6 Best All-Time Performers in the TLC

John Cena vs Randy Orton – One of the most anticipated TLC matches this year.

It will be Orton’s first opportunity to compete in the bout and only Cena’s second appearance in the insanely popular gimmick match.

Can they etch their names in the history books alongside the great performers in TLC match history?

In the wake of this huge main event, here’s a look at six of the greatest performers who have cemented their legacies as some of the best to ever swing a chair, climb a ladder or crash through a table.

6. Matt Hardy, Christian and the Dudley Boyz

Founders of the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match, their matches against one another revolutionized the business.

While Edge and Jeff Hardy may be recognized as the breakout stars of those bouts, it was Christian, the Dudleys and Matt Hardy that were the glue that held them together.

5. Chris Jericho

First Appearance: 2001

Win-Loss Record: 1-2

The Ayatollah of Rock-and-Rolla made his first TLC match appearance on the May 24, 2001 episode of SmackDown, teaming with Chris Benoit to defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against the Dudley Boyz, the Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian in the first-ever four-team TLC match.

On the October 6, 2002 episode of Raw, he teamed with Christian against Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley, Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam and World Tag Team champion Kane, who was fighting without partner The Hurricane, who had been injured earlier in the evening.

Y2J stayed very active throughout the match, delivering a bulldog to Bubba Dudley from the top of a ladder and applying the the Walls of Jericho to Van Dam atop another ladder, but it would be Kane who overcame the odds, scaled the ladder and retrieved the Tag titles.

Seven years later, at the December 13, 2009 TLC pay-per-view, Jericho would step back into the squared circle for his third TLC match. This time, he and Big Show would defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Triple H and Shawn Michaels, known collectively as D-Generation X.

Jericho, one of the greatest minds in the business, worked well with Michaels and Triple H to devise the match, and while it is not held in the same regard that the other spottier, more dangerous clashes in match history are, it was a very good effort by four Superstars guaranteed to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

4. Kane

First Appearance: 2002

Win-Loss Record: 1-2

On October 6, 2002, Kane single-handedly defended the World Tag Team Championships against Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley, Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho and Christian in a four-team TLC match. He took a great deal of punishment in the match and had no partner to rely on, yet he still was able to retain the titles.

In December of 2010, he entered the TLC pay-per-view as the World Heavyweight champion having vanquished his brother The Undertaker two months earlier. He would be faced with the challenge of Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio and Edge, all of whom were great in-ring workers

Two years later at the same event, Kane would join Daniel Bryan and Ryback as they attempted to derail newcomers Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns of The Shield.

Unfortunately for him, a big spear by Roman Reigns through the guardrail ended his night. The Shield would go on to pin his partner, Bryan, and win the star-making match.

What Kane has been able to achieve in TLC matches, for a man of his size, is nothing short of extraordinary. Given the fact that he is oftentimes surrounded by superior in-ring workers, he always seems to bust his butt to keep up with them.

3. CM Punk

First Appearance: 2009

Win-Loss Record: 3-0

The self-proclaimed “Best in the World” touts the best win-loss record of any Superstar to appear in more than one TLC match.

Making that record even more impressive is the fact that all three of those wins came in matches for either the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship.

At the December 18, 2011 TLC pay-per-view, Punk’s role was reversed. He entered the event as champion and was forced to fend off two very game opponents in The Miz and Alberto Del Rio. Punk was so clearly the biggest star in the match that something needed to happen to give fans a feeling that he could realistically lose.

Miz and Del Rio used handcuffs to keep him at bay, but, as any good babyface would, Punk eventually escaped his bind and retrieved his title for the win.

On January 7, 2013, Punk once again entered a TLC match as champion, this time returning to the dark side as the most hated star in World Wrestling Entertainment.

Less than 100 percent and suffering from a knee injury, Punk defended his title against Ryback in a match that was originally scheduled for a month earlier.

Despite his injury, Punk took several big bumps, but thanks to interference from The Shield, he was able to extend his history-making title reign by another day.

2. Jeff Hardy

First Appearance: 2000

Win-Loss Record: 0-5

In the inaugural Tables, Ladders and Chairs match that took place on August 27, 2000, Hardy climbed a 20-foot ladder outside the squared circle with the intention of delivering a huge Swanton Bomb to Bubba Ray Dudley. Dudley rolled out of the way and Hardy crashed through a table. It was the first time that Hardy had attempted the move, only to have his opponent roll out of the way.

The October 6, 2002 Raw TLC match, Hardy took a very scary backdrop over the top rope and through a table at ringside. While the others were relatively safe, this one was incredibly dangerous and could have led to series injury had he missed the table. Considering the strength of the match, it was unnecessary.

The World Heavyweight Championship match against CM Punk had a number of stellar, risky spots from Hardy, but they were relatively subdued compared to some of his other appearances in TLC bouts.

1. Edge

First Appearance: 2001

Win-Loss Record: 5-2

The Rated R Superstar has amassed a sparkling resume in TLC matches that has made him the greatest performer in match history.

Through seven Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches, he was able to lay out matches and spots that were fresh and different.

Working with Ric Flair, John Cena and Undertaker, all of whom were not adept to taking big bumps, Edge and his opponent were forced to come up with ways to satisfy fans expecting an insanely dangerous match while protecting their bodies.