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The Money in the Bank concept has taken the WWE by storm since its inception at WrestleMania 21 back in 2005 to the point where the match even got its own pay-per-view.
And since the Money In The Bank pay-per-view debuted in 2010, the WWE universe has been treated with some of the most memorable moments in modern WWE history and in some cases, all of WWE history.
These ladder matches push the envelope like nothing before and have led to countless career breakthroughs for the lucky winners. But which moments stand out above the rest? Let’s take a look at the 10 best Money In The Bank pay-per-view moments since its inception in 2010.
10. Kofi Kingston’s Boom Drop On Drew McIntyre Through Announce Table: July 18, 2010
The Money in the Bank ladder match had five years of success and memorable moments by the year 2010. So much success that it would have its own pay-per-view of the same name that was formed in 2010 after the final Money in the Bank ladder match at a WrestleMania at WrestleMania 26.
The first Money in the Bank ladder match in the Money In The Bank pay-per-view era was for the right to earn a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity. The match featured Kane, The Big Show, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, and Matt Hardy with the winner looking for a career breakthrough.
As expected, the action was tremendous in this match. It was everything you would expect out of a Money in the Bank ladder match, but the most memorable spot of the entire match came courtesy of Kingston. With McIntyre laid out on an announce table, Kingston climbed a ladder and made sure he took McIntyre out of the equation.
Kingston hit McIntyre with the biggest boom drop of his career, plummeting onto McIntyre all the way to the floor. The now New Day star has made a living out of insane Royal Rumble match saves, but this was one of the most memorable moments of his career and still holds up to this very day.
Although Kingston didn’t win this ladder match, he left a huge mark on the match and it results in one of the greatest moments in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history.
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9. Sheamus Powerbombs Sin Cara Through Ladder: July 17, 2011
Money In The Bank 2011 is regarded as arguably the greatest WWE pay-per-view since WrestleMania 17, and for good reason. It had a little bit of everything and while not everything was perfect, the matches that were great were outstanding, to say the least.
That includes the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank ladder match with the winner going on to earn a world title opportunity. The combatants featured Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Kane, Sin Cara, Sheamus, and Wade Barrett and these men would leave everything they had in the ring.
There were many impressive and standout moments in this match, but the one that is remembered the most came via The Celtic Warrior. Sheamus had control of Sin Cara and made it clear he wanted to take him out of the picture for good. And that’s exactly what happened after a spot that legitimately injured Sin Cara.
Sheamus went on to powerbomb Sin Cara from the ring apron through a ladder perched between the ring apron and an announce table. It was a vicious spot that ended up costing Sin Cara’s career some time after he was legitimately injured. Although Sheamus didn’t end up winning that match, he left a mark on the match and Sin Cara’s body at the same time.
The Celtic Warrior has had sustained success in the WWE over the years and his evil intention towards Sin Cara at Money In The Bank 2011 is one of the most memorable moments in the pay-per-view’s history.
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8. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose: June 14, 2015
The biggest shakeup in WWE in 2014 featured the breakup of The Shield, a trio of future main event superstars that would go on to greatly affect the WWE forever. Seth Rollins turned his back on his brothers, but Dean Ambrose took the most offense to that betrayal initially.
Rollins and Ambrose had several battles throughout 2014 and 2015, but the one that arguably stands out the most came at Money In The Bank 2015 when Rollins defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Ambrose in a ladder match that main evented the show. The two would put on a clinic that stole the show.
In a match that exceeded 35 minutes, Rollins and Ambrose made sure the WWE universe would never forget the performance they were watching. And given how the feud had been for the better part of the previous year, it was only fitting the two would put forth a match of this caliber. But the crafty champion had the last laugh.
With the two fighting for the championship at the top of the ladder, the belt was accidentally unhooked and as they both came crashing down to the mat, Rollins held onto the title and won by default. Rollins’ character was adept at winning in unconventional ways by this point, so this was nothing new for The Architect, who had all the help he could possibly need.
It wouldn’t be the last time these two would cross paths, but this match is probably their most memorable showdown to date and ranks among the best moments in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history.
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7. First-Ever Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: June 18, 2017
The women’s evolution was reaching an apex of sorts by the summer of 2017 in the WWE. Women’s wrestling was at a point it had never been at before in the WWE and it was truly special to see how far it had come over the years.
