Professional wrestling match types
From Freepedia
This is a list of match types seen in professional wrestling. Because professional wrestling attempts to tell a story, this list is by far incomplete, as new types of matches may be throught up as needed for the storyline.
Variations of singles matches
The standard wrestling match (or One Fall Match) involves two wrestlers attempting to win the match through either pinfall, submission, disqualification, or countout. Some consider countout, where a wrestler leaves the ring and does not return in the ring after a ten-count, a form of disqualification.
In matches where championships are on the line, the champion typically retains the title in a disqualification or countout finish (even if the champion loses the match) - Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a notable exception. Often storylines with heel champions may attempt to protect their title reign by forcing disqualifications or countouts.
Arm Wrestling Match
A basic arm wrestling contest. Often held between Divas, though on occasion it has been used to show off the strengh of male competitors.
Barbed Wire Match
This match has the ropes replaced with barbed wire. Almost inevitably someone gets thrown against it. In the United States, this match was mainly seen in Extreme Championship Wrestling, but it is also popular in some Japanese promotions. A few famous barbed wire matches have been Cactus Jack vs The Sandman, Raven vs The Sandman & Terry Funk vs Sabu.
Battle of Respect
This match has no winners. Two wrestlers wrestle each other for a fixed amount of time without pinfalls or submissions.
Best Two (out) of Three falls
Blindfold Match
Sometimes one, usually both competitors wear blindfolds and wrestle. Otherwise normal rules apply.
Blood Bath Match
Dump a bowl of red liquid over the opponent to win.
Boxing Match
Sometimes in professional wrestling, a feud will be settled with a boxing match. Standard boxing rules apply, although nearly every one of these matches ends with somebody breaking the rules and wrestling or fighting in a manner outside of boxing (and typically getting away with it). Perhaps the most famous example of a boxing match held on a wrestling card would be Mr. T defeating "Rowdy" Roddy Piper by disqualification in the fourth round at WrestleMania 2.
Bra and Panties Match
The Bra and Panties Match is a match where wrestlers are forced to strip their opponent down to their underwear - the prevalent use by divas in this match gives it the name. The clothing involved may vary, and the match may take the name of such clothing - for example, the Evening Gown Match will have wrestlers trying to remove the opponent's evening gown, while a Tuxedo Match is similar, but involving tuxedos.
In extreme promotions, a variation known as the Buck Naked Match exists where the objective is to remove all the clothing from an opponent, leaving the opponent nude (although nudity is assumed to be appropriately covered somehow).
Historically, these types of matches were contested between managers or valets, due to their supposed lack of wrestling ability. However, in recent years these matches are only contested by divas, to attract the typically male wrestling audience. Because of this, and the fact that few divas are trained in wrestling, however, many refer to this type match derogatively as a "diva match", because little actual wrestling is involved.
A Bra and Panties Match (or its variations) may also refer to a match where wrestlers are required to strip their underwear before the match, with everything afterwards proceeding normally.
Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal
The Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal was first used at the 2004 Taboo Tuesday. In this match, the divas would dress in a particular costume depending on what the fans chose (for example in Taboo Tuesday 2004, the fans were given the choice for the divas to dress like schoolgirls, French maids or nurses). The match is a standard elimination battle royal, with elimination occuring through the ropes, rather than over the top rope.
Canadian Rules Match
A match in which a wrestler must pin his opponent for a 5 count. After the 5 count, the pinned wrestler then has 10 seconds to respond to the bell before he is beaten. A Canadian Rules match for a championship can not end by submission, only pin fall. If both wrestlers are simultaneously knocked down, the first man to his feet by the count of 10 is then declared the winner. This match was orignally created by Lance Storm for his defence of the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. The special Canadian enforcer for this match was Jacques Rougeau.
Catch-as-Catch-Can Match
Typically seen in the early 1900's, catch-as-catch-can matches allowed any hold given that hold is not intended to inflict injury. These matches thus typically contain mostly submission or amateur-style wrestling. Sometimes, this match is altered to stipulate that a wrestler may lose by going to or being forced to the arena floor, like in a battle royal.
Country Whippin Match
A match where the use of leather straps to attack each other with is allowed.
Double Jeopardy Match
This is two different matches taking place in the same ring at the same time.
Double Tables Match
This match has a cage where there is a table hooked to each side of the cage. The only way to win is put your opponent through two tables.
Duchess of Queensberry Rules Match
A singles match divided into two time based rounds where there are no submissions allowed and no disqualifications. This match was created as part of the feud between William Regal and Chris Jericho, with Regal making up the rules as the match went along in order to screw Jericho out of the victory (a classic tactic to gain heel heat).
