Top 10 TLC Matches

This Sunday December 16th at the SAP Center in San Jose California marks the 10th WWE TLC PPV. The TLC match is one of the most entertaining, painful, beautiful things to watch in wrestling. To see our beloved superstars put themselves through hell and shorten their careers for us is something that we can’t thank them enough for. So, the best thing for us to do is to commemorate them by compiling the best of the best in the history of this match. This list is based off story line, entertainment and pure carnage. Without further ado, this is The Wrestling Classics Top 10 TLC Matches of all time.

10. WWE Championship: Edge vs. Ric Flair, WWE Raw (01/16/06)

Our first match is a bit of a lost gem. There’s a lot of firsts in this match. This was the very first singles TLC match. We also see Edge in his first WWE Championship defense since cashing in the first ever Money in the Bank contract on John Cena at New Year’s Revolution. Current Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair was looking for revenge on Edge from last week’s Con-Chair-To on the announce table. This match was in Flair country as The Nature Boy tried to become 17-time World Champion. This was as bloody as expected as Flair looks like someone dumped a bottle of ketchup on his bleach blonde hair. Some notable spots in this match include Edge jumping off a ladder from inside the ring onto a limp Flair body crashing through a table. There’s even a shot of a young Charlotte Flair crying for her dad to get up. Flair starts to make a comeback hitting a chair into a ladder on Edge’s lower body. The two take a nasty super plex from the top of the ladder. Later Flair comes in the ring and tips the ladder to the outside as Edge crashes through a helpless table. Flair then climbs the ladder and the unthinkable is about to happen, but to Edges rescue comes Lita preventing Flair from capturing that 17th championship. Flair then puts her in the figure four leg lock. We end the match with a rather lackluster finish as Edge and Flair go blow for blow at the top of the ladder in the center of the ring, Edge powers his final blow to put the old man’s hopes down.

9. WWE Championship: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose, TLC 2016

The modern TLC matches have still been extremely entertaining since being a bit restricted by the PG era. This match is a perfect example of still being able meet the standards of such a destructive match. With AJ stealing the title from Dean Ambrose a month before at Backlash via low blow (man WWE loves their crotch shots), this was redemption for the Lunatic Fringe trying to regain what was rightfully his. There were some gruesome spots in this match including a nasty inverted suplex on four chairs from Ambrose to Styles pictured above. Ambrose also delivers an elbow from a ladder on an announce table onto Styles onto another other announce table crashing through. Most notably from this bout would be taken right from one of my favorite Sponge-Bob episodes as Mr. Styles needs a tailor, BECAUSE HE RIPPED HIS PANTS! Like the hole increasing in size through out the match, so did the drama. Styles delivers a Phenomenal Forearm to Ambrose climbing the ladder, Ambrose spins Styles in an Alabama Slam position into a ladder, Styles hits a picture-perfect Moon Sault off the apron into a reverse DDT. And Styles tucks for a 450 from inside to outside on top of Ambrose through a table. However, just as Ambrose is about to win, his friend from the past weeks James Ellsworth turns on Dean and tips the ladder sending him crashing through two tables outside. This allows AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship.

8. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose) vs. Ryback, Daniel Bryan and Kane, TLC 2012

This match gets started right away. The Shield comes from all angles and attacks Ryback and Team Hell No like the pack of dogs they are. Oddly enough in this match, there were no titles suspended above the ring. The logistics of two teams of three in a TLC match is messy enough, so I understand them not wanting to have titles on the line, but it just didn’t seem like a true TLC match to me. This was the first and only time where a TLC match was won via pin fall or submission. The six of these men certainly delivered on the destruction of a TLC match. Ryback hits a double suplex to Ambrose and Rollins on to a ladder. You get your iconic Shield Triple Powerbomb through the announce table that takes out The Big Guy. Rollins and Ambrose prop the table on the top rope in the corner throwing Bryan into it and then double superplexing him off the table. Kane gets in the action with a crushing chokeslam to Ambrose on a folded chair. In the most dangerous spot of the match, Rollins tries to take flight from a ladder that could touch the roof of the arena on to Ryback laying on a table, but Ryback was starving and needed to be fed more. He climbs the ladder and throws Rollins off into a pile of tables taking a nasty bump. But this takes Ryback away from the ring too long as Ambrose and Reigns double powerbomb Bryan from the top rope through the table and win the match.

