The Money in the Bank ladder match debuted at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. The MITB match would then be held at the next 5 WrestleMania events, after which the match concept was spun off on to its own pay-per-view event beginning in 2010.
When a Superstar wins the MITB briefcase containing a contract for a Championship match, their victory automatically plays a huge role in their character and gimmick: he will then be known as the MITB winner, carrying the briefcase everywhere he goes, until he cashes it in. Then, he just might be known as the new Champion… Or not.
Oh, the thrill.
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The MITB has ever since been one of the most exciting gimmicks in WWE history. Here are 5 reasons why.
#5. The odds are stacked
Here, we are talking about the match itself to determine the winner. With 7 competitors in the traditional Money In The Bank ladder match, it’s often hard to tell who would take home the briefcase. There are many talented Superstars to choose from who would put their bodies on the line with each hit and fall from the steel ladders!
It's an interesting debate and bet amongst friends.
#4. A star in the making
The winner of the ladder match gives some sort of a preview on who WWE’s future star could be. When you look at the winner of the briefcase, you could also be looking at the new face of the company, if his cash-in is successful. This makes everybody perceive him as the next “possible champion”.
The briefcase carries a lot of significance and importance, and would be able to put the winning Superstar easily under the spotlight.
#3. Suspense
Once the winner has earned the MITB briefcase, he gets to cash-in the contract whenever he wants in the span of one year. This means that until there has been no cash-in, this Superstar’s name will always seem to linger around the main event picture, even though he isn’t actually competing in it.
Will he cash it in tonight? Or maybe in 3 months? Will it be on Raw? Are we going to have to wait until Wrestlemania? WHEN?
#2. Unique cash-ins
Every year, the WWE likes to mix it up with various ways of cashing in the contract to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match. Whether he waits it out for many months or have an immediate cash-in, whether he wins or loses, whether his cash-in match will be lengthy or not – we all love to see diversity in them.
This diminishes the predictability of the gimmick.
#1. Adrenaline
The second the MITB briefcase owner’s music hits, you know serious business is about to go down. People start to get on their feet, feeding off his adrenaline as he runs down to cash-in his contract. You don’t know if he’s going to win or not, but you know he can’t screw it up now as he’s only got one shot at the title. This gets people really anticipated and hyped, dying to know what will happen.
This gimmick will never get old!