The TLC match is one of the most fun gimmick matches in WWE history. Although it is extremely painful for the competitors in the match it’s also extremely entertaining for the audience. The TLC match always results in some big bumps and possibility of someone getting injured is very high which is why you only see this type of match take place a few times a year. Not only does the TLC match give the fans a spectacle to watch but it also gives the performers a chance to go down in history.
Let’s take a look at 10 TLC matches that made a huge impact on WWE history.
10. Edge VS The Undertaker (One Night Stand 2008)
Edge and The Undertaker had one hell of a rivalry. Throughout their rivalry they competed against each other in many gimmick matches but a TLC match isn’t something normally associated with The Undertaker. Edge on the other hand helped pioneer the TLC match so when you pair his experience with the chemistry these two had you’re bound to get something special. This match doesn’t have as many bumps as some of the other TLC matches on this list which makes the big bumps much more effective and memorable.
9. CM Punk VS The Miz VS Alberto Del Rio (TLC 2011)
This one was a bit of a sleeper that most people probably didn’t expect to be so good. CM Punk was riding high upon the wave of his own popularity at this time and was fresh off a WWE title win at Survivor Series. This was CM Punk’s first real chance to show what he could do by headlining a PPV and he definitely didn’t disappoint.
8. Jeff Hardy VS CM Punk (Summerslam 2009)
Jeff Hardy and CM Punk set the WWE landscape on fire during the Summer of 2009. After years of playing the babyface in WWE CM Punk was finally able to show the world what he could do as a heel when he was put in a rivalry with Jeff Hardy. These two were a perfect fit for each other both aesthetically and stylistically. Jeff Hardy and CM Punk are two guys that are known for pushing the limits of what can be done in a wrestling ring and here they delivered a match that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
7. John Cena VS Edge (Unforgiven 2006)
John Cena and Edge had quite the rivalry in 2006. Their rivalry helped establish both of them as credible main eventers and it dominated the title picture for most of the year. The good thing about this feud is that both guys were out to make a name for themselves so they always delivered when it came to in ring action. Both John Cena and Edge manage to make each other look great while they provide some very memorable bumps. Add in the fact that this was in Edge’s hometown and the atmosphere for the match itself only added to the entertainment.
6. Kane VS Jeff Hardy & Rob Van Dam VS Chris Jericho & Christian VS Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley
In the fall of 2002 Kane captured the World Tag Team Titles with The Hurricane. Thanks to the “Raw Roulette” wheel it was decided that Kane and The Hurricane would defend their titles in a fatal 4 way TLC match. Unfortunately for The Hurricane an injury kept him out of the match and Kane was forced to compete in this match alone.
One needs to only look at the names of the competitors in this match to understand what makes it so special. Everyone in this match has been known to go above and beyond in gimmick matches of this kind and no one disappoints here. The odds that you will ever see a TLC match with an all star lineup like this again are pretty slim.
5. Ric Flair VS Edge (Raw January 16, 2006)
This match might get overlooked quite a bit but it’s a huge milestone in the career of Ric Flair. It was obvious in 2006 that Ric Flair was well past his prime despite the fact that he was still a regular on WWE television. The thought of putting him in a TLC match against Edge for the WWE title was downright scary. I don’t think anyone expected this match to be as intense as it was but Ric Flair pulled out all the stops to show that he could still get the job done.
Ric Flair’s age only helped to add to the drama of this match due to the fact that every bump kept you on the edge of your seat because as a viewer you are generally concerned for his health. From a storytelling standpoint it doesn’t get much better than this and in this match Ric Flair proves that age is just a number but showing you have heart is everything.
4. Ryback & Team Hell No VS The Shield (TLC 2012)
When The Shield was set to wrestle their debut match at the 2012 TLC PPV no one really knew what to expect. The Shield had just debuted a month before at Survivor Series and both Ryback and Team Hell No were extremely popular at the time. Put all six of these men together and it was a must watch match.
The Shield was determined to impress everyone in their debut match and Ryback had a lot to prove as well. Ryback and Kane provided the power moves while the other 4 provided the foundation for this match to be built upon. This is one of those matches where no one knew what to expect before it started but everyone was talking about it long after it ended.
3. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho VS Edge & Christian VS The Hardy Boyz VS The Dudley Boyz (Smackdown May 24, 2001)
This is another one of those matches where all you have to do is look at the people competing in the match and you know it’s going to be great. Not only was this match great it became a contender for match of the year in 2001 and will easily go down as one of the best matches in TLC history.
The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian put TLC on the map but adding Benoit and Jericho to the mix just took things to a whole new level. Some of the bumps in this match are downright scary and it’s obvious why you don’t see matches like this regularly on Smackdown nowadays. This is just another example of what happens when great talent makes it their goal to be remembered because 12 years later we’re still talking about it.
2. Edge & Christian VS The Dudley Boyz VS The Hardy Boyz TLC I (Summerslam 2000)
These three teams completely redefined tag team wrestling with their triangle ladder match at Wrestlemania 16 so absolutely no fan was disappointed when this match was announced. When it comes to chemistry no one in the wrestling business had better chemistry at the time than these three teams. All six men were out to steal the show and steal the show they did.
There are moments that you can pinpoint throughout time that changed the course of wrestling history and this is definitely one of them.
1. Edge & Christian VS The Dudley Boyz VS The Hardy Boyz TLC II (WrestleMania 17)
When it comes to TLC matches this one is the absolute pinnacle of them all. I don’t think any wrestling fan will argue that this match set the standard for all other TLC matches to live by. TLC I at Summerslam was an instant classic leaving many to believe that these teams couldn’t top it but they proved everyone wrong and raised the stakes, the drama and the storytelling.
This match introduced some new characters to the fold as it saw outside interference from Rhyno, Spike Dudley and Lita which only added to the excitement. Every bump was perfectly placed and perfectly executed and this match defined an era of tag team wrestling. Like I said before this match is the pinnacle of all TLC matches and it’s highly unlikely you will ever see a TLC match greater than this one.
