As Money in the Bank is coming up, I thought I'd take a look through all the previous MITB matches in preparation.
The Money in the Bank match was conceived by Chris Jericho although this hasn't helped him as despite appearing in 5 matches, he has yet to grab the briefcase. Only Christian and Kofi Kingston have appeared in the match more times (6 each) without winning it.
To win the match, a competitor must ascend a ladder and grab the briefcase which is hanging down from the top of the arena. Inside the briefcase is a contract for a championship match which can be cashed in at any time within the next year. Most often this has happened when the champion has just taken a beating in a long title defence or been otherwise ambushed, giving the holder of the briefcase a distinct advantage.
On a couple of rare occasions, the holder will announce in advance the time and location that they wish to cash in the briefcase. Rob Van Dam did this when he won the second ever MITB match in 2006. He challenged John Cena to a match at the ECW One Night Stand event which gave him a distinct advantage as it made him the unanimous crowd favourite. This was my favourite ever cash in.
Another instance of the match being announced in advance was when Cena himself cashed in against CM Punk in 2012. He looked like he was going to cash in on Monday Night Raw before he announced he would be doing so on the 1000th episode. Having no advantage, it was a fair fight and Cena became the first man to unsuccessfully cash in the briefcase.
He didn't have to wait for someone else to join him for this dubious honour as Damian Sandow attempted to cash in against Cena himself the following year. Despite Cena being hurt from Hell in a Cell the previous night and battling with one arm, Sandow unfortunately doesn't capture the belt.
Another of my favourite cash-ins was when Seth Rollins interrupted the Roman Reigns v Brock Lesnar match at Wrestlemania to make it a triple threat match. It was one of the most innovative cash ins and made perfect storyline sense and perfectly fitted in with Rollins character at the time.
As for the match itself, it often seems to eschew the dynamics of regular matches in favour of pure action. This is the selling point of the match, although when there are a larger number of competitors, it does become a bit messy.
The matches are usually fun, although they suffer from the problem that all ladder matches suffer from, which is that there has to be some near victory moments to make it exciting. These moments are often made less exciting as the wrestler atop the ladder often has to fumble and dawdle to ensure that they are not successful while they wait for an opponent to come and stop them from gaining the prize. However as there are a large number of competitors in the MITB matches, it might be not as awkward as in 1 on 1 matches.
Intercontinental Champion and/or US champion are usually invited to the match if they are eligible, although they have never managed to win the briefcase. The winners can probably be divided into two categories - those who aren't at main event status but who use the briefcase to catapult themselves to that level and those who are already main event level but could do with being made into an effective number 1 contender. This makes the matches hard to call, assuming that they get a good combination of competitors.
Here are my thoughts on all the matches and cash ins as I watched them.
Chris Jericho v Chris Benoit v Christian v Shelton Benjamin v Edge v Kane
Wrestlemania 21
3 April 2005
Winner: Edge
Rating: 9/10 |
This match is just spot after spot after spot. This is an extremely well orchestrated match, with Edge getting heat for coming in and stealing the victory from Benoit who'd just opened up the stitches on his forehead from doing a diving headbutt onto Kane from the top of the ladder. My favourite spot is when Edge and Christian do a ladder version of the conchairto. The match is full of excitement and it really makes all the competitors in the match look good.
Cash in: v John Cena
New Year's Revolution, January 8 2006
Result: Successful
Edge had fought Ric Flair for the Intercontinental Championship earlier in the evening which Flair won when Edge got disqualified for attacking him with the Money in the Bank briefcase when he got Lita in the figure-four leglock. Cena had just lasted 28 minutes in an elimination chamber match to retain his WWE Championship and had a crimson mask. Vince appeared just after the match had finished to announce that the night was not over and that Edge was cashing in. I guess as it's the first instance of this happening, there was a need for a lot of exposition. The match lasts just 1 minute 46 seconds with Cena getting no offence in as Edge attacks with punches, kicks and 2 spears to become WWE Champion for the first time.
Matt Hardy v Shelton Benjamin v Finlay v Rob Van Dam v Bobby Lashley v Ric Flair
Wrestlemania 22
2 April 2006
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Rating: 8/10 |
This match contains the biggest bump that I've seen the 57-year old Flair take at any point in his career when Matt Hardy suplexes him from the top of a ladder. Shelton Benjamin is the only man who competed in last year's match and you can see why they wanted him in this match for his amazing athleticism for a few great spots. RVD is clearly the fan favourite here, with several chants throughout the match and he has the biggest moment of the match when he hits a frogsplash from the top of the ladder.
