12 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2005
3. The Patience On Edge’s MITB Run Was Insane
Today, the Money In The Bank concept is arguably hackneyed and a bit of a struggle for writers to make interesting. That struggle has less to do with dilution (due to the addition of a women's briefcase) and more to do with the general idea that...well, almost every kind of cash in has been done. It rarely feels all that shocking or satisfying these days, and many of the pushes after don't last either.
That wasn't the case in 2005 when Edge won the first Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Nobody knew for sure what would happen next once that match was over with. Edge won big on 3 April, but he didn’t cash in until New Year’s Revolution in January 2006. Throughout '05, WWE showed a ton of patience, which is something that’d lessen over time with the MITB briefcase.
It's possible that they hadn’t really figured out how to book it yet, or maybe they just wanted to bide their time with Edge's push towards main event status. However you look at it, it’s kinda incredible to look back on this patient approach now.
Edge even defended the briefcase vs. Matt Hardy on the 3 October Raw, and it wouldn't have been outlandish for him to lose it. WWE probs knew they'd be better off protecting the plan with the guy they'd put over at 'Mania 21. Edge's King Of The Ring push in 2001 didn't elevate him the way he'd hoped, so Vince McMahon was leaving nothing to chance 4 years later with Money In The Bank.