411’s WWE Greatest Moments Report: Ladder Matches

-Written: 5.31.26
-Source: A&E
-Run Time: 30 Minutes (w/ commercials)

-Michael Cole is our host!

-We start with Stampede Wrestling and getting shots of them running ladder matches. Bret Hart competed in a few of them and he brings the match to the WWF with him.

10. The First Steps
-July 21, 1992

-The first Ladder Match in WWF history and it’s Shawn vs. Bret for Bret’s IC Title. Bret says the fans understood right away and says it ended up being a pretty good match. Shawn thinks it is the first time people looked at him as someone who could carry a Main Event. Bret gets the win and says it was his best matches and was the right time, crowd, opponent.

9. Rocking The Ladder
-RAW: Feb 15, 1999

-Really, this one? All the Ladder Matches in WWE history and you go with this one? Anyway it’s Rock winning back the WWF Title from Mankind in a Ladder Match. Rock says it was one of the most incredible night he has ever had. Mick notes he was hurting for quite a while after the match.

8. Familiar Territory
-Extreme Rules 2009

-Jeff Hardy vs. Edge in a Ladder Match for the World Title. These two can have ladder matches with their eyes closed. They delivered here and gave us a creative ending with Edge getting trapped in the ladder. Jeff gets the win and says that is one of his favorite moments. They don’t cover it here, but Hardy only held the Title for a few minutes as CM Punk cashed in his second MITB and started his heel turn.

-Commercials!

7. A Five-Star Attraction
-RAW: May 27, 2002

-It’s Eddie vs. RVD for The IC Title and it was on my birthday! They killed each other and RVD notes Eddie did a Senton over the ladder and it moved one of his ribs. He went to various doctors and never could get it back in place. They obviously don’t show the fan that rushed into the ring and tried to knock the ladder over with Eddie on it. Great match!

6. A Personal Matter
-No Mercy 2008

-Jericho vs. Shawn in a Ladder Match for Jericho’s World Title. The feud between these two was amazing and this was the blow-off. This feud was so good, you could make a case they could have stretched it to Mania. They have a tug-of-war over the title on top of the ladder and Jericho wins the battle. Another amazing match!

-Commercials!

5. A Degenerate Nation
-SummerSlam 98

-Now, this is the Rock Ladder Match I assumed would be on this list. This match made both these men into stars. The talking heads all note both guys were fighting to be next top guy in the company. We got a lot of Rock/HHH before this match and a lot after that match. Now, we get it in the boardroom at times. This match also ruled and stole the show at SummerSlam that year. That yellow ladder looked cool for some reason as well.

4. A Matter of Pride
-RAW: July 1, 2002

-Another star making performance and in this case it’s because Jeff Hardy survived an ass kicking from The Undertaker. Taker even notes he beat Jeff like he owed him money. Jeff says the story of the match was that he was never going to give up. JR with the great, “make yourself famous,” line. Taker wins and Jeff says he is still standing. Taker raises Jeff’s hand after the match.

3. Friends No More
-Royal Rumble 2025

-THE WINGED EAGLE TITLE! KO says that belt is a big deal to fans and wrestlers. This is KO vs. Cody as KO had stolen The Winged Eagle so both titles were hung above the ring. Taker says he has never seen a ladder used to the extent like these two used it. Sadly, this match is likely the reason KO has been out of action for over a year. If not this match, it certainly didn’t help. Cody gets the win as KO loses another Title Match at The Royal Rumble.

-Commercials!

2. Raising The Bar
-No Mercy 1999

-Terri Invitational Tournament! This match revolutionized the ladder match forever! It’s Edge and Christian vs. The Hardyz and they deliver an all-time classic that made all four men Superstars. Just crazy spot, after crazy spot. This was the next evolution of the Ladder Match after what Shawn and Razor did.

1. Ladders, Razors, and Heartbreaks
-WrestleMania X

-I mean, this was the only match that could be in the top spot. I actually like the rematch at SummerSlam better, but this was first and influenced a generation of wrestlers. I just reviewed this show a few weeks ago, and the match still holds up. Taker says they set the bar for what a ladder match would become. No kidding!

-I do like they stayed with Ladder Matches and didn’t include TLC because that is different. They nailed the top two. As mentioned, those two matches influenced a generation, and we can thank those matches for the explosion of ladder matches we’ve had since. One key thing I noticed from this list is that the ladder match was used as a way to launch careers as long as they guys involved delivered. This was fun!

-Thanks for reading!