A Ladder Match is a type of match in professional wrestling that is most commonly used to describe a match where 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.
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 championships belts hung above the ring. Ladder matches and their variants (such as TLC 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. [Courtesy of Wikipedia.com]
The first ladder match that anyone seems to have a record of was in 1972 for Stampede, and it is believed to have been the idea of the original Dan Kroffat, who was a Stampede booker and headliner at the time.
| Stampede | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 1972 | Stampede | Dan Kroffat | Tor Kamata | 1st ladder match |
| 07/01/1979 | Stampede | Big Daddy Ritter | Jake Roberts | N American title |
| July 1983 | Stampede | Bret Hart | Bad News | |
| WWF/E | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 07/21/1992 | 1st in WWF | Bret Hart | HBK | I-C title |
| 03/20/1994 | Wrestlemania X | Razor Ramon | HBK | I-C title |
| 08/27/1995 | SummerSlam | HBK | Razor Ramon | I-C title |
| 08/30/1998 | SummerSlam | Triple H | Rock | I-C title |
| 02/15/1999 | RAW | The Rock | Mankind | WWF title |
| 06/27/1999 | King of the Ring | Vince/Shane M | Steve Austin | WWE control |
| 10/17/1999 | No Mercy | The Hardy Boyz | Edge/Christian | “Best of 5” finale |
| 04/02/2000 | Wrestlemania | Edge/Christian | Hardyz/Dudleyz | Tables/ladders |
| 08/27/2000 | SummerSlam | Edge/Christian | Hardyz/Dudleyz | TLC |
| 09/25/2000 | RAW | The Hardy Boyz | Edge & Christian | Tag title titles |
| 01/21/2001 | Royal Rumble | Chris Jericho | Chris Benoit | I-C title |
| 04/01/2001 | Wrestlemania | Edge/Christian | Hardyz/Dudleyz | TLC 2 |
| 05/20/2001 | Judgment Day | Kurt Angle | Chris Benoit | 3 match series |
| 05/24/2001 | SmackDown | Benoit & Jericho | 3 other teams | TLC 3 |
| 08/19/2001 | SummerSlam | Rob Van Dam | Jeff Hardy | I-C title |
| 10/21/2001 | No Mercy | Edge | Christian | I-C title |
| 05/27/2002 | RAW | Rob Van Dam | Eddie Guerrero | I-C title |
| 07/01/2002 | RAW | Undertaker | Jeff Hardy | Undisputed title |
| 07/22/2002 | RAW | Rob Van Dam | Jeff Hardy | I-C/Euro titles |
| 10/06/2002 | RAW Roulette | Kane | 6 others | TLC 4 |
| 12/15/2002 | Armageddon | Triple H | HBK | 3 match series |
| 05/18/2003 | Judgment Day | Eddie G/Tajiri | Team Angle | Tag Team titles |
| 09/29/2003 | RAW | Rob Van Dam | Christian | I-C title |
| 09/12/2004 | Unforgiven | Chris Jericho | Christian | I-C title |
| 03/10/2005 | SmackDown | Kurt Angle | Mike Haywood | Angle Invite |
| 04/03/2005 | Wrestlemania | Edge | 5 others | MITB |
| 08/21/2005 | SummerSlam | Rey Mysterio | Eddie G | Dom custody |
| 10/03/2005 | WWE | Edge | Matt Hardy | Loser leaves |
| 01/16/2006 | RAW | Edge | Ric Flair | TLC |
| 04/02/2006 | Wrestlemania | Rob Van Dam | 5 others | MITB |
| 08/15/2006 | ECW | Sabu | RVD | #1 contender |
| 10/24/2006 | ECW | Rob Van Dam | Big Show | For a title shot |
| 09/17/2006 | Unforgiven | John Cena | Edge | TLC |
| 11/20/2006 | RAW | Jeff Hardy | Johnny Nitro | I-C title |
| 12/17/2006 | Armageddon | London/Kendrick | 3 other teams | Tag Team titles |
| 04/01/2007 | Wrestlemania | Mr. Kennedy | 7 others | MITB |
| 06/06/2007 | One Night Stand | The Hardy Boyz | WGTT | Tag Team titles |
| 12/10/2007 | RAW 15th Ann | Jeff Hardy | Carlito Cool | I-C titles |
| 03/30/2008 | Wrestlemania | C.M. Punk | 7 others | MITB |