Empty Arena Match
A match that consists of 2 wrestlers fighting in an empty arena with no spectators. The most famous match of this type was between The Rock and Mankind for the WWE Championship in 1999, broadcast during halftime of that year's Super Bowl.
Falls Count Anywhere Match
In the standard match, a pinfall or submission can only win the match when it is performed inside the ring. However, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, this need not apply. As such, this also implies that wrestlers cannot lose as a result of countout. The "Falls Count Anywhere" is somewhat of a misnomer in the fact that wrestlers may still be disqualified (but not counted out) for leaving the arena where the match is to be held (this, of course, may vary between promotion). However, it is to be noted that, as the match may take place in various parts of the arena, the "Falls Count Anywhere" provision may be one of many stipulations in a match - it is commonly paired with "No Disqualifications" to form the hardcore match, so as to allow wrestlers the convienience to use foreign objects that may lie wherever they may wrestle.
An independent federation in Quebec once held a "Falls Count Anywhere In Joliette, Quebec Match", where the entire town the match was held in was "in play".
Another variation of the rules state that once a pinfall takes, the pinned wrestler must return to the ring within 60 seconds else they lose. If the pinned wrestler makes it to the ring in this time, the match continues. Under these rules, all pinfalls must take place outside the ring. See Crush vs Randy Savage at WrestleMania X. In the now-defunct Tri-State Wrestling Association, a wrestler won a Falls Count Anywhere match by pinning his opponent against an arena wall.
Finisher Match
The Finisher Match is a type of match where wrestlers compete to see which of them successfully perform their finishing move first. There are typically no provisions as to what counts as a finisher in the case that a wrestler does not have one, or how the playing field is to be levelled if one wrestler has a simpler move compared to the other. On some occasions different moves can be designated as the finishing move: the Gorilla Slam Match or the Body Slam Match is a match where the winning move is any type of body slam. Similarly, other variations can take the name of the designated finishing move: a Splash Match is one where wrestlers attempt to perform a body splash, while the Chokeslam Challenge is one where wrestlers attempt to successfully perform a chokeslam on one another.
Although not exactly a match, recurring segments such as Chris Masters' Masterlock Challenge runs in a similar vein.
A notable match of this type was at Wrestlemania when André the Giant defeated Big John Studd for a $15,000 prize.
First Blood Match
This match has no disqualifications. The first person to make their opponent visibly bleed wins the match, one of the most memorable first blood matches happend at WWE/WWF King of the Ring 1998 when Kane defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship.
Flag Match
Each wrestler has a flag that they must retrieve and one that they must defend. They must get their flag from the opponents' corner before the opponents can get their flag. There is also a tag-team variation of this match.
Handcuff match
Handcuff opponent to win.
Handicap Match
A match in which one wrestler or one team of wrestlers faces another team of wrestlers with numerical superiority. For example, two wrestlers against one.
Generally used as a squash match pitting a large wrestler (Vader, Yokozuna, The Giant, King Kong Bundy) against a team of preliminary wrestlers who obviously lose, but rare handicap matches have used superstars on both sides (example: Vader vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson)
Hangman's Horror Match
In this match, on every rope there is a dog collar and your goal is to hang your opponent until he cant go on. This match was created by Raven to end his feud with Vampiro.
Iron Man Match
"I Quit" Match
Last Man Standing Match
A no disqualification, no count-out match with no pinfalls. Whenever a wrestler is knocked down, they must regain their feet within a ten count or they will lose the match.
Lumberjack Match
A match where the ring is surrounded by a group of "lumberjacks", normally fellow wrestlers. When one participant in the match leaves the ring for any reason, the lumberjacks are supposed to return him to the ring as soon as possible. The lumberjacks are generally a combination of faces and heels, who sometimes fight among themselves outside the ring. Sometimes, as part of a storyline, a face will wrestle a heel with a group of lumberjacks consisting entirely of heels.
A variation of this match is called a Canadian Lumberjack Match, in which the lumberjacks are equipped with leather straps. When the lumberjacks are all female, the match is known as a Lumberjill Match (a reference to Jack and Jill).
Monster's Ball Match
A hardcore match held after the wrestlers are (supposedly) locked in darkened rooms for 24 hours without food or water. Debuted at TNA Wrestling's Victory Road PPV, which saw "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown defeat Raven and Abyss. The second Monster's Ball match which was a 4-Way match, was held at TNA Bound For Glory, between Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Sabu and Rhino.
Mud Match
A female wrestling match that takes place in a mud pool.
No Disqualification Match
The No Disqualification Match is a standard match, except that matches cannot be won via disqualification. Although there is little to prevent a No Disqualification Match from degenerating into a hardcore match, the typical No Disqualification match typically carries the convention that the "No Disqualification" aspect is typically more low-key compared to true hardcore matches, with disqualification-worthy material limited to run-ins and the introduction of ringside foreign objects.
