7. The Undertaker Chokeslams Edge Straight To Hell - Summerlam 2008
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezj-i4uM3qA There was a period of time in Edge's career during which being perpetually fearful for his physical well-being was totally okay. Having already survived spinal fusion surgery, the level of abuse he took between 2006-2008 in particular was absolutely brutal. This fear was tempered by Edge clicking on all cylinders as a character - especially his work with Vickie Guerrero. The end of the Guerrero/Edge storyline, though involves one of the scariest things we've ever seen the Undertaker do to an opponent. Summerslam 2008's Edge/Undertaker Hell in a Cell match came about after Edge had broken Vickie Guerrero's heart by being caught cheating with their wedding planner prior to their on-air nuptials. Enraged, he had injured best man Chavo Guerrero, Wrestlemania 22 opponent Mick Foley, and ultimately after having an apology to Vickie blow up in his face (leading to a Hell in a Cell with the Undertaker being signed as comeuppance), Vickie herself. The match itself was certainly harrowing (as Hell in a Cell matches tend to be). However, it was the post-match moment of Taker setting up dual ladders and chokeslamming Edge off of a ladder, followed by Edge falling through the ring iself (and then that hole being filled with flames), was pretty scary. With so many variables being involved, the potential for something much worse to occur was quite real. Definitely a "lump in the throat" followed by a "woo saah" moment for sure.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.