WWE: Top 5 Money in the Bank matches of all time
Ladder matches have always presented jaw-dropping moments since their inception. Several of the biggest names in the world of professional wrestling have produced death-defying stunts and emotionally charged wins across the boards from one-on-one, multi-man/women ladder matches.
In spring 2005, WrestleMania 21 gave fans a clever spin to the already legendary match by making it a six-person ladder match where the winner earned themselves a contracted world championship match opportunity. The Money In the Bank Ladder match has become one of the most important matches for WWE each year. When it comes to the WWE yearly schedule, many fans have MITB as being in the WWE’s top five PPV events behind Wrestlemania, Royal Rumble, Summerslam, and Survivor Series. The concept started as one match at every Wrestlemania but would evolve into its own show. The WWE has done a great job of selling the MITB match as the main reason to watch the show because of how unpredictable to match has become. I will discuss the top five MITB matches of all time in this article.
Top Five The Money In the Bank Ladder match
5. (WrestleMania 21)
The first Money in the Bank ladder match was essential to add here because it was the first time we saw many wrestlers in a ladder match. The first Money in the Bank Ladder match was added to an already stacked Wrestlemania 21 card. WWE decided to experiment with a new concept instead of leaving top talent off the biggest event of the year. Edge winning the first MITB ladder match was the perfect choice because, at that time, Edge was the hottest heel in the company and was slowly moving up as the top guy in the company. Shelton Benjamin stole the match move-wise with some of the most innovative uses of the ladder. The six wrestlers in this match gave their all because of what was on the line a shot at the top championship and a chance to make history.
4. (Money In The Bank 2011)
The Money in the Bank PPV is known for the CM Punk and John Cena match, but this was the PPV that helped launch Daniel Bryan into the WWE main event scene by winning the Money in the Bank Ladder match. The Smackdown brand would have some of the best wrestlers in the company at the time in this match. Wade Barrett was one of the hottest wrestlers in the WWE at the time, and many fans thought that this was going to be his moment. The WWE would shock fans with the Bryan upset win. This great opener started an all-time great show of Money in the Bank 2011 from start to finish.
3. (WrestleMania 22)
The second-ever Money in the Bank ladder match ranks high because of the history connected to this match. Rob Van Dam won the match to earn a future world title shot that played a massive role in the story of the WWE bringing back ECW as its own brand. The Wrestlemania 22 match had a diverse mix of wrestlers because we could see legends like Ric Flair and brawlers like Finlay taking crazy bumps off of ladders. The wrestlers in this match were given enough time to shine in a match where wrestling fans could see Rob Van Dam capture the briefcase.
2. (WrestleMania 24)
The Wrestlemania 24 ladder match is considered by many to be the most excellent MITB match because it was the start of when WWE realized that CM Punk could be a star in the company. The match had its mix of main eventers and some of the best mid-carders in the WWE. Shelton Benjamin, Carlito, and John Morrison utilized their athleticism in the match to bring excitement. CM Punk would get the vast victory that would begin his journey to becoming a world champion.
1. (WrestleMania 23)
The WWE made sure to make Wrestlemania 23 MITB match feel like a big deal because they would add many former world champions such as Edge, Randy Orton, King Booker, and the Hardy Boyz added more excitement to the match because of their history with ladders. The match also had CM Punk and Mr. Kennedy, who represented the new core of rising stars WWE wanted to get over. Kennedy scored the win in a classic match, but it would leave fans wondering what if because of him getting injured. Mr. Kennedy was destined to become a future world champion, but injuries and backstage issues stopped that from happening.