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Money in the Bank 2021 will feature two ladder matches - one for the men and one for the women. While the women's ladder match was introduced only four years ago, it has resulted in deserving winners - all of whom have successfully cashed in their briefcases.
This year, there are 8 competitors in each ladder match, with 16 different superstars having an opportunity at World/Women's Championship glory. It's a stacked set of contestants, but there can only be two who walk out with the briefcase.
This list looks at the superstars in the men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches who have the least chance of winning this year:
#7. Drew McIntyre - Out of the WWE title picture for good after Money in the Bank?
Even after Drew McIntyre lost his "last chance" at the WWE Championship (at least while Bobby Lashley is holding the title) last month, he has another window of opportunity.
Knowing that he can't compete for the WWE Championship until Bobby Lashley loses the title, Drew McIntyre eventually qualified for the Money In The Bank ladder match.
Riddle defeated Drew McIntyre in a big upset to qualify for the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Drew McIntyre competed in a "last chance" qualifying match the following week on RAW, defeating AJ Styles and Riddle (who took Randy Orton's spot in the match, representing his tag team partner) to earn his spot in the ladder match.
Drew McIntyre winning the Money in the Bank ladder match would make no sense and WWE is aware of that. We're not sure why, but despite Drew McIntyre being WWE's best star in 2020, the handling of him hasn't been very good lately.
Drew McIntyre's character has become a little less likable than before, adding a goofier side. But the timing couldn't be worse. Money in the Bank 2021 is the second pay-per-view with crowds this year. It doesn't seem like a good idea to handle him the way WWE is now, with the live touring schedule restarting.
If Drew McIntyre wins the Money in the Bank briefcase, it could be disastrous for his character. It would also be a great injustice for Drew McIntyre, who carried the company on his back during perhaps the most unique era in WWE history.
With that said, Drew McIntyre's feud with Jinder Mahal seems to have begun, and we expect The Modern Day Maharaja to prevent The Scotsman from winning the briefcase. In all likeliness, Drew McIntyre could be a fingertip away before Jinder Mahal's henchmen Veer and Sher interfere and cost him the match.
It will likely set up a SummerSlam program for Drew McIntyre, which is a much better idea than another possible world title shot.
#6. Alexa Bliss: A former Women's Money in the Bank winner
Alexa Bliss is the second Women's Money in the Bank winner. Capturing the briefcase in 2018, it marked the final phase of her dominance over the WWE Women's division.
Her dominance of the WWE Women's division lasted between December 2016 and August 2018 - where she held the SmackDown Women's Championship twice and the RAW Women's Championship once.
After losing the RAW Women's title to Nia Jax, she would go on to win the Women's Money in the Bank briefcase and dethrone Jax to regain the Championship.
Alexa Bliss is at a different stage of her career now, and her current character doesn't require her to hold a Championship. The "Lily" storyline seems to have been quietly swept under the rug and forgotten. It seems like 2021 is an opportunity to crown a fresh Women's Money in the Bank winner and build on a new star such as Liv Morgan.
#5. Naomi: The "Kofi Kingston role" at Money in the Bank 2021?
Naomi hasn't received a push in nearly four years now and it doesn't look like she will be getting one anytime soon. Naomi remains a babyface and qualified for the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match this year.
But the chances of Naomi winning the Money in the Bank briefcase seem slim to none. She isn't in a good position and her role in the Money in the Bank match may be similar to Kofi Kingston's previously - an athletic and entertaining superstar to liven up the match.
#4. Ricochet - Not ready for a Money in the Bank victory?
Similar to Otis last year, Ricochet simply isn't ready for a Money in the Bank win and a big world title push just yet. He started great in 2019, capturing the United States Championship within half a year of his main roster debut.
Had he gone on that trajectory, he would have definitely been ready for a world title push and a Money in the Bank victory. But right now, he isn't. For now, Ricochet getting frequent television time seems like a win - an indicator that he isn't in a top position just yet.
Luckily for Ricochet and WWE, it's ok if he doesn't win the Money in the Bank briefcase this year. Ricochet is only 32 years old (turning 33 this year). By WWE men's standards, that's quite young. What Ricochet can have, however, is the second-most important position in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
He could be the superstar who steals the show at Money in the Bank ladder match and if he does so successfully, it could work out better in the long run. If handled right, it might even kickstart an incredible run for Ricochet just as the crowds return. It's a big "if," but momentum is everything.
#3. "King" Shinsuke Nakamura - A Money in the Bank contestant only by circumstance?
"King" Nakamura was the second-last superstar to qualify for the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. Shinsuke Nakamura has had a decent 2021 despite being largely forgotten for much of this year. His most significant storyline was with Baron Corbin - a feud that he won.
It resulted in him becoming "King Nakamura" and he carries some rare momentum into Money in the Bank 2021. Even then, the chances of him winning the Money in the Bank briefcase seem low. We're not sure what role Shinsuke Nakamura will have in this match, but it's hard to imagine him coming close to winning the briefcase.
He made a memorable appearance at Money in the Bank 2017 a few years ago, with the first tease of a match against AJ Styles happening there.
#2. John Morrison - A fixed spot at Money in the Bank 2021
Similar to Ricochet, John Morrison's role at Money in the Bank mainly has to do with his incredible acrobatic skills inside the ring. John Morrison is arguably one of WWE's most underrated veterans and it was a surprise to see him qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Hopefully, we'll see the best version of John Morrison at Money in the Bank 2021. It's already a star-studded men's ladder match, so if John Morrison can steal the show, who knows what could happen? Maybe The Miz's injury could benefit John Morrison for his single's run in 2021.
#1. Asuka - The 2020 Women's Money in the Bank winner
Asuka's Money in the Bank cash-in wasn't "great", but it was a necessary one. Last year, there was the unconventional "Corporate Ladder match" that took place in the WWE Headquarters. The cinematic match saw a crossover between the men's and women's ladder bouts as every superstar had to reach the roof of the building and ascend to glory.
On the men's side, Otis secured a shocking victory. Asuka's Money in the Bank victory wasn't as shocking, especially in hindsight. At that point, Asuka only held the SmackDown Women's Championship and her Money in the Bank victory led to her maiden RAW Women's Championship.
Asuka was one of three women to carry the WWE Women's division in 2020 (Sasha Banks and Bayley being the two others) and was also one of the MVPs of the pandemic/Thunderdome era.
With only a small gap between reigns, Asuka held the RAW Women's Championship twice between May 2020 and April 2021. The 11-month dominance of the RAW Women's division is an accomplishment in itself.
But simply by being the winner of the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank ladder match, the chances of her winning it this year seem nonexistent.
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