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Staples Center. Los Angeles, California. April 3rd 2005. WrestleMania 21. The site of the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder match.
Since that day, the Money in the Bank Ladder match has become a huge deal in the WWE Universe, and now even has its own annual pay-per-view event.
The first ever Money in the Bank Ladder match went down in history, and that started something grand for the WWE, which is still ongoing today, somewhat 16-years later.
Six competitors competed in the first-ever match, which was exclusive to then Eric Bischoff's Monday Night Raw brand when first born, something which would change the following year.
But who was in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21, and where are they now? Let's take a look.
#6 Chris Jericho - competed in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Chris Jericho, the on-screen creator of Money in the Bank, also competed in the first-ever match.
Jericho unfortunately came up short and was unsuccessful in capturing the briefcase, but from this moment on his glittering career has gone from strength to strength.
So where is Chris Jericho today?
Chris Jericho currently performs for AEW (All Elite Wrestling), which is considered a main rival to WWE.
AEW is owned by Shahid Khan and Tony Khan, who also own the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club.
Jericho signed full-time with AEW in 2019, and has occasionally appeared for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in feuds with Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito.
Due to an agreement between AEW and NJPW, Jericho is still permitted to perform in Japan for the company.
Jericho became the inaugural AEW World Champion and went onto a long-term storyline with MJF following this championship run.
Y2J's last appearance with WWE came in Saudi Arabia at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in 2018.
He will forever be remembered in his later WWE days for his feud with Kevin Owens, and 'The List of Jericho', which remains synonymous with Jericho's ability to reinvent himself and his character.
Jericho still performs with his band Fozzy around the world, and also hosts the annual Chris Jericho Cruise, which features live wrestling, on-stage podcasts, band performances and much more.
More recently, Chris Jericho has appeared on the WWE Network on the Stone Cold Podcast, permitted by AEW, and became one of the first crossovers between WWE and AEW.
#5 Christian w/ Tyson Tomko competed in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Captain Charisma, Christian, entered the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match, accompanied by his muscle, Tyson Tomko.
Christian was unsuccessful in claiming the lucrative briefcase and ended up leaving the WWE later that year, after his contract expired.
So where is Christian now?
Christian, like Chris Jericho, is currently signed with AEW after being cleared to compete in the ring once again, after quietly retiring in 2014 because of injuries.
Christian did return to the ring with WWE earlier this year in the Royal Rumble match, but was unable to agree terms on a new contract and ended up signing for AEW.
Tyson Tomko, on the other hand, is no longer involved in professional wrestling, with his last on-screen appearance being for TNA in 2010.
#4 Chris Benoit participated in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Chris Benoit, competed in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder match, but was unsuccessful in capturing the briefcase.
The year before, Chris Benoit walked away from WrestleMania as the World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a classic Triple Threat main event.
Chris Benoit is no longer alive, having committed murder-suicide in 2007, and was immediately erased from the WWE history books, and hasn't been talked about on-screen ever since.
His legacy that he left in the ring will live on, but his actions outside of the ring will forever haunt the lives of many.
#3 Kane participated in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Kane competed in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match, but despite his size, was unsuccessful in securing the briefcase.
Kane's character had a tortourous twelve months prior to entering the Money in the Bank match, with a rivalry with his on-screen brother The Undertaker just a year prior at WrestleMania.
Where is Kane now?
Kane, or Glenn Jacobs, is currently the Mayor of Knoxville County, and is now mainly focused on his political endeavors.
A recent WWE Hall of Fame inductee, Kane continues to make sporadic appearances for WWE when required.
#2 Shelton Benjamin put in a gold standard performance in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
At the time of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match in 2005, Shelton Benjamin was making a name for himself as a singles competitor on Monday Night Raw.
Unfortunately, the former WWE Tag Team and Intercontinental Champion was unsuccessful in grabbing the briefcase to become Mr Money in the Bank.
Where is Shelton Benjamin now?
Shelton is currently contracted to WWE after returning to the company in 2017, following a tenure with Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Benjamin was most recently a part of MVP's stable, The Hurt Business, on Monday Night Raw.
#1 Edge won the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Edge, the 'Rated-R Superstar', became the first-ever superstar to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Edge went on to successfully cash-in his Money in the Bank opportunity against John Cena during the New Year's Revolution event in 2016.
Where is Edge now?
After a long period on the sidelines in retirement, Edge returned to active competition during the Royal Rumble match in 2020.
Having been cleared to now compete in the ring, Edge is signed to WWE.
He main-evented WrestleMania 37 against Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan, after winning the 2021 Royal Rumble match.
