Tommy Platinum

World Wrestling Entertainment

Ladder Matches:

Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels - WWF Superstars of Wrestling
Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania X
Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon – Summerslam
Triple H vs The Rock– Summerslam 1998
The Big Boss Man vs Mankind – RAW 11/30/98
The Rock vs Mankind – RAW 2/15/99
Steve Austin vs Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon –King of the Ring 1999
New Brood vs Edge and Christian – No Mercy 1999
Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz – Wrestlemania 2000
The Hardy Boyz vs Edge and Christian – RAW 9/25/2000
Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit – Royal Rumble 2001
Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit (part of 2/3 falls) – Judgment Day 2001
RVD vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam 2001
Edge vs Christian – No Mercy 2001
RVD vs Eddie Guerrero – RAW 5/27/02
The Undertaker vs Jeff Hardy – RAW 7/1/02
RVD vs Jeff Hardy – RAW 7/22/02
Triple H vs Shawn Michaels (part of 2/3 falls) – Armageddon 2002
Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin – Judgment Day 2003
RVD vs Christian – RAW 29/9/2003
Chris Jericho vs Christian – Unforgiven 2004
Kurt Angle vs Mike Haywood – Smackdown 3/10/05
Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero – Summerslam 2005
Edge vs Matt Hardy – WWE Homecoming
Sabu vs RVD – ECW 8/15/06
RVD vs Big Show – ECW 10/24/06
Jeff Hardy vs Johnny Nitro – RAW 11/20/06
London and Kendrick vs Regal and Taylor vs Hardyz vs MNM – Armageddon 2006
The Hardyz vs Haas and Benjamin – One Night Stand 2007
Jeff Hardy vs Carlito – RAW’s 15th Anniversary
Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels – No Mercy 2008
Jeff Hardy vs Edge – Extreme Rules 2009

Money in the Bank Ladder Matches:

Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit vs Edge vs Christian vs Kane vs Shelton Benjamin – Wrestlemania 21
RVD vs Lashley vs Ric Flair vs Shelton Benjamin vs Finlay vs Matt Hardy – Wrestlemania 22
Mr Kennedy vs Edge vs Randy Orton vs King Booker vs CM Punk vs Finlay vs Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy – Wrestlemania 23
CM Punk vs Shelton Benjamin vs Carlito vs Chris Jericho vs MVP vs Mr Kennedy vs John Morrison – Wrestlemania 24
CM Punk vs Shelton Benjamin vs Christian vs Finlay vs Mark Henry vs MVP vs Kane vs Kofi Kingston – Wrestlemania 25

TLC matches:

Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz – Summerslam 2000
Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz – Wrestlemania 17
Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz vs Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho – Smackdown 5/24/01
Christian and Chris Jericho vs Kane vs Bubba and Spike Dudley vs Jeff Hardy and RVD – RAW 10/7/02
Edge vs Ric Flair – RAW 1/16/06
John Cena vs Edge – Unforgiven 2006
Edge vs The Undertaker – One Night Stand 2008
CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam 2009

Total Nonstop Action:

Sabu vs Malice - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 5
Ken Shamrock vs Sabu - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 6
Jerry Lynn vs Low-Ki vs AJ Styles - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 11
Jerry Lynn vs AJ Styles - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 14
Syxx-Pac vs Tony Mamaluke vs Jose Maximo vs Joel Maximo vs Kid Kash vs A.J. Styles vs Ace Steel vs Rick Michaels vs Chris Michaels - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 15
Raven vs AJ Styles - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 36
Dusty Rhodes vs Brian Lawler - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 39
AJ Styles vs Abyss - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 85
Eric Young vs Mr. Águila vs Jerry Lynn vs Taichi Ishikari - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 95
The Naturals vs America's Most Wanted - NWA:TNA Weekly PPV # 102
Jeff Hardy vs Jeff Jarrett – Victory Road 2004
Abyss vs Jeff Hardy – Against All Odds 2005
Christian Cage vs Abyss – Sacrifice 2006
LAX vs America’s Most Wanted – Turning Point 2006
Jerry Lynn vs Jay Lethal vs Sonjay Dutt vs Austin Starr vs Senshi – IMPACT 2/22/07
Abyss/Sting vs Christian/AJ Styles – IMPACT 8/2/07
Kaz vs Christian Cage – Genesis 2007
Johnny Devine/Team 3D vs Jay Lethal/Motor City Machine Guns – IMPACT 12/6/07
Kaz vs AJ Styles – IMPACT 12/20/07
James Storm vs Eric Young – IMPACT 3/4/08
Gail Kim vs Roxxi – Sacrifice 2008
AJ Styles vs Kurt Angle – IMPACT 8/28/08
Sonjay Dutt vs Jay Lethal – No Surrender 2008
Abyss/Matt Morgan vs Team 3D vs LAX vs Hiroshi Tanahashi/Volador –IMPACT 10/23/08
Alex Shelley vs Chris Sabin vs Jay Lethal vs Consequences Creed – IMPACT 2/23/09

