30 Greatest Gimmick Match Types in WWE History

Chris Schubert

Check out what the 30 greatest gimmicks in WWE history are.

Throughout WWE History, there have been a number of gimmick that have stolen our hearts, leaving behind memories that we will have forever. What follows this is a list of the top 30 greatest gimmick match types in WWE history along with the single best match in each of these categories.

By no means is this the perfect list, and there may have been some match types or matches missing from this list (the Punjabi Prison Match got some strong consideration). So if there’s something that is missed, or a specific match type that you believe was omitted, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Next: No. 30

Handicap Match

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Our first match on the last is one that may surprise some of you: The Handicap Match.

The handicap match squeaked into the top 30 list because of the history involved. It has been used as a way for the on-screen authority to punish those that dissent against them. The babyfaces were always outnumbered and subjected to a beat down. The storytelling of a handicap match has been used time and time again, especially when the on-screen power group wants to torture their number one rival.

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Recently, we saw that happen with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk when the battled the Wyatt Family back in 2013. In the end, Bryan found himself alone at TLC in 2013 and was defeated by the Wyatt Family. There are occasions where the babyface is able to sneak the victory (John Cena to bring back Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan during the Cena v. Authority feud).

This is match that the WWE has gone to on a number of occasions in order to put over a babyface to get him some empathy from the crowd, making the moment when they win even greater. But because of it’s history and its storytelling ability, the handicap match kicks off the list at # 30.

Notable Match: Rock n’ Sock Connection vs. Evolution (Batista, Ric Flair and Randy Orton) at WrestleMania 20

Next: No. 29

Casket Match

The casket match made its WWE debut at Survivor Series in 1992 when The Undertaker defeated Kamala. Since then, the casket match and the gimmick of the Undertaker have gone hand in hand. A symbolical way of ending a feud, the casket match has been scarcely used since 2000. There have been 18 casket matches in WWE history and 11 of them took place before the turn of the century.

Fans of the newer generation remember Randy Orton and his father burying The Undertaker in a casket and setting it on fire, just for Taker’ to return at Survivor Series to claim Orton’s soul. It was that type of OMG feeling that the casket match (and the Undertaker) brought to fans.

The reason it finds itself so low on this list, is because of how important it was for The Undertaker to be in the match for it to be realistic and successful. Daniel Bryan took on Kane in a casket match on Smackdown in January of this year, and it just felt out of place and kind of forced. Even in recent years when the Undertaker was involved, it felt weird, odd and not used for the right feuds.

Notable Match: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble in 1998

Next: No. 28

Battle Royal

A match that has been used to determine a number one contender or to fill time on the show, the Battle Royal clocks in at number 28 on our list.

The Battle Royal could be considered the store-brand version of the Royal Rumble, it’s supposed to achieve the same result but there is something missing. All the superstars start in the ring when the bell rings, taking away any surprises and pops when the buzzer hits and another superstar comes out.

The WWE however have used battle royals when a championship is vacated. When an injury occurs and there is some time between PPV’s, the WWE writing team has used battle royals to get belts on different guys in order to start feuds and programs in time for the upcoming show. SmackDown was famous for doing this back during the Teddy Long Era.

Today we don’t see as many battle royals anymore and when we do, it’s normally a diva’s battle royal that no one cares about. Just like the store-brand, same idea just not as good as the original. It’s because of the un-importance of some of these battle royals that it is so far down on this list. But it still has given us some great moments, like The Great Khali winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2007 and then holding the belt upside down.

Notable Match: SmackDown Battle Royal for the World Heavyweight Championship in 2006

Next: No. 27

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Special Referee Match

When the regular referee isn’t good enough to settle a feud, the WWE has gone to their own superstars to wear the zebra shirts and count the 1, 2,3.

Nothing settles a feud like having a special referee that neither men like. The special referee match has been an interesting gimmick that the WWE has employed to spice up some of their feuds. Having a superstar take the place of a referee brings in all sorts of different elements to the table. A slower count, an impartial judge not being impartial and personal grudges getting involved. It is a wonderful tool to help tell a story, and potential screw over a wrestler that’s had it coming.

