#14 – The First Money in the Bank Ladder Match – Wrestlemania XXI

Just when I was starting to miss the Tag Team Turmoil TLC matches at ‘Mania – they came up with this gem. The Money in the Bank Ladder match. Not only was it a way to get more talent booked on the card, but it was also a way for some extremely talented fellows to shine.

The WWF/WWE has always been great at putting on big event matches that are filled with emotion and story. Nothing gimmicky, just straight matches. But when they do insert the occasional weaponfest, or ladder match, they’re also able to remain innovative. Of course, a lot of these death-defying moves have been done in feds like ECW and ROH, and even smaller organizations. But it’s always fun to see WWE wrestlers, who are normally forced into wrestling a certain style of match, break free of their usual artistic constraints. This match marked the beginning of the rise of Edge, who won the match even though he was almost actually the least engaging person in it.

And who could forget Shelton Benjamin running up the ladder?

#1 – Edge and Christian vs The Dudleys vs The Hardys – TLC II – Wrestlemania XVII

This entire series, which began with a Dudleys/Hardeys/E & C Ladder Match at the previous Wrestlemania, was just a potboiler of insanity. From that match, it headed into a TLC (Tables, Ladders, Chairs) match between the three team at the previous Summerslam. Now it was time for TLC II! Yes, the match was named for the supposed items of power for each team. Dudleys were the “tables” guys. Hardeys were the “ladder” guys and Edge and Christian, because of their “ConCHAIRto” were the “chairs” guys. Now Edge and Christian had actually won the previous two matches in this series, so there was no way that they were winning for a third time, right?

Wrong!

They did it. And in their seventh and final title win, Edge and Christian captured the WWE Tag Titles! But not before all hell broke loose, including run-ins from each of the team’s “third” player. Lita for the Hardeys, Spike for the Dudleys, and Rhino for Edge and Christian! All of a sudden there were nine players in this beautiful chaotic symphony!

Sweet sweet violence. It’s like Satan’s giving me a scalp massage.