#10 Rob Van Dam vs. Eddie Guerrero — RAW 2002
These 2 had amazing chemistry and put on an absolute show. This match also featured a fan running into the ring attempted to take a swing at Eddie. The two went back and forth for 20 minutes, before RVD regained his championship.
#9 Jeff Hardy vs. The Undertaker Raw 2002
One of the most exciting and underrated ladder matches happened on free television for the WWE Championship. Jeff Hardy was the ultimate underdog facing off against a heavy favorite in The Undertaker. The finish was an incredibly wild one. Hardy had ascended the ladder and the crowd believed they were moments away from seeing a new champion. Undertaker again cut him off, grabbing him by the throat and dropping him off the top of the ladder with a chokeslam. The Phenom retrieved the title to the dismay of the audience and continued a title reign that began just over a month earlier. Hardy left that night becoming a true main event superstar and earned the respect of the Deadman.
#8 Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit – Royal Rumble 2001
The Intercontinental Championship Ladder match between Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho at Royal Rumble 2001 continued the evolution of the match. Two incredible in-ring workers, Jericho and Benoit increased the brutality of the match. They set up more creative spots with the ladder but none were overly contrived or complicated, unlike those seen over the course of the preceding year. Jericho won the match but Benoit lost nothing in defeat. Like a classic football game, it was simply a case in which the last man with the opportunity to grab the title would be the one to win. Jericho was that man and he benefited as a result.
#7 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – SummerSlam 1995
It was tough to follow their legendary ladder match at Wrestlemania X, but they managed to come very close. With little-to-no backstory accompanying it, Michaels and Ramon had no motivation to do anything other than deliver the best match on the show and that is exactly what they did. Ramon assumed the role of the heel as Michaels was clearly next in line for the main event babyface push. He ruthlessly targeted Michaels' left knee, slamming it with the ladder and drawing a mixed reaction from the Pittsburgh crowd while doing so. Michaels would recover, however, and the second-half of the match would pick up in intensity. The ladder became much more integral in the action and the intensity on display by both Superstars would set the rematch apart from the original. Michaels dumped Ramon to the arena floor with a back body drop and, after two attempts to retrieve the title, would finally grab hold of the belt and pick up his first ladder match win.
#6 The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian – No Mercy 1999
This was a sign of things to come. Before the Dudley Boyz joined the WWE, it was Edge & Christian squaring off against the Hardys. The Hardy Boyz had replaced E & C in the Brood and had Terri Runnels as their manager. Edge and Christian were beginning to form their own identity as a tag team. This match was the finale of the Terri Invitational Tournament and in the end, The Hardy's prevailed and they would go on to have some more amazing matches!
#5 The Rock vs. Triple H — SummerSlam 1998
This ladder match was a launching point for both Triple H and The Rock's singles careers. Both men were launched into super stardom after this match and become true main event players in the WWE. The Rock displayed a nasty side to him, actually getting the New York crowd on his side at certain points. The "Rocky Sucks" chants were dying out and The Rock was proving he had found a way to connect with the audience. It all ended with Chyna delivering a low blow to the People's jewels, allowing Triple H to snatch the title. However this match made The Rock a bigger star and both men showed they deserved more than fighting for the IC Title
#4 Money In The Bank – WrestleMania 21
Young breakout star and Intercontinental champion Shelton Benjamin captured the attention of the audience with displays of unmatched athleticism but it was the story of Benoit's injured arm and the ultimate opportunist that Edge was that led to the outcome of the bout. The Crippler had his arm severely injured by Kane, who had repeatedly slammed it in a ladder. With the Big Red Monster out of the picture, Benoit climbed the ladder and appeared on his way to retrieving the coveted briefcase when Edge came from out of nowhere and blasted the injured limb. Benoit crashed to the mat below and Edge went on to win the bout. Rob Van Dam became Mr. Money in the Bank, winning the biggest match of his WWE career up to that point. It proved to be especially big because his cash-in later that year was successful against John Cena.
#3 Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – No Mercy 2008
Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho proved that excellent wrestling minds, a strong supporting story, a hot crowd and a will to have the best match possible could come together to create an instant classic. At No Mercy in October of 2008, their epic program culminated in a Match of the Year candidate for the World Heavyweight Championship that was so intense and brutal that blood and teeth were both spilled on the canvas. The finish was creative as the wrestlers played tug-o-war with the World Heavyweight title until Jericho caught Michaels with a headbutt and was able to gain firm control of the belt and the victory. The match, more than any in Ladder match history, proved that it could serve as the end point for an intensely personal feud. It was not pretty, there were not breathtaking stunts that wowed the audience. It was brutal and it was violent and it was nearly flawless, making it one of the greatest of its type in WWE history.
#2 Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon — WrestleMania X
This was a match to settle who was the Intercontinental champion with both Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels holding a valid claim to the title. Michaels began to earn his reputation as Mr. WrestleMania in this match, making you wonder whether he was wrestling Razor, or the ladder. He used the ladder in every way imaginable, launching himself off it, using it as a shield, and many more Michaels finally saw himself trapped in the ropes after being pushed off the ladder. That allowed Razor to grab both titles. This match set the tone for every ladder match to follow and when rating a ladder match, everyone will always compare it to this one.
#1 Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz — WrestleMania 2000
Tag team wrestling has yet to match the rivalry between these three teams. Since we're not including TLC matches, the triangle ladder match at WrestleMania 2000 makes the top of this list. These three teams held nothing back in their encounters. Jeff Hardy did his Swanton Bomb from the top of a ladder. The ending saw a table bridging two ladders on top of the ring and Matt Hardy was thrown off the table bridge and into a table on the canvas. Edge and Christian began their dominance of the three-team ladder match concept, winning the titles
