The 411 Wrestling Top 5: The Top 5 TLC Matches

The 411 Wrestling Top 5: Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling’s Top 5 List. We take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to participate and give us their Top 5 on said topic. So, onto this week’s topic…

Week 292 – The Top 5 TLC Matches
What are the best TLC matches? (These are matches that were advertised as “TLC” style matches.)

Kevin Pantoja
5. WWE Championship: Edge (c) vs. John Cena (Unforgiven 2006) – The hottest feud in 2006 had to be the one between Edge and John Cena. Edge cashed in Money in the Bank on Cena at the START of the year before they would go on to wrestle at the Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and finally, Unforgiven. On this night, Edge had the clear hometown advantage as Toronto was on fire for him. There were even tears in his eyes during the intros because of the reception that he got. As usual, John Cena proved to be at his best when in hostile territory as he and Edge put on a great match with big spots. The biggest spot came at the end, when Edge took an FU off the ladder and through two tables, allowing Cena to bring down the belt after 25 grueling MINUTES.

4. World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. CM Punk (SummerSlam 2009) – Much like Edge and John Cena, CM Punk and Jeff Hardy had the best rivalry in 2009. It also began with a Money in the Bank cash in as Punk did so on Hardy at Extreme Rules. Punk would then BEGIN a slow heel turn and Jeff would WIN back the belt at Night of Champions. The Smackdown Title rarely got to main event, especially on the Big Four shows, but this went on last, even after DX and a Randy Orton/John Cena match. They made the most of it putting on a classic. It doesn’t feature many memorable spots, but it’s a well worked match where both guys looked strong. Punk pulled out the win here after 21 minutes, as Jeff was on his way out of the company.

3. Team Hell No and Ryback vs. The Shield (TLC 2012) – In November 2012, The Shield made an immediate impact when they debuted and assaulted Ryback during a WWE Title match. The Shield would not make their in-ring debut though until the following month when Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns met Ryback and the WWE Tag Team Champions, Team Hell No in a six man TLC, the first of its kind. All six men went to war with Seth taking a HUGE bump through a bunch of tables. The Shield would go on to win in 22 minutes, solidifying them as legit threats in the WWE; something that still holds true to this day.

2. WWF Tag Team Championship: TLC 1 (SummerSlam 2000) – SummerSlam 2000 is one of my favorite Pay-Per-Views. I bought it on DVD and used to watch it all the time so I’ve seen this match more than twenty times. It’s still amazing. After stealing the show at WrestleMania 2000 in a Triangle Ladder Match, Edge and Christian, the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz would up the ante here. This is an absolute thrill ride and there are more memorable spots than I can name here. It was shorter than most TLC matches, clocking in at just under 15 minutes, but it doesn’t slow down one bit the entire time. Fantastic stuff and Edge and Christian pull off the rare feat of retaining the gold in this match type.

1. WWF Tag Team Championship: TLC II (WrestleMania X-Seven) – I may have seen TLC 1 more times than I’ve seen TLC II, but I know which one is superior. If the ante was up after SummerSlam 2000, these three teams set the bar so high that nobody has come close to reaching it. Not only does this have the awesome high spots of previous incarnations, it also has the most memorable moment of all. Edge spearing Jeff Hardy while he dangles from the titles is still shown all of the time in tons of video PACKAGES. The six men in the match are incredible but so are Spike Dudley, Rhyno and Lita, who come out to help each team and add something to the match. Edge and Christian would prevail again, thanks to a big assist from Rhyno in about 16 minutes, stealing the show in arguably the greatest WrestleMania of all time.

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justin watry
5. Ric Flair vs. Edge (WWE Raw, January 2006) – So many good TLC matches over the years. As always, I am terrible at making lists and am already second guessing my fifth choice here. Either way, that is where we begin. Edge defending his newly won WWE Championship against Ric FREAKIN’ Flair in a TLC match? On RAW?!?! I thought it was a joke at first. Nope. WWE wanted to ride the wave of BIG TELEVISION ratings for another week or two, so this was their MAIN EVENT. Right or wrong, it worked. Coming off the live sex celebration from a week earlier, RAW scored another mega-number. Plus, Edge and Flair delivered in a fun TLC battle that was unlike the others, yet very similar in that Edge walked away with his gold.

4. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (Summerslam 2009) – This feud was very entertaining. Usually, I am not in favor of flip flopping the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. In this rare case, it worked beautifully. While it was pretty well known that Jeff Hardy was taking time off after WWE Summerslam 2009, you just never knew, as those rumors had been out there for a few months…yet, there he was each week as World Champ. Sadly, what we did not know at the time was that Jeff Hardy would go from top of the top of the top in WWE to a sound stage in Orlando just a few months later. A major blunder then and now one of the major blunders in the history of wrestling. Back to the match, CM Punk was the perfect opponent to hype up a TLC match with (which did get the main event spot at the pay-per-view, right in line with other Jeff Hardy matches in 2009). Memorable showdown made even more memorable with the post-match surprise return of The Undertaker!