Sometimes, a No Disqualification Match is held between valets, or a valet and a wrestler, where it is implied that wrestlers will run-in and "defend" their valets - for example, when Jim Ross is booked in such a match, he will often be assisted by Jerry "The King" Lawler. This match is also sometimes reserved for the most intense feuds.
In the WWE, a No Holds Barred Match, a match coined by Mr. McMahon, may refer to a No Disqualification match that has more hardcore content compared to typical No Disqualification matches. The No Disqualification Match may also be referred to by Sgt. Slaughter as the Boot Camp Match.
"Over the Top, Off with the Top" Match
A singles match between two wrestlers, where, for every time one wrestler is thrown over the top rope to the floor, the female accompanying that wrestler must remove an item of clothing. Also known as a Holiday Topless Top-Rope Match.
Pillow Fight
A match between two women in which pillows and a bed are placed in the ring. The pillows may be used as weapons, and standard wrestling rules apply, although this kind of match ordinarily features little to no wrestling.
Lingerie Pillow Fight
A variation on the pillow fight wherein the participants wear lingerie (this is actually more common than the non-lingerie form).
Pin Only
A match in which only pinfalls count as a win. There are no submissions or count-outs, and there may or may not be disqualifications. Also known as a Final Curtain match.
San Francisco 49er Match
Four boxes are placed in the four corners of the ring, one with the championship belt and the other three with weapons. Wrestlers must find the box with the belt to win the match and the championship. To date, this match is only known to have happened in a major wrestling federation once, when Booker T defeated Jeff Jarrett to become the new WCW Champion on October 2, 2000.
Scaffold Match
This match takes place on a scaffold above the ring. The two ways to win the match are to push the opponent off of the scaffold so that he/she hits the mat or to grab the flag from the opponent's home base of the scaffold and return it to one's own home base. Some variations include putting weapons or objects into the ring for when the opponent lands, for example card tables.
Another variation, called a Scaffold Cage Match, is when the wrestlers beat each other until one is knocked off of the scaffold and into the ring. The ring is surrounded by a high steel cage and the only way to win is by pinfall.
Serengeti Survival Match
A match in which there are no disqualifications, and the competitors can win by pinfall, submission or by slamming their opponent onto thumbtacks. Invented and named by Monty Brown.
Short Leash Match
This match has two wrestlers tied together with a short leash (making the opponents one foot away from each other) and the only way to win is by either submission or knock-out. Another variation is called a Chain Match, a submissions-only match with no disqualifications.
Special Referee
Also known as Special Guest Referee is any match in which the usual referee is replaced with a "guest" filling in as the official. Celebrities, managers and other wrestlers can "guest" as the special referee. In some cases, a special referee is put into a match which is already a different match type or stipulation (for example: Hell in a Cell with a Special Referee). Often the special referee will often be biased towards or against one of the competitors or will be assigned as the Special Referee to ensure the match is called down the line.
Special Outside Referee
Also known as Special Enforcer or Special Guest Enforcer is same as the Special Referee but the guest referee stays on the outside enforcing what the normal referee doesn't see. These guests are sometimes known as "enforcers", the most famous of which was Mike Tyson.
Street Fight
This match cannot end in a disqualification. Otherwise, all of the normal rules apply. A variation of this match is called a Southside Scuffle in which two wrestlers fight in a back alley with either sides blocked off by other wrestlers. Another variation of this match is called a Harbor Brawl in which the wrestlers battle near or on a dock. The first wrestler to either win by knockout or throw their opponent in the water is declared the winner.
Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in Japan billed its 6-man tag team title as the "World Street-Fight 6-Man Tag Team Title".
Submission Match
The first man to make his opponent submit wins. Often used in Japan under the name (Japanese) UWF Rules. The Japanese UWF and its derived shoot-style promotions only allowed submissions or knockouts to end matches (including tag team matches), so it was an exclusive feature of such promotions.
Ultimate Submission Match
This match is a variation of an Iron Man Match. The variation is that the wrestler with the most submissions at the end of the match is the winner.
Sumo Match
The ropes are removed from the ring and standard sumo wrestling rules apply: the first to step outside of the ring or to touch the mat with any part of their body but the soles of the feet is the loser. As would be expected, these matches are much shorter than standard professional wrestling bouts. One example is The Big Show versus Sumo Grand Champion Akebono at WWE WrestleMania 21. Another, less popular Sumo match held in the WWF was Yokozuna against John Tenta.
Texas Death Match
Cross between a Last Man Standing match and a Hardcore Match. When an opponent is pinned he is administered a ten count. If they are able to answer the count, the match continues.
Three Strikes, You're Out!
The idea for this match is to get three victories in a specific order; pinfall, submission and knock out. First wrestler to get all those done, wins. Often combined with Street Fight rules.
Ultimate X Match
Hardcore-based Variations
- Main article: Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is often termed as a form of wrestling where some, or, more often than not, all of the traditional grounds of wrestling need not apply. The standard hardcore match, as defined by the WWE, is one combining the "Falls Count Anywhere", "No Disqualification" and "No Countout" rules. Because of the generally chaotic nature of the standard hardcore match, many so-called "match types" are merely euphemisms for a hardcore match, often to emphasize certain aspects of hardcore wrestling. A common such euphemism is the Death Match, used to promote the often brutal injuries that wrestlers may have to endure in such a match. Such as the TAIPEI DEATH MATCH, where the competers battle each other with their taped fists dipped in glue, and then dipped in a bucket of broken beer bottle glass shards. This is a match used in ECW between the brothers Axl and Ian Rotten. The second of these matches will take place at Hardcore Homecoming's "November Reigh" on November 5th at the former ECW arena in Philadelphia.
A common euphemism employed in the WWE for a hardcore match is a Street Fight, where wrestlers would supposedly wrestle in the clothes that they came into the arena with, rather than in standard wrestling gear. ECW Rules Matches are also sometimes used by the WWE to try and capture the essence of Extreme Championship Wrestling (especially when promoting ECW-type events or wrestlers with a heavy ECW background), where all matches were done in this manner.
The wrestler Raven used Raven's Rules to denote a hardcore match.
World Championship Wrestling also used hardcore matches, but stipulated that bouts were to begin in the backstage rather than in the ring (although typically matches would end inside the ring).
Bunkhouse Brawl
Wrestlers may bring any item and wear any attire they wish (in the past, this has even included full suits of armor). There are no disqualifications and no count outs.
Good Housekeeping Match
A singles match in which household appliances and kitchenware can legally be used as weapons. Was first used at WWF No Mercy 1999 when Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett for her first Intercontinental title.
Stipulation-based Variations
As professional wrestling seeks to also tell a story, many matches are made mainly for the purposes of advancing the plot (although storylines are not necessarily advanced through matches alone - run-ins and backstage promos are also used). This typically involves the loser of a match of some form being penalized for losing. The most common types of such matches are:
Cry Baby Match
The loser of the match must wear a diaper.
Jailhouse Match
The loser of the match is jailed for a night in the local prison. All other usual rules apply.
Kiss My Foot Match
A match in which the loser must kiss the foot of his opponent. Example: Bret Hart vs. Jerry Lawler at King of the Ring 1995.
Loser Leaves Town Match
The loser of the match must leave the town the match was held in and not return. This was often held in regional promotions when a wrestler was leaving the company to explain their disappearance.
A modification of this match was held on WWE RAW called the Loser Leaves RAW match. It was be fought between Edge and Matt Hardy on October 3, 2005, which saw Edge defeat Hardy. Hardy was then forced to leave the RAW brand, though this does not mean he will be fired by the company; Hardy simply moved to SmackDown!
Luchas de Apuestas
Any match where both wrestlers have put something on the line such as a title or mask. They are more popular in Mexico but they do happen from time to time in Japan and the United States. Some variations follow. In any case of a draw, both wrestlers lose what they put up.
Hair v. Mask Match
A wrestler with hair, usually long hair, wrestles a masked wrestler. The loser is either unmasked or his head is shaved. This usually takes place in Mexico, where it is called Máscara contra Cabellera.
See: WCW SuperBrawl IX - The Outsiders vs. Konnan & Rey Mysterio
Hair v. Hair Match
The loser of the match gets his head shaved. In Mexico, this is called Cabellera contra Cabellera.
See: WrestleMania III - "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis, WWE Judgment Day 2002 - Kurt Angle vs. Edge, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling - Raven vs. Shane Douglas
Mask v. Mask Match
The loser of the match is unmasked. In Mexico, this is called Mascara contra Mascara. In Mexico it is the most important match in a wrestler's career, since almost every wrestler begins their career masked. Only a few of the greatest wrestlers will keep their mask their whole career, such as Mil Mascaras and El Hijo del Santo. In Mexico, once you are unmasked, you may never wear a mask as that character again. The Box y Lucha commisions fine heavily for infractions and have supsended licenses. However, there are occasional gimmick shows where wrestlers are allowed to wear their masks if they had lost them. (Rey Mysterio is allowed to wear his mask when wrestling outside of Mexico; however, he does not wear it when in Mexico.) There has also been some mask vs. mask matches in the WWE, the 1st mask vs. match was at Over the Edge 1998 where Kane unmasked Vader for the win, the 2nd was between Kane and Triple H where Kane had to unmask himself.
