The History of Money in the Bank

The Money in the Bank ladder match is one of the most popular matchtypes in WWE history. This is no surprise since the stakes could not be higher when multiple Superstars try to capture the briefcase that is the key to superstardom and a World Championship Opportunity - any time, any place for one year.

The violent variation of the ladder match was first introduced by Chris Jericho in 2005 as a part of WrestleMania 21. It's inaugural winner was the Rated-R-Superstar Edge, who cashed in on John Cena in January of 2006 for the WWE Championship.
Since then it became an annual tradition to hold a Money in the Bank ladder match at every WrestleMania with different numbers of participants between six and ten wrestlers.

In 2010 Jack Swagger became the final wrestler to ever win the contract at a WrestleMania, because that same year WWE introduced the Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View. Much like the Royal Rumble or Hell in a Cell Shows, the MitB-Ladder Match now had it's on place on the WWE calender, slotted in the month of June.
The 2011 version of the Money in the Bank show from Chicago, Illinois is ranked by many as WWE's greatest show ever held as it featured former two-time Mr. Money-in-the-Bank CM Punk winning the WWE Title against John Cena in his hometown, Christian actually becoming World Champion again and Daniel Bryan winning the briefcase in one of two amazing ladder matches.

Six years after it's creaton John Cena became the first ever wrestler to unsuccessfully cash in his contract with his opponent CM Punk at RAW's 1000th episode. He was also the first ever to announce his Cash-In before actually doing it. He won this match via Disqualification, which means the title can't change hands.
One year later it was Damien Sandow who unsuccesfully cashed in on Cena. In 2017 Baron Corbin also was not successful.

Since it's introduction in 2010 the Money in the Bank show held two ladder matches. Previously the winner could decide if he is willing to cash in his contract on the World Heavyweight Title, WWE Title or (for a short while) on the ECW Championship.
In 2010 that was changed, because RAW and SmackDown got their own matches and the RAW Superstars would be able the cash in on the WWE Champion, while the Smackdown Superstars had to cash in on the World Heavyweight Champion. Since the end of the brand extension and the unification of the WWE and World Heavyweight Championship, the show would hold only one ladder match.
The show returned back to two matches per show in 2017, although for the first ever the second match would cover a women's ladder match. Both matches saw four wrestlers from each brand of the new brand extension, the winner could only cash in on his brand's World Champion which means either the RAW or SmackDown Womens Title for the Women or the WWE or Universal Title for the Men.


Seth Rollins goes down as the first man ever who cashed during an ongoing match and the first man ever to cash in at WrestleMania, he captured the World Heavyweight Title against Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns in what was called The Heist of the Century. Along with Dolph Ziggler the biggest crowd-reaction the cash-in ever got.
Carmella is not only the first ever Ms Money in the Bank, she did hold on to the briefcase for the longest time, as she waited until April 2018 to cash in on Charlotte Flair.

The Money-in-the-Bank-Ladder is beloved by the WWE fans around the world. The match itself is a sight and the cash-in always makes the crowd go bezerk. What makes the match and the cash-in even better is when a new star or a star who never smelled the World Title before is able to get the victory. 
June's event determines WWE's plans for atleast the next six months or longer. As a WWE it is a can't miss event. This Sunday it is time for the next chapter in Money in the Bank history. Will you be there?

The Money in the Bank Ladder Match by the numbers:
Most wins: CM Punk (2)
Most Participations: Kane (7)
Most Participations without winning: Christian & Kofi Kingston (6)
Total Number of individual Participants: 56 (Men), 5 (Women)
Total Number of succesful cash-ins: 16
Championships cashed in on: WWE (World Heavyweight) Title (9 times), World Heavyweight Title (8 times), SmackDown Women's Title (1 time)
Fasted time to Cash-In: Kane & Dean Ambrose (under one day)
Longest time to Cash-In: Carmella (287 days)


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