Many
types of matches, sometimes called "concept"
or "
gimmick
matches" in the
jargon of the business,
can be found in the form of
performing
art that is
professional
wrestling.
Some of them are major crowd pleasing and occur relatively
frequently, while others are developed so as to advance an
angle, and thus, such
match types are used rarely. Specific match types in professional
wrestling are often notable due to either their frequent use,
logistics of setup, or a memorable instances of such a match.
Often, specialty matches are used as a finale to a popular or
infamous storyline.
Because professional wrestling's existence has spanned
over decades, and many
things in it have been recycled, many gimmick match types are
actually variations of previous gimmick matches, match types can be
organized into several loose groups. The following is a list of
common or otherwise notable match types.
Variations of singles matches
The standard wrestling match (or 'one fall match') involves two
wrestlers attempting to win the match through either
pinfall or
submission while not
getting
disqualified, or
"
counted out"—caught
outside of the ring for a
referee's count of 10 or
20, depending on the companies' rules.
In matches where
championships are
being contested, the champion typically retains the title in the
event of a disqualification or countout finish, no matter which
competitor was disqualified or counted out in what is known as the
"champion's advantage". Commentators and
bookers generally
explain it as saying the challenger "must beat" the champion.
Playing into this, some storylines have
heel champions attempting to
protect their title by intentionally causing such losses.
Some of the most common variations on the singles match restrict
the possible means for victory: only pinfalls are permitted in a
Pin only or Pinfall match, only submissions in a Submission match,
etc. Another variation is a Time Limit match in which a match is
contested until a time limit is reached or a wrestler achieves
victory; in the event of the former, a separate method (audience
reaction, "judges", or even a rematch) is used to determine the
winner. Time Limit matches were invented during the
vaudeville days of professional wrestling as a
way to stop matches that lasted well into hours. A Battle of
Respect is often held in tribute to another wrestler, where all
means of victory are removed (that is, wrestlers simply wrestle
each other for a fixed amount of time, without victory taken into
consideration).
The following matches have their own articles due to being
commonplace:
Empty Arena match
An Empty Arena match is a
hardcore match between two or
more wrestlers which takes place in an arena void of fans. The only
people present are the competitors,
referee, and
cameraperson(s). The match is broadcast, or videotaped and played
later. e.g.
The Rock vs
Mankind during the WWF's
Super Bowl halftime show on January 31,
1999.
Falls Count Anywhere match
A Falls Count Anywhere match is a match where pinfalls or
submission can take place in any location, negating the standard
rule that they must take place inside the ring and between the
ropes. As such, this also eliminates the usual "
countout" rule. As the match
may take place in various parts of the arena, the "Falls Count
Anywhere" provision is almost always accompanied with a "No
Disqualification" stipulation to make the match a
hardcore match, so as to allow wrestlers
the convenience to use
any objects they may
find wherever they wrestle.
A variation of the rules state that once a pinfall takes place, the
pinned wrestler will lose the match if he is unable to return to
the ring within a specific amount of time—usually a referee's count
of 10 or 30. If the pinned wrestler makes it to the ring in this
time, the match continues. Under these rules, all pinfalls must
take place
outside of the ring, technically making the
match no longer falls count
anywhere. Occasionally, this
stipulation is listed as having a specific territory in which falls
count, (
e.g. the state, county, or general location the
match is in).
A new variation on the stipulation was introduced by WWE at
WWE Breaking Point 2009:
Submissions Count Anywhere, a Falls Count Anywhere match that can
only be won by Submission, which was won by
Legacy against
D-Generation X.
Flag match
The Flag match is essentially the professional wrestling version of
capture the flag. For the match two
flags are placed on opposite turnbuckles, each representing a
specific wrestler or team of wrestlers, and the object of the match
is to retrieve the opponent's flag and raise it while defending the
flag in the wrestler's corner.
An Anthem match is a variant of a Flag match with the added
stipulation that the Theme songof the winning wrestler or team will
be played in the arena after the match.
Handicap match
A Handicap match is any match where one wrestler or team of
wrestlers face off against a team of wrestlers with numerical
superiority such as two against one, or three against two. In some
two-on-one handicap matches the team with superior numbers act
under
tag team rules, with one person in
the ring at a time.
Iron man match
An Iron Man Match is a multiple-fall match with a set time limit.
The match is won by the wrestler who wins the most falls within the
said time limit, by either pinfall, submission, disqualification,
countout, or knockout. Notable Iron Man matches include
Ricky Steamboat Vs
Rick
Rude from
WCW's
Beach Blast event in 1992,
Bret Hart vs.
Shawn
Michaels at
WWE's
WrestleMania XII event in 1996 and
John Cena vs.
Randy
Orton at
WWE's
Bragging Rights in 2009
Lumberjack match
150 px
A Lumberjack match is a standard match with the exception that the
ring is surrounded by a group of wrestlers not directly involved in
it. These wrestlers, known collectively as
lumberjacks—or
sometimes
lumberjills when they're female—are there to
prevent the wrestlers in the match from fleeing the ring. The
groups of lumberjacks are typically split up into groups of
faces and
heels who occupy opposing
sides around the ring. Usually, the "opposing" lumberjacks (that
is, face lumberjacks if the wrestler is a heel, and vice versa)
swarm the wrestlers if they leave the ring and force them back in
it. Occasional interference from the lumberjacks is not uncommon,
nor is an all-out brawl on the outside involving most of the
lumberjacks. Early lumberjack matches even featured the lumberjacks
wearing stereotypical
lumberjack clothing
in keeping with the lumberjack theme, though this is generally no
longer done.
Variation of this match include the "Canadian" Lumberjack match, in
which the lumberjacks are equipped with
leather straps, the "Extreme" Lumberjack
match, competed under
Extreme Rules, and the TNA's
"Fan's Revenge" Lumberjack match, during which fans equipped with
straps act as lumberjacks and are encouraged to whip
wrestlers.
