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).
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.
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]
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.
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 |
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 |
(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.
# | 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 | 19:25 | |
2 | El Generico defeated Kevin Steen (c) | Ladder match for the PWG World Championship | Steen Wolf | October 22, 2011 | Reseda, California | 26:57 | |
3 | The Super Smash Brothers (Player Uno and Stupefied) (c) defeated Future Shock (Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly) and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) | Three-way tag team ladder match for the PWG World Tag Team Championship | Threemendous III | July 21, 2012 | Reseda, California | 23:57 | |
4 | The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (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 | 17:42 | |
5 | The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz) (c) defeated Latin American Xchange (Santana and Ortiz) | Ladder match for the PWG World Tag Team Championship | Sixteen | July 26, 2019 | Los Angeles, California | 15:19 |
# | 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] |
# | 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] |
# | 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] |
# | 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 |
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) primarily features two variations of a ladder 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] |
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The ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon is a hard-core fan's dream. The men are apparently evenly matched, displaying a high degree of athletic and performative prowess as they work each other over. When the aluminum ladder enters the ring, it is used both as a weapon and as an instrument for prolonging the suspense. Michaels, in particular, climbs multiple times to its top and from there slams himself and the ladder against Ramon's body. Ramon also uses the ladder to hit Michaels, and both men repeatedly take turns exposing themselves to danger by climbing almost to the top as the other knocks him down. The match climaxes when Ramon reaches the belts just as Michaels swings the ladder out from under him. Ramon crashes to the mat, the victor and new Intercontinental Champion. The arena twinkles with thousands of camera flashes, and the crowd roars its triumph as the visibly exhausted victor raises the championship belt over his head.
What is the difference between Michaels and Ramon? It seems that, in the end, only the question of who wins and how distinguishes one manly man from the other. Both wrestlers swagger, strut and show, boast and bully. Both get down to all-out wrestling, hitting and being hit, climbing and falling, apparently struggling to the limits of their endurance regardless of the wear and tear on their bodies. The very ambiguity of the presentation of the differences between these two men as men ironically problematizes the signs by which men are to be recognized. Perhaps the "real" man in the end is the one who proves his masculinity by winning, and the not-so-real, not-so-manly man is the loser in an arena where masculinity is as contested as are belts and titles. What a wrestler risks in the wrestling performance is perhaps not so much injury, but emasculation.
Television Championship: Robbie E & Robbie T vs. Devon
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