The Ladder Match 2 : Crash and Burn Blu Ray Review

The Ladder Match 2 Blu Ray Review


The sequel to the fantastic Ladder Match DVD . WWE used the best matches for the first DVD , so they really had to dig into their library to find some matches .

We start off with a glaring omission from the last set , and one of the greatest matches in history .




Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon : Ladder
Perhaps the most famous ladder match in history and arguably the best , depending on your own opinion . The match still holds up today , even if the spots have been re-used again and again . You can probably thank this match for every ladder or TLC match that you've seen since . Some people prefer the Summerslam ladder match between these two , but this will always be the definitive contest . You don't need me to tell you how good this match is , if you're a wrestling fan , you already know . *****



Chris Candido vs Tracy Smothers : Ladder
A rare match from Smoky Mountain Wrestling . $2500 would be the prize hanging from the rafters . Or the string held over the top of the ring . This might have been better in its time . I think they were trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Wrestlemania match . Smothers wins it . **1/2




Eddie Guerrero vs Syxx : Ladder Match 
From Souled Out 1997 . This is the first one on one WCW ladder match in its history and I'm glad it features Mr Guerrero . The match was good , but I felt it was a bit sloppy . It didn't help that Eric Bischoff kept talking about other angles . Eddie wins the belt . ***



Mankind vs Big Boss Man : Ladder 
Hardcore title is on the line here . You really don't think of these two when you think of ladder matches , especially Boss Man . Mankind's bumping helped the match , but Boss Man shouldn't have been in this kind of match . Boss Man wins it . *1/2




The Rock vs Mankind : Ladder Match
This took place the night after the great LMS match . This was the culmination of their awesome 1999 feud for the WWE Title . The winner of this match would go on to face Austin at Mania . It was obvious Rock was winning here , but it would have been interesting if it had been Mankind winning . You wouldn't generally think that these two could put on a great ladder match , but they managed it here on this night . Another awesome match between these two . ****



Stone Cold vs Vince & Shane McMahon : Ladder
The first handicap ladder match in history . I think this is also the only ladder match that all three of these guys have been involved with . The winner of this match would gain full control over the WWE . This one was a lot of fun and the crowd was really into it . Someone raised the case when Austin went for it , but that person was never revealed . Vince and Shane grab the case to win . **3/4



3 Count vs Jung Dragons : Ladder
From New Blood Rising 2000 . The last WCW match on the set . A gold record and a recording contract is the prize in this bout . I don't understand why they had to tag in and out at the start . They didn't do it for long anyway . The crossbody to from the ladder to the outside was awesome . 3 Count wins it . Very good match . ***1/4



Hardy Boyz vs Edge & Christian : Ladder
This is quite the forgotten match , considering that everyone really remembers their triangle ladder match and the TLC matches . Four of the best ever ladder match competitors here . Jeff was speared here , similarly to the one from WM X-Seven , but of course everyone remembers that one . Not as good as their earlier ladder matches , but still great . Matt grabs the belts for the win . ***1/2



Jeff Hardy vs Rob Van Dam : Ladder
These two had a fantastic match at Summerslam 2001 , so hopefully this one will be just as good . This is one was to unify the European and IC Titles , so in that sense it's pretty historic . At one point Jeff fell off the ladder and looked as if he was gonna break his neck . RVD grabs the belt to win . ***1/4



Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri vs Team Angle : Ladder
I read in Eddie's book that before this match , he told Haas and Benjamin to just take the bumps because it would make things a lot easier . I think that talk worked . Eddie was the only one here that had ever been in a ladder match , and obviously Shelton would go on to have much more and become much better in them . Very good match with some nice spots . Eddie grabs the belts to win . ***1/4



Rob Van Dam vs Christian : Ladder
IC Title on the line . I've heard some great things about this match so I'm looking forward to it . Two of the best ladder match competitors here . The military press and then the moonsault on the ladder was awesome . Nice ladder spots in this one and the crowd loves it . Pretty damn stiff too . Van Dam wins it . Great match . ***3/4



Katie Lea vs Beth Phoenix : Ladder
This took place in OVW for the women's title . This is the only women's ladder match I have ever watched . I'm not sure if it's the only one , but I've never heard of any other ones . They managed to get a couple of big spots into the match . The neck breaker from the ladder was pretty cool . Solid bout . Katie wins . **1/4




Wrestlemania 23 Money In The Bank 
Very star-studded MITB this year . It's just a shame they didn't have storylines going into Mania , especially Edge & Orton . The back of Kennedy's neck hitting the ladder was brutal . Jeff jumping from the HUGE ladder in the ring onto Edge on the ladder outside is one of those moments that will live forever . This was just flat out awesome . When the match was aired , i was genuinely surprised that Kennedy won the match . I expected Punk to win . ****



