5 Ways WWE Use Money In The Bank Terribly

Money In The Bank has so much potential, but it's so often completely wasted.

By Jamie Green /

Chris Jericho conceived the Money In The Bank Ladder Match before WrestleMania 21, with the idea that the winner of the bout would receive an opportunity to cash-in for a championship match whenever they desired.

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First introduced at WrestleMania in 2005 and competed for every year since, a separate Money in the Bank PPV was established in 2010.

Money In The Bank offers the same potential of a championship as a win at the Royal Rumble. A briefcase win used to be a guarantee of a new champion when cashed in, until the 13th winner John Cena was the first superstar to fail in his cash-in.

In the first number of years, this platform was used to establish new stars and create first-time champions. A number of superstars won their first championship through this avenue. For example, it was the route towards gold for Edge, as he earned the nickname ‘The Ultimate Opportunist’.

The shock factor of never quite knowing when or where the briefcase is going to be cashed-in can still be incredibly exciting, and so long as WWE stop making these mistakes, it could yet be for a little while yet.

5. Helping John Cena Look Strong

Over the years, WWE have come up against criticism countless times for putting over ‘Super Cena’.

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This is no different when it comes to Money In The Bank.

It has been used to protect Cena when he loses, make him look strong with failed cash-ins and protect him as the ultimate good guy when cashing-in.

‘The Leader of Cenation’ has been involved in five cash-ins. The very first cash-in Edge took advantage and won the title from 'The Champ', sheltering him from losing clean.

Number two was Rob Van Dam; ‘The Prototype’ lost but through interference from Edge who speared the ‘Babe Ruth of WWE’.

Cena then won MITB in 2012, announcing he was going to cash-in on Raw 1000 against CM Punk. Once again, interference cost John his chance at claiming the title. Big Show had attacked and the match was thrown out.

The next year we saw Damien Sandow lose his cash-in to a one-armed champ. This is the one that hurt the most, completely ruining all momentum ‘The Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses’ ever had.

The 15-time WWE World Champion was lastly involved in Baron Corbin’s cash-in on Jinder Mahal, which ‘The Lone Wolf’ failed to capitalise on. Corbin interrupted Cena vs. Mahal to cash-in, and John responded in kind. This helped 'The Chain Gang Soldier' lose his title opportunity, without actually losing.

Every single one of these maintained the Superman-like aura for the ‘Doctor of Thuganomics’.

Now with John busy in Hollywood, has someone else taken over the Reigns? Maybe ask Braun Strowman...

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