Retirement Match
Although a retirement match is often held for a wrestler retiring from professional wrestling to honor the wrestler, in storylines a retirement match denotes a match where the loser is forced into retirement. The loser often does not retire for real - it often gives them time to fulfill other (personal) obligations, and may return at a later date, possibly with another gimmick.
Related in concept is the Pink Slip Match or a You're Fired Match, where the loser is fired. Much like the retirement match, the wrestler is rarely fired for real, and may return at a later date, possibly with another gimmick. An Object on a Pole Match with such a stipulation is known as a Pink Slip on a Pole Match.
Locale-based Variations
Some matches may take place outside of a traditional ring (or other enclosure), and in a different setting. These matches are often hardcore in nature. There is no standard nomenclature for these such matches, although Street Fights in these settings are known as "brawls" rather than "matches" for emphasis.
Bar Room Brawl
This match is held in a bar, with the last wrestler capable of drinking the winner. Wrestlers can be eliminated by being knocked out or by drinking themselves unconcious. There are no disqualifications.
A Bar Room Brawl has held at WWE Vengeance in July 2003.
Boiler Room Brawl
- Main article: Boiler Room Brawl
The winner is the first man to escape the boiler room. Any weapons found in the room can be used. During Tank Abbott's stint in World Championship Wrestling, this match was known as "The Block".
Junkyard Invitational
This match takes place in a junkyard. First wrestler to escape the junkyard wins the match.
King of the Road Match
A match in which the wrestlers battle on the back of a moving vehicle. This type of match was used only once in WCW, between Dustin Rhodes and Barry Darsow as the "Blacktop Bully." In that particular match, the pair fought on a flatbed trailer being towed behind a semi-truck. Victory was gained by one competitor blowing an airhorn located at the other end of the trailer.
Parking Lot Brawl
This match is a regular match with the exceptions of no disqualification and it takes place in a parking lot.
Total Conquest Match
This match has two wrestlers fighting throughout a house until a pinfall is made.
Container-based Variations
Some matches have a large container, such as a dumpster, stationed in or near the ring, and the object of the match is to trap opposing wrestlers in them. Many of these matches take the name of the container, such as the Casket Match and Ambulance 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 the Handcuff Match.
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, a team typically loses when all of its members are individually eliminated.
Ambulance Match
A no-disqualification match, in which there are no pinfalls or submissions: instead, the object is to injure one's opponent to the point that they must be taken away in an ambulance to sent the loser to the nearest hospital. A heavily hyped ambulance match was held at the 2003 Survivor Series, between Shane McMahon and Kane .
Buried Alive Match
The object of this match is to bury the other wrestler alive in a makeshift grave inside the arena. No other rules apply. In this match type, the wrestler who is buried alive always survives in the storyline. Another variation of this match is a Concrete Crypt Match which had the Undertaker's manager, Paul Bearer buried in concrete.
Casket Match
The winner of this match is the first wrestler to put his/her opponent into a closed casket. This match has been a trademark of the WWE wrestler The Undertaker. A number of variants exist, where the object is to place the other wrestler in other closed containers. The Casket is often placed on the ringside, but the other variants might have the container on top of the ramp. The casket may be replaced by other containers, such as a dumpster (in which case the match becomes a Dumpster Match), an ambulance (Ambulance Match), or a hearse (known as a Last Ride Match introduced at No Mercy 2004). See Also: Casket Match.
Hog Pen Match
A match where the loser is the first wrestler to be thrown into a pig pen.
Last Ride Match
Related to the ambulance match, but unlike the ambulance match, a hearse is used instead. The opponent who gets beaten up so severely that there is nothing left for him or her to do, and gets thrown into the back of hearse that will be driven to the funeral home loses the match. As a result, it is also called a Hearse Match. This match is essentially a version of the Ambulance Match.
Straitjacket Match
The first wrestler to successfully put his or her opponent into a straitjacket is the winner. Generally, there are no disqualifications and no countouts. A variation of this is a Body Bag Match where the winner is the wrestler who can zip his opponent up completely inside a body bag. This match was used in the Undertaker vs Ultimate Warrior feud in 1991.
Stretcher Match
Stretcher Match is an ambiguous term that can be used to described two different matches: in the container-based variation, one must restrain your opponent by strapping them on a stretcher (and then possibly pushing the restrained opponent onto an ambulance) to win. In the weapon-based variation, the stretcher is simply treated as a legal foreign object, and normal rules apply. This is the hospital version of the Casket Match.
Weapon-based Variations
As the use of foreign objects is typically illegal in standard rules, matches have been specifically made so as to allow for certain objects, perhaps under certain conditions. The nature of the weapons that are made allowed also allow for different rules to be implemented.
When a match involves a certain weapon being made legal, the name of the match will take the name of the weapon: for example, a Chairs Match will have chairs allowed as a legal weapon, while a Singapore Cane Match will allow for the use of Singapore canes. Typically, all other standard rules (pinfall, submission, etc.) apply.
The following is a list of weapon-based matches where additional rules supplant or replace the standard rules.
Ladder Match
A match between two or more wrestlers where the winner is the one who climbs the ladder and grabs a reward (usually a championship belt). In ECW, a ladder match was done with nothing hanging above the ring and it ended in pinfall. This is how Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Sandman to win the ECW World Heavyweight title.
Stairway to Hell Match
A match with barbed wire hanging above the ring; whoever reaches it first (using a ladder) can use it as a weapon. The winner can defeat their opponent by pinfall or submission. This type of match was common in ECW.
See also: ECW Matter of Respect 1998 - The Sandman + Tommy Dreamer + Spike Dudley vs. The Dudley Boyz, ECW Guilty as Charged 1999 - Justin Credible vs. Tommy Dreamer
Object on a Pole Match
In an Object on a Pole Match, a foreign object is placed from a pole extending from one of the ring turnbuckles. There are two main rulesets used with this setup: if the object involved is a championship title (or something related therein, such as a number one contendership), then the winner is the wrestler who first retrieves the object. This is similar to a ladder match, but with the objective being placed in a different part of the ring.
The second ruleset is typically used if a weapon is placed from the pole - in this case, the wrestler who retrieves the object may use the weapon as a legal foreign object. In team matches, this privilege is typically extended to the other members of the team. Any opposing wrestlers using the weapon is disqualified. It is also to be noted that the weapon privilege extends only to that weapon - if another weapon of the same kind is used, then the user, whether having weapon privileges or not, is disqualified.
In some promotions multiple poles and multiple objects may be used, so that each side may have weapon privileges.
The name of this match often takes the name of the item that is placed from the pole - for example, a title shot decided in this manner would be known as a Contract on a Pole Match, while a set of brass knuckles atop the pole would be known as a Brass Knuckles on a Pole match. However, there were some exceptions. One exception was the Biker Chain Match between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar in which the same rules applied with a biker chain on the pole.
The pole itself may be replaced by anything similar that puts the object above a turnbuckle: an example of this was on August 13, 2000, in the WCW New Blood pay-per-view. There, in a match between Buff Bagwell and Chris Kanyon, the pole was replaced by a forklift, and the object held therein was Judy Bagwell, the mother of Buff Bagwell. Thus, the match became known as the Judy Bagwell on a Forklift Match.
Silver Dollar Match
In this match, rolls of silver dollars are considered legal weapons, and are used as fist loads. Closed fists are also legal. The wrestlers attack each other with punches until one can not answer the ten count.
Tables Match
In a Tables Match, the object is to put opposing wrestlers through tables - that is, manipulate them in such a way that the table is broken in half when they are thrown against it. Tag-team tables matches, especially elimination tag-team tables matches, have varied on whether one or both members must go through tables in order for a team to lose. It is common for tables matches to also include a "no disqualification" clause, which turns them into hardcore matches by nature (although this variation may also be alternately known as a Hardcore Tables Match).
A variation is the 'Flaming Tables Match, an Extreme Championship Wrestling specialty match where the tables are set on fire, and the only way to win is to put opponents through the lit tables.
Due to existing notions about violence against women, diva table matches are rare, and putting divas (or other females) through tables is often seen as a way of garnering heel heat.
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
Taped Fist Match
A match in which both wrestlers wrap their fists in tape to enable them to punch harder and without hurting their hands.
Texas Bullrope Match
In a Texas Bullrope Match, two wrestlers are placed on opposite ends of a restraint - in this case, a rope. The restraint, and anything tied to it, can be used as a legal weapon. Because the restraint can be used as a way to choke the opposing wrestler, submissions are typically not permitted. A disqualification occurs if either wrestler frees themselves from the restraint before the match is won.
There are often two ways to win: pinfall is permitted, or alternately, the first to touch all the turnbuckles wins.
The restraint used in a Texas Bullrope Match is a rope that typically has a cowbell in the middle. If another restraint is used, the match typically takes the name of the restraint - for example, the use of a leather strap as a restraint will give rise to the Indian Strap Match. Other names include:
- Dog Collar Match, where chains are used and are strapped to the necks of both wrestlers. Often the signature of wrestlers with canine-related gimmicks.