The only take back to one of these matches, is that everybody that is aware knows what is going to happen. There’s no need for a special referee unless something screwy is about to happen. For example, Triple H being the special guest referee for Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena at SummerSlam in 2013. Everybody in the building knew that Triple H was not there to just “call it down the middle.” In the end, Triple H helped Randy Orton become the new face of the WWE and started a six-month long program with the Authority against Daniel Bryan.

Notable Match: Triple H vs. The Undertaker with Special Guest Referee Shawn Michaels, End of an Era Match at WrestleMania 28

Next: No. 26

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Ambulance Match

The Ambulance match checks in at number 26 on the list because of it’s rarity and because of some of the moments it has given us.

The ambulance match made it’s WWE debut at Survivor Series in 2003, which just so happens to be the notable match that I picked. The idea of beating your opponent so bad that he needs to be placed in an ambulance was the perfect match type for the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Era. With some of the feuds they put on, the ambulance seemed like the perfect gimmick. All the rules are thrown out the window, and the referee’s only job is to ring the bell.

Unlike some of the others on this list, the WWE used this type sparingly and only when it made sense for the feud. But, it suffered from a nine-year hiatus that made it lose it’s luster when it returned during a Kane/John Cena feud. Part of it was that the match was so brutal, as seen during the Kane/Shane McMahon contest. This type of match was very dangerous and violent, summing up the era of wrestling that we were in at the time. If you need anything more, this match type was only used after Shane McMahon kicked Kane into a dumpster that was on fire.

Notable Match: Shane McMahon vs. Kane at Survivor Series 2003

Next: No. 25

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Parking Lot Brawl

In the heyday of SmackDown, we saw a number of different and unique match types.Most of these surround the United States Championship division, which at times felt more important than its main event scene. Best of 7 Series for the title made it mean something. During that time we were also introduced to the Parking Lot Brawl.

The Parking Lot Brawl took the idea of a wrestling ring and recreated it. The ring instead of being in the arena, was in a backstage parking lot. Instead of the ring being a mat, it was solid concrete. Ropes were replaced with cars, weapons to be used to destroy your opponent. And other superstars surrounded the newly created “ring” in order to give it more of a fight feel than an actual wrestling match feel.

The Parking Lot brawl was the perfect gimmick match for John Cena to use during his “Dr. of Thuganomics” days. When he and Eddie Guerrero met in the first parking lot brawl, something about it felt right. The two gave the fight meaning, and everybody knew that somebody was going to get really hurt.

We haven’t seen a lot of parking lot brawls in WWE history, with John Cena and JBL squaring off in the other one, but this match type was innovative, dangerous and fun to watch.

Notable Match: John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero, Latino Heat Parking Lot Brawl on SmackDown in 2003

Next: No. 24

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Inferno Match

There are times in WWE history where a pinfall or submission victory isn’t enough. Feuds take on a life of their own and it appears they will only conclude when one of the superstars can no longer compete. Well, that is where the Inferno Match came into play.

Some of the matches that are placed on this list are synonymous with the Undertaker. If that’s the case, the Inferno match is linked to Kane (in a rather fitting way). The Inferno match made it’s debut in 1998 and their have only been five of them in WWE history, including the Ring of Fire Match between Kane and Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam 2003.

Superstars have said that it’s impossible to breathe properly while in the ring with it on fire. It has been considered one of the sickest matches in WWE history and is rarely used because of health and safety concerns by state sports commissions.

The match has a rather sick conclusion, by setting your opponent on fire. With all the build up that these matches have, their endings leave some wanting just a little bit more. The risks associated with these matches painted the WWE into a corner with the potential finishes, making it a rather hard match to please the fans with.

Notable Match: The Undertaker vs. Kane at WWF Unforgiven in 1998

Next: No. 23

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Lumberjack Match

The WWE has had some feuds that captivate the entire locker room, and there are times where that entire locker room gets to have an up-close and personal view to watch two superstars try to end each other.

What’s better than settling your differences by beating each other to a pulp? Having the entire locker room out there to make sure you two can’t run away from each other. That’s exactly what the Lumberjack Match is intended to do.

Most of the time, the heel involved tries to run away and he’s stopped by his fellow superstars. And those superstars having their own personal issues to work out with the heel. When it’s well done, like the match that we’ve picked, it’s the perfect use of storytelling.

