- The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) (c) def. The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erick Rowan) — WWE Tag Team Championship Match
- Seth Rollins won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match — WWE World Heavyweight Championship Contract
- Rusev def. Big E by Submission — Singles Match
- John Cena won the Ladder Match — Vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Money in the Bank 2014: Seth Rollins Wins the Briefcase That Changes WrestleMania
The factual record, historical context, match-by-match analysis, and WrestleFile verdict.
- PROMOTION
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- DATE
- June 29, 2014
- VENUE
- TD Garden
- LOCATION
- Boston, Massachusetts
- ATTENDANCE
- 15,653
- EVENT TYPE
- PPV
Money in the Bank 2014 is a good event built around two ladder matches with very different strengths. The contract match is excellent because the Ambrose-Rollins feud gives the spectacle a personal center, while the championship ladder match uses a larger field to create star-making moments for Roman Reigns and a consequential title win for John Cena. The Usos and Wyatt Family provide a strong opener, and Rusev keeps his undefeated rise moving. The weaker middle matches are short enough that they rarely stall the card.
Read the Full FileContinue the event-level analysis
The show's importance grows dramatically in hindsight. Rollins' briefcase becomes the mechanism for the WrestleMania 31 main event cash-in, Cena's championship win leads directly to Brock Lesnar's SummerSlam destruction, and the event marks the first Network-era Money in the Bank. It earns a B+ because the top three matches are strong, the central results matter and the card has lasting historical consequence. It stops below the A range because the non-ladder undercard contains too much television-level filler.
Event ContextBackground, stakes & historical setting
Money in the Bank 2014 took place on June 29 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, with an announced attendance of 15,653. It was the fifth annual Money in the Bank and the first edition held in June after the previous events took place in July. It was also the first Money in the Bank livestreamed on WWE Network. Eight matches aired on the main card. For the first time at the event, only one ladder match awarded a Money in the Bank contract because WWE's two world championships had been unified the previous December.
Daniel Bryan's injury forced WWE to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, turning the planned title opportunity into an eight-man ladder match for the championship itself. John Cena, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Kane, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, Alberto Del Rio and United States Champion Sheamus entered that match. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston and Rob Van Dam competed for the contract after Bad News Barrett was removed because of injury. The Usos defended the tag titles against Harper and Rowan, Paige defended the Divas Championship against Naomi, Rusev rematched Big E, and the card also included Goldust and Stardust, Adam Rose, Damien Sandow, Layla and Summer Rae.
Watch, Skim or Skip?
- Paige (c) def. Naomi — Divas Championship Match
- Goldust & Stardust def. RybAxel (Curtis Axel & Ryback) — Tag Team Match
- Adam Rose def. Damien Sandow — Singles Match
- Layla def. Summer Rae — Singles Match with Special Guest Referee Fandango
The Card, On the Record
01The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) (c) def. The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erick Rowan) — WWE Tag Team Championship MatchB+
The Usos and Luke Harper and Erick Rowan open Money in the Bank with a strong tag-title match that gives the show immediate energy and a clean championship result. Harper and Rowan use size to slow the champions and repeatedly cut off the quicker Uso combinations, while Jey and Jimmy keep forcing the pace back toward tandem offense. The match builds naturally from isolation work into a faster closing stretch full of saves and near-falls. The challengers survive several bursts but cannot finish the champions. The Usos eventually hit a double superplex on Rowan, then follow with consecutive Samoan Splashes for the pin. The champions retain decisively, and the match establishes enough competitive depth to justify their later two-out-of-three falls rematch at Battleground.
A very good tag-title opener with a clean finish and enough chemistry to justify the rivalry continuing.
