WrestleMania Countdown: Inaugural Money In The Bank Match – WrestleMania 21

Photo Credit: Wrestlerant

The wrestling staff of Back Sports Page have carefully selected what they believe to be the top 41 matches in WrestleMania history. Presented in chronological order, this series will detail the backstory, match review, and aftermath of each match, along with how the outcomes shaped the careers of those involved.

Backstory:

WrestleMania 21 was home to WWE’s most innovative concept of the modern era. The first-ever Money in the Bank ladder match occurred in Los Angeles, California. Six of WWE’s most talented wrestlers battled it out in a chaotic ladder match. The winner would receive a first-of-its-kind contract, a guaranteed world championship match at the time and place of the holder’s choosing. 

The concept was introduced on the February 28th edition of Raw. After defeating Maven, Chris Jericho cut a promo challenging 5 other wrestlers on the Raw brand to a ladder match with the stakes yet to be determined. The Raw GM at the time, Eric Bischoff, began crafting the match on-screen. The stakes were announced, and a top-notch crew of Edge, then WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit and Christian joined Jericho as participants.

Match Review:

The match began before the bell rang as the other five competitors tried to gang up on Kane. The big red machine gained the upper hand through brute strength to bring the action to the ring. After the match officially began, the ladders came out in full force. The mix of styles between the competitors allowed for an excellent mix of hardcore and high spots with impeccable technical wrestling.

Benjamin made the biggest impact in the match. He hit a T-Bone suplex on Edge off a ladder that had the fans standing on their feet. He also knocked Jericho off a ladder with a clothesline after running up a second ladder. Benoit sold his arm injury like it was about to fall out of the socket. Just as it looked like Benoit might grab the briefcase, Edge showed why he would become the ultimate opportunist when he disposed of Benoit and grabbed the briefcase for himself.

Aftermath:

• Edge would hold the first-ever Money in the Bank contract for almost a year. His time in possession of the first briefcase is still the third-longest in history behind Carmella and Damien Priest. He successfully cashed in the briefcase on John Cena at New Year’s Revolution 2006. The win would help catapult Edge into a main event player for years.
• Chris Jericho would transition into title feuds following his loss in the concept he pioneered. He would challenge Benjamin and John Cena for the WWE Intercontinental and WWE Championship, respectively. He didn’t win either championship and left the promotion in August. He wouldn’t return to the promotion until 2007.
• Shelton Benjamin held the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a few more months before losing the belt to Carlito in June. Benjamin then began a losing streak, leading to him being accompanied by his “mother” to matches. That wouldn’t hold him back for long, and Benjamin returned to being a talented and respected member of the midcard and tag team divisions.
• Chris Benoit feuded with Edge shortly after Mania before he was drafted to SmackDown! in the 2005 WWE Draft. He would win the WWE United States title at SummerSlam and keep the belt until JBL defeated him at WrestleMania 22. Two years later, Benoit would murder his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel, before taking his own life.
• Christian began a brief feud with John Cena after WrestleMania 21, declaring himself the better rapper. He moved to SmackDown! in the 2005 draft and began his recurring segment, The Peep Show. He left WWE for TNA in the fall of 2005, where he would fulfill his main event potential and win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
• Kane continued his ongoing feud teaming with Lita against her long-time rival Trish Stratus and her bodyguard Viscera. Lita turned on Kane later in the year, leading to a program with Edge. Kane is the only other participant, besides Edge, to win a MitB contract when he won the match in 2010. He’s now a mayor who took at least 10 gnarly chair shots to the head.