20 Greatest Matches In WWE's Empty Arena Era

Just when you think every innovation has been made to the ladder match, Sami Zayn goes and handcuffs Jeff Hardy’s ear to the rungs and makes you fall in love with wrestling all over again. A high point of one of WWE’s best cards, this bout combined three excellent workers with some genuine innovation and the right winner to create a blast of an opener.

The Intercontinental Championship hasn’t been especially relevant of late, but the fine work of Sami Zayn helped to elevate it a little, as did the sheer quality of matches like this. All three men are capable of athleticism and imaginative spots, and even if Jeff Hardy has milked the ladder for about all it’s worth, it’s still a blast to see a master of his craft play the hits.

This was Zayn’s comeback after being stripped of the belt, and he took his sneaky heel game to another level here. After the aforementioned ear business, he handcuffed himself to AJ Styles. The Phenomenal One duly schlepped Zayn up the ladder, only for Sami to uncuff himself, lock Styles to the steel, and nab the belt. So silly, so fun.