Some of the most iconic moments in WWE history have taken place in TLC matches, and it’s a match type that is looked fondly upon by many wrestling fans all over the world. With TLC 2020 fast approaching, it’s time for another list.
TLC matches don’t just happen at the TLC PPV, so today we’re going to be flipping the script, and looking at the 10 most extreme TLC moments that happened NOT at a TLC PPV. As such, the moments included on this list have to have happened in a TLC match, not a Ladder, Table or the ridiculous Chairs match, at a show that is not the TLC PPV. Is it contrived and convoluted? Sure. But let’s get into it anyway!
10. Edge’s Last Ride (One Night Stand 2008)
The last show to use the “One Night Stand” moniker, One Night Stand 2008’s main event saw Edge take on The Undertaker for Vacant’s World Heavyweight Championship in a TLC match. Shockingly, Vacant didn’t show up for this match.
There were plenty of high spots during the match, such as a splash from Edge from a commentary table through a regular table on the outside, but there were two that took the cake here. This entry is about the one that came first.
Edge had plenty of friends to help him out with this match. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins, the ‘Edgeheads’ attempted to interfere, but received Chokeslams through tables for their troubles. Thanks to their distraction though, it seemed as though Edge may have the match won as he ascended the ladder. ‘Taker wasn’t having any of that though.
‘The Deadman’ walked up to the ladder and promptly lifted Edge into a Last Ride position, before slamming him directly through two tables that were set up one on top of the other in the corner of the ring. What’s better than going through one table? Going through two tables!
9. Yeah Yeah, Jeff Does A Dive, Whatever (SummerSlam 2009)
CM Punk and Jeff Hardy had an absolutely brutal TLC match at SummerSlam 2009 for the World Heavyweight Championship which was part of their intense blood feud. And when I say blood feud, I mean these two absolutely despised each other. You could feel the hate and the vitriol with each blow they dealt to each other throughout the match, and they left everything in the ring. And out of it too, I suppose.
One of the highest points of the match came when CM Punk was laid out on a commentary table and Jeff began to climb a ladder that was set up nearby. Hardy climbed all the way to the top of the ladder, balancing precariously on the very top rung before throwing himself off for a Swanton Bomb on to Punk. In other words, a regular Sunday for Hardy.
8. MegaSuperUltra AA (Unforgiven 2006)
Unforgiven 2006 saw John Cena facing Edge for his WWE Championship in a TLC match, with the added stipulation that if Cena lost, he would leave Raw for SmackDown. Spoilers, he didn’t lose.
The closing moments of the match saw the two competitors atop the ladder, punching each other in an effort to get the other to fall so they could achieve glory. That didn’t really go to plan for Edge.
Cena hoisted Edge on his shoulders from the top of the ladder, then promptly threw him off for a MegaSuperUltra AA through two tables that were set up on one on top of the other next to the ladder. It’s a MegaSuperUltra AA because a Super AA is from the turnbuckle, so a MegaSuper AA must be from a ladder, and it was through some tables, so it’s a MegaSuperUltra AA. That’s canon now.
7. Bubba Ray Dropped-ly (SummerSlam 2000)
SummerSlam 2000 was where the very first TLC match ever took place and it featured the recognised pioneers of the match: The Hardy Boyz, Edge & Christian, and The Dudley Boyz. While it may not have been quite as earth-shattering as the sequel at WrestleMania X-Seven, there was no doubt this match changed WWE moving forward.
There are too many spots to list here, but one of the more extreme moments came when Bubba Ray Dudley was atop a ladder in the center of the ring towards the end of the match. Edge and Christian had other plans than letting Bubba win, so they acted.
Combined, they pushed the ladder over, sending Bubba crashing through not one, not two, but four tables set up outside the ring, two on top of two. What’s better than going through two tables? Going through four tables!
6. WeeLC Steals The Show. No, Seriously. (Extreme Rules 2014)
This was a match that people scoffed at when first presented with it. WWE didn’t exactly help themselves either. El Torito and Hornswoggle were in the midst of a…feud? Sort of? Their respective teammates were also getting caught up in the rivalry, that being Los Matadores and 3MB.
They decided that this hot blood feud could only be settled in a…WeeLC match. Yep. D’you get it? Because…they’re small. They even had a special commentary team and specially made smaller-sized weapons for them to use. It was terrible.
Except for the fact that it wasn’t. This was genuinely one of the matches of the night, and it was on the pre-show. We saw future NXT Champion Drew McIntyre attempt a tope con hilo over the top rope, and all he landed on was a table. Ow.
Future WWE Champion Jinder Mahal got caught up in the action too, being lifted up by Los Matadores, before El Torito leaped from a small ladder, sending all four of them crashing down through tables with ladders laid on top of them. Really, really, so much ow.
