Kane is one of the most iconic, instantly-recognisable WWE Superstars of all time. Glenn Jacobs made his WWE debut in 1995 under the moniker Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS. A psychotic dentist working for Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, who had a feud going with Bret Hart. He then became Fake Diesel in the April of 1996 following the departure of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash who had jumped ship to rival promotion, WCW.
It wasn’t until 1997 when Kane was born. It all began with Paul Bearer telling The Undertaker that his brother was alive. Kane is coming. At Badd Blood: In Your House 1997, Kane interfered in the first ever Hell In A Cell Match. Ripping off the cage door with ease and standing at the same height as his formidable brother, a legacy that would live on forever was born.
Following the announcement that Kane will be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, and the man behind the mask becoming the Mayor of Knox County, we may very well have seen the last of Kane with regards to WrestleMania matches.
The Big Red Machine has been involved in 21 different WrestleMania matches. This article ranks them all from worst them from worst to best.
21. 24-Man Bonus Battle Royal, WrestleMania XXIV
Kane’s WrestleMania XXIV bout was a number one contender’s match to decide who will go onto face Chavo Guerrero for the ECW Championship on the main card.
The Big Red Machine has been involved in several battle royals at WrestleMania, but this is easily the most forgettable. It wasn’t necessarily a bad match, but nothing really happened.The bout ultimately resulted in a final three of Kane, Mark Henry, and Snitsky – with the Big Red Machine being the last man standing.
The encounter lasted just over six minutes and gave Kane a little bit of momentum running onto the main card. While this wasn’t the most exciting watch, perhaps the bigger problem was that it showcased how much WWE’s ECW was an afterthought.
20. Kane & Big Show & Kofi Kingston & Santino Marella vs. The Corre, WrestleMania XXVII
Remember The Corre? Well, they have an 8-man tag team match at WrestleMania XXVII. After CM Punk had taken over the New Nexus; Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, and Ezekiel Jackson parted ways to form a stable of their own. Ultimately, they found themselves facing off against the team of Kane, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, and Santino Marella.
The match lasted a minute and a half, with Ezekiel Jackson being the star of The Corre. Everyone managed to get a little bit of offence in before being taken out themselves – all leading to Santino Marella hitting The Cobra on Slater and Big Show following up with a KO Punch.
After the bell, Santino ran around the ring doing the hand trumpet celebration with Kane and Big Show. In reality, the match wasn’t bad. However, it was obvious that this was match was made to cool fans down, preparing them for the more valuable match in CM Punk vs Randy Orton.
19. Kane vs. The Great Khali, WrestleMania XXIII
Dubbed an interpromotional match, we witnessed one of WrestleMania’s slowest bouts of all time. With just over five minutes on the clock, The Great Khali and Kane pivoted around the ring with very little selling.
Shortly after the bell rang, The Big Red Machine left the ring to grab a chain with a hook attached to it – the same weapon that his Jacob Goodnight character used in his recent horror movie; See No Evil. He brought the hook into the ring, and Khali ripped the turnbuckle pad off. The future Mayor of Knox County low-blowed his fellow Hall Of Fame inductee, presenting him with an opportunity to hit a body slam. The crowd gave a fairly big reaction to the show of strength, and the commentary team made references to Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III.
Khali eventually hit a Double-Handed Chokeslam, and pinned Kane with just one foot on his chest. After the bell rang, the Punjabi Playboy grabbed the hook and chain and proceeded to choke Kane.
The push of the 7-foot-3 Indian continued from here, as he went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship a couple months later.
18. Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero, WrestleMania XXIV
After a poor pre-show Bonus Battle Royal, Kane had won himself an opportunity to challenge for the ECW Championship. Facing Chavo Guerrero, it was clear that the bout wouldn’t go too long. However, nobody was expecting to witness a record breaking match time on the first WrestleMania to be aired in HD.
This was also the first time that the ECW Championship ever featured at WrestleMania. It’s also the only time that the land of the extreme’s most prestigious Championship would ever feature on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Chavo Guerrero made his entrance, and awaited the Big Red Machine. Little did Guerrero realise, Kane had slid under the ropes behind him. The bell rang and Chavo looked scared. One Chokeslam later, Kane had won the ECW Championship in the fastest match to ever feature at WrestleMania – lasting just 11 seconds.
The shock factor stops this match from being any lower on the list. But it should be noted that the contest made it obvious that WWE’s ECW would never be a top priority, or as unique as it once was.
17. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, WrestleMania 34
Featuring the majority of the undercard, the 2018 addition of the Andre The Giant Battle Royal was memorable for two spots only. It featured some fine in ring action and sat nicely on the pre show. It’s a forgettable match but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad.
The first memorable spot occurred halfway through the match, in which the camera cut to ringside, revealing John Cena sat within the front rows of the crowd wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Appearing as a member of the audience whilst he awaited a response from The Undertaker, he became one of the more memorable moments of this match.
Baron Corbin concluded Kane’s time in the ring. It was important to remember that the Lone Wolf had won this exact match just two years prior, with the last man eliminated being Kane.
The final three came down to Baron Corbin, Matt Hardy, and Mojo Rawley. Corbin and the Hype Man beat down Matt Hardy, and try eliminating him together. In a result of this, the lights went out and the classic Bray Wyatt vignette aired. When the lights came back on, The Eater Of Worlds stood in the centre of the ring. We hadn’t seen Bray Wyatt since the Ultimate Deletion, and he returned to help Woken Matt Hardy win the match.
The Deleter Of Worlds were born.
16. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, WrestleMania 32
In the 10th match of the evening, we saw a variety of different superstars enter the third ever Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Baron Corbin, Mark Henry, DDP, Big Show, Tatanka, and Shaquille O’Neal were all involved.
The match started with a Shaq and Big Show staredown that had the crowd invested. Kane joined the staredown and gripped the two of them for a Chokeslam, but he ended up receiving a double Chokeslam of his own. Every other member of the match went to attack Big Show and Shaq but they were cleared out instantly. The NBA Icon and WWE Legend squared off once again and tried Chokeslamming each other, but were eliminated almost instantly by the rest of the participant pool.
The Social Outcasts managed to use the numbers game to dominate the mid proportion of the match, until Kane and Baron Corbin took them on. Kane eliminated Curtis Axel, whilst the Lone Wolf took out Adam Rose. However, the teamwork came to an end instantly when Kane Chokeslammed Corbin.
Kane went on from here to eliminate Mark Henry, Darren Young, and Bo Dallas. But found himself flung over the top rope by Baron Corbin who won the match.
15. Kane & Rikishi vs. Road Dogg & X-Pac, WrestleMania 2000
With a recent rise in popularity, Rikishi teamed up with Kane to take on Road Dogg and X-Pac.
The team of Kane and Rikishi were accompanied to the ring by Paul Bearer, whilst D-X were joined by Tori. When the bell rang, Tori opened up the contest by slapping Paul Bearer in the face. Immediately, the action inside the ring had spilled to the outside and we had the thrill to watch quite an entertaining match from here.
As a match, it didn’t exactly wow anyone, but it certainly had a place on the card due to its inflated entertainment. Rikishi lands a perfect cutter on Pac, before Kane takes control. Rikishi tried to follow up with a Stinkface, but Pac rolled out the ring. However, Paul Bearer rolled Tori into the ring and Kane threw her into the turnbuckle. As you would expect, Rikishi then Stinkfaced Tori whilst JR says “Tori has a terminal case of ass-breath thanks to Rikishi.”
The Big Red Machine Tombstoned his former tag team partner for the win and Tool Cool ran to the ring, followed by the San Diego Chicken. Too Cool and Rikishi danced, all while Kane kept his eyes glued to the Chicken. Thinking the yellow bird was Pete Rose, Kane went to unmask him. However, it was all a ruse. Pete Rose slid under the bottom rope with a baseball ball but Rikishi stopped him instantly. Kane Chokeslammed the former MLB player, and the segment ended with Rikishi planting his behind on the face of Pete Rose.
14. Kane & The New Age Outlaws vs. The Shield, WrestleMania XXX
In 2013, the Devil’s Favourite Demon had traded in his mask to Stephanie McMahon for a suit and tie to become Corporate Kane. Co-Kane had become heavily involved with the growing Authority, alongside the New Age Outlaws and The Shield. After issues between the six had risen, they had a chance to solve their differences in a six man tag match at WrestleMania XXX.
Dean Ambrose and Kane open the contest but Roman Reigns gets the tag quite quickly. The Big Dog completely dominated the New Age Outlaws before Kane slowed him down. Seth Rollins takes out Kane to keep The Hounds Of Justice in control, leading to Billy Gunn eating a Superman Punch.
