Post by Talon Thorne on Apr 16, 2008 19:24:02 GMT -5
TNA MATCH TYPES
Trademark Specialty Matches
These are the matches that TNA is known for that you can’t see anywhere else.
Barbed Wire Massacre - The ropes are replaced with razor-sharp barbed wire, as are the weapons and some parts of the arena. The barbed wire can be used against an opponent in any way to secure a victory. Abyss and Sabu battled in the first Barbed Wire Massacre with Abyss still having scars to this very day.
Elevation X - This match, places a large, 20-foot high scaffold, in the shape of an "X", over the ring. The match only ends when one man throws his opponent off the structure to the ring far below. This match is one of the most dangerous matches in the history of wrestling as one wrong move could end a wrestler’s career.
King of the Mountain - To win, you must bring the championship title up the ladder and hang it up in a reverse ladder match but in order to do that you must first score a pin on any opponent, sending him into a caged penalty box for two- minutes! History speaks for itself; no champion has ever walked out of King of the Mountain match still carrying the title to this date!
Monster’s Ball- The most brutal of all TNA's matches. This match is the specialty of hardcore where there are No Disqualifications and no countouts as Falls Count Anywhere. In this match, weapons are not only allowed, they’re encouraged. Common weapons found in this match are Thumbtacks, barbed wire, tables, chairs, ladders and chains. Originally a concept in the match was to deprive the competitors involved of food, water and light for 24 hours to leave them exhausted physically and mentally.
Six Sides of Steel - Six Sides of Steel, one of the most barbaric matches in wrestling history. You enter this cage as one person and leave as another. These are life changing moments that live on forever. It's inconceivably the only match you will see when it comes to the "Lockdown" Pay-Per-View. High-risks are what these men are willing to take in order to come out triumphant. Six Sides of Steel settles everything once and for all.
Steel Asylum - Multiple wrestlers compete in the mangled heap of metal or this six sided asylum. The point is to climb up the sides of the dome and climb through the hole in the top. Make sure you don’t fall down.
Ultimate X - Four 20-foot high steel girders are placed at the corners of the six-sided ring. Steel cables are attached to the top of each girder, criss-crossing 15 feet above the center of the ring forming a giant X. The first star to climb the steel girders, maneuver the cables and return to the ring mat with the title is declared the winner!
Matches held inside Six Sides of Steel
While the Six Sides of Steel Match is a wonder of it’s own, at Lockdown things can get even more interesting.
Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match - This Six Sides of Steel Match has barbed wire wrapped around the top of the cage. The barbed wire may and will be used to bust the opponent open. You win by pinfall, submission or escape from the cage. Weapons are also available to the participants to use in the match.
Cuffed in the Cage – This is a multiple man match. Originally set with multiple tag teams the point of the match was to cuff all your opponents to the steel cage. While it may have been a tag team format there could only be one winner.
Doomsday Chamber of Blood - The monster Abyss was never known as a creative genius; however this match came from the mind of the monster. This is a lethal combination of the Barbed Wire Cage, Six Sides of Steel and Sadistic Madness. The cage has a roof of barbed wire. Blood is guaranteed as you can only pin your opponent by first making them bleed. A man would have to be crazy to come up with a match like this.
Electrified Steel Cage - This Six Sides of Steel Match originated in Mexico. The cage has been electrified. There is almost a guarantee that this match will have shock value as it is dangerous and rare.
Lethal Lockdown - Lethal Lockdown consists of two teams competing in a staggered-entry steel cage match. Two men, one from each team, enter the ring and fight for five minutes. After the time period is over, a member from one of the teams enters to give his team the handicap advantage. Two minutes after that, a member from the opposing team enters the match to even the odds. Every subsequent two minutes, an alternating member from the teams enters the match. Once all of the men are in the ring, the roof is lowered and a team is eligible to win via pinfall or submission. Hanging from the roof are weapons that may be used in the match. It follows the same rules as War Games, but is inside one ring, one cage and features weapons.