(Move) match
A [move] match is a match where the first wrestler to perform a
specific move is the winner. The move is usually a signature move
of both wrestlers involved, in which case a stipulation can be
added that the loser is no longer allowed to use the move—or on the
case of large wrestlers a generic move (
e.g. bodyslam)
that is notoriously hard to perform on both wrestlers. The match
usually takes the name of the target move (
e.g. Chokeslam
challenge, Bodyslam match) or is more genericized to "Finisher
Match" if both wrestlers are trying to perform their finisher to
win. Andre The Giant vs Big John Studd at WrestleMania 1 is an
example of a [move] match. Another example of a move match was a
match featuring Viscera and Mark Henry in which the first wrestler
to execute a gorilla press slam was the winner.
X rules match
An X Rules match is a match contested under specific, often
undisclosed, rules where the "x" is replaced by a title usually
meant to sound traditional (
Marquess of Queensberry) or
boastful for one combatant. The
angle of many of the
matches has one wrestler, usually the
heel, challenging another to a
match to be contested under some kind of rules without going in to
detail, then making up rules in their favor as the match progresses
and feeding them to the ring announcer.
Scaffold match
A Scaffold match takes place, in whole or in part, on a piece of
scaffolding erected above the ring. The
match can end in one of two ways; either with one wrestler pushing
another off of the scaffold to the ring below, or with a wrestler
retrieving a flag from the opposite side of the scaffold and return
it to his own. Scaffold matches have a (
legitimate) air of
danger about them, as the
bump from such a height is
hard to protect against and objects such as chipboard tables are
placed in the ring to attempt to cushion the fall.
Elevation X,
Total
Nonstop Action Wrestling's variation of the scaffold match, has
two scaffolds placed above the ring intersecting to form an "X",
with the only way to lose being to fall from the structure.
Special referee
Any time a usual
referee is replaced with
someone unusual for a specific reason it is referred to as a
Special Referee or Special Guest Referee match. The special referee
is often a celebrity, a
manager, or another
wrestler—with the latter sometimes showing a bias for or against a
competitor.
Special Outside Referee
A Special Outside Referee, also known as Special Enforcer or
Special Guest Enforcer; is someone charged with the task of keeping
interference out of the match. e.g. Mike Tyson at WrestleMania XIV
and Chuck Norris at Survivor Series 1994 or to become the in-ring
referee should the original referee be incapacitated.
Strip matches
There are two kinds of matches which are contested where a wrestler
doesn't win by pinfall or submission, but only by stripping their
opponent of their clothing. Historically, these types of matches
were contested between
managers or valets, due to
their supposed lack of wrestling ability. In
the Attitude Era, however, full-time female
wrestlers (known as
Divas) began engaging
in strip matches for the purpose of
titillation.
Bra and Panties match
A
Bra and
Panties
match is so named because it takes place between any amount of
female competitors with the winner being
the first to strip her opponent to nothing but her bra and panties.
An
evening gown match ends the same
way, but instead of the women starting out the match in regular
clothing or ring attire they begin in evening gowns.
WCW held an "ROTC" match of the
same nature, with the contestants beginning the match in
camouflage military style attire. The title of
the match was a play on the
acronym for
Reserve Officers' Training
Corps and in the match stood for "Rip Off The
Camouflage."
Xtreme Pro Wrestling went
further with the idea; promoting a Buck Naked match, during which
one competitor was supposed to be stripped completely. Only one
such match ever took place, with the house lights being turned off
before any actual nudity could be seen.
Tuxedo Match
A
Tuxedo match is similar to the Bra and
Panties match, where the match is contested between 2 male
competitors in tuxedos. In order to win you need to strip the
opponent's tuxedo off of them. When special guest host ZZ Top
scheduled a tuxedo match against Chavo Guerrero and Hornswoggle,
they called it a
Sharp Dressed Man Match, a reference to
their hit song,
Sharp Dressed Man
Two out of three falls match
A Two out of three falls match is a match where not one, but two,
decisions
have to be won by a wrestler or tag team before the match is
officially over. This used to be the standard match for
professional wrestling, back in the days when wrestling was mostly
legitimate.
A variant of the match, the Best of Seven Series, has a maximum of
seven matches instead of three, often taking place over a period of
several weeks as opposed to a single night, with the winner being
the one to score four wins. Another variant of this match is the
WWE's version, 3 Stages of Hell match, where each fall consists of
a different match stipulation.
Non-wrestling singles variations
Some matches do not actually involve wrestling, instead relying on
other sports or physical activity to determine a winner and a
loser. Common types of matches include
arm
wrestling,
boxing,
kickboxing,
mixed
martial arts, and
sumo.
Substance Match
This is a match which involves mainly two women who have of a
lesser wrestling experience. The match includes a large container
filled with various substances in which the two women will wrestle
in. Substances can include anything from mud to chocolate milk.
Sometimes, specialty substances are used for certain occasions e.g.
gravy for Thanksgiving and egg nog for Christmas.Another variation
is the pudding match. the most recent in WWE (foremerly World
Wrestling Federation)was between Candice Michelle and Melina at WWE
One Night Stand (2007).
Arm wrestling match
An Arm wrestling match, in the context of professional wrestling,
is a
worked
form of a basic
arm wrestling contest.
In WWE this match is usually consisted of a face & a heel with
the heel attacking the face, causing a disqualification.
Boxing match
The professional wrestling version of a Boxing match has standard
boxing rules applied to it. Wrestlers wear
boxing gloves and the match is
contested in rounds with fouls given out, though the matches are
generally
worked and end with
one wrestler cheating and using wrestling maneuvers.
Pillow fight
A Pillow fight is a match held between
women for which
pillows and a
bed are placed in the ring. The pillows may be used as weapons, but
other than that standard wrestling rules apply. A variation, the
Lingerie Pillow Fight, requires the participants to wear
lingerie.
Sumo match
For a Sumo match, the ropes are removed from the ring and standard
sumo rules apply. The first person to step
outside of the ring or touch the mat with any part of the body but
the soles of the feet is the loser.