That evolution would reach another historic plateau with the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match at Money In The Bank 2017. Carmella, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Charlotte Flair, and Tamina battled it out for the right to make history as the first-ever Miss Money in the Bank and earn a SmackDown Women’s Championship opportunity.
These women pulled out moves and spots never seen by women before in a history-making match. Everything was going smoothly until the end where major controversy broke out. Carmella’s manager James Ellsworth would end up turning the ladder over when Lynch was climbing towards the top, but he didn’t stop there.
Ellsworth grabbed the briefcase down himself and gave it to Carmella, who was declared the winner. The backlash was heavy by the fans, and even though the exact same match took place again on a SmackDown not long after, it still soiled the match for most and took away from the special moment.
A man essentially won the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match and that greatly affects how this match is viewed by fans, but it was still a historic moment and earns a right as one of the best Money In The Bank pay-per-view moments.
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6. Paul Heyman Turns On CM Punk: July 14, 2013
No superstar had a bigger impact in the WWE from 2011 through the beginning of 2014 more than CM Punk. The once overlooked superstar became the top superstar in the company and took the wrestling world by storm with his rise to superstardom.
After his heel turn in the summer of 2012, it wouldn’t take Punk long to team up with real-life friend and manager extraordinaire, Paul Heyman. Heyman added a lot to Punk’s already-established character and at Money In The Bank 2013, Punk was part of the Money in the Bank ladder match alongside Randy Orton, Christian, Daniel Bryan, Rob Van Dam, and Sheamus.
The winner would receive a WWE Championship opportunity and given how Punk had already won two Money in the Bank ladder matches in his career by this point and successfully became the World Heavyweight Champion both times, he was considered a favorite. And it appeared like he was set to win the match before the unthinkable happened.
Heyman turned on Punk and pushed a ladder onto Punk until he fell from the ladder he was climbing. It turned Punk back into a babyface and led to one of the best WWE matches in recent memory at SummerSlam 2013 when Punk faced Brock Lesnar, who was the reason why Heyman turned on Punk in the first place.
The moment was great and what it led to was even greater, so this moment is undoubtedly one of the best in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history.
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5. Daniel Bryan Wins Money In The Bank: July 17, 2011
The most unexpected rise to superstardom in WWE history should be considered the rise of Daniel Bryan. Once as a workhorse type of performer that would never reach the big time, Bryan defied the odds and became the hottest superstar in pro wrestling.
One could make the argument that his slow rise really began at Money In The Bank 2011 when he competed in the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank ladder match alongside Cody Rhodes, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Kane, Sin Cara, Sheamus, and Wade Barrett. Bryan seemed like a long shot to win this match, but you can never count out The Yes Man.
After an incredible ladder match, Bryan emerged victorious after he fended off Barrett and grabbed the briefcase hanging high above. It was a huge moment and about five months later, Bryan cashed in on The Big Show and became the World Heavyweight Champion. It was his first taste of major success and it led to the rise of the Yes Movement.
Without this win, who’s to say Bryan would have had the entertaining and successful tag team with Kane? Who’s to say he would have feuded with The Authority for months? And who’s to say he would have won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 30?
Bryan’s win at Money In The Bank 2011 is a win to remember forever and ranks among the greatest moments in the pay-per-view’s history.
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4. Dolph Ziggler Wins Money In The Bank: July 15, 2012
There has arguably never been a superstar harder to figure out in WWE history more than Dolph Ziggler. The Showoff has proven time and time again that he is one of the best inside the squared circle, but he has never been viewed as a true main event player.
However, the WWE gave Ziggler a chance main event level success in 2012 when he competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match at Money In The Bank 2012 alongside Christian, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Tensai, Tyson Kidd, Santino Marella, and Sin Cara. The winner would receive a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity and have a chance to reshape their career.
Despite the cast of characters in this match not being considered the strongest, the match was still very good and represented the Money in the Bank ladder match well. Ziggler was perceived as a favorite in the match and after all was said and done, The Showoff backed up that perception with a huge win.
It took nearly a year for him to cash in his opportunity, but the night after WrestleMania 29 saw Ziggler win the World Heavyweight Championship in one of the best cash-ins of all-time. But as far as him winning the briefcase in the first place, it was a huge moment for Ziggler’s career and it helped give him a taste of real main event success.
