Top 5: WWE Money In The Bank Cash-Ins 

1) WWE Hall of Famer Edge sets the bar for Cash-In's

WWE: Edge W

s line from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby goes, "If you ain't first, you're last!", and one could be confident in the idea that WWE Hall of Famer Edge had the same mindset in 2005 and 2006.Edge would win the first Money in the Bank ladder match in WWE history at WrestleMania 21, defeating an impressive field in: Christian, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Chris Beniot, to win the briefcase.

Edge would go on to hold the MITB contract for 280 days, the longest for a male WWE Superstar to-date, (second longest in overall WWE history). He also defended the briefcase once in a ladder match against Matt Hardy on RAW during that time.

The longer that Edge held onto the briefcase, the more WWE fans' sense of wonder and suspense grew. Edge wasn't simply just "Mr. Money in the Bank", he made the briefcase a quintessential part of his character and tactics. No one quite knew how or when Edge would strike, but it would certainly be spectacular.

On January 8th, 2006 - the long awaited cash-in finally arrived. The main event of WWE's New Year's Revolution pay-per-view event featured John Cena defending his WWE Championship against: Shawn Michaels, Kane, Carlito, Chris Masters, and Kurt Angle in an Elimination Chamber match.

After a grueling 28 minute match inside the chamber, where he had competed from the start, Cena stood tall with his WWE Championship. With his face covered in blood and his body clearly out of gas, Cena weakly held up his championship and seemed ready to exit the ring - ending the pay-per-view.

WWE: Edge

Suddenly, Vince McMachon appeared at the top of the entrance ramp, and informed the WWE Champion that his night was not over. Edge, being the Ultimate Opportunist that he was (and still is), decided that it was that moment he would cash-in his Money in the Bank contract. Edge would come out to his music, hand over his briefcase to Vince McMahon, and march to the ring.

Cena, barely able to stand, stared across the ring at a fresh Edge with complete shock and horror. As the bell rang, Cena took only a few steps forward, and was instantly hit by a spear from Edge.

Cena would somehow find the strength to kick out at 2, infuriating Edge. Seconds later, Edge would set up and execute another spear and finally secure a pin-fall victory to win his first WWE Championship, with an excited Albany, NY crowd behind him.

WWE: New Years Revolution

Edge cash-in earns the #1 spot on this list for multiple reasons. Edge's cash-in on John Cena in 2006 set the standard for what a Money in the Bank cash-in needed to look and feel like. Regardless of when and how someone cashes-in, the moment must feel special and and unexpected.

But more so than anything, Edge stands at the top of the mountain of MITB cash-in's because he ensured that the MITB concept was able to live on. If Edge's time as the first Mr. Money in the Bank was a dud, and his cash-in on John Cena ultimately led to nothing truly special, then the Money in the Bank concept might have been completely scrapped.

Instead, the Money in the Bank match has become a WWE fan favorite and a significant part of WWE bookings during their calendar year.