Money in the Bank featured a multitude of surprises and memorable moments in a city where Ladder Matches have always been welcome, Philadelphia.
The feedback from the WWE Universe has been reverberating globally about the event that will shape the fate of the WWE landscape for possibly the next year. There’s no telling where or when the two Money in the Bank Ladder Match winners will cash in their contracts, or if they will become the next WWE and World Champions, respectively.
SummerSlam is around the corner, but before we commence to the biggest event of the summer, let’s take a look at our five favorite moments from Money in the Bank.
The Money in the Bank Kickoff Match was a sensational display of talents with The Usos vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns with the titles on the line. The match featured plenty of fast-paced action from both teams — but nothing was more devastating than the turnbuckle powerbomb The Shield members unleashed.
Rollins had Jimmy Uso in the corner and prepared for a superplex, but brother Jey attempted to backdrop Rollins from the second rope while he was still holding onto Jimmy. Reigns re-entered the ring and caught Jey under the ropes and proceeded to powerbomb him, sending all three Superstars crashing down to the mat, resulting in raucous “awesome” chants from the WWE Universe in attendance.
The World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match was one of the most exciting contests of the night. Plenty of chaos ensued throughout the bout, including tag team turmoil, a Bull Hammer from atop a ladder, and a literal mountain of men piled up underneath. But no feat was more bedazzling than Fandango’s impressive sunset flip, over-the-ladder powerbomb to Wade Barrett.
The British brawler had just dispatched Jack Swagger with a Bull Hammer from the top of the ladder and victory was in his grasp. Fandango slyly crept into the ring and swiftly climbed the ladder to prevent Barrett from grabbing the briefcase. When it seemed as though Barrett would knock the dancer down a few steps, Fandango did the unthinkable. He leapt over The Bare Knuckle Brawler and delivered a sunset flip powerbomb worthy of “10s” across the board from just about every fan watching.
AJ Lee successfully defended her Divas Championship earlier in the night, but what she would do to her boyfriend Dolph Ziggler later on would become an even bigger moment.
Ziggler’s World Heavyweight Championship Match against Alberto Del Rio was beginning to pan in the challenger’s favor when AJ skipped to the ring, distracting him momentarily. Del Rio capitalized on the diversion and nearly defeated Ziggler, but The Showoff battled back. Ziggler continued to lose focus due to AJ’s presence, allowing Del Rio to regain control, nearly beating him with a superkick to the jaw.
Following an unsuccessful attempt at the Cross Armbreaker and a near fall on Ziggler, Del Rio pulled down his knee pad, exposing a knee brace. AJ panicked and rushed to the ring, hitting Del Rio with her Divas Championship just as Ziggler found an opportunity for the Zig-Zag.
The referee saw the interference and Del Rio retained his title via Disqualification. Emotions boiled over when Ziggler and AJ both realized what she did.
Though The Celtic Warrior looked strong in the beginning of the Money in the Bank All-Stars Match, his luck would run out in the end.
Things started going sour for Sheamus when he placed a ladder between the ring and the Spanish announce table and attempted the High Cross on Daniel Bryan. The submission specialist countered with a shove off the apron and a running knee to the outside.
Later, Bryan took out every competitor inside and outside the ring with a flurried offense that included kicks, dives and a ladder barrage. During the onslaught, Sheamus looked to dump Bryan from the top rope. But the bearded wonder noticed the Celtic Warrior and knocked him off the turnbuckle with a ladder — ironically sending him crashing through the same ladder Sheamus had intended for Bryan outside the ring.
Ladders and briefcases weren’t the only thing the two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches had in common. Both bouts also featured shocking, game-changing betrayals.
In the World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match, Team Rhodes Scholars may have ended their friendship when Damien Sandow took advantage of Cody Rhodes’ trust. Just as Rhodes seemed ready to capture the briefcase for the win and the golden opportunity, Sandow used his intellect to shove his “best friend” off the ladder and claim the contract for himself.
CM Punk’s bid to become the first Superstar to win three Money in the Bank Matches fell short due to another stunning act of betrayal.
As Punk and Daniel Bryan locked up on the outside, Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel decided to enter the fray. After hitting Bryan with a Swinging Neckbreaker, Punk showed his disapproval of Axel’s actions by hitting the GTS. Paul Heyman then came down to scold Axel for his action.
With his opponents incapacitated, Punk began his ascent up the ladder. It seemed that he would once again hold a WWE Championship opportunity when Heyman shockingly turned on his client and “friend,” hitting him repeatedly with a ladder while sandwiching Punk between another.
Moments later, Randy Orton slithered into the ring and dropped Rob Van Dam with an RKO from the ladder before claiming his first Money in the Bank victory.