7. World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy, SummerSlam 2009

This was one of the better feuds in the last couple of years mixing real with and true emotion with story line. Punk showed everyone what he could do as a self-absorbed heel after cashing in the Money in the Bank contract against Hardy at Extreme Rules earlier in the year. After Hardy won back the championship at Night of Champions, they had to settle the score at SummerSlam in a very fitting TLC match. With a spot fest like no other Jeff Hardy shines in his preferred death-defying match. Some notable cringe moments include Hardy going for Poetry in Motion with a self-assisted chair, but Punk catches him and realigns Hardy’s vertebrae by spiking him on the top of the folded chair. Hardy goes for a splash from the turnbuckle to a dazed Punk on a table outside, but Punk clears the way at the last second as Hardy crashes and burns through the table. Punk then finds sick use of the ladder by Superplexing Hardy on to it harming both competitors. In perhaps the most jaw dropping spot in this match as Hardy does often to us, he hits a Swanton Bomb off a 20-foot ladder with absolutely no room for error landing on a limp Punk through an announce table. I know that we’re used to seeing Hardy do these kinds of things in these matches, but this much later in his career just shows us how committed he always is to steal the show and be the main point of conversation the next day. After this Hardy is about to be stretchered out, but like the maniac he is he refused medical attention and gets off the stretcher. Both men are eventually at the top of the ladder going blow for blow as Punk finally knocks Hardy off to be able to retrieve the big gold belt and win the championship for the third time. This was a great back and forth match of who can destroy the other more, and both Punk and Hardy laid it all out on the line that night.

6. World Heavyweight Championship: Edge vs. The Undertaker, One Night Stand – Extreme Rules 2008

The stakes couldn’t be hirer for The Undertaker as he would be banned from the entire WWE if he lost to Edge. This was ordered by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero who previously stripped the World Heavyweight Championship from the dead man. Taker and Edge had a match at Judgement Day to determine who will be crowned with the vacant belt. Taker technically wins by count out, and just as you think he becomes a 7-time World Champion you hear the shrieking “EXCUSE ME!”. Guerrero explains that the title can only be won by pin fall or submission. She later announces that there will be one more match at One Night Stand – Extreme Rules in a TLC match, and if Taker loses, he is banished from WWE. So, let’s get into the match. There’s a nice spot where two ladders are laid on the turn buckle one on each side and both men are in the center of the ring on a ladder. Taker pushes Edge off and he stumbles into the one ladder and then stumbles back to center and knocks Taker off and into the other ladder. Edge later delivers a splash off the announce table onto Taker who is laying on table. The cringiest spot of the match comes when Undertaker chokeslams Edge from the apron on to a ladder that was propped from the barrier to the apron. The way Edge lands will make you want to go to a chiropractor just to check that you’re okay. Just as you think Taker will win the Edge Heads Hawkins and Ryder come to Edges rescue, but not with zero consequences as Taker chokeslams each of them through a table outside. Edge finally recovers and knocks Taker out and then sets up a table stacked on a table. He then starts to climb the ladder, but The Dead Man rises and gives Edge one last ride through both tables off the ladder! But of course, to Edge’s rescue again La Familia comes down and takes down Taker. They go for a Con-Chair-To, but Taker ducks and they take each other out. But again, Edge has enough time to recover and tips the ladder that Taker is on and he spills outside onto 4 tables stacked! Burying the Dead Man in a pile of rubble. This allows Edge to climb the ladder in the clear and retrieve the belt sending Taker away from WWE forever. Or something like that…

5. Tag Team Championship: Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz, WWE Smackdown (05/24/01)

The defending Champions Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit are looking to prove that their win against the Two Man Power Trip wasn’t just a fluke. After going through hell, a couple nights prior the newly crowned Tag Champions are made to defend in the most grueling match in WWE History. This was the first non PPV TLC match and boy did it deliver. With the addition of Benoit and Jericho to the TLC match it added an extra element that really helped this match shine. Some notable moments in the match include the Hardy’s going for Poetry in Motion on Bubba in the corner with a ladder propped on him, but Bubba launches the ladder at Jeff as he’s about to put the writing on the wall. Edge and Christian deliver a running drop toe hold to Jericho who goes face first into a ladder on the bottom rope in the corner. The Rabid Wolverine looks to make his mark on the match going for a diving headbutt from the turnbuckle to the outside on Matt Hardy who’s flat on a table, but Hardy moves at the last second that sends Benoit crashing through which leads to him being carter off on a stretcher. Jericho applies an amazing Walls of Jericho to Edge on the top of the ladder. There’s a 3-D to Christian off the ladder through (you guessed it) a table! The spot of the match coming from none other than the Charismatic Enigma Jeff Hardy who climbs a 15-foot ladder then leap frogs over a 20-foot ladder crashing onto Bubba through the announce table. Surprisingly it wasn’t the Spanish announce table. They got a break this time. Matt Hardy hits a daring Twist of Fate to D-Von off the ladder, and then Edge spears Jericho off the ladder. Just as the dust settles and Benoit made his way back, he climbs the ladder in a cleared-out ring and retains the Tag Titles with Jericho.

4. WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Edge, Unforgiven 2006

This match was the perfect boiling point for this rivalry. From the moment Edge cashed in his contract the wrestling world was changed. A new king had been crowned, but a marketable superhero was on the rise. After almost a year’s length rivalry with the two passing around the belt like a hot potato it was time to up the ante. Edge had just successfully defended the WWE Championship against Cena at SummerSlam in his hometown of Boston, MA. Cena had one more opportunity for the gold spinner. He approached Edge with a 3-year contract to SmackDown that he would gladly sign, but he just asks for one more match. If he loses, he goes. All Edge wants is to be rid of Cena and continue his reign, so he gladly accepts, but only on his terms. Last time they were in Cena’s home turf, now they would be in Edge’s in Toronto, Ontario. And the match he chooses is something that Cena had never been in before, a TLC! The crowd was extremely hot for Edge. Rightfully so, as the hometown hero looked to get rid of the superhero once and for all. Edge feeds off the crowd so much that he actually jumps in the stands to hop on the barrier and delivers a gruesome drop kick to a ladder that collides with Cena’s face. Like an agile cat Edge runs up the ladder propped in the corner jumping onto Cena on the outside. Cena starts to recover and applies the STFU on Edge through the ladder which causes Edge to tap, but it doesn’t matter. Cena then gets more innovative and FU’s the ladder onto Edge. Cena is feeding into the crowd and goes for the 5-knuckle shuffle but stops himself short and delivers it off the ladder. Cena then climbs the ladder to grab the belt, but Edge climbs up the turn buck and spears him off the ladder. Later Lita saves Edge and tips Cena off the ladder to the outside through a table. Edge is on top of the ladder and Cena is about to interfere, so Lita hits Cena with a chair which causes Cena to bump into the ladder knocking Edge off and over the ropes crashing through two tables! Cena then FU’s Lita, and eventually FU’s Edge off the ladder through stacked tables to win and stay on Raw as the champ. This was my favorite one on one TLC match. Everything including storyline, carnage and the crowd was perfect.

3. World Tag Team Championship: Kane vs. Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley vs. Christian and Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam, WWE Raw (10/07/02)

This was the fourth ever TLC match and like the third it had a different feel to it with the addition of Spike, Jericho, Kane, and most importantly RVD. This match was created by Eric Bischoff’s Raw Roulette where he would spin a wheel with some stipulations and this was the match it landed on. The reigning champion Kane is partner less due to Hurricane being taken out prior to the match by Ric Flair and Triple H, but that didn’t stop the Big Red Machine from wreaking havoc and raising hell. I bet D-Von watches this match and testifies how glad he was that he got traded to SmackDown because Spike was a true ragdoll in this match. RVD’s addition to this match does the style justice and he delivers an amazing Rolling Thunder from the top rope on to the end of the ladder hung up on the ropes colliding with Christian and Jericho. Jeff drops the leg on Kane from the ladder through a table. In this match there’s an infamous moment where Bubba gets a concussion from a Y2J bulldog from the ladder. You can see Bubba’s head planting right into the canvas. Bubba spoke about this later on Talk is Jericho saying it was the worst concussion of his life. He had trouble remembering what to do in the match to the point where he even asked Jericho how to climb a ladder, and who to take the Van Daminator from. He was completely out of it, but just the fact that he was able to finish the match and get it done is remarkable. That’s what this list is about. Showing recognition to the performers who put it all on the line for us. Another great part of this match is Good Ol’ JR going Joey Styles on us and doing single commentary. The issues with these amazing matches on non PPV shows is that there are commercials. There’s one point where JR is pleading saying we can’t go to commercial yet because someone’s going for the belt. Spike later tips the ladder with Jericho on it spilling dangerously to the outside. Hardy gets AIR that would make Jordan jealous with a back drop from Bubba over the rope through a table. Jericho applies a sick Walls on top of the ladder to RVD. Eventually Kane clears the ring with no partner and retains the titles.