Cash in: v John Cena
ECW One Night Stand, 11 June 2006
Result: Successful
Cena had a lot longer to prepare for this cash in as RVD announced in advance when he would be cashing in the match. This is an extreme rules match in an environment that is very hostile to Cena, with the crowd repeatedly chanting "Fuck you Cena" at the start of the match. WWE had decided to bring back the ECW brand full-time and the event is at the Hammersmith Ballroom where previous ECW events had been held. It works really well that RVD would chose this to be where he cashes in and Cena is definitely the heel in this match up. After two referee's are knocked out, Paul Heyman comes in to count the pinfall. This is a really enjoyable match with a nice dynamic.
Jeff Hardy v King Booker v Finlay v CM Punk v Mr Kennedy v Matt Hardy v Randy Orton v Edge
Wrestlemania 23
1 April 2007
Winner: Mr Kennedy
Rating: 7/10
It's very difficult to do storytelling when there are this many competitors in a match. They do a good job of it here though, with former tag team partners and rivals comprising over half of the competitors. The Hardys work together to take out Edge when Jeff legdrops him from a ladder in the ring through a ladder on the outside causing Edge to be taken away by medical staff on a stretcher. The spots are spread out rather than being spat out like a machine gun as they were in the first Money in the Bank match.
This match has the cutest moment in any of the matches yet when with everyone else down except Finlay but with him unable to climb the ladder, Hornswoggle comes out and attempts to climb the ladder for Finlay.
Match for the Briefcase: v Edge
Monday Night Raw, 7 May 2007
Mr Kennedy had announced that he would be cashing in the briefcase at Wrestlemania 24. Edge goaded Mr Kennedy into defending the briefcase in a one on one match up. Edge jumps Kennedy before the match starts and launches a vicious attack. He rolls him into the ring and after a confrontation with the referee, the match actually starts when Edge hits a spear and takes the victory.
Cash in: v The Undertaker
Smackdown, 11 May 2007
Result: Successful
The Undertaker had just defended his world championship against Batista inside a steel cage in a match that lasted around 20 minutes. The match had ended in controversy when both men climbed out of the cage with their feet hitting the floor around the same time. The crowd weren't too happy with the result being announced as a draw so the Undertaker retains the title. Mark Henry then comes out and beats up a beaten and bloody 'Taker which again the crowd do not respond well to. As Henry is leaving, Edge's music hits and he cashes in the briefcase. Edge goes straight for a cover which 'Taker kicks out of. He does another with again a kick out. The Undertaker tries to sit up but falls over. The Phenom pulls himself to his feet only for Edge to hit a spear and get the victory.
In reality, what had happened was that both The Undertaker and Mr Kennedy had suffered injuries and Edge the ultimate opportunist was called in to take both the MITB briefcase and also the title within the space of a week.
Carlito v Shelton Benjamin v Chris Jericho v MVP v John Morrison v CM Punk v Mr Kennedy
Wrestlemania 24
30 March 2008
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: 9/10
This match really benefits from the presence of Jericho, as well as the fact there are three champions in the match (Jericho - Intercontinental, MVP - US, Morrision - Tag Team). As the veteran who came up with the idea for the match in the first place, it seems that Jericho contributed to making this match a great one. There are a number of great spots, including a lion tamer on the ladder and Shelton Benjamin doing a sunset flip from one ladder which resulted in a double suplex.
The pace of the match works well, you can tell it is heading towards a finish. Whilst most of the guys in this match would never reach main event status, between them they put on a great spectacle.
MVP looks like he's won the match until Matt Hardy runs out and delivers a twist of fate from the top of the ladder.
CM Punk wins with Jericho trapped in the ladder which is excellent as all too often, a wrestler has to dilly dally at the top of the ladder while they wait for someone to come stop them claiming the briefcase. This was a nice alternative to that.