Hardcore-based variations
Hardcore wrestling is a subset of professional wrestling where some
or all of the
traditional
rules do not apply. Most often this simply means there are no
disqualifications,
which itself eliminates
countouts, allowing
decisions to take
place anywhere. In fact, many so-called "hardcore match types" are
merely
euphemisms for the same sort of
"rule-less" match, with the name meant to emphasize certain aspects
of hardcore wrestling or to point out one specific difference. The
most common euphemism is the Deathmatch, often with some kind of
prefix (i.e, "Texas Deathmatch", "Lights Out Deathmatch") used to
promote the supposed risk of injury wrestlers may sustain during
the match. Other common euphemisms for hardcore matches are Street
Fight or Bunkhouse Brawl (both of which suggest wrestlers dressing
in normal street clothes),
Extreme Rules, No Holds
Barred match, and Good Housekeeping match (which emphasized the use
of kitchen implements as
weapons) and the
Bimbo Brawl (which involves
women).
Some promotions, such as
Extreme Championship
Wrestling,
Juggalo
Championship Wrestling, and
Combat Zone Wrestling, have
specialized in hardcore matches, with "standard" non-hardcore
matches being the exception.
World Championship
Wrestling utilized the term Raven's Rules for hardcore matches
involving the wrestler
Raven. They also
created their own specific brand of hardcore match, for which bouts
were to begin backstage rather than in the ring. This rule became
the basis for the video game
WCW
Backstage Assault.
Clockwork Orange House of Fun match
The
Clockwork Orange House of Fun
match, also known as Raven's House of Fun, was created by
professional wrestler
Raven. It's a
singles match for which a chain link wall is erected on one side of
the ring with chains wrapped from it to various points on the ring
itself with weapons hanging from them. In the first match the only
way to win was to put an opponent through two tables after throwing
them off "Raven's perch" (a small scaffold), but afterwards it was
changed to falls-count-anywhere rules.
Fans Bring the Weapons match
In a Fans Bring the Weapons match, all the weapons are provided by
the fans prior to the show. Sometimes the weapons will be in the
ring before the match starts, although occasionally weapons will be
handed to the wrestlers during the action. Weapons can range from
simple items such as video recorders, through to more complicated
light-tube and barbed wire constructions. This practice was
popularized in the United States by
Extreme Championship
Wrestling and is commonly used by promotions such as
IWA Mid-South
and
Combat Zone Wrestling,
especially during their respective deathmatch tournaments. These
types of matches are known as "Bring the hardcore" matches at shows
for WAW, a wrestling promotion in Manchester, NH.
First Blood match
A First Blood match is a no-disqualification match where in order
to win a wrestler has to make his opponent bleed. Tully Blanchard
defeated Dusty Rhodes in a "First Blood" match at Starcade in 1986.
The first First Blood Match to take place for the WWE Championship
occurred between Steve Austin and Kane. In a variation called
Sadistic Madness, which was created by
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling, the opponent must be bleeding before a wrestler can
legally pin them. A variation, the Doomsday Chamber of Blood, takes
place inside of a
barbed wire topped
cage.
Hard 10 match
The Brutal Tournament match was created by
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling. It is contested on a points system, where the points
are earned for the use of
weapons. The first
person to earn ten points—and be up by at least two points—wins.
Regular strikes with a weapon are worth one point, while putting an
opponent through a table is worth five.
Last Man Standing match
The Last Man Standing match is a hardcore-style match where the
only way to win is by
knockout. That is, a
wrestler will lose the match if they are unable to answer a
ten-count after being downed, similar to the knockout ruling of a
boxing match. In order to avoid losing, both
the wrestler's knees must be off the ground by the count of 10. A
similar type of match is the Texas Death match, where a wrestler
must be pinned or forced to submit before the
referee will begin the
ten-count.
Light tube Deathmatch
A Light tube Deathmatch is a match where a wrestler seeks to throw
their opponent into a cache of
light
tubes before winning by pinfall or submission.
No Count-Out match
A No Count-Out match is a regular match where both competitors can
stay outside of the ring or stay down for longer than the standard
10 or 20 seconds.
No Disqualification match
A No Disqualification match, also known as a No Holds Barred match,
or sometimes as a
Raven's Rules match, is
a match where neither wrestler can be
disqualified,
allowing for
weapons and outside
interference. The key differences between a No Disqualification
match and a standard hardcore match are that falls must be made in
the ring, there is less emphasis on the use of weapons, and often
the Count-Out rule is still in effect for No Disqualification
matches.
No Rope Barbed Wire Deathmatch
Regular ring ropes are removed from the ring in a No Rope Barbed
Wire Deathmatch, and
barbed wire is
strung up in their place. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling calls this
match a "Barbed Wire Massacre".
Taipei Deathmatch
A Taipei
Deathmatch
is a match where the wrestlers' fists are taped and dipped into
glue and in broken and crushed glass, allowing shards to stick to
their fists.
Texas Death match
A Texas Death match is a match in which there can be no count outs,
disqualifications, or submissions. Falls also count anywhere. It
originated in the Amarillo, Texas area and the very first one saw
Dory Funk, Sr. battle “Iron” Mike DiBiase for four and a half
hours.The goal of the match is to beat your opponent down enough
that you can score a pinfall. After a pinfall is acquired, the
wrestler that was pinned has a count of ten to reach his feet. If
he can not stand before the referee counts to ten then the wrestler
that obtained the pinfall is declared the winner.
Unsanctioned match
An Unsanctioned match is any match expected to go so far that
beforehand the wrestling organization (
kayfabe) claims no responsibility for the
participants or their safety. For example,
Triple H vs.
Shawn
Michaels at
SummerSlam ,
Chris Jericho vs.
Shawn Michaels at
Unforgiven and
Shane McMahon vs.
Randy
Orton on Raw (2009) were all billed as "Unsanctioned Matches"
by
WWE.
