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Typically in WWE, the Money in the Bank briefcase is up for grabs in a Money in the Bank Ladder match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. And if you think that's too many Money in the Banks then you'd be right!
The whole point of becoming Mr or Miss Money in the Bank is that you've overcome overwhelming odds by beating several other Superstars in a grueling and incredibly dangerous ladder match.
However, for some smart WWE Superstars, it's possible to win the Money in the Bank briefcase without taking years off of your career by falling off a ladder. They simply have to challenge whoever holds the Money in the Bank briefcase to defend it in a match.
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It hasn't happened often in history, but there have been a few times that WWE has had the Money in the Bank briefcase defended in a match that wasn't a Money in the Bank Ladder match.
Here are five such times.
#5. The Miz defeats Otis for the Money in the Bank briefcase
Otis was a surprise Money in the Bank winner at the WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view in 2020. He beat out AJ Styles, Aleister Black, Daniel Bryan, King Corbin and Rey Mysterio to win.
Otis held the briefcase for 168 days until he was finally coerced into defending it in a singles match against The Miz at WWE Hell in a Cell on October 25th.
The Miz and Morrison had made several failed attempts to steal the briefcase and continually messed with Otis as a result. They had ensured that Otis' onscreen girlfriend Mandy Rose was drafted to RAW and then they threatened Otis with a lawsuit.
Otis ended up being ruled to defend the briefcase by JBL after The Miz bribed him, forcing the Heavy Machinery tag team member to defend the briefcase with his partner Tucker by his side. The match would end with betrayal though, as Tucker turned on Otis, hit him with the briefcase and allowed The Miz to get the win.
#4. Braun Strowman defends his Money in the Bank contract against Kevin Owens at WWE SummerSlam
Braun Strowman became Mr Monster in the Bank when he defeated Bobby Roode, Finn Balor, Kofi Kingston, Kevin Owens, Rusev, Samoa Joe and The Miz in the 2018 Men's Money in the Bank ladder match.
As we all know, Strowman would become one of only a handful of WWE Superstars to cash their Money in the Bank contract in advance, setting up a match for the future.
Strowman would, however, become one of a different handful of Superstars to unsuccessfully cash in his Money in the Bank contract. This was due to Brock Lesnar interrupting his match against Reigns for the title at Hell in a Cell.
However, The Monster Among Men almost didn't even make it that far as he feuded with Kevin Owens after winning the Money in the Bank match. The feud would see Owens beat Strowman by getting thrown off the top of the cage by him, before challenging him to defend his briefcase at SummerSlam.
The Monster Among Men managed to end the feud quite decisively by defeating Kevin Owens within a fairly comprehensive two minutes, ensuring he remained Mr. Monster in the Bank.
#3. Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena in a WWE ladder match for the Money in the Bank briefcase
Dolph Ziggler had a long run as Mr Money in the Bank. Many WWE fans will hopefully have forgotten that in October 2012, John Cena and AJ Lee were accused of having an inappropriate relationship by Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero.
This naturally meant that a feud would start between John Cena and Dolph Ziggler. It eventually culminated in the two Superstars fighting it out over one of WWE's most prestigious titles - Mr. Money in the Bank.
Ziggler came close to losing the briefcase against Cena. He would have were it not for the surprise heel turn of AJ Lee, who pushed John Cena off the ladder just as he was about to win.
We all know that The Showoff is a talented and accomplished wrestler, but not many can claim to have beaten John Cena, defended their Money in the Bank briefcase and gained a new girlfriend in AJ Lee all at the same time.
#2. Dolph Ziggler puts his Money in the Bank briefcase on the line against Chris Jericho's WWE career
Dolph Ziggler won the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank match in 2021, climbing above Christian, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, Santino Marella, Sin Cara and Tensai.
But before he could defend the briefcase against John Cena in the ladder match at Tables, Ladders and Chairs, he defended it against Chris Jericho to end their feud.
It wasn't just Ziggler who was putting something on the line. Chris Jericho agreed to put his entire WWE career on the line. If he lost, he would be out of WWE. He did lose, cleanly to Ziggler, in the middle of the ring.
This was at a time where Jericho would return to WWE for a while and then go on a leave of absence before returning again. Even so, it was a surprise to see Ziggler get the win over Jericho cleanly and cement himself as Mr. Money in the Bank at Jericho's expense.
#1. Edge defeats Mr. Kennedy to win the WWE Money in the Bank briefcase
They call the inaugural Money in the Bank winner Edge the Ultimate Opportunist. This here might be the single best shred of evidence as to why that is. That's because the Rated-R Superstar became the first WWE wrestler to successfully win someone's Money in the Bank briefcase off of them after they'd won it.
In classic Edge behavior, The Rated R Superstar attacked Mr. Kennedy before their match. He made sure that he was in no fit state to successfully defend his briefcase, allowing Edge to easily pick up the win.
Mr. Kennedy won the 2007 Money in the Bank match, defeating Edge, CM Punk, Finlay, Jeff Hardy, King Booker, Matt Hardy and Randy Orton. The Loudmouth Superstar would subsequently announce he wouldn't cash in his contract until the following WrestleMania.
However, Edge would interrupt him one day with his cunning and wit to goad Mr Kennedy into defending the briefcase in a match. The rest, as they say, is history, with Edge becoming the first person to hold the Money in the Bank briefcase twice. He is also the first person to become Mr Money in the Bank without going through a ladder match first.
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