky Lynch, to nab the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It was the start of a record-breaking 380-day reign as champion on the blue brand.
9
Daniel Bryan
TLC 2011
Before the Yes Movement and before Daniel Bryan became one of the most popular men in all of wrestling, came this cash-in for Bryan’s first run as world champion, which sowed the seeds of the Bryan that would go onto main event WrestleMania.
Having seen Big Show come up trumps in the battle of the big men against Mark Henry, Bryan saw his opportunity following Henry’s attack on Show at the end of the match. Racing to the ring, he pinned Show and grabbed his first world championship in WWE. Becoming the first superstar from NXT to hold a world championship in WWE.
8
Big E
Monday Night Raw 2021
For years many wondered if and could Big E become the breakout star of The New Day and if he was WWE Championship material. Well, we got our answer this night on Monday Night Raw as E proved some of those doubters wrong.
After winning the Money in the Bank contract, E pre-empted his cash before an advertised WWE title match between Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton on a September Monday Night Raw. Sure enough, once Lashley had successfully defended his title against the Viper, E cashed-in his contract and beat the Almighty to become WWE Champion. Prompting major scenes of celebrations between him and his New Day pals. The lesser said of the follow-up reign, the better, though.
7
The Miz
Monday Night Raw 2010
He’s the champion many probably thought you’d never see and somehow becoming WWE Champion via a Money in the Bank cash-in was the perfect way for The Miz to win the gold. Especially at the expense of someone like Randy Orton.
Prior to achieving his dream, Miz had made various unsuccessful attempts at cashing-in his contract, but finally the pieces fell into place on a November night on Monday Night Raw. Following Orton’s match with Wade Barrett, Miz hit the ring and the cash-in was at last granted. It would see the A-lister hit the Skull Crushing Finale and achieve some many thought was never possible. Certainly, the fan at ringside who has gone on to be known as ‘angry Miz girl.’ The win put him on course for a reign that would see The Miz main event WrestleMania the following year.
6
Randy Orton
SummerSlam 2013
WWE cleverly pulled the rug from underneath the WWE fans and ruined Daniel Bryan’s coming out party with a cash-in perfectly in keeping with the sneaky, smug persona of a heel Randy Orton and what would go on to be known as The Authority.
Bryan’s stock was on the rise and was chosen as John Cena’s opponent for SummerSlam to battle for the WWE Championship. In a SummerSlam classic, Daniel managed to overcome the legendry champion and get his hands on the famous belt – only his celebrations were short-lived. As Randy Orton’s music hit the arena, Bryan looked ready to immediately defend his crown, only to turn round and be hit with a Pedigree by special referee Triple H. Handing Orton the advantage and allowing him to take Daniel Bryan’s moment and championship away.
5
Edge
New Year’s Revolution 2006
There’s nothing like an original and the first-ever Money in the Bank cash-in still holds up as one of the most shocking and career-changing of them all, as Edge tasted world championship gold for the very first time at New Year’s Revolution.
After a gruelling Elimination Chamber match, John Cena laid battered and bruised in the centre of the ring when Vince McMahon announced the evening’s entertainment hadn’t finished. Edge then handed his briefcase to the WWE Chairman and headed down to the ring to take advantage of the fallen WWE Champ. And although in true Cena style, he’d kick-out of Edge’s first pin attempt, a second spear was the final nail in Cena’s coffin. Leaving Edge to kickstart a lasting legacy of Money in the Bank cash-ins.
4
Dean Ambrose
Money in the Bank 2016
A night when the enormity of The Shield was on full display as each former member of the Faction would hold the WWE Championship on the same night. However, it was Ambrose who went home with the belt after his cash-in on his former stablemates.
The WWE Championship feud had been all about Rollins vs. Reigns and it was only in the immediate build-up to the event that the possibility of Ambrose being involved presented itself. The Lunatic Fringe delivered on his promise of winning the Money in the Bank match and led to the night’s showdown between champion Roman and The Architect. It would be Rollins who once again get the better of Reigns, but before he could celebrate, Ambrose’s music echoed throughout the arena and one briefcase shot the head later, he’d stolen the gold.
3
Rob van Dam
ECW One Night Stand 2006
If you’re going to call your cash-in in advance, then this is the way to do it and the only time it’s ever been successful. Rob Van Dam laid his challenge down to John Cena and wanted his title match on home turf at ECW One Night Stand.
The one-off event was the perfect setting, as RVD walked into the Hammerstein Ballroom the hero against a WWE Champion that was everything ECW fans stood against. Amid a backdrop of thunderous boos and the iconic ‘If Cena wins, we riot’ sign, RVD successfully defeated WWE’s franchise player. Paul Heyman’s three-count the cherry on the cake on a special night where ECW took centre stage, and a new champion was crowned.
2
Dolph Ziggler
Monday Night Raw 2012
The night after WrestleMania always has a different flavour and it down to momentous moments like this cash-in from Dolph Ziggler in 2012. Ziggler at this point was seen by fans as someone who had long deserved his world championship flowers, but WWE had to failed to pull the trigger on. Until now.
World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio would be injured during his match with Jack Swagger, and it became the perfect time for the Show-off to strike. When Ziggler’s music hit, the crowd noise was deafening and will go down as one of the all-time great pops. Dolph swaggered to the ring with AJ Lee and Big E and it took just one Zig Zag for him to finally get his hands on the championship and for the fans it attendance to lap-up every second of it.
1
Seth Rollins
WrestleMania 31
It couldn’t be anything else, could it? Seth’s heist of the century is not only the only cash-in to ever happen at WrestleMania, but it’s gone down in WWE folklore as the most famous cash-in of all time – and a proper WrestleMania moment.
The main event pitted Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship, and Reigns looked set to be the first member of The Shield to reach the top of the three and become WWE Champion. However, Rollins had other ideas and chose the ideal moment to cash-in his Money in the Bank briefcase. Racing down to the ring, Seth gate-crashed the main event and delivered a curb stomp to his former brother in arms and stole the WWE title. Cue helicopter celebrations at the top of the ramp, which has become one of WrestleMania’s most iconic images.