10 Greatest WWE TV Matches Ever

2. The Undertaker Vs. Jeff Hardy - Ladder Match, RAW (July 1, 2002)

HBK Cena
WWE.com

Again - if this had taken place on and heavily promoted ahead of a pay-per-view, the uncontrived emotion just wouldn't have been the same.

The dynamic was intriguing; Jeff Hardy was synonymous with (if not actually successful at, but it didn’t matter) ladder matches, but the Undertaker was the Undertaker - a far more tenured and imposing performer in both storylines and reality. It lived up to that premise almost immediately; Hardy feigned to ride ‘Taker’s Harley at ringside before piling back into the ring to lure the Undisputed Champion into position to dropkick a ladder into his face. The psychology was sound. Hardy smashed ‘Taker in the face with a chair before running rings around him to desperately evade his power.

It was only a matter of time before ‘Taker embarked on a protracted stretch of offence - but Hardy showed enough nerve and fire to ensure that fans remained on his side throughout it. ‘Taker’s relative lack of mobility and finely-tuned storytelling nous meant that the ladder spots were woven into the narrative - one of Hardy’s career-best performance in a gruesome fight for survival.

Hardy lost, but his performance was so gutsy and credible that the lasting image - of ‘Taker raising his hand in a gesture of respect - was as well-earned as it was unforgettable.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!