I remember sitting in my living room, popcorn flying, eyes glued to the screen. It was Money in the Bank 2011, and after an absolute masterpiece of a match, CM Punk walked out with the WWE Championship. The crowd was electric, the atmosphere was palpable, and I genuinely felt like I was watching history unfold. That’s the magic of Money in the Bank, right? The chaos, the surprise cash-ins, the potential for a star to be made in one glorious moment. We’ve seen some incredible main events, those ladder matches that leave you breathless and the cash-ins that make your jaw drop. But… let’s be honest. Not all of them hit that same high note. In fact, some were downright… oof. So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let’s talk about the five Money in the Bank main events that, shall we say, left a little to be desired.
It’s tough, you know? Wrestling is subjective. What one person hates, another might find redeeming qualities in. But when you’re talking about the main event of a pay-per-view built around a specific, high-stakes match, the expectations are sky-high. And sometimes, those expectations just… don’t get met. It’s not always about the booking, sometimes it’s just the execution, or the lack of a compelling story leading into it. Whatever the reason, these five main events just stick out as the ones that didn't quite live up to the Money in the Bank hype.
5. Money in the Bank 2014 – Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston
Okay, so this was the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. The actual main event was John Cena winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in another ladder match. But the briefcase match felt like the more anticipated event, and it’s the one that’s still talked about today… for the wrong reasons, mostly.
Look, on paper, this sounds pretty decent. You've got the nascent Shield powerhouse in Roman Reigns, the man of the hour Seth Rollins, the wild card Dean Ambrose, the ever-resilient Dolph Ziggler, and the always-entertaining Kofi Kingston. Jack Swagger was… there. The potential was immense, right? We were waiting to see who would grab that briefcase and set themselves up for a future title shot.
But then… it just kind of sputtered. There were some cool spots, sure. Kofi's usual gravity-defying stunts were present, and Rollins looked like a million bucks flying around. But the pacing felt off. It wasn't the non-stop, exhilarating brawl we’d come to expect. And the finish? It felt… anticlimactic. Seth Rollins won, which was a big deal for him, no doubt. He was the Architect, after all. But the match itself didn't feel like a major event. It felt more like a stepping stone.
The biggest gripe, honestly? The other main event. Cena winning felt like more of a guaranteed outcome. We were anticipating the unpredictability of the ladder match, and it didn't quite deliver the knockout punch. It’s like ordering a steak and getting a perfectly cooked, but slightly bland, chicken breast. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely not what you were craving.
Why it landed here:
It wasn't terrible, by any means. The talent involved is undeniable. But for a match with this much potential, and for the main draw of the show (in my opinion), it just lacked that oomph. It was forgettable in the grand scheme of Money in the Bank history, and that’s a tough pill to swallow for a ladder match.
4. Money in the Bank 2018 – Braun Strowman vs. Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Rusev vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn
Alright, let’s talk about the second men's Money in the Bank ladder match on this list. This one had eight competitors, which is a lot! And it featured Braun Strowman, who was a certifiable monster at the time. Plus, you had the always fantastic Kofi, Finn, Owens, and Sami. Rusev was there for Rusev Day! The potential for utter mayhem was through the roof.
And oh, there was mayhem. Braun Strowman ended up winning the briefcase, which was… predictable, I guess? He was the guy who could toss people around like rag dolls. The crowd was definitely behind him, and it was a feel-good moment in that regard. But the match itself? It was a bit of a mess. Not in an exciting, chaotic way, but more in a… disjointed way.
There were some decent spots, and the interaction between Strowman and the smaller guys was always fun to watch. But it felt like it was missing a cohesive narrative. It was just a series of attacks and spots, with the ultimate goal being Strowman standing tall. And for a main event, that felt… a little thin.
The biggest disappointment? The other main event. Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax had a Raw Women's Championship match, and while it wasn't a classic, it felt more hyped as a genuine main event. The men's match, despite the number of participants and the presence of a monster like Strowman, just didn't have that same gravitas. It felt like a glorified attraction rather than a true championship-level main event.
Why it landed here:
It was a lot of bodies in a ladder match, and while that often means chaos, this one felt a little… too chaotic. It lacked the smooth flow and compelling storytelling that makes a Money in the Bank main event truly shine. And the fact that the other main event felt more important is a red flag.
3. Money in the Bank 2013 – Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk vs. Christian vs. Sheamus vs. Rob Van Dam
Okay, this one hurts. Daniel Bryan. CM Punk. Randy Orton. Sheamus. Christian. RVD. This is a dream lineup for a ladder match, right? The talent is absolutely incredible. You've got technical wizards, high-flyers, brawlers, and guys who just know how to work a crowd. We were expecting pure magic.
And for a good chunk of the match, we got it! There were some fantastic sequences. Bryan and Punk were going at it, Orton was being Orton, and RVD was doing RVD things. The tension was building. We were all waiting with bated breath to see who would seize the opportunity and finally reach that elusive briefcase.
But then… the Triple H interference. Ugh. It completely derailed the match. It felt like the story of Daniel Bryan’s ascent was being sidelined for a vindictive Authority storyline. Randy Orton winning, thanks to Triple H’s help, felt like a betrayal of the pure wrestling spectacle we were witnessing. It was a booking decision that actively detracted from the brilliance of the match itself.
This wasn't just about a good or bad match; it was about a great match being ruined by outside interference that served a different, less exciting narrative. It felt like a punishment for the crowd wanting to see Bryan succeed. And that’s a surefire way to land on a "worst of" list.
Why it landed here:
The sheer disappointment of seeing a potentially all-time great ladder match derailed by a nonsensical and frustrating booking decision. The ending felt like a slap in the face to the fans and the wrestlers involved. It’s a prime example of how booking can kill a great wrestling match.
2. Money in the Bank 2019 – Brock Lesnar vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Bálor vs. Randy Orton vs. Ricochet vs. Ali
This one… this one still makes me scratch my head. The men's Money in the Bank ladder match. We had some exciting participants: Ali, who was on a roll; Ricochet, the human highlight reel; Finn Bálor, ready to shine again; Drew McIntyre, a powerhouse; Randy Orton, the veteran presence; and Baron Corbin, who was… well, Baron Corbin.
The match itself was… fine. There were some good spots, especially from Ricochet and Ali. They really went for it, trying to make this match feel special. Drew looked strong, and Orton did his thing. But the overall pacing and the flow just weren't there. It felt a little pedestrian for a main event.
And then… the ending. The absolute comedy of errors. Brock Lesnar’s music hit, and he came out. He hadn’t even been advertised for the match! He proceeded to beat down Corbin and Bálor, and then… grabbed the briefcase himself. Brock Lesnar, who was already a multi-time world champion, didn't need a briefcase. It made no sense storyline-wise, and it completely undermined the entire premise of the match.
It felt like a booking decision made solely for shock value, and it completely backfired. It turned what could have been a solid ladder match into a laughable anticlimax. It made everyone else in the match look like chumps, and it made the briefcase itself seem irrelevant. Seriously, who books that? It’s like going to a buffet and the main course is just… a single donut.
Why it landed here:
The nonsensical and detrimental ending. Brock Lesnar winning the briefcase out of nowhere completely ruined the match and the concept. It was a booking decision that defied logic and left everyone scratching their heads. It felt like a major misfire.
1. Money in the Bank 2020 – Otis vs. AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Aleister Black
This… this is the one. Money in the Bank 2020. The main event was the men's ladder match. And while the circumstances of the pandemic meant things were going to be different, this was still supposed to be the big finale. We had a decent lineup: AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Otis, King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, and Aleister Black. A good mix of talent.
The actual ladder match sequence happened at the WWE Performance Center. It was… quirky. It was experimental. And honestly, it was pretty entertaining in its own right, with the bizarre hijinks involving Vince McMahon and the office. Otis winning was a feel-good moment, and you could see the potential for a big future for him.
But here's the kicker. The actual main event, the match that closed the show, was after that. It was the women's Money in the Bank ladder match. And it was… fine. But the truly awful part, the part that cemented this show’s main event status as a disappointment, was the AJ Styles vs. Otis match that followed the briefcase grab. No, wait, that wasn't the main event either. It was actually the Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship!
Okay, let me rewind. The men's ladder match, the briefcase match, happened earlier and was an odd, almost cinematic experience with Otis winning. The actual main event was McIntyre vs. Rollins. That match… it was fine. But the context of the entire show and how the Money in the Bank concept was presented made it feel like a letdown. The briefcase match was so disconnected from a traditional main event feel that it just left a bad taste.
The lack of a traditional, high-stakes, crowd-roaring main event where the championship was on the line and the briefcase was the climactic moment… it just wasn't there. The pandemic certainly played a role, but even with those limitations, the way the night was structured felt like a missed opportunity. It was like watching a movie where the most exciting scene happened in the middle, and the ending was just… a credits roll. Not bad, but not the triumphant finale we’d hoped for.
Why it landed here:
The entire presentation of the main event for this show was a letdown. The men's Money in the Bank ladder match was an experimental, almost separate event that concluded with Otis winning. The actual final match of the show, while featuring a championship, lacked the true Money in the Bank main event feel that fans expect. It was a show that delivered a bizarre briefcase match and then a… match. Not the explosive climax the PPV is known for.
So there you have it. My highly subjective, totally unscientific, and probably controversial list of the five worst Money in the Bank main events. What do you think? Did I miss any? Did I get any wrong? Let me know in the comments below! I'm genuinely curious to hear your thoughts. After all, that's the beauty of wrestling, isn't it? We all have our favorites and our… less favorites.
