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.[1] 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.[1] There have been a 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).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Raw_MITB_match_2011.jpg/220px-Raw_MITB_match_2011.jpg)
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.
Ladder matches are perceived as having greater level of realism than other types of wrestling performances, with some scholars arguing that the use of ladders serves to buttress the performances underlying themes of achievable masculinity.
Literary analysis
From the perspective of thing theory, the ladder serves as a storytelling actant, serving as a bridge between the actors and the action.[2] Moreover, the ladder serves as the wrestlers inanimate opponent, facilitating a "man versus machine" narrative conflict and providing a demonic structure.[3] Such a narrative structure imbues a modicum literary realism into the performances, highlighting the underlying athleticism in the theatric performance.[4]
Sharon Mazer, a sociologist, opines that ladder matches, such as that performed at WrestleMania X, serve to placate the castration anxiety of fans, commenting that, although wrestling is permeated with homoerotic pageantry, the use of a ladder adds realism by ensuring only one performer avoids the metaphoric emasculation of defeat.[5]
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.[6] In a match aired in 1987 but recorded in December 1986, 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.[7]
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 for Coliseum Video and included on the 1993 VHS release "Smack 'Em Whack 'Em", 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 WWE, have taken place at house shows. Ten featured Razor Ramon retaining the Intercontinental Championship against Shawn Michaels months before their WrestleMania X encounter.[92][93] 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.[94] Another featured Jeff Hardy retaining his World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk in Denver, Co in 2009.[95] 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 ways to win the match were by pinfall or submission.
Participant list
Males
Wrestler | Victories | Appearances |
---|---|---|
Jeff Hardy | 6 | 12 |
Rob Van Dam | 5 | 6 |
Matt Hardy | 4 | 7 |
Chris Jericho | 3 | 3 |
Triple H | 3 | 3 |
Seth Rollins | 3 | 3 |
Edge | 3 | 6 |
Dolph Ziggler | 3 | 6 |
Christian | 3 | 8 |
Kurt Angle | 2 | 2 |
Adam Cole | 2 | 2 |
Big E | 2 | 2 |
Kofi Kingston | 2 | 3 |
The Miz | 2 | 4 |
Shawn Michaels | 2 | 6 |
Bret Hart | 1 | 1 |
Big Boss Man | 1 | 1 |
Mr. McMahon | 1 | 1 |
The Undertaker | 1 | 1 |
Tajiri | 1 | 1 |
Sabu | 1 | 1 |
Paul London | 1 | 1 |
Brian Kendrick | 1 | 1 |
Adrian Neville | 1 | 1 |
Daniel Bryan | 1 | 1 |
Zack Ryder | 1 | 1 |
James Ellsworth | 1 | 1 |
Akam | 1 | 1 |
Rezar | 1 | 1 |
Elias | 1 | 1 |
Angelo Dawkins | 1 | 1 |
Montez Ford | 1 | 1 |
Andrade | 1 | 1 |
Damian Priest | 1 | 1 |
Pete Dunne | 1 | 1 |
LA Knight | 1 | 1 |
Wes Lee | 1 | 1 |
Razor Ramon | 1 | 2 |
The Rock | 1 | 2 |
John Cena | 1 | 2 |
Shane McMahon | 1 | 2 |
Sami Zayn | 1 | 2 |
Santos Escobar | 1 | 2 |
Eddie Guerrero | 1 | 3 |
Johnny Nitro/John Morrison | 1 | 3 |
Rey Mysterio | 1 | 3 |
Finn Bálor | 1 | 3 |
Cameron Grimes | 1 | 3 |
Kevin Owens | 1 | 4 |
Goldust | 0 | 1 |
Stone Cold Steve Austin | 0 | 1 |
Bubba Ray Dudley | 0 | 1 |
D-Von Dudley | 0 | 1 |
Mike Haywood | 0 | 1 |
Big Show | 0 | 1 |
William Regal | 0 | 1 |
Dave Taylor | 0 | 1 |
Joey Mercury | 0 | 1 |
Carlito | 0 | 1 |
Jack Swagger | 0 | 1 |
Kevin Nash | 0 | 1 |
Bo Dallas | 0 | 1 |
Randy Orton | 0 | 1 |
Kane | 0 | 1 |
Bray Wyatt | 0 | 1 |
Roman Reigns | 0 | 1 |
Bad News Barrett | 0 | 1 |
R-Truth | 0 | 1 |
Kalisto | 0 | 1 |
Jimmy Uso | 0 | 1 |
Jey Uso | 0 | 1 |
Luke Gallows | 0 | 1 |
Karl Anderson | 0 | 1 |
Enzo Amore | 0 | 1 |
Big Cass | 0 | 1 |
Tommaso Ciampa | 0 | 1 |
EC3 | 0 | 1 |
Ricochet | 0 | 1 |
Killian Dain | 0 | 1 |
Lars Sullivan | 0 | 1 |
Samoa Joe | 0 | 1 |
Bobby Lashley | 0 | 1 |
Oney Lorcan | 0 | 1 |
Danny Burch | 0 | 1 |
Bobby Fish | 0 | 1 |
Wesley Blake | 0 | 1 |
Steve Cutler | 0 | 1 |
Dominik Dijakovic | 0 | 1 |
Dash Wilder | 0 | 1 |
Scott Dawson | 0 | 1 |
Bronson Reed | 0 | 1 |
Jordan Devlin | 0 | 1 |
