The Money in the Bank stipulation has proven to be one of the most highly-anticipated gimmicks of the year in the WWE.
When a WWE Superstar wins the Ladder Match and the briefcase for a title shot, it begins what could prove to be up to a year-long storyline arc for the company.
Sixteen different cash in attempts have happened since the match's inception at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, but some have been more memorable than others.
With a new "Mr. Money in the Bank" set to be crowned on June 19 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, here are our rankings for the last 16 cash in attempts from worst to first.
16) Damien Sandow
Sandow won the briefcase at the 2013 edition of Money in the Bank and held it for 106 days before cashing in. He became just the second man to lose in his cash in attempt and the first to ever get defeated cleanly, thus making his original win pointless. Sandow attacked (Super) John Cena, but lost via the Attitude Adjustment in the worst attempt in recent memory.
15) Jack Swagger
You know the WWE isn't taking the booking of the briefcase seriously when a competitor cashes in on a random "SmackDown" episode that is taped three days before airing. Swagger won the prize at WrestleMania XXVI and switched brands to "SmackDown," holding the contract for a mere two days. "The All American American" successfully pinned Chris Jericho on an episode of the Blue Brand after Edge attacked "Y2J." It wasn't a very memorable moment.
14) Edge (2)
"The Rated 'R' Superstar" had two cash ins in his career, but his second one wasn't as notable as the first. Edge won the briefcase from an injured Mr. Kennedy, who had originally become "Mr. MITB" at WrestleMania 23. He then held it for one day, cashing in on The Undertaker, who had just fought Batista to a draw in a Steel Cage Match and was then attacked by Mark Henry, on a May 2007 edition of "SmackDown."
13) John Cena
The "Cenation" leader became the first man to be unsuccessful in his try. Cena won the briefcase at Money in the Bank in 2013 and held it for just eight days, announcing he would cash it in against CM Punk on "RAW 1000," creating significant drama for the bout. He was unsuccessful after The Big Show interfered, causing a DQ, where the title can't change hands.
12) The Miz
The most "must-see" WWE Champion won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the 2010 edition of the event and held onto the prize for 127 days. He cashed in on an episode of "RAW," pinning Cena following a beat down by The Nexus right after his title defense against group leader Wade Barrett.
11) Kane
The "Big Red Machine" won the reward at the 2010 edition of Money in the Bank. The memorable part of Kane's cash in is that he became the first and only man to use the contract on the same night as winning it, defeating Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship with a Tombstone Piledriver after his title defense against Jack Swagger.
10) Sheamus
The "Celtic Warrior" won the Ladder Match last year and held the contract for 161 days. He then Brogue Kicked his way to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by taking out Roman Reigns shortly after he won the title in the tournament finals at last year's Survivor Series.
9) Alberto Del Rio
The "Essence of Excellence" won the WWE Championship Money in the Bank match at the 2011 edition of the event and held the title for 28 days. After CM Punk defeated John Cena a month later at Survivor Series to become the undisputed WWE Champion, he was (for some unknown reason) attacked by Kevin Nash, leading to Del Rio cashing in and winning the title.
8) CM Punk (1)
Punk has two cash in attempts in his career, the first coming in June 2008. The "Best in the World" won the Ladder Match at WrestleMania XXIV and held the purse for 92 days. On an edition of "RAW" in June of that year, he struck while the iron was hot. After Edge was attacked by Batista, Punk emerged and pinned the fallen champion to capture the WWE Championship in a great moment for the flagship show.
7) Randy Orton
"The Viper" won the award at the 2013 edition of the event, giving him a shot at anytime he wanted for the WWE Championship. Orton struck at a time that sent most of the IWC into an uproar, but perhaps that's what makes it so memorable. Daniel Bryan finally got his moment by defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam of that year, but guest referee Triple H hit him with a Pedigree and Orton cashed in to spoil the party. Bryan would eventually have his moment at WrestleMania XXX, but The Authority was born at this edition of SummerSlam. Orton held the contract for 35 days and this moment began the trend of WWE taking SummerSlam seriously again.
6) Daniel Bryan
Speaking of "The Beard," he was also on the other side of a cash in attempt. Bryan won a contract at the 2011 edition of the event, but he became the first man to have an attempt nullified when Teddy Long deemed Mark Henry not medically cleared to compete on a "SmackDown" episode. Bryan would eventually get another shot and on the 154th day of his run with the briefcase, he struck. After Big Show defeated Henry in a Chairs Match at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Henry attacked him, allowing Bryan to implement his title shot and win the gold.
5) CM Punk (2)
Punk became the first person to actually win the Ladder Match twice (Edge was awarded Money in the Bank the second time in a separate contract match) and the first to ever win back-to-back briefcases when he emerged triumphant at WrestleMania XXV. He held the title shot for 63 days. The "Best in the World" attacked Jeff Hardy after his Ladder Match with Edge at Extreme Rules in 2009 to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
4) Rob Van Dam
"Mr. Monday Night" won the second ever MITB Ladder Match at WrestleMania 22 and held the contract for 70 days. What makes his win so notable is that RVD became the first man to announce when and where the cash in attempt would take place: ECW One Night Stand in June 2006. Cena, the defending champion, was met with venom by the crowd in attendance that night and Van Dam eventually won the WWE Championship in an Extreme Rules match after Edge attacked his opponent. Just about a decade later, this moment still holds up.
3) Dolph Ziggler
The "RAW" after WrestleMania is always the most notable edition of the year, but "The Showoff" made it even better in 2013. On the night after WrestleMania XXIX, Ziggler won the World Heavyweight Championship from Alberto Del Rio after he wrestled Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger in a 2-on-1 handicap match in one of the best moments in "RAW" history. Ziggler originally won the contract at Money in the Bank 2012 and defended it successfully twice against Cena and Chris Jericho en route to holding it for 267 days.
2) Edge (1)
The first cash in attempt still holds up as one of the best. The "Rated 'R' Superstar" won the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21 and held the contract for 280 days, the longest out of anyone ever. He then started 2006 with a bang, defeating John Cena -- who had just competed in an Elimination Chamber match -- with two spears to win the WWE Championship at New Years Revolution.
1) Seth Rollins
You just can't beat the first ever cash in attempt at the WWE's marquee event. Shortly after his heel turn, "The Architect" won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the 2014 event. He then held onto the contract for 273 days before completing the most memorable cash in attempt in WWE history. With his former Shield stablemate Roman Reigns facing Brock Lesnar in the WrestleMania 31 main event, Rollins cashed in toward the end of the bout to make it a Triple Threat Match. He then attacked Reigns with a Curb Stomp and pinned him to win the title. It was brilliant booking because all at once it established Rollins as the newest top heel opportunist, Reigns was protected since he didn't see it coming and Lesnar lost the title without having to absorb a pinfall. It is by far the best cash in try in Money in the Bank history.