- Russian Strap Match, for wrestlers that are chained but not to the necks
- Strap Match, where ordinary belts are used
Enclosure-based Variations
Many matches take place in enclosures that are typically added onto the wrestling ring (although some types replace the ring altogether with a different enclosure. There, the walls of the enclosure can be legally used as a way to damage opposing wrestlers. In many cases an enclosure-based match will have other normal rules (such as pinfall or submission) apply, although many enclosure-based matches add rules based on the scenario in which a wrestler leaves the enclosure. Some matches may include escaping the enclosure as a winning condition, while others disqualify wrestlers who leave the enclosure.
Often in these types of matches, wrestlers may begin outside the enclosure, and continue inside, whence the match begins in earnest.
Elimination Chamber Match
Hell in a Cell Match
Lion's Den Match
A match that was used in the WWE between 1998/1999. The aim of the match was to knock out your opponent or to make him submit inside an octagonal cage. The rules are made to mimic mixed martial arts matches, and the octagonal cage is meant to mimic the cage used by the Ultimate Fighting Championship league.
Rage in a Cage
A match held in an oval-shaped cage. It is typically used as the arena for the "blowoff match" of a feud. It can be used for a tag team or singles match. In this match, wins are usually by pinfall.
Steel Cage Match
Asylum Match
A chain link cage in the shape of a circle placed in the middle of the ring. Victory occurs only by submission.
Thunderdome
The match takes place in a ring surrounded by a 30 foot cage. The cage has no roof but curves inwards at the top to prevent escape, the area near the top of the cage is also electrified. The only way to win is when one competitor's "Terminator", usually a manager who stands outside of the ring, throws in the towel. The first one took place at WCW's Halloween Havoc 1989 between the team of Ric Flair and Sting, with their Terminator being Ole Anderson, and Terry Funk and The Great Muta, who's Terminator was Gary Hart.
Triple Cage Match
This match, which made its first appearance in the film Ready to Rumble, was a specialty of WCW involving three cages constructed on top of each other. The first cage contains the ring, while the second cage contains a range of weapons which can be used. The object is to climb up to the top of the third cage to grab an object, much like a ladder match. In the WCW, the object was the World Title belt. One example is Jeff Jarrett defeating "Diamond" Dallas Page and WCW World heavyweight champion David Arquette at WCW Slamboree 2000. The triple-cage was also used in a "War Games" match on the September 4, 2000, episode of WCW Monday Nitro.
Tag-team match variations
See tag team
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 before the challengers bicker amongst themselves to see who would 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 area 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 Triple Threat Match, where three wrestlers battle it out under standard rules. In some promotions, this match may be termed a Three-Way Dance, although some promotions may use Three-Way Dance to refer to an elimination match. In many promotions, however, there are typically no distinctions between the two terms. The Fatal Four-Way Match is similar, but involves four wrestlers, while the Six-Pack Challenge is one where six wrestlers are involved.
Triangle Match
The Triangle Match combines elements of tag team wrestling with multi-competitor wrestling. In this match contested by three competitors (hence the name), 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 Triangle Match can be expanded to accompany more wrestlers: the Four Corners Match is a match where four wrestlers are involved, while Six-Man Mayhem is a term used in Ring of Honor for a six-man variation.
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. Because of the number of wrestlers involved, many jobbers will be in this match, if for nothing other than to fill time.
The most common example of an elimination match is the Three-Way Dance, where the first fall would eliminate one wrestler, and thus 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. Likewise, a Four-Way Dance involves four wrestlers, a Five-Way Dance involves five wrestlers, and so on.
The Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match is often used in place of the Four-Way Dance.
Battle Royal
- Main article: Battle Royal
The Battle Royal is a match involving anywhere between ten to 30 wrestlers that takes place entirely inside the ring - a wrestler is eliminated when they are thrown over the top rope with both feet touching the ground. Some promotions may permit also permit pinfalls or knockouts (but rarely submissions) to eliminate wrestlers. Battle Royals are often used to determine the top contender for a championship, or filling vacant championships.
In the WWE, the match specifically has all wrestlers in the ring when the match begins, as one involving a staggered start (often every 90 seconds or 2 minutes) is known as a Royal Rumble match. WWE runs a yearly pay-per-view show, titled Royal Rumble, which features a 30-man Royal Rumble Match as its main event, with the winner guaranteed a title shot at either the WWE Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
A Collision Course Royal Rumble is a Royal Rumble (or Battle Royale Match) in which the match becomes a standard elimination match when only a few (typically four or less) wrestlers remain. In a similar vein, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Gauntlet Match (or Gauntlet for the Gold Match when a championship is on the line) has the match reduced to a standard one-fall match when two wrestlers remain.