The Shield surround Gunn before allowing him to roll out the ring to set up a double outside dive from The Lunatic Fringe and The Architect. Reigns spears Kane, and The Shield hit a Double-Triple Powerbomb on the former DX members.
A fast pace and great reaction from the WWE Universe makes this match a very easy watch.
13. Team Hell No vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big E Langston, WrestleMania XXIX
Following several hilarious therapy sessions with Dr. Shelby, Kane and Daniel Bryan formed Team Hell No and the pair picked up the WWE Tag Team Championships – successfully defending the titles against the likes of 3MB and Rhodes Scholars, they faced the challenge of Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston.
The match opened with a great callback to Daniel Bryan’s infamous WrestleMania XXVIII moment. AJ Lee kisses Dolph Ziggler, followed by Daniel Bryan leathering him with a roundhouse kick. The match had two great styles to switch from. Ziggler and Bryan worked a very fast pace, giving Kane and Big E all the strength work.
WrestleMania XXIX would also go down as Kane’s 10th consecutive appearance at the showcase of the immortals.
Big E Langston was talked up by the commentary team all the way through the match, making him out to be a very big deal. “He deadlifts over 800lbs. Squats over 600lbs. Benches over 500lbs!”
The Showoff asked for his Money In The Bank Briefcase from AJ Lee and goes to hit Kane. The big man dodges and hits a Chokeslam. Tagging in Daniel Bryan for a Diving Headbutt, retaining the Tag Team Championships in the process. From bell to bell, it was a solid match with very little to complain about. Especially when Dolph Ziggler would go on to cash in his briefcase the following night on Raw.
12. Kane & Big Show vs. Carlito & Chris Masters, WrestleMania 22
Five months into holding the World Tag Team Championships, Kane and The Big Show defended the titles against two up and coming challengers in Chris Masters and Carlito.
It wasn’t a very good night for the young men, as this match was dominated by the veterans. Carlito spent the opening moments of the match failing to get a wrist lock on The World’s Largest Athlete. Show lifted Carlito and hung him on the top rope – one leg on each side – and shook the rope.
Later in the match, Carlito removed the turnbuckle pad and drop kicked Show’s knee, sending him into the exposed steel. Meanwhile, Chris Masters locked Kane in the unbroken Master Lock but Show broke it up. The end of the match came when Masters went to the top rope, but as he jumped off, Kane pushes Carlito into the collision. That’s not cool.
Kane Chokeslammed Chris Masters for the win, ending The Big Show’s 0-7 streak at WrestleMania, and went on to lose the titles the very next night to The Spirit Squad. Opening the pay-per-view, this match was fun, entertaining, and got the ball rolling nicely with a babyface win.
11. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, WrestleMania 31
The second annual Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Featuring a large variety of talent such as Mark Henry, Big Show, The Miz & Mizdow, Ryback, Cesaro, The New Day, and Hideo Itami making his WrestleMania debut; we were treated to another entertaining match.
The match started off with Axel-Mania ripping off his shirt and getting crowd surfed out of the ring, and continued to have great little spots and call backs. The Miz and his former protege, Alex Riley, got into a little fight, followed by Bo Dallas eliminating Zack Ryder and doing his victory run. The Bo-Liever would be eliminated by Hideo Itami shortly after.
Kane eliminated Los Matadores, and The New Day attempted to throw The Big Show out. Show landed on the ring apron, and eliminated the entire New Day by himself. The World’s Largest Athlete had the star performance of the match, eliminating everyone.
Cesaro bodyslammed Kane out the ring for an elimination, and then turned to bodyslam The Big Show, much like he did the year before to win the inaugural Battle Royal. Big Show avoided the slam, and hit one of his own, eliminating Cesaro in the process.
The final three came down to The Miz, The Big Show, and Damien Mizdow. The A-Lister begins to order his stunt double to help him, but Mizdow finals refuses the commands after months of build. Mizdow then eliminates The Miz to a thunderous pop. The Big Show went on to win the match, making it the first battle royal he ever officially won.
The crowd were really into this match, and it’s hard to argue why.
10. Kane & RVD vs. Lance Storm & Chief Morley, WrestleMania XIX
Originally, William Regal was set to team with Lance Storm. But after having to take an extended hiatus due to health issues, Chief Morley replaced him. Kane and RVD chased after the World Tag Team Championships in the contest with the Dudley Boyz stood ringside.
Relegated to Sunday Night Heat just a few days before the PPV aired, the four men had a great few minute contest. Kane and his fellow Hall Of Fame Inductee had great chemistry from start to finish, showing it when they hit a simultaneous plancha. The formerly-known Val Venis joined his partner to isolate RVD as much as they could. But when RVD got the hot tag to Kane, the crowd erupted. Clotheslines. Sidewalk slams. Big Boots. Kane Chokeslammed Lance Storm and tagged in RVD who climbed to the top for a Five Star Frog Splash.
Morley pushes RVD off the top, but gets dealt with by Kane. The Dudley Boyz then jump into the ring to hit a 3D on Storm. They roll RVD into the ring and let him go for the pin. However, on the count of two, Bubba drops an elbow to the back of Van Dam’s head. Bubba throws Lance’s arm over the chest of Van Dam for the three count.
A very exciting, warm up for the main WrestleMania card.
9. Kane vs. Randy Orton, WrestleMania XXVIII
Motivated to become a monster again, Kane found himself determined to beat Randy Orton once and for all in singles action.
Performing straight after Daniel Bryan’s and Sheamus’ 18 second horror show, the crowd were still very annoyed. But that didn’t stop the match from being entertaining. Kane and Orton had a very slow paced, methodical match that had a fantastic old school energy to it. The Devil’s Favourite Demon showcased more if a brute style, whilst The Viper out-wrestled him.
It was a perfect dynamic between two separate styles, with fantastic timing and a lot of chemistry. The old-school element added something to the show that sat different to everything else.
Towards the end of the match, Orton went for a Punt Kick but Kane stood up just in time to drop The Viper with a Chokeslam – leading to a close two count. Concluding the match, Kane escaped an RKO and climbed to the second rope. Orton followed him up, and went for the RKO once again, but Kane stops him, and hits a Chokeslam from the second rope to win the match.
8. Kane vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XV
With Chyna turning on DX to join Kane and The Corporation, tension began to rise. Kane attempted to shoot Triple H with a fireball, but accidentally hit Chyna. Then Triple H dressed as Goldust to disguise himself, giving him the opportunity to shoot Kane with a fireball. The build to this match was wild, but it ultimately told the story of Kane having to relieve his childhood in which he was burned alive by his brother, The Undertaker.
During Kane’s entrance, the San Diego Chicken runs down the ramp to hit Kane. However, Kane turns to Tombstone the Chicken, who is revealed to be Kane’s greatest ever rival: Pete Rose.
The DX theme hit, but Triple H came through the crowd and low-blowed Kane. The match spilled to the outside, leading to Triple H dodging a strike from Kane, sending his fist straight into the ring post. Then sending him straight into steel steps. However, Kane turns the tables soon enough, and throws Triple H into the Mean Street Posse who are sat front row.
Pulling off an outside dive, Kane continued to look like a monster. Chyna came down to the ring half way through the match and grabbed the steel steps, sliding them to the Big Red Machine. Kane picked them up, but The Game kicked them into his face, and proceeded to hit a drop toe hold – sending the face of his opponent into the steps.
Chyna interfered more towards the end of the match when she climbed to the apron with a chair, telling Kane that she wanted Triple H. She climbed into the ring, and Chyna lashed the steel into Kane’s back. The bell rings and Kane tries to hit her with a Chokeslam but hesitates. The leader of DX then hits the giant with the chair and Pedigree’s him on top of the steel. Leaving Kane heartbroken, the band was finally back together.
7. Kane vs. Raven vs. Big Show, WrestleMania XVII
Competing for the Hardcore Championship, this Triple Threat Match was simply non-stop action.
Raven made the first entrance with a trolley filled with foreign objects and weapons. The three spilled through the crowd and ended up brawling backstage. It all leaded to Kane slamming Raven into a wall, leaving a huge dent in it. Big Show then tried to lock himself inside of a fenced off area with Raven and a referee. However, Kane presented himself in a similar way to how he did on debut by ripping the door open.
With spots such as Kane getting thrown through a door and the two bigger men falling through a wall, the fans couldn’t get enough. Raven proceeded to drive a golf cart, with The World’s Largest Athlete hanging onto the back until they crash. Kane then sat in a golf cart and ran over the former ECW alumni.
They eventually brawled back onto the arena’s stage, allowing Big Show an opportunity to attempt to gorilla press Raven to the concrete floor. But with Kane big booting the 7 footer, both men were sent crashing through a part of the set. The Big Red Machine took a step back and hit a diving leg drop off the stage for the win, and became the new Hardcore Champion.
