As WWE's Money In The Bank Approaches, Here Are Some Of The Most Epic Brawls For The Coveted Briefcase

As the WWE Money in the Bank approaches, it’s a great time to look back at some of the top moments from this historic, ladder-laden event.

The Money in the Bank event first started off as a single epic match at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. Six of the biggest Superstars fought for the very first briefcase containing a contract for a world championship match. It was Edge vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Christian vs. Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin with Edge being the victor. The Money in the Bank match then blossomed in 2010 into the annual Money in the Bank event that WWE fans enjoy today.

The goal of the match is simple: fight tooth and nail against multiple other opponents to win the Money in the Bank briefcase dangling above the ring. The winner can then cash in the contract it contains at any time and place within the next year. And they can do so beginning the very moment they attain the much-coveted briefcase. 

Here are some of the top moments from these monumental matches and events of the past.

2005: The first Money in the Bank

The first-ever Money in the Bank match took place at WrestleMania and it blew the fans away. Particularly, Shelton Benjamin blew fans away. Just as it looked like Chris Jericho about to win the match by reaching for the briefcase atop the ladder, Benjamin raced up a second ladder right next to the one Jericho was on before clotheslining him off the perch.

Ironically, the Money in the Bank ladder match was Jericho's brainchild, so coming so close only to lose out had to be an incredibly bitter pill to swallow. But Benjamin didn't win either. While his athleticism stood out, it was actually Edge who became the first-ever winner of the newly created match.

2013: Randy Orton’s glory

Randy Orton has vied for the briefcase five times since 2007, only winning once, in 2013. But was a glorious win for “The Viper." He was up against Superstars CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Rob Van Dam and Christian and, as expected, nobody held back. The audience even got to witness Paul Heyman stepping into the ring to turn on Punk and beat him bloody with a ladder just as he appeared poised to win.

Rob Van Dam also did an impressive five-star frog splash from the very top of the ladder. But most impressive of all was Orton’s win. He was the last man standing after yanking Van Dam down from the ladder and seamlessly executing an RKO on him as he fell. Then as he climbed to the top of the ladder, he paused and looked around to confirm what everyone else knew: there was nobody left to challenge him. He then very slowly and deliberately claimed his prize.

2016: Dean Ambrose shoves his way to success

This chaotic match featured Dean Ambrose against Alberto Del Rio, Cesaro, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. It was full of wild moves, including a kick to Del Rio’s head by Owens as Del Rio was upside down on the ladder.

Owens and Zayn used the ladders in the ring, naturally, to bang each other up. One of the most pivotal moves was when Cesaro jumped from a ladder to the ropes in order to execute a jumping corkscrew uppercut on Owens. During one of the final actions of the match, Owens was shoved into a ladder by Ambrose. And from there, Ambrose was able to grab the suitcase and win the prize.

2018: Braun Strowman throws Owens off a gigantic ladder

Money in the Bank 2018 was a memorable one for WWE fans and Kevin Owens alike he'll likely be haunted by this match for years to come.

The very dramatic Owens put on quite a show while up on a gigantic ladder during a match between him, Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, The Miz, Rusev, Finn Bálor and Kofi Kingston. Owens was making his way up when Strowman fixed his attention on him. A terrified Owens begged Strowman not to come after him as he clutched tightly to the ladder, which was considerably taller than the normal variety. But Strowman had other ideas, grabbing hold of Owens and dragging him all the way up to the top before throwing him down into (and through) a table.

Owens’ desperate cries before his fall, including yelling “I’m sorry,” made for quite the moment. Strowman was absolutely the winner of this match, and he dominated both Bálor and Kingston before taking the suitcase.

2017: First women’s Money in the Bank

The first women’s edition of the ladder match came in 2017 and featured a win for Carmella. She beat out fellow Superstars like Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya and Tamina Snuka. All five took turns trying to climb the ladder but were always stopped before they could get to the top. 

Among the notable moments was when Flair executed a corkscrew splash from the top rope onto Snuka and Natalya. But in the end, Carmella beat them all. Well, sort of. She did have some help from her valet James Ellsworth.

2018: Alexa Bliss’ blissful win

Unlike the 2017 Money in the Bank women’s match, this fight didn’t involve any men. 

This bout was loaded with badass female Superstars: Alexis Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ember Moon vs. Lana vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Sasha Banks. There were plenty of ouch moments, including Charlotte Flair spearing Ember Moon into a corner ladder.

In the end though, Bliss won the briefcase. She even cashed in on it during Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax’s Raw Women’s Title match later on in the night.

Catch Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 2, at 8 ET/5 PT, streaming live on Peacock.