How a single briefcase changed the strategy of professional wrestling forever
In short: In 2005, a wrestler named Edge introduced a concept that turned championship matches into a game of strategic timing. By winning a briefcase containing a contract, a wrestler gains the power to challenge for a title at any moment, potentially catching a champion at their most vulnerable state.
The Money in the Bank ladder match, first performed at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, was invented by Chris Jericho. The inaugural winner, Edge, established a tactical precedent in January 2006 when he cashed in his contract against a physically exhausted John Cena. This demonstrated that the briefcase's true power lies in its ability to exploit a champion's momentary weakness, even immediately following a grueling match. This strategic advantage was further demonstrated by Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 31, when he interrupted a title match mid-contest to seize the championship. Such unpredictable interventions have become a hallmark of the concept's legacy.
The rules and scope of the match have evolved significantly over nearly two decades. Originally exclusive to male wrestlers and the Raw brand, the format expanded to include women in 2017. While the contract was once restricted to specific world championships, a 2022 rule change allows winners to challenge for any championship. This flexibility was notably tested by Austin Theory, who became the first person to unsuccessfully cash in on a non-world title, the WWE United States Championship. The match's structure has also shifted alongside brand changes, such as when the event became SmackDown-exclusive in 2017. Additionally, the number of competitors has varied, with some women's matches featuring an uneven count of seven participants.
The match's format has also adapted to external circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, WWE moved the competition to its Titan Towers headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. In this 'Corporate Ladder' variation, participants fought from the ground floor to the roof, where the ring and suspended briefcases were located. Since then, the match has largely returned to its standard format, where 5 to 10 participants attempt to retrieve a briefcase suspended 20 feet above the ring. This unusual setting was a temporary response to global health restrictions. Following this period, the competition reverted to its traditional ring-based setup.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Money in the Bank ladder match
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