10 WWE Money In The Bank Winners & Their King Of The Ring Counterparts
8. Daniel Bryan (2011) & Edge (2001)
The story of Edge and Daniel Bryan are similar tales of lifelong fans that worked their way up through the WWE ranks before finally achieving their dream of becoming champion and then having it taken away at an early age. Injuries also shortened the career of both men before they were ready to call it a day.
As each man made their way through their WWE career, they reached many similar milestones. Edge actually won both, the King Of The Ring tournament in 2001 and the inaugural Money In The Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. What made Edge's victory in June 2001 similar to Bryan's ladder match victory in 2011 is that each man used this opportune tool to boost their status, but it would take a couple more years until they finally hit the big time and stayed there.
Despite winning the World Heavyweight Championship in late 2011, Bryan wouldn't truly be seen as a main event talent by WWE until mid-way through 2013. Similarly, Edge took the crown in June of 2001 but wouldn't become a top-tier superstar until a few years later.
When looking back on the great Money In The Bank and King Of The Ring winners over the years, Daniel Bryan and Edge are sure to be included as poster boys. But the reality is, it took both men several years after earning these respective accomplishments to become bonafide headliners.