3. John Cena vs. Edge (Unforgiven 2006) – Fun fact: CM Punk and Jeff Hardy had a steel cage rematch after their TLC match. Just like John Cena and Edge did in 2006. Many may not remember their steel cage match in Fall 2006, but many certainly remember their TLC match a Unforgiven. In Toronto giving Edge the hometown crowd. With John Cena’s Raw contract on the line. Poor Teddy Long was in attendance, looking so excited to sign him…poor guy. Not that it truly mattered, but I also loved the hype video promo for this PPV main event. The atmosphere was awesome and really let the world know (if it was not known already) that Edge was here to stay and definitely a main event wrestler going forward. Obviously, John Cena was not going to Smackdown, so he was going to win in the end. Still, Edge gave it his all, and this entire PPV was stacked from top to bottom, so it was a fitting conclusion to the show.

2. TLC 2 (WrestleMania 2001) – Very likely could have the top spot. However, nine times out of ten, a sequel can never touch the original. From movies to wrestling matches. This rematch included the additions of Spike Dudley, Rhyno, and Lita making quick but impactful appearances. I have always been split on that, as you would think six guys flying all over the place would be enough. Yet, it somehow worked. Where it does NOT surpass the original is just that – it felt like all six were trying TOO hard at times. Keep in mind these teams already had a classic ladder match at No Mercy 1999, a big tables match at ROYAL RUMBLE 2000, three way WrestleMania 2000 ladder match, TLC at Summerslam 2000, and then also Edge and Christian vs. The Hardyz had a high risk ladder match on RAW in Fall 2000. So much of their material and high spots had been used by the time April 2001 rolled around. Thus, we got a lot of the same stuff at WM17…and the absolutely ridiculous attempt by Jeff Hardy to walk across the top of the ladders that still just boggles my mind that anybody would allow that to even take place, much less work at all. If THAT is what it came to in order to top their previous work, then just forget it. All in all though, this was still great!

1. TLC 1 (Summerslam 2000) – No explanation needed.

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MICHAEL WEYER
5. Edge vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio (TLC 2010) This belongs on the list due simply to the fact it was the last TLC MATCH with the man who innovated the entire concept. With Kane’s World Championship on the line, the first Fatal 4-Way TLC battle was going to be something and they made it work beautifully. The great contrast in size and styles worked as the three challengers worked to weaken Kane down but couldn’t resist taking shots at each other in the process. They brawled through the crowd for a bit before BACK in the ring and a fun bit of Del Rio eating a 619 but Edge using a chair to block one. Alberto ate a huge fall through tables, Rey was Tombstoned off the ladder, Edge using a chair and a spear to knock Kane down and finally climb up to win. A fun battle of all four doing great work and one more reason to miss Edge.

4. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (SummerSlam 2009) This match may not have the major spots of other TLC battles but it worked as a great story. Straight-laced Punk and infamously wild Jeff going at it after trading the title back and forth a few times previously. The terrific war had both guys trading wild moves, Hardy of course doing his table splashes but Punk hitting back hard with chair shots, missing a dive to get wild hit himself from Jeff and Hardy hitting one of the most insane Swanton Bombs ever off a huge ladder onto Punk through the announce table. That led to the fun bit of Jeff crawling off a stretcher to try and stop Punk only to get kicked off the ladder to allow Punk to win. A great match that used TLC not just for spots but really telling the story of the battle and helping push Punk even more for WWE fans.

3. TLC I (SummerSlam 2000) People forget that the groundbreaking match at WrestleMania 2000 wasn’t TLC, just a straight ladder match with chairs and tables added on as it went. For the rematch, WWE went all out with the TLC stip and the RESULTS were a spotfest unlike anything fans had seen before. Chair shots, ladder shots, Jeff Hardy showing his daredevil side leaping through tables, brutal hits, guys going through stacks of tables, Lita showing up only to get a spear from Edge. It was a wild war with E&C winning to retain the belts and the fans loved it. Another sign of how all three teams were boosted to greatness with a match that ranked among the year’s best.

2. John Cena vs. Edge, (Unforgiven 2006) Say what you will about Cena, the man is able to work damn well in hostile territory. That was clear in this show as Edge was clearly the hometown favorite in Toronto defending the WWE title. Both men were terrific going at it hard with Cena seeming to feed off the boos to battle it out, he and Edge trading hard moves and wicked shots with chairs and ladders. What was interesting was that as the match went on, as Cena kept COMING BACK fighting from hard shots and drops that would kill anyone else, the Canadian crowd’s hate abated a bit, still backing Edge but some respect for Cena as well. It all built up the famous ending of Cena hitting Edge with an FU off the ladder through a table, laying out Edge enough for Cena to win. Even much of the crowd had to applaud with respect to the fantastic war they’d seen and a great showcase of two masters of such battles.

