Top 5 Greatest TLC Matches in WWE History

5. A.J. Styles vs Dean Ambrose - TLC ’16 - WWE World Championship Match

This match had everything. It highlighted why AJ Styles had been the one of the best wrestlers in the world for the last decade. This match was physical. This match had the high spots. This is one of the few TLC matches that I like from this decade. AJ Styles highlighted why he was so amazing in TNA’s X-Division. Dean Ambrose highlighted why he was great in CZW. I am not a fan of Dean Ambrose. I never have been, but him and AJ tore it up here and put on a match of the year candidate. It’s remarkable that their match even makes the top 5 because of what went wrong. AJ Styles ripped his pants… and still put on a classic. Also, the finish was terrible with James Ellsworth turning heal and pushing Dean off the ladder for AJ to retain his championship.  It was a great match and it’s a great match to start off my top 5.

4. CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy - SUMMERSLAM 2009 - World Heavyweight Championship

I was trying to keep newer matches in over older matches. I am also trying to keep singles matches in this list and not just have all tag (or tornado) team matches. This was a great match. Without the feud against Jeff Hardy and his edgy lifestyle I don’t think that CM Punk would have been the Straight Edge Superstar he became. He would have always been great and successful, but his feud with Jeff Hardy definitely elevated CM Punk to new heights.  Jeff Hardy reminded the world why his name was synonymous with TLC while CM Punk had no problem keeping up. This match actually main evented Summerslam. WWE’s golden boys Randy Orton and John Cena faced off for the WWE Championship before this match. Say what you want about WWE’s methods, but they obviously had faith in CM Punk & Jeff Hardy to put on a great match and they delivered, big time.

3. The Shield vs Ryback and Team Hell No - TLC 2012

Yes; The Shield is back together. This was a unique match being 3 on 3, so I think that elevated it. But, they definitely lived up to the potential of the match’s format. This match is five years old. The Shield have disbanded and reunited. Ryback walked away from the WWE and started a podcast. Daniel Bryan was forced to retire. Kane is running for mayor. This match was also the first match that would end with a pinfall. Although the Shield was new to the WWE and new to being a team they still managed to work great together. This was a great match, but in the end the Shield just left destruction behind them and put themselves on the map as the present and future of the WWE. Spoiler Alert: The crowd actually popped when Roman Reigns pinned Daniel Bryan. 

2. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit vs Edge & Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz – Smackdown! 05-24-01 - WWE Tag Team Titles

Nothing is better than TLC on free TV. Okay, admittedly there are better things, but this was a great match. Jericho & Benoit had recently defeated the Power Trip to win the titles and they were forced to enter a match against three teams who literally invented the TLC match and revolutionized ladder matches. The odds were stacked against them. Benoit missed a dive in a nasty spot and was taken to the back on a stretcher. He would eventually return for the end of the match that could only be summarized as carnage. This was a great match with great wresters on a great Smackdown roster right as Smackdown was entering its prime. This is a forgotten match that WWE will not remind us of, but it is definitely necessary to watch if you want to remember great TLC matches.

HONORABLE MENTION TIME:

EDGE AND CHRISTIAN VS THE DUDLEY BOYZ VS THE HARDY BOYZ AT SUMMERSLAM 2000 (TLC 1);

KANE VS JEFF HARDY AND ROB VAN DAM VS CHRIS JERICHO AND CHRISTIAN VS BUBBA RAY AND SPIKE DUDLEY ON RAW

 EDGE VS RIC FLAIR ON RAW

EDGE VS THE UNDERTAKER AT ONE NIGHT STAND 2008

JOHN CENA VS EDGE AT UNFORGIVEN 2006

1. WeeLC EL TORITO VS HORNSWOGGLE AT EXTREME RULES 2014

Does anyone remember this match? Well, don’t worry it’s just a joke. The winner is obviously…

 TLC II from WrestleMania X-Seven:  Christian & Edge vs Hardy Boyz vs Dudley Boyz - WWE Tag Team Titles.

If you have ever seen this match you had to see this coming. After stealing the show in a triple threat ladder match at WM 2000 (basically a TLC match) they followed up again at the greatest WrestleMania of all time. I’m sorry if you disagree with that. This was also the best match of the night. Not even the Rock and Stone Cold could top this match. This was also, easily, the match of the year. If this match would have taken place in Japan it would have been a 7 star match easily. I could write about this match all day, but instead I advise everyone to go and watch it. They set the standard for all TLC matches to follow, and none have hit the mark yet. I doubt a TLC match will ever top this match again.

 What have been some of your favorite TLC Matches?