Money in the Bank ladder match: Difference between revisions
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On an edition of ''Raw'' the two former Money in the Bank winners, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] and [[Rob Van Dam]] faced off, with Edge coming out on top to earn the first spot in the match. The Next night on ''ECW'' another [[WWE Brand Extension|cross-brand]] match took place, with [[CM Punk]] defeating [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]] to qualify. On that week's ''Smackdown'' [[Booker Huffman|King Booker]] defeated [[Glen Jacobs|Kane ]] in a [[List of professional wrestling match types#Falls Count Anywhere match|Falls Count Anywhere match]] following interference from [[The Great Khali]] to become the third man to qualify. |
On an edition of ''Raw'' the two former Money in the Bank winners, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] and [[Rob Van Dam]] faced off, with Edge coming out on top to earn the first spot in the match. The Next night on ''ECW'' another [[WWE Brand Extension|cross-brand]] match took place, with [[CM Punk]] defeating [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]] to qualify. On that week's ''Smackdown'' [[Booker Huffman|King Booker]] defeated [[Glen Jacobs|Kane ]] in a [[List of professional wrestling match types#Falls Count Anywhere match|Falls Count Anywhere match]] following interference from [[The Great Khali]] to become the third man to qualify. |
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On the next edition of ''Raw'' [[Jeff Hardy]] pinned [[Shelton Benjamin]] in a match to become the fourth man to qualify. The next night on ''ECW'' [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Kennedy]] defeated [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] in an [[Hardcore wrestling|Extreme Rules match]] to earn the fifth spot. Two qualifying matches took place on the next ''SmackDown'' with [[Matt Hardy]] defeating [[Adam Birch|Joey Mercury]] and [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]] coming out on top in a [[List of professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat Match]] |
On the next edition of ''Raw'' [[Jeff Hardy]] pinned [[Shelton Benjamin]] in a match to become the fourth man to qualify. The next night on ''ECW'' [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Kennedy]] defeated [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] in an [[Hardcore wrestling|Extreme Rules match]] to earn the fifth spot. Two qualifying matches took place on the next ''SmackDown'' with [[Matt Hardy]] defeating [[Adam Birch|Joey Mercury]] and [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]] coming out on top in a [[List of professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat Match]] against [[Alvin Burke, Jr.]] to qualify. What was to be the final qualifying match took place on ''Raw'' between [[Carly Colón|Carlito]] and [[Ric Flair]]. The match was deemed a no contest when The Great Khali interfered and attacked both men. The match was rescheduled for the next week on Raw, with [[Randy Orton]] [[kayfabe]] bribing his way into the match up, which was to be an [[List of professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|Elimination match]]. Orton pinned both Flair and Carlito after performing an [[Cutter (professional wrestling)|RKO]] to each of them. Edge and Randy Orton had recently stopped [[Rated-RKO|teaming together]] and there was a lot of tension between them. They both attempted to get the other taken out of the Money in the Bank ladder match. Both failed, as Edge ultimately won a "last chance" [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] after feigning injury to retain his slot and Orton won a match on ECW to retain his. |
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===2008=== |
===2008=== |
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Revision as of 05:08, 19 February 2008
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The Money in the Bank ladder match is a ladder match exclusive to World Wrestling Entertainment with the premise of the winner receiving a contract for a match for the WWE, World Heavyweight, or ECW Championship at a time and place of their choosing within one year of winning the match. The briefcase is suspended as the standard in an otherwise typical ladder match. The winner holds onto the briefcase until they cash their title shot in, can appear on any of the three shows (to allow the briefcase holder the chance to cash in and try to win any of the three World Titles), and typically brings it with them to subsequent matches, sometimes using it as a weapon. The Money in the Bank is represented by a briefcase in the same way that championships are represented by title belts and as such it can be defended in matches (ladder or not) in the same way a championship would be.
The Money in the Bank ladder match has been held at WrestleMania since its inception in 2005 at WrestleMania 21. The 2005 and 2006 Money in the Bank ladder matches featured six participants. For the 2007 match, the field was increased to eight participants.
History
2005
The idea for the Money in the Bank match was introduced in early 2005 by Chris Jericho. He announced the idea on an episode of RAW and General Manager Eric Bischoff signed it for WrestleMania 21, naming Chris Jericho, Christian, Chris Benoit, Edge, Kane, and Shelton Benjamin as the participants.
Edge won the match, then carried and used the briefcase as a weapon for the next nine months -- including once putting it on the line against Matt Hardy at WWE Homecoming, in a match where the loser had to leave RAW. During his time in possession of the contract, he was known on-screen as "Mr. Money in the Bank".
Edge cashed in his contract in January at New Year's Revolution 2006, where he defeated WWE Champion John Cena in less than two minutes just after Cena had retained his title against five opponents in an Elimination Chamber match.