02Paige (c) def. Naomi — Divas Championship MatchC+
Paige and Naomi receive only seven minutes, but the match gives Naomi a credible championship opportunity after her non-title victory on Main Event. Naomi creates the faster offense and uses athletic counters to keep Paige from settling into prolonged control, while Paige works from the champion's position and looks for sharper transition moves. The crowd remains engaged even though the match never receives enough time to build a substantial second act. Cameron's ringside presence adds tension without directly deciding the result. Paige catches Naomi late and lands the Ram-Paige for the clean pin. The champion retains decisively, but the match feels more like a television-quality title defense than a major pay-per-view chapter.
A competent title defense with a clean finish, limited mainly by time and modest storyline weight.
03Adam Rose def. Damien Sandow — Singles MatchD+
Adam Rose and Damien Sandow work a brief comedy match built around Sandow's Paul Revere costume and Rose's party presentation. The character material dominates from the entrance onward, leaving little room for the match to establish stakes beyond giving Rose another victory. Sandow controls short stretches through basic offense and tries to slow the pace, while Rose's comebacks are designed to restart the crowd rather than build dramatic near-falls. The match stays compact and avoids overstaying its welcome. Rose eventually catches Sandow and lands the Party Foul for the clean pin. The result serves the weekly character story, but the bout offers very little competitive depth or lasting pay-per-view value.
A harmless comedy match that gets in and out quickly but adds little to the event beyond character maintenance.
04Seth Rollins won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match — WWE World Heavyweight Championship ContractA
The Money in the Bank ladder match is the clear wrestling peak of the event, combining dangerous spectacle with a focused Ambrose-Rollins story that gives the chaos an emotional center. Kofi Kingston, Rob Van Dam, Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger each contribute memorable ladder sequences, but the match repeatedly returns to the former Shield partners. Ambrose is removed after appearing to injure his shoulder, then storms back just as Rollins is climbing. That comeback creates the loudest possible threat to Rollins' victory. Kane then intervenes, chokeslams and Tombstones Ambrose, clearing the path for Rollins to retrieve the briefcase. The interference keeps the rivalry alive, while Rollins' contract becomes one of the most consequential Money in the Bank wins in WWE history.
An excellent ladder match with spectacular depth, a strong Ambrose-Rollins core and enormous long-term payoff.
05Goldust & Stardust def. RybAxel (Curtis Axel & Ryback) — Tag Team MatchC+
Goldust and the newly introduced Stardust continue Cody Rhodes' character reinvention with a short tag match against Ryback and Curtis Axel. The bout is more useful for establishing the new team dynamic than for producing a major standalone attraction. Goldust provides the veteran structure, while Stardust's movement and mannerisms make the team's offense feel noticeably different from the previous Rhodes Brothers presentation. RybAxel controls enough of the middle to create a standard comeback, but the match never reaches a high gear. Stardust eventually catches Ryback with a roll-up and scores the pin. The clean result keeps the new act moving forward and confirms that Cody's transformation is not just a one-night television experiment.
A functional tag match whose main value is establishing Stardust as a viable new team identity.
06Rusev def. Big E by Submission — Singles MatchB-
Rusev and Big E improve on their Payback meeting with another compact power match that keeps Rusev's undefeated rise intact. Big E attacks with urgency and creates believable openings whenever he can turn the fight into short bursts of speed, while Rusev controls the heavier exchanges and absorbs enough punishment to make the rematch feel competitive. The crowd understands the central question immediately: whether Big E can finally overpower Rusev before the Accolade is applied. He cannot. Rusev survives the strongest comeback, takes control and traps Big E in the Accolade for the submission. The clean finish reinforces Rusev as an emerging threat and gives the rivalry a more definitive pay-per-view result than many midcard programs receive.
A solid, physical rematch with a clean submission that keeps Rusev's rise moving decisively.
07Layla def. Summer Rae — Singles Match with Special Guest Referee FandangoC-
Layla and Summer Rae work a short rivalry match whose central attraction is Fandango serving as special guest referee after being caught between both women. The story is easy to follow, but the stipulation places more attention on Fandango's reactions than on sustained offense between Layla and Summer. The wrestlers trade brief control stretches and character-driven shots without enough time to build a serious competitive rhythm. Layla eventually catches Summer with a roundhouse kick and scores the clean pin. The post-match embrace between Layla and Fandango resolves the immediate triangle more than the match itself does. The segment is concise and understandable, but it feels closer to weekly television than a meaningful pay-per-view attraction.
