The Big Picture

The Money in the Bank briefcase remains wrestling's ultimate booking shortcut, capable of minting main-event stars in seconds or exposing flaws in creative planning. From surprise cash-ins to deafening crowd pops, the contract has redefined world championship histories across two decades. Here is the definitive, fact-checked ranking of the 10 greatest Money in the Bank moments ever put on tape.

The Top 10 Rankings

10. Austin Theory's US Title Blunder (November 7, 2022)

Not every briefcase run ends in glory. On November 7, 2022, Austin Theory executed the single worst cash-in in WWE history on Monday Night Raw. Instead of targeting Roman Reigns for a world title, Theory opted for Seth Rollins' mid-card United States Championship. Bobby Lashley ambushed Theory mid-match, allowing Rollins to hit a Curb Stomp for the pinfall.

It was a booking disaster that stripped the briefcase of its main-event prestige for months. Real journalism requires calling out creative missteps, and this match stands as a warning sign for lazy contract execution.

9. Kane’s 47-Second Shock (July 18, 2010)

Speed matters when you hold the contract. At the inaugural Money in the Bank pay-per-view on July 18, 2010, Kane won the SmackDown ladder match in the opening bout. Just 49 minutes later, he struck.

Rey Mysterio had just retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jack Swagger in a grueling 15-minute contest. Kane's music hit, he handed the briefcase to referee Chad Patton, and pinned Mysterio after a Chokeslam and Tombstone Piledriver in just 47 seconds. It marked the fastest cash-in in WWE history up to that point.

8. Liv Morgan’s Emotional Triumph (July 2, 2022)

Liv Morgan turned MGM Grand Garden Arena upside down on July 2, 2022. After winning the women's ladder match earlier that night, Morgan refused to wait. She sprinted down after Ronda Rousey defended her SmackDown Women's Championship against Natalya.

Rousey immediately locked Morgan in an Ankle Lock. Morgan escaped, targeted Rousey's injured knee, and secured a quick roll-up pinfall. The victory earned Morgan her first world title and proved that same-night cash-ins deliver instant star-making reactions when executed flawlessly.

7. Dean Ambrose Unifies The Shield (June 19, 2016)

Las Vegas witnessed history on June 19, 2016. Dean Ambrose won the ladder match earlier in the evening, but his night was far from finished. Seth Rollins had just defeated Roman Reigns clean in the main event to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after a 26-minute war.

Ambrose's music hit, and he blindsided Rollins from behind with the briefcase before official referee Mike Chioda started the match. One Dirty Deeds later, Ambrose became champion. Within a 57 minutes window, all three former Shield members held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the exact same night.

6. Big E’s Promised Prime-Time Cash-In (September 13, 2021)

Big E broke the standard surprise cash-in mold by calling his shot in advance. On September 13, 2021, he announced on social media that he would cash in his contract during Monday Night Raw in Boston.

After Bobby Lashley pinned Randy Orton to retain the WWE Championship, Big E walked out to a thunderous reaction. Lashley targeted Big E's knee, but Big E countered with a spear through the ropes followed by the Big Ending. The victory ended Big E's 14 years climb to his first world title, confirming his status as a legitimate top-tier singles draw.

5. Rob Van Dam’s ECW Hammerstein Hijack (June 11, 2006)

Rob Van Dam brought raw hostility to ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006. RVD gave John Cena weeks of advance warning, challenging him inside the hostile confines of the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

The crowd hurled anti-Cena chants for 20 straight minutes. Late in the match, a masked figure—later revealed as Edge—speared Cena through a table. RVD landed a Five-Star Frog Splash, and Paul Heyman counted the 1-2-3 after referee John Cone was knocked out. It remains wrestling's most volatile atmosphere for a contract cash-in.

4. Edge’s Blueprint Debut at New Year’s Revolution (January 8, 2006)

The moment that established the entire gimmick. On January 8, 2006, John Cena survived a brutal 28-minute Elimination Chamber match in Albany, New York, covered in blood after defeating Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Carlito, Chris Masters, and Kane.

Vince McMahon walked out to stop Cena's celebration, announcing that Edge was cashing in the inaugural briefcase won at WrestleMania 21. Edge marched out with Lita, delivered two Spears to a bloodied Cena, and captured his first WWE Championship. Edge created the Ultimate Opportunist persona overnight and set the standard for every contract holder who followed.

3. The 2021 Reset: Big E & John Cena’s Shock Return (July 18, 2021)

Money in the Bank 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas delivered one of the most complete pay-per-views in modern wrestling history. As detailed in the PWTorch recap of the 2021 event, the show hit on every cylinder from Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley to Big E's ladder match win.

The climax came after Roman Reigns pinned Edge to retain the Universal Championship. Just as Reigns grabbed the microphone, John Cena's theme music erupted for his first live appearance in over 15 months. The Fort Worth crowd created a deafening roar, showing how the Money in the Bank platform serves as the launching pad for major summer storylines.

2. Dolph Ziggler’s Post-WrestleMania Pop (April 8, 2013)

The Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey provided the loudest crowd reaction of the modern era on April 8, 2013. World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio had suffered a leg injury during a handicap match against Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter earlier in the broadcast.

Dolph Ziggler's music hit alongside AJ Lee and Big E, triggering an explosive reaction from 16,000 fans. Del Rio fought back aggressively, catching Ziggler in a cross Armbreaker that nearly ended the cash-in. Ziggler escaped, targeted the bad leg, and executed a crisp Zig Zag to secure the championship. The execution was brilliant, even if Ziggler's subsequent reign was derailed by a concussion weeks later.

1. Seth Rollins’ Heist of the Century (March 29, 2015)

No cash-in matches Seth Rollins' audacity at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015. Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were battering each other in Levi's Stadium during a physical 16-minute main event. Both men lay motionless in the center of the ring after multiple F-5s and Spears.

Rollins' music hit mid-match, marking the first time in history a contract was cashed in during an ongoing WrestleMania main event. Referee Chad Patton turned the match into a Triple Threat. Rollins cut off Reigns with a Curb Stomp, pinned his former Shield brother, and sprinted up the ramp as the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

"Seth Rollins with the heist of the century!" — Michael Cole

As analyzed in WrestleTalk's breakdown of entrant history, Rollins established a masterclass in opportunistic booking that will likely never be matched.

Honorable Mentions

Several iconic moments narrowly missed the cut. Alexa Bliss cashing in on Nia Jax at MITB 2018 altered the Raw women's division instantly. The Miz's first cash-in on Randy Orton in November 2010 established him as a top villain. Meanwhile, CM Punk's back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2009 set the blueprint for mid-carders climbing to the main event scene.