3-Ring, 60-Man Battle Royal World War 3
Battle royal rules apply, except that a wrestler can be eliminated via pin, submission, or by exiting the ring onto the floor in any way (not just simply from over the top rope). But the big difference is that this match takes place with a total of sixty wrestlers in three different rings. All wrestlers begin the match at the same time (as opposed to entering at intervals). WCW held this match annually at their November "World War III" pay-per-view event from 1995 to 1998. Randy Savage won the first 3-ring, 60-man battle royal, and was thus awarded the vacant WCW World Heavyweight championship. In later years, the match would be used to determine the number one contender to the title.
Hardcore Battle Royal
A match with hardcore rules (no disqualifcation, no countouts) between several competitors. Unlike typical battle royals, entrants are not eliminated by touching the arena floor -- indeed, fighting may continue anywhere in the arena. The most famous example is the Hardcore Title Battle Royal from WWF WrestleMania 2000. The match lasted for 15 minutes and upon pinfall, a wrestler wasn't eliminated, but was allowed to continue. Pinning whomever was the current Hardcore champion would result in that person becoming the new champion. Whoever held the title at the end of the 15 minutes would be declared the winner of the match.
Doomsday Cage Match
This match involves a three-story cage on top of a ring. A team of two wrestlers start from the top story and fight their way to the bottom against a team of eight wrestlers. Victory is attained by pinfall or submission in the ring. This was a creation from WCW.
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.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. 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 referred to as to be "running the gauntlet", although in most cases this designation is reserved for those who are involved for most of the match.
King Of The Mountain Match
Five wrestlers compete in this match for a title belt. This basically is a Ladder Match in reverse with a twist. When one man is pinned or forced to submit, he is sent to a ringside penalty box for 2 minutes, while the wrestler who scored the fall must hang the belt on a hook above the ring. The others try to stop the wrestler from hanging the belt. The first wrestler to successfully hang the belt wins. This is a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling creation.
Relay Match
The match has two (could have 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. Sometimes performed with hardcore rules.
War Games
Sometimes suffixed with the tagline "The Match Beyond". The War Games match featureds two rings surrounded by an enclosed steel cage 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 WCW's annual pay-per-view, Fall Brawl.
Extreme variations
10,000 thumbtacks death match
This match has 10,000 thumbtack placed in the ring. The wrestlers can use the thumbtacks as weapons. Victory by either pinfall, submission or knocking out the opponent. A variation of this match is a cross between a Ladder Match and 10,000 Thumbtacks Match called a Thumbtacks Ladder Match in which a ladder is placed in the ring with a reward at the top. Thumbtacks are also spread out across the ring.
200 light tubes death match
A match type first used in Combat Zone Wrestling at an event called "They Said it Couldn't be Done". The object of this match is to win by pinfall. The use of fluorescent light tubes—officially, two hundred are available for use—as weapons is allowed. [1]
Barbed wire bat 10,000 thumbtack match
A solid baseball bat with the end wrapped in barbed wire hangs off a pole in a corner of the ring as a box filled with 10,000 thumbtacks lays at ringside. The only way to win is to put your opponent in the box of 10,000 Thumbtacks and to make the pin. The bat is just to make the match a little more brutal than it already is.
Often used by Atsushi Onita and other talent from the Japanese FMW and W*ING promotions.
Beds of (Objects) Death Match
A hardcore match that has beds of thumbtacks, nails, barbed wire, glass, and/or lightbulbs. Up to three of these can be involved in the match. These matches usually occur in Deathmatch Title matches or Deathmatches in general.Brimstone Match
A match where the only way to win is to throw your oppenent in burning hot coals laid on the floor which forms a blistering perimeter that encircles the ring.Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match
A singles match with many weapons suspended from steel chains around the ring, sometimes with sides of a steel cage attached to the ring. The use of weapons is legal, and the match ends in pinfall. Pinfalls count anywhere in the ringside area. This match was created by Raven in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which later changed the match's name to Raven's House Of Fun. The Insane Clown Posse also uses this match in their JCW shows; their version is called the Dark Carnival match.
Chamber of Horrors
This match type was used once at WCW Halloween Havoc in 1991, with eight men inside a large Thunder Cage. The object is to put one's opponent inside a "chair of torture", which is in the center of the ring inside a smaller cage, and pull the lever.Explosion Match
Usually accompanied with barbed wire ropes, a large barbed wire wrapped explosion board is placed in the ring laced with a small amount of C-4. The loser is the man that is blown up. In another variation, the match ends with a pin or submission and the explosives serve as weapons.
