Professional wrestling match types

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.

Ambulance Match

Arm Wrestling Match

An arm wrestling contest.

Barbwire 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 famous Barbwire match was one between Mick Foley (then known as Cactus Jack) and The Sandman.

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.

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.

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."

Boxing Match

Sometimes in professional wrestling, a fued 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

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

Considered by many to be the most extreme match World Wrestling Entertainment has ever held, 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.

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.

Death Match

See Hardcore Match.

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.

Elimination Chamber Match

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 the 2002 Survivor Series) or three minutes (in the match at SummerSlam 2003). A wrestler who has been eliminated in the usual manner (pin or submission) is forced to leave the cage until one remains. See Also: Elimination Chamber.

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.

Evening Gown Match

(Sometimes done with Kimonos instead of gowns, then referred to as a Kimono Match)

Falls Count Anywhere Match

This match has pinfalls anywhere in the arena. Otherwise, normal rules apply. 2nd type : You lose if you come back to the ring and your opponent didn't make his way back in the next 60 seconds ( e.g:WM X = Crush vs Macho Man)

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 their finishing manuever wins.

Gorilla/Body Slam Match

A wrestler must body slam his opponent to win. Pinfalls and submissions count in this match.

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.

First Blood Match

This match has no disqualifications. The only way to win is to draw blood from the opponent.

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 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

Similar to a Battle Royal, but when only two entrants remain, the match continues as a standard one-fall match. Another version of 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, which was done in WCW in the early 90's

Good Housekeeping Match

A singles match in which household appliances and kitchenware can legally be used as weapons.

Handicap Match

A match in which one wrestler or one team of wrestlers faces another team of wrestlers with numerical superiority.

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. This match type is also occassionally refered to as a "Raven's Rules" match, a reference to wrestler Raven, known for his work in hardcore matches. See also Hardcore wrestling

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.

Hell in a Cell Match

This is essentially a one fall match inside a steel cage, which is fully enclosed. Pins or submissions only and can count inside or outside the structure. This cage is larger than a traditional cage in that it also contains the immediate floor around the ring. Even though the main hook in this match is that there's "no possible way to escape the cage", in practice, the action always ends up being taken outside, and it is very common to see wrestlers fighting on top of this steel structure. One of (if not the) most famous such match took place in 1998 in the then-WWF (now WWE) between The Undertaker and Mankind. Another variation, called a Hell in a Cell Ladder Match is when there is a ladder in the ring with the reward hanging at the top of the cell. First wrestler to get the reward wins. See Also: Hell in a Cell.

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 (or 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.

Junkyard Scrap

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).

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.

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 their head is shaved. This usually takes place in Mexico, where it is called Caballera contra Mascara.

Hair v. Hair Match

The loser of the match gets his head shaved. In Mexico, this is called Caballera contra Caballera.

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 one again.

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.

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. Usually a gimmick match.

Lumberjill Snowbunny match

A Lumberjack match with female lumberjacks, held in a pit of snow.

No Disqualification Match

Normal rules apply, except that there are no disqualifications. This can also be called a No Holds Barred Match.

(Object) on a Pole Match

Similar to a ladder match except the first man to reach the object hanging from a pole in the corner of the ring wins. In this variation, the object is often a contract guaranteeing the winner a championship match.

Alternately the match is fought under one fall rules with the object on the pole considered a legal foreign object. It may be used as a weapon by the wrestler who retrieves it. Some examples of this variation include the Guitar on a Pole Match and the Brass Knuckles on a Pole Match.

Coal Miner's Glove Match

A variation of the typical "Object on a Pole Match" in which the object in question is a coal miner's glove, which can be used on one's opponent upon retrieval.

"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.

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.

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.

Retirement Match

The loser of this match must retire from professional wrestling. Often, the loser doesn't actually "retire," but instead leaves to either fulfill another obligation (filming a movie, for example) or simply to take a break from wrestling. Sometimes a retirement match is used to give a wrestler the opportunity to return with a new gimmick.

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 (Booker T. defeating Jeff Jarrett to become the WCW World Heavyweight 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.

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 in which there are No Holds Barred and the wrestlers can only win by submission.

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.

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). The special referee will often be biased towards or against one of the competitors.

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.

Steel Cage Match

Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match

A Steel Cage Match with Barbed Wire around the top of the cage, making it harder to win by escaping.

Six Sides of Steel

A Steel Cage match held inside a hexagonal ring.

Asylum Match

A chain link cage in the shape of a circle placed in the middle of the ring. Victory occurs only by submission.

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.

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.

Submission Match

The first man to make his opponent submit wins.

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. 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.

Table Match

This match has wrestlers against each other with provided tables. First wrestler to put their opponents through a table is declared the winner. There are no disqualifications.

Texas Bullrope Match

Dog Collar Match

Identical to a Texas Bullrope Match but using two dog collars around each wrestler's neck connected to a chain.

Texas Death Match

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.

T.L.C. – 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 and Canes

This match is the same as above but with Singapore Canes

Total Conquest Match

This match has two wrestlers fighting throughout a house until a pinfall is made.

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 you 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 submitted 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

Weapons Match

A match where certain weapons may be used legally, with all other usual rules applying.

Chairs Match

This match has steel chairs as legal weapons. No disqualifications but other rules apply.

Singapore Cane Match

Tag-team match variations

Tag-Team match

A match in which two teams of two wrestlers face each other. Only one wrestler from each team is allowed in the ring at a time, though heels will often break this rule and gang up on a single opponent. The other(s) wait on the apron outside the ropes in a specified corner adjacent to the other team. Offensive cooperation from a team member can happen as long as they are within the referee's count of five and after an official tag. A tag team match involving more than two wrestlers per team is often referred to by the total number of people involved (eg. a six-man tag team match involves two teams of three), while a tag team match involving more than two teams is referred to by normal qualifiers (eg. a triple threat tag team match involves three teams of two). A wrestler must do the following in order to make a legal tag:

• Both feet of the wrestler on the outside must be flat on the apron.
• The wrestler outside the ring must hold on to the tag rope tied in the corner
• Tags must be done over the top rope.
• Tags are legal as long as the two team members touch.

A referee can be allowed to overlook any of these tag rules at his discretion. All standard match rules apply but the legal man must make a pin or submission on another legal man to win. Only legal men can be counted out but either team can be disqualified regardless if a team member is legal or not.

Elimination Tag-Team Match

Same as a tag-team match except that the wrestler suffering the loss of a fall is eliminated from participation. The match continues until all members of one team are eliminated. The WWE uses the term Survivor Series Match to denote a ten-person match held during the yearly Survivor Series pay-per-view. Lucha Libre uses the term Torneo Cibernetico (cybernetic tournament) for multi-man elimination matches. Sometimes in these matches, there can be only one winner so even after the other team has been eliminated, former team mates face each other in an elimination match.

Intergender Tag-Team Match

This is a tag-team match featuring mixed-sex teams. It differs from a Mixed Tag-Team match (see below) in that men and women can be in the ring at the same time.

Mixed Tag-Team Match

This type of match also features mixed-sex teams, but differs from an Intergender match in that only wrestlers of the same sex may be in the ring at the same time. For example, if a woman tags her male partner, both women leave the ring and both men enter.

Parejas Incredibles Match

In this match the teams are composed of enemies or rivals. It is meant to illustrate the tension between the desire to win and the hatred for one's rival. As the name suggests, these pairs matches are used more frequently in Mexico than anywhere else.

Parejas Suicidas

Another Lucha Libre variation of the tag team match. It begins as a regular tag match but the two members from the losing team face each other in a Lucha de Apuesta.

Tornado Tag-Team Match

This is a team match where all wrestlers involved are allowed in the ring at the same time. All men are legal so any wrestler is vulnerable to a decision. Usually there is no disqualification or count-out. Despite its name, is not a true tag-team match, as it involves no tagging.

Other match types

Multi-Competitor Match Variations

Battle Royal

3-Ring, 60-Man Battle Royal World War 3

Battle royal rules apply, except 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.

Royal Rumble Match

Hardcore Battle Royal

Final Wars Brawl

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."

Relay Match

War Games

Extreme variations

10,000 Thumbtacks Death Match

200 Light tube Deathmatch

Barbed-Wire Bat 10,000 Thumbtack Match

Barbed-Wire Steel Cage Match

Beds of (Objects) Death Match

Brimstone Match

Chamber of Horrors

Explosion Match

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.

Human Torch Match

Similar to the Inferno Match, except that the ring isn't surrounded by flames. You must find other means of setting your opponent ablaze. There are no disqualifications and no countouts.

Inferno Match

Lucha en Juala Electrificada

Rage in a Cage

Scramble Cage

Triple Cage Match aka Doomsday Cage

WWE article on match types