2006
The Money in the Bank idea was revived by Carlito on a February 2006 episode of RAW. Mr. McMahon approved the suggestion and set up "qualifying matches" for the match that would take place at WrestleMania 22. It was later announced that the match was to be "interpromotional," and SmackDown!'s General Manager Theodore Long also set up "qualifying matches" to select three members of his roster to compete.
In the RAW brand qualifying matches, Rob Van Dam defeated Trevor Murdoch, Shelton Benjamin defeated Chavo Guerrero, and Ric Flair defeated Carlito. On SmackDown!, Finlay defeated Bobby Lashley, Matt Hardy defeated Road Warrior Animal, and Lashley won a "last chance battle royal."
Rob Van Dam won the WrestleMania 22 Money in the Bank ladder match after pushing Benjamin and Hardy off a ladder, while he was on another ladder, and retrieving the briefcase. That April, he defended the contract and won the Intercontinental title in a "contract vs title" match against Shelton Benjamin at Backlash 2006. This was the first match in which the Money in the Bank contract would not be contested in a ladder match.
Rob Van Dam cashed in his contract at One Night Stand 2006 and defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship. The match ended with Cena losing after Edge, the #1 contender to the title, interfered on behalf of Van Dam and speared Cena through a table. RVD then hit the Five-Star Frog Splash and Paul Heyman counted the pinfall.
2007
The third Money in the Bank ladder match was held at WrestleMania 23, and was the first to feature eight participants from RAW, SmackDown!, and ECW. Qualifying matches began on the February 19 episode of RAW.
On an edition of Raw the two former Money in the Bank winners, Edge and Rob Van Dam faced off, with Edge coming out on top to earn the first spot in the match. The Next night on ECW another cross-brand match took place, with CM Punk defeating Johnny Nitro to qualify. On that week's Smackdown King Booker defeated Kane in a Falls Count Anywhere match following interference from The Great Khali to become the third man to qualify.
On the next edition of Raw Jeff Hardy pinned Shelton Benjamin in a match to become the fourth man to qualify. The next night on ECW Mr. Kennedy defeated Sabu in an Extreme Rules match to earn the fifth spot. Two qualifying matches took place on the next SmackDown with Matt Hardy defeating Joey Mercury and Finlay coming out on top in a Triple Threat Match against Alvin Burke, Jr. to qualify. What was to be the final qualifying match took place on Raw between Carlito and Ric Flair. The match was deemed a no contest when The Great Khali interfered and attacked both men. The match was rescheduled for the next week on Raw, with Randy Orton kayfabe bribing his way into the match up, which was to be an Elimination match. Orton pinned both Flair and Carlito after performing an RKO to each of them. Edge and Randy Orton had recently stopped teaming together and there was a lot of tension between them. They both attempted to get the other taken out of the Money in the Bank ladder match. Both failed, as Edge ultimately won a "last chance" Battle Royal after feigning injury to retain his slot and Orton won a match on ECW to retain his.
2008
A fourth Money in the Bank ladder match will be held at WrestleMania XXIV, with qualifying matches beginning on the February 18 episode of RAW.
Jeff Hardy became the first qualifier on February 18 after defeating Snitsky. Mr. Kennedy became the second qualifier after defeating Val Venis.
Match history
Official Money in the Bank ladder matches
- 2005: Edge defeated Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (w/Tyson Tomko) and Kane (15:17) at WrestleMania 21
- Edge won by climbing a ladder and retrieving the briefcase hanging above the ring after hitting Benoit with a steel chair.
- 2006: Rob Van Dam defeated Shelton Benjamin, Ric Flair, Finlay, Matt Hardy and Bobby Lashley (12:21) at WrestleMania 22
- Van Dam won by climbing a ladder, tipping over another ladder with Benjamin and Hardy on it, and retrieving the briefcase.
- 2007: Mr. Kennedy defeated Edge, CM Punk, King Booker, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Finlay and Randy Orton (19:10) at WrestleMania 23
- Mr. Kennedy won by climbing a ladder and grabbing the briefcase after hitting CM Punk with another ladder.
Money in the Bank defenses
- Edge (w/Lita) (MITB holder) defeated Matt Hardy at WWE Homecoming in a ladder match.
- This match was also a "Loser Leaves RAW" match and saw Matt Hardy get sent to SmackDown!.
- Rob Van Dam (MITB holder) defeated Shelton Benjamin at Backlash 2006 to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
- This match also had Benjamin's Intercontinental Championship on the line. Van Dam won the match, retaining his MITB and winning the Intercontinental Championship.
- Edge defeated Mr. Kennedy (MITB holder) on the May 7, 2007 edition of RAW to win the MITB briefcase.
- Edge attacked Mr. Kennedy before the match got underway. Kennedy was speared and pinned 15 seconds after the bell rang.
Money in the Bank cash-in matches
- Edge defeated John Cena (c) to win the WWE Championship at New Year's Revolution 2006.
- Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena (c) to win the WWE Championship at ECW One Night Stand 2006.
- Edge defeated The Undertaker (c) to win the World Heavyweight Championship on the May 11, 2007 edition of SmackDown!