1. TLC II, (WrestleMania X-7) Really no CONTEST. All the previous brawls the Dudleyz, the Hardyz and Edge & Christian had gotten into over the previous year came to a fantastic climax in this stunning battle. We had repeats of favorites: The Hardyz using the ladder to leap off and crush guys; con-chair-tos; the Dudleyz “Whaaaaaaasuppppp!” flying headbutt; and you haven’t lived until you’ve heard 67,000 people yelling “GET THE TABLES!” But better was the addition of Rhyno, Lita and Spike to make things even wilder, Spike doing an Acid Drop off the top through a table, Lita hitting Rhyno with a chair but then eating a 3-D and more. We had guys falling off through stacks of tables, Jeff Hardy risking his life and the classic moment of Edge leaping off the top to spear Jeff hanging off the cable in one of the most awesome spots imaginable. In the end, E&C managed to regain the belts but it was a massive battle, a TRAIN wreck but still great storytelling to let you enjoy what TLC can bring to the table big-time.

Alex Crowder
5. WWF TAG TEAM Championship: The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian(c) (Summerslam, 2000) – I’ll preface everything by admitting that I missed a lot of wrestling from 2010 to 2013. Nonetheless, my first choice is the original TLC. I think the original TLC still holds up very well today. Everything wasn’t so cliché back then. This was a ground breaking MATCH and I remember it vividly. It was unlike anything I had seen before. I remember cheering for The Dudley Boyz at the time and I was livid when Edge and Christian came out on top. This was a fantastic match that will always stand the TEST of time.

4. WWF Tag Team Championship: Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit(c) vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz (Smackdown, 2001) – Honestly, I don’t generally like to put a certain wrestler in my rankings, but I can’t really remember any other TLC matches. This time I’ll just have to accept it and put this great Smackdown match on my list. I’m not sure if many people remember this one, but it was an awesome TLC match on FREE television. I know Kane was in a decent one on Raw. However, the quality of this one is better. You have the three originators matching up again with the freshness of a new team adding to the match. Chris Jericho’s team adds a lot to this dynamic and the match is better for it.

3. Ryback and Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane) vs. The Shield (Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns) (TLC, 2012) – Even though I didn’t catch much WWE at this time…I did decide to track this one down. How many people have debuted like The Shield did. This TLC match is fantastic. We all know both Ryback and Kane are not Bret Hart, but even they play their part well. The teamwork of The Shield is fun to watch and this created a resurgence for tag team wrestling. That goes to show how important this match is. The Shield was a cohesive unit unlike anything we’ve seen since the NWO. Also, for me this is one of the few TLC matches to stick out in the late 2000’s. I’ve seen a few other TLC matches from the TLC PPVs, but few invoke a reaction out of me like this one.

2. WWE Championship: Ric Flair vs. Edge(c) (Raw, 2006) – I know this may be blasphemy to some, but I’m not the biggest Ric Flair fan. I don’t deny his greatness; he’s just not my cup of tea. However, even someone like me can become a Ric Flair fan for one night. I’m not sure if it’s because Edge is a great heel or if it is just out of respect, but I really dug this match. I really wanted Ric Flair to win just like the time he faced Triple H for the World Championship. Edge is a fantastic heel of course and Flair is in the rare (for him) face role. Flair despite being one of the best heels ever plays an awesome plucky face challenger. Apparently, he was the IC champion at this time, which I had forgotten. Nevertheless, the crowd loves Ric Flair and makes the match even better. This might not be the best spot fest, but as a story this is an awesome match. This might not be even a four star match, but it is really easy to watch and has some fun spots (maybe I’m overrating it, that’s alright). I think hearing Charlotte plead for Flair to get up makes Edge look like even more of a jerk. I think another thing that makes this match is incredible is how unlike a Ric Flair match it is. This is one of the few matches where it feels like the great Ric Flair is COMPLETELY out of his element.

1. WWF Tag Team Championship: Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz(c) (WrestleMania X-7, 2001) – I’m not even sure what to say about this one. I think this is the second best ladder match ever. This is also one of the finest spotfests you’ll ever see. I probably wouldn’t give many spotfests five stars, but this is one of the few. This match is so easy to watch and both Edge and Jeff Hardy will live forever because of this match. There is nothing better than this one when it comes to TLC matches. This match represents the end of Attitude era tag team wrestling and pretty much the peak of tag team wrestling in the WWE since, except for a few years on Smackdown and The Shield…tag team wrestling hasn’t recovered. This match has so many memorable spots too. Everyone took big bumps and the overbooking didn’t harm this one. This in my mind is one of the few matches to top the original! TLC II will live forever and highlights of it will never fade.

YOUR TURN KNOW IT ALLS

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