'%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)
The first WWE Money In The Bank ladder match took place at WrestleMania 21 in 2005 and was the brainchild of none other than Chris Jericho. Jericho came up with the idea while thinking of ways to get a number of unbooked talent including himself onto the card.
Chris Jericho explained how he came up with the idea for the Money In The Bank ladder match on an episode of Talk Is Jericho and revealed Vince McMahon's reaction to the idea:
"It was for WrestleMania and there were a bunch of guys with nothing to do, and some pretty big names, Kane, Edge, Christian, [Chris] Benoit, like, Shelton Benjamin, who was getting a push at the time. And they didn't know what to do with us, so they were trying to come up with a bunch of ideas. Then they said, 'well, maybe a multi [person] ladder match' and Brian said, 'well, there's really nothing to go for.' And I said, 'well, what if we went for a piece of paper, like a contract, where you would get a title match the next night?'
[Brian Gewirtz] went and talked to Vince about it and he came back and he said, 'well, Vince loves it, but it's going to be a title match for a year that you can cash it in.' And Vince's only demand was it had to be in a briefcase."
It's been more than 14 years since that first ever Money In The Bank ladder match. Ahead of tonight MITB PPV, let's take a look at all men who took part in the match and where they are now.
Chris Jericho
WWE legend Chris Jericho is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling following his successful run in New Japan. Jericho signed a 3-year deal with AEW earlier this year ahead of their first PPV - All In 2: Double of Nothing - later this month and AEW's television debut later this year.
Edge
Edge retired in 2011 from injury issues as an 11-time world champion and a 14-time Tag-Team Champion amongst other accolades including a Royal Rumble win to his name. He also happened to win the first Money In The Bank ladder match.
Edge currently makes sporadic appearances for WWE and hosts E & C's Pod of Awesomeness along with Christian. Edge and Christian are also hosts of The Edge and Christian Show on the WWE Network.
Christian
Edge's storyline brother and real-life best friend Christian retired from WWE in 2014 as a 2-time world champion and 9-time tag-team champion amongst other accomplishments.
Christian still makes sporadic appearances for WWE, hosting an episode of the Peer Show in 2018. He also hosts E & C's Pod of Awesomeness with Edge as well as The Edge and Christian Show on the WWE Network.
Tyson Tomko (not a part of the match)
Tyson Tomko wasn't in the match itself but came out with Christian as his heavy. Since leaving WWE he worked for TNA and then on the independent circuit. In 2011, he was arrested on charged with robbery. He entered WWE sponsored rehab after posting bail.
ALSO READ: 3 WWE Superstars who Vince McMahon believes in and 3 who he could give up on
Chris Benoit
We all know what happened to Chris Benoit on that fateful night in 2007. WWE have done their part in erasing Benoit from their history wherever they have been able to.
Kane
Kane aka Glenn Jacobs is still officially signed to WWE. However, the Big Red Machine has transitioned out of a career into the ring into politics. He became the Mayor of his hometown Knox County, Tennessee in 2018.
The Big Red Machine is a former 2-time world champion as well as an 11-time tag-team champion.
ALSO READ: 5 Twists for WWE Money In The Bank 2019 - Surprising MITB winner, Sasha Banks to return?
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin left the WWE in 2010 and went on to wrestle for Ring of Honor and New Japan before returning in 2017. He was initially teamed up with Chad Gable but that didn't go anywhere. He hasn't done much since then and only makes sporadical appearances on WWE television. He's currently assigned to the SmackDown brand.
Benjamin is a 3-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and a former Tag-Team and United States Champion.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