Cash in: v Edge
Raw, 30 June 2008
Result: Successful
Raw starts with Jim Ross giving a farewell speech in his home state as he moves to Smackdown. Edge interrupts and insults him before getting his cronies to escort JR out of the ring. He continues a typical heel speech, which focuses on the fact that Raw currently has no world title. As he leaves the ring, he is attacked by Batista who leaves him beaten and as he leaves CM Punk runs to the ring with a referee and starts the match. The best bit is Punk getting upset that it is taking them so long to ring the bell and tapping on his imaginary watch. He hits the GTS and gets the pinfall to bring the title back to Raw. Punk is goaded into defending the title against JBL later in the night where he retains when JBL is distracted by the arrival of John Cena and Primetime.
Christian v MVP v Shelton Benjamin v Kane v Mark Henry v CM Punk v Kofi Kingston v Finlay
Wrestlemania 25
5 April 2009
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: 7/10
There seem to be a few guys who are stalwarts of this match, with a number of these guys having competed in it previously. You have a couple of great athletes in this match in Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston and whilst they have a couple of great spots, you feel that it could have been better. The two big guys don't really seem to gel with the rest of them and whilst the match is enjoyable, it doesn't reach the heights of previous matches.
This match didn't set the world alight, it almost seemed like they were trying a bit too hard in places. You do have to feel for Shelton Benjamin who has performed consistently well in four Money in the Bank matches and has two of the best spots in this match, but yet always comes up short.
Cash in: v Jeff Hardy
Extreme Rules, 7 June 2009
Result: Successful
After a really good ladder match in which he takes the title from Edge, Jeff Hardy is about to be interviewed by JR when Punk's music hits. He hits a GTS which Hardy kicks out from, the match continues with Jeff getting a pinfall attempt but a second GTS gets the pinfall and the title for Punk. You do feel a bit sorry for Hardy whose match with Edge was really well worked, with it building and building until Edge is trapped within the ladder allowing Hardy to look him straight in the eyes as he unhooks the belt.
Kofi Kingston v MVP v Evan Bourne v Jack Swagger v Shelton Benjamin v Matt Hardy v Dolph Ziggler v Drew McIntyre v Kane v Christian
Wrestlemania 26
28 March 2010
Winner: Jack Swagger
Rating: 5/10
There are just too many competitors in this match. Ten guys means it's just too difficult to really have a consistent narrative or any one dominant superstar. There are a couple of cool spots, most notably Kofi Kingston using a broken ladder like a pair of stilts, but there really isn't enough here to keep you interested in the match as it goes on. In order to have just a few superstars fighting in the ring at one time, you need majority of the other competitors to be "hurt" outside of the ring and this becomes less believable the more competitors there are. The ebb and flow of other MITB matches is much better than this match and it really doesn't set the ring alight.
Cash in: v Chris Jericho
Smackdown, 2 April 2010
Result: Successful
On the first Smackdown after Wrestlemania, Jericho opens the show to gloat about how he'd beaten Royal Rumble winner Edge at 'Mania. Jericho refuses a rematch and Edge takes him out. With Jericho lying on the floor, Edge is leaving but is knocked out by a briefcase wielding Swagger who then gets on the mic and demands a ref comes down to the ring so that he can cash in his contract. The ref takes a while to make it to the ring and when he does, he spends time clearing the ring and checking on Jericho before ringing the bell, although that delay doesn't allow Jericho any recovery time as Swagger hits one move for the victory.
Kofi Kingston v Dolph Ziggler v Christian v "Dashing" Cody Rhodes v Matt Hardy v Drew McIntyre v Kane v Big Show
Money in the Bank 2010
18 July 2010
Winner: Kane
Rating: 7/10
Just over 3 months after the last MITB match at Wrestlemania, the match gets it's own pay per view, with two matches for briefcases on the show. And yet they still manage to get eight competitors into each one. The ring clears at the start of the match, leaving the Big Show to attempt to climb the ladder but the rungs break underneath his weight, leaving him at a distinct disadvantage in the match. It's meant to make him look heavy but all it really does it make the ladders look flimsy. He does have his own reinforced ladder underneath the ring which weighs more than Kane. He struggles to get it into the ring and the crowd gets behind him as he eventually manages to do so.
Kofi channels the spirit of Jeff Hardy and does a leg drop on Drew McIntyre from a ladder through a table. This is the highlight although there is a lot of action towards the end of this match.
Cash in: v Rey Mysterio
Money in the Bank 2010, 18 July 2010
Result: Successful
Kane waited just 50 minutes to cash in his money in the bank contract. Rey Mysterio had defeated Jack Swagger but was attacked after the match with Swagger focussing on Mysterio's injured ankle. Kane comes out and chases Swagger off, ostensibly for being involved in an attack on the Undertaker. When they go backstage, Mysterio starts celebrating his victory again before Kane's music hits. The match involves just a chokeslam and a tombstone for Kane to get the victory.