2. WWE Tag Team Championship: Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz, SummerSlam 2000

The first ever TLC match is not my number one match, but it sure is the second best! This match made this list possible. The perfect combination of Steel, Wood, and more Steel. With Edge and Christians use of chairs, The Dudley Boyz use of tables, and the Hardy Boyz use of ladders it all came together at SummerSlam 2000 and the wrestling world would change forever. Mic Foley puts it perfectly, Tables and Ladders and Chairs oh my! These six men will be forever linked together for what they accomplished in and around that ring. The Hardy’s enter last in the match and get things going quick. Edge hits a double Russian leg sweep from the ladder on D-Von and Jeff. Bubba hits a Bubba Bomb on Christian from the ladder. Edge pushes Jeff off a ladder onto a stack of ladders as one ricochets into Matts skull. Right away these men show the hell they can raise in just a short amount of time with these ornaments of destruction. The Dudley’s GET THE TABLES and deliver a crushing 3-D to Christian and then stack 4 tables on the outside. The Hardy Boyz get to work with the ladders using their height to drop on to Edge and Christian. Jeff then sets up for the unthinkable as he climbs the highest ladder the crowd has ever seen and plans to Swanton Bomb Bubba through two tables but ends up crashing himself and damn near breaking every bone in his body. All men are down, and the crowd is roaring as Bubba rises and stumbles to the ladder, but Edge and Christian come and tip the ladder spilling Bubba to the outside crashing through the four tables that he and D-Von set up earlier. Lita then joins the fray and pushes Edge and Christian off and they land where you don’t want to land on the ropes. This allows Matt the chance to climb the ladder but D-Von comes to the rescue and tips the ladder backwards as Hardy falls helplessly through two tables on the outside. As Lita checks on Matt, Edge comes out of nowhere with a spear on Lita and she racks her skull on a ladder extremely hard and not at all planned. D-Von and Jeff are fighting for the titles as Edge removes the ladder from them and each man is holding on for dear life suspended 25 feet above the ring. Jeff knocks off D-Von, and Edge and Christian hit Jeff with a ladder dropping him hard which allows the two men to rise and retain in one of the most insane matches in the history of the business.

1. WWE Tag Team Championships: Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz, WrestleMania X-Seven

The second TLC match was the greatest TLC of all time. It took everything from the first match and took it up a notch. It was WrestleMania and these six insane men once again put it all on the line for all to enjoy. Before the match even starts you see the crew bringing in all the choice weapons for the match and the team of Heyman and JR really sell the dangers of this match. This time the start of the match was different. All men take a second to look up at the titles and realize what’s on the line. They understand what they’re about to go through because they’ve done it before. The first memorable spot of the match sees the Hardy’s each on a ladder looking down at Christian with the tandem offense as both drop down hard on Christian. And then it was time to GET THE TABLES! Bubba lays Edge on a table and powerbombs Jeff onto Edge crashing both men through the wood. The Dudley’s then set up the four tables on the outside as they did last time. Then comes a very iconic moment as three ladders rise, and all competitors are in the middles brawling for the belts and eventually they all fall to the canvas. We then get our first interference as Spike comes in a delivers a Dudley Dog to Edge using the ladder to push off. But the tough little bastard wasn’t done there as he hits Christian with a Dudley Dog going over the ropes crashing through a table on the outside! Then Rhyno gets in the mix and Gores everything in his sights including Matt Hardy through a table propped in the corner. And finally, Lita comes to the ring and the three extra participants all get involved with each other. Rhyno gets dropped with the Dudleyville Device, Lita pops Spike with a chair shot that would give the concussion protocols nightmares, and then Lita gets hit with a 3-D. Jeff then climbs a 20-foot ladder and Swanton Bombs onto Spike and Rhyno who lay on two tables that snap like twigs. Hardy soon recovers and tries to walk on the top of 3 ladders to the belts but loses his balance and falls. He gets back up and is hanging above holding on for dear life and in the most memorable moment in TLC history Edge hits the most insane spear of all time and sends Hardy crashing through the canvas. As JR calls it Jeff Hardy may be broken smack dab in half! We’re not done yet! Matt and Bubba are in the center of the ring on the ladder when Rhyno tips them over and they simply explode on the four stacked tables on the outside. Rhyno basically hands Edge and Christian the victory by lifting Christian up on his shoulders to grab the titles for the win. Try and change my mind in the comments but this was the best TLC match of all time!

That’s the list! Think we missed something? Think we were spot on? Let us know in the comments. We look forward to seeing what Braun Strowman and Baron Corbin can do this Sunday, and maybe most of all excited to see the first ever Women’s TLC match! The Man Becky Lynch, The Queen Charlotte Flair, and The Empress Asuka will go to war for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Will either of these matches make the list next year? We truly hope so.
Jake Landmesser