5 Most Important Ladder Matches In WWE History

As these words are being written, WWE is preparing to undertake one of the more ambitious upgrades you can apply to a popular gimmick match. With traditional arenas off the table because of this pandemic, the company plans to hold its Money in the Bank ladder matches at their Stamford headquarters. The wrestlers will have to go from the offices' ground floor to the building's roof, *then* climb a ladder to retrieve the all-important briefcase. Sort of like a martial law version of Elevator Action.

Ladder matches sure have changed over the decades, from back when they were a popular gimmick match in Stampede Wrestling in the seventies, to their introduction in the then-WWF in the early nineties, to the assured stunt shows that we've seen over the past two decades. Though the match seems pretty straightforward, its been prone to innovation and alteration, as seen in its WWE lifetime alone.

Through the dozens upon dozens of ladder matches that have graced Vince McMahon's ring (or home office), these are the five that were, ultimately, the most important ever held in WWE.

As these words are being written, WWE is preparing to undertake one of the more ambitious upgrades you can apply to a popular gimmick match. With traditional arenas off the table because of this pandemic, the company plans to hold its Money in the Bank ladder matches at their Stamford headquarters. The wrestlers will have to go from the offices' ground floor to the building's roof, *then* climb a ladder to retrieve the all-important briefcase. Sort of like a martial law version of Elevator Action.

Ladder matches sure have changed over the decades, from back when they were a popular gimmick match in Stampede Wrestling in the seventies, to their introduction in the then-WWF in the early nineties, to the assured stunt shows that we've seen over the past two decades. Though the match seems pretty straightforward, its been prone to innovation and alteration, as seen in its WWE lifetime alone.

Through the dozens upon dozens of ladder matches that have graced Vince McMahon's ring (or home office), these are the five that were, ultimately, the most important ever held in WWE.

5. Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (1992)

The very first McMahon-sanctioned ladder match. So obscure was this match type that earlier on the day of the show, a bewildered Michaels reportedly went to Hart, and admitted he had no idea how to work this gimmick or what to expect. So, yeah, it was pretty novel.

Unlike later matches of the type, this IC title bout was less about wild and daring bumps, and more about "the drama of the climb", with fans cheering "The Hitman" on in a feverish race for the belt. It's a really good match, but more importantly, it was a greenlight for sequels.

4. Razor Ramon Vs. Shawn Michaels (1994)

The original had a few athletic tumbles and risky falls, but nothing like Michaels' performance in this legendary WrestleMania match to determine the true IC champ. Though he lost to his real-life Kliq brother Razor, his star ascended on account of his personal exhibition of splats.

Some may find this match tamer than ladder matches since then (certainly, there are no tables or chairs), but Michaels' work (count the cringeworthy bumps) raised the bar for others after him to equal. Plus, it definitively minted Michaels as a main event star.

3. Edge & Christian Vs. The Hardy Boyz (1999)

It was only the ninth televised ladder match in company history, but the first to feature two tag teams. The large cash prize and managerial services of Terri Runnels ultimately proved to be footnotes compared to what the four men accomplished at this No Mercy pay-per-view.

Shawn Michaels made stuntman falls en vogue when it came to ladder matches, but Edge, Christian, Matt Hardy, and Jeff Hardy virtually combined Cirque de Soleil with the X-Games. In one night, all four became stars on the rise, and ladder match expectations were raised further.

2. The WrestleMania 2000 Ladder Match

It's not an official TLC match (that particular branding didn't debut until SummerSlam), but it may as well have been. The aforementioned duos were joined by The Dudley Boyz in creating the template for many ladder matches since, both in terms of weaponry and sky-high expectations.

Edge, Christian, and The Hardyz only further solidified their names, while the Dudz became just as synonymous with those four, as well as matches of this ilk. When we think "ladder match" today, we think of swung chairs and broken tables, too. Give your thanks to this melee.

1. The Original Money In The Bank (2005)

For one thing, WWE proved that you can scale back the destructive furniture and still put on a kickass ladder match. Secondly, it introduced a clever gimmick - an instant title match for the winner that can occur seemingly at any time, so keep your eyes peeled, faithful viewer.

Also important is the emphasis on athletics over just breaking stuff. The absurdly-agile Shelton Benjamin was an early darling of these matches, clearly influential on future entrants. Plus, it helps get guys without storylines on PPV (most of them genuine talents), and that's good too.