10,000 Thumbtacks match
Hardcore rules apply in this match; however to win the match an
opponent must be thrown into a pit filled with "10,000"
thumbtacks.
Stipulation-based variations
As professional wrestling seeks to also tell a story, some matches
are made solely for the purposes of advancing the plot. This
typically involves the loser of a match being penalized in some
way.
Last Chance match
A Last Chance match, also called a Do or Die match, is a
championship match
where, if the challenger does not win the title, they are banned
from challenging for it again as long as the winner holds it.
Loser Leaves Town match
Loser Leaves Town is a generic term for any match where the loser
has to leave the current
promotion or
brand. These matches were most often
held during the "
territorial
days," when wrestlers frequently jumped from company to
company. In a variation, one episode of
WWE
Raw featured a
ladder match between
Matt Hardy and
Edge where the winner would win the
Money in the Bank briefcase
while the loser left RAW. A second variation, one episode of
WWE Smackdown featured a
Steel Cage match between
CM Punk and
Jeff Hardy
where if Jeff lost, he would have to leave the
WWE. The most recent one was with
John Cena and
Randy
Orton at
WWE Bragging Rights
where if Cena lost, he would have to leave RAW and go to SmackDown
or ECW.
Luchas de Apuestas
Luchas de Apuestas (
literally
translated from
Spanish to
fight of bets) are matches where both wrestlers
wager something specific (the
mask or hair) on the outcome. The loser of
the match then loses the item, being forced to take off the mask or
be shaved bald. It's also possible for a wrestler to put someone
else's item on the line, with the same stipulation applying in the
event of a loss. These matches have a storied history in
Mexico. Upon unmasking it's not unheard of for a
wrestler's real name and information to be published. As a form of
further humiliation, the loser can be forced to physically hand the
mask he just lost to the winner.
Types of wagers
The most popular types of wager are the
mask of a masked wrestler or the hair of a
non-masked wrestler, most commonly put against each other in Mask
vs. Mask (in Spanish: Máscara contra Máscara), Mask vs. Hair
(Máscara contra Cabellera), or Hair vs. Hair (Cabellera contra
Cabellera) matches. Throughout Mexico, when a masked wrestler loses
their mask, they are not allowed to compete under a mask with that
same
gimmick.
In addition to masks and hair,
championships, or
careers—as a form of
retirement
match—can be put up as the wager in any combination.
A recent example of this would be at WWE's 'The Bash', where Rey
Mysterio put his mask on the line to face Chris Jericho for the
Intercontinental Championship.
Some matches have a stipulation where the winning wrestler is given
a different privilege or reward, such as being allowed to attack
the opponent's
manager (for instance, to
whip them).
Retirement match
A Retirement match (also known as a "Loser Leaves Town Match") is
any match where, should a wrestler lose, they are
forced out of the company. The "retirement"
stipulation can be applied to just one wrestler or both wrestlers
in a match can be wrestling for their careers.
Further still is a more
legitimate retirement
match, the last match of a (usually "legendary") wrestler's career.
In this case it's designed to be a last hurrah, showcasing the
wrestler's talent one last time for their fans (e.g.
Ric Flair.).
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal
Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal, also known as
Raw Roulette, is not a match type itself, but a way
to assign a type to a match that does not yet have one. Before the
match either a "wheel of fortune" or
roulette
wheel featuring a number of match types is spun, with the match
landed on being used for the night.
Locale-based variations
Though most matches take place in and around the
ring, some are designed specifically for more
exotic locales. The majority of these matches take on the name of
their setting, often appending "brawl" to the end, and are
generally
hardcore by definition.
The following is a list of locale-based variations that supplant or
replace the standard rules.
Bar Room Brawl
A Bar Room Brawl is a multi-competitor match held in a
bar. During the match wrestlers are
encouraged to drink while fighting, and the "last man standing" is
declared winner. Wrestlers can be eliminated from the match both by
the standard pinfall and submission method of victory or by simply
becoming too
kayfabe drunk to continue the match. A one on
one Bar Room Brawl is basically a no disqualification match held in
a bar or a bar setup.
Boiler Room Brawl
A Boiler Room Brawl starts in a
boiler
room, with the winner being the first wrestler to successfully
get out.
World Championship
Wrestling used a match with similar rules, naming their match
and its location The Block.
The original Boiler Room Brawl between Mankind and The Undertaker
ended when a wrestler escaped the boiler room all the way to the
ring and retrieved an Urn from Paul Bearer,who was in the ring with
a
referee.
Parking Lot Brawl
Two types of matches take place in parking lots, the Parking Lot
Brawl and the Iron Circle match. They're essentially the same
thing, two wrestlers fighting in a parking lot, the major
difference being the Iron Circle match takes place in the middle of
a multitude of cars parked in a circle with their headlights on,
while the Parking Lot Brawl tends to be in a sparser
location.
Container-based variations
Undertaker in a casket match against
CM Punk.
Some matches have a container stationed in or near the ring, with
the object of the match being to trap the opposing wrestler in it.
Many of these matches take the name of the container, such as
Ambulance match and the
Casket match. A similar
type of match aims to restrain opposing wrestlers somehow, and the
match often takes the name of the restraining device—for example,
the Stretcher match or Handcuff match. In a Stretcher match, a
wrestler loses the match when he is unable to get up and is carried
from the ring to a line, that is up on the entrance ramp, on a
stretcher by his opponent.
These matches are often fought using
hardcore rules, or at the very least
rules that allow wrestlers to do more without being disqualified.
In team matches, an entire team typically has to be placed in the
container to lose. In some cases, the restrained wrestler must be
taken past a certain point ringside in order for a victory.
