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A Tables, Ladders and Chairs match is one of the most innovative ideas in WWE. The concept of TLC was so revolutionary that in 2009, WWE decided to dedicate a gimmicky PPV for this beautiful stipulation. Hence, Tables, Ladders and Chairs was born.
The first such PPV was headlined by DX and the team of Chris Jericho and Big Show for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships. Now we are just a few days away from the tenth iteration of the event.
Even though it a variation of a standard ladders match, other weapons like stairs, tables, kendo sticks and chairs are extensively used in a TLC match. Edge is considered to be the master of these matches, with seven total appearances. Jeff Hardy is closely trailing the Rated R Superstar with five TLC appearances. Edge also boasts the record for most victories at the event, with five.
So far, there have been 21 TLC matches in WWE. While most of them were for a title that was hanging from the top, some of them ended in pinfalls. In this list, we are taking a look at the top five TLC matches of all time.
5) John Cena vs Edge - Unforgiven 2006
Edge was on the top of his heelish run in mid-2006. After winning his first WWE Championship, he lost it to John Cena in a matter of days. However, the Ultimate Opportunist soon got his second reign with the title after defeating the champion Rob Van Dam and John Cena in a triple threat. This match was followed up by a great feud between Edge and Cena, which ended in a fitting TLC match.
The ending of the match was outstanding. Cena dropped Edge through a pile of stacked tables from on top of the ladder and then unhooked the title to claim his third WWE title.
4) CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy - Summerslam 2009
CM Punk and Jeff Hardy were two opposite ends of a spectrum and had a lot of heat between them. Thus their feud in 2009 was outstanding. The straight edge life of CM Punk was in direct conflict with the hedonistic lifestyle of Hardy.
At Extreme Rules 2009, Hardy successfully defeated Edge in a gruelling Ladder Match to win the World Heavyweight Championship. However, Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to "steal" the title from the daredevil. Although Hardy gained the title back at Night of Champions, Punk invoked his rematch clause for a title match at Summerslam 2009.
In the main event of Summerslam, both Hardy and Punk gave their all out in an outstanding TLC match. There were the usual ladder spots in this match, and Jeff Hardy flew all around the place as usual. However, the best moment of the match was when Hardy performed a Swanton Bomb on Punk from top of a ladder onto the announcer's table.
Punk managed to win the match. But both of them walked out of the arena after giving an exceptional match.
3) Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boys vs. The Hardy Boys - Summerslam 2000
This entry was the first ever Tables, Ladders and Chairs match to ever exist in history. Six tag team specialists in three teams went through hell to bring us a memorable outing that had a lasting impression on us.
Since this was the first ever TLC match, there was potential for a lot of errors — however, all the members involved in the match gave it their all. All the three teams had a signature object in the match. The Dudley Boys were known for using the tables. Their tag team finisher "Dudley Death Drop (3D)" looks spectacular when done on a table. The Hardy Boyz, especially Jeff Hardy, were known for ladder matches and Edge and Christian had a finisher named the "con-chair-to".
The match itself was terrific. There were many spots in the match which became signature spots in subsequent TLC matches - especially Jeff Hardy's leap from the top of a ladder.
Even though Edge and Christian won the match, all six men involved walked out of the arena creating history.
2) AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose - TLC 2016
This is one of the more recent entries on the list. AJ Styles was on a roll after winning his first WWE Championship from Dean Ambrose at Backlash. Ambrose invoked his rematch clause at WWE TLC 2016, and both of the superstars put forward a memorable match.
This match made use of the entire arena. The two men fought everywhere - from inside the ring to inside the crowd. Unlike other matches on this list, this bout also focuses heavily on brilliant counter after counter.
However, no TLC match is complete without a mind-boggling spot. AJ Styles pulled one out here. After performing his signature moonsault - reverse DDT combo on Ambrose on the outside, AJ managed to hit a "phenomenal" 450 splash on the Lunatic Fringe on a table. That was undoubtedly the best moment of the entire match.
This clash also saw a surprising heel turn from James Ellsworth, who cost Ambrose for a potential future title match.
AJ retained his title after a tremendous match.
1) Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boys vs. The Hardy Boys - Wrestlemania 17
More specifically, this clash is known as TLC 2. Very rarely does WWE get something perfect when it comes to booking the same match more than once. This matchup was one such instance. Since there were 12 matches scheduled for that night, the trio of tag teams got only 15 minutes to showcase their excellence.
The clash started with an all-out brawl between all six members. Soon ladders were introduced into the ring, and all three teams struggled to clinch the tag team titles. Even the tables were used extensively in this match.
All great elements from the previous encounter were recreated here. However, WWE added one more touch of brilliance in this bout. Edge speared a suspending Jeff Hardy from top of the ladder - a sight no wrestling fan would forget anytime soon. This moment was probably the most iconic moment in TLC history.
Edge and Christian won the match. However, similar to their TLC encounter before, all six of them made a lasting impression on WWE fans.
