5 best non-Money In The Bank matches in the history of the event

Despite being in existence for only nine years, Money in the Bank has grown into one of the most vital events for the WWE.

Had it not been the slashing of the Brand Exclusive pay per views, Money in the Bank would have been the only B-level pay per view to share the tag of co-branded events along with the Big-four events.

Anyways, this year's edition of the show is shaping up to be one of the strongest cards of the year.

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AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will finally settle their differences in a Last Man Standing match, whereas eight male and eight female superstars from both brands will fight in the namesake match for a world championship match. If that isn't enough to get you excited, then I certainly don't know what can.

Throughout its nine-year history, Money in the Bank has not only produced tremendous MITB ladder matches but has also produced various other matches that can be regarded as among the best from that year.

With several non-MITB matches scheduled for this year as well, we take a look at the best matches of that category in the history of the event.

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#5 Seth Rollins(c) vs Dean Ambrose (Ladder Match for WWE Championship) (2015)

Seth Rollins' betrayal in the spring of 2014 kick-started a feud that lasted for almost one year as Dean Ambrose was always at his tail, waiting to make The Architect pay for what he did to him and Roman Reigns.

Their matches in 2014 showcased their chemistry with each other, with the crowd always on their feet when the two shared the ring together.

Rollins' WWE Title victory added a new element to Ambrose's quest at belittling him and teaching him a lesson for his deeds, and their best clash came at the culmination of this feud at Money in the Bank 2015 in a Ladder Match.

Chosen to close the show in Ambrose's home state, the two broke each other into two halves throughout the 35-minute contest. The match was a slugfest from the word go, with both superstars hitting each other with a ladder before the action spilled into the crowd.

Ambrose backdropped Rollins through a ladder outside the ring, while Rollins targeted his leg throughout the match and powerbombed him on to a ladder and chairs.

A climactic finish saw both superstars unhook the title together, but Rollins took hold of the title to win the match and bringing an end to a phenomenal rivalry.

#4 John Cena vs Kevin Owens (2015)

There have been very few first main roster feuds that catapulted a wrestler into superstardom right away.

Mankind had The Undertaker as his first adversary, whereas AJ Styles' was pushed into the sky after his feud with Chris Jericho.

However, it was Kevin Owens' feud with John Cena that can easily be regarded as the best debut feud in the history.

Not only did the cocky Owens manage to humiliate Cena and the US Title upon his debut, he upstaged the Leader of Cenation in their maiden encounter at Elimination Chamber in a great match.

The culmination of this feud might have come at Battleground, but their clash at Money in The Bank was the pinnacle of their rivalry.

Although the match started slow, it picked up the pace in the second half with a sequence of failed pin attempts bringing the crowd to their feet.

Both superstars brought out new moves from their arsenal, with Owens hitting Cena with a five knuckle shuffle and a moonsault from top rope, whereas Cena retaliated with a tornado DDT and a sunset flip powerbomb.

Stealing the spotlight from Ambrose/Rollins, these two enthralled the crowd for 19 minutes before Cena pinned Owens to even the odds in the feud.

#3 CM Punk(c) vs Daniel Bryan (No Disqualification Match for WWE Championship) (2012)

The summer of 2012 was the best time to a CM Punk or a Daniel Bryan fan.

Earlier involved in feuds for different World Title through Wrestlemania season, the two former indie legends came face to face to feud for the most prestigious prize in the entire sports industry - WWE Title and fans were treated to a series of phenomenal matches.

With Punk in midst of his legendary title reign and Bryan highly popular despite being a heel, the two wrestled a near perfect match at Over the Limit that ended in a controversy.

A satisfactory triple threat at No Way Out gave way for a No Disqualification Match between the duo at Money in the Bank, with AJ Lee, who became a vital third wheel of this feud, as the special guest referee.

Despite both wrestler's technical profess, the match featured a heavy amount of hard-hitting moves and hardcore wrestling.

The action spilled outside the ring, with kendo sticks and chair being used extensively and even the guest referee getting knocked out.

The weird tactics of Lee prevented both from capitalizing at various points, but Punk finally managed to usurp Bryan after a backdrop from the top rope through a table to bring an end to the fantastic feud.

#2 AJ Styles vs John Cena (2016)

When Styles, long time TNA poster boy, debuted in 2016, the whole wrestling fraternity started craving for a showdown with WWE's poster boy, John Cena. WWE went all in by having those two come face to face right after Extreme Rules, and the crowd responded in a raucous way to the two biggest babyfaces in the industry.

Well, only till that point. Instead of going for the face v face dynamics, WWE turned Styles heel in a move that revitalized him in WWE.

Styles' heel turn saw him become the top dog in the industry, and it all began with this all-important clash with Big Match John at Money in the Bank. Moreover, this match started a rivalry that dominated the blue brand for the better part of next six months.

Styles and Cena started with mind games as a wild crowd in Las Vegas encouraged them with dueling chants.

Both countered each other's move with innovative moves of their own. Styles, in particular, had an answer to almost every offence from Cena.

Suplexes were countered into AA's, AA's were reversed into Calf Crusher and Diving Leg drop was countered into a powerbomb during the 24 minutes slug fest.

Gallows and Anderson made their presence felt by assisting Styles in finishing Cena to win the biggest match of his career.

#1 John Cena(c) vs CM Punk (WWE Championship) (2011)

The Summer of 2011, or the Summer of Punk, can easily be called the hottest season in the entire history of WWE. Punk's pipe bomb on Raw not only send a frenzy in the wrestling fraternity, but it also turned the Second City Saint into an anti-hero.

Targeting everyone, from Cena to Hulk Hogan to Triple H and even Vince McMahon, Punk's popularity, despite being a villain, soared to a whole new level, a level not seen since Steve Austin's time at the top during the attitude era.

Letting the world know about the expiration of the contract on the night of Money in the Bank, Punk not only managed to blur the line between kayfabe and reality, he even managed to turn a huge chunk of the audience against the supposed babyface - WWE Champion Cena.

Taking place in Punk's hometown of Chicago, the showdown generated more buzz than any other match since Austin/Rock in 2011.

With one of WWE's wildest crowd supporting their hometown hero, the two exchanged blows for over 33 minutes, with each of them controlling the match at various parts of the match.

Cena, in particular, tried every move possible to keep Punk down, but Punk always managed to counter it or kick out off a pinfall.

Even Vince McMahon could not prevent Punk from leaving Chicago with the WWE Title, as he slid through the crowd after fooling McMahon with a flying kiss. No wonder it was the only five-star match in WWE for almost 20 years as it is a masterpiece.

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Which of these matches were on your favourites list? Sound off in the comments section below!