Money in the Bank is considered by many to be the fifth major on the WWE calendar behind WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble. Since its inception in 2005, Money in the Bank has become one of the most popular events with a guaranteed storyline twist after its completion -- the winner must at some point "cash in" the contract for a title opportunity at a time of their choosing.
From quick cash-ins, such as Dean Ambrose's effort in 2016, to delayed ones months and months later, the nature of this storyline allows for mayhem at any moment. Here's a look at my top five Money in the Bank cash-in moments.
5. The Beginning
After winning the debut Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, Edge held on to his briefcase for a record 280 days. He would finally cash in at New Year's Revolution on Jan. 8, 2006. His victory came over John Cena, who had just won a grueling Elimination Chamber match against Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Carlito, Kane and Chris Masters.
4. YES! YES! YES!
Daniel Bryan won a Money in the Bank Ladder match in 2011 and held on to his briefcase for 154 days. After multiple teases at cashing in, he would find the perfect moment at TLC on Dec. 18, 2011. Big Show had just defeated Mark Henry in a chairs match to become the World Heavyweight Champion, but Henry would attack Big Show after the match. Bryan capitalized and won his first world title by pinning Big Show in seven seconds, the shortest cash-in match in WWE history.
3. The Viper Strikes
Daniel Bryan had done it. He had defeated Cena for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam in 2013. Randy Orton, who had won Money in the Bank just a month earlier, made his way to the ring. Triple H, who had been the special referee for the title match, delivered a Pedigree to the new champion. Orton would then pin Bryan to win his 10th world title and become the "face of WWE."
2. The Moment
No cash-in has received a louder ovation than what Dolph Ziggler received the night after WrestleMania 29. On the April 8, 2013, edition of Monday Night Raw in East Rutherford, New Jersey, world heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio had injured his ankle in a match against Jack Swagger. Ziggler's music hit and he was met with a deafening roar from the crowd to support the fan favorite. He cashed in his briefcase and defeated Del Rio in one of the most dramatic cash-in matches in WWE history.
1. The Biggest Stage
The main event of WrestleMania 31 in 2015 saw Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Championship against Roman Reigns. A grueling stretch in the match had left both men lying on the mat. Enter Seth Rollins, who had won Money in the Bank nine months earlier, to cash in his briefcase. After Reigns had speared Lesnar out of the ring, Rollins would pin Reigns to win his first WWE championship. Rollins remains the only WWE superstar to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania.