John Cena’s Shocking Failed Money in the Bank Cash-In

First established in 2005, WWE‘s Money in the Bank ladder match gives its winner a guaranteed title shot of their choosing whenever they want it. This is arguably better than winning the Royal Rumble. For that, the last superstar standing earns a chance to challenge a world champion at WrestleMania. For Money in the Bank, however, the holder of the briefcase can take advantage of a weakened champion. This is what often happens. The titleholder either just competed in a grueling match, or suffered a beat down at the hands of an enemy, only for the Money in the Bank winner’s music to hit as they march down to the ring. A minute or two later, they have used the perfect opportunity to win the gold in rather easy fashion. Then there’s what John Cena did in 2012, which cost him everything.

John Cena Won the Money in the Bank Match in 2012

• Dolph Ziggler won the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match in 2012.
• The Raw match was made up of Cena, Chris Jericho, Kane, the Big Show, and The Miz.
• The match came down to Cena and Big Show on top of the ladder battling for the briefcase.

Often times, the Money in the Bank ladder match is made up of superstars who have either neither won a world title or who have been away from the main event scene for a while. Winning the briefcase gives them a chance to shock the world and for WWE to push an underused talent. This was partially the case at the 2012 Money in the Bank pay-per-view. On the SmackDown side of things, Dolph Ziggler won, later cashing in on the Raw after WrestleMania to beat Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship.

That same night in 2012, Raw had their own Money in the Bank ladder match as the main event. In it were some major veterans and former world champions like Chris Jericho, Kane, Big Show, and The Miz. Rounding out the competitors was the one and only John Cena, who had been the face of WWE for over half a decade. At the end of the night, he outlasted Big Show on the ladder to pull down the briefcase and win Money in the Bank for the first time.

John Cena Challenged CM Punk at Raw 1000

• Most Money in the Bank winners make their cash in a surprise on a weakened champion.
• Cena gave CM Punk one week to prepare for their WWE Championship match.
• The match would be the main event of WWE Raw’s 1000th episode.

When a wrestler wins the Money in the Bank contract, they have exactly one year to cash in. Some use nearly the entire 12 months, while others have cashed in on the same night. Most of those times, the challenges have been a surprise coming out of nowhere, with Rob Van Dam’s victory in 2006 and face-to-face challenge to John Cena for a future match at ECW One-Night Stand a notable exception. Cena, ever the good guy who did the right thing, was not one to cut corners either. When he challenged for a title, his opponent would see it coming.

Cena won Money in the Bank on July 15, 2012. He held it for one day before challenging WWE Champion CM Punk on Raw. However, rather than taking advantage of a fallen champion, who had just emptied the tank against the Big Show, Cena told Punk that their fight would be a fair one to take place on next week’s show. There was a very good reason to wait a week as well, because the July 23, 2012 Raw was the A-show’s 1000th episode.

John Cena Won by Disqualification After Interference From the Big Show

• Cena won by DQ, but a title cannot change hands with a disqualification victory.
• The Rock ran down to save Cena, leading to a CM Punk heel turn.
• In 2014, Cena won Money in the Bank for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE Raw was a huge show filled with many moments of nostalgia. In the house were huge names such as DX, The Rock, Bret Hart, and Howard Finkel. Main eventing the historic show was CM Punk vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship. The two rivals put on a compelling match, until the now customary ref bump and following chaos. With the official down, the Big Show, who had lost to both men, stomped down to the ring and attacked Cena twice, with the referee seeing the second assault and calling for the bell. John Cena was declared the victor, but it was by disqualification, meaning that the title could not change hands. Just like that, Cena’s eight-day run as the Money in the Bank winner was over.

The night was also notable for another reason, with The Rock running down to save John Cena, leading to CM Punk turning heel against The People’s Champion. Despite the loss, everything would be okay for the leader of the Cenation. Punk’s heel turn set up a match against The Rock, who eventually won the WWE Title months later at the Royal Rumble and carried it to WrestleMania 29, where he lost it to Cena in the main event.

This would not be John Cena’s last Money in the Bank match. Two years later, he was back in the middle of the ring with another ladder and more opponents. This time the stakes were much higher. Rather than being for a chance to face a champion, the winner would win the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, which was given up by Daniel Bryan after a real life neck injury. The night’s last match was made up of Cena, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Kane, Sheamus, Bray Wyatt, Cesarao, and Alberto Del Rio. At the end, John Cena was a champion once more. Whether fans liked it or not, he was still the face of WWE, but on one night in 2012, he made history by being the first superstar to lose their Money in the Bank cash-in attempt.