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A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling, most commonly one in which an item (usually a title belt) is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item. The ladder itself becomes a key feature of the match, as wrestlers will use the ladder as a weapon to strike the opponent(s), as a launching pad for acrobatic attacks, and frequently these matches include impressive falls from the top of the ladder. However, there were very few matches in which the hung item must be used in a special manner in order to win the match, such as striking the opponent with the item (see Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Scott Hall taser match, where one must strike the opponent with the taser, regardless of who retrieved the taser first).
Ladder matches are often used as a finale to storylines and it is more common to have symbolic briefcases (usually "containing" a contract for a future championship match) or championship belts hung above the ring. Ladder matches and their variants (such as TLC matches and Full Metal Mayhem) are often used in feuds that involve a dispute over possession of an item (such as a stolen title belt or the "paperwork" for the contractual services of a manager). Ladder matches are almost always fought under no disqualification rules.
Origins
The ladder match could have been invented by either Dan Kroffat of the Stampede Wrestling organization out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada or British wrestler Kendo Nagasaki. In September 1972, Stampede Wrestling held the first ever ladder match between Dan Kroffat and Tor Kamata, where the object to be grabbed was a wad of money. In 1987, Kendo Nagasaki competed in a "disco challenge" ladder match against Clive Myers on the popular World of Sport. The aim of this match was to retrieve a gold coloured disco record suspended above the ring.
In July 1983, Stampede Wrestling held a ladder match in which Bret Hart faced off against Bad News Allen. Hart went on to join the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and, in the early 1990s, suggested this type of match to promoter Vince McMahon, years before the gimmick achieved its eventual popularity.
The first ever ladder match in the WWF, in which Hart defeated Shawn Michaels to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title, was held in Portland, ME on July 21, 1992. The match was taped but never aired on television, and remained widely unseen until its inclusion on the 2007 The Ladder Match DVD and among the bonus material on the 2011 DVD and Blu-ray collection WWE's Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. The two performers tell interviewer Jim Ross how the match was planned along with an intended ladder rematch that never materialized.
Ladder matches in World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE
- Many ladder matches, while not officially recognized by the WWE have taken place at house shows. Ten featured Razor Ramon retaining the Intercontinental Championship against Shawn Michaels months before their WrestleMania X encounter. Another featured Razor Ramon winning the same title from Jeff Jarrett in Montreal in 1995, only to lose it back to Jarrett two nights later, as part of a series of nine unrecognized ladder matches the two had. Another featured Jeff Hardy retaining his World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk in Denver, Co in 2009. Three ladder matches took place at consecutive house shows in 2006, where each saw Jeff Hardy defend his Intercontinental Championship. The first of these three saw Shelton Benjamin, Johnny Nitro, and Carlito as contenders. The next two nights did not feature Benjamin as he was too injured to participate.
- Similar to a Stairway to Hell match, during Triple H and Kevin Nash's ladder match, a sledgehammer was hung above the ring. The first participant to retrieve it could use it as a weapon. The only way to have won was by pinfall or submission.
- Participant list
- Males
- Females
| Wrestler | Victories | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Io Shirai | 2 | 2 |
| Chelsea Green | 0 | 1 |
| Tegan Nox | 0 | 1 |
| Dakota Kai | 0 | 1 |
| Candice LeRae | 0 | 1 |
| Mia Yim | 0 | 2 |
Ladder matches in World Championship Wrestling
Ladder matches in Impact Wrestling
(1) This match began as a Battle Royal but when it came down to 2 competitors it became a ladder match.
(2) The big red X, usually associated with the Ultimate X match, was used instead of a belt to win the match.
