'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
No one superstar is more synonymous with the TLC and Money in the Bank match more than the rated R superstar Edge. The man would win the first ever Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania 21 and cash in nearly a year later. For much of Money in the Bank's history during it's Wrestlemania years, Edge defined the concept with one win and two cash in's.
Why is that?
In every cash in involving a Money in the Bank winner from Wrestlemania (before the concept became its own pay per view), the cash in has in some form or the other involved Edge. This makes the time with Money in the Bank spent from Wrestlemania an interesting anomaly and Edge its innovator.
As such it is interesting to view the cash in's from Wrestlemania 21 to 26 and rank Edge's involvement in them accordingly.
Jack Swagger Cashes in on Chris Jericho beaten by Edge, Smackdown 2010
Edge's return from injury in 2010 came with a splash, the fans were all for the former greatest WWE villain of the past decade. However, as his program with Chris Jericho developed, things were quick to turn sour. It didn't help that Edge failed to win the World Heavyweight championship from his rival.
What he managed to do was more shocking, Edge destroyed Jericho not once but twice including the Smackdown after Wrestlemania. This opened up the chance for Wrestlemania 26's Money in the Bank winner Jack Swagger to cash in his contract. It was the most peripheral way for Edge to affect the final Wrestlemania briefcase cash in, allowing Swagger to secure his one and only world championship.
It wasn't really a great run for the All American and he didn't even get to face either Jericho or Edge for the World title. Yet Edge was there, just a year before his eventual retirement still changing the face of the match before it became its own iconic Pay Per View.
CM Punk Cashes in on Edge, RAW 2008
The evolution of the Money in the Bank match is a cash in on Edge. It's the perfect payback against the Ultimate opportunist, who had cut out the knees of champions in the past three years.
As Batista wreaked havoc on his nemesis Edge, CM Punk despite being face took the opportune moment to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and win his first world championship. Though his reign was uneventful, he managed to steal the thunder of Edge while also securing a world championship back for the Raw brand in 2008.
To see Edge embarrassed by a cash in is probably the most satisfying moment considering at this point he is at his peak villainy. It also helped create another evolution in the superstar from just the sneak ultimate opportunist to an increasingly mad and hungry heel.
Edge Cashes in on Undertaker, Smackdown 2007
“The Ultimate Opportunist has done it, again!”, those iconic words by Michael Cole forever remain attached to Edge and his antics that made him an eleven time World champion. His cash in on the Undertaker is a meticulous scavenger move. It birthed one of WWE's iconic modern rivalries.
Within a year of this epic moment, Edge would finally main event Wrestlemania against the Undertaker bringing to close a grand chapter in their hotly contested war. Even a hardcore cowardly heel like JBL was against the way Edge won the title.
Mark Henry, returning from injury, destroyed his former rival after Undertaker and Batista went through hell in the Last Chance match. Edge picked up the bones after pretty much stealing the briefcase from Mr. Kennedy, unfortunately, his reign came short due to an injury. Still, despite his first cash in this is where the true main event run for Edge began.
CM Punk Cashes in on Jeff Hardy After Edge Loses, Extreme Rules 2009
Jeff Hardy's long arduous journey to reclaim the world title led to a ladder match against perennial rival Edge, with whom he had innovated the TLC concept. It was a resounding moment for the most popular superstar of 2009 once he secured a victory.
Unfortunately CM Punk put a damper on the proceedings by swiftly cashing in and winning his world title. The second year in a row CM Punk pulled off this crazy stunt, but this time the fans were unforgiving, pushing the straight edge superstar to turn heel.
Hilariously enough, Edge called Punk out on this the night after the PPV. He mocked Punk for following in his footsteps and basically calling himself Straight Edge in reverence to the Rated R superstar. This was an important cash in, despite Edge as a transition between a stellar rivalry.
RVD Cashes in on John Cena to win After Edge Assistance, ECW One Night Stand 2006
By 2006, John Cena was no longer the well-liked rap spouting next big thing, instead, he was a vilified and hated face of the WWE. In his place as the top dog of Raw, he found the perfect foil with Edge. After a successful cash in but failed defense against the champ, Edge was back to square one just hovering over the main event.
His resentment for John Cena led him to do the one thing that a WWE loyalist wouldn't do, with ECW looming in the future. For one night and unfortunately beyond it, WWE decided to go extreme and bring back ECW. To capitalize on the buzz, the second ever Money in the Bank winner took the most unexpected route to challenge Cena, face to face for the title on the set date of One Night Stand.
John Cena arrived at a raucous crowd threatening to riot if he retained against the home favorite. RVD scored the controversial win thanks to the untimely aid of the seething Edge, taking his long due revenge. Edge's actions snowballed into the continuation and eventual culmination of Cena's greatest rivalry (before Punk and Rock came along that is)
.
Edge Cashes in on John Cena, New Years Revolution 2006
Apart from Seth Rollins Wrestlemania defining Money in the Bank cash in, the first Money in the Bank cash-in is by far the greatest moment in the history of the concept. This is simply because at that point in time the concept seemed alien to the public. How would it work was always the question and with a swift masterstroke, Edge showed them how.
While Edge failed to garner a meaningful run, he went to not only define a concept but finally break into the main event of WWE which he was fighting for since ages. In his last five years of the company, Edge went from an also-ran to an eleven-time world champion. His first world title win resulted in Edge being a first ballot hall of fame nominee.
It all started when John Cena went through a brutal elimination chamber only for Edge to blindside him. It was a poetic win for the greatest superstar in the history of the ladder match gimmick, bringing to full circle his iconic career.
