10 Least Likely WWE Ladder Match Competitors Ever

WWE's Money in the Bank is the next pay-per-view/special event on their schedule. As well as Roman Reigns versus Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title, there will also be a seven-man Money in the Bank ladder match, with a guaranteed WWE title match any time within the next year on the line.

Already qualified as of this writing are Chris Jericho, Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Dean Ambrose. No surprises there, then. All five fit the mould and have previous ladder match experience. Regardless of who the other two entrants are, this should be a hell of a match.

There's a certain 'type' of wrestler you expect to see in a ladder match, at least if you want it to be good. They're usually young, athletic, not afraid to take risks and certainly able to absorb some serious punishment. It's been that way since the days of Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, followed by the era of Edge & Christian and The Hardys and The Dudleys and continued by everyone from Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam to Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston.

For each of those, however, there are ladder match appearances by those that just do not fit the bill, whether they're ageing veterans like Finlay and Ric Flair or super-heavyweights such as Big Show and Mark Henry. There have been some unlikely WWE ladder match competitors over the years, none more so these ten*.

*and one WCW guy. SUE ME.

His name is Finlay, and he loves to fight, just not usually with ladders.

The Irishman had been involved in at least one ladder match in his earlier years, for the short-lived Wales-based Reslo promotion in 1995, but wasn't exactly a veteran of the stipulation match when he was given a spot in WrestleMania 22's Money in the Bank ladder match.

Fighting Fit joined Rob Van Dam, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley and Ric Flair (more on him later) for only the second MITB ladder match in WWE history. The then-45-year-old had only recently returned to the ring after a five year absence caused by serious injury and was enjoying a decent push on Smackdown. It was not surprising that he'd be in a featured match, just that it was this match.

He didn't do anything too exciting out there (besides take a Side Effect and Five Star Frog Splash from the ladder), nor should he have: FInlay's style was smash-mouth and in your face so there was no need for theatrics. He didn't have to do anything fancy on the rungs as it would have betrayed his character.

The current WWE agent was an odd choice for the match because of his advancing age, ground-based style, the fact that he hadn't really had much experience in ladder matches before and because there were other, perhaps more suitable people on the blue brand who could have done the job (Paul London and Brian Kendrick spring to mind).

Regardless, Finlay played his role well and made further appearances in the MITB matches at WrestleManias 23 and XXV.