Common containers used for these matches are
caskets (connected to
The
Undertaker, either using a typical coffin or a double-deep,
double-wide casket, sometimes specially designed for specific
opponents The Undertaker takes on),
ambulances,
dumpsters,
hearses
(known as a "Last Ride match", also connected to The Undertaker),
straitjackets, and
stretchers. In addition to these is a Buried Alive
match, for which a wrestler must bury their opponent—to the
referee's
discretion—in a mound of dirt that has been placed in the arena to
secure victory.Another newly-created match is a Hog Pen match,
where the superstars must fight inside an actual
hog
pen. This match was used at In Your House 5: Season's Beatings,
where Hunter Hearst Helmsley faced Henry Godwinn, and more recently
at
Extreme Rules , which saw
then-
Raw General Manager
Vickie Guerrero facing
Santina Marella for the "Miss WrestleMania"
title.
Weapon-based variations
Though the use of
foreign objects is
illegal under the
standard
rules of professional wrestling, some match types have been
devised to allow in specific objects under certain conditions. The
object in question is usually related to one or both of the
wrestlers
gimmicks or was in
some way instrumental in the
angle that led to the
match taking place. In either case, the matches generally take the
name of the weapon being used ("
Singapore
Cane match", "
Nightstick
match"). The following is a list of weapon-based matches where
additional rules supplant or replace the standard rules.
Crazy 8 match
The Crazy 8 match, exclusive to Pro Wrestling Unplugged, involves
placing a championship belt at the top of a scaffold with the first
wrestler to retrieve it being declared the winner. Placed in and
around the ring for the wrestlers to utilize during the match are
one side of a
steel cage, two trampolines,
and four rope swings.
Ladder match
A Ladder match is a match where a specific object (usually a title
belt) is placed above the ring—out of the reach of the
competitors—with the winner being the first person to climb a
ladder and retrieve it. This is often used in
WWE with their
Money in the Bank
matches at
WrestleMania. This Match
usually consists of 6, 7 or 8 competitors at one time in the
ring.
King of the Mountain match
The King of the Mountain match is described as a "reverse ladder
match". Instead of retrieving an object hanging above the ring, the
winner is the first person to use a ladder to
hang a
championship
belt above the ring—after having scored a pinfall or submission
(pinfalls count anywhere) to earn the right to try. A wrestler who
has been pinned or forced to submit must spend two minutes in a
penalty box.
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
A tables, ladders and chairs match (often abbreviated as "TLC
match"), is an extension of a
Ladder
match with
chairs and
tables also being present as legal
weapons.
(Object) on a Pole match
The [Object] on a Pole match—whose name is usually derived from the
object being hung; i.e. "
Brass
knuckles on a Pole", "
Steel Chair
on a Pole", "
Singapore Cane on a Pole"—is the
spiritual forebear of the
ladder
match. In this case an object is placed on a pole that extends
from one of the four
turnbuckles on the
ring with the wrestlers battling to reach it first. Unlike the
ladder match, however, reaching the object doesn't usually end the
match; it simply allows that wrestler to use it as a
weapon. This is not
a no-disqualification match; the weapon on the pole is merely an
exception to the disqualification rule.
Variations
Multiple variations of the "Pole match" exist. In some cases the
match
is closer to the ladder match, in that reaching the
object does end the match. In others there will be objects above
all of the turnbuckles. Further still, there can be a mixture of
the two, with an object placed at (though not above) each
turnbuckle, one to end the match, the rest to be used as
weapons.
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling used a "Pole match" as a setup to another match,
placing objects at four of their six turnbuckles with the promise
that the first wrestler to reach each object would be allowed to
use them weeks later at an already scheduled
cage
match.
Feast or Fired
The Feast or Fired match is a pole match featured in
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling. In the match four of the six ringposts have poles
attached, and a briefcase hangs from each pole. The match features
a large group of participants, who attempt to scale the turnbuckles
and grab the cases. Grabbing the case and leaving the ring with
both feet touching the floor determines the four winners. Inside
the cases are:
Before any of the cases are opened all four winners are given the
chance to forfeit their case and avoid being fired but also
possibly sacrificing a title shot. The match is similar to
WWE's Money In The Bank match
although in WWE the title shot must be used within one year of
winning the match. In this match the allocated time period during
which you must cash in the title opportunity is not stated, all
that has been said is it can be cashed in "Anywhere, Anytime".
Also, all but one Feast Or Fired winner has cashed in their
briefcase and won their title match.
Another, uncommon, variation is to replace the pole with another
form of elevation, usually when the "object" in question can't
safely be hung in the air for an amount of time.
Strap match
A Strap match, known by many names and done with many slight
variations, is any match where the competitors are placed on the
opposite ends of a restraint to keep them in close physical
proximity. By definition the strap—and anything tied to it—are
considered legal and in play weapons. The most common rule for
victory is for one wrestler to have to go around the ring, touching
all four
corners in order and without
stopping, although they can also end in
pinfalls. Because of the
strap's legality, and subsequent use as a choking device,
submissions are generally not allowed.
Names and variations
The Strap match is one of the most varied forms of professional
wrestling match type, both in name and implements used, with the
name used generally coming from the implement used and one or both
of the participants
gimmicks (i.e.
Russian Chain match, Indian Strap match, Samoan strap match).
Common restraints include a
belt,
bullrope (length of
rope with a
cow bell in the center),
steel
chains, one to two foot "
leash," or leather strap. In the dog collar variation,
the wrestlers are connected at the neck by
dog collars.
Tables match
A Tables match is a match in which to win a wrestler must put their
opponent through a
table—that is,
a wrestler must use some
offensive maneuver on
their opponent that causes them to contact and break the
table.
It's important to note that, in most cases, in order for a table's
breaking to count, an opponent must be directly responsible for it.
Accidents, such as a wrestler falling on a standing table and it
breaking, a team mate knocking a partner through a table, or a
table's leg breaking while a wrestler is on it usually doesn't
count so that a match can go to the pre-planned finish. Only on
rare occasions will the
referee "declare" that such
an incident is enough to end a match, usually to some kind of
"controversy".
Variations
Tables matches can be contested with
tag
teams, under both
elimination and one "fall" rules. A more "
extreme" version, the Flaming Table match
requires the tables be set aflame before an opponent is put through
it for it to count towards a win. Another variation is the two out
of three tables match. There is also another type called the three
table showdown which can only be won when one wrestler puts his
opponent through 3 tables but it does not have to be at the same
time.
