Ranking all 20 Money in the Bank Ladder Matches from worst to best

Shelton Benjamin dives off the ladder onto waiting opponents
Shelton Benjamin dives off the ladder onto waiting opponents

The Money in the Bank pay-per-view has become one of the top events hosted by the WWE in its calendar year. Before announcing that each of the pay-per-view events after WrestleMania 34, starting from Backlash would be dual branded, WWE had announced their plans for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view in general.

WWE usually host four big pay-per-views, which are of a greater size than the others in sheer magnitude and importance. WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series and SummerSlam, were some of the top events which attracted a bigger audience than the other pay-per-views.

In 2018, WWE reportedly had plans to add the Money in the Bank event to the list, bringing it up to five pay-per-views. The company added an NXT Takeover event on the Money in the Bank weekend signalling its status. The only other Takeovers held are all on the weekends of the other Big Four, now Five, pay-per-views.

Hence, June 2018 is set to see the pay-per-view take place, with two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches having been announced already. The two matches are set to be the 21st and 22nd Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, held by WWE.

With that in mind, in this list, we will take a look back at each of the previous Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, ranking them, and looking at the best performer and a few highlights.

Here are the twenty previous Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, listed from worst to best:


#20 Carmella vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair vs Natalya vs Tamina (Money in the Bank 2017):

Becky Lynch and Carmella in the ring
Becky Lynch and Carmella in the ring

The worst ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match is considered to be the worst for a reason. The first-ever Women's Money in the Bank was marred by a booking decision which took away from the result.

Winner: James Ellsworth handed the briefcase to Carmella, being a man who took down the briefcase in the first ever Women's match.

Highlights: In one of the best moments of the match, Carmella hit Becky with a Hurricanrana from a ladder perched on the corner.

youtube-cover

Woman of the Match: Becky Lynch looked like the best competitor in the match, and used her in-ring experience to almost win. She would have won had it not been for the interference by James Ellsworth.


#19 Christian vs Matt Hardy vs Cody Rhodes vs Kofi Kingston vs Drew McIntyre vs Kane vs Big Show - Money in The Bank 2010 (SmackDown):

Kane holds the briefcase after his victory
Kane holds the briefcase after his victory

The Money in the Bank Match for SmackDown Live was the first brand-exclusive match for the briefcase after 2005, as well as the first time the bout took place at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

Winner: Kane won the briefcase in the bout, which was his fourth Money in the Bank ladder match.

Highlights: Kingston had the best moment of the night, when he performed the Boom Drop from the top of the ladder onto McIntyre, through an Announce Table.

Man of the Match: The eventual winner, Kane, also looked the best man in this match. He pushed Big Show off a super-sized ladder he had set up, and also hit McIntyre with a Chokeslam from the ladder, before climbing it to win the briefcase.

#17 Randy Orton vs Mark Henry vs Ted DiBiase Jr. vs John Morrison vs Chris Jericho vs Evan Bourne vs Edge vs The Miz- Money In The Bank 2010 (Raw):

The Miz with the briefcase
The Miz with the briefcase

The Money in the Bank ladder match for Raw was the eighth match of its type and foreshadowed the rise of one of the best heels in WWE today.

Winner: The Miz won the bout, and was able to claim his briefcase from the top of the ladder after he pushed Orton off.

Highlights: The highlight of the night was when Morrison hit Mark Henry with a Springboard Roundhouse Kick, which was followed by a Codebreaker from Jericho and a Spear from Edge.

Man of the Match: Morrison was the man of the match, and used his agility and acrobatic ability to entertain the crowd. He jumped onto the ladder and climbed it when Miz catapulted him onto it and later found himself trapped in the ladder.

#16 Carmella vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair vs Natalya vs Tamina (SmackDown Live 2017):

Carmella pushes Charlotte and Natalya off the ladder
Carmella pushes Charlotte and Natalya off the ladder

Due to the interference from Ellsworth in the first-ever Women's Money in the Bank match, Carmella was stripped of the briefcase. For the first time since the match was introduced, a Money in the Bank Ladder match took place on a show which was not a pay-per-view.

Winner: Carmella defied the odds and won the Money in the Bank Ladder match for the second time, this time unhooking the briefcase herself.

Highlights: Tamina hit Becky with a Samoan Drop and a flying splash from the top rope. Tamina was pinned under the ladder, but lifted it up and dropped Charlotte and Carmella, displaying her incredible strength.

youtube-cover

Woman of the Match: Becky Lynch was the best woman in the ring yet again. She hit Charlotte and Carmella with multiple Becksploder suplexes.