| 06/01/2008 | One Night Stand | Edge | Undertaker | TLC |
| 04/05/2009 | Wrestlemainia | C.M. Punk | 7 others | MITB |
| 08/23/2009 | SummerSlam | C.M. Punk | Jeff Hardy | TLC |
| 12/13/2009 | TLC PPV | Christian | S. Benjamin | ECW title |
| 12/13/2009 | TLC PPV | Degeneration X | Jerishow | TLC |
| 07/18/2010 | MITB PPV | Kane | 7 others | MITB match |
| 12/19/2010 | TLC PPV | John Morrison | King Sheamus | #1 contender |
| 12/19/2010 | TLC PPV | Dolph Ziggler | Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger | Intercontinental Title |
| 07/17/2011 | MITB PPV | Daniel Bryan | 7 others | MITB match |
| 12/18/2011 | TLC PPV | Triple H | Kevin Nash | Sledgehammer |
| 07/15/2012 | MITB PPV | John Cena | 5 others | WWE title |
| 12/16/2012 | TLC PPV | Dolph Ziggler | John Cena | MITB contract |
| 07/14/2013 | MITB PPV | Damien Sandow | 6 others | #1 contender |
| NWA | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 07/18/1987 | GAB | Dusty Rhodes | Tully Blanchard | Barbed wire |
| WCW | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 01/25/1997 | Souled Out | Eddie Guerrero | Syxx | US title |
| 01/17/1999 | Souled Out | Bill Goldberg | Scott Hall | Taser |
| 11/08/1999 | Nitro | Bill Goldberg | 3 others | US title |
| 12/19/1999 | Starrcade | Chris Benoit | Jeff Jarrett | US title |
| 12/20/1999 | Nitro | Jeff Jarrett | Chris Benoit | US title |
| 07/18/2000 | Nitro | Jung Dragons | Three Count | |
| 08/13/2000 | New Blood Rising | Three Count | Jung Dragons | 6-man tag |
| 10/02/2000 | Nitro | Konnan & Misterio | The Boogie Knights | |
| 12/17/2000 | Starrcade | Helms/Moore | 2 other teams | Triple ladder |
| ECW | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 10/28/1995 | Hardcore TV | Mickey Whipwreck | Sandman | ECW TV title |
| 02/02/1997 | Cyberslam | The Eliminators | RVD & Sabu | Tables/ladders |
| 01/10/1998 | House Party | The Sandman | Sabu | Stairway to Hell |
| 05/15/1998 | Matter of Respect | Sand/TD/Spike | Dudley Boyz | Stairway to Hell |
| 01/10/1999 | Guilty As Charged | Justin Credible | Tommy Dreamer | Stairway to Hell |
| 01/07/2001 | Guilty as Charged | Sandman | Corino/Credible | TLC and canes |
| 08/15/2006 | ECW | Sabu | Rob Van Dam | #1 contender |
| 10/24/2006 | ECW | Rob Van Dam | Big Show | For a title shot |
| 12/13/2009 | TLC PPV | Christian | S. Benjamin | ECW title |
| TNA | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 07/17/2002 | NWA:TNA | Sabu | Malice | #1 contender |
| 07/24/2002 | NWA:TNA | Ken Shamrock | Sabu | NWA title |
| 08/28/2002 | NWA:TNA | Jerry Lynn | Styles/Low Ki | Triple ladders |
| 10/02/2002 | NWA:TNA | AJ Styles | Jerry Lynn | X Division title |
| 10/09/2002 | NWA:TNA | Syxx-Pac | 7 others | X Division title |
| 03/19/2003 | NWA:TNA | Raven | AJ Styles | #1 contender |
| 04/09/2003 | NWA:TNA | Dusty Rhodes | Brian Lawler | (Old) NWA title |
| 07/23/2003 | NWA:TNA | AJ Styles | DLo Brown | NWA title |
| 08/13/2003 | NWA:TNA | Frankie Kazarian | Michael Shane | #1 contender |
| 03/17/2004 | NWA:TNA | Abyss | AJ Styles | #1 contender |
| 05/26/2004 | NWA:TNA | Eric Young | 3 others | World X-Cup |
| 06/02/2004 | NWA:TNA | Jeff Jarrett | 4 others | King of Mountain |
| 07/14/2004 | NWA:TNA | The Naturals | AMW | Double ladders |
| 11/07/2004 | Victory Road | Jeff Jarrett | Jeff Hardy | NWA title |
| 02/13/2005 | Against All Odds | Abyss | Jeff Hardy | Metal Mayhem |
| 06/19/2005 | Slammiversary | Raven | 4 others | King of Mountain |