Randy Orton v The Miz v Mark Henry v Ted DiBiase Jr v John Morrison v Chris Jericho v Edge v Evan Bourne
Money in the Bank 2010
18 July 2010
Winner: The Miz
Rating: 5/10
A few of the spots in this match seem to be designed simply to be things that hadn't been seen before and aren't really highlights. They also seem contrived and don't fit into the flow of the match. The most unusual part of this match is when Maryse tries to climb the ladder for Ted DiBiase Jr. Other bits are just varying uses of ladders as weapons and nothing is really innovative.
The Miz, as US Champion, becomes the first reigning champion to successfully grab the briefcase.
Cash in: v Randy Orton
Raw, 22 November 2010
Result: Successful
Randy Orton appeared for a title defence against Wade Barrett and Nexus ran him from behind to leave him looking like he would be unable to compete. The match eventually began but with the Raw GM declaring that Nexus were banned from ringside. Barrett hits wasteland and is about to win when the "fired" Cena pulls the ref out and hits the AA before being chased from the arena by Nexus with Orton then getting the victory. Miz's music hits with Orton looking exhausted and he runs down to the ring with his minion. Miz attacks the knee that Nexus injured and the match isn't as quick as many of the cash-ins.
Smackdown: Sin Cara v Wade Barrett v Justin Gabriel v Sheamus v Cody Rhodes v Heath Slater v Daniel Bryan v Kane
Money in the Bank 2011
17 July 2011
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: 5/10
There wasn't too much to hold my attention here. It kept drifting. The match wasn't poor quality but I found myself not caring too much. I think this is partly due to the fact that the brand split and the fact that they try to throw a large number of guys into these matches distills them too much. You don't have as much quality. Knowing where these guys are now means that for me there were only three guys that could possibly have won this and two of those were not going to be interesting winners.
There we big spots - Sheamus putting Sin Cara through a ladder who then got taken out by medical staff. Justin Gabriel doing a somersault splash from a ladder propped between the ropes but I just didn't really get into it. One of the highlights was the three former members of The Corre teaming up and then it looking like they were going to let Barrett go to the top of the ladder before they turned on him.
Daniel Bryan deserved the victory but was not being sold by the commentators as a winner and then when he got it, they didn't sell it as much of an upset as perhaps they should have done. Maybe I just wasn't really in the right mood for this. I should probably rewatch this.
Cash in: v Mark Henry
TLC, 18 December 2011
Result: Successful
Bryan had announced he would only cash in at Wrestlemania but had actually attempted to cash it in on Smackdown previously against Mark Henry although never actually did so. The Big Show had just defeated Mark Henry in a chairs match which whilst it officially lasted five and a half minutes was largely devoid of action as the start of the match involved The Big Show spending time throwing numerous chairs into the ring before Henry left the ring and tried to walk away. Big Show wins but sells that he's damaged his hand, and Henry also attacks him after the match, leaving him lying on a bed of steel chairs. The crowd chant for Bryan and he runs down to cash in. The match was the shortest cash in match yet as it literally only involved a pin. Bryan then celebrates in Michael Cole's face as he's been naysaying for a while. Bryan celebrates outside the ring with Show looking upset inside the ring, having lost his title after winning a world championship for the first time in 9 years.
Raw: Alberto Del Rio v Kofi Kingston v Jack Swagger v Evan Bourne v R-Truth v Alex Riley v The Miz v Rey Mysterio
Money in the Bank 2011
17 July 2011
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Rating: 7/10
Every competitor brings a ladder into the ring with them which is an interesting approach to start the bout.These are then mostly thrown at The Miz who apparently had taken out most of these guys with ladders earlier in the week. There are a few nicer spots in this match than in the Raw match, with Evan Bourne hitting air bourne from the top of a full size ladder, and lots of these guys adapting their moves neatly to involve a ladder, including a 619 from Mysterio. There was also a point when all seven competitors (the Miz had been taken out the back by medical staff after falling when he was hanging off the briefcase) were at the top of a ladder attempting to grab the swinging briefcase. Mysterio looks to win as he is attacking Del Rio with the briefcase to attempt to knock him off the ladder but Del Rio rips Mysterio's mask off as they both fall from the ladder before Del Rio climbs back up to claim the briefcase.
Cash in: v CM Punk
Summerslam, 14 August 2011
Result: Successful
Del Rio actually attempted to cash the briefcase later the same day after CM Punk beat Cena and was leaving the company as champion. Punk hit Del Rio with a kick before that could happen, leaving the company with the title.
CM Punk just defeated John Cena in controversial circumstances with special guest referee Triple H not seeing Cena's foot on the ropes. While Punk is celebrating, Kevin Nash returns to the company and takes him out for Alberto Del Rio to run in, kick Punk in the head and take the pinfall and the undisputed title.
World Heavyweight Championship: Dolph Ziggler v Santino Marella v Cody Rhodes v Damien Sandow v Tyson Kidd v Sin Cara v Tensai v Christian
Money in the Bank 2012
15 July 2015
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rating: 7/10
There's a nice mix of wrestlers in here and it makes for an interesting match up. There are great bits with Christian and Sandow jumping over each other to climb the ladder, Vicky Guerrero climbing to distract Cody Rhodes, Santino being too scared of heights to climb the ladder quickly enough. Sin Cara got slammed into a ladder for the second year running. Poor guy. The pace of this match is well designed, with the action getting faster and more intense and dangerous as it went on.
Cash in: v Alberto Del Rio
Raw, 8 April 2013
Result: Successful
Ziggler had attempted to cash in the contract several times and had to defend the briefcase twice as well, before he was finally able to cash in against Del Rio. Alberto Del Rio was in a handicap match against Jack Swagger and Zeb Coulter The match actually ended with a victory for Del Rio with Coulter never entering the ring, but he was struggling with an injured ankle from the patriot lock. Medical staff attend to Del Rio as Ziggler comes down to the ring accompanied by Big E and AJ Lee with the crowd going wild. Ziggler goes straight for the leg. Del Rio manages to survive a fameasser and actually manages a bit of offence but both his injured and Ziggler prove too much for him.
WWE Championship: Kane v Chris Jericho v The Miz v The Big Show v John Cena
Money in the Bank 2012
15 July 2012
Winner: John Cena
Rating: 8/10
For the first time, a Money In The Bank match headlined the show, over two title matches. and it seems obvious why. It's a much more star studded MITB match than we have seen before, with all five of these guys being former world champions and two of them having previously won a MITB match. It's also a much smaller field and they haven't padded it out with midcarders. Every clash between competitors feels big and important. Cena hits an AA on the Big Show through a table and all the competitors bury him under ladders. Other spots don't feel as big but they are all exciting and have a sense of importance due to the quality of all these wrestlers. The commentators oversell Big Show's reinforced ladder which we have seen before and to be honest, I was expecting to see, otherwise it ruled him out as a potential winner. The ending works well, as Jericho and the Miz literally fight over the briefcase, with Jericho swinging back and forth whilst holding onto it, and Cena taking the victory when he attacks The Big Show with the briefcase and it breaks off.
Cash in: v CM Punk
Raw, 23 July 2012
Result: Unsuccessful
Cena had appeared on the previous week's Raw during the match between CM Punk and the Big Show. It looked as though Cena was going to cash in then and Big Show stood aside to let Cena do it but Cena just announced that he would be cashing in on the 1000th episode of Raw, so for the first time since RVD cashed in against Cena, we get a fully pre-planned match. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler claim that it has never happened before. They clearly don't know their history.
The match is quite enjoyable. Cena hits the AA but the ref had been knocked down previously so doesn't get count the pinfall. Big Show who apparently had been upset at Cena (despite standing aside last week) came in and hit a spear and a knock-out punch, leaving Cena on the floor for Punk looking conflicted and trying to revive the referee.
Cena kicks out of an easy pinfall and gets Punk in the STF only for Big Show to come in and attack Cena to give him a victory by disqualification leaving Punk to retain his title. Show keeps attacking Cena with Punk watching on, forcing The Rock to run in for the save. Punk gets some heat when he attacks The People's Champ to stop him hitting the People's Elbow on the Big Show before sending Rocky to sleep.
This seems to start a Punk heel turn to set up for a match against The Rock at the Royal Rumble several month's later.