The Hardys vs The World's Greatest Tag Team : Ladder
From One Night Stand 2007 . I've seen some varied reviews for this one , ranging from good to amazing . Well with the talent in the ring , I would hope it would be brilliant . Some of the ladder spots were great , like Shelton landing stiffly on one . Awesome match . Hardys retain their titles . ***3/4




Jeff Hardy vs Carlito : Ladder Match
Jeff's best and favourite match here with another pretty great athlete in Carlito . Ladder matches are very rarely bad and with Jeff in here , this will be no exception . This is for the IC Title . Both guys took some painful bumps in this match . Jeff pushes Carlito off the ladder to retain . Very good match .  ***1/4



Disc 2 Matches :





Edge vs Undertaker : TLC 
If Taker loses this match , he has to leave the WWE . I think we all knew that wasn't going to happen . Another brilliant TLC match to add to the growing collection of those matches . Edge grabs the World title after throwing Taker off the ladder and through three tables . ****




Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho : Ladder 
Many have called this match the best of 2008 and it is very hard to find another match that can match up to it . I believe this was their feud ending match and this was one of the best feuds of the year . World Title was on the line . Chris lost a tooth in this match . Jericho retains his title in this classic match after a tug of war with the belt . ****1/2




Wrestlemania 25 Money In The Bank Ladder Match
I love this ladder match no matter how many botches are in it . With money in the bank at Wrestlemania , how can you go wrong ? I even found myself chanting with the fans ' This is awesome ' .Kofi stole the match here . Fans seem disappointed about CM Punk grabbing the briefcase though . Overall a great match . ***3/4




Raw MITB Ladder Match 2010
Now this was a really hard match to predict . You had established guys like Orton and Jericho and some new guys . My money was on Evan Bourne . Another exciting , action-packed ladder match on this show . Miz wins the briefcase . ***3/4




John Morrison vs Sheamus : Ladder Match 
This was an awesome match . This match had more of a story than most ladder matches with Morrison's leg being targeted .  Sheamus just looked ruthless in this match . Sheamus falling through the ladder on the outside was such an amazing moment . After that , Morrison climbs up the ladder , kicks Sheamus in the head one more time and grabs the contract for a WWE Championship match . Awesome . ****




Christian vs Alberto Del Rio : Ladder Match
Ok this should have been the main event for this show . It provided us with an amazing moment and the match could have ended with either guy winning his first world title . For those that don't know , Edge retired a couple of weeks prior to this event ( sad face ) and there was a battle royal made to see who would take his place ,and that would end up being Christian . Even if Christian lost the title 2 days later , this match still provided a moment that shows what professional wrestling is all about . During the match , Del Rio takes a sick looking spill on a ladder set up outside . I've got to mention that Brodus Clay was badly bleeding in this match . Christian had a few cuts as well . Edge comes into the ring to celebrate his huge victory . Both guys have tears in their eyes . What a moment . I might be overrating this but I don't care . ****1/4



Blu Ray Exclusives :



Edge vs Jeff Hardy : Ladder
From Extreme Rules 2009 . These are probably the first two guys you think of when you think of a ladder match . It's amazing that these two never had a one-on-one ladder match against each other . For that reason there was a lot of hype for this one and , in my opinion , it lived up to the expectations . The sharpshooter in the ladder was pretty damn cool . These two still manage to come up with new spots . The spot with both guys falling through the outside ladder was absolutely sick . Brilliant match . Hardy grabs the belt for the win . ****




Christian vs Shelton Benjamin : Ladder Match 
What a great way to start the show off . Two of the best ladder match participants of all time going at it . It can only lead to a lot of fun . ECW Title was hanging over the ring . Christian's head cut being checked ruined the momentum of the match a little bit . That all changed when Shelton hit the senton off the ladder . Christian retains the title . Match of the Night . ***3/4



Jerry Lawler vs The Miz : TLC
The WWE Championship was on the line . This was obviously just a re-hash of the Edge/Flair match from four years previously . And yet they still made me think that Lawler had a chance of winning the big one for the first time in his career . Surprisingly good TLC match as Miz grabs the title to retain . ***




Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger vs Dolph Ziggler : Ladder Match
I heard that some people hated the ending of this match , but I found it went with Dolph's character . Gotta give credit to Vickie for climbing up that ladder though . This was a good ladder match that was short on time but was very entertaining . Dolph wins after the belt falls to the ring and he scoops it up . ***



8.5/10 . This is a great set , and I wasn't sure if that was possible after the amazing first Ladder Match DVD . There were a few odd ones here , but for the most part they are excellent choices . Definitely recommended .