The only issue is that a well-done lumberjack match is a rarity, something that has plagued it’s usage. Going forward, in this new reality era that we are currently in combined with the level of talent the WWE has, we could see more Lumberjack matches take place. As with a lot of these other matches, it needs to be used at the right time, with the right superstars or else the matches can get diluted.

Notable Match: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam 2014

Next: No. 22

First Blood Match

Blood. It was a staple of the WWE history throughout the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras. It was used so much that it is painful at times to go back on the WWE Network to watch some of these matches. Despite that, it defined the era and put the WWE back on the map, which is why it appears at number 22 on our list.

The WWE was known for its use of blood as a storytelling mechanism. Two guys put it all on the line in the ring; some even willing to bleed in order to earn a victory. That use of blood is summarized during the First Blood match. The concept is very simple: make your opponent bleed first, you win.

A rather sadistic concept for a match, but during the Attitude Era anything was possible. And that is where the First Blood match was born. This match took the elements of a street fight and added to them. No pinfalls. No submissions. Just make your opponent bleed. The first one of these took place in 1998, and we haven’t seen one since 2008. It’s because of that absence that this match isn’t higher on the list, but still a match that was used to settle some real personal scores.

Notable Match: Kane vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship at King of the Ring 1998

Next: No. 21

Table Match

At number 21 on the list is the Tables Match, a type of match that isn’t used very often. When thinking about tables, many WWE fans will think of TLC matches or ladder matches or people getting slammed through the announce table. But there have been times throughout WWE history where two men step foot in the ring to destroy each other, and some hardware in the process.

“D-Von…get the tables.” Everyone that considers themselves a wrestling fan has probably screamed that once or twice while watching a WWE event. Tables have become apart of the WWE culture. Put a guy through a table, that sends a strong message.

The use of tables has become very important in the post-blood, post-headshot WWE. The tables match has been used as a very important gimmick match, to give fans something a bit edgy from time to time.

Table matches are simple. Put a guy through a table and you get your hand raised. A simple concept, yet done so effectively. Tables are setup so frequently that at any moment the match could end. It adds in an element of surprise that some WWE contests are sorely missing these days, which is nice for the fans.

Notable Match: Jeff Hardy, Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley vs. 3 Minute Warning & Rico at Survivor Series 2002

Next: No. 20

Submission Match

In terms of the WWE world, nothing is better than defeating a man in the middle of the ring. Except maybe making that man tap out.

The ultimate type of defeat would be via submission. Forcing your opponent to give in and tap out is a victory that feels a little more real than a pinfall. There’s no surprise roll-ups, distractions or interference that could cost you a victory. A submission match is about as real as the WWE can get with its in-ring action. Superstars with submission finishers are rare in the WWE, meaning that some wrestlers have to learn new moves in order to partake in one of these contests. It is because of this match type that John Cena added the STF to his arsenal of “moves of doom” that we all have grown accustomed to watching.

The submission match cracks the top 20 on the list because of it’s realism factor. Because not many superstars have submission finishes, it means we haven’t seen enough of these matches to put it higher on the list. The one we listed as the notable match,though, is one of the most important matches in WWE history and shaped an entire era.

Notable Match: Brett Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13

Next: No. 19

I Quit Match

Number 19 on our list is the I-Quit match, which has provided us with some classics like Mankind “saying” I Quit and John Cena and JBL absolutely destroying each other.

Making an opponent tap-out is very similar to beating them so badly that it’ “forces” them to say I Quit. The I Quit has normally been used as the rubber match in big time feuds (JBL/Cena, Cena/Rusev are two that come to mind).

It is the combination of a Street Fight with absolutely no rules. The referee’s lone job is to ask a superstar if they want to quit.

The I-Quit Match loses a bit of value because being forced to say I-Quit doesn’t have the same type of luster of a Last Man Standing type match. But the I-Quit match has been a storytelling device for two guys who keep beating each other, but can’t put each other away.

Now, in the current era of the WWE, the I-Quit match just doesn’t seem to mean as much as it did when John Cena and JBL stepped into the ring with the WWE Championship on the line. Without the level of violence that past I-Quit matches had, the I-Quit match feels more like a spot fest than it does two guys wanted to beat the tar out of each other.

