UnWrest Focus REWIND: Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match, WWE Extreme Rules 2011)

In honor of Something to Wrestle's episode focusing on Christian, I felt it would be awesome to go back and see Christian's first World Championship win in WWE (he had a couple previous world championship reigns in TNA).

The unfortunate thing about all this is that it took Christian's on-screen "brother" (real life close friend/brother) Edge's retirement in order to get him booked into this opportunity. Edge had to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship after issues regarding his neck threatened his long-term health (cervical spinal stenosis). Christian won a battle royal to face the man that Edge was originally supposed to face at Extreme Rules: Alberto Del Rio. And appropriately, the vacant World Heavyweight Championship was hung above the ring, and the only way to become World Champion was to climb a ladder to get it.

Let's do this! 

Credit: WWE Network, Extreme Rules 2011

WWE Extreme Rules 2011
May 1, 2011

World Heavyweight Championship
Ladder Match
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)

I had forgotten how awesome Alberto Del Rio's entrance was with the weekly new high-end car, fireworks, and his own personal ring announcer. And I've forgotten how much I HATE Heel Michael Cole (and not in the "any heat is good heat" way either. So stop that silly nonsense if you are thinking it.).

The bell rings. Christian does a simple hand clap to get the crowd to make some noise. Very effective. Del Rio takes it to Christian early with a bunch of strikes. "Let's Go Christian" chants. Both men take turns stopping the other from leaving the ring to get a ladder in the opening moments. Flying Back Elbow off the corner by Christian allows him to go get a ladder. Del Rio runs out of the ring and stops Christian from getting in the ring with it. Del Rio beats down on Christian. In a funny moment, intentional or unintentional, Del Rio looks under the ring for a ladder and forgets that there are literally a dozen ladders already placed throughout the arena for him to pick up. Lol. Del Rio gets a ladder, but all the confusion allows Christian to hit a baseball slide from the ring to Del Rio and the ladder.
Back in the ring, Christian sets up a ladder and climbs up. But Del Rio sends him crashing to the mat. Del Rio climbs the ladder and is sent down on his feet to the mat. Del Rio attacks Christian with a bunch of enziguris, kicks, and chokes. Del Rio is backdropped over the top rope, but he trips up Christian and sends him face first into a ladder on the mat and steel steps on the floor. A ladder is propped between the ring and the announce tables, forming a bridge. Both men fight on the floor. Christian is knocked off the top rope from Del Rio on the apron, but Christian lands on the top of a ladder at ringside and dives onto Del Rio on the floor. Del Rio stops Christian from getting the belt in the ring and sets up a ladder in a diagonal position on the corner. But Del Rio is the one that gets planted face first onto the ladder. Christian knocks Del Rio out of the ring with a ladder.
Christian sets up the ladder yet again. Del Rio throws a mini ladder up at Christian and nails a jumping armbreaker off the ladder on Christian. Del Rio goes to work on the arm of Christian. (Well, you can't reach a championship if you have broken arms. Good psychology here.) Del Rio props up another ladder and throws Christian into it. But he rams himself into the ladder by accident. Christian climbs up again, but Del Rio stops him. A powerbomb is reversed into a hurricanrana through the ropes. Del Rio is on the apron trying to suplex Christian now onto the ladder between the ring and announce tables, but Christian reverses that into a suplex onto the ladder in the ring. Christian is caught later trying to do something with a ladder in the corner and crashes on the ladder coming down on the mat. Good match so far.
Christian continues to grab at Del Rio's legs to stop him from climbing. Del Rio just beats down and kicks Christian to the floor. Christian gets away from an attempted chair spot and nails a SPEAR in the ring in honor of Edge. Christian climbs up the ladder, but Del Rio pulls his body through the ladder to tie him up. Christian is able to get free and knock Del Rio down. Christian is set up on the ladder between the ring and announce table. DEL RIO DIVES OFF THE TOP ROPE, BUT CHRISTIAN ROLLS AWAY SENDING DEL RIO SPINE FIRST INTO THE LADDER! Christian crawls in the ring and sets up the ladder in the ring. He's climbing up and almost has the title. Brodus Clay moves the ladder out of the way, leaving Christian dangling up high, and starts attacking Christian. Del Rio uses the distraction of Clay to lock in the Cross Armbreaker on Christian. Del Rio smiles and goes for the ladder. Del Rio puts it in position and climbs up. The fans erupt, and a car horn goes off. It's EDGE IN A JEEP! Christian sends Del Rio off the ladder onto Clay on the floor! Edge comes to ringside and cheers on Christian as he pulls down the championship!

Winner: Christian (NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)
Match Grade: B. Some awkward spots and the smoke and mirrors ending aside, this was a good ladder match with a lot of good spots for both men. Del Rio's offense played well in this type of match, working on the arm and executing some good leaping kick attacks at various points in the match. And Christian had already been in a few dozen ladder matches by this point in his career that this type of match was second nature to him. Christian winning the World Heavyweight Championship is still a fun "feel-good" moment, but it also has that "Well, he only won it because Edge was retired" stain on it. That's not a knock on Christian at all. It's just an unfortunate reality of the situation and WWE's booking of him up to that point.
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In fact, the events that follow this match with Randy Orton validated Christian's position as a main event talent and would provide some of the best work in Christian's (and Randy Orton's) career. And while the CM Punk vs. John Cena and John Cena vs. The Rock storylines got the most attention that year, the best rivalry in WWE that year was arguably Christian vs. Randy Orton. But that's a story for another time.

Thank you for reading everyone. Take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.