User:KelvSYC/Professional wrestling match types

Many types of matches can be found in professional wrestling, and they may be notable either due to a notable (or only) instance of a match, its logistics of setup compared to other matches (for example, the use of specialized ring equipment), or simply its frequent use. Certain match types have been known to be a specialty of a particular promotion, event, or even wrestler, and specialty matches have been used as a finale to memorable or infamous storylines. It can be said that a specialty match, then, is a type of novelty act.

Professional wrestling, being a performance art in regards to storytelling, may have various names for a certain type of match, but for which the format is nearly identical. This said, a specialty match may occur for any number of story-related reasons, including facing adversity, showing dominance, and personal vendetta. This article lists the most common standard and specialty matches that are found in a promotion.

Standard matches[edit]

The standard type of wrestling match is the one that is typically used by a promotion - in many promotions, this is the One Fall Match. In this match, two wrestlers compete against each other, attempting to win the match through either pinfall, submission, disqualification, or countout. Some consider countout, where a wrestler leaves the ring and does not return in the ring after a ten-count (20-count in Japanese puroresu), a form of disqualification.

Standard matches may vary depending on promotion: a promotion catered to a hardcore wrestling audience will have a different standard match type compared to one focused on a catch wrestling audience. Similarly, a standard match type in one promotion may be considered to be a specialty match type in another: the hardcore style of Extreme Championship Wrestling had influenced its competitors (World Wrestling Entertainment in particular) to adopt the hardcore style as a specialty match type. By convention, the one-fall match is considered to be the standard type of standard match, and promotions that use another type of match as its standard is typically referred to as a specialty wrestling promotion.

Standard matches may be slightly embellished through minor alterations to the rules, forming a specialty:

The count required to score a pinfall may be shortened or extended - this may be used as a device to show dominance (such as the dominant wrestler handicapping himself by pinning the opponent after a five-count, while permitting the opponent to win with only a three-count.
Certain winning conditions may be allowed or disallowed - this may be used as a device to match two competitors in similar specialties (such as a submission match, where only submissions are permitted for victory, between competitors whose primary movesets revolve around submission maneuvers).
A time limit may be enforced - this may be employed if the match is perceived to last hours without it, boring the crowd. However, many such matches may end at the time limit with neither scoring the victory, and complicated timebreaker procedures may be employed (including, ironically enough, sudden death overtime).
What constitutes a disqualification may be changed - this may be employed to fit the tastes of a storyline.

Championship matches[edit]

Many promotions employ the use of championships, and in those promotions, a typical "pseudo-specialty" is to compete with such a championship being awarded to the winner. The championship match, despite the specialty of awarding the championship to the winner, is not typically considered a specialty match due to its standard roots. However, championships may exist where it is solely defended in specialty matches (ironically making the specialty match the "standard" for that division of wrestling).

In many promotions, the title does not change hands when the champion is disqualified or counted out - this is typically known as the "champion's advantage", and is explained by saying that the challenger must beat the champion outright. This clause has allowed heel champions to try to "protect their reign" by intentionally forcing themselves to be disqualified.

Specialty matches[edit]

As the name implies, the specialty match is one that is not employed normally - it is employed as a novelty act. Specialty matches may be simple variations, or may be convoluted designs of their own. Matches may involve the use of one or any combination of specialties. There are countless types of specialty matches with varying degrees of notablity. Information about the following specialty matches may be found in their own articles:

Other commonly occuring specialty matches, and their typical applications, are as follows:

Blindfold match[edit]

The blindfold match has one or possibly both competitors wear blindfolds while wrestling another. This may be employed to "level the playing field" somewhat, especially in storylines where one competitor is (kayfabe) blinded through previous events.

Falls Count Anywhere match[edit]

In the standard match, a pinfall or submission can only win the match when it is performed inside the ring. However, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, this does not apply. As such, this also implies that wrestlers cannot lose as a result of countout. The "Falls Count Anywhere" is somewhat of a misnomer - it is implied that the "anywhere" is restricted to a specific place so as to end the match in a timely manner. This restriction may be stated specifically (such as "anywhere in this building"), or be expanded upon (such as "after pinfall, the wrestlers must return to the ring within a specified period of time").

Note that a competitor may still be disqualified in an attempt to pin an opponent - for example, if the match is held in a place where many foreign objects are in use, and a competitor uses it. Because of this, this specialty is typically paired with the "no disqualifications" specialty, so as to allow the competitors to use the foreign objects that may lie wherever they may wrestle.