Queen of the Cage – Featuring only TNA Knockouts, all the participants in the match fight outside the Six Sides of Steel Cage. They attempt to get in the Six Sides of Steel Match. The first two participants to make it in the ring go on and fight in a singles match where the winner is determined the “Queen of the Cage”
Xscape Match - This match inside Six Sides of Steel is an X Division specialty that is a multiple man match. You pin or force your opponent to submit to eliminate them. When it gets to the final two participants the goal is to escape the cage by climbing over the steel wall and having both your feet touch the arena floor.
Lesser TNA Specialty Matches
These are TNA specialty matches that have been created along the way.
Feast or Fired Match - This controversial multiple man match has four briefcases hanging on four poles in the ring. Inside the briefcases are three championship title shots (World, X Division, Tag Team Division) and one pink slip. The match of ultimate risk vs reward sees the participants battle it out to be able to pull down the briefcases and learn of their fate. But make sure that you are outside the ring, because only when you are touching the floor will you earn the contents of the briefcase.
Full Metal Mayhem - Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Chains are all legal in Full Metal Mayhem! To win, you must climb the ladder and bring down the championship title or contract suspended high in the air. To get there though you must first go through the physical pain that goes along with Full Metal Mayhem! A sudden move can change the entire outcome!
Gauntlet Match - TNA’s version of a Royal Rumble. Eliminations occur by throwing your opponent over the top rope to the floor. Unlike a normal battle royal however the final two competitors cannot be eliminated by being thrown from the ring, instead the match becomes a normal bout as they must pin their opponent or force him to submit. If a championship is on the line in the match then the match is re-titles Gauntlet for the Gold.
Match of 10,000 Tacks - A match originally created by "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown called Serengeti Survival. The match is won either by pinfall, submission, or slamming the opponent onto a pile of thumbtacks. Depending on the version, pinfalls and/or submissions may not take place. This match became a specialty of Abyss.
Prison Yard Match - A Prison motif is set up. The battle begins backstage and the wrestlers make their way to the ring. The one who wins is the man who locks his opponent in the solitary confinement cage.
Reverse Battle Royal - This actually has three stages. It begins as a inside-out battle royal with 15 or more wrestlers involved. The first 7 to enter the ring over the top rope go to the second stage which is a Gauntlet Match. When it gets down to the final two wrestlers, the match is decided by pinfall or submission.
Traditional Wrestling Match Types
These are the matches that have been seen before or have had variations elsewhere in the World.
Battle Royale - Very rare in TNA due to officials believing there should be decisive winners and losers in matches. This match features many participants facing in elimination style. The point of the match is to eliminate your opponent by throwing him over the top rope where both feet touch the floor.
Best of 3 Falls - When problems don’t get solved in standard one on one matches, there is always the Best of 3 Falls Match. The one who is able to beat their opponent twice is the winner.
Blindfold Match (Prince of Darkness Match) - This unpopular match has the two participants wearing blindfolds during the match. Should one participant take off his blindfold, he would be disqualified. Pinfalls or Submissions only.
Bullrope Match - The participants in the match are bound together by a bullrope. The binding item can be used as a weapon in the match. Normal pinfalls or submission rules apply. Other variations of this match include the Chain Match, Dog Collar Match, and the strap match.
Empty Arena Match – Clear everyone out from the arena: fans, wrestlers and everyone else but the announcers and referee. This is a falls count anywhere match where anything goes.
Falls Count Anywhere - This version of a Hardcore Match emphasizes the fact that falls count anywhere. Submissions, countouts and DQ’s are thrown out in this match. Matches of this sort usually go to the backstage area unlike many other TNA Matches.
First Blood - To win this match you force your opponent to bleed. The first one to bleed, loses.
I Quit Match - While this match has never taken place in a TNA ring, it almost did during the first Live Edition of iMPACT had the fans voted for it. This match is brutal as you must beat on your opponent until the cows come home. The winner is the one who forces his opponent to utter the words, I Quit
Iron Man - The man who gets the most decisions over his opponent in the set period of time wins the match. The most common time limits are 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes time limits. In case the match ends in a tie by the end of the time limit, the match will go to a Sudden Death where the next one to score a decision will win the match. This is a test of a wrestler’s endurance and guts.
