5 WWE superstars who most need the Money in the Bank briefcase

WWE has the chance to right the wrongs of a poor post-WrestleMania season this Sunday when it heads to Rosemont's Allstate Arena for the ninth annual Money in the Bank.

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In addition to a potential fight of the year candidate in the shape of AJ Styles versus Shinsuke Nakamura in a Last Man Standing bout, the event will also host two eight-person ladder matches, the winner of which will earn themselves a guaranteed shot at a championship belt of their choosing at any time they see fit.

In years past, there have only been eight potential briefcase holders going into MITB. This year, however, it's much more exciting. In addition to the traditional men's match, we are also getting just the second-ever (and first inter-brand) female version. Throw in the fact that any one of the three New Day members could take SmackDown's final spot, and there are some 19 Superstars whose careers could be transformed this weekend.

Conventional wisdom tells us to rule out the running mid-carders like Bobby Roode and Rusev and recent main roster recruits like Ember Moon - but last year's event has taught us to expect the unexpected. In June 2017, it was Baron Corbin and Carmella who emerged with the briefcases, the latter going on to capture her first Women's Championship 10 months later.

With that in mind, here are the five wrestlers who most need the victory on Sunday.

#5 - Sasha Banks

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Monday Night Raw's Sasha Banks has fallen off the radar over recent months, largely owing to the unfortunate fact that she shares a brand with WWE's new super-woman, Ronda Rousey.

However, her ability in the ring has not been diminished. She's still one of the most accomplished workers - male or female - on the company's roster, and having fought one of the all-time great female feuds opposite Charlotte back in 2016, she obviously has the credentials to compete at the top of the card every month.

At Money in the Bank, you imagine that WWE plan for the aforementioned Rousey to capture the title in her match with Nia Jax. After this, she'll need a heel opponent to go up against, and Banks - who has been flirting with a move to the bad side for a little while now - is an ideal option if they're looking for a long-term summer feud.

#4 Bobby Roode

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On the men's side of things, Bobby Roode is perhaps the leading candidate to hold the Money in the Bank briefcase. Like Edge before him, he seems like exactly the sort of opportunist who would bide their time in wait of the perfect chance to ambush a vulnerable champion.

We're also reaching a critical point in The Glorious One's WWE career. He's been on the main roster almost a year now, and he's yet to share any meaningful one-on-one feuds, with his biggest push to date culminating in a four-way bout for the US Championship at WrestleMania 34.

If he is to make real his dreams of becoming a fully-fledged member of the main event, then he needs to start ascending the ranks pretty quickly. The best way of doing that is by - literally - climbing up the ladder this Sunday and winning himself the career opportunity of a lifetime.

#3 Becky Lynch

Like Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch has found herself sidelined in the WWE women's division over the last 12 to 18 months. Ever since losing the SmackDown Championship to Alexa Bliss in December 2016, in fact, she has been left out in the cold.

However, the tide could soon be about to turn. For one thing, the blue brand currently has a heel title holder in the shape of Carmella, who will need another opponent if she overcomes Charlotte Flair for the second time when they meet at Money in the Bank on Sunday.

Despite not having much to do over recent times, The Irish Lass Kicker remains popular among the WWE audience. With The Marine 6 soon on its way to theatres, she also has a movie to promote in the near future. It's the perfect time to push her back to the top of the card.

#2 Big E

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We still don't know which member of The New Day will be filling the final spot of the men's Money in the Bank match on Sunday, but based on recent reports, it seems safe to assume that it will be Big E.

He makes the most sense too. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are terrific performers, but neither of them really strike you as credible main event candidates. Apart from the fact that they're both kind of small, they've been in the mid-card for too long to suddenly mount a push towards the top of the show.

By contrast, Big E is a former NXT Champion. He's got experience of fighting the last match on the show, and as a mega baby-face, he could be a great opponent for Shinsuke Nakamura should the latter win the WWE Title in Rosemont.

#1 Finn Balor

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The original function of Money in the Bank was as a launchpad for those upper mid-card wrestlers who were right on the edge of being a main event star. Just think back to what it did for CM Punk in 2008 and 2009, and before him Rob Van Dam and Edge.

Given that, the most natural winner this Sunday has to be Finn Balor. He has all the tools to compete in the main event, but he has lacked forward momentum since returning from injury in mid-2017. He desperately needs something to make the fans care again.

This would also be the ideal way to put him over Brock Lesnar, who hasn't lost a match clean since Goldberg beat him at Survivor Series 2016. By having The Demon King defeat him via a briefcase ambush, they could preserve his credibility and crown a new superstar at the same time.