A brief storyline match that resolves the Fandango triangle without providing much standalone wrestling value.
08John Cena won the Ladder Match — Vacant WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipA-
The eight-man championship ladder match delivers a large-scale main event with enough spectacular moments to feel worthy of the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Roman Reigns receives the strongest star-making run, clearing the ring with Spears and Superman Punches before a direct showdown with Cena. Cesaro, Sheamus, Bray Wyatt, Alberto Del Rio, Kane and Randy Orton each create separate ladder threats, which also makes the middle stretch more crowded than the earlier contract match. The finish is straightforward after the chaos. Kane chokeslams Reigns and assists Orton's climb, but Cena recovers, hits Attitude Adjustments on Kane and Orton, then retrieves the championship. The win restores Cena to the top title and directly creates the path to Brock Lesnar's SummerSlam challenge.
A strong, spectacle-heavy title ladder match whose clean final sequence gives Cena a consequential championship win.
BOOKING VERDICTB+
The two biggest decisions shape WWE for months. Rollins wins the contract after Kane prevents Ambrose from reaching the briefcase, protecting the feud while giving Rollins a device that eventually changes WrestleMania 31. Cena wins the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship cleanly enough after neutralizing Kane and Orton, immediately restoring a recognizable champion before Brock Lesnar returns. The Usos also retain decisively, and Rusev submits Big E without a protected escape.
The interference in the contract ladder match is still a compromise because Ambrose appears positioned to win before Kane decides the finish. Yet the choice works as character storytelling and creates enormous long-term value. The lower-card results are straightforward: Paige retains, Rose beats Sandow, Goldust and Stardust continue their new act, and Layla settles the immediate Summer Rae story. The booking earns a B+ because the essential outcomes are clear, consequential and connected to the next major programs.
CROWD & PRESENTATIONA-
TD Garden gives both ladder matches the atmosphere of major attractions. The Boston crowd reacts strongly whenever Ambrose and Rollins reach the ladders at the same time, and Ambrose's return after being removed for a shoulder injury creates one of the night's biggest responses. Reigns receives the clearest star-building reaction in the championship match as he runs through established names and trades offense directly with Cena. The Usos and Wyatt Family also start the show with enough energy to establish a strong baseline.
The visual identity is dominated by ladders, but the two featured matches avoid feeling identical. The contract match is tighter and more personal, while the title match is broader and more chaotic because eight wrestlers are chasing championship belts rather than a briefcase. Production keeps the important climbs readable even when the main event becomes crowded. The first Network-era Money in the Bank also looks like a major streaming event rather than an experimental broadcast. The middle card is less distinctive, but the overall presentation remains strong.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCEA-
Money in the Bank 2014 has strong historical value because Seth Rollins wins the contract he later cashes in during the WrestleMania 31 main event, turning Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns into a triple threat and leaving as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. That payoff makes this ladder victory one of the most consequential contract wins in the gimmick's history. The event is also the first Money in the Bank livestreamed on WWE Network and the first edition held in June.
The championship ladder match matters just as much for the immediate title picture. Daniel Bryan's injury leaves the championship vacant, Cena wins it here and Brock Lesnar returns weeks later before destroying Cena at SummerSlam. The event is also the first Money in the Bank with only one contract ladder match following the unification of WWE's world titles. Roman Reigns receives a major main-event showcase, Stardust continues his early transformation and Bad News Barrett's injury leads to the Intercontinental Championship being vacated. Few 2014 events create more important downstream consequences.
WHAT AGED WELL
- Rollins' contract victory has enormous payoff because it leads directly to the WrestleMania 31 cash-in.
