Squash (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a squash is an extremely one-sided match; one performer dominates the other and quickly defeats him with virtually no resistance.
Squash matches were the almost exclusive content of syndicated wrestling shows through the 1980s. The WWF aired several shows weekly that consisted mostly of various wrestlers fighting unknowns, usually to help get a gimmick or moveset over.
Today, such squash matches are usually used to portray a wrestler as an unstoppable monster heel. One current example is Umaga, whom the WWE established as an undefeated juggernaut through having him wrestle and soundly defeat jobbers; his squash victims have also included Maria and established wrestlers such as Ric Flair and Sabu. Other examples include The Great Khali and Mark Henry who squash victims on a regular basis, and Batista who, prior to his face turn and Heavyweight Championship reign regularly squashed much smaller wrestlers.
One example of a face using squash matches to devastating effect was WCW's Goldberg in his storyline against the nWo, where Goldberg would quickly defeat a heel opponent after using his spear and jackhammer finishers against him. In the NWA, Magnum T.A. was also well-known for his quick squashes ending with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Types of Squash Matches
Recently, the squash match has been divided into three different subcategories, each more specific than the broad spectrum.
- Über squash - The wrestler who will eventually win dominates the match, showing off a few of his signature moves before defeating his opponent. A specific benefactor of this match was Goldberg, who received a huge crowd reaction while performing.
- Surprise squash - The wrestler who will eventually lose dominates the early minutes of the match, putting a stop to any of the winner's offense. With about a minute or two to go, the winner will regain momentum, eventually winning the match. The Great Khali benefitted greatly from these matches in mid-2007, winning his first World Heavyweight Championship.
- Predictable squash - A match usually announced well in advance, the outcome of the match is apparent at the time it is announced. The length of the match will vary, but it does not affect the match. For example, monster heels are often placed in matches against locals (jobbers).
Notable squash matches
While most squash matches involve established wrestlers defeating jobbers, sometimes the opponents are established wrestlers. Whatever the reason — either to establish him as unstoppable, to (shoot) deal with an uncooperative or underachieving wrestler or simply to further an angle — several matches have become well-known in the wrestling community:
One of the earliest well-known squash matches took place at the inaugural WrestleMania, when King Kong Bundy used an avalanche and big splash to crush S.D. Jones in an announced time of nine seconds.
Other examples include:
- The Honky Tonk Man vs. The Ultimate Warrior (at SummerSlam 1988) - The Warrior defeated The Honky Tonk Man in 31 seconds to capture the Intercontinental Championship, ending Honky Tonk Man's 454 day reign.
- Bob Backlund vs. Diesel (for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship) — Diesel needed just six seconds to Jackknife Powerbomb Backlund and end his short-lived reign as champion.
- The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley (at WrestleMania XII) — The Warrior no sold Helmsley's pedigree and defeated him in less than two minutes.
- The Rock vs. The Big Boss Man (Survivor Series 1998) - The Rock pinned Boss Man with a small package in just 4 seconds.
- Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire vs. Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger (WCW Greed) - Palumbo and O'Haire successfully defended their WCW World Tag Team Titles in less than a minute against Bagwell and Luger, who stayed in the ring and mockingly sold their injuries even as the next match was about to begin.
- Steve Austin vs. Tazz — During The Alliance storyline in the WWF during 2001. The match started off with Stone Cold Irish whipping Tazz to the turnbuckles and kicking him, picking him up and ending him with a Stunner.
- Chris Benoit vs. Orlando Jordan (at SummerSlam 2005) — Benoit needed 25.5 seconds to deliver a series of German suplexes and a Crippler Crossface to force Jordan to submit and capture the United States Championship.
- Trish Stratus vs. Nidia - Stratus retained her Women's Championship in only 3 seconds. However, it is worth noting that she knocked out Nidia with the cast on her arm before the match ever started.
- Edge vs. John Cena - At New Year's Revolution 2006, moments after John Cena retained his WWE Championship in an elimination chamber match, Edge cashed in his money in the bank opportunity and pinned John Cena in under 2 minutes to win the title.
- The Fingerpoke of Doom - Kevin Nash vs. Hulk Hogan to win the WCW Title. Hogan poked Nash in the chest and covered him for the win.
- Edge vs. The Undertaker - After a Steel Cage match with Batista, being devastated by Mark Henry soon after, it took Edge one Spear to defeat the weakened Undertaker and won the World Heavyweight Championship.