Notable Match: The Rock vs Mankind at Royal Rumble 1999

Next: No. 18

3 Stages of Hell

At number 18 on our list is a gimmick match on steroids, where two men try to just survive.

If one of these gimmick matches isn’t enough, take a 2 out of 3 Falls Match (which was considered for the list) and add to each fall a gimmick that makes it even more dangerous.

The first of its kind took place in 2001 when Triple H and Stone Cold squared off. The most famous of these type of matches was between Triple H and Shawn Michaels, with them taking part in a street fight, then a steel cage match, then finishing with a ladder.

The only drawback to this match is the predictability factor. In terms of storytelling and money-making, it made no sense for a competitor to win the first two falls and have the match be over. That meant that every match would get to the third fall, and the only purpose of the first two was for spots.

Recently the WWE dabbled in a 3 Stages of Hell match with John Cena taking on Ryback, but as mentioned so many times on this list, the PG era makes these matches lose just a little bit of excitement.

Notable Match: Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels at Armageddon 2002

Next: No. 17

Street Fight/Extreme Rules Match

At number 17 on our list is a type of match that one promotion made famous, and made a lot of money from in the process. ECW prided itself on being edgy, violent and dangerous. It was that extreme type of wrestling that sparked the Attitude Era and the edgy programming that we saw on weekly WWE TV.

The match where rules go out the window. A Street Fight/Extreme Rules Match is saved for when two superstars absolutely cannot stand each other, and they want to destroy each other. There are some limitations to this match, which is why it finds itself so high on the list. It still brought us some amazing moments, and is a staple of WWE TV today.

Another match type that defined the Attitude Era, the Street Fight became the Extreme Rules match after ECW was relaunched and after the WWE decided to dedicate an entire PPV to the concept, aptly named Extreme Rules.

It is that dilution that puts the Extreme Rules/Street Fight Match at number 17. We are still given some great spots during these matches, as the performers do their thing to make the fans leave the arena happy.

Notable Match: Shane McMahon vs. Kurt Angle at King of the Ring 2001

Next: No. 16

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Falls Count Anywhere

Just missing the top 15 on our list is the Falls Count Anywhere match, which brought a little more sizzle to the table that the match at number 17. It would be a great moment to see a match finish in the dressing room or by the popcorn vendor out on the concourse. It was different and fun to watch. It was this concept that saw the Hardcore Title become a fun segment on TV.

Take a Street Fight/Extreme Rules Match and add in the stipulation that the match could end anywhere in the arena. That is what the Falls Count Anywhere match brings to the table.

The Falls Count Anywhere match attempted to add a new element to the concept of the Street Fight, and it did just that. After years of being an absolute brawl of a match, the new PG era of wrestling has diluted what a Falls Count Anywhere can bring out of two superstars and the type of spots they can perform.

In recent years, less variety of weapons have been used, the two superstars don’t go around the arena as much as year’s past and the overall quality of the matches have downgraded, leaving the Falls Count Anywhere match at the number 16 spot on the list.

Notable Match: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H, Unsanctioned Match at SummerSlam 2002

Next: No. 15

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Texas Bullrope Match

Sneaking into the top 15 of greatest gimmick match types of all time is a match that hasn’t been seen all that often, and one that could go down in different ways.

A battle to who can touch four corners first. When this match is mentioned, most fans will remember the classic match that JBL and Eddie Guerrero put on at the Great American Bash in 2004.

This was a different, fresh way for two wrestlers to do battle once again. This was just a month after JBL destroyed Eddie with a chair shot to the head at Judgement Day.

The Texas Bullrope Match was recently brought back in the form of a Russian Chain Match with Rusev and John Cena doing battle, a nice throwback to this classic match. There have been some older Texas Bullrope Matches that just used the rope as a weapon, without the corners being a key part of it.

When the WWE is at its best, match endings are different, fresh and unique. Fans clamor for something different than the standard ways for matches to end.It is this different way of ending a match that lands the Texas Bullrope Match at number 15.

Notable Match: JBL vs. Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship at Great American Bash in 2004

Next: No. 14

Triple Threat Match

Three men. One match. One fall to a finish. The Triple Threat Match checks in at number 14 on our list.