Flag match[edit]

The flag match is the professional wrestling version of capture the flag. Two flags are typically placed in opposite turnbuckles of a ring, with competitors attempting to defend one flag while attempting to take the other. This match is typically seen in "national pride" storylines (where the flags represent the competitors' country of origin) or "promotional pride" storylines (where, in multi-promotion super-shows, the flags represent the competitors' home promotions). In the former, the national anthem is played for the winner, similar to an international sporting event.

Move match[edit]

The move match is one where the only way to win is to perform a certain specific move. The move in question may be used in the name of the match: for example, a "Chokeslam challenge", a "Gorilla slam match" (for any body slam maneuver), or a "Finisher match" (for finishing moves). This is typically employed in storylines between wrestlers where one seeks the exclusive use of a particular move.

Special Guest Referee[edit]

Professional wrestling promotions typically involve the use of their own specially-trained referee crew. A special guest referee is, then, a match where the presiding in-ring official is not among this crew (or in general, not a referee by trade - a Raw referee officiating a SmackDown! match is generally not considered a special guest referee match, for example). This may vary from other talent, celebrity guests, or other on-screen figures. Special guest referees are rarely involved in officiating standard matches, to enhance the novelty of the guest appearance. Special guest referees may or may not have a prominent bias against one or both of the competitors, which may be played out in storyline (such as the way in which the guest was nominated). Special guest referee matches may also employ nontraditional finishes (such as screwjobs) in order to enhance the novelty of the match.

Although the term "special guest referee" may be used when the guest is acting as an in-ring official, similar terms are used when guests are employed in some other official capacity. For example, Mike Tyson was employed as a "special guest enforcer" for his appearance at WrestleMania XIV, where he served as an outside official.

Strip match[edit]

The strip match is one where competitors seek to undress each other while keeping themselves dressed. It is typically contested between persons of lower perceived wrestling ability (such as valets or managers). The name of the articles of clothing to be removed (or that the loser is forced to be in at the end of the match) is typically involved in the name of the match: a bra and panties match is a match where contestants seeks to strip each other down to the said clothing, while a tuxedo match is a match where contestants seek to remove said article of clothing from each other. Note that the former may be misleading: if the article of clothing is what contestants are avoiding to be stripped down to, the same name of match may be used as the name of a match where contestants are dressed only in said clothing.

Because of the perceived lack of wrestling ability of the contestants, this match has typically been known derogatorily as a "diva match", due to an increasing trend of using women as managers or valets (or other eye candy) instead of wrestling roles, the lack of actual wrestling involved, as well as the increasing tendency to have all contestants voluntarily dress down at the end of a match for more eye candy.

TODO: Reorganize[edit]

Catch-as-Catch-Can match[edit]

Typically seen in the early 1900s, catch-as-catch-can matches allowed any hold given that hold is not intended to inflict injury. These matches thus typically contained 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. An example of this type of match is the infamous match between Dean Malenko and Billy Kidman during WCW's Souled Out 2000 PPV, where Malenko lost two minutes in by forgetting the rules and escaping to the floor after a barrage of attacks from Kidman.

Empty Arena match[edit]

A hardcore match that consists of two (or more) wrestlers fighting in an empty arena with a referee and no spectators. The match is either taped and broadcast for fans to watch afterwards or aired live from one or two cameras which follows the wrestlers around the arena. Due to the expense of these matches (having to rent an arena and not selling tickets to the show) these matches are extremely rare. The two most famous examples were a match between Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk and a WWF World Title match that aired at halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII where Mankind regained the title from The Rock.

Handicap match[edit]

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. Typically in a two-on-one match, the two wrestlers act under tag team rules with one man in the ring at a time, although not always.

Lumberjack match[edit]

A Lumberjack match is a match in which the ring is surrounded by a group of fellow wrestlers, known collectively as the lumberjacks, who are there ostensibly to prevent either of the competitors from leaving the ring (avoiding a beating and, in the process, taking a count out loss).

A typical lumberjack arrangement involve a mixture of faces and heels, generally on opposite sides of the ring, in which the lumberjacks will only choose to attack the participants of opposite alignment. Lumberjacks are not forced into attacking any participant, and may attack each other, depending on storyline progression and current alliance. Another arrangement is to have an all-heel group of lumberjacks, which will attack only face competitors (in an effort to have the face lose by countout) while trying to help the heel back into the ring as soon as possible (to avoid countout).