The match was unique, and was different to everything else on the card.
6. Kane vs. The Undertaker, WrestleMania XX
After burying his brother alive at Survivor Series, Kane hosted a eulogy for The Undertaker. The Devil’s Favourite Demon would be tormented for months by different signs being sent by The Phenom. Kane was greeted by The Undertaker’s theme at the Royal Rumble, but nobody showed up. Kane’s pyro didn’t hit when he would try to initiate it. Eventually, Kane would be joined in the ring by a casket with nothing but his brother’s urn inside. A match would be set at WrestleMania, The Undertaker’s back yard.
The Big Red Machine had lost his mask just nine months earlier, and was being booked as strong as he was when he originally debuted. He hadn’t picked up a single pinfall loss in the entire duration. Kane made his entrance and waited to see if his brother was truly back.
“Oh, yes!” Druids walked down side by side and lit the ramp up with torches, and Paul Bearer walked out next to The Undertaker. Not only was his brother back, but The Deadman had returned rather than the American Badass that we’d have seen for the several years prior.
Fear shot through the veins of Kane, leading to him retreating a lot through the match.
It had a brawlers feel to the contest, leading to a spot where both men would mount each other to drop heavy punches and strikes. The Deadman would eventually go for Old School, but would get caught for a Chokeslam. Undertaker would also grip Kane, giving us a classic test of strength in which Undertaker would win, despite Kane pulling off the Chokeslam.
Kane raised his arms to set his pyro off, but The Undertaker would sit up. Following a Chokeslam and a Tombstone, The Undertaker picked up the win.
5. Kane vs. The Undertaker, WrestleMania XIV
“Kane is alive, Undertaker!” Paul Bearer warned.
Ah, yes. Kane’s debut WrestleMania match. A backstory that had a deeper history than the Mariana Trench, it was revealed that The Undertaker had burned his parents and brother alive as a child. But the Devil’s Favourite Demon was alive, and he thrived on retribution. Arriving at Badd Blood: In Your House 1997 to tear the door from the first ever Hell In A Cell, The Phenom refused to throw a single strike back at his brother. That was until Kane had The Undertaker locked inside of a casket and set it on fire with no remorse. The Undertaker finally accepted.
Not only was this a blood feud between two brothers, but it was also the night that wrestling’s greatest feud ignited. Baseball legend, Pete Rose came to the ring to run down the crowd. The lights cut out, and Paul Bearer lead the masked monster down the ramp to Tombstone Rose, leaving him to be stretchered out.
Druids lit up the ramp, and The Undertaker made his legendary entrance, whilst Jim Ross hyped up anticipation to the bout. “Is he thinking that this could be the last match that he ever has?”
The standoff was historic, and Kane barely sold throughout the match-up – overpowering The Deadman. The Big Red Machine Chokeslammed his brother and had the match completely won, but raised his head and shoulders from the mat.
The Undertaker pulled out an outside dive during the match, but Kane dodges and sends Undertaker crashing through the Spanish Announce Table. Kane even overpowers his brothers Tombstone to hit a Tombstone of his own, but The Deadman kicked out at two. The Undertaker also hit a Tombstone but this time, Kane kicked out. Officially making him the first person to ever kick out of his brothers finisher.
The Phenom hit a second Tombstone, and followed it up with a third, with Kane lightly kicking out just after the three count. Paul Bearer tried to hit Undertaker with a chair after the bell, but received a strike from the winner of the match. However, this opened up a period of time for Kane to save the mortician, finishing the whole segment by Tombstoning Undertaker on top of the steel chair.
4. Money In The Bank Ladder Match, WrestleMania XXVI
WrestleMania XXVI would go down as the last time Mr. Money In The Bank would be decided on the grandest stage of them all. With a record breaking 10 participants, this match featured a lot of different styles to switch from.
The participants were Kofi Kingston, MVP, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Kane, and Christian. Each man would add a different element to the contest, but commentator, Matt Striker, would deem Kofi Kingston as the favourite.
We saw plenty of spots throughout the match, including Ziggler Zig Zagging Christian halfway off the ladder; and Evan Bourne hitting Air-Bourne from a ladder that was bridged from the top rope and a vertical ladder. The crowd was hot for the contest from start to finish, giving the match a bigger feel.
