WWE SmackDown Live’s second exclusive pay per view after Wrestlemania 33 is just around the corner, and it is one of the most hotly anticipated pay per views since The Ultimate Thrill Ride, Money in the Bank.
The star attraction of the show is, of course, the Money in the Bank Ladder match, and this year we have two of those to give us an event to remember. AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn, and Baron Corbin do battle in the traditional Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
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The new addition this year is the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match where Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina go head to head for the chance to win a contract for a SmackDown Live Women’s Championship match.
The burning question is who is going to win these two matches and how good are they going to be? Are they going to live up the great matches of the past decade or so? Well, we’re here to celebrate the great Money in the Bank Ladder matches of the past 12 years since its introduction in 2005 at Wrestlemania 21.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of the 5 best Money in the Bank Ladder matches of all-time:
Please note that matches are ranked through a combination of the match quality and the quality of the cash-in.
#5 Money in the Bank Ladder Match 2016 – won by Dean Ambrose
Last year’s Money in the Bank Ladder match kicks off this list and what a great match it was. Dean Ambrose, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and Alberto Del Rio tore the house down for over 20 minutes of fast-paced action.
All six men – Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, in particular, – took some real risks and crazy bumps as they fought for the opportunity to earn a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and in the end, it was Dean Ambrose who rose to the top of the ladder to unhook the briefcase.
What happened at the end of the pay per view just made this match so much better as Ambrose cashed in just 57 minutes after winning the contract against Seth Rollins – who had just defeated Roman Reigns to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
The Lunatic Fringe sneaked up on Rollins and successfully defeated The Architect meaning all three Shield members were WWE World Heavyweight Champion at some point during the pay per view.
Also read: Ranking the Superstars most likely to win Money in the Bank
#4 Money in the Bank Ladder Match 2014 – won by Seth Rollins
This was the match that marked Seth Rollins’ rise to superstardom in the WWE. Going up against Rob Van Dam, Jack Swagger, Dean Ambrose, Kofi Kingston, and Dolph Ziggler, Rollins became the first member of the Shield to win the Money in the Bank Ladder match to earn the contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.
The match itself was a great affair filled with some superb high-flying action best reserved for these sort of Ladder matches, but it was Seth Rollins’ cash-in 273 days later at Wrestlemania 31 that elevates it to the realm of greatness.
#3 SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match 2011 – won by Daniel Bryan
This one is all about the match rather than the eventual cash in. Daniel Bryan emerged as the victor in a fascinating contest against former Nexus buddies Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, and Justin Gabriel as well as Kane, Sin Cara, and Cody Rhodes.
The match ticked all the right boxes in what is required in a great Ladder match and seeing Bryan get the unexpected victory was a real treat. Unfortunately, the whole cashing in situation was quite weird and not very well executed.
#2 Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania 24 – won by CM Punk
In terms of pure action, this is probably the best Money in the Bank Ladder match of all-time. Back in 2008, when Money in the Bank Ladder matches were still restricted to Wrestlemania, CM Punk won the first of his two briefcases.
He defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, Carlito, Mr Kennedy, and John Morrison in a match that was in overdrive all the way through. It was filled with gifted athletes and performers who put on a show for the ages.
It’s delicious irony that his cash in was also against The Ultimate Opportunist, Edge. And, speaking of Edge...
#1 Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania 21 – won by Edge
You never forget your first. And, in this case, the first Money in the Bank Ladder match is the best of all-time. Won by Edge against Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Christian, it marked the rise of Edge into the main event.
No one knew what to expect, and the fans in attendance were completely blown away by the action they were witnessing in the ring as every single competitor pulled his own weight and ensured that the match was an overwhelming success.
Even the cash in was perfectly executed as Edge won his first WWE Championship ever against John Cena. It was perfection all the way through.
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