#15 John Cena vs Kane vs Chris Jericho vs The Miz vs Big Show - Money in The Bank 2012 (Raw):

Big Show throws ladders to the outside
Big Show throws ladders to the outside

The Superstars from Raw competed in this matchup, in the Money in the Bank with least competitors ever.

Winner: John Cena won the match, adding the Money in the Bank victory to his already impressive career.

Highlights: Cena hit Big Show with an Attitude Adjustment onto an announce table. The superstars then buried Big Show under a mountain of ladders. Cena then performed an Attitude Adjustment on Kane, onto the Miz who was on a ladder.

Man of the Match: Jericho displayed his veteran instincts, being in the right place at the right time. He took out Big Show off the supersized ladder using a chair. He even held off Cena, using the Sleeper Hold.

#14 Dean Ambrose vs Cesaro vs Wade Barrett vs Fandango vs Jack Swagger vs Cody Rhodes vs Damien Sandow - Money in The Bank 2013 (SmackDown):

Wade Barrett reaches for the Money in the Bank briefcase
Wade Barrett reaches for the Money in the Bank briefcase

A match which had a number of stars who were favoured by WWE fans, this was a Money in the Bank Ladder Match which went down in history for producing a winner who would not be able to use it to win a championship, the first time after John Cena.

Winner: Damien Sandow was the eventual winner of the Money in the Bank briefcase after he turned his back on Rhodes.

Highlights: In one of the best moments of the night, Fandango took Barrett off the ladder with the help of a Sunset Flip Powerbomb.

Man of the Match: Cody Rhodes was the best performer in the match, as he used a methodical and brutal approach to dominate. Rhodes hit Cesaro with a Muscle Buster onto a Ladder and then hit Swagger with a Springboard Dropkick. He continued hitting Crossrhodes on Fandango and Barrett.


#`13 Alberto Del Rio vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger vs Evan Bourne vs R-Truth vs Alex Riley vs The Miz vs Rey Mysterio - Money in The Bank 2011 (Raw):

Del Rio
Del Rio makes his entrance

The Raw Money in the Bank ladder match saw the presence of two previous winners in the Miz and Jack Swagger.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio won the briefcase making it an impressive year for him, as he had also won the Royal Rumble that year.

Highlights: One of the best moments of the night came when Evan Bourne performed Air Bourne off a ladder onto all the other participants at ringside.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: Rey Mysterio was the man of the night, narrowly missing winning the briefcase. He used the Sunset Flip Powerbomb on Miz off the ladder, and then was about to get the briefcase but was knocked off by Del Rio after unmasking him.

#12 Jack Swagger vs Shelton Benjamin vs Christian vs Kane vs Matt Hardy vs Drew McIntyre vs Kofi Kingston vs Evan Bourne vs Montel Vontavious Porter vs Dolph Ziggler (WrestleMania 26):

Jack Swagger wins the Money in the Bank briefcase
Jack Swagger wins the Money in the Bank briefcase

The largest ever Money in the Bank match took place at WrestleMania 26, with ten competitors for the first time. It was also the last time the Money in the Bank match took place at WrestleMania.

Winner: Jack Swagger won the bout to a less than warm reception from the crowd.

Highlights: Kofi Kingston used a broken ladder as stilts and climbed to the top almost touching the briefcase.

Man of the Match: Evan Bourne showcased his skills, hitting Air Bourne from the top of the ladder on to Christian.


#11 Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus vs Sin Cara vs Cody Rhodes vs Wade Barrett vs Justin Gabriel vs Kane vs Heath Slater - Money in The Bank 2011 (SmackDown):

Daniel Bryan holding the briefcase
Daniel Bryan holding the briefcase

This Money in the Bank pay-per-view was famous for the match between CM Punk and John Cena. Punk won the bout and left the company with the WWE Championship. The Chicago crowd was firmly pro-Punk.

Winner: The MITB match was however won by Daniel Bryan, a victory that would propel his career to greater heights in WWE.

Highlights: In a moment that made everyone cringe, Sheamus sent Sin Cara through a ladder which had been propped up between the ring and the announce table. The ladder broke in half, and Sin Cara had to be carried away on a stretcher.

youtube-cover

Man of the match: Daniel Bryan remained impressive in the match, with his offence against Rhodes and Wade Barret. He was able to knock Barret off the ladder with a kick to the head to pick up the win.

