The WWE main-event style has, even at its Attitude Era peak, been heavy on the in-ring psychology. TLC is not a particularly ready-made gimmick for lengthy doses of selling, expression, and taunting. So, in 2006, it was up to TLC veteran, Edge, to find a way to blend a stipulation that had previously been a decidedly mid-card affair with a main-event style that had pre-dated the start of his lengthy career. Sans for one mistimed spot, he actually made it look quite easy. Edge and John Cena had the 2006 Match of the Year in the very first attempt at bringing TLC to the PPV main-event scene. Admittedly, what allowed the Edge-Cena match to climb the ranks ahead of its peers was the intangible of the Toronto crowd, who adored the Rated R Superstar (hometown Toronto) and gave Cena a large dose of the verbal medicine that he still takes today. A great crowd can boost a match. Since creating these lists inherently carries the challenge of separation, a great crowd can be the factor that jumps one match over another. The crowd merely responded, though, to an amazing match. Edge and Cena held nothing back. They both bumped like mid-carders trying to make an impression on management instead of two established top tier performers who had already made it. This one is worth as many repeat viewings as any of its peers.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