Ladder matches in Ring of Honor
Ladder matches in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date | Location | Time | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott Lost (c) defeated Joey Ryan (c) | Ladder match for sole ownership of the PWG Tag Team Championship | The Next Show | September 4, 2004 | Los Angeles, California | ||
| 2 | El Generico defeated Kevin Steen (c) | Ladder match for the PWG World Championship | Steen Wolf | October 22, 2011 | Reseda, California | ||
| 3 | The Super Smash Brothers (Player Uno and Stupefied) (c) defeated Future Shock (Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly) and The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) | Three-way tag team ladder match for the PWG World Tag Team Championship | Threemendous III | July 21, 2012 | Reseda, California | ||
| 4 | The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) (c) defeated Inner City Machine Guns (Ricochet and Rich Swann) and DojoBros (Eddie Edwards and Roderick Strong) | Three-way tag team ladder match for the PWG World Tag Team Championship | Ten | August 9, 2013 | Reseda, California |
Ladder matches in New Japan Pro-Wrestling
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date | Location | Time | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Elgin defeated Kenny Omega (c) | Ladder match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship | Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall | June 19, 2016 | Osaka, Osaka |
Ladder matches in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date | Location | Time | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Mesías defeated El Zorro | Ladder match for the vacant AAA Mega Championship | Guerra de Titanes (2008) | December 6, 2008 | Orizaba, Veracruz | ||
| 2 | Daga defeated Juventud Guerrera, Fénix, Jack Evans (c), Joe Líder and Psicosis | Ladder match for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship | Guerra de Titanes (2012) | December 2, 2012 | Zapopan, Jalisco | ||
| 3 | Aero Star and Drago (c) defeated Laredo Kid and Super Fly, La Familia Fronteriza (Damián 666 and Nicho el Millonario) and Los Psycho Circus (Monster Clown and Murder Clown) | Four-way tag team Ladder match for the AAA World Tag Team Championship | Héroes Inmortales X | October 2, 2016 | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico |
Ladder matches in Combat Zone Wrestling
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date and location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chri$ Ca$h defeated Ruckus and Sonjay Dutt | Three-way ladder match | CZW Sanctioned in Blood | September 28, 2002 Dover, Delaware |
| 2 | Ruckus defeated Chri$ Ca$h and Sonjay Dutt | Three-way ladder match | CZW Night of Infamy | November 9, 2002 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | Sonjay Dutt defeated J. C. Bailey (c) | Ladder match for the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship | CZW Aftermath | August 9, 2003 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 4 | B-Boy defeated Sonjay Dutt | Ladder match | CZW Shockwave | October 25, 2003 Pistoia, Italy |
| 5 | Joker defeated Chri$ Ca$h | Ladder match | CZW Cage of Death V | December 13, 2003 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 6 | Chri$ Ca$h defeated G. Q. | Ladder match | CZW Apocalypse | May 1, 2004 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 7 | Chri$ Ca$h defeated J. C. Bailey and Spyder Nate Webb | Three-way ladder match | CZW High Stakes II: Evening Show | September 11, 2004 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 8 | The Best Around (Bruce Maxwell and T.J. Cannon) (c) defeated Eddie Kingston and Sabian | Tag Team ladder match for the CZW World Tag Team Championship | CZW High Stakes IV | January 30, 2010 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 9 | AR Fox (c) defeated Dave Crist (c) | Ladder match for the CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship and CZW Wired Championship | CZW Down With the Sickness | September 8, 2012 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 10 | Alex Colon defeated AR Fox (c), Andrew Everett and Shane Strickland | Fatal Four Way Ladder match for the CZW Wired Championship | CZW Down With the Sickness | September 14, 2013 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 11 | Shane Strickland (c) defeated Devon Moore | Ladder match for the CZW Wired Championship | CZW Best of the Best 13 | April 12, 2014 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 12 | AR Fox defeated Mike Bailey | Ladder match | CZW Down With The Sickness | September 12, 2015 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 13 | Matt Tremont defeated Devon Moore | Ladder match for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship | CZW Seventeen | February 13, 2016 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 14 | Joey Janela defeated Lio Rush (c) | Ladder match for the CZW Wired Championship | CZW Down With The Sickness | September 10, 2016 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 15 | Dan O'Hare and SHLAK defeated Billy Danvers & Jimmy Lloyd | Tag Team ladder match | Dojo Wars #104 | December 7, 2016 Blackwood, New Jersey |
| 16 | The REP (Dave McCall & Nate Carter) defeated The Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) | Tag Team ladder match | CZW Down With The Sickness | September 9, 2017 Voorhees, New Jersey |
| 17 | John Silver defeated Alex Reynolds | Ladder match | CZW Down With The Sickness | September 8, 2018 Voorhees, New Jersey |
Ladder matches in All Elite Wrestling
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date and location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucha Brothers (Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fénix) (c) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) | Escalera De La Muerte for the AAA World Tag Team Championship | All Out | August 31, 2019 Hoffman Estates, Illinois |
| 2 | Brian Cage (with Taz) defeated Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Joey Janela, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Frankie Kazarian, and Luchasaurus | Casino ladder match for a future AEW World Championship match | Double or Nothing | May 23, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida |
Other variations
- King of the Mountain match – Used in TNA; essentially a ladder match in reverse, the winner (referred to as the "King of the Mountain") is the first person to attach the object specified beforehand (usually a championship belt) to the wire above the ring. However, wrestlers cannot go for the belt until they've scored a pinfall, after which the pinned wrestler must spend some time in a penalty box.
