10 WWE Stars Who Should Have Won Money In The Bank

3. Jeff Hardy

Shelton Benjamin Edge WrestleMania 21
WWE.com

Jeff Hardy's participation in Money in the Bank matches is, surprisingly, rather limited.

WrestleMania 23 in Detroit was his sole appearance in the bout. His followup appearance a year later would have seen him crowned the winner and the sole possessor of the coveted championship opportunity but his demons caught up with him, delaying his ascension to the top of the WWE mountain.

Hardy's 2008 suspension for Wellness Policy failure not only forced the company to look in a different direction for that year's Money in the Bank winner, it also created questions about whether or not he would ever really "get it". Was he mature enough to leave the pills at home, to stay clean long enough to realise his potential to be the top star in the industry?

The answer was yes, at least for an eight-month span later in the year, but that did not change the fact that Hardy's name should be etched alongside Cena, Rollins, Edge, Van Dam and Orton as the greatest stars to ever win the briefcase.

As it stands, CM Punk rose to the occasion and took Hardy's spot, catapulting himself into championship contention and becoming one of the biggest, and most notorious, stars of this generation. Ironic, considering their heated world title feud in 2009.

Contributor
Contributor

Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.