5 Greatest wrestling gimmick matches

[Joe Kerr]

#1: Ultimate X - NWATNA

Four large beams are attached to the corner posts, then two large cables are attached to the tops forming an "X", a title is placed in the intersection, which is suspended above the middle of the ring. In order to win, a wrestler must shimmy along the wire to the middle of the ring and grab the title, bringing it down. This match has been a staple of the X Division and hasn't been done anywhere else. What I enjoy about this match is that it's borrowing on an old concept- the ladder match, but it also improves on it. The cables above the ring allow the wrestlers to do higher high-spots than usual, and some really cool looking moves, but it also takes away some of the danger of jumping off of a high, unstable piece of metal. It also doesn't hurt that some of the competitors thus far have been some extremely talented lightweights. I see this concept being 'ahem' "borrowed" by other companies in the future, by far one of the best ideas to come out of the TNA think tank.

#2: Cage Match - Lotsa Feds

(includes scramble cage.)

Alright, I know that I included two different types under one category because they both have the same relative concept. Four sides of a metal structure are placed flush with the ring apron, usually 10-15 feet tall, some with a door, some not. In the case of the Scramble Cage, there are four platforms on each corner of the cage. Victory can be attained by pinfall, submission, climbing out of the cage, or going out through the door, depending on the match. The cage match has been done for a very, very long time, usually as a culmination to long, bitter feuds in which there was a lot of interference or relative cheating heel, they were almost always bloody, and the cage was used as weaponry more than it was climbed, usually. Nowadays, a cage match is more or less an excuse for high spots, A.K.A. diving off the cage, and to give the fans something different (ESPECIALLY in the case of the Scramble Cage). The cage match was one of the first real Gimmick matches, and while maybe a little overused and overshadowed by bigger more death-defying matches today, it still always seems to get a reaction. This oldie has stood the test of time, and I think that it's a match that will be around as long as wrestling itself.

#3: World War 3 - WCW

And what more fitting of a number three choice than World War 3? A spin on the Battle Royal concept. Sixty, yes, sixty men, start off in three separate rings, and from there it's like your conventional Battle Royal. Toss guys over the top rope, and the winner gets a World Title Shot. This is another new spin on an old classic. The reason I enjoyed this so much was for two reasons. Number one, it was a great way to utilize the ridiculous sized roster that WCW had, as well as put some new independent talent on the air, and number two, it gave this really great feeling of chaos that was given by having so many people on screen at once, they needed three announce teams and multiple camera crews to get all the action. It was this fun, wild, mess of a match that never ceased to entertain me, and when it got down to small numbers, brawling through all three rings was not uncommon, which also added a nice dynamic and furthered the element of spontaneity and chaos.

#4: Ladder Match - Lotsa Feds

(includes TLC.)

A title (or titles) is suspended high above the ring, and the only way to win is to climb a ladder and take the title(s) down. In about the ten or so years ladder matches have been around, they have put on some of the most memorable matches- and craziest spots, ever. Ladder matches are synonymous with excitement, danger, and some of the highest of high spots seen anywhere. Immortalized by Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon facing off at Wrestlemania X, there have been many legendary encounters since. One of the best things about ladder matches is that you almost always need to have some very solid workers to make a ladder match work, so no Hulk Hogan/El Gigante snoozefests. This is one type of match that rarely disappoints.

#5: Hell in a Cell - WWF

A concept that was originally attached to the Undertaker (you know, as an aside, this guy has had a lot of Gimmick matches attached to feuds of his; Hell in a Cell, Casket Matches, Boiler Room Brawls, Inferno Matches, Buried Alive Matches, sheesh. A large metal cage surrounds the ringside area, it is covered by a roof on top, roughly 20 feet off the ground, the doors are supposedly chained shut so there's no escape, but almost every HIAC match has been taken to the outside. The Undertaker first faced off in this structure against Shawn Michaels (who has debuted his fair share of gimmick matches, too, come to think of it.), and was a very, very good match. However, is would vastly topped by The 'Taker against the completely out of his mind Mankind. Where he was tossed off the roof of the cage through a table in without question the most memorable wrestling moment ever, then later through the cage. These two matches were fantastic, and the latter is considered legendary, however, the unfortunate side effect of this is that no other HIAC match has met the super, SUPER high standard those two set, and while it's still dusted off as a culmination to a grueling feud, a-la the cage match. It has been used less and less due to the dangerous nature of the match and the fact that it can't top the originals short of someone being killed. (The infamous "Daffy Duck Bump" .).