5. “OK I’m Ready For My Trust Fall Jeff…Jeff?” (SummerSlam 2000)
Back again at SummerSlam 2000 in the first ever TLC match. This time, it’s a Dudley Boy giving the punishment. Matt Hardy was innocently climbing a ladder in the middle of the ring, minding his business, before big bad bully D-Von Dudley came over and spoiled his afternoon.
He pushed the ladder over, sending Hardy through two tables set up outside the ring. We’ve seen people thrown through two tables, we’ve seen people slammed through two tables, we’ve seen people fall through four tables, so what makes this one so special?
D-Von didn’t push the ladder sideways, he lifted one end of the ladder, sending Hardy backwards, towards the fans, and more importantly, the barricade. Hardy didn’t even flinch, completely trust falling backwards and accepting his punishment. It was such a smooth landing, directly on the two tables set up, but man, another foot backwards and this would have been a very different story.
4. TLC III: The 3D Experience (SmackDown, May 24, 2001)
It’s not very often you get TLC matches that aren’t on PPVs, but WWE made an exception on the May 24, 2001 episode of SmackDown. This was TLC III, a Fatal 4-Way TLC match between the original trio of The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz and Edge & Christian, but with the addition of the Tag Team Champions, Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho.
While this may have been the weakest match of the trilogy, that’s not to say it was a bad match by any means. It still had plenty of high spots, plenty of drama and thrills. One such spot came when Christian was dueling with D-Von Dudley in the corner of the ring atop a ladder.
D-Von, at the bottom of the ladder, grabbed Christian’s legs, and threw him backwards in a flapjack position. You know what comes next. There was a table set up in the middle of the ring, and Bubba caught the flying Christian to nail him with a 3D through the table. A Super 3D if you will.
3. The Deadman Might Actually Be Dead (One Night Stand 2008)
At Number 3 and we still haven’t mentioned WrestleMania X-Seven. Don’t crucify me, please. We’re back at One Night Stand 2008 with the TLC match between Edge and The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship. Edge had just been put through the two tables mentioned earlier.
Remember when I said Edge had plenty of friends to help him with this match? Well after the previously mentioned table spot, out came Chavo Guerrero and who Wikipedia tells me is Bam Neely. They attacked ‘Taker, prompting ‘The Phenom’ to respond with steel chairs to both of them. However, the time taken to dish out the punishment allowed Edge to recover from his table mishap.
As ‘Taker climbed the ladder slowly due to attacks directed at his ankle, Edge stood up and pushed over the ladder, sending ‘The Deadman’ through four tables set up on the outside. This is essentially the same spot as Bubba Ray Dudley’s fall at SummerSlam 2000, but this makes it higher on the list because it’s The Undertaker. Who at the time, would have been a 43 year old man, compared to Bubba, who at the time of his four-table crash was 29.
2. Jeff Does Another Dive. Classic Jeff. (WrestleMania X-Seven)
Well. Here we are with WrestleMania X-Seven. TLC II. The sequel to the SummerSlam 2000 match featuring the same competitors: The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian. For those who don’t know, this match absolutely smashed any and all expectations, putting all three teams on the map, securing stardom for all of them. This was an absolutely crazy match, and I couldn’t possibly list all the spots that happened so I’ve just chosen two. Here’s the first one.
Remember when Jeff Hardy did a Swanton off the very top of a ladder through a commentary table. Imagine that, but a taller ladder, two tables, and two people to land on. There was a whole ton of interference for every team in this match, with Spike Dudley assisting the Dudley Boyz, Rhyno assisting Edge & Christian, and Lita assisting The Hardy Boyz. Rhyno and Spike had managed to find themselves laid out on two tables on the outside of the ring, with a giant ladder positioned right next to them. Oh dear.
Up climbed Jeff Hardy, balancing at the very top of the ladder once again. Of all Hardy dives, this is possibly one of his most iconic. He threw himself off, landing on Rhyno, Spike and the tables in a very awkward fashion. What a man.
1. That One Spear (WrestleMania X-Seven)
Of course it was going to be this. One of the most iconic and replayed moments in WWE history. Here’s Jeff again, doing something nutty. Only this time, he’s the one taking the move. ‘The Charismatic Enigma’ had climbed across three ladders to grab the title belts above the ring, but Bubba Ray Dudley had taken the ladders away from under him. Hardy was suspended above the ring, hanging on to the belts. What could happen next?
There was a ladder set up on the other corner of the ring, and Edge had climbed it. With one swift movement, he leapt off the ladder, Spearing Jeff straight out of the air before they both crashed twenty feet down to the center of the ring. This was such a beautiful spot for many reasons, but it was such a smooth landing for both men, landing as comfortably as they could be from twenty feet up, perfectly on their knees and backs respectively.
You know what made it even better? It was all beautifully shot on the hard cam. None of the dynamic cutting nonsense, we could just see the whole spot play out. This was absolutely crazy, and quite comfortably found its way to the top of this list.
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