11. Edge vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio (TLC 2010)
Expectations were not incredibly high for the second annual TLC PPV's signature gimmick. Edge and Kane had a dud of a feud in late 2010 that partially eased the blow of the Rated R Superstar's abrupt retirement in early 2011. By then, he was getting quite stale, though a legend, indeed. Del Rio and Mysterio had long since reached the peak in their own respective rivalry, so the TLC match that put the four of them at odds was clearly thrown together. Fortunately, all four men are consummate professionals and delivered a match full of twists and turns. Unpredictability helped. Some thought that Kane had earned the right to carry the World Heavyweight Championship into WrestleMania. Others felt that Edge was the best option with the biggest name. Del Rio was thought to be a lock as a future World Champ, so some also felt that the future was now. Any of the three could have walked away with the strap and it would not have been surprising. Alas, it was Edge who emerged victorious in a thrilling match that lived up to the gimmick's sterling reputation.
"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.