Keeping with the lumberjack theme, many early lumberjack matches featured the lumberjacks wearing stereotypical lumberjack clothing, though this generally is not done nowadays.

A variation of this match is called a Canadian Lumberjack Match, in which the lumberjacks are equipped with leather straps. TNA held a version of this match where "fans" were lumberjacks, and called it a Fan's Revenge Lumberjack Match. TNA also referred to this match as a Belting Pot match When the lumberjacks are all female, the match is known as either a Lumberjill Match, or a Diva Lumberjack Match.

(x) Rules match[edit]

A Rules Match is a match where one wrestler (usually the heel) will challenge another wrestler to a match under specific rules (i.e. Canadian, Duchess Of Queensbury, English) without actually going into detail on what those rules are or mean. During the match the challenging wrestler will usually have a second sitting at ringside to announce rules and rule changes which will favor that wrestler. If there is no second it's not unusual for the challenging wrestler to just walk out of the ring and tell the new rule to the ring announcer who will announce it over the PA.

Scaffold match[edit]

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. The scaffold is not very wide, meaning wrestling moves are rarely done during these matches and stay a kick/punch affair.

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.

Elevation X, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's variation of the scaffold match, has two scaffolds placed above the ring intersecting each other to form an "X".

Bra and Panties match[edit]

The Bra and Panties Match has surpassed its predecessor, the Evening Gown Match in popularity. Originally, as in a men's Tuxedo Match, the female competitors in an Evening Gown Match wore formal clothing at the start, but that stipulation has dropped in proliferation. A Bra and Panties match consists of two or more female wrestlers where the only way to win is to strip one of the opponents to their bra and panties. Also can be a Buck Naked Match in which a wrestler must strip her opponent completely naked to win the match.

Tuxedo match[edit]

The Tuxedo Match, usually contested between male managers (and the occasional ring announcer), is the precursor to the Bra And Panties Match. It takes its name from the idea that both competitors will be dressed in a full tuxedo at the outset of the match. These matches were popular in the 1980s. A wrestler wins by stripping his opponent of his tuxedo.

Non-wrestling variations[edit]

Some matches do not actually involve wrestling, instead relying on (worked instances of) other sports or physical activity to determine a winner and a loser. Common types of matches include arm wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, pillow fights, and sumo.

Hardcore-based variations[edit]

Hardcore wrestling is often termed as a form of wrestling where some, or, more often than not, all of the traditional grounds of wrestling need not apply. As such, the primary rule of hardcore wrestling is that there are no disqualifications nor countouts, and pinfalls can take place outside of the ring (normally a pin can only be inside the ring) - that is, the usual rules of professional wrestling need not (and often do not) apply. Some promotions, such as Extreme Championship Wrestling and Combat Zone Wrestling, specialize in hardcore matches, and "standard" non-hardcore matches are rare.

The standard hardcore match, as defined by WWE, is one combining the no-disqualification rule with "Falls Count Anywhere". Because of the generally chaotic nature of the standard hardcore match, many so-called "match types" are merely euphemisms for a hardcore match, often to emphasize certain aspects of hardcore wrestling. A common such euphemism is the Death Match, used to promote the often brutal injuries that wrestlers may have to endure in such a match. Because of this, hardcore matches are most often remembered for the potentially dangerous spots rather than the final outcome.

A common euphemism employed for a hardcore match is a Street Fight, where wrestlers would supposedly wrestle in the clothes that they came into the arena with, rather than in standard wrestling gear. Extreme Rules Matches are also sometimes used by the WWE to try and capture the essence of Extreme Championship Wrestling (especially when promoting ECW-type events or wrestlers with a heavy ECW background), where all matches were done in this manner. Other euphemisms for hardcore-style matches include the Bunkhouse Brawl, the No Holds Barred match, or the Unsanctioned match.

Other names for the same type of match may emphasize certain hardcore aspects over others, or to emphasize the background to one of the wrestlers involved - the Good Housekeeping match at WWE No Mercy in 1999 emphasized the use of kitchen implements as legal foreign objects, while Raven's Rules was used by Raven to emphasize his own involvement, as well as his trademark of bringing a shopping cart full of weapons into the ring.

