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WWE Money in the Bank is fast approaching with this year's event marking WWE's first pay-per-view event since returning to touring.
Since the event first debuted in 2010, WWE Money in the Bank has become a staple of the company's pay-per-view calendar. The event is usually centered around the eponymous Money in the Bank ladder match.
WWE Superstars compete in dangerous ladder matches for the opportunity to win a contract for a guaranteed World Championship opportunity, good for the next twelve months.
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Despite the event largely featuring the annual Money in the Bank ladder match, it has also seen its fair share of World Championship changes over the years too. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at five World Championship changes at WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view events.
#5 Christian - WWE Money in the Bank 2011
Christian's WWE run in 2011 was certainly an interesting one.
Captain Charisma accompanied his best friend Edge to the ring for his successful World Heavyweight Championship defense against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania 27 in April. But just a week later Edge was forced to retire due to a serious neck injury.
With the World Heavyweight Championship vacant, Christian defeated Alberto Del Rio in a Ladder Match at Extreme Rules in May to win the title for the first time.
However, just five days later Christian's World Heavyweight Championship run came to an end. Randy Orton defeated Christian on the post-Extreme Rules episode of SmackDown, ending Captain Charisma's inaugural reign.
Devastated by his World Championship loss, a subsequent heel turn for Christian followed in the preceding months. This eventually led to a match at Money in the Bank in July.
The stipulation of this bout took away the champion's advantage. If Randy Orton was to get disqualified or if there was "poor officiating," the Viper would lose the World Championship. Orton seemingly had the match under control and was setting up to hit his trademark RKO finisher. However, Christian spat in the face of his opponent. This sent Randy Orton into a rage.
Orton struck Christian with a vicious low blow, causing an immediate disqualification. As per the stipulation, Orton's disqualification led to Christian winning the match and the World Heavyweight Championship.
#4 John Cena - WWE Money in the Bank 2014
WWE Money in the Bank in 2014 saw John Cena capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the 15th time in his career.
Heading into the event, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was vacant. Former champion Daniel Bryan was forced to relenquish the championship due to a serious neck injury. Byan would be out of action for several months after extensive neck surgery.
Due to Bryan forfeiting the title, Stephanie McMahon ruled that the Money in the Bank ladder match at that year's event would be for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
After several weeks of qualifying matches on Monday Night RAW and SmackDown, the field was set. Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, United States Champion Sheamus, Kane, John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro and Alberto Del Rio all competed to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
The closing moments of the match saw Randy Orton incredibly close to retrieving the championships as Kane prevented other competitors from catching The Viper. However, John Cena quickly hit an Attitude Adjustment on Kane, followed by another Attitude Adjustment to Randy Orton onto Kane's prone body.
This allowed John Cena to climb the ladder, retrieve both titles and become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
#3 Seth Rollins - WWE Money in the Bank 2016
WWE Money in the Bank in 2016 saw Seth Rollins capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the second time in his career.
The prior November, Seth Rollins was forced to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins suffered a serious knee injury during a tour of Europe, causing him to undergo surgery and miss several months of action.
Seth Rollins made his return from injury at the Extreme Rules 2016 event, attacking then-champion Roman Reigns after Reigns' had successfully defended his championship in the main event against AJ Styles.
This led to a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view the following month.
The two former Shield teammates battled it out in an excellent main event match that wowed the live fans in attendance. The closing moments of the match saw Roman Reigns attempt to seal victory with his trademark Spear.
But when Reigns attempted the Spear, Rollins counted the move into a Pedigree in mid-air. Somehow Roman Reigns was still able to kick out at a count of two. Seth Rollins followed this with a second Pedigree on Reigns, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the second time in the process
#2 Dean Ambrose - WWE Money in the Bank 2016
WWE Money in the Bank 2016 holds the distinction of having every former member of The Shield hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the same night.
Mid-way through the Money in the Bank broadcast, Dean Ambrose, Cesaro, Alberto Del Rio, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Chris Jericho all competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
The closing moments of the match saw The Lunatic Fringe shove Kevin Owens onto a ladder wedged between a ladder and a steel ring post. This allowed Dean Ambrose to successfully climb the ladder and retrieve the Money in the Bank briefcase, containing a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.
However, Ambrose wouldn't wait long to cash in his contract.
Later on in the night, after Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Dean Ambrose's music hit.
Ambrose shocked Seth Rollins by attacking him from behind with the briefcase. Dean Ambrose then cashed in his contract and hit Rollins with Dirty Deeds to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the first and only time in his career.
#1 CM Punk - WWE Money in the Bank 2011
WWE Money in the Bank 2011 is arguably the most famous and greatest Money in the Bank pay-per-view of all time.
The event emanated from the All State Arena in Chicago, Illinois and centered around John Cena defending the WWE Championship against CM Punk.
After becoming the number one contender for the WWE Championship, CM Punk announced on RAW that his WWE contract was set to expire on July 17, 2011. It just so happened that this was the date of the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
The following week on Monday Night RAW saw CM Punk cut the infamous "pipe bomb" promo after costing John Cena a tables match. Punk delivered a promo in which he declared himself "the best in the world." He'd go onto break the fourth wall by mentioning Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Triple H, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
The next several weeks saw WWE continue to blur the line between fiction and reality as Punk's contract legitimately began to expire.
With Money in the Bank 2011 emanating from CM Punk's hometown of Chicago, Illinois, the All State Arena was defeaning in its support of the hometown hero. Punk and Cena delivered an over 30 minute classic that is widely regarded as one of the greatest WWE matches and moments in modern history.
The closing moments of the match saw Mr. McMahon and John Laurinaitis attempt to "screw" CM Punk out of the WWE Championship in a similar vein to Bret Hart at Survivor Series 1997.
Not wanting a tainted victory, John Cena prevented Laurinaitis from ringing the bell and attacked the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. As John Cena entered the ring, CM Punk hit the Go To Sleep on Cena to successfully win the WWE Championship.
CM Punk eventually escaped with the WWE Championship through the Chicago crowd as his WWE contract expired, blowing a kiss to the furious WWE Chairman.
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