World Championship Wrestling:

Eddie Guerrero vs Syxx – Souled Out 97
Bill Goldberg vs Scott Hall (Tazer Match) – Souled Out 99
Bam Bam Bigelow vs Scott Hall – Nitro 1/25/99
Scott Hall vs Bret Hart vs Bill Goldberg vs Sid Vicious – Nitro 11/8/99
Chris Benoit vs Jeff Jarrett – Starrcade 99
Chris Benoit vs Jeff Jarrett – Nitro 12/20/99
The Jung Dragons vs 3 Count – Nitro 7/18/00
The Jung Dragons vs 3 Count – New Blood Rising 2000
Konnan/Rey Mysterio vs The Boogie Knights – Nitro 10/2/00
3 Count vs The Jung Dragons vs Jamie Noble and Evan Karagias – Starrcade 2000

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Obviously there have been many other matches in various feds also, such as the ROH one at Man Up. I’m not going to list other indy ladder matches because I have little knowledge of them, but if you feel strongly about any of these matches, feel free to include them in the discussion.

There are a number of purposes of this thread, which is basically a discussion of the history of the ladder match and the quality of those matches listed.

1) Thoughts on the ladder match stipulation in general? Examples of good and bad ladder matches?
2) Do you think the ladder match stipulation is played out/whored out, or do you still think it has a big place in wrestling today?
3) Which one wrestler defines the ladder match to you?
4) If possible, make a list of your top 10 favourite ladder matches ever. Remember, if they are not on the list of ladder matches above, it doesn’t matter. I just made the list to help people remember them.
5) What do you look for in a good ladder match?

I'll give my answers soon enough.

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Tomas

Kurt Angle vs Mike Haywood – Smackdown 3/10/05

Who the hell is Mike Haywood?

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The Postman

Some poor smuck Angle made an example of to show HBK he could win his first ladder match too.

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"Fix him up so I can break him again!"

horrorfan_1986

Why is Michaels vs Hart listed as being from Superstars?

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KenTheKiller

Because wikipedia labels it as that, I assume.

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The Postman

1) Thoughts on the ladder match stipulation in general? Examples of good and bad ladder matches?
I like it. It's unique to alot of other matches, in the fact that the finish isn't really a traditional wrestling finish (e.g pin, submission, DQ, etc.)
2) Do you think the ladder match stipulation is played out/whored out, or do you still think it has a big place in wrestling today?
To TNA, it's nothing, but to WWE, it's still a match that can draw.
3) Which one wrestler defines the ladder match to you?
Jeff Hardy
4) If possible, make a list of your top 10 favourite ladder matches ever. Remember, if they are not on the list of ladder matches above, it doesn’t matter. I just made the list to help people remember them.
I'll try.
1. TLC 2
2. Jericho/Benoit
3. RVD/Eddie
4. MitB 1
4. Jeff/Nitro
5. TLC 1
6. Armageddon 06 match
7. MitB 4
8. Jericho/HBK
9. Rey/Eddie
10. Lynn/AJ/Low Ki

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"Fix him up so I can break him again!"

horrorfan_1986

I know Wiki is bad, but I would think someone would of came across and it realized that the match was never on TV.

