Three former Shield members held the world title on the same night

Cultures · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: At the 2016 Money in the Bank, a single ladder match triggered a chaotic sequence of events. After a high-stakes battle for a championship contract, the night ended with an unprecedented outcome: three former members of the Shield—Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns—all held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship within a single evening.

Taking place at Paradise, Nevada's T-Mobile Arena on June 19, 2016, this was the seventh yearly Money in the Bank pay-per-view. The centerpiece was a multi-person ladder match where competitors fought to retrieve a briefcase containing a contract. This contract guarantees the winner a world championship match at any time within the following year.

The night's conclusion was defined by rapid title changes. In the main event, Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, the victory was short-lived; minutes later, Dean Ambrose cashed in his newly won contract to defeat Rollins. This sequence meant that three former Shield members—Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns—had all been the champion during the same night.

The event also featured a high-profile match between AJ Styles and John Cena. Styles secured the victory after his teammates, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, interfered by executing a Magic Killer on Cena. This victory occurred during a period of significant transition for the WWE, as it was the final major event before the reintroduction of the brand extension in July 2016. Furthermore, the 2016 show stood out as the final one featuring just a men's ladder match, given that a women's bout debuted the next year.

The results of the event were predetermined by WWE writers as part of scripted storylines. While the matches appeared competitive, the outcomes were decided in advance and broadcast via pay-per-view and the WWE Network.

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