It was Wrestlemania 21 when we were introduced to the novel concept of the Money in the Bank match, and 10 Years on the match is still going on- and is being used in various ways; but the emphasis is generally on there being a young(ish) guy who needs a route into the Title picture. While that may change now there's only one belt, the fact Rollins won the first MITB of the new 1 Title era fills me with hope.
Wrestlemania 21
It was the first of its kind, and arguably the best, we had so many different elements in this match which provided us such a good spectacle. We of course had Edge who won the briefcase but we also had Shelton Benjamin (deserved better), Jericho, Christian, Benoit and Kane. I do think Kane is really underrated in these types of matches, that is perhaps because he's definitely slowed down lately- but his athleticism for a guy his size is so, so rare- and then you have Shelton Benjamin who deserved more- in case you weren't aware literally sprinting up a ladder; which is absolutely insane and arguably one of the more dangerous spots there was in the match because while they will have obviously done their best to make sure it was secure there's only so much you can do with loose ladders. They always used to refer to Benjamin was the "best pure athlete in WWE" and he proved it so many times- he deserved more... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R8MFD8dszI&t=14.
Wrestlemania 22
This match wasn't as good as the original, but then again the sequel never is. We had RVD winning- and eventually setting up an angle that could have been a lot more than it was had RVD not been caught doing stuff he shouldn't. The actual match itself provided us with some absolutely great moments- between *shock horror* a great Shelton Benjamin spot when he I guess you could say ran across a ladder and used it as a springboard to land a senton. Then we had one of my favourite MITB Related Moments with Flair being killed- being carried to the back, but then coming back; Flair will always be a showman- and this was his stage. We then had the iconic 5* Frog Splash from RVD onto Finlay which may have not been as dangerous as some of the other spots- but I loved it, and with the crowd behind him it was a great moment.
Wrestlemania 23
If you just isolate the match this was the best ever without a doubt, the reason I may rank 21 higher was because Mr. Kennedy's win meant absolutely nothing and it was because they were worried about an injury as opposed to an actual injury as well. It basically depends on what kind of mood I'm in. But looking at the actual match we had so many different elements to the match, and it was arguably the most star-studded of the Wrestlemania era Money in the Banks with people like Edge, The Hardys, Orton and more involved. Speaking of Orton with the exception of Jeff Hardy, who lets be honest was made for this match he outperformed everyone in my opinion and the spot where he RKO'd a Walking Dead Enthusiast off the Top of Twin Ladders was a great, and one of the most underrated Mania moments ever in my opinion, and it still to this day is in my Top 3 RKO's. Then we get to Jeff Hardy, who all but killed himself so many times in this type of match- never more so than when he did a Leg Drop off a 20ft Ladder into Edge through another Ladder, I like to think it was him levelling the score after Edge's spear 6 Years Prior.
Wrestlemania 24
Another Money in the Bank match, and perhaps because it had to follow 23- but looking back I think this is definitely one of the most underrated MITB matches we've had. It had some of the best athletes WWE has ever seen in my opinion including a certain Benjamin, Shelton (deserved more)- and the best spot he did in a MITB match came in this match in my opinion, but Shelton perhaps felt he had to up his game with John Morrison in the match- and pulling off a frankly ridiculous Ladder Moonsault which just looks like the coolest move ever when you watch it. But Shelton not to be outdone damn near killed himself- as Benjamin was going for the briefcase Carlito and Mr Kennedy tipped the ladder over- and he fell from within reach of the Briefcase outside the ring, through a ladder; which was just completely insane- and the look on Carlito & Kennedy's face painted a picture. You have to wonder what this match would have been had Jeff Hardy not gotten suspended in the build to the match.
Wrestlemania 25
This was the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania- but it was one of the tamest in my opinion. With that said it was the first Money in the Bank featuring Kofi Kingston, who is up there with some of the best Money in the Bank competitors of all time, and some of the stuff he did was so innovative it was unbelievable- literally. This was of course the Money in the Bank that Punk won- and set him up for his heel run; but perhaps unsurprisingly it was Shelton Benjamin who stole the show once again, with everyone jumping onto each other via the ring onto the outside Shelton Benjamin decided that wasn't good enough and climbed a 20ft Ladder before jumping on to everyone. The one thing that always makes me laugh about spots like this is the guys on the outskirts have to go down because the wind has made contact with them.
Wrestlemania 26
The last of the Wrestlemania Money in the Bank match- and if you discount Mr. Kennedy who never actually cashed in; it had the most disappointing winner of all the ones so far. This was perhaps the tamest of the Mania era, by this point it was such a watered down concept in my opinion- and it needed a refresher course so to speak; but this match still had a lot of good moments. We had Evan Bourne's natural athleticism on show- never more evidenced than his Shooting Star Press off of a ladder- but that wasn't the only notable spot; and we had Christian and Matt Hardy going all out in this one, whether it was a Twist of Fate off the top of a ladder or Matt Hardy taking a back bump onto a ladder.
Unless I didn't make it clear enough Shelton Benjamin deserved better- and that's never more evidenced than when you look at the history of Money in the Bank where he will go down as the best competitor ever in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Thanks for reading as always, while I do like Money in the Bank and it produces some exciting matches- but in my opinion it's such a watered down concept with its own PPV now it has lost some meaning. That said I'm still excited to see when Rollins cashes in- and beyond. Thanks again for reading, and stay tuned for the rest of the Mania Blogs coming up. Oh Yeah, and Shelton Benjamin deserved better.
Wrestlemania 25
This was the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania- but it was one of the tamest in my opinion. With that said it was the first Money in the Bank featuring Kofi Kingston, who is up there with some of the best Money in the Bank competitors of all time, and some of the stuff he did was so innovative it was unbelievable- literally. This was of course the Money in the Bank that Punk won- and set him up for his heel run; but perhaps unsurprisingly it was Shelton Benjamin who stole the show once again, with everyone jumping onto each other via the ring onto the outside Shelton Benjamin decided that wasn't good enough and climbed a 20ft Ladder before jumping on to everyone. The one thing that always makes me laugh about spots like this is the guys on the outskirts have to go down because the wind has made contact with them.
Wrestlemania 26
The last of the Wrestlemania Money in the Bank match- and if you discount Mr. Kennedy who never actually cashed in; it had the most disappointing winner of all the ones so far. This was perhaps the tamest of the Mania era, by this point it was such a watered down concept in my opinion- and it needed a refresher course so to speak; but this match still had a lot of good moments. We had Evan Bourne's natural athleticism on show- never more evidenced than his Shooting Star Press off of a ladder- but that wasn't the only notable spot; and we had Christian and Matt Hardy going all out in this one, whether it was a Twist of Fate off the top of a ladder or Matt Hardy taking a back bump onto a ladder.
Unless I didn't make it clear enough Shelton Benjamin deserved better- and that's never more evidenced than when you look at the history of Money in the Bank where he will go down as the best competitor ever in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Thanks for reading as always, while I do like Money in the Bank and it produces some exciting matches- but in my opinion it's such a watered down concept with its own PPV now it has lost some meaning. That said I'm still excited to see when Rollins cashes in- and beyond. Thanks again for reading, and stay tuned for the rest of the Mania Blogs coming up. Oh Yeah, and Shelton Benjamin deserved better.
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