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Tommy Platinum

I got the list from wikipedia. I should have said that in the original post.

What was it actually from?

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horrorfan_1986

It was a Coliseum Home Video exclusive (Aka a dark match) that was first released on Smack'em Whack'em and later on Goodtime's Most Unusual Matches.

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Tommy Platinum

5th question added.

I'll get the ball rolling:

Like most stips, I feel the ladder match has become increasingly whored out this decade, to the point when it really doesn't mean much anymore, in most cases at least. Despite this, the ladder match can sometimes be used to great effect in certain feuds, the best example in recent years for me being the Jericho/HBK match, which seemed like a dream match and truly delivered. I have no problem calling that my favourite ladder match of all time.

I probably associate Jeff Hardy with the ladder match the most, because I started watching wrestling in 99/2000, with the tag team stuff, and have since seen Hardy in many singles ladder matches, including the one against Undertaker which ranks up there with my favs.

Some ladder matches can be extremely good even now, but a lot of them are just mindless spotfests. I personally enjoy ladder matches which feature at least a few unique spots, and are mainly about the use of the ladder as a weapon, rather than a load of ridiculous bumps, which become samey after a while, and have been done to death.

Top 10 Ladder Matches:

1. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels - No Mercy 2008
Very good feud, and this was easily the best match of it, and comparable to their Wrestlemania match in 2003 (which I understand some people find overrated, but I love). Great innovative use of the ladder and the match wasn't spotty at all. The best part about it was the epic finish, which was just so dramatic.
2. Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho - Royal Rumble 2001
This was another one which revolved around the use of a ladder as a weapon rather than big bumps, although it featured a couple of ridiculous ones, notably the awesome spot with Benoit's suicide dive into the chairshot, which was just an insane bump to take. Finish brings it down a little imo, but the rest was great.
3. The Undertaker vs Jeff Hardy - RAW 2002
This one really seems like a love or hate match. I have seen a lot of people say it sucked, but I just loved it. I would go as far as saying that I'm struggling to think of a better underdog story right now. Jeff Hardy is brilliant as the gutsy young lion getting thrown around like a ragdoll but refusing to quit, and Taker was at his best as the big bully, sadistic heel. The moment when Jeff hit Taker with the chair was so epic, and when he was so close to getting the title, I was on the edge of my seat. Epic stuff imo.
4. Triangle Ladder Match - Wrestlemania 16
I personally believe this was better than any of the TLCs. Brilliant spots, the best finish of the series, and it all seemed so much newer because it was the first of its type. It was unbelievably fun to watch.
5. TLC 2 - Wrestlemania 17
As far as spotfests go, this was unbelievable. So many memorable moments and a really huge feel to it as such a long feud came to a head. I loved the run-ins from Rhino, Spike and Lita too. Edge's spear to Hardy = epic Wrestlemania moment.
6. MITB 1 - Wrestlemania 21
Easily the best MITB. Great mix of guys, great work from Benoit to make it so much more than a spotfest, hugely enjoyable Benjamin spots, great story, great finish. Every man in the match had a purpose.
7. TLC 4 - RAW
This had a very good story to it with Kane going it alone without his partner, and nevertheless emerging with the tag team titles. The action was fast and furious with a lot of very good spots.
8. TLC 1 - Summerslam 2000
Not much more I can say after commenting on the others. This was awesome. I loved some of the heel work from Edge and Christian, notably Edge taking out Lita with a brutal spear. Obviously it had some very good spots and overall entertainment value.
9. John Cena vs Edge -TLC - Unforgiven 2006
A couple of botches, but in general a very good story told and some very good work from both men. I enjoyed the spots even though they were somewhat predictable, and that brings the match down slighty.
10. Low Ki vs Styles vs Lynn
I have this on the first Styles dvd, and I remember it being awesome. It may need a rewatch though.

There are others I have not seen in a long time, such as the highly rated Rock/HHH match.

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