The Triple Threat Match is one of the bigger tests a wrestler can go through. Not only do they have one opponent, they have two and they don’t have to be pinned in order to lose. Adding that third competitor brings another element of strategy to the match,making it a tougher task for each wrestler.

From a non-kayfabe standpoint, the wrestling that needs to take place in order to put on a classic triple threat match is remarkable. Superstars need to cycle through their moves, adding in a third competitor to the mix and all three of these personalities need to gel so the match doesn’t feel disjointed and out of sort.

When a championship is on the line, the champion is at a complete disadvantage. There are no count outs or disqualifications, two of the advantages that a champion has when defending their title in a regular match.

While bringing out some great wrestling and spots, the triple threat match just leaves a little bit desired in terms of gimmick and flair. But because of the wrestling ability that it takes to put on a good triple threat match, it has given us some great memories and finds itself at number 14.

Notable Match: Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 20

Next: No. 13

No Holds Barred

The no holds barred match takes the Street Fight and attempts to one up it. While not very different in terms of rules from a Street Fight, the No Holds Barred match is a contest where the WWE has used bigger spots, and more unique weapons to sell the story of an absolute war.

Every rule gets thrown out the window, with the referee mostly having to watch two superstars take years off of each other’s career.Thumbtacks, barbed wire, flaming tables, baseball bats, kendo sticks, sledgehammers are all potential weapons that superstars found underneath the ring and used against one another.

The No Holds Barred match brought out the evil and sadistic side of many superstars, leading to some classic matches. It hasn’t been used much as of late, joining some of the other matches on this list. It still has it’s place on the list at number 13.

In the future, I wonder what a No Holds Barred match would look like between two up-and-coming NXT stars in the PG era of wrestling. There seems to be a transition from hardcore spots to pure wrestling, which for some is a welcome change. Only time will tell what the future of hardcore wrestling in the WWE will look like.

Notable Match: Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley at Backlash 2004

Next: No. 12

Iron Man Match

A set time limit with the goal of scoring more falls than your opponent. A time limit changes the game in a wrestling, a “sport” that normally can go until one person scores a pinfall or submission. Under Iron Man rules, superstars try to survive and save enough endurance to last through that time limit.

The ultimate test of a wrestler’s ability. An iron man match is saved for two superstars that know each other well, and can carry a match for at least 30 minutes with no interruptions. Most of the Iron Man Matches in WWE history, if not all of them, are sixty minutes long. An hour straight of wrestling is a large task for two wrestlers, needing to keep things fresh and fast in order to hold the audience’s attention for that time period.

An Iron Man match is one of the few matches on this list where the fewer the number, the better it is. Saved for only big names in big feuds, we have seen some pure classics in terms of Iron Man Matches. Angle/Lesnar, Benoit/Triple H and Hart/Michaels are all some of the better matches in WWE history and they happen to be Iron Man matches.

Notable Match: Brett Hart vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12

Next: No. 11

Bra and Panties Match

Finding a spot for the Bra and Panties match was a rather tough task. While it may not have the flair and excitement, in terms of spots and violence, the Bra and Panties match was a key part of WWE TV during the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras. It did the women of that time no favors, except getting them on the screen. The women of current generation are trying to buck that trend, and are doing a nice job of it.

A rather controversial decision to put the Bra and Panties Match inside the top-15, but at the end of the day it revolutionize the women’s division. It was must see TV. Women’s “wrestling” was actually worth watching at the time, whether or not it is degrading.

The WWE used the women’s sex appeal in order to get viewers and eyeballs to their show. And since then we have rarely seen much skin from the ladies, or anything close to the bra and panties match. For good reason, as there has been a change in women’s wrestling and they are able to put on a match just as good as the men.

Bra and Panties matches are a thing of the past, and that is a good thing. Their history gets them a spot on the list, at number 11.

Notable Match: Lita vs. Trish Stratus for the WWE Women’s Championship on the October 23rd, 2000 edition of RAW

Next: No. 10

Survivor Series Tag Match

Creeping into the top-10 of our list is a tag team match that made the Survivor Series PPV one of the “Big-4” and must watch wrestling.

The tag match on steroids. Two teams of five, normally with some stipulation involved took part in an elimination style tag match that normally has drama, quality wrestling and storytelling like no other tag match can provide. 10 wrestlers, with 10 different individual mindsets sometime putting their differences aside to work together for one common goal.