Kofi Kingston used a ladder as a pair of stilts after Kane had snapped in half, giving us a fantastic visual. Shortly after, Christian reversed a Twist Of Fate, turning it into a reverse DDT from the top of a ladder. The match came to a finish when Christian found himself alone with the briefcase. All American-American, Jack Swagger, managed to change this scenario by bouncing the briefcase off Christians head and claiming it for himself.
3. Kane vs. Kurt Angle, WrestleMania XVIII
With very little backstory leading to this match, The Olympic Gold Medalist ran down the Canadian crown – mocking their figure skating Gold Medalists. He then mocks Kane’s Big Red Machine nickname by calling himself the Big Red, White, and Blue Machine.
Kurt Angle attacks Kane with the ring bell before the match officially starts, and goes on to look incredible in the opening sequences. Showcasing a combination of power and raw talent by hitting several belly to back suplexes and takedowns on the big man, we got a perfectly flowing match. Angle out-wrestled the big man, whilst Kane powered his way through the match.
Kane hits a Chokeslam but Angle manages to get his hand to the bottom rope. The Devil’s Favourite Demon follows this up by attempting a Tombstone, but Angle grips the mask to escape and hits an Olympic Slam. Kane kicks out, and Angle locks in the Ankle Lock. The big man escapes and hits an enzuigiri.
The Mayor of Knox County finished the match off by climbing to the top rope, but Angle follows him up for yet another belly to back suplex, and attempted to hit the Angle Slam again. Kane dodges and grips the throat of the Gold Medalist for a Chokeslam. Angle reverses the impact into a roll up and lifts his feet to the ropes to pick up a cheap win.
Bell-to-bell, the match was filled with storytelling and great wrestling. A wrestling fan’s dream.
2. Money In The Bank Ladder Match, WrestleMania XXI
The first ever Money In The Bank Match in WWE history. A high-paced, high-intensity, high-risk contest with some of the best talent that the roster had to offer in 2005. After Chris Jericho had pitched the idea to creative for a ladder match with the winner getting some sort of reward, it was green-lit. With a decision being agreed on that the winner would be guaranteed an opportunity at World Championship at a time of their choosing.
Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Christian, Shelton Benjamin, Edge, and Kane. The match started before Kane even got to the ring, something was happening every single second of the match.
With Chris Benoit suplexing Y2J whilst he still had hold of a ladder in his hands; and Shelton Benjamin running up a ladder to clothesline Jericho off another ladder, the match was exciting and added something new and fresh to the WrestleMania card.
The WWE Universe loved it. A reaction for every spot, and every every moment really elevated the contest. But most importantly, the talent involved had set a high standard for future Money In The Bank Ladder Matches.
Concluding the match, Chris Benoit hit a Diving Headbutt onto Kane, from the top of a ladder. He then climbed the ladder in attempt to win the match, but Edge knocked him off to win the match. Edge would go on to capture the WWE Championship using his newly won briefcase.
1. Money In The Bank Ladder Match, WrestleMania XXV
Finally, number one. Opening the night, the WrestleMania 25 Money In The Bank Ladder Match would get the ball rolling perfectly. A fun, exciting, and blood pumping match with each man serving a different element.
The match featured the previous winner CM Punk, Mark Henry, MVP, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, Christian, and Kane.
Kofi Kingston looked great in the opening sequences of his first ever WrestleMania, leapfrogging a ladder that Christian and Shelton Benjamin were holding. Kane and Mark Henry certified their dominance early by knocking everyone off the top of their ladders. Shelton Benjamin also hit a very memorable flip senton dive from a huge ladder set up outside the ring, taking everyone out.
Even Hornswoggle got involved, adding a little comedy to the match. Using a step ladder to climb on top of The Worlds Strongest Man – who was draped over the top rope – he hit a Tadpole Splash taking everyone out. Kofi Kingston felt like an emotionally-investable underdog, he looked like a star. Whilst the Gold Standard felt like a Money In The Bank veteran.
With plenty of high spots and reactions from the crowd, this match was a perfect opener. Things came to an end though when Shelton and Christian were battling by the briefcase. The ladder tipped, and Benjamin crashed to the outside of the ring. Christian however, stopped his fall by standing on the top rope while holding the ladder. He pushed the ladder to a vertical base and went for the briefcase. CM Punk spring-boarded onto the ladder but gets a foot caught in one of the rungs. Kane stops Christian and takes the opportunity to try winning the match for himself. CM Punk managed to get his leg free from the ladder and send Kane falling from the ladder. Winning his second consecutive Money In The Bank, CM Punk wins the match and goes on to become the World Heavyweight Champion.
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