Ever since its advent, the Money in the Bank briefcase has represented something in the WWE that Superstars would literally give an arm and a leg for – insurance. Subject to the whimsical predilections of Vince McMahon, many WWE Superstars are rarely afforded a smooth and steady sailing ride in the company; pushed aggressively on one day only to buried into oblivion the next.
But getting their hands on the Money in the Bank briefcase changes all that.
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Ensuring the Superstar in possession one title shot whenever he pleases, it has been responsible for some of the most entertaining moments on WWE programming in recent years. On that note, here are 5 of the best Money in the Bank cash-ins in WWE history.
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#5 – Edge
Would you expect anything less of the man notorious for his ability to capitalise at the most inopportune moment for his opponent? Not for nothing was Edge known as the ultimate opportunist and this was never embossed better than during his Money in the Bank cash-in in 2007.
Not only did Edge – belonging to the Raw roster – cross-over into Smackdown to cash in his briefcase, he also picked the moment where his victim, The Undertaker, was at his most vulnerable. After braving a gruelling steel cage match against Batista and being battered by a returning Mark Henry after that, a bloody Deadman was all but spent when Edge shocked the world with his cash in attempt.
#4 – Kane
It is considered quite normal for Superstars that have won the MITB briefcase to tease a cash-in for weeks on end, or at least attempt to cash in a few times unsuccessfully before the stars finally align for them.
Well, at least that is the case for most Superstars unless you are of course the noble John Cena who announced his cash-in in advance, or if you’re the Big Red Monster Kane, whose strong suit is clearly not patience.
On the very same night he captured the MITB briefcase, Kane sauntered down the ramp to cash it in on a weakened Rey Mysterio.
Having already punched far above his weight in dealing with the roughhouse Jack Swagger, Mysterio was justifiably no match for the second consecutive challenge that posed itself to him in the form of the behemoth that is Kane.
#3 – CM Punk
Although his first cash-in in 2008 hardly segued into an impactful and substantial run for the Straight Edge Superstar, his second cash in a year later did spell the beginning of the golden run that CM Punk enjoyed in the WWE.
Taking advantage of a laid out Jeff Hardy, exhausted from his exertions against Edge in a Ladder match, CM Punk managed to pin the Charismatic Enigma after hitting him with the GTS not once but twice, to successfully cash in his MITB briefcase.
Not only would think fuel a highly successful heel run for Punk in the company, it also laid the foundation for the company to view him, albeit begrudgingly as it would turn out, as a legitimate star quality performer.
#2 – Dolph Ziggler
If anything could be said about this cash-in, one would do well to notice how well the WWE timed it. In an arena teeming with smarks, as the post-Wrestlemania Raw crowds usually are, an oppressed internet darling finally managed to breach that proverbial glass ceiling and get his hand on the proverbial brass ring.
When Dolph Ziggler cashed in his MITB briefcase in the Raw after Wrestlemania 29, the pop was as close to roof raising as any that has since been afforded to Dolph Ziggler.
Accompanied by his loyal aides in Big E and AJ, the feel good moment for Ziggler having finally reached the promised land in front of the very audience that had vociferously vouched for him all along, was nothing short of magical for all involved.
#1 – Seth Rollins
Could the number one spot be occupied by anyone other than ‘The Man’? Would it even be plausible?
While most other Superstars looked to cash in their MITB briefcase when their potential victim was down and out, Seth Rollins broke precedents when he motored down the ramp to gatecrash Wrestlemania 31’s main event featuring Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns while it was happening.
Not only was this a first in terms of creative booking as far as a cash-in was concerned, it was also against arguably two of the WWE’s most imposing physical specimens.
As we now know, not only did Seth Rollins manage to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by pinning Roman Reigns, his cash-in was also the moment that set the tone for a hugely successful upcoming year for the Architect at the top of the food chain in the company.
