Money in the Bank is one of the most brilliant innovations in WWE. With a multi-man ladder match, the use of the briefcase to get an instant title shot has led to exciting matches and great angles. True, not every winner works out, but the success rate is great. Many of WWE’s top stars have taken part in at least one MITB, and several stole the show even if they didn’t win (see Shelton Benjamin).
Meanwhile, TNA Impact Wrestling has continued not just with ladder matches but Ultimate X and other bouts. They boasted great workers, especially in the X Division, with many of those guys looking perfect for a MITB match. It’s notable that some TNA guys were in WWE but failed to get a MITB shot when they would have been terrific for it. From X Division stars to heavyweights and even ladies, these are 10 TNA workers who would have been fantastic in MITB.
10 Austin Aries
It’s still debatable if Austin Aries quit or was fired by WWE. It did seem off that a guy with so much amazing talent in the ring and character could be misused so poorly when he seemed perfect for NXT.
Aries never got the chance to show what he could really do in WWE as he was the first guy to “Option C” the X Division Title to a TNA World Title win. He had several great ladder matches with Jeff Hardy and others to prove he could handle those bouts and other hard battles. It’s more proof how WWE didn’t use Aries right as, issues aside, he would have been stellar in MITB.
9 Chris Sabin
While he’s best known in TNA for his partnership with Alex Shelley as the Motor City Machine Guns, Chris Sabin was also a stellar X Division worker. He had a few ladder bouts, both singles, and tag teams, and was also part of the very first Ultimate X match.
While not the flashiest wrestler around, Sabin’s grit and determination served him well in TNA. It also would have helped in MITB as he would have been sensational with his “tornado kick DDT” to layout guys before trying to scale the ladder. He could also take some savage bumps and show he was more than just a high-flyer for the bout.
8 Low Ki
WWE has mishandled a lot of TNA stars, but Low Ki is one of the worst. The best the company could do was give him the name Kaval (which translates as “flute”) and give him a brief shot at the IC Title. That ignores how Low Ki was one of the first stars of the X Division, including some of TNA’s first ladder matches.
He also did a good remake of his act as a “suited assassin” who reigned as champion. In MITB, Low Ki would do some great ladder moves but also be smart, letting guys fight each other before striking. Whether the wild wrestler or the suited fighter, Low KI would have been great in MITB.
7 Sonjay Dutt
Sonjay Dutt finally joined WWE but in a backstage role as a trainer and agent. In TNA, Dutt was one of the X Division’s more underrated players, and arguable he should have gotten the title years sooner than he did.
Dutt was in several ladder bouts along with Ultimate X and other matches to showcase his high-flying skills that would have been great with ladder dives. Even if he didn’t win MITB himself, he could have stolen the show in those matches. It’s a shame Dutt couldn’t get into WWE as a wrestler to perhaps spike up a fun MITB battle.
6 Gail Kim
TNA didn’t do as many women’s ladder matches, but Gail Kim was the star of one. Kim was simply in the wrong time, a stellar female wrestler in a period where the “Divas” ruled. Kim put the Knockouts Division on the map with serious wrestling more than capitalizing off of sex appeal and held the title more times than anyone.
She did make a brief WWE return but left just before the NXT “Revolution.” Kim would have shined in some top matches and aided the women's MITB bout nicely.
5 Brian Cage
Not every great TNA worker was a “pure” X Division guy. Brian Cage seemed wrong for the division with his huge build but dominated as champion before becoming Impact World Champion as well. For a guy his size, Cage is able to take off the ropes well and is a powerhouse in the ring.
He’s proven himself winning bouts in AEW, some involving ladders, as he can handle it much better than fans would expect. The Machine also looks amazing in the ring as he could toss guys around before scaling the ladder. Cage actually worked for FCW and WWE failing to see the potential stardom in him is a major missed opportunity, especially for MITB.
4 Petey Williams
Let’s be honest: The Canadian Destroyer is one of the most exposing moves in all of wrestling. But Petey Williams still made it work to take off in TNA. He was one of the first long-reigning X Division Champions and handled scores of great battles.
He suffered a bit making himself into a clone of Scott Steiner, but Williams was tougher than his size indicated and did well in ladder matches. He’s mostly been out of the business, and it’s a shame he couldn’t hit WWE in his prime as Williams would have brought terrific fun to a MITB match.
3 Christopher Daniels
One of the biggest TNA names to never work for WWE, “The Fallen Angel” started in TNA as a good tag team champion. He blossomed as a singles star with a long X Division Title reign and great bouts like Ultimate X. Daniels is still a top worker for AEW and had a stint as ROH Champion as well.
He could still pull off a great performance in Money in the Bank with his technical work and willingness to turn on anyone around him. While it’s unlikely Daniels ever comes to WWE, he’d still be able to scale some good heights in MITB.
2 EC3
Since his TNA return, Ethan Carter has been upfront about WWE’s misuse of him. However, he was terrific in the NXT TakeOver New Orleans ladder match for the inaugural North American championship.
EC3 never got into a regular MITB bout which is a shame as he proved he could handle a brutal ladder match and his arrogant persona would have been great with the briefcase. It seems odd that EC3 never got a shot at being in a MITB match, so it stands as yet another dropped ball WWE made with such sure-fire talent.
1 Jay Lethal
Many fans today know Jay Lethal as “the Franchise” of Ring of Honor, holding every title in the company, including the World and TV belts at the same time. Before that, Lethal showed his stuff in TNA as a six-time X Division Champion.
He was hampered by his “Black Machismo” act rather than being himself but could cut loose nicely. Lethal has hinted he’d like to work for WWE someday, and it would be terrific to see him in a MITB match. Lethal is crying out to show his stuff on the bigger stage.