Because of the no-disqualification rule, a common finish to such a match is the cluster, in which wrestlers (most of which are not involved in the match nor the storyline behind it) run-in and brawl amongst each other. This is often used to announce the end of a show, with the match ending in a no-decision.

World Championship Wrestling also created their own specific brand of hardcore matches wherein the bouts were to begin in the backstage rather than in the ring (although typically matches would end inside the ring). This rule became the basis for the unpopular video game WCW Backstage Assault.

Last Man Standing match[edit]

The Last Man Standing Match is a hardcore-style match where the only way to win is by knockout. That is, a wrestler will lose the match if they are unable to answer a ten-count after being downed, similar to the knockout ruling of a boxing match. A similar type of match is the Texas Death Match, where the wrestler has to be pinned before the referee will begin the ten-count.

No Disqualification match[edit]

A No Disqualification match is a match where neither wrestler can be disqualified, allowing for weapons and outside interference. The only difference between a No-Disqualification match and a hardcore match is that falls must be made in the ring in No-Disqualification matches, though they are considered low-key by comparison.

Sometimes, a No Disqualification Match is held between valets, or a valet and a wrestler, where it is implied that wrestlers will run-in and "defend" their valets.

Sadistic Madness[edit]

Sadistic Madness is a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling specialty match, in which the object is to make an opponent bleed before pinning them. A pinfall on a wrestler who is not bleeding does not count towards victory. Typically, all of the contestants involved will be bleeding before anyone is pinned.

Stipulation-based variations[edit]

As professional wrestling seeks to also tell a story, many matches are made mainly for the purposes of advancing the plot. This typically involves the loser of a match of some form being penalized for losing (Usually in the matches with humiliating consequences for the loser). The most common types of such matches are:

Loser Leaves Town match[edit]

The loser of the match must leave either the town or promotion 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.

Luchas de Apuestas[edit]

Any match where both wrestlers have put something on the line such as a title or mask. They are more popular in Mexico, where Masks and Hair are considered a part of a wrestlers pride and are often put on the line, 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. Luchas de Apuestas translates verbatim to English to mean fight of bets.

Hair vs. Mask Match:

A wrestler with hair, usually long hair, wrestles a masked wrestler. The loser is either unmasked or his head is shaved or cut short. This usually takes place in Mexico, where it is called Máscara contra Cabellera.

Hair vs. Hair Match:

The loser of the match gets his head shaved or cut short. In Mexico, this is called Cabellera contra Cabellera (verbatim Spanish for scalp against scalp).

Hair vs. Title Match:

The loser either loses their title or get their hair shaved.

Mask vs. Mask Match:

The loser of the match is unmasked. In Mexico, this is called Máscara contra Máscara.

In Mexico this can be the most important match in a wrestler's career, since almost every wrestler begins their career masked, except in extremely exceptional circumstances (see Rey Mysterio). Only a few of the greatest wrestlers will keep their mask their entire career, such as Mil Máscaras and El Hijo del Santo. In Mexico, by law, once a wrestler is unmasked they may never wear a mask as that character again. The Boxing and Wrestling Commission of Mexico (Box y Lucha) fines heavily for infractions and have suspended licenses for infractions as well. There are, however, occasional gimmick shows where wrestlers are allowed to wear their masks after losing them (after getting it cleared first).

Mask vs. Career:

Either a masked wrestler removes their mask, or a non masked wrestler retires.

Mask vs. Title Match:

The loser either gives up the title or takes off their mask.

Retirement match[edit]

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. Instead, it often gives that wrestler time to fulfill other obligations – such as tending to personal matters or filming a movie – or to heal from a legitimate injury. That wrestler then returns at a later date, either with his former persona or with a new gimmick. Sometimes, however, a "retirement match" is actually a wrestler's last match, either in a particular promotion or for their career.

Related in concept is the Pink Slip Match or You're Fired Match, where the loser is (kayfabe) fired. An Object on a Pole Match with such a stipulation is known as a Pink Slip on a Pole Match.

Locale-based variations[edit]

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 matches, although many are known as "brawls" rather than "matches" for emphasis, and they often take the name of the locale as part of the name of the match.

The following is a list of locale-based variations that supplant or replace the standard rules.

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.

Another variation is the Iron Circle Match. Although rare, one occurred at WWF Fully Loaded 1999, when Ken Shamrock fought Steve Blackman in a Iron Circle. The Iron Circle referred to a circle of cars in a parking lot, with the object of the match being to get out of the circle.