Ladder Match - Two men scale a ladder and attempt to grab an object hanging above the ring, usually a championship belt. This high flying match has been a favorite of hardcore fans.
Last Man Standing - The TNA Last Man Standing Match is a No DQ contest. To win you must incapacitate your opponent long enough to pin him to where cannot get to his feet by a 10-count following the pinfall. AKA a Texas Deathmatch
Last Rites Match - This match takes place in a funeral setting. This match is also known as a Casket Match in other promotions. To win you must place your opponent in a casket on a Deathbed that is lowered at the command of the controlling and dominating wrestler.
No DQ - This is a good old fashioned match that has No Disqualifications. It allows for outside parties to interfere and weapons to be used. The match can only end inside the ring.
Pole Matches - Long poles stand erected on one or many posts of the ring. A weapon or item is hung on the pole. The point of the match is to grab the item or weapon from the pole and use it. Variations of this match include: Flag Matches, Hockey Stick Street Fight and the Weapons or Escape Pole Match from November 2006.
Revenge Match - A Lumberjack Match. This match has 2 participants fighting it out while the ring is surrounded by outside participants. Ringside Revenge has the ring surrounded by wrestlers who have been wronged by the participants while Fan’s Revenge has the ring surrounded by fans armed with straps.
Special Referee - A Normal match that has a guest referee. A variation of this match known as “Special Enforcer” sees the enforcer playing the role of the referee should he be knocked out. The enforcer also prevents cheating and outside interference.
Street Fight - TNA doesn’t have Hardcore Matches, instead the wrestlers have the opportunity to fight it out in a Street Fight. Wrestling attire is not common in this match as the competitors are garnered in their street clothes. DQ’s are thrown out and violence is brought in. To win you must pin or submit your opponent. It has been a common occurrence recently to see themed Street Fights in TNA witnessing new motifs or weapons to be used. Some themed Street Fights from the past include: the Shop of Horrors, Barroom Brawl, Little Italy Street Fight, Fish Market Street Fight, the Silent Night Bloody Night Match and the female variation Bimbo Brawl
Stretcher Match - The point of this match is to incapacitate your opponent long enough to put him on a stretcher and wheel his unconscious body over the line.
Submission Match - To win you must force your opponent to submit by tapping out or verbally saying I Quit.
Tables Match - This popular match is a specialty of Team 3D. To win you must put your opponent through a table forcing him to pick splinters from his body. Elimination rules can apply to this match as well.
Weapons Match – A Hardcore Match where Weapons are legal.
Defunct TNA Match Types
These are the matches that have been seen before in TNA but haven’t been seen since.
Deadly Draw - 4 competitors wrestle in this match. The rules are complex. It starts out as a one on one match. For five minutes the two participants try and defeat each other. After the time limit ends, the third participant enters the ring and tries to get the pinfall. 5 more minutes pass and the final wrestler enters. Any wrestler who gets pinned or submits or any wrestler not involved in the decision who has entered is also eliminated. Last man standing wins.
Hangman’s Horror - To earn a victory in this match you need to wrap your opponent's neck with a steel chain and then proceed in hanging him over the ring ropes. Once he is declared unconscious by the referee, the person in charge of the horrific hanging will gain the victory. The sane people of this world definitely keep their distance from a match of this stature, but for the mentally insane, they treat this like paradise.
Hard 10 - This style of match rewards one for being hardcore. Points are given to a wrestler who uses a ringside weapon. Weapon strikes are worth one point per strike and putting your opponent through a table gives you 5 points. The first one to earn 10 points wins the match. You must win by 2 points.
House of Fun - Created by the sick twisted-minded Raven, the House of Fun is a match that tests your will for survival upon barbarism. Weapons are suspended from steel chains around the ring, with one side of the six-sided ring covered with a steel cage – anything is legal and falls count anywhere! The appearance of blood is definite!
MMA Match – Based off of Mixed Martial arts this type of match can only be ended on Knockouts, Submissions or Referee Stoppage.
Sadistic Madness - From the evil mind of James Mitchell comes Sadistic Madness. This match has two wrestlers or two teams of wrestlers fighting it out hardcore style. The special catch is that you cannot defeat your opponent unless he is bleeding first. This match is extremely violent and has only been done once because of it.
