Pro wrestling veteran Matt Hardy has highlighted the first-ever tag team ladder match, contested between his team with his brother Jeff Hardy and the duo of Edge and Christian at WWF No Mercy 1999, as a pivotal moment that paved the way for the evolution of iconic match types like Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC).
Hardy, who has had a career spanning over 35 years in professional wrestling, told Fox News Digital that while the match received praise at the time, its long-term impact on the sport's storytelling and match innovation is often underestimated. He believes this particular match was instrumental in changing how inanimate objects were used to tell stories in WWE, ultimately leading to the creation of the first tag team tables match and the subsequent inaugural TLC match at SummerSlam 2000.
"It’s crazy because my brother and I, we've been blessed to have so many great moments over our, Oct. 15 we'll be going into our 35th year of doing this as pro wrestlers, which is crazy," Hardy stated. "A moment still that I don't think gets talked about quite enough – it got praised, especially when it happened, but just looking back at how monumental it was in changing the game, was the first ever tag team ladder match I think."
Hardy explained that his presentation of the tag team tables match concept to Vince McMahon was inspired by the success and innovation of the Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian's ladder match. McMahon wanted to create a similar spectacle with The Dudley Boyz, which then broadened the use of weapons and objects in matches, culminating in the first TLC bout.
He noted that this foundational ladder match directly influenced similar stipulations in other wrestling promotions, including AEW, TNA's Full Metal Mayhem, and Ring of Honor's Ladder Wars. "But that tag team ladder match that we did with Edge and Christian is something that was like absolutely the beginning and origin point of the TLC concept and that became a staple in pro wrestling and myself and Jeff and Edge and Christian without us having that match that doesn't become a thing."
Hardy anticipates that historical retrospectives will recognize this match as the catalyst for the more extreme and object-focused style of wrestling that has become popular. He suggested that this style of match allows athletic performers to engage in exciting storytelling.
Currently, Matt and Jeff Hardy hold the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Matt Hardy also co-hosts a podcast with Jon Alba, titled "The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy," which delves into his career experiences and is released weekly on his YouTube page.