Taped Fist match
For a Taped Fist match the wrestlers are allowed to
tape and/or wrap their hands to allow them
to punch harder without damaging their hands. In one variation, the
Taipei Death match, the taped fists are dipped in
super glue, then broken glass.
Enclosure-based variations
Some matches take place in specific enclosed environments. Although
the majority of these enclosures are set up either in or around the
ring, some of them are placed apart
from it. In all cases, the structure itself is considered "in play"
and most enclosure-based matches are decided by
pinfall or submission unless
specific other stipulations are made beforehand.
Cages
Cages are one of the oldest form of enclosures used in professional
wrestling.
According to some historians, the first "cage
match" of any kind took place on July 2, 1937 in Atlanta, Georgia
. This match took place in a ring surrounded
by
chicken wire, in order to keep the
athletes inside and any potential interference out of the action.
They have evolved a great deal over time, changing from chicken
wire to
steel bars to
chain-link fencing.
A steel cage match is a match fought within a cage formed by
placing four sheets of mesh metal around, in, or against the edges
of the
wrestling ring. The most
common way of winning modern cage matches are either
pinfall, submission, or by
escaping the cage and having both feet touch the arena floor.
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling refers to their cage matches as Six Sides of Steel in
reference to their six sided ring necessitating a six sided
cage.
Cage of Death
The Cage of Death match is a steel cage with various weapons and
objects. There are 3 different ways to win this match; pinfall or
submission, retrieving a contract or belt from the top of the
building, or, in tornado tag matches, eliminating someone by having
both their feet touch the floor.They can also become championship
match
Doomsday Cage match
Also called a Tower of Doom, Russo's Revenge or the Doomsday Cage
is a three story cage—the middle one split into two rooms—all of
which house wrestlers. The object of the match is for a team of
wrestlers to fight their way from the top cage to the bottom, where
pinfalls and submissions come into play. The Tower of Doom match
took place at the
Great
American Bash 1988 event.
A variation of this match was used in Ready to Rumble,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_to_Rumble
where Jimmy King (Oliver Platt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Arquette)
and DDP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Dallas_Page
fought from the bottom of the cages to the top to reach the WCW
title
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCW_World_Heavyweight_Championship.
Inferno match
The ring is surrounded by fire. The winner is the first person to
set his opponent on fire. This match was designed as a speciality
for
Kane. There have only been four
inferno matches. One in
1998 against
The Undertaker and another on
WWE Raw in 1999. Another was against
Triple H on
WWE
SmackDown. The last one was against
Montel Vontavious Porter in
2006.
Electrified Cage match
For this match the cage is electrified. Usually the only way to win
is by escaping the cage, though some companies allow a pinfall to
decide victory. The electricity is turned on and off at intervals,
allowing the participants a chance at escape or otherwise utilize
the cage structure. They can also win by submission.
Elimination Chamber match
The Elimination Chamber structure.
The Elimination Chamber is a large, circular steel cage which
surrounds the
ring entirely,
including creating a grated floor area on the apron. Inside the
cage, at each
turnbuckle, is a clear
"pod" where four of the six competitors in the match must wait to
be released to join the two who start at the opening bell. As the
name implies, wrestlers are eliminated one-by-one until only one
remains. An Extreme Elimination Chamber took place at the 2006
December to Dismember
pay-per-view, where a
weapon was given to
each wrestler waiting in a pod. The metal is black and the chambers
are made of 'bulletproof' glass. The chamber is in diameter and is
composed of 10 tons of steel and of chain. To date, there have been
nine Elimination Chamber matches.
Lion's Den match
The Lion's Den match aimed to mimic the look and feel of
mixed martial arts matches. A sloping,
angular, steel cage was set up, with rules stating that the only
way to achieve victory was through knockout or submission.
Punjabi Prison match
The Punjabi Prison match, named after the
Punjab region that
The Great Khali (the match's 'founder') is
billed from, consists of two large
bamboo
cages. The first being four sided and standing 16 feet (4.8 m)
tall, while the second has eight sides and stands 20 feet (6 m)
surrounding the first.
The inner cage has a four foot (1.2 m) by four foot door on each of
its sides, with a
referee standing by to open
them at a wrestler's request. Each door may only be opened once and
is only allowed to remain open for sixty seconds, after which it is
padlocked. Should all four doors end up
locked before the wrestlers escapes, they are forced to climb out
over the top, where the bamboo is fashioned into spikes. Between
the two cages are sometimes placed two tables, upon which are
weapons
(both "medieval" and "bamboo" variations of standard wrestling
weapons). Once a wrestler has escaped the first cage, they must
climb over and out of the second cage, with the first wrestler
having both of their feet touch the arena floor being declared the
winner.
Thundercage
World Championship
Wrestling's Thundercage, like the Thunderdome in the film
Mad Max Beyond
Thunderdome, is a large domed structure of steel bars
engulfing the ring. Although it does not have a top, the sides
curve in to prevent escape.
Mexico's
AAA promotion
tweaked the concept with Domo De La Muerte, which uses a similar
cage but only allows victory by escaping through a hole at the top
center. This variation is also used in
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling, where it is called the Steel Asylum. In AAA it is
typically used for a multi-man luchas de apuestas with the last man
standing in the cage losing his mask or hair.
The Thunderdome is a variation on the Thundercage, with the area
near the top of the cage electrified. The only way for a wrestler
to win the Thunderdome match is to have their opponents'
"terminator," usually a
manager who stands outside
of the ring, throw in the towel to stop the match. In another
variation of this match, each pinned competitor in the match is
handcuffed to the cage. The last man left in the match is given a
key to unlock his teammates to attack the other team, who are still
handcuffed..
Triple Cage match
A Triple Cage match involves three cages stacked on top of each
other, with each cage decreasing in size from the bottom up.
