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Money in the Bank is one of the most exciting WWE events of the year. Since leaving its original home of WrestleMania, and being given its own PPV in 2010, the event has become one of the biggest of the Summer, and this year's event, despite some poor build on Raw, is shaping up to be another excellent show.
While excitement is often focused on the Money in the Bank match itself, the PPV has managed to deliver some truly memorable matches over the last eight years, many of which have arguably been better than the night's main attraction.
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On this year's card, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will do battle in a last man standing match which, after a series of disappointing encounters, fans are finally hoping will deliver on its potential. Will it be able to live up to the standard of some of the best Money in the Bank PPV matches from the past? Let's take a look back at some of the finest encounters Money in the Bank has had to offer us over the last eight years.
#7 Seth Rollins Vs Roman Reigns- Money in the Bank 2016
It's often forgotten that Seth Rollins is, in fact, a two-time WWE champion. This is mainly because his second title reign lasted a total of nine seconds at Money in the Bank 2016.
Rollins' defeated Roman Reigns to win the belt in the main event of Money in the Bank 2016, only to have his former Shield partner, Dean Ambrose, cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase straight after the match and defeat him.
Money in the Bank 2016 is often remembered as the night where all three members of The Shield held the top prize, but it should also be remembered for the great match that Rollins and Reigns put on.
Rollins, who had been out of action for the best part of nine months at this point, was red hot with the crowd, despite being a heel. He hadn't lost a step in the ring, despite his long injury. Reigns is always consistent and the two men put on a thrilling encounter, which had a surprising finish.
Rollins picking up the clean victory over Reigns was a massive surprise. Though, it was most likely down to Roman's recent wellness policy violation at the time.
#6 Christian Vs Randy Orton- Money in the Bank 2011
Christian's run with the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011 is often remembered as a disaster but it did provide both him and Randy Orton with one of the best feuds of their careers.
Orton and Christian had an incredible chemistry in the ring, and the duo put on a series of excellent matches throughout the Summer of 2011.
Money in the Bank 2011 is often remembered for its iconic finish, which saw CM Punk exit through the crowd after winning the WWE title, but the PPV is also worth revisiting for this often forgotten gem.
The match was arguably not as strong as their match at SummerSlam the following month, but the two men still put on an excellent performance. The bout also had the added stipulation that if Orton got disqualified, Christian would win the belt, which is what ultimately ended up happening, with Orton losing his temper and spitting in Christian's face.
The finish would have been seen as screwy in other circumstances, and while it did sort of cheapen Christian's subsequent title run, it played nicely into the storyline that was taking place at the time.
#5 Kevin Owens Vs John Cena- Money in the Bank 2015
Kevin Owen's debut in 2015 still stands as one of the best NXT to main roster debuts of all time.
Owens answered John Cena's open challenge on an episode of Raw, and would then go on to defeat Cena in a match of the year candidate at Battleground 2015, topping off one of the most emphatic debuts in recent years.
Cena was out for his revenge at Money in the Bank 2015, and this time, he had put his US title on the line.
The two men once again stole the show at Money in the Bank, and while some fans decried the decision to have Cena go over here, the result didn't really damage Owens too much in the long-run.
This was also the point where fans began to accept Cena as a world-class performer, and his US title run of 2015 is considered a high point in terms of in-ring performances for the 16-time champ.
#4 Daniel Bryan Vs CM Punk- Money in the Bank 2012
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, take note, this is how you deliver a match of the year candidate, even when you are tied down by the WWE's often questionable booking.
CM Punk's title reign through 2012 was one of the best of the modern era, and despite not getting to main event Money in the Bank 2012, Punk and Bryan still stole the show.
AJ Lee, Bryan's on-screen girlfriend at the time, was the special referee for this match, which meant that there were always going to be shenanigans involved. Being the incredible performers that they are though, Punk and Bryan never allowed this to get in the way, and the two men delivered an excellent encounter.
In fairness to AJ Lee, she played her part exceptionally well and surprisingly, her presence arguably added to the encounter. The ending saw a reluctant Lee count the pinfall after Punk had put Bryan through a table from the top-rope. This match would actually be the catalyst for Bryan teaming with Kane over the Summer of 2012 though, which in the long term, was the beginning of his rise to super-stardom.
#3 Seth Rollins Vs Dean Ambrose- Money in the Bank 2015
Putting on a show-stealing ladder match on a Money in the Bank card is no easy task, but that's exactly what Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose did in 2015.
The feud between the two men was one of the best things in the WWE in mid-2015, and their match at Money in the Bank was one of their finest outings. After a DQ finish the month before at Elimination Chamber, Ambrose and Rollins were out to finally set the score at Money in the Bank, and the former Shield brethren tore each other limb from limb in a bid to become WWE champion.
The two men had an excellent chemistry in the ring, and they produced a series of brutal and innovative ladder spots throughout the match. Rollins ultimately picked up the win, after both men grabbed the belt at the same time and he managed to cling on to it as the two men fell to the floor together.
#2 AJ Styles Vs John Cena- Money in the Bank 2016
In hindsight, the feud between AJ Styles and John Cena in 2016 feels like a passing of the torch moment. It was Cena's last notable feud in the WWE and it really helped to establish AJ Styles as the top wrestler on SmackDown in the eyes of many casual fans.
While this match may not have been as good as their subsequent encounters at SummerSlam 2016 or Royal Rumble 2017, that just speaks volumes about the quality of their matches, because this match still stole the show in 2016.
AJ was a heel at the time, and The Club was ever present throughout the early days of this feud. AJ Styles had already shown just how awesome he was when he took part in two match of the year candidates with Roman Reigns in the month's prior to this, and he managed to take things up a notch against Cena here.
#1 John Cena Vs CM Punk- Money in the Bank 2011
Did you really expect any other encounter to be at the top of this list? The last main roster WWE match to be given five stars by Dave Meltzer and The Wrestling Observer, CM Punk Vs John Cena is a modern-day masterpiece and has been unrivalled in the seven years since it took place.
CM Punk becoming number 1 contender before Money in the Bank 2011 was seemingly apropos of nothing. Punk had very little momentum and it seemed like the feud was just there to tire Cena over until a bigger program at SummerSlam. And then, the pipe bomb happened and changed the WWE forever.
CM Punk's iconic promo blew Kayfabe to bits and began a new era in the WWE, and this match was the perfect way to get things going. Punk declared that his contract ran out after Money in the Bank and that he was going to win the belt and leave the company with it at the event.
Everything about this match was perfect. CM Punk's entrance still sends chills down the spine, and his hometown Chicago crowd were exceptional throughout the bout, creating a red-hot atmosphere that makes crowds around the world envious to this day.
The in-ring action was nothing short of thrilling, and the closing moments were some of the most exciting in WWE history.
When wrestling is at its best, it can make fans forget that it isn't real and drag us in hook, line and sinker, and this match was the perfect example of this. Seeing Punk escape through the crowd and blow Vince McMahon a kiss on his way out is still arguably the most iconic image of the decade, and while the Summer of Punk was ultimately a huge let-down, this match is still something very special indeed.
Let us know your favourite non-MITB match in the PPV's history. You can also send us news tips at [email protected].