[Jaton]

Nice.

[CosaNostra]

I wonder how many times this topic has been done.

[The Outlaw]

Did you know that RDD posted a pic of your cock?

It was mad tiny.

[The Mackem]

I wouldn't put Ultimate X as number one, I don't think it's as well thought out as people think.

[Disturbed316]

Ultimate X is complete shit, I really dont know what they were thinking when they came up with that. Almost as good as their six sided ring

[The CyNick]

Yeah I dont really like Ultimate X either. I give them props for coming up with a new idea, but I just find it really lame.

Cage match is probably the best gimmick. HIAC is basically a cage, just with a twist, as is the Elimination Chamber. So I would say thats the greatest gimmick of all time.

Ladder Math is close too.

[The Mackem]

1 ladder + 1 ladder =

[Loose Cannon]

ok, who wrote that? You can't just steal other people's columns now too.

[CosaNostra]

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon ok, who wrote that? You can't just steal other people's columns now too.

Yah, Radd ya wannabe wrestling columnist poser!

[Innovator]

tables, ladders, and chairs

OH MY

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw Did you know that RDD posted a pic of your cock? It was mad tiny.

I admit RDD does suck my cock on a regular bases....I didnt know he was going to take the videos and post pics though

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by Disturbed316 Ultimate X is complete shit, I really dont know what they were thinking when they came up with that. Almost as good as their six sided ring

Ultimate X is the only thing TNA has. It is always entertaining.

[DaveWadding]

Originally Posted by Joey Radd I admit RDD does suck my cock on a regular bases....I didnt know he was going to take the videos and post pics though

Quite the witticism therre, Mr. Radd of tiney penisdom.

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by DaveWadding Quite the witticism therre, Mr. Radd of tiney penisdom.

coming from a pencil dick that hurt

[deathtrap]

Wasn't keen on the 60 men tbh

[The Duck]

Stolen from PWInsider.com I see....

[MVP]

I'd have the Iron Man match on that list instead of HIAC.

[loopydate]

Plus, ladder matches have been around since, like, the seventies.

Also, the UT/Mankind Cell match absolutely blew. The only thing that redeemed it was the high spots. There were a grand total of about ten moves in the entire match, but people call it a classic. Bullshit. Also, that spot is not the most memorable moment in wrestling history. Maybe in contemporary markdom, but how can that be ahead of Hulk Hogan beating the Iron Sheik? Or the formation of the nWo? Randy Savage dropping the ring bell on Ricky Steamboat's throat? Paul Orndorff betraying Hogan?

My gimmick matches list (to return to topic) would probably go

1) Battle Royal/Rumble/WW3
2) Cage/Cell/Chamber
3) Ladder/TLC/Stairway to Hell
4) Survivor Series/War Games
5) Kennel From Hell
5) Iron Man

[Loose Cannon]

Actually, the ladder match first appeared in Stampede Wrestling. Bret Hart brought it to the WWF and told Vince he had this match they were using in his dad's wrestling promotion. Bret asked Vince to let him and Shawn try it out in the early 90's. Vince didn't really want to and Shawn wasn't to into the idea eathier. They tried it out and you can see the match on one of the Coliseum Videos. Bret also asked Vince a favor and not claim the match to be a creation of his and the WWF's because it came from Stampede. Well a few years later, HBK and Ramon had the match and they were always claiming that it was "their" match, mostly HBK, and that they were the one's that first did it. Bret was a little pissed at that.