A Junkyard Match, similar to an Iron Circle match, occurred at WCW Bash At The Beach 1999, where the match took place within a Junkyard surrounded by a steel fence. The Junkyard included cars, burning oil drums, tires, and many other dangerous objects. To win, the wrestler had to climb out of the area via the fence, similar to the winning method of the traditional Cage Match.

Bar Room Brawl[edit]

The Bar room brawl is held in a bar, which combines hardcore wrestling with drinking contests. A wrestler loses the match if they either are defeated in either the wrestling or the drinking contest aspects.

Parking Lot Brawl[edit]

A Parking Lot Brawl is similar to an Iron Circle match where the combatants are surrounded by cars, the winner is determined by pinfall.

Container-based variations[edit]

Some matches have a container stationed in or near the ring, with the object of the match being to trap the opposing wrestler in it. Many of these matches take the name of the container, such as the Casket match and Ambulance match. A similar type of match aims to restrain opposing wrestlers somehow, and the match often takes the name of the restraining device - for example, the Stretcher match or Handcuff match.

These matches are often fought using hardcore rules, or at the very least rules that allow wrestlers to do more without being disqualified. In team matches, a team typically loses when all of its members are individually eliminated.

In some cases the restrained wrestler must be taken past a certain point ringside in order for a victory.

Common matches include:

Ambulances
Hearses (known in WWE as a Last Ride Match)
Caskets (see Casket match)
Dumpsters
Straitjackets
Stretchers

In addition, another variant is the Buried Alive match, where a wrestler must bury their opponent under dirt in the arena for victory.

A Coffin match is a toned-down version of the Casket Match. Victory is not obtained by placing the opponent in the coffin (as in a Casket Match) but by pinfall or submission. However, the defeated wrestler is then placed into the coffin.

Weapon-based variations[edit]

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 allowed also provide 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.

Handcuff match[edit]

Handcuff Matches are matches in which wrestlers first attempt to retrieve a pair of handcuffs and then handcuff the opposing wrestler, often to a ring fixture, but sometimes so that the opposing wrestler is unable to make use of their hands.

(Object) on a Pole match[edit]

The (Object) on a Pole Match is similar to a ladder match, except that the object in question is placed on a pole extending from one of the ring turnbuckles. Like a ladder match, if the object involved is storyline-related, the winner is the one who first retrieves the object, and if a foreign object is at the turnbuckle, then the wrestler who retrieves it may use it as part of the match's second phase.

In some promotions multiple poles and multiple objects may be used, so that each side may have weapon privileges. One notable match in this manner is the Hockey Stick Fight, a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling match in which all six turnbuckles have hockey sticks. In some cases, one turnbuckle may have a storyline object (which immediately ends the match) while others may have foreign objects - an example is the World Championship Wrestling specialty San Francisco 49er Match, where the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and three foreign objects were placed in boxes under the four turnbuckles.

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.

When the object on the pole is a weapon retrieving it usually doesn't end the match, but allow that wrestler to use the weapon on their opponent.

In some cases the pole may be omitted from the name of the match, creating ambiguity. One such example is the Biker Chain Match between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, which a chain was suspended from a pole, rather than the more-common match in which chains are used as legal foreign objects.

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 Rising 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, Buff's mother. Thus, the match became known as the Judy Bagwell on a Forklift Match.

Tables match[edit]

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). In some tag matches, a person can save his team mate by breaking the table with his own body. Apparently this does not count against the team.

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. Another is the double tables match, where the first wrestler to put his opponent through two tables wins. Another variant is the High Impact Tables Match, in which you must put your opponent through a table off an elevated surface.

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 matches were most used in mainstream wrestling by Team 3D, then known as The Dudley Boyz. First popularized by them in ECW, they later brought table matches to the masses in WWE from 1999 to 2005. They have since brought table matches to TNA and Japan.

Taped fist match[edit]

A match in which both wrestlers wrap their fists in tape to enable them to punch harder and without hurting their hands.

A variation of the match is called a Taipei Death Match, where, prior to the match, the taped fists are dipped in super-glue and while the glue is still wet, is dipped into broken glass.

Texas Bullrope match[edit]

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 four top turnbuckles in succession 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:

This is where chains are used and are strapped to the necks of both wrestlers. Often the signature of wrestlers with canine-related gimmicks.