Trademark Specialty Matches
These are the matches that TNA is known for that you can’t see anywhere else.
Barbed Wire Massacre - The ropes are replaced with razor-sharp barbed wire, as are the weapons and some parts of the arena. The barbed wire can be used against an opponent in any way to secure a victory. Abyss and Sabu battled in the first Barbed Wire Massacre with Abyss still having scars to this very day.
Elevation X - This match, places a large, 20-foot high scaffold, in the shape of an "X", over the ring. The match only ends when one man throws his opponent off the structure to the ring far below. This match is one of the most dangerous matches in the history of wrestling as one wrong move could end a wrestler’s career.
King of the Mountain - To win, you must bring the championship title up the ladder and hang it up in a reverse ladder match but in order to do that you must first score a pin on any opponent, sending him into a caged penalty box for two- minutes! History speaks for itself; no champion has ever walked out of King of the Mountain match still carrying the title to this date!
Monster’s Ball- The most brutal of all TNA's matches. This match is the specialty of hardcore where there are No Disqualifications and no countouts as Falls Count Anywhere. In this match, weapons are not only allowed, they’re encouraged. Common weapons found in this match are Thumbtacks, barbed wire, tables, chairs, ladders and chains. Originally a concept in the match was to deprive the competitors involved of food, water and light for 24 hours to leave them exhausted physically and mentally.
Six Sides of Steel - Six Sides of Steel, one of the most barbaric matches in wrestling history. You enter this cage as one person and leave as another. These are life changing moments that live on forever. It's inconceivably the only match you will see when it comes to the "Lockdown" Pay-Per-View. High-risks are what these men are willing to take in order to come out triumphant. Six Sides of Steel settles everything once and for all.
Steel Asylum - Multiple wrestlers compete in the mangled heap of metal or this six sided asylum. The point is to climb up the sides of the dome and climb through the hole in the top. Make sure you don’t fall down.
Ultimate X - Four 20-foot high steel girders are placed at the corners of the six-sided ring. Steel cables are attached to the top of each girder, criss-crossing 15 feet above the center of the ring forming a giant X. The first star to climb the steel girders, maneuver the cables and return to the ring mat with the title is declared the winner!
Matches held inside Six Sides of Steel
While the Six Sides of Steel Match is a wonder of it’s own, at Lockdown things can get even more interesting.
Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match - This Six Sides of Steel Match has barbed wire wrapped around the top of the cage. The barbed wire may and will be used to bust the opponent open. You win by pinfall, submission or escape from the cage. Weapons are also available to the participants to use in the match.
Cuffed in the Cage – This is a multiple man match. Originally set with multiple tag teams the point of the match was to cuff all your opponents to the steel cage. While it may have been a tag team format there could only be one winner.
Doomsday Chamber of Blood - The monster Abyss was never known as a creative genius; however this match came from the mind of the monster. This is a lethal combination of the Barbed Wire Cage, Six Sides of Steel and Sadistic Madness. The cage has a roof of barbed wire. Blood is guaranteed as you can only pin your opponent by first making them bleed. A man would have to be crazy to come up with a match like this.
Electrified Steel Cage - This Six Sides of Steel Match originated in Mexico. The cage has been electrified. There is almost a guarantee that this match will have shock value as it is dangerous and rare.
Lethal Lockdown - Lethal Lockdown consists of two teams competing in a staggered-entry steel cage match. Two men, one from each team, enter the ring and fight for five minutes. After the time period is over, a member from one of the teams enters to give his team the handicap advantage. Two minutes after that, a member from the opposing team enters the match to even the odds. Every subsequent two minutes, an alternating member from the teams enters the match. Once all of the men are in the ring, the roof is lowered and a team is eligible to win via pinfall or submission. Hanging from the roof are weapons that may be used in the match. It follows the same rules as War Games, but is inside one ring, one cage and features weapons.
