The iconic ladder match between Shawn Michaels & Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania 10 is celebrating its 20th anniversary (yes, it has been that long) this year. The ladder match is now one of WWE's most spectacular and popular match styles, and over the years, ladder matches have created some of the most incredible in-ring moments ever seen. Plenty of stars have made their careers based on ladder match appearances, and these days winning the Money in the Bank ladder match is a significant achievement. Despite 20 years of competition, Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon still remains as not only one of the best Wrestlemania matches ever,but the greatest ladder match of all time as well. Everything about the match made it still the most memorable in history - including its build-up, action, impact, and future legacy; and despite the fact that there's been dozens more, none seem to have matched it in terms of quality and importance. Shawn Michaels & Razor Ramon created something special at Wrestlemania 10, so much so that that the industry was revolutionized, and the idea of what could be achieved within a wrestling ring was permanently changed.
7. The Premise
In 1994, while Shawn Michaels was the reigning Intercontinental Champion, he tested positive for steroids (something he denies to this day), and was consequently stripped of the title. Razor Ramon would go on to win the vacant championship, but when Shawn eventually returned, he claimed he was the true champion because he'd never been defeated, and he still carried his title belt around. It was decided that the two should meet in a match to crown a definitive champion. It would take place at Wrestlemania 10, so the ante was increased. Somehow it made sense to have a ladder match, as the dispute was based on the physical title belts, and who was the rightful owner. Whoever had both belts at the end of the match was the champion, so you had to literally go and get them. These days ladder matches occur because it's that time of the year. Ladder matches take place because it's either the Money in the Bank or TLC PPV, and not because it'd be the fitting stage for a rivalry to take place. With Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, nothing but a ladder match would have seemed right.