It’s limited to once a year, at the Survivor Series PPV, which gives it a bit more of importance, as those picked to participate are the only ones that will take part in that match for that year. Superstars are put in make-shift factions to take down some sort of bragging rights, or a prize that has been put on the line.

The only negative has been the lack of meaning behind some of these matches, with it feeling more forced as superstars are thrown together in order to put on a match. That seemed to change this past year with Team Cena vs. Team Authority and hopefully that is a trend that continues.

Notable Match: Team Austin (Shawn Michaels, Booker T, RVD and the Dudley Boyz) vs. Team Bischoff (Chris Jericho, Christian, Randy Orton, Mark Henry and Scott Steiner) at Survivor Series 2003

Next: No. 9

Royal Rumble Match

Arguably one of the biggest matches of the WWE year, only beat by the main event of WrestleMania. It just so happens that those two matches are connected, with the winner of this battle royal type match earning the opportunity of a lifetime.

Every year, superstars look to win one of the biggest matches in WWE: the Royal Rumble Match. To the winner go the spoils of main eventing WrestleMania, when in actuality is many of these superstars real dreams. The win means a chance to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, the biggest championship in the WWE. The Royal Rumble marks the beginning of the symbolic road to WrestleMania, with only two months separating the winner of this match from this dream opportunity.

The Royal Rumble is the chance for every superstar to vault themselves into the main event scene by outlasting 29 other WWE superstars. Partnerships, tag teams and friendships are thrown out the window because of how big this opportunity is. We are treated with over an hour of surprise returns, amazing pops, smarky crowds and interesting styles of wrestling. That doesn’t include the year Kofi Kingston elimination spot that is just fun to watch.

The importance of the match along with the surprise entrances earns the Royal Rumble a spot in the top-10.

Notable Match: 2001 Royal Rumble Match

Next: No. 8

Ladder Match

The ladder match changed the game for the WWE. The idea of using a ladder for a weapon was foreign for a long time before the ladder match changed the game.

And it was revolutionized by Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon during their WrestleMania 10 ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. Since those two tore the house down, the use of ladders has been a staple of WWE. The ladder has become a key part of WWE storytelling, with ladder matches being ranked among some of the best in WWE history.

Then a stable of tag teams came along and re-revolutionized what could be done with a ladder. Those three tag teams provided WWE fans with great spots, and goosebumps type moments that changed what the WWE was able to do in the squared circle.
Today, the ladder match is used for a different purpose which we will get to before this list is over. The ladder is one of the few tools that the WWE has maximized their use of and they have kept it fresh over the years.

It was the match that could be attributed with starting the trend of gimmick matches we see today.

Notable Match: Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania 2000

Next: No. 7

Steel Cage Match

The lite version of the number three match on our list, the Steel Cage match is an old classic match that feuds were settled in.

Four walls of steel with nowhere to run or hide. Heels that stepped foot into the cage seemingly were about to get the wrath of the face they have avoided and cheating for months. The only place to escape was up, as in scaling the cage in the hopes that the heights didn’t get to you.

Two men entered a cage, and most of the time one man left standing with the other man needing to be helped out. Recently, the cage match has lost it’s appeal as a special match because of the new PG era restrictions on what these wrestlers can do.

Back in the day, a steel cage match was a rarity. Then the attitude era came along and things became violent; the cage become another toy for Vince McMahon and his superstars to use for the ratings war. And it worked. While a classic match, the steel cage was still a sight to see and meant something when it was used.

Despite the current day restrictions the cage match has given us enough memories and played a huge role in WWE’s history. That’s good enough for 7th on our list.

Notable Match: JBL vs Big Show in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match at No Way Out 2005

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Buried Alive Match

Just missing out on the top five is a match that really wasn’t a match, but more a battle to survive with more than just a victory at stake. As a kid, this match was a sight to see. You thought that some of your favorite wrestlers could die by partaking in this match. It was about as real as it could get it for these wrestlers.

Another gimmick attached to the character of the Undertaker, the Buried Alive match is the quintessential psychological warfare match for a superstar facing the Undertaker. How can you bury something that won’t die? It felt like a lose-lose for any superstar stepping in the ring with the Dead Man.