| 05/14/2006 | Sacrifice | Christian Cage | Abyss | Metal Mayhem |
| 06/18/2006 | Slammiversary | Jeff Jarrett | 4 others | King of Mountain |
| 10/12/2006 | IMPACT | Christian Cage | Samoa Joe | |
| 02/22/2007 | IMPACT | Jerry Lynn | 4 others | #1 contender |
| 06/17/2007 | Slammiversary | Kurt Angle | 4 others | TNA title |
| 08/02/2007 | IMPACT | Abyss/Sting | Cage/Styles | |
| 02/28/2008 | IMPACT | James Storm | Eric Young | Drinking title |
| 05/11/2008 | Sacrifice | Gail Kim | Roxxi Laveaux | Women’s Knockout Title |
| 08/28/2008 | IMPACT | A.J. Styles | Kurt Angle | Angle’s Olympic Gold Medal |
| 09/14/2008 | No Surrender | Sonjay Dutt | Jay Lethal | Ladder of Love |
| 10/23/2008 | IMPACT | Abyss & Morgan | 3 Other Teams | World Tag Team Titles |
| 11/06/2008 | IMPACT | Sojournor Bolt | Taylor Wilde | Women’s Knockout Title |
| 02/23/2009 | IMPACT | Alex Shelley | 3 Others | X Division Title |
| 06/21/2009 | Slammiversary | Suicide | 4 others | X Div KOTM |
| 03/21/2010 | Destination X | Kazarian | 3 others | #1 contender X |
| 04/05/2010 | IMPACT | Mr. Anderson | Kurt Angle | keys to the steel cage door at Lockdown |
| 07/08/2010 | IMPACT | Jeremy Buck | Douglas Williams | |
| 07/15/2010 | IMPACT | Beer Money | Motor City Machine Guns | |
| 09/23/2010 | IMPACT | A.J. Styles | Sabu | |
| 02/13/2011 | Against All Odds | Jeff Hardy | Mr. Anderson | TNA title |
| 08/12/2012 | Hardcore Justice | AJ Styles | 3 others | 20 pts BFG |
| 11/11/2012 | Turning Point | Jeff Hardy | Austin Aries | TNA title |
| 07/11/2013 | IMPACT | Gail Kim | Taryn Terrell | #1 contender |
| 10/20/2013 | Bound For Glory | Chris Sabin | 4 others | X Division title |
| ROH | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 09/15/2007 | Man Up | Briscoe Brothers | Steen/Generico | Man Up PPV |
| 09/26/2009 | Ladder War II | Richards/Edwards | Steen/Generico | ROH tag titles |
| 09/17/2011 | Ladder War III | All Night Express | Brisco Brothers | #1 contenders |
| 12/16/2012 | Final Battle | Kevin Steen | El Generico | ROH title |
| Independent | Event | Winner | Loser | Notes |
| 04/01/1994 | SMW | Tracy Smothers | Chris Candido | Blue Grass Brawl |
| 10/26/2001 | WWA | Juvi Guerrera | Psicosis | Cruiserweight |
| 11/09/2002 | CZW | Ruckus | Sonjay Dutt & Chri$ Ca$h | |
| 10/13/2002 | FWA | Jody Fleisch | Flash Barker | British Heavyweight Title |
| 11/22/2003 | 3PW | Raven | Sandman/Sabu | TLC match |
| 12/13/2003 | CZW | The Joker | Chri$ Ca$h | |
| 08/14/2004 | Ballpark Brawl III | A.J. Styles | Hart/Sabu | TLC match |
| 12/11/2004 | CZW | The Messiah | Flash/Kaos | Ladder/scaffold |
| 09/17/2005 | ECW talent | Sabu | Sandman | Stairway to Hell |
| 02/13/2006 | WSX | Vampiro/6-Pac | 8 Others | WSX Rumble |
| 11/12/2006 | WSX | Alkatrazz/Hawx | Kaos/Aguilera | TLC match |
| 12/20/2006 | OVW | Katie Lea | Beth Phoenix | Women’s title |
| 04/28/2007 | 2CW | Dizzie | Slyck Wagner | 2CW title |
| 08/11/2007 | CZW | Scotty Vortekz | Cloudy | Junior Heavyweight Title |
| 10/13/2007 | CZW | Ruckus | Human Tornado | |
| 10/27/2007 | JAPW | Archadia | Grim Reefer | New Jersey State Title |
| 12/13/2008 | CZW | Ryan McBride | 4 Others | Junior Heavyweight Title |
| 01/25/2009 | Chikara | Jimmy Olsen | Vin Gerard | Young Lions Cup |
| 07/21/2011 | WSU | Mercedes Martinez | Angel Orsini | WSU title |
| 10/22/2011 | PWG | El Generico | Kevin Steen | PWG title |
| 06/23/2012 | CZW | Drake Younger | Rory Mondo | Ladders/lights |