Two variations exist, in one competitors begin in the ring inside
the lowest cage and must make their way to the roof of the third
cage where an object is suspended, with the winner being the first
competitor to obtain the object and exit the cage. The other,
dubbed the Tower of Doom match had two teams of five make their way
down from the uppermost cage to the bottom, with victory achieved
when all five members of a team escaped a door there. The cages
were cut off from each other, with doors controlled from outside by
referees, who only opened them for two-minute intervals.
Chamber of Horrors Match
The chamber of horrors match was in
WCW's
Halloween Havoc 1991 where the only way
to win was by placing one member of the opposing team in a chair
that lowered during the match in a smaller cage and then pull a
lever thus '
kayfabe' electrocuting your
opponent. This match had two four-member teams, and was held once.
Many wrestling historians have considered this one of the worst
gimmick matches ever held.
WarGames
Sometimes suffixed with the tagline "The Match Beyond", the War
Games match features two rings surrounded by an enclosed steel cage
(with a roof) with two teams (or sometimes three) facing one
another. One man from each team starts out with another from either
team at random entering the cage via a timed interval. The winning
team must get a member of another team to submit after all members
of each team are in the cage. This match was made famous by NWA's
annual
Great American Bash
and later WCW's
WrestleWar before
becoming a tradition at their annual
Fall
Brawl pay-per-view event from 1993-1998.
In
ECW, this was
known as an Ultimate Jeopardy match.
Lethal Lockdown
Similar to the WarGames match utilized in WCW,
Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling's Lethal Lockdown consists of a single ring enclosed
by a steel cage with two teams facing off with each other. The
staggered entry system is identical, but weapons are permitted and
are even provided. When all competitors have entered the ring, a
roof is lowered onto the top of the cage, with various weapons
hanging from it. Victory can be attained by pinfall or submission.
This match has become a staple of TNA's
Lockdown pay per view every April, where every
match is contested inside a cage, but has also made appearances at
other TNA pay per views.
Xscape Match
The Xscape match is featured annually at the
Lockdown all-steel-cage
pay-per-view in April. This variation of the
Lockdown Match has 4-6 competitors and is a two stage process. The
first stage is a standard pin/submission elimination contest, with
eliminated wrestlers leaving the cage through the door until there
are only two wrestlers left. The last two competitors then face
off; the only way to win at this stage is to climb out of the cage
all the way to the floor.
Tag team match variations
Generally, almost all singles match types can be adapted for use in
tag-team competition, with minor variations. However, there are
certain match types which are designed with tag teams in mind;
these can be found in the
tag team
article.
Multi-competitor match variations
Wrestling matches may involve multiple competitors in a
free-for-all setting. Because of the number of people involved,
these matches are booked on rare occasions and with great care as
to ensure that no competitor is left out of the action.
Multi-competitor matches are often broken down to those that do
involve eliminations (ie. where the number of competitors in the
match is slowly reduced over time), and those that do not. For the
former, when a wrestler is eliminated, they are then sent to the
back (with any reappearance being considered a
run-in and thus
grounds for disqualification).
Championship elimination matches, of course, necessitate the
elimination of the champion before a new champion is crowned. When
wrestlers enter the match at different times, the champion may
reserve the right to enter last (or at a position of their
choosing), and it is often the champion who is among the last two
remaining. In non-elimination matches, however, the champion need
not be involved for the title to change hands, in order to
discourage the challengers to team up against the champion. A
common flow to the championship non-elimination match has the
champion systematically beaten up before the challengers bicker
amongst themselves to see who will pin the champion, which leads to
the challengers attacking each other—to the point that the
challengers are unaware of the fact that the champion has
recovered.
There may also be the case where a wrestler is disqualified or
counted out in a non-elimination match; in many cases the match
continues without the wrestler in question, or else the entire
match becomes void. Because of the complex nature of dealing with
disqualifications and countouts, many promotions implicitly have a
no-countout or no-disqualification clause in multi-competitor
matches simply to dodge the issue.
Eliminations in tag team matches are handled differently; two
prevalent cases are that the losing individual must leave the ring
arena and the team continues without that member, or the team must
retire as a group.
Basic non-elimination matches
The most common example of a non-elimination match is the Three Way
match (Triple Threat is trademarked by WWE), where three wrestlers
battle it out under standard rules. However, one distinction from a
singles match is that these matches usually omit disqualifications.
In many promotions, however, there are typically no distinctions
between the two terms. The Four-Way match is similar (the Fatal
Four Way match is trademarked by WWE), but involves four wrestlers.
Popular American independent promotion, USA Xtreme Wrestling (USA
Pro Wrestling) hosted a match involving 8-12 competitors known as
the 8 Ball Challenge. These types of matches can be used in certain
situations to take a title off a wrestler, without "weakening" him
in the process.
The Triangle match combines elements of
tag
team wrestling with multi-competitor wrestling. In this match
contested by three competitors, one of the competitors must remain
outside the ring, to await a tag from either of the other two
combatants. Thus, while being tagged out may afford time to
recuperate, one cannot win unless they are tagged back in. The
Six-Pack Challenge is similar, but involves 6 wrestlers, with 4 men
outside the ring at a given time. The Triangle match can be
expanded to accompany more wrestlers (i.e. the Four Corners match
is a match where four wrestlers are involved).
Six-Man Mayhem is a unique multi-competitor match used mainly in
Ring of Honor. It involves six
wrestlers, with two actively in the ring, and four others outside
standing at the turnbuckles. Instead of tagging in and out to
become legal, the outside wrestlers enter the ring using "
Mexican" rules—entering the ring as soon as
another leaves.
World
Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has used this match, calling it a
Six-Pack Challenge.
Championship Scramble
WWE features a match
called the Championship Scramble in which none of the
wrestlers
are eliminated. Two wrestlers start the match and every five
minutes another wrestler enters until all five participants are
present. After the last wrestler enters, there is a five minute
time limit. Each time a wrestler scores a pinfall or submission, he
becomes the interim or unofficial champion, and such reigns are not
recorded as official reigns. Five minutes after the final wrestler
enters, the wrestler that scores the last pinfall or submission is
declared the winner and the official champion. The first ever
Championship Scramble match was held in
Unforgiven 2008.