#10 Sheamus vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kane vs Kofi Kingston vs Neville vs Randy Orton vs Roman Reigns (Money in the Bank 2015):

Sheamus with the briefcase
Sheamus with the briefcase

The event saw Seth Rollins defend his title in a Ladder match against Dean Ambrose in the main event.

Winner: Sheamus won the match after throwing Neville off the top of the ladder.

Highlights: Orton hit an RKO on Kane, and then another one on Kofi. In the best moment of the match, however, he hit Neville with a flying RKO after dragging him off the ladder.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: Roman Reigns looked the best in the bout as he was able to showcase his abilities. He powerbombed Kofi on a ladder and then hit Neville with another powerbomb on top of Kofi. His chances of winning were taken away by Bray Wyatt's interference when he was climbing the ladder.


#9 Baron Corbin vs AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn vs Shinsuke Nakamura (Money in the Bank 2017):

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura face off in the ring
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura face off in the ring

This match produced the last Superstar to win the Money in the Bank match, but fail in the cash-in attempt.

Winner: Baron Corbin won the match after he dumped Nakamura and Styles to the outside.

Highlights: The best moment of the night came when AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura confronted each other at the end of the match. The confrontation was a match within a match and the best moment of the night.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: AJ Styles was the best competitor of the night, as he used his huge arsenal to continue to almost get the briefcase repeatedly.

#8 Mr Kennedy vs Edge vs Jeff Hardy vs CM Punk vs King Booker vs Finlay vs Matt Hardy vs Randy Orton (WrestleMania 23):

Mr Kennedy holding the briefcase
Mr Kennedy holding the briefcase

The third Money in the Bank Ladder Match took place at WrestleMania, something that was fast becoming a WrestleMania tradition. For the first time, the match featured eight participants.

Winner: Mr Kennedy won the match, although he would go on to lose the briefcase to Edge only a month later, due to backstage heat.

Highlights: Jeff Hardy's stunt in this match has gone down in lore, as he sacrificed his body and hit Edge with a Leg Drop from the top of a twenty-foot ladder.

Matt Hardy had placed Edge on top of a ladder which he straddled between the ring and the barrier on the outside. The move took them both out of the competition for the night.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: CM Punk seemed to be everywhere in the match, despite being a lesser-known figure at the time. He took one of the best bumps on the night when Randy Orton hit him with an RKO from the top of the ladder.


#7 Rob Van Dam vs Matt Hardy vs Shelton Benjamin vs Ric Flair vs Finlay vs Bobby Lashley (WrestleMania 22):

Rob Van Dam unhooks the briefcase
Rob Van Dam unhooks the briefcase

The second ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match took place at WrestleMania 22 and featured unlikely stars like Ric Flair and Finlay. Both Superstars were not the first names that anyone would think of for a ladder match, but they were a big part of the bout.

Winner: Rob Van Dam won the match when he was able to take down the briefcase and fell from the ladder.

Highlights: In the most memorable moment of an already exciting match, Ric Flair took a bump where Matt Hardy hit him with a Superplex from the top of a ladder.

Flair was 57 at the time, and the spot left the crowd cringing. Officials helped Flair to the back, although he came back out later in the match.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: For the second year in a row, Shelton Benjamin was the best part of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. He hit a rolling senton off the Ladder to the outside and seemed to be present everywhere.

#5 Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston vs Rob Van Dam vs Jack Swagger (Money in The Bank 2014):

Seth Rollins, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon celebrate
Seth Rollins, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon celebrate

The 2014 Money in the Bank pay-per-view saw the return of a single Money in the Bank Ladder match, as the Brand Split was at an end.

Winner: Seth Rollins won the match after he received help from Authority member, Kane.

Highlights: Kofi Kingston jumped off a falling ladder onto Dolph Ziggler, Rob Vand Dam and Jack Swagger on the outside. Jack Swagger hit Rob Van Dam with a Powerbomb off the ladder.

Man of the Match: Ambrose stole the show and continued to perform throughout the night. He hit Seth with a Suplex off the ladder, injuring his shoulder. He came back out and tried to retrieve the briefcase, but Kane assaulted him, interfering on Rollins' behalf.


#5 Daniel Bryan vs CM Punk vs Randy Orton vs Rob Van Dam vs Sheamus vs Christian - Money in The Bank 2013 (Raw):

Randy Orton is hit with a ladder
Randy Orton is hit with a ladder

The match was the main event of the night and had the returning Rob Van Dam competing.

Winner: Randy Orton won the briefcase, which he would cash in to usher in a new era in WWE, with the Authority taking control. Orton won the match after he hit Rob Van Dam with an RKO off the ladder.

