Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank is one of WWE's most unpredictable and thrilling annual events, built around the high-stakes ladder match that launched it. The concept is simple: multiple wrestlers climb ladders suspended above the ring to grab a briefcase hanging from a hook. Inside that briefcase is a contract guaranteeing a world championship match at any time and place of the winner's choosing within the next year. That "cash-in" can happen moments after a champion has been beaten down, turning a celebration into a trap.

The match debuted at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, where Edge won the first briefcase and set the template by cashing in on a bloodied John Cena months later. The idea was so popular that WWE made it a standalone pay-per-view in 2010, splitting the match off from WrestleMania. Since then, the event has anchored WWE's summer schedule, usually landing in June or July. In 2017, a women's Money in the Bank ladder match was added, giving both divisions the chance at the same kind of career-changing moment.

What makes Money in the Bank special isn't just the ladder match itself, though those are always chaotic and dangerous. It's the year-long storyline that follows. Every time a champion gets knocked down, fans start watching the entrance ramp, wondering if the briefcase holder is about to strike. That lingering tension makes every title defense feel more fragile. The event has produced some of the most replayed moments in WWE history, including Seth Rollins cashing in during the main event of WrestleMania 31. [edit]

The Money in the Bank ladder match was born from a pitch by Chris Jericho and writer Brian Gewirtz before WrestleMania 21. They wanted a multi-man ladder match where the prize wasn't a championship but a contract, creating a ticking clock storyline that could last all year. Edge won that first match and cashed in on John Cena at New Year's Revolution in 2006, instantly making the briefcase one of the most coveted objects in wrestling.

From 2005 to 2010, the match was a WrestleMania staple, with winners like Rob Van Dam, Mr. Kennedy, CM Punk (twice), and The Miz. But as the match grew in stature, WWE decided to give it its own night. The inaugural Money in the Bank event took place on July 18, 2010, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Miz won that year's briefcase and went on to become WWE Champion after cashing in on Randy Orton. The event quickly became a fixture, known for delivering at least one shocking cash-in or ladder spot every year.

In 2017, the women's division got its own Money in the Bank ladder match, won by Carmella. That same year, the event introduced the first-ever women's ladder match of its kind, expanding the concept's reach. Venues have ranged from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, which will host the 2026 edition on October 10 after being rescheduled from an earlier date. [edit]

The Money in the Bank briefcase has become one of wrestling's most recognizable props, instantly signaling danger to any champion. The cash-in trope has been parodied and referenced in other promotions, video games like WWE 2K, and even mainstream media. The phrase "cashing in" has entered wrestling slang as shorthand for any surprise title change. The event itself has grown from a single match into a brand, with the ladder match format influencing how WWE builds long-term stories. For fans, the annual ladder match is a highlight of the summer, often producing the kind of high-risk spots that define modern wrestling. The women's addition in 2017 opened up the same opportunities for female wrestlers, leading to memorable moments like Liv Morgan's emotional cash-in in 2022. [edit]

The 2011 event saw Daniel Bryan win the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match, but the finish was controversial because Bryan was not originally scheduled to be in the match, replacing an injured wrestler. Some fans felt the win was a consolation prize after his earlier loss. In 2017, the first women's Money in the Bank ladder match ended with James Ellsworth, a male manager, climbing the ladder and handing the briefcase to Carmella. The decision was widely criticized for undermining the women's division, though WWE later booked a rematch that Carmella won cleanly. The 2019 men's match drew ire when Brock Lesnar, who hadn't qualified, entered midway through the match and won, with many feeling it devalued the other participants. [edit]