Grayson Waller | 0 | 1 |
Solo Sikoa | 0 | 1 |
Oro Mensah | 0 | 1 |
Von Wagner | 0 | 1 |
Nathan Frazer | 0 | 1 |
Dexter Lumis | 0 | 1 |
Mankind | 0 | 2 |
Chris Benoit | 0 | 2 |
Charlie Haas | 0 | 2 |
Alberto Del Rio | 0 | 2 |
Luke Harper | 0 | 2 |
Dean Ambrose | 0 | 2 |
Stardust | 0 | 2 |
Sin Cara | 0 | 2 |
Cesaro | 0 | 2 |
Johnny Gargano | 0 | 2 |
Velveteen Dream | 0 | 2 |
AJ Styles | 0 | 2 |
Kyle O'Reilly | 0 | 2 |
Carmelo Hayes | 0 | 2 |
Shelton Benjamin | 0 | 3 |
Sheamus | 0 | 3 |
Females
Wrestler | Victories | Appearances |
---|---|---|
Io Shirai | 2 | 3 |
Bianca Belair | 1 | 1 |
Shotzi Blackheart | 1 | 1 |
Gigi Dolin | 1 | 1 |
Jacy Jayne | 1 | 1 |
Kelani Jordan | 1 | 1 |
Chelsea Green | 0 | 1 |
Tegan Nox | 0 | 1 |
Zoey Stark | 0 | 1 |
Dakota Kai | 0 | 1 |
Candice LeRae | 0 | 1 |
Indi Hartwell | 0 | 1 |
Persia Pirotta | 0 | 1 |
Bayley | 0 | 1 |
Raquel Gonzalez | 0 | 1 |
Jaida Parker | 0 | 1 |
Sol Ruca | 0 | 1 |
Lash Legend | 0 | 1 |
Michin/Mia Yim | 0 | 3 |
Ladder matches in World Championship Wrestling
Ladder matches in NWA: Total Nonstop Action/Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/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
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, Japan | 33:32 | [126] |
2 | Taichi defeated Tama Tonga | Ladder match for the Iron Finger from Hell | Wrestling Dontaku | May 3, 2021 | Fukuoka, Japan | 27:11 | [127] |
Ladder matches in DDT Pro-Wrestling
# | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date | Location | Time | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sanshiro Takagi and Yoshihiro Sakai defeated Gill Nakano and Dumbo Matsumoto | Tag team ladder match in the KO-D Tag League 2003 Block B | Who's Gonna Top? 2003 | September 28, 2003 | Tokyo, Japan | 10:32 | [128] |
2 | Seiya Morohashi and Thanomsak Toba (c) defeated Shoichi Ichimiya and Grappler Monkey Yatchan | Real Jungle Fight ladder match for the KO-D Tag Team Championship | Into The Fight 2005 | January 30, 2005 | Tokyo, Japan | 8:01 | [129] |
3 | Danshoku Dino (c) defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Super Uchuu Power, Francesco Togo, and Toru Owashi | Five-way ladder match for the KO-D Openweight Championship | Never Mind 2005 | December 28, 2005 | Tokyo, Japan | 20:04 | [130] |
4 | Poco Takanashi defeated Bear Fukuda, Riki Senshu, Bull Armor Takuya, Kabuki Kid, Masami Morohashi, Daichi Kakimoto, and Seiya Morohashi | Ladder battle royale for Sanshiro Takagi's Imari heirloom | Sanshiro Festival | September 17, 2006 | Toyohashi, Japan | 10:29 | [131] |
5 | Toru Owashi vs. Harashima vs. Danshoku Dino vs. Muscle Sakai vs. Yusuke Inokuma ended in a no contest | Five-way ladder match for the Disaster Box oyakata licence | Audience 2007 | July 1, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | 9:37 | [132] |
6 | Tomomitsu Matsunaga defeated Danshoku Dino, Michael Nakazawa, Hoshitango, Rion Mizuki, and The Count | Six-way ladder match for a bottle of DNA Japan Golden Lotion | Never Mind 2007 | December 30, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | 11:54 | [133] |
7 | Sanshiro Takagi defeated Mikami, Shuji Ishikawa, Muscle Sakai, Kota Ibushi, and Choun Shiryu | Six-way ladder match for ¥1,000,000 | DDT Special: 6 Brands Confrontation | October 19, 2008 | Tokyo, Japan | 7:34 | [134] |
8 | Hiroshi Fukuda defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Sagat, and Goro Junior | Four-way ladder match for a bucket of beer cans | Beer Garden Wrestling: Golden☆Storm Riders Day | July 29, 2014 | Tokyo, Japan | 12:48 | [135] |
9 | Daisuke Sasaki defeated Ryu Gouma and Yumehito Imanari | Hot pants three-way ladder match for a cold beer | Beer Garden Wrestling 2015: Happy Motel Day | August 6, 2015 | Tokyo, Japan | 8:09 | [136][137] |
10 | Jaki Numazawa and Takayuki Ueki defeated Hiroshi Fukuda and Seiya Morohashi | Tag team ladder match for the inaugural Shin-Kiba Famous Golden Love Lotion Championship | Tavern Pro-Wrestling: Alcohol Heaven | August 28, 2015 | Tokyo, Japan | 14:13 | [138] |
11 | Daisuke Sasaki (c) defeated Joey Ryan | Ladder match for the DDT Extreme Championship | Uchicomi! Presents Road to Ryōgoku 2017 | July 23, 2017 | Tokyo, Japan | 16:08 | [139] |
12 | Yuko Miyamoto (c) defeated Mike Bailey | Ladder match for the DDT Extreme Championship | April Fool 2018 | April 1, 2018 | Tokyo, Japan | 15:11 | [140] |