Chain Match:

Same concept as a Dog Collar Match, except for the wrestlers are chained by their wrists, not the necks.

Chained Fury Match:

All of the ring ropes are replaced by steel chains, and all of the turnbackle pads are removed, exposing the steel bolts holding the ropes together. Wrestlers can either be chained by the wrists, like in a Chain Match, or the necks, like in a Dog Collar Match.

Russian Strap Match:

The wrestlers are chained but not by the neck

Short Leash:

The wrestlers are connected by a one to two foot "leash". The only way to win is by knockout or submission.

Strap Match:

In this variation ordinary belts are used.

Enclosure-based variations[edit]

Many matches take place in enclosures that are typically added onto the wrestling ring, though some types replace the ring with a different enclosure altogether. 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.

Lion's Den match[edit]

The aim of the match is for a wrestler to knock out their opponent unconscious or make them submit inside an octagonal cage. The rules are made to mimic mixed martial arts matches, with the octagonal cage meant to mimic the cage used by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Mud match[edit]

The Mud match is a match in which the ring canvas is replaced by a pool of mud. Other liquids can also be used to form the pool, with the name of the match taking the name of the liquid: an Egg nog match is one where it is held in a pool of egg nog, while a Gravy match (or a Gravy Bowl Match) is held in a pool of gravy. Other materials include pudding, whipped cream, and the KY Jelly lubricant, as popularized in the movie 'Old School'.

This type of match is often held between female non-wrestlers.

Tag team match variations[edit]

Generally, almost all singles match types can be adapted for use in tag-team competitioon, with minor variations. However, there are certain match types which are designed with tag teams in mind - these can be found in the tag team article.

Multi-competitor match variations[edit]

Wrestling matches may involve multiple competitors in a free-for-all setting. Because of the number of people involved, these matches are booked on rare occasions and with great care as to ensure that no competitor is left out of the action. Multi-competitor matches are often broken down to those that do involve eliminations (ie. where the number of competitors in the match is slowly reduced over time), and those that do not. For the former, when a wrestler is eliminated, they are then sent to the back (with any reappearance being considered a run-in and thus grounds for disqualification).

Championship elimination matches, of course, necessitate the elimination of the champion before a new champion is crowned. When wrestlers enter the match at different times, the champion may reserve the right to enter last (or at a position of their choosing) - and it is often the champion who is among the last two remaining. In non-elimination matches, however, the champion need not be involved for the title to change hands, in order to discourage the challengers to team up against the champion. A common flow to the championship non-elimination match has the champion systematically beaten up before the challengers bicker amongst themselves to see who would pin the champion, which leads to the challengers attacking each other - to the point that the challengers are unaware of the fact that the champion has recovered.

There may also be the case where a wrestler is disqualified or counted out in a non-elimination match - in many cases the match continues without the wrestler in question, or else the entire match becomes void. Because of the complex nature of dealing with disqualifications and countouts, many promotions implicitly have a no-countout or no-disqualification clause in multi-competitor matches simply to dodge the issue.

Eliminations in tag-team matches are handled differently - two prevalent cases are that the losing individual must leave the ring area and the team continues without that member, or the team must retire as a group.

Basic non-elimination matches[edit]

The most common example of a non-elimination match is the Triple Threat Match, where three wrestlers battle it out under standard rules. In some promotions, this match may be termed a Three-Way Dance, although some promotions may use Three-Way Dance to refer to an elimination match. In many promotions, however, there are typically no distinctions between the two terms. The Fatal Four-Way Match is similar, but involves four wrestlers, likewise the Six-Pack Challenge is one where six wrestlers are involved. Popular American independent promotion, USA Xtreme Wrestling (USA Pro Wrestling) hosted a match involving 8 competitors known as the 8 Ball Challenge.

Triangle Match

The Triangle Match combines elements of tag team wrestling with multi-competitor wrestling. In this match contested by three competitors (hence the name), one of the competitors must remain outside the ring, to await a tag from either of the other two combatants. Thus, while being tagged out may afford time to recuperate, one cannot win unless they are tagged back in.

The Triangle Match can be expanded to accompany more wrestlers (i.e. the Four Corners Match is a match where four wrestlers are involved)

Six-man Mayhem

The Six-Man Mayhem is a unique type of multi-competitor match, used in Ring of Honor, that involves six wrestlers (two in the ring, four at the turnbuckles). Tags are not needed as when one wrestler leaves the ring, another can just come in. Similarly, the WWF used this type of match, referring to it as a Six-Pack Match, for the vacant WWF Title in September 1999.

