WRESTLING NEWS
The Most Memorable Ladder Matches In Wrestling History
By WESLEY ROESCH
WrestleMania X 1994
WWF introduced a new concept to fans with their second-ever ladder match and first to be televised. "We weren't aware, at that time, of what we were creating," Shawn Michaels told Sports Illustrated, "We wanted to create something special and tear the house down. But we never had the depth to think it would be historic or stand the test of time."
SummerSlam 1995
After the popular first match, WWF did it again a year later at SummerSlam but upped the ante with a second ladder, allowing them to get even more creative near the end of the match when Michaels and Ramon kicked each other off their ladders — and Ramon out of the ring — allowing Michaels to win back the Intercontinental Championship.
SummerSlam 1998
The fifth ladder match in WWF/E history was also for the Intercontinental Championship, in a match that helped Triple H and The Rock make names for themselves. Still a heel at the time, The Rock drew "Rocky sucks" chants and frequently responded with appropriately inappropriate "f-you's" toward the crowd, but after this match, his popularity soared.
No Mercy 1999
If Michaels and Ramon put ladder matches on the map for singles competitors, then this one showed what tag team wrestling can look like with ladders involved. The Hardy Boyz used crazy high-flying over-the-ladder leg drops and a neckbreaker from the top of the ladder, while Edge and Christian used the ladder itself as a weapon to inflict pain on them.
WrestleMania 2000
The WWF tag team ladder matches were a moneymaker, so they added yet another team for triple the fun. This match delivered so many iconic moments, including Jeff Hardy's famous Swanton Bomb from the top of the ladder onto Bubba Ray Dudley through a table — a moment that solidified Jeff's place as one of the best high flyers in wrestling history.