13 | Mao and Jun Kasai defeated Kazusada Higuchi and Mizuki Watase, and Super Sasadango Machine and Antonio Honda | Three-way tag team ladder match for an otoshidama | DDT Live! Maji Manji: New Year Gift Special! All Seats at ¥2,000!! 2019 | January 3, 2019 | Tokyo, Japan | 12:33 | [141] |
14 | Jiro "Ikemen" Kuroshio (c) defeated Daisuke Sasaki | Ladder match for the DDT Extreme Championship | Summer Vacation Memories 2019 | August 25, 2019 | Tokyo, Japan | 21:43 | [142] |
15 | Damnation (Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo and Soma Takao) defeated Disaster Box (Harashima, Yuki Ueno and Naomi Yoshimura) | Six-man tag team ladder match for a money bag | Street Wrestling Money in the Bag: Tōsōchū | June 19, 2020 | Tokyo, Japan | 11:48 | [143] |
16 | Yuki "Sexy" Iino (c) defeated Shunma Katsumata | Hardcore O-back ladder match for the DDT Extreme Championship | Day Dream Believer 2022 | March 27, 2022 | Tokyo, Japan | 15:01 | [144] |
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 | 15:18 | [145] |
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 | 16:17 | [146] |
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 | [147] | |
4 | FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (c) defeated Los Lucha Bros (Pentagón Jr. and Fénix) | Ladder match for the AAA World Tag Team Championship | Triplemanía Regia II | December 4, 2021 | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | 12:12 | [148] |
Ladder matches in Combat Zone Wrestling
# | Match | Stipulations | Event | Date | Location | Time | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | A. R. 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
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) primarily features two variations of a ladder match.
- Casino ladder match - where two competitors start the match, and every two minutes a new participant enters, similar to a Royal Rumble or Championship Scramble match. The first wrestler to grab a poker chip hanging above the ring wins the match (which can be won before everyone in the field has entered) and earns a future AEW World Championship match at the time and place of their choosing.
- Face of the Revolution ladder match - held either at or right before their Revolution pay-per-view event in March (at the event itself in 2021 and 2022, and on the episode of Dynamite prior to the 2023 event). This is a traditional style ladder match, with all wrestlers starting the match in the ring. A giant brass ring hangs above the ring, and whoever climbs the ladder and grabs the ring wins the match, and earns a future AEW TNT Championship match.
Other variations
- King of the Mountain match (Queen of the Mountain when female wrestlers are involved) – used in Impact Wrestling; essentially a ladder match in reverse, the winner (referred to as the "King/Queen 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 unless they have scored a pinfall, after which the pinned wrestler must spend some time in a penalty box.
- Full Metal Mayhem - Impact Wrestling's version of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
- 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 | Location | Time | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Sandman defeated Sabu | Stairway to Hell match | House Party (1998) | January 10, 1998 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 17:48 | [167] |
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 | 24:25 | [168] |
3 | Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell match | Guilty as Charged (1999) | January 10, 1999 | Kissimmee, Florida | 18:45 | [169] |
4 | Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell match | ECW on TNN | January 7, 2000 | White Plains, New York | 14:05 | |
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 | 12:20 | [170] |
- Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) match – Variation of the ladder match where tables and chairs are also permitted (and their use is encouraged).
- 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 its own 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
References
External links
- WWE.com – Ladder match description Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine