Professional wrestling match types
Template:Reorganizing This is a list of match types seen in professional wrestling.
Variations of singles matches
One Fall
The standard wrestling match. All normal rules apply, Person can win via pinfall, submission, disqualifaction, or count out.
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 .
Arm Wrestling Match
An arm wrestling contest.
Some WWE arm wrestling matches are Zach Gowen VS Vince McMahon (on a Smackdown in mid-2003) and the many Diva Search arm wrestling matches.
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
To win, a wrestler must score two falls on his opponent before his opponent can score two on him. Sometimes each of the falls is fought under different stipulations (called Three Stages of Hell), such as one pinfall, one submissions only fall and one no disqualification fall. This type of match is almost always booked to go to the third fall. In the event that one of the three falls ends in a disqualification, the match continues, but any titles at stake will not change hands. see also: 2 out of 3 falls match
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.
Boot Camp Match
Another name for a standard No Disqualification match, this type of match is most commonly associated with Sgt. Slaughter.
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=== A match between two (usually) women in which the winner is the first to strip her opponent down to her bra and panties.
===Buck Naked Match=== A match between two (usually) women in which the winner is the first to strip her opponent of all clothing, leaving her completely naked in the ring. Usually, lights go out before anything is seen, and the loser runs to the back. See: Lizzy Borden vs. Veronica Caine in XPW.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Catfight
A match between two women, where the object is to throw one's opponent over the top rope to the floor.
Country Whippin Match
A match where the use of leather straps to attack each other with is allowed.
Cry Baby Match
The loser of the match must wear a diaper.
Death Match
See Hardcore Match.
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).
Elimination Match
A match that usually involves 6 to 8 wrestlers. Wrestlers are eliminated by pinfall, submission, countout or disqualification, and the winner is the last man in the ring.
Empty Arena Match
A match that consist of 2 wrestlers fighting in an empty arena with no fans.
Evening Gown Match
A match between two women in evening gowns; the winner is the first to remove her opponent's gown. In practice, the end result is usually the same as in a Bra and Panties Match. However, in the Evening Gown Match booked for WrestleMania XX it was decided by pinfall.)
Falls Count Anywhere Match
This match has pinfalls anywhere in the arena. Otherwise, normal rules apply. 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.
Fatal Four Way Match
Identical to a Triple Threat Match, but with four wrestlers in the ring at the same time instead of three. On occasion, this may be booked as an "elimination match" similar to a Three Way Dance.
Finisher Match
The first wrestler to perform his finishing maneuver wins.
Gorilla/Body Slam Match
A wrestler must body slam his opponent to win. Pinfalls and submissions don't count in this match. The most famous match of this type was at Wrestlemania when André the Giant defeated Big John Studd for a $15,000 prize.
Splash Match
A variation of the Finisher Match or Body Slam Match in which the only way to win is to successfully score some type of splash on your opponent.
Chokeslam Challenge
A version of the Finisher Match where the only way to win is for someone to perform a chokeslam on his/her opponent. One of the only times this match took place was between Triple H and the Big Show on an episode of SmackDown!.
First Blood Match
This match has no disqualifications. The first person to make their opponent visibly bleed wins the match.
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.
Four Corners Match
In this match two wrestlers positioned as in a tag team match and two wrestlers wrestling in the ring. The two wrestlers in the ring can tag any of the two standing on the apron. It is an advantage to be in the ring as you cannot win on the apron. There is only one winner
Gauntlet Match
This match pits one initial wrestler against another in a normal rules contest. If said wrestler wins, another opponent takes his place until all set opponents are defeated or the initial wrestler loses. Sometimes this match can be in a series (one different opponent per day until all are defeated). This is called Running the Gauntlet or Slobber Knocker, and was popular in WCW in the early 1990s.
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.
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.
Hardcore Rules Match
This match has no disqualifications, no count-outs and no holds barred. Pinfalls count anywhere. There was also a championship belt denoting the most hardcore person in the WWF/E. See also Hardcore wrestling
Raven called this match type a "Raven's Rules" match (Which he used a lot in WCW). In WWE, this is sometimes called an "ECW Rules Match", a reference to Extreme Championship Wrestling, where all matches were fought under hardcore rules, but in an ECW Rules Match weapons are littered in the ring. WWE also tends to call these "street fights".
Hardcore Rules Match (WCW)
After WCW established their version of the Hardcore title, they altered the rules of the hardcore match to stipulate that the bout would begin in the backstage area and end in the ring.
Hog Pen Match
A match where the loser is the first wrestler to be thrown into a pig pen.
Iron Man Match
This match is a contest with a fixed time limit, usually sixty minutes (one hour), and the wrestler with the most amount of pinfalls, submissions, opponent disqualifications, and opponent count-outs is the winner. Main Article: Iron Man Match
"I Quit" Match
Similar to a submission match with one exception; you must force your opponent to actually say "I Quit" into a microphone in order for this match to end. See Also: "I Quit" Match.
"I Quit" Singapore Caning Match
Similar to a normal "I Quit" match, but only a Singapore cane is legal as a weapon. If any other weapon is used, the person who used it will be disqualified and has to be caned on the back 10 times. Also if you lose you have to be caned 10 times on the back.
"I Respect You" Match
Related to an "I Quit" match, but with one difference. Like the "I Quit" match, there are no countouts, submissions, disqualifications, or pinfalls. You must only beat your opponent up to the point where he says, "I respect you," in order for the match to be won. This match was first made by Brian Pillman, who once wrestled in WCW, as a challenge to Kevin Sullivan, in which Kevin had won.
Inferno Match
The ring is surrounded by fire and the only way to win the match is by setting your opponent on fire.
Originated by Paul Bearer to end the Kane,Undertaker fued.
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 also:
- 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 also:
- WWF WrestleMania III: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis
- WWE Judgment Day 2002: Kurt Angle vs. Edge
- TNA: 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.)
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.
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.
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.
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 3-way hardcore match held after the wrestlers are (supposedly) locked in darkened rooms for 24 hours without food or water. Debuted at the TNA Victory Road PPV.
Mud Match
A female wrestling match that takes place in a mud pool.
No Disqualification Match
Normal rules apply, except that there are no disqualifications. This can also be called a No Holds Barred Match which was more popularized by Mr.McMahon.
"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.
Parking Lot Brawl
This match is a regular match with the exceptions of no disqualification and it takes place in a parking lot. Other variations include a Bar Room Brawl which takes place in a bar.
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. You must find 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 defeating 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.
Six Man Mayhem
A match with six competitors, two start off in the ring while the other four are on the apron. Like a scramble match tags do not have to be made and a competitor can enter the ring when another has left. Several of these matches have been held in Ring of Honor.
Six Pack Challenge
A match pitting six singles competitors against one another, with the first pinfall or submission winning the match.
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.
Stinkface Match
The winner is the first wrestler to perform a Stinkface. All other usual rules apply.
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.
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".
Stretcher Match
Strap your opponent to a stretcher to win. Some rules state that you must push your opponent a certain distance or into an ambulance or that it's just a weapon and can be won by pinfall or submission.
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.
Three Way Dance
Identical to a Triple Threat Match, but with the loser of a fall being eliminated from the competition. The last wrestler remaining is victorious. This match was a specialty of Extreme Championship Wrestling. There is also another variation called a Four Way Dance or Collision Course Royal Rumble in which the match starts out as a typical Battle Royal or Royal Rumble but when there are four wrestlers remaining, a referee gets into the ring and the match turns into a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match.
Triangle Match
A three-way, one-fall tag match wherein one of the competitors must remain outside the ring to await a tag from one of the other combatants before replacing him in the ring. Being tagged out is a serious disadvantage as one cannot win from this position.
Triple Threat Match
See also: Three Way Dance This is a one fall match where three wrestlers fight instead of two. The winner of this match is the first wrestler to get a pin fall or submission. There is usually no disqualfication or count-out. If a championship is on the line, the champion does not have to be pinned or submit for the title to change hands.
Tuxedo Match
The chronological predecessor to the evening gown match, and contested between two men in outfits resembling men's formal wear. Most such matches have involved non-wrestling performers (announcers or managers).
Ultimate X Match
You're Fired Match
The loser of this match must be fired from a certain promotion. Was first used on an episode of RAW when John Cena defeated Chris Jericho to retain the WWE Championship. Jericho was then fired by the general manager of RAW, Eric Bischoff.
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:
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.
Pink Slip Match
A match where the stipulation is if you lose you retire/fired or you can't wrestle in that federation for a certain amount of days. Also referred to as a "You're Fired" match recently in an August 22, 2005 episode of WWE RAW, where John Cena defeated Chris Jericho. Another famous pink slip match took place back in 2002, where Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven causing Raven to leave Raw for good.
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. 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
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.
Total Conquest Match
This match has two wrestlers fighting throughout a house until a pinfall is made.
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.
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.
This match type can be combined with the You're Fired Match to create a Pink Slip on a Pole 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
Same rules as a ladder match except that tables and chairs are readily available as weapons. Usually this match features tag-teams of wrestlers (but no tag rules apply).
TLCC Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Canes
This match is the same as above but with the addition of Singapore Canes.
Full Metal Mayhem
This match is the same as the TLC match but chains are added.
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
The Elimination Chamber Match, a WWE specialty match (ostensibly a Raw brand specialty match as every match of this kind has only involved Raw-based wrestlers), is a six-person elimination match that takes place in a specially constructed round cage, with a metal floor at ring height between the ring apron and the wall of the cage. Two of the six participants start in the ring, while the other four are initially locked up in holding cells within the cage, and are released at intervals of five minutes (in the match at Survivor Series 2002) or three minutes (in subsequent matches). A wrestler who has been eliminated in the usual manner (pin or submission) is forced to leave the cage until one remains.