Basic elimination matches[edit]

Most matches involving a larger number of competitors are typically elimination matches. These matches may begin with a normal start, where all of the competitors are in the ring at the same time when the match begins, or may have a staggered start, in which wrestlers enter at timed intervals. The terms of elimination may vary based on an underlying match type (eg. a Submission Elimination match would be one where a wrestler is eliminated through submission).

The most common example of an elimination match is the Three-Way Dance (or synonymously, a Triple Threat Elimination match), where the first fall would eliminate one wrestler, reducing the match to a standard one-fall match. The Three-Way Dance (when not used as a synonym of the Triple Threat Match) is a specialty of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

A Four-Way Dance is similar except it involves four wrestlers and some promotions use a tag format for the match instead of having all the wrestlers in the ring at the same time. The Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match is often used in place of the Four-Way Dance.

Gauntlet match[edit]

A Gauntlet Match is, in a sense, a quick series of one-fall one-on-one matches. Here, two wrestlers begin the match, and are replaced whenever one is eliminated, with the last person standing being named the winner. A Gauntlet match may also be played out in multiple "parts" as part of a storyline (where a face wrestler must face a series of a heel wrestler's underlings before facing the heel himself, for instance) - this was common in World Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, where it was referred to as a Slobber Knocker. A participant involved in a Gauntlet Match may be referred to as to be "running the gauntlet", although in most cases this designation is reserved for those who are involved for most of the match.

The Gauntlet may also be referred to as a Turmoil Match, a likely backformation from Tag Team Turmoil, which is used to denote a Gauntlet involving tag teams. In singles gauntlet matches in World Championship Wrestling, pins would be counted without the need of the single man being on top of the gauntlet member.

Relay match[edit]

The match has two (or 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.

Series variations[edit]

Sometimes, a match is considered as a series of smaller matches, which may take place concurrently, consecutively, or even in different shows. The most common form of a series match is extending the one-fall concept to a series of falls, the most common being the best two out of three. These types of series matches are often booked to the final match to emphasize the equality of the wrestlers involved, however, longer series may be shortened due to storyline or other factors.

Series matches may involve the same match throughout, or may use different matches for some or all of the series. A series match may or may not involve the same wrestlers throughout (such as when a main competitor is forced to use a substitute in the event of an injury partway through).

Beat the Clock match[edit]

A Beat the Clock match is a series of singles matches between different wrestlers to see which wrestler can win their match in the shortest amount of time. Each wrestler involved competes in one match, and it is generally assumed that these wrestlers do not face each other, instead facing jobbers (or occasionally for heel characters, a confidant that will gladly lay down for them).

Beat the Clock matches often have all of the wrestlers involved winning their matches. In the case of a wrestler losing their match, the wrestler is removed from consideration, and in some cases, with their opponent taking their place (such that the winner of the shortest match is effectively the winner of the Beat the Clock match). In the case that a wrestler is unable to beat the time of a previous match, the match may be prematurely ended, although in practice all matches in the Beat the Clock match are fought to a conclusion. Disqualifications in Beat the Clock matches can be handled in different ways: with the match being counted as a win (with the time until disqualification as the official match time), a loss, or having another match to settle the matter.

Beat the Clock matches are often fought for a stipulation, such as a championship or the privilege of final entry in a multi-competitor match.

Three Strikes, You're Out![edit]

The Three Strikes, You're Out! match (often shortened to Three Strikes), is one where wrestlers must achieve three victories of a specific nature in a specific order before the other. The name of the match is taken from baseball, referring to the notion that losing three times would entail losing the match. Because of the format, wrestlers may be attempting to fulfil different victory conditions. Like generic series matches, these are often booked so as to have both wrestlers have two "strikes" against them, with the final victory condition being a particularly brutal manner (for example, Last Man Standing).

The most common arrangement for the three strikes are pinfall, submission, and knockout, with the entire match being fought under no disqualification rules.

In WWE, these types of matches are known as Three Stages Of Hell, although the third match may not be needed in the case of a sweep victory, although this has rarely been the case. Some variations make each stipulation timed (Usually in five to ten minute intervals) making every stipulation available.