With the 2016 Money In The Bank ladder match fast approaching, I’ve been rewatching all of the times the briefcase was exchanged for a WWE/World Title match since the idea was first introduced in 2005.
There have been some great cash-ins and some not so great (hey Damien Sandow), but I’m looking at my top 5 favourite moments the briefcase was cashed in.
#5 – CM Punk – RAW, June 2008
Of all the cash ins, many believe CM Punk’s first of two cash-ins to be the most controversial of all, as it took a midcard competitor, and 2 months later transformed him to the top of the WWE tower when he would cash in on a fallen Edge who had just been beaten down by Batista.
At the time, the World Heavyweight Title was a Smackdown exclusive title, so Punk’s cash-in really changed things up.
It was no secret that not many higher ups in WWE rated Punk highly, and in fact it was Paul Heyman that begged the company not to release him just a couple of years previously.
The fact he won the Money In The Bank ladder match at Wrestlemania 24 was shocking enough, but nobody expected Punk to go on and win the title. Despite Punk’s reign being quite a disappointment, the cash-in will remain one of the biggest shocks in WWE history.
#4 – Randy Orton – Summerslam, August 2013
The most heartbreaking cash-ins, if you will. Having won the RAW briefcase at the Money In The Bank PPV in July, it took Orton just one month strike, after the main event of Summerslam.
The ever growing popularity of Daniel Bryan had reached new heights, and the fans favourite underdog had just defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship for the very first time. During the aftermath of the match, as the victory confetti rained down on the new champion, Orton would stun the Pennsylvania crowd by interrupting the celebrations. In another shocking twist, Triple H (who had been the special guest referee) would then turn on Bryan, allowing Orton to slither into the ring, claim the pinfall and the title to leave everybody stunned and devastated.
#3 – The Miz – RAW, November 2010
Cast your minds back to July of 2006, during the WWE ‘Diva Search’ contest, out comes a fresh faced Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, a young 25 year from MTV’s reality TV show ‘The Real World’. In what is quite honestly painful viewing, he stumbles through this lines, misses his cue and puts on a horrific performance promoting the contest.
(YouTube it, it’s cringeworthy)
Just 4 years later, this man became the 8th man to cash-in his Money In The Bank briefcase, and successfully become WWE Champion much to the shock, amazement and anger (Angry Miz Girl) of thousands of WWE fans.
This cash-in was the payoff for years of impressive hard work and dedication that The Miz had put into every aspect of his career.
#2 – Dolph Ziggler – RAW, April 2013
Many people seem to forget that after winning the Money In The Bank in July of 2012, Ziggler was actually forced to defend the briefcase on two separate occasions. The first was against Chris Jericho in a match stipulated that if Jericho lost he would have to leave WWE, which he did. The second defence was against John Cena at Decembers Tables Ladders & Chairs PPV which once again, Dolph overcame the odds and was successful.
It wasn’t until April of 2013, the night after Wrestlemania 29 to be exact, that Ziggler would strike on an injured Alberto Del Rio.
Despite being a ‘heel’ at the time, the thunderous ovation Ziggler received as his entrance music hit post match and he stormed to the ring, was one of the loudest crowd reactions of the 21st century. It’s hard to watch that moment back and not feel goosebumps.
#1 – Seth Rollins – Wrestlemania 31, March 2015
For me personally, this is without a doubt my absolute favourite cash-in, and I’m going to mention it yet again, because..I WAS THERE! After multiple cash-in attempts throughout his time as Money In The Bank holder, fans started to wonder when the big moment would finally happen, and he chose the grandest stage of them all to do it.
As I was sat there watching what had been a very hard hitting, aggressive encounter between champion Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, the last thought in my mind would be what was to follow.
Before the match was even over, with both competitors down, Seth Rollins’ entrance music hit and the entire Levi’s Stadium erupted. Nobody could quite believe what they were seeing, as it was actually happening, the Wrestlemania 31 main event was now a triple threat match.
Roman Reigns went to spear Rollins, who jumped out of the way resulting in Lesnar being on the receiving end, which allowed Seth to hit the ‘Curb Stomp’ on his former Shield ally, and pick up not only the biggest title win of his personal career, but of all time!
As Rollins celebrated with his newly won title, swinging it around on the ramp, the entire stadium still stood in disbelief and awe of what they’d just witnessed, and as I watched on, I knew I’d just witnessed history.
Which was YOUR favourite Money In The Bank cash-in?
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