Queen of the Cage – Featuring only TNA Knockouts, all the participants in the match fight outside the Six Sides of Steel Cage. They attempt to get in the Six Sides of Steel Match. The first two participants to make it in the ring go on and fight in a singles match where the winner is determined the “Queen of the Cage”
Xscape Match - This match inside Six Sides of Steel is an X Division specialty that is a multiple man match. You pin or force your opponent to submit to eliminate them. When it gets to the final two participants the goal is to escape the cage by climbing over the steel wall and having both your feet touch the arena floor.
Lesser TNA Specialty Matches
These are TNA specialty matches that have been created along the way.
Feast or Fired Match - This controversial multiple man match has four briefcases hanging on four poles in the ring. Inside the briefcases are three championship title shots (World, X Division, Tag Team Division) and one pink slip. The match of ultimate risk vs reward sees the participants battle it out to be able to pull down the briefcases and learn of their fate. But make sure that you are outside the ring, because only when you are touching the floor will you earn the contents of the briefcase.
Full Metal Mayhem - Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Chains are all legal in Full Metal Mayhem! To win, you must climb the ladder and bring down the championship title or contract suspended high in the air. To get there though you must first go through the physical pain that goes along with Full Metal Mayhem! A sudden move can change the entire outcome!
Gauntlet Match - TNA’s version of a Royal Rumble. Eliminations occur by throwing your opponent over the top rope to the floor. Unlike a normal battle royal however the final two competitors cannot be eliminated by being thrown from the ring, instead the match becomes a normal bout as they must pin their opponent or force him to submit. If a championship is on the line in the match then the match is re-titles Gauntlet for the Gold.
Match of 10,000 Tacks - A match originally created by "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown called Serengeti Survival. The match is won either by pinfall, submission, or slamming the opponent onto a pile of thumbtacks. Depending on the version, pinfalls and/or submissions may not take place. This match became a specialty of Abyss.
Prison Yard Match - A Prison motif is set up. The battle begins backstage and the wrestlers make their way to the ring. The one who wins is the man who locks his opponent in the solitary confinement cage.
Reverse Battle Royal - This actually has three stages. It begins as a inside-out battle royal with 15 or more wrestlers involved. The first 7 to enter the ring over the top rope go to the second stage which is a Gauntlet Match. When it gets down to the final two wrestlers, the match is decided by pinfall or submission.
Traditional Wrestling Match Types
These are the matches that have been seen before or have had variations elsewhere in the World.
Battle Royale - Very rare in TNA due to officials believing there should be decisive winners and losers in matches. This match features many participants facing in elimination style. The point of the match is to eliminate your opponent by throwing him over the top rope where both feet touch the floor.
Best of 3 Falls - When problems don’t get solved in standard one on one matches, there is always the Best of 3 Falls Match. The one who is able to beat their opponent twice is the winner.
Blindfold Match (Prince of Darkness Match) - This unpopular match has the two participants wearing blindfolds during the match. Should one participant take off his blindfold, he would be disqualified. Pinfalls or Submissions only.
Bullrope Match - The participants in the match are bound together by a bullrope. The binding item can be used as a weapon in the match. Normal pinfalls or submission rules apply. Other variations of this match include the Chain Match, Dog Collar Match, and the strap match.
Empty Arena Match – Clear everyone out from the arena: fans, wrestlers and everyone else but the announcers and referee. This is a falls count anywhere match where anything goes.
Falls Count Anywhere - This version of a Hardcore Match emphasizes the fact that falls count anywhere. Submissions, countouts and DQ’s are thrown out in this match. Matches of this sort usually go to the backstage area unlike many other TNA Matches.
First Blood - To win this match you force your opponent to bleed. The first one to bleed, loses.
I Quit Match - While this match has never taken place in a TNA ring, it almost did during the first Live Edition of iMPACT had the fans voted for it. This match is brutal as you must beat on your opponent until the cows come home. The winner is the one who forces his opponent to utter the words, I Quit
Iron Man - The man who gets the most decisions over his opponent in the set period of time wins the match. The most common time limits are 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes time limits. In case the match ends in a tie by the end of the time limit, the match will go to a Sudden Death where the next one to score a decision will win the match. This is a test of a wrestler’s endurance and guts.
Ladder Match - Two men scale a ladder and attempt to grab an object hanging above the ring, usually a championship belt. This high flying match has been a favorite of hardcore fans.
