Adam Copeland wasn’t going to let a hurricane keep him from competing in the first tag-team ladder match in WWE history in October 1999.
At that year’s No Mercy pay-per-view event, Copeland, as Edge, teamed with Christian in a loss to Matt and Jeff Hardy in what would be a critically acclaimed match.
On a recent edition of the “NotSam Wrestling” podcast, Copeland was asked for Vince McMahon’s reaction to the match and shared his travel story. He said,
“I didn’t see Vince, honestly. I came back and I saw Mick Foley, who was just like effusive with his praise. He just said you just solidified yourselves guys like you just did something no one’s done before. Jericho, the guys who were not afraid to admit that we just did something. So that was really nice.
“And it was such a crazy day because I was living in the Bahamas at that point. I flew in — there was a hurricane coming to Florida. So, I flew into Miami the night before the hurricane hit. So I rented a car, drove through the hurricane up to Tampa, caught the last flight to Cleveland. I landed in Cleveland at 4:30 PM for a 7 PM show. Yeah, it was that.
“But I’m driving through this thing white-knuckled; I can’t see anything. But I’m like, I have to get there because this is the match. This is the match. If I don’t get there, what’s going to happen? Do they put somebody else in that spot? Do they just not do the match and now I hosed those three guys? I gotta get through.”
While Edge and Christian lost this match, they’d soon find their footing in ladder matches and would win the Triangle Ladder Match a few months later at WrestleMania 2000.
Edge and Christian would also win the first TLC match at SummerSlam 2000 and the acclaimed TLC 2 match at WrestleMania X-Seven in April 2001.
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In October 1999, Adam Copeland, known as Edge in the WWE, participated in the first-ever tag-team ladder match in WWE history at the No Mercy pay-per-view event. Despite facing a hurricane, Copeland was determined to compete in this groundbreaking match.
Teaming up with Christian, Copeland faced off against Matt and Jeff Hardy in a match that would go on to receive critical acclaim. The match showcased the innovative and high-risk nature of ladder matches, setting the stage for future ladder matches in WWE.
When asked about Vince McMahon’s reaction to the match on the “NotSam Wrestling” podcast, Copeland revealed that he didn’t see McMahon personally. However, he received praise from Mick Foley, who commended him and Christian for solidifying themselves as trailblazers in the industry.
Copeland also shared a travel story that highlighted his dedication to making it to the event. At the time, he was living in the Bahamas and had to fly into Miami the night before the hurricane hit. Despite the dangerous conditions, he rented a car and drove through the hurricane to Tampa, where he caught the last flight to Cleveland. He landed in Cleveland at 4:30 PM for a 7 PM show, showcasing his determination to be part of the historic match.
Although Edge and Christian lost the match at No Mercy, they would soon find success in ladder matches. A few months later, they won the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000. They went on to win the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) match at SummerSlam 2000 and the highly acclaimed TLC 2 match at WrestleMania X-Seven in April 2001.
The legacy of Edge and Christian’s ladder matches continues to be celebrated in the world of professional wrestling. These matches paved the way for future high-risk and thrilling ladder matches that have become a staple in WWE events.
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