World Heavyweight: Fandango v Dean Ambrose v Jack Swagger v Antonio Cesaro v Damien Sandow v Cody Rhodes v Wade Barrett
Money In The Bank 2013
14 July 2013
Winner: Damien Sandow
Rating: 8/10
Surely Swagger and Cesaro as the Real Americans or Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow as Team Rhodes Scholars would have a distinct advantage in this match as tag team partners.
Ambrose is one of the stars of this match and the only one who is really at a main event level now. At the time all of these guys are real mid-carders. There are some innovative ways that they try to reach the briefcase in this match, including Ambrose being trapped in the ladder and then climbing onto the top of it as it's held by the Real Americans and then Cesaro say on Swagger's shoulders attempting to maneuver and reach it.
With no obvious winner, this match is really quite enjoyable. Cody Rhodes looks to be about to win when The Shield run in and make the save for Ambrose before they are chased off by the Usos. Rhodes pushes Ambrose off the top of the ladder in the ring onto the Shield, The Usos and The Real Americans outside the ring, and is about to win again when Sandow pushes him off the ladder to take the briefcase.
Cash in: v John Cena
Raw, 28 October 2013
Result: Unsuccessful
John Cena cuts a slightly heelish promo and Sandow interrupts him with his custom briefcase. Cena is already hurt from Hell in a Cell and Sandow says that Cena is just fronting because he's afraid that Sandow will cash in his contract, which he teases before attacking Cena with the briefcase before launching a full out assault and then actually cashing in.
This match does go on for a reasonable length of time, and is a reasonable match as well, although I can't help but feel that Damien Sandow was shafted.
This article on The Bleacher Report pretty much sums up why it was a mistake not to give Sandow the belt.
Cena has a wounded arm, went through Hell in a Cell the night before and suffered an assault before the match, yet gets the victory. This doesn't really accomplish anything other than reinforce Cena's superman image and hindering Sandow's career. Sandow has recently left WWE and - as with Mr Kennedy - had he successfully cashed in the MITB contract, you wonder if his career would have had a different trajectory and if he would still be in the WWE.
WWE Championship: RVD v Christian v Daniel Bryan v Randy Orton v Sheamus v CM Punk
Money In The Bank 2013
14 July 2013
Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: 8/10
Again this match is the headline match and it shows the split between the prestige of the two titles that the WWE Championship match has a whole bunch of main eventers competing for the belt whereas the World Heavyweight match is stacked with midcarders.
The crowd love RVD and start chanting for him which just encourages the other five men to attack him straight way. This match is really full of action and it is well spaced which keeps your interest sustained throughout the match. These are some of the guys at the top of their game giving a really polished performance.
There are a couple of times when it looks like someone will win until there is interference. Bryan is about to win when Curtis Axel stops him, and then CM Punk is about to grab the briefcase before Paul Heyman turns on him. This is easily one of the better MITB matches.
Cash in: v Daniel Bryan
Summerslam 2013, 18 August 2013
Result: Successful
John Cena picked his future brother-in-law Daniel Bryan as his opponent for his title defence at Summerslam. Triple H is the special guest referee for the match. With Bryan's rising popularity, he is definitely the crowd favourite for this match with the crowd almost treating Cena as the heel. These two guys are two of the best, with a lot of experience and they put on a really well worked match. It might be one of my favourites. I'm not sure why Triple H is there, though. He doesn't do anything that a regular referee wouldn't do, other than loiter around in the ring far too long. That is until the cash in.
Bryan gets to celebrate for a good few minutes before Orton's music hits, he walks to the ring and raises his briefcase before turning around. Triple H then hits the pedigree on Bryan, Orton cashes in and the length of the match is the same as the length of the three count.
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins v RVD v Jack Swagger v Dolph Ziggler v Kofi Kingston v Dean Ambrose
Money In The Bank 2014
29 June 2014
Winner: Seth Rollins
Rating: 9/10
When you've got RVD, Kofi & Ambrose in a match, you know that crazy stuff is going to go down. This match doesn't disappoint. Some of the best moments are when Swagger powerbombs RVD from half way up the ladder, Ambrose suplexes Rollins from the top and Kofi back bodydrops Rollins through a ladder that he'd made into a bridge.
Ambrose has a should injury which is a work. It means he is taken to the back which makes for a massive pop when he comes back and uses the chair to seemingly take Rollins out and attempts to climb the ladder with one arm before Kane comes out to attempt to pull him off which raises the excitement until he successfully pulls Ambrose off the ladder and hits a chokeslam and a tombstone on Ambrose before holding the ladder for Rollins to climb.