Hell in a Cell Match
A Hell in a Cell Match, a WWE specialty match, takes place in a closed-top enclosure made from chain link fencing. Unlike normal steel cages, however, the Hell in a Cell encompasses the surrounding floor of the ring as well as the ring interior. Although touted as being inescapable, action during a Hell in a Cell match have taken place outside the enclosure, and it is especially common to have wrestlers fighting on top of the enclosure. Otherwise, normal rules apply.
A variation of the Hell in a Cell is the Hell in a Cell Ladder Match, where, like a ladder match, the objective is placed above the ring - however in this case the object is suspened over the cell rather than in the open air. For convienience, ladders to directly reach the object are available inside the cell. A variation is that the object in question is placed above the cell - meaning that escaping the cell and scaling the cell exterior is necessary to win the match.
One of (if not the) most famous such match took place in 1998 in the then-WWF (now WWE) between The Undertaker and Mankind.
This type of match is often referred to by different names by different promotions; for example, WCW referred to this match as a Caged Heat Match. This is due to the fact that WWE owns the trademark to Hell in a Cell.
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
The steel cage match is designed to settle the most personal and vindictive of feuds. The cage is used as a barrier to keep the competitors inside, and keep the interference on the outside. The cage is an open-topped enclosure, with sides often made from sturdy plastic or chain-link fencing. Traditionally, the only way to win is to escape from the cage either by climbing over the top of the cage or through the door that the wrestlers enter at the start of the match, and having both feet planted on the ground. However, it is not uncommon for cage matches to permit pinfalls or submissions - in such a case a referee is also placed in the cage, and escape remains only possible winning method should the inside referee be knocked out.
In Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where the ring is hexagonal, Six Sides of Steel is used as an euphemism for a steel cage match.
Various additions can be made onto the cage: a Scramble Cage Match, a Ring of Honor specialty match, has wooden platforms added on the top four corners of the cage (known as the Scramble Cage, to allow wrestlers to easily execute aerial moves from the top of the cage to the interior. A Barbed Wire Steel Cage typically denotes one where barbed wire lines the top of the cage, acting as a deterrent to those that want to escape from the top, but may also refer to a cage where barbed wire replaced the chain-link or chicken mesh construction.
A Scramble Cage Melee is an elimination match held in a Scramble Cage where elimination occurs from a successful aerial move from the cage platforms.
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
===Battle Royal=== The winner of this match is the last person in the ring after all other wrestlers have been thrown over the top-rope. In some cases, wrestlers can also be pinned or KO'd. Usually happens with either ten, fifteen or twenty wrestlers and in some cases, the winner gets a chance to face a wrestler for a championship, or may even fill a vacant championship outright. See also Battle Royal.
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.
Gauntlet Match (TNA)
TNA's version of a Gauntlet match is similar to a Royal Rumble match. Two wrestlers start in the ring and other wrestlers enter the ring at set intervals. Elimination occurs when a wrestler is thrown over the top rope and both feet hit the floor. The last two remaining wrestlers then fight in a single match (pinfall or submission only, all other rules apply) to determine a winner. When a championship is on the line, the match is known as a Gauntlet for the Gold Match.
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.
Royal Rumble Match
Same as a battle royal, except that it starts out with two men featuring a new opponent per timed interval (usually 90 seconds or 2 minutes). WWE annually runs a pay-per-view show which features a 30-man Royal Rumble Match as its main event named the Royal Rumble (a WWE trademark). The winner of the Royal Rumble is guaranteed a shot at the World title in the main event of WrestleMania. In 2004, this rule was extended to allow the winner to choose which belt they wanted to compete for: RAW's WWE Championship or SmackDown!'s World Heavyweight Championship.
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."
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.
Scramble Cage Melee
See: Scramble Cage
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.
Barbed wire no ropes death match
The ring ropes are replaced with barbed wire. This was a very common match type in FMW.
Slight variations include:
- Electric barbed-wire, a match where the barbed wire is supposedly electrified, causing the first person to hit the wires to be electrocuted. The effect is achieved with flashing lights.
- Double hell barbed-wire, a match where two sides of the ring have no wires, and the ground beneath is filled with thumbtacks, spiked mats, etc.
===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.
First Blood Steel Cage Match
A steel cage match in which the object is to make your opponent bleed. The cage usually has barbed wire along the top.
===Inferno Match=== The ring is surrounded by flames. The object of the match is to set your opponent on fire. The wrestler who is able to burn their opponent is declared the winner. The first Inferno Match in the then-WWF was Undertaker vs Kane at Unforgiven 1998
Last Blood Battle Royal
This was done in the now-defunct Tri-State Wrestling Association. All competitors start at the same time and wrestlers are eliminated when they start bleeding. The last to not bleed wins. This match was mentioned by Mick Foley in his book Have A Nice Day!.
===Lucha en Jaula Electrificada=== A variation of the cage match, in this contest the cage is electrified (explaining the name "fight in an electric cage") and the only way to win is by escape. The cage is turned off in certain intervals, allowing the participants a chance at escape. Used by the AAA promotion in Mexico.