[Loose Cannon]

Ouch. You're the first person I've ever heard say that the Taker/Mankind match "BLEW." Going to have to disagree with you there. That match wasn't just about spots or else I would have condemed it. And you're an ECW fan right? That was total ECW right there. It had terrific storytelling in that match and a great crowd. The spots just added to it.

[.44 Magdalene]

Chase the Midget Match > All.

[loopydate]

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon Ouch. You're the first person I've ever heard say that the Taker/Mankind match "BLEW." Going to have to disagree with you there. That match wasn't just about spots or else I would have condemed it. And you're an ECW fan right? That was total ECW right there. It had terrific storytelling in that match and a great crowd. The spots just added to it.

"Blew" may have been a little harsh, but it's not the classic it's made out to be. It was like an HCTP Hell in a Cell match. The psychology was quite good, but I really need to see moves to consider a match a classic. Beyond the spots, there wasn't much aside from a lot of punches and kicks.

[sensai86]

1-Cage Match-come on this strated it all
2-Ladder Match (TLC included)-That ladder must hurt like hell.
3-Hell In A Cell-I was going to include it with cage,but it has had some classic matches so it hold a spot on it's own.
4-WAR GAMES-This was so cool,two rings one cage,two teams,one team wins.
5-Iron Man Match-This match shows what the wrestlers have so it's on this list.

[DaveWadding]

Originally Posted by loopydate Also, the UT/Mankind Cell match absolutely blew. The only thing that redeemed it was the high spots. There were a grand total of about ten moves in the entire match, but people call it a classic. Bullshit. Also, that spot is not the most memorable moment in wrestling history. Maybe in contemporary markdom, but how can that be ahead of Hulk Hogan beating the Iron Sheik? Or the formation of the nWo? Randy Savage dropping the ring bell on Ricky Steamboat's throat? Paul Orndorff betraying Hogan?

[Hardkore Kidd J]

1. Hell In a Cell

2. TLC

3.Buried Alive

4. Cage/Ladder

5. Iron Man

[The Outlaw]

Judy Bagwell on a pole/Viagra on a pole do it for me.

[Volchok]

i for one think instead of a Till Death Do Us Part match with Kane and MH they should of had Lita on a Poll...

[Semetery]

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon Ouch. You're the first person I've ever heard say that the Taker/Mankind match "BLEW." Going to have to disagree with you there. That match wasn't just about spots or else I would have condemed it. And you're an ECW fan right? That was total ECW right there. It had terrific storytelling in that match and a great crowd. The spots just added to it.

Hey, not ta mention the ad libbing. Foley wasn't supposed ta go through the cell roof, he just weighed so much he did. A chair smacked him in the mouth resultin' in even less teeth, he was K.O.'d, and Terry Funk helped him by gettin' Chokeslammed out of his shoes! A classic without a doubt,and those things I just mentioned made it even better. The fact that the crowd thought that all of that was supposed to happen also shows how good Undertaker is at havin' ta make things up as he goes along. I'd say the same for Foley but he was unconcious at the time.

[Stickman]

I don't think the Iron Man match is high on the list. I don't want to watch the same match for an hour. I'm sure the ratings of the last two on Raw and Smackdown would indicate how much most people like that match.

Slightly off topic but the ____ on a pole match is usually just shit.

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by Stickman I don't think the Iron Man match is high on the list. I don't want to watch the same match for an hour. I'm sure the ratings of the last two on Raw and Smackdown would indicate how much most people like that match. Slightly off topic but the ____ on a pole match is usually just shit.

the last Raw one HHH vs. HBK was actually really good

[Shaggy]

I would agree with that list basically. The only problem I have with the Ultimate X match though is that it looks to easy. Sure they make it seem like its hard to though but when you think about it...how hard is it to go across a rope and grab something. And these guys wait forever on the rope just to give the other guy the shot to do something. How are we suppose to believe something like that. There have been some cool moves done from it but I dont think its anything big.