- The Ambrose-Rollins rivalry gives the contract ladder match a strong emotional center.
- Roman Reigns looks like a future main-event star in the championship ladder match.
- The Usos versus Harper and Rowan remains a strong championship opener.
- The first Network-era Money in the Bank feels historically important rather than merely transitional.
WHAT AGED POORLY
- Several non-ladder undercard matches feel closer to weekly television than pay-per-view attractions.
- Kane's interference decides the contract ladder match just as Ambrose appears ready to win.
- The eight-man championship ladder match becomes crowded in the middle stretch.
- Paige versus Naomi is too short to feel like a major championship defense.
- Layla versus Summer Rae is remembered more for the Fandango story than the wrestling.
RESEARCH VERDICTWhere the Evidence Lands
The event-focused review spread is broadly positive and consistently favors the Money in the Bank contract ladder match. Bleacher Report, Cageside Seats, TJR Wrestling, 411Mania, Nerdly and later rankings also credit the Usos-Wyatt Family opener and the scale of the vacant-title ladder match, though the main event is generally viewed as more cluttered than the contract match. The lower-card material receives less enthusiasm and is mostly treated as functional support.
The contract ladder match creates the card's strongest peak, with the championship ladder match and tag-title opener providing strong support. The final WrestleGrade reflects Rollins' historically consequential contract win, the first Network-era Money in the Bank, Cena's title victory, Roman Reigns' showcase and the event's long-term WrestleMania relevance. The final B+ recognizes a strong major-event core surrounded by an ordinary undercard.
RESEARCH SOURCESSources & Methodology20 sources
These sources support the event record, historical context, critical reception, and streaming information used throughout this Event File.
- Bleacher Report - Money in the Bank results and gradesContemporary results, grading and match-level reaction.
- Bleacher Report - Superstar gradesComplete-card performer grading and event evaluation.
- Bleacher Report - Biggest starsContemporary event review and standout-performer analysis.
- Bleacher Report - Highlights and low pointsEvent-level strengths, weaknesses and booking context.
- Bleacher Report - Live reaction and reviewDetailed event-night reaction and match analysis.
- Bleacher Report - Money in the Bank cards rankedRetrospective placement within the event series.
- Cageside Seats - Money in the Bank reactionsComplete-event reaction and booking evaluation.
- Cageside Seats - Money in the Bank match timesCard timing and event-pacing reference.
- TJR Wrestling - Money in the Bank ladder reviewsFocused retrospective on the 2014 contract ladder match.
- TJR Wrestling - Money in the Bank 2014 reviewComplete-show retrospective and match-quality calibration.
- 411Mania - Csonka's Money in the Bank reviewIndependent complete-show ratings and event calibration.
- Nerdly - Money in the Bank Blu-ray reviewHome-video retrospective and complete-event quality context.
- WrestleView - Money in the Bank 2014 resultsContemporary results and event identity cross-checking.
- WrestleZone - Money in the Bank 2014 resultsContemporary result sequencing and event-night context.
- WWE.com - Money in the Bank 2014Primary event page and event identity cross-checking.
- WWE.com - Money in the Bank 2014 resultsPrimary results, title changes and stipulation cross-checking.
- ProFightDB - Money in the Bank 2014Event identity, results and match-rating cross-checking.
- CAGEMATCH - Money in the Bank 2014Event identity, card order and result cross-checking.
- Online World of Wrestling - Money in the Bank 2014Detailed card and result cross-checking.
- Sportskeeda - Money in the Bank events rankedRetrospective event-series comparison.
WHERE TO WATCHStream This Event
Stream This Event
Netflix title 81929883 is associated with WWE Money in the Bank, but the public title page does not expose enough event-specific detail to certify that the exact 2014 full-event replay is currently playable in the United States. No current exact provider is claimed.
WrestleFile lists only streaming options we have specifically confirmed. Availability varies by country and can change.