He showed off and his win at Money In The Bank 2012 is one of the best moments in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history without question.
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3. Kane Cashes In On Rey Mysterio To Win World Heavyweight Championship: July 18, 2010
One of the most underrated superstars in WWE history has to be Kane. Since the character’s debut at Badd Blood 1997, Kane has been a constant in the WWE and has carved out a hall of fame career and some of the most memorable moments in WWE history.
A very memorable moment came at Money In The Bank 2010 when Kane took part in the Money in the Bank ladder match alongside The Big Show, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, and Matt Hardy. The winner would go on to earn a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity and The Big Red Machine made sure he made the most out of it.
Kane won the briefcase in a great match, but his night was far from over. World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio successfully defended his title against Jack Swagger later in the night, but was wounded in the process. The Big Red Machine didn’t let the golden opportunity slip and he decided to cash in on Mysterio.
And for the first time since a 24-hour reign as WWE Champion in 1998, Kane won a world title and became the World Heavyweight Champion for the first time in his career. It was a rewarding moment for Kane and fans alike seeing a deserving superstar get a big break after so long. He would hold the title for about five months before losing it to Edge at TLC 2010.
The Big Red Machine has had countless standout moments in his career, but becoming the first superstar in history to successfully cash in their Money in the Bank opportunity on the same night they won it has to rank high among the best moments in the pay-per-view’s history.
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2. Dean Ambrose Cashes In On Seth Rollins To Win WWE World Heavyweight Championship: June 19, 2016
The Shield took the WWE by storm during the trio’s original run from the end of 2012 through the middle of 2014. Each superstar had clear talent and all seemed destined for world title success in the future, but by the summer of 2016, there was one member of The Shield who hadn’t won a world title yet.
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins had both tasted world title gold by Money In The Bank 2016, but Dean Ambrose was the lone man out in that respect. The Lunatic Fringe would get one step closer to achieving that goal when he competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match alongside Alberto Del Rio, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn.
The winner would receive a WWE World Heavyweight Championship opportunity and Ambrose made sure that right would go to him. After a grueling and memorable Money in the Bank ladder match, Ambrose retrieved the briefcase and had his future in the palm of his hand. As it turned out, it wouldn’t take Ambrose long to capitalize on the opportunity he had.
The main event of Money In The Bank 2016 saw Rollins defeat Reigns to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but the third former member of The Shield stole the show when he successfully cashed in on Rollins immediately after his match with Reigns to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
All three members of The Shield main evented Money In The Bank 2016, but The Lunatic Fringe had the last laugh and it ranks highly among the best moments in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history.
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1. CM Punk Defeats John Cena To Win WWE Championship: July 17, 2011
Was there ever any doubt what number one would be on this list? It’s become one of the greatest moments in WWE history and it changed the game in the WWE for years to come. The summer of CM Punk in 2011 took the wrestling world by storm like nothing fans had ever seen before.
Punk had earned a WWE Championship opportunity at Money In The Bank 2011 against John Cena, but he would blur the lines between reality and fiction like nobody had ever done before in the WWE in the buildup towards this match. His “Pipe Bomb” promo was groundbreaking and the buildup to this match was nothing short of outstanding.
The Straight-Edged Superstar’s contract was legitimately ending around the time of the pay-per-view and he said he was going to leave with the WWE Championship. In reality, he signed a new contract with the WWE just before the event, but fans didn’t know for sure and it created some must-see TV.
The match with Cena had a lot to live up to and not only did it live up to the hype, it exceeded it. In his hometown of Chicago, Punk defeated Cena in a five-star match to win the WWE Championship for the first time amidst a frenzy by the WWE universe. Everything the WWE did in the weeks leading up to this event and the match itself was flawless and Punk came out looking like the leader of a new era in the WWE.
Next: Daniel Bryan Shouldn't Be In The MITB Ladder Match
Regardless of how his time with the WWE ended, Punk’s summer of 2011 and WWE Championship triumph over Cena at Money in The Bank 2011 isn’t just the best moment in Money In The Bank pay-per-view history, but arguably the best moment of the WWE in this decade.