With the WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view right around the corner, we gear up for one of the most exciting matches in the history of professional wrestling in the form of the Money in the Bank Ladder match.
Introduced way back in 2005 at Wrestlemania 21, the match has attained a great following which eventually resulted in the creation of the Money in the Bank pay-per-view dedicated to the destructive Ladder match every year.
Over the years, we have seen a number of different superstars put their bodies on the line in these hellacious matches in order to get the guaranteed WWE World Championship opportunity contract that lies within the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Despite the overwhelmingly large number of participants in these matches, there have only been a select few who have really made their mark on the history of the Money in the Bank Ladder match and today, we are here to celebrate these great superstars.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of the 5 greatest WWE Money in the Bank Ladder Match performers of all-time:
Honourable Mention: Chris Jericho – 5 appearances, 0 victories
Why does Chris Jericho get an honourable mention on this list? Well, that’s quite simple. He invented the damn concept.
Yes, I know that this is a kayfabe thing, but let’s stick with it for the purpose of this list, shall we? It was Y2J’s idea way back in 2005 that eventually became the Money in the Bank ladder match and has provided us with some of the greatest moments in professional wrestling history through cash-ins.
Add to this the fact that Jericho is a veteran of five Money in the Bank ladder matches and has always put in a great shift on every single occasion, no matter what stage of his career he is in, his place on this list becomes a given.
#5 Shelton Benjamin – 5 appearances, 0 victories
Number 5 on our list is the Gold Standard, Shelton Benjamin. Though he never won a Money in the Bank Ladder match, the former member of The World's Greatest Tag Team earns his place just through his incredible performances.
His superior athleticism was the perfect fit for these sort of over the top Ladder matches and Benjamin always provided some jaw-dropping moments in each and every one of his five appearances.
It’s a shame that injuries have derailed his return to the WWE as he would have been the perfect addition to this year’s Money in the Bank contest as well.
#4 Dolph Ziggler – 6 appearances, 1 victory.
It seems like the Money in the Bank Ladder match was made for someone like Dolph Ziggler. He is, after all, a technically proficient, high-flying type of wrestler who thrives in this environment. But, more than that, it is his ability to sell moves that make him such a great addition to these matches.
Ziggler can take some of the most vicious bumps in wrestling and make them look and feel even worse for those watching the bout. He has been in six Money in the Bank Ladder matches over the course of his career and has one victory to his name – back in 2012.
Another reason for Ziggler’s inclusion on this list is his absolutely epic cash-in of the Money in the Bank briefcase against Alberto Del Rio to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
#3 Kane – 7 appearances, 1 victory
The only big man to appear on this list, Kane is one of the most unexpectedly greatest performers in Money in the Bank ladder matches. Showing wrestling ability that belies his size and age, Kane holds the record for most appearances in Money in the Bank Ladder matches with a whopping seven appearances.
He has always put in a good shift, delivering vicious moves to opponents as the monster in the mix while also taking some pretty heavy bumps himself. In addition to this, he won the match in 2010, against all the odds.
Ladder matches were made for sprightly young performers such as the Hardyz not giants such as Kane. But, as with everything else in his career, The Big Red Monster always makes the best of what is given to him.
#2 Edge – 3 appearances, 1 victory... or 2 victories
Number two on our list is the winner of the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder match twelve years ago at Wrestlemania 21, Edge. The Rated R Superstar became The Ultimate Opportunist when he won the briefcase and then cashed it in to some thunderous applause.
Edge has participated in the match three times in his career and while he may not have won the other two Money in the Bank Ladder matches, he has carried the briefcase two times as he defeated Mr Kennedy to win contract off him.
It’s not just his great record that earns the WWE Hall of Famer a place on this list, however, as he always gave 110% during these matches, as expected from someone who made a name for himself in ladder matches.
#1 CM Punk – 4 appearances, 2 victories
What more needs to be said? Unlike Edge, Punk’s two Money in the Bank Ladder match victories have been straight and clean and he boasts a 50% win record in this type of match. It is a feat unmatched by anybody else in the WWE.
Punk’s wrestling style has always felt at home in Ladder matches and he has shown just how good he is, through Money in the Bank matches and has been duly rewarded for it with his two victories.
Who knows, he might have had more if he was still with the WWE.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