Last Man Standing - The TNA Last Man Standing Match is a No DQ contest. To win you must incapacitate your opponent long enough to pin him to where cannot get to his feet by a 10-count following the pinfall. AKA a Texas Deathmatch
Last Rites Match - This match takes place in a funeral setting. This match is also known as a Casket Match in other promotions. To win you must place your opponent in a casket on a Deathbed that is lowered at the command of the controlling and dominating wrestler.
No DQ - This is a good old fashioned match that has No Disqualifications. It allows for outside parties to interfere and weapons to be used. The match can only end inside the ring.
Pole Matches - Long poles stand erected on one or many posts of the ring. A weapon or item is hung on the pole. The point of the match is to grab the item or weapon from the pole and use it. Variations of this match include: Flag Matches, Hockey Stick Street Fight and the Weapons or Escape Pole Match from November 2006.
Revenge Match - A Lumberjack Match. This match has 2 participants fighting it out while the ring is surrounded by outside participants. Ringside Revenge has the ring surrounded by wrestlers who have been wronged by the participants while Fan’s Revenge has the ring surrounded by fans armed with straps.
Special Referee - A Normal match that has a guest referee. A variation of this match known as “Special Enforcer” sees the enforcer playing the role of the referee should he be knocked out. The enforcer also prevents cheating and outside interference.
Street Fight - TNA doesn’t have Hardcore Matches, instead the wrestlers have the opportunity to fight it out in a Street Fight. Wrestling attire is not common in this match as the competitors are garnered in their street clothes. DQ’s are thrown out and violence is brought in. To win you must pin or submit your opponent. It has been a common occurrence recently to see themed Street Fights in TNA witnessing new motifs or weapons to be used. Some themed Street Fights from the past include: the Shop of Horrors, Barroom Brawl, Little Italy Street Fight, Fish Market Street Fight, the Silent Night Bloody Night Match and the female variation Bimbo Brawl
Stretcher Match - The point of this match is to incapacitate your opponent long enough to put him on a stretcher and wheel his unconscious body over the line.
Submission Match - To win you must force your opponent to submit by tapping out or verbally saying I Quit.
Tables Match - This popular match is a specialty of Team 3D. To win you must put your opponent through a table forcing him to pick splinters from his body. Elimination rules can apply to this match as well.
Weapons Match – A Hardcore Match where Weapons are legal.
Defunct TNA Match Types
These are the matches that have been seen before in TNA but haven’t been seen since.
Deadly Draw - 4 competitors wrestle in this match. The rules are complex. It starts out as a one on one match. For five minutes the two participants try and defeat each other. After the time limit ends, the third participant enters the ring and tries to get the pinfall. 5 more minutes pass and the final wrestler enters. Any wrestler who gets pinned or submits or any wrestler not involved in the decision who has entered is also eliminated. Last man standing wins.
Hangman’s Horror - To earn a victory in this match you need to wrap your opponent's neck with a steel chain and then proceed in hanging him over the ring ropes. Once he is declared unconscious by the referee, the person in charge of the horrific hanging will gain the victory. The sane people of this world definitely keep their distance from a match of this stature, but for the mentally insane, they treat this like paradise.
Hard 10 - This style of match rewards one for being hardcore. Points are given to a wrestler who uses a ringside weapon. Weapon strikes are worth one point per strike and putting your opponent through a table gives you 5 points. The first one to earn 10 points wins the match. You must win by 2 points.
House of Fun - Created by the sick twisted-minded Raven, the House of Fun is a match that tests your will for survival upon barbarism. Weapons are suspended from steel chains around the ring, with one side of the six-sided ring covered with a steel cage – anything is legal and falls count anywhere! The appearance of blood is definite!
MMA Match – Based off of Mixed Martial arts this type of match can only be ended on Knockouts, Submissions or Referee Stoppage.
Sadistic Madness - From the evil mind of James Mitchell comes Sadistic Madness. This match has two wrestlers or two teams of wrestlers fighting it out hardcore style. The special catch is that you cannot defeat your opponent unless he is bleeding first. This match is extremely violent and has only been done once because of it.