Basic elimination matches
Most matches involving a larger number of competitors are typically
elimination matches. These matches may begin with a normal start,
where all of the competitors are in the ring at the same time when
the match begins, or may have a staggered start, in which wrestlers
enter at timed intervals.
The most common example of an elimination match is the Three-Way
Dance, where the first fall eliminates one wrestler, reducing the
match to a standard one-fall match. The Three-Way Dance (when not
used as a synonym of the Triple Threat match) is a specialty of
Extreme Championship
Wrestling. A Four-Way Dance is similar except it involves four
wrestlers and some promotions use a tag format for the match
instead of having all the wrestlers in the ring at the same time.
The Fatal Four-Way Elimination match is often used in place of the
Four-Way Dance.
Battle royal
A multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated
until one is left and declared winner. Typical battle royals begin
with 20 participants in the ring, who are then eliminated by being
thrown over the top rope and having both feet touch the venue
floor.
Final Wars Brawl
This match has two wrestlers in a steel cage for thirty minutes
with other wrestlers entering at a timed interval to help out one
of the opponents.Ex: Anthony Eosso (A-DOG) vs Chris Jericho A DOG
got help from the returning Jeff Hardy Chris got help from no
one.
Football Classic match
Two cages are placed at ringside, inside each of which is locked a
manager with a
weapon. The key for each cage is fastened to a
football.
Two teams of wrestlers must try and gain possession of the football
and take it over to their manager's cage, use the key to unlock the
cage, then use the manager's weapon to attack the other team. To
get the ball to the cage, the wrestlers must pass it between
themeselves and attack any opposing wrestlers who have possession
of the ball. In his autobiography;
Mick
Foley describes the match as "A fun, fan-inclusive cross
between
keep away, monkey in the middle,
and
kill the guy with the
ball."
Gauntlet match
A Gauntlet match is, in a sense, a quick series of one-fall
one-on-one matches. Here, two wrestlers begin the match, and are
replaced whenever one is eliminated (by normal means), with the
last person standing being named the winner. A Gauntlet match may
also be played out in multiple "parts" as part of a storyline
(where a face wrestler must face a series of a heel wrestler's
underlings before facing the heel himself, for instance) - this was
common in
World
Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, where it was
referred to as a Slobber Knocker. A participant involved in a
Gauntlet match may be said to be "running the gauntlet", although
in most cases this designation is reserved for those who are
involved for most of the match.
The Gauntlet may also be referred to as a Turmoil match, a likely
backformation from Tag Team Turmoil, which is used to denote a
Gauntlet involving tag teams. In singles gauntlet matches in World
Championship Wrestling, pins were counted without the need of the
single man being on top of the gauntlet member. Recently in WWE,
the match has commonly been referred to as a Cruiserweight Open
whenever involving
cruiserweights.
Relay match
The match has two (or more) teams of between 3 or 12 members to a
team and before the match there will be a coin toss to see which
team switches out first. Every 3 or 5 minutes the teams will
switch. The first team to get a pinfall wins. It is sometimes
contested under
hardcore
rules.
Bragging Match
THE MATCH IS NORMAL BUT THE WINNER OR WINNERS GET TO BRAG ABOUT IT
Series variations
Sometimes, a match is considered as a series of smaller matches,
which may take place concurrently, consecutively, or even in
different shows. The most common form of a series match is
extending the one-fall concept to a series of falls, the most
common being
the best two
out of three. These types of series matches are often booked to
the final match to emphasize the equality of the wrestlers
involved, however, longer series may be shortened due to storyline
or other factors. Series matches may involve the same match
throughout, or may use different matches for some or all of the
series. A series match may or may not involve the same wrestlers
throughout (such as when a main competitor is forced to use a
substitute in the event of an injury partway through).
Beat the Clock match
Beat the Clock match is the name given to each match in a series of
matches between different wrestlers to see which wrestler can win
their match the fastest. These matches are typically held on the
same night, and the fastest winner is typically awarded a title
shot or other prize.
Elimination Chase
The Elimination Chase, first used in WWE's
ECW
brand in 2007, is a series of multi-competitor, one fall
matches, with the loser of the fall being eliminated from future
matches until one competitor remains.
Three Strikes, You're Out!
The Three Strikes, You're Out! match (often shortened to Three
Strikes), is one where wrestlers must achieve three victories of a
specific nature in a specific order before the other. The name of
the match is taken from
baseball, referring
to the notion that losing three times would entail losing the
match. Because of the format, wrestlers may be attempting to
fulfill different victory conditions. Like generic series matches,
these are often booked so as to have both wrestlers have two
"strikes" against them, with the final victory condition being a
particularly brutal manner (for example, Last Man Standing).
In WWE, these types of matches are known as Three Stages of Hell,
although the third match may not be needed in the case of a sweep
victory, although this has rarely been the case. Some variations
make each stipulation timed, making every stipulation
available.
Best of Seven Series
The Best of Seven Series match is a match where wrestlers must
achieve four to seven victories of a specific nature in a specific
order before each other.This matched originated in 1986 during the
Great American Bash Tour, after Magnum TA was stripped of the
united states title . Nikita Kollof won the series 4-3 and became
United States champion . This match was renewed in WCW, when
Booker T and
Chris Benoit fought in a seven match series.
The extra matches in the series may not be used if one of the
participants has achieved a four win lead, thus winning the entire
series.
References
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p.193)
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p.184)
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p.141)
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p.265)
- The History of the WWE: 1987. Reference to series of matches
with Ken Patera or Superstar Billy Graham vs. Hercules during the
summer of 1987, where the winner earned the right to whip the
opponent's second. Retrieved April 24, 2009. [1]
- Reynolds, R.D.. WRESTLECRAP: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling
(p. 123-124)
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p. 194)
- Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
(p.133)
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