- Ultimate X match – Used in TNA; essentially a ladder match contested by the TNA X-Division. The match features a structure that consists of two wires strung above the ring, forming an 'X'. The wrestlers climb the structure that holds the wires, makes their way across the wires to the center of the structure, and retrieves the 'X' while hanging from the wires. Although very similar to a ladder match, ladders are rarely used as a part of an unwritten rule of sorts, with the on exception of Team 3D in X14.
- Casino Ladder Match - Used in All Elite Wrestling. It is a ladder match where two competitors start the match, and every two minutes a new participant enters, similar to a Royal Rumble match or Championship Scramble match. The first wrestler to grab a poker chip hanging above the ring would win the match and be able to use the poker chip to earn a match for the AEW World Championship at any time of their choosing.
- Full Metal Mayhem match- same rules apply as Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, but steel chains can also be used.
- Stairway to Hell – Used mainly in ECW; in this variation of the ladder match instead of a title being suspended above the ring there's a weapon, usually a ball of barbed wire or a kendo stick. Once you've taken down the weapon you are then free to use it, you win the match via pin or submission the same as a singles match.
| # | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date and location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sandman defeated Sabu | Stairway to Hell match | House Party (1998) | January 10, 1998 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2 | Spike Dudley, The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) | Stairway to Hell match | A Matter of Respect (1998) | May 16, 1998 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell match | Guilty as Charged (1999) | January 10, 1999 Kissimmee, Florida |
| 4 | Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell match | ECW on TNN | January 7, 2000 White Plains, New York |
| 5 | Justin Credible (c) defeated Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell match for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship | Heat Wave (2000) | July 16, 2000 Los Angeles, California |
- Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match – Variation of the ladder match where tables and chairs are also permitted (and their use is encouraged). Referred to at times simply as TLC matches.
- Money in the Bank ladder match – Exclusively used in WWE; a Ladder match where multiple competitors try to climb a ladder to obtain a contract for a future World Title shot anytime within the next 12 months. Challenger chooses time and place. Match took place at every WrestleMania from WrestleMania 21 to WrestleMania XXVI, after which it was moved to the new annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
- Tables, Ladders, and Cervezas match – Exclusively used in WSX; variation of the Tables, Ladder, and Chairs match except instead of permitting chairs, cervezas (Spanish for beers) is permitted along with tables and ladders (and their use is encouraged).
- Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Canes match - This match is a TLC match with the addition of Singapore Canes.
- Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Stairs match - This match is a TLC match with the addition of steel stairs. It was so named because the 2014 TLC event also involved a Steel Stairs match.
Notes
- This match was scheduled to be a tag team Triple Threat match with six participants (John Morrison and The Miz, The Usos, and The New Day). Due to The Miz contracting an illness, he was removed from the card and the match was changed to a standard Triple Threat match with one participant from each of the three teams. The match winner's team would be awarded the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
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