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Since its introduction in 2010, WWE’s Money in the Bank event has become one of the biggest shows on the company’s schedule, and is often home to some of the best moments of the year. Over the years, the mid-year spectacular has not only featured great Money in the Bank matches with the winner getting a guaranteed title shot whenever they want, but has also held a few moments that forever changed the sport of professional wrestling.
Below is a breakdown of the 10 greatest moments from Money in the Bank so far, as well as some background on how a lot of these laid the groundwork for WWE’s biggest and brightest superstars of yesterday and today. There’s a lot to unpack here so let’s go ahead and jump into the action.
Sheamus Breaks A Ladder With Sin Cara’s Body - Money In The Bank 2011
Money in the Bank 2011 is arguably one of the best WWE events from the past 10 years, and that’s even before we get into the CM Punk/John Cena main event title match (which we will shortly). In a show that was absolutely bursting at the seams with great moments, one of the best has to be in the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match, when Sheamus powerbombed Sin Cara through a ladder that he wedged between the ring and the announcer table. The sheer force of the impact was a show-stopper and led to Sin Car being carried out on a stretcher.
Daniel Bryan Grabs The Briefcase And Kickstarts His Career - Money In The Bank 2011
Daniel Bryan was already an up-and-coming talent by the time he entered the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match in 2011, but his victory over seven other competitors essentially strapped a rocket to his back and sent him on his way to superstardom. Though he initially said he would use the briefcase for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 28, Bryan cashed it in early and became the champ that December, and started the “Yes” chants to celebrate himself as a heel champion. That chant would eventually lead to Bryan becoming a fan favorite, and the rest is history.
CM Punk Leaves The Building With The WWE Championship - Money In The Bank 2011
The biggest moment of Money in the Bank 2011, and quite possibly of that year, in general, behind maybe only his epic pipe bomb promo, was CM Punk defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship and then doing what he promised: walking out of the Allstate Arena with WWE’s top prize. The match, which was the first WWE contest to receive a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer since 1997, was great from top to bottom, but the image of CM Punk blowing a kiss at Vince McMahon is a moment no one will soon forget.
Paul Heyman Turns On CM Punk - Money In The Bank 2013
Going into Money in the Bank 2013, the great wrestling mind Paul Heyman had been in an alliance with CM Punk for nearly a year. That all went out the window in the Money in the Bank ladder match when Heyman turned on his associate and caused him to lose a match he was moments away from winning. With a head busted open from three hits from the ladder, CM Punk laid flat on the mat as Heyman walked away triumphantly. This would lead to a months-long feud between the former associates, which included a SummerSlam match between CM Punk and a returning Brock Lesnar.
Seth Rollins Wins His First MITB Match - Money In The Bank 2014
There were few things hotter in WWE in 2014 than Seth Rollins. From the moment Rollins was revealed to be Triple H’s “Plan B” to bring on the destruction of The Shield from the inside, it quickly turned into one of the best singles runs in quite some time. The next chapter in Rollins’ reign as the top true heel of the company kicked off with his victory at the Money in the Bank 2014. Even though a returning Kane helped The Authority’s golden boy take a victory from his former Shield brother, Dean Ambrose, it didn’t matter, because of what was to come. So, what came of it? Rollins went on to cash-in his briefcase and became the WWE Champion after pinning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31 in March 2015.
Kevin Owens Powerbombs John Cena Onto The Ring Apron - Money In The Bank 2015
In the summer of 2015, then-NXT Champion Kevin Owens shocked the WWE Universe when he showed up and attacked John Cena. The two quickly found themselves in a series of matches that eventually led to a match at Money in the Bank. Following the match, which Cena won (#LOLCENAWINS), the wrestler-turned-actor reached out to shake Owens’ hand and commend him for his effort during the grueling match. Owens, however, had other plans and proceeded to viciously powerbomb Cena onto the ring apron, laughing as referees and medical staffed helped lead the US Champion out of the arena.
All Three Members Of The Shield Win The WWE World Heavyweight Championship In One Night - Money In The Bank 2016
This is actually multiple moments, but too good to pass up, because all three former members of The Shield were WWE World Heavyweight Champion at one point during Money in the Bank 2016. First, Dean Ambrose won the Money in the Bank ladder match which earned him a title opportunity of his choosing. Then Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Before Rollins could celebrate too much, Ambrose’s music hit and his former brother-in-arms ran to the ring and quickly defeated him, walking out of the arena as the WWE’s top champion. All of that was not only in the same night, but within a span of an hour.
Brock Lesnar Returns And Grabs The MITB Briefcase - Money In The Bank 2019
The ladder match at Money in the Bank 2019 looked like it was going to end in victory for Ali, who held off Baron Corbin and five other competitors as he stood atop the ladder. Then, to the surprise of everyone (especially Ali, whose hands were on the briefcase), Brock Lesnar’s music hit and The Beast ran down to the ring, knocking over everything (and everyone) in his path. Within seconds, Ali was on the ground and Lesnar had the Money in the Bank briefcase, and a title opportunity, in his possession without even breaking a sweat. Who knows, maybe Lesnar will repeat that feat again this year...
Daniel Bryan And AJ Styles Brawl In Vince McMahon’s Office - Money In The Bank 2020
The 2020 Money in the Bank event, like pretty much everything else that happened that year, was like nothing we had ever seen before. Instead of being held in an arena in front of thousands of screaming fans, the two ladder matches were instead held at WWE Headquarters in beautiful Stamford, Connecticut. The men’s match, which included brawls in the WWE gym, cafeteria, and eventually the roof of the building (poor Rey Mysterio), also had a quick detour with Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles fighting in Vince McMahon’s office, T-Rex head and all.
Asuka Jumps Off The Balcony At WWE Headquarters - Money In The Bank 2020
The 2020 Money in the Bank event also featured an equally as insane Women’s ladder match, one that started with introductions not on an entrance ramp but in the lobby of WWE headquarters. After quick introductions that looked like a video game come to life, Asuka got the action started in the most appropriate way possible: by jumping off the balcony onto her competitors before running into an elevator. Seriously, both of the Money in the Bank ladder matches made the most of the situation and offered something unique instead of having people wrestle in an empty studio like every other event.
Will this year’s event top any of these these memorable moments of the past? We’ll have to wait and find out when WWE Money in the Bank 2021 airs lives on Peacock Premium, Sunday, July 18. And, the action won’t stop there as there are still plenty of upcoming WWE events to look forward this year and beyond.