This match is pretty much pure excitement throughout and easily one of the best MITB matches.
With Daniel Bryan unable to compete, the WWE Championship did not have a Money In the Bank match but instead a ladder match for the title.
Cash in: v Brock Lesnar & Roman Reigns
Wrestlemania 31, 29 March 2015
Watching this back, it's interesting to see that the boos for Roman Reigns started earlier than I had thought. This must have been partly due to his victory at the Royal Rumble when the fans wanted Daniel Bryan to win, or at least to be in the match.
Brock hits a suplex and an F5 in the first 30 seconds and it looks like the match is over, however he doesn't go for the cover and instead opts to punish Reigns. He continues to dominate, coins the phrase "Suplex City" and hits a second and a third F5 but Reigns kicks out of both.
Reigns does start to fight back a bit, largely because Lesnar gets cut open and he hits a number of spears and Superman punches. Lesnar hits a fourth F5 when Rollins music hits and he runs down to the ring with the briefcase. The use of the briefcase to turn the match into a triple threat is a great way to get the belt from Lesnar without making him look weak or take a pinfall.
Randy Orton v Neville v Kane v Dolph Ziggler v Kofi Kingston v Sheamus v Roman Reigns
Money In The Bank 2015
14 June 2015
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: 4/10
Randy Orton seems to hit an RKO on everybody, including one where he pulls Neville off the ladder straight into one. It's really odd seeing the New Day as heels. When Big E and Xavier Woods come in to help Kofi when everyone else is down, they get booed, with the crowd chanting "New Day Sucks" before Reigns takes them both out before powerbombing Kofi over the ropes into a crowd of men.
Michael Cole asks "Is it Roman Reigns' time?" despite the fact that he'd been pushed like anything recently. Reigns is about to take the victory before Bray Wyatt comes in to stop him grabbing the case, to which the crowd chant "Yes! Yes!" Bray later makes his infamous "Anyone but you, Roman" speech but the result of his interference is that Sheamus is able to sneak into an empty ring and grab the briefcase after fighting off Neville quickly.
This match is really quite weak in comparison to other matches.
Cash in: v Roman Reigns
Survivor Series 2015, November 22 2015
Reigns and Ambrose had beaten Alberto Del Rio and Kevin Owens respectively earlier in the night to progress to the final of a tournament for the WWE Championship which was vacated by Seth Rollins due to injury. It was interesting that Roman Reigns was getting a better reception from that fans than he had at Money In the Bank.
As these guys had both fought earlier in the evening, it wasn't a long match. It also makes sense that Sheamus would cash in the briefcase after this match as whoever the winner was, they would have fought two opponents already that evening. The Reigns v Ambrose match isn't great. Ambrose leaves the ring to Reigns to celebrate as confetti comes down and Triple H even comes out to congratulate him but Reigns refuses to shake his hand and instead spears Helmsley. He turns round into a brogue kick from Sheamus. After a second one, Sheamus gets the pinfall and the title and hugs from Triple H.
Chris Jericho v Cesaro v Sami Zayn v Alberto Del Rio v Kevin Owens v Dean Ambrose
Money In The Bank 2016
19 June 2016
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Rating: 5/10
This seems like the right number of competitors to me, rather than the massive matches that we have had previously. All the guys get to have a moment of dominance and to get in their trademark moves.
There is a ladder contraption set up in the ring but in terms of bumps, there is not too much in this match, although Alberto Del Rio does a stomp from the top through a ladder and Sami Zayn is powerbombed through one. There's not much destruction and it actually feels quite tame compared to other matches.
Cash in: v Seth Rollins
Money In The Bank 2016
19 June 2016
Ambrose cashes in later that evening after Seth Rollins has defeated Roman Reigns for the title. There are just 57 minutes between Ambrose winning the belt and cashing in the contract.
Reigns v Rollins match is quite good. There are a few sequences with big moves and you don't know which way it's going to go. After Rollins victory, Ambrose's music hits and Seth gets ready for him coming down the ramp but Ambrose sneaks up behind him and clocks him with the briefcase.
The match is just Ambrose hitting dirty deeds and getting the pinfall. I remember being excited as this is exactly what I wanted to happen at this show.
