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There are few things in present day WWE that sate the hunger of the audience the way the Money In The Bank ladder match does. The WWE’s own inimitable version of the lottery pits the uppier half of the food chain against each other, with the most evolved predator coming away with the prize.
The near-certainty of a World Championship drives Superstars to cast off regard for their own safety and use each others’ bodies as weapons. The ones who have stood tall amongst the magnificent carnage at the end of it all have almost always gone on to claim the throne.
The Money In The Bank ladder match is hands down the most exciting battle royale in the WWE and not to mention one of the most ingenuous, turning a household tool into something malicious.
Now those who remember their WWE history will recall that this species’ first few appearances were at WrestleManias, dating back to 2005. It came into its own as a PPV in 2010. So in this assemblage, we’ll count down the five best MITB ladder matches in the history of the PPV
Money In The Bank 2014
The Revenant-like Dean Ambrose didn’t stand on ceremony and set himself on Seth Rollins, whose name will live in infamy as one of the WWE’s most reviled Judas’. Around the former brothers-in-arms, twisted in a cocoon of violence, the other four got straight down to business.
Kofi Kingston, always in his element in such matches, kept the audience’s eyes glued to him as he leaped around the ring. The Ambrose-Rollins battle aside, returning veteran Rob Van Dam was probably the next best thing, showing that he only got better with the years.
The daredevil transported the crowd back to the days of ECW, flying off anything on which he could find a stable base and force feeding the other competitors his boots. Throwing caution to the wind, all the Superstars ceaselessly dove into the steel and not just by force.
After what seemed like a second withdrawal due to injury (Wade Barrett was pulled from the match earlier), Dean Ambrose charged back to the ring to foil Seth Rollins’ plans of clinching the contract.
His bravery was in vain as he was put down by the montsrous Kane, who stood vigil while Rollins ascended and claimed the briefcase.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Rating: 8/10
The feud between Rollins and Ambrose was an engaging sub-plot in this match and the latter’s return gave the match just the right fillip. The well-paced action and dramatic finish, combined with the fact that it was crisp and not protracted made it even better than the ladder match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that followed.
Money In The Bank 2011 (SmackDown)
The second edition of the PPV hosted the legendary WWE Championship match between John Cena and the inusrgent CM Punk, but that didn’t cast too much of a shadow on the eponymous match.
Ersthwile allies Wade Barrett, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel shared the ring with Cody Rhodes (donning a protective mask), 2010 winner Kane, Sin Cara, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan.
The match witnessed one of the scariest moments in WWE history when Sheamus powerbombed SIn Cara through a ladder, snapping it in half and dispatching the Luchador on a stretcher.
That would be the first of Sheamus’ big moves, as he and Kane would pull off a Doomsday Machine on Daniel Bryan a little later. Kane would deliver poetc justice by chokeslamming Sheamus on a ladder he himself devised in the corner.
Each Superstar’s control ebbed and flowed until big man Barrett dispersed stragglers including his former comrades Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel. Barrett, Cody Rhodes and Daniel Bryan would rise out of the wreckage to make their bid for the briefcase.
Rhodes would be taken out of the equation and just when it seemed Barrett’s momentum would culminate in a historic win, Bryan would send him crashing to the earth and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: 8.5/10
Sheamus, Kane and most importantly, Daniel Bryan propelled the match to a height that would be one of the benchmarks for ladder matches at the PPV to follow. Keeping in mind that this was the second edition of the PPV, Daniel Bryan’s natural magnetism to the fans, augmented by the supporting cast made for a second consecutive hit match.
Money In The Bank 2010 (SmackDown)
The first edition of the PPV saw fitting participants in the MITB ladder match, with veterans of the genre Christian and Matt Hardy vying for the briefcase against two of the biggest Superstars in the history of the WWE, much less the PPV, Kane and Big Show. Vince McMahon’s favourite, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes were also in the fray.
Kofi Kingston created one of the most hair-raising moments in the history of the PPV when he Boom Dropped on Drew McIntyre, spread-eagled on the announcer’s table, from atop a ladder.
In what is perhaps the most entertaining MITB ladder match in history, the Big Show would introduce a custom made armored tank of a ladder that would support his gigantic frame. At one point, all 8 Superstars were climbing it. The 500-pounder would soon be entombed under a mound of ladders in no man’s land.
Kane and McIntyre would be the last two men remaining in the moment of truth, but the Big Red Monster would Chokeslam the Sinister Scot before clasping his giant hands around the briefcase and relinquishing it of its bond.
The crowd erupted not just for the victor, but for his brother The Undertaker, who was left insensate after being assaulted the previous week.
Winner: Kane
Rating: 9/10
One couldn’t ask for a better inauguration. Kane won scores of hearts when he claimed the briefcase in a victory that was in addition to being a personal high, symbolic for his legendary brother as well. And the manner in which he cashed it in shortly coheses the story, making it one of the most memorable ones in the Big Red Monster’s career.
Money In The Bank 2012 (SmackDown)
Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Christian, Santino Marella, Tyson Kidd, Dolph Ziggler, Sin Cara and Tensai took risks non-stop, which is to be expected when most of the participants aren’t big guys and have a versatile set of moves.
A wearisome game of thrust and parry would see one of the smallest men in the match, Tyson Kidd, take out the largest man in the contest, Tensai; Christian would pay homage to his retired best friend, Edge by spearing Sandow onto a ladder; Santino Marella’s reptilian secret weapon would reveal new-found strength, almost leading him to the briefcase.
Dolph Ziggler, with a little help from Vickie Guerrero, would beat out the competition and unhook the briefcase.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rating: 8/10
There are two types of risk – attempting something completely unchartered and risking failing; or risking using a familiar formula but pulling it off splendidly. This match falls into the second category. There weren’t too many big names in this match, but witnessing the dawn of an overdue underdog’s day never fails to get the crowd on its feet.
Money In The Bank 2013
The ‘All-Star’ Money In The Bank ladder match, if nothing else, will be remembered for its star power. Six former World Champions – Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Christian, CM Punk and Rob Van Dam faced off for the hallowed briefcase.
‘Mr. Monday Night’ Rob Van Dam rallied after becoming the first casualty, to clear the ring and would have the whole arena chanting his name. All 6 men would scurry up a pair of ladders, but Punk would play spoilsport by pushing the swinging briefcase out of reach.
Sheamus looked like he would beat the odds, but his sails were punctured by a rampaging Daniel Bryan, who silenced all the competition in about a minute! A bewildering silence fell across the audeince when Curtis Axel would put an end to the goat’s run with a volley of chair shots.
Things would get stranger as Axel, a Paul Heyman guy presumably sent by the walrus to help his client Punk’s chances, was GTSed! What followed was even more shocking, as Heyman while cheering Punk up the ladder, suddenly slammed the ladder into him multiple times, ending his night.
RVD would crawl back into the ring, but he would be put to rest with a vicious RKO from the top of the ladder. The Viper would unhook the briefcase unchallenged.
Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: 9.5/10
Movies that boast of star casts but untimately underwhelm are all-too familiar. This match was in danger of just that, but blasted off and soared into the heavens. Every man wrestled for the spotlight, but Paul Heyman’s betrayal was the clincher, especially considering that Punk’s career was at its peak.
You can watch all the action from Money In The Bank on the WWE Network. Subscribe monthly to the WWE Network for $9.99 only and the first month will be free. For all the latest news and update, follow WWE on Facebook and Twitter.