Highlights: Rob Van Dam acted as the human highlight reel in the match, and performed a Rolling Thunder Senton on Punk. On another occasion Sheamus hit Daniel Bryan with the Beats of Bodhran, knocking him off the ladder.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: CM Punk looked like the obvious choice to win the bout, but it was not to be as his manager, Paul Heyman, turned on him.

Before that, however, he used his innovative offence to cause damage to each star. He used his weight to land a ladder onto Sheamus, flattening him.

#4 Dean Ambrose vs Sami Zayn vs Cesaro vs Chris Jericho vs Kevin Owens vs Alberto Del Rio (Money in the Bank 2016):

Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho in the Ladder Match
Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho in the Ladder Match

This pay-per-view was the last one before the Brand Split took place.

Winner: Dean Ambrose was able to win the match after he knocked Owens off, and unhooked the Championship.

Highlights: Cesaro started to hit European Uppercuts to everyone in the corner but Owens stopped him with a Superkick. Owens hit everyone with a Rolling Senton before Sami stopped him.

Man of the Match: Jericho looked like the best competitor on the night, and hit Ambrose with a Codebreaker off the ladder. He used his veteran instincts throughout to be at the right place at the right time.


#2 CM Punk vs Christian vs Shelton Benjamin vs Kane vs Finlay vs Montel Vontavious Porter vs Kofi Kingston vs Mark Henry (WrestleMania 25):

CM Punk cashes in his briefcase on Jeff Hardy
CM Punk cashes in his briefcase on Jeff Hardy

The 25th WrestleMania saw the first of the matches between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, as well as the fifth rendition of the Money in the Bank ladder match.

Winner: CM Punk won the briefcase for the second year in a row. The win would lead to a heel turn for him when he finally cashed it in.

Highlights: Mark Henry was holding a ladder, looking to set it up, when Kofi ran up the ladder. Mark dropped the ladder and caught the falling Kofi to hit him with a World's Strongest Slam on to the ladder.

Man of the Match: Christain hit the Unprettier from the top of the ladder, and on another occasion threw Shelton off the ladder by unbalancing it, while he was on it as well. He then managed to balance it back in position.

#2 CM Punk vs Mr Kennedy vs Chris Jericho vs Shelton Benjamin vs Carlito vs John Morrison vs Montel Vontavious Porter (WrestleMania 24):

CM Punk celebrates with the briefcase
CM Punk celebrates with the briefcase

WrestleMania 24 saw the fourth ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Winner: In a victory that was foreshadowing the next five years of the company, CM Punk won the briefcase after hooking Jericho's leg into the ladder and hanging him upside down. This win would help him to get the World Championship and add legitimacy to him as a competitor.

Highlights: This particular encounter was full of shocking moments, as Matt Hardy interfered in the proceedings, and hit MVP with a Twist of Fate from the top of the ladder, just as it looked like he had been about to get the briefcase.

Man of the Match: Shelton Benjamin was the human highlight reel yet again in another Money in the Bank ladder match. He was able to hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb on Mr Kennedy off the ladder, who in turn, at the same time hit John Morrison with a Superplex.

On another moment, he Shelton was at the top of the ladder when the ladder was tipped over. He fell to the outside onto a ladder, in a moment that made the fans cringe, as the ladder broke in half.


#1 Edge vs Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho vs Shelton Benjamin vs Kane vs Christian (WrestleMania 21):

Edge hits the Spear on John Cena
Edge hits the Spear on John Cena

The first ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match took place in 2005, at WrestleMania 21. The idea of the match was introduced by Chris Jericho and was then booked at the event by then WWE Raw General Manager, Eric Bischoff. It remains the best ever Money in the Bank matchup.

Winner: Edge won the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder Match after he was able to hit Chris Benoit with a steel chair on a previously injured arm, upon which he fell from the ladder.

Highlights: The match was filled with action, something that would go on to characterise future Money in the Bank Ladder Matches. In a moment that left the audience cringing, Chris Benoit jumped off the top of a ladder and hit Kane with a headbutt.

When he executed this move, he busted his head open tearing the stitches from a previous injury. Looking back on it now, with the context of what he did later in his personal life, the move is only more cringe-worthy.

youtube-cover

Man of the Match: The best performer from the match was Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin hit Edge with a T-Bone Suplex from the top of the ladder, and on another occasion, he ran up a ladder which had been set onto a standing ladder and knocked Jericho off with a Clothesline.


Do you agree with this ranking of all the MITB matches so far? Sound off in the comments section below and let us know what you think.

Send us news tips at [email protected]

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE