WWE Money in the Bank is both an iconic match type and a premier annual event in professional wrestling. The concept originated in 2005 as a multi-person ladder match at WrestleMania, where competitors battle to retrieve a briefcase suspended above the ring. This briefcase contains a contract granting the winner a championship match opportunity at any time of their choosing within the next year. Chris Jericho is credited with introducing MITB to WWE audiences on television, but he recognizes former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz as a co-creator of the concept.
In 2010, WWE established Money in the Bank as its own pay-per-view event, now recognized as one of the company’s “Big Five” premium live events alongside WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series. The show typically features two Money in the Bank ladder matches – one for male superstars and another for female competitors.
The unpredictable nature of the briefcase’s “cash-in” stipulation has led to numerous dramatic moments in WWE history, with winners often capitalizing on vulnerable champions to capture titles. As both a match and an event, Money in the Bank has become a fan-favorite fixture in WWE’s yearly calendar, consistently delivering high-stakes action and potential career-defining moments for the company’s top talent.