Despite that, some superstars would attempt to bury the Undertaker in a grave built at the top of the entrance ramp.

In kayfabe, this was a career defining match. Bury the Undertaker and you avoided death. Get buried and your career and life could be over. It added a level of drama and realism to feuds that was missing at times.

There have been five of these in WWE history, with the Undertaker taking part in all five. The drama and realism that the buried alive match brought to the table is why this match is at number six on our list.

Notable Match: The Undertaker vs. Mankind at In Your House 11: Buried Alive

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Last Man Standing

Squeaking its way into the top five is the Last Man Standing match, where even more rules go out the window.

The ultimate combination of street fight, no holds barred and I-Quit wrapped into one. The rules were simple, beat your opponent so bad that he cannot respond to a 10 count. Just like the I-Quit match, the referee’s goal was move of a supervisor than of an official.

Last Man Standing matches were grueling battles were wrestlers put their careers and bodies on the line in order to score victories and in some cases, championships. The men that step foot in the ring to compete in a Last Man Standing match do so knowing that this could be the last time they ever wrestle again.

A Last Man Standing match was saved for feuds that weren’t about pure victories anymore and for those that had personal grudges that they needed to settle in a good old fashion fight.

The Last Man Standing match, like so many others mentioned on this list, lost some luster when superstars were restricted in what spots they could do. But there have been some of these matches in recent memory that have been very, very good and that is how the Last Man Standing match crept into the top five.

Notable Match: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho at Fully Loaded 2000

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

This could arguably be the match type of the decade. The Money in the Bank Ladder match is one of the more intriguing ideas that the WWE has put together, because of the match itself and it’s year long aftermath. It all start at WrestleMania 21 and has evolved into something much, much bigger.

The WWE has a habit of taking a gimmick, adding something to it and making it better. And that is what they did with the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. A ladder match with a WWE Championship Match contract hanging above the ring. Some would consider it the match of the PG Era. The match itself and then the ensuing year of potential cash-ins have made the MITB match must see WWE, because a cash in could happen at any moment. Those cash-ins are some of the bigger pops that the WWE has seen in this decade, making the MITB match a hit with this generation of fans.

It has gotten so big that the WWE has devoted an entire PPV to it and while other gimmick style PPV’s have failed, the Money in the Bank PPV has been a rather nice change of pace and has been very successful.

Notable Match: Edge vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Kane vs. Christian at WrestleMania 21

Next: No. 3

WWE.com

Hell in a Cell

The number three match on our list is the match that defines the character of Mankind, the Hell in a Cell structure.

This match type was probably the most fear gimmick in WWE history, until our number two dethroned it. The Hell in a Cell made a Steel Cage look like a sandbox. It was the match that saw Mankind get thrown off the top of the cell and through the spanish announce table.

Superstars have said that there are no winners and losers in Hell in a Cell, there are just survivors. And those that entered the cell had one goal in mind: be able to leave the cell in one piece.
Like other violent gimmick match types on this list, the Hell in a Cell has become less violent year after year, taking away part of the mystic that the cell structure brought to the squared circle. It can still provide some great entertainment, like we saw with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, in this new age of wrestling.

But like other gimmick matches, the WWE has diluted it by making it its own event every year, taking away the unpredictability of the match taking place. It’s history and the OMG moments it has left behind still puts it at number three on our list.

Notable Match: Undertaker vs Mankind at King of the Ring 1998

Next: No. 2

Elimination Chamber

The number two match on our list is the match of the new generation of WWE. This structure outdid every other structure that the WWE had put in front of our eyes before. To this day it is used, for a while as it’s own gimmick PPV but now used as a WWE Network promotion tool.

If the number one match is the match of the Attitude Era, the Elimination Chamber is the match of the Ruthless Aggression Era. Created by Triple H, the chamber was a structure that out did the Hell in a Cell and the Steel Cage, something that nobody thought could be done. It was a rather unique concept , combining elements from the Hell in a Cell Match, Royal Rumble Match, Survivor Series Match and WCW’s WarGame matches into an environment that the WWE had never seen before.

Two miles of chain is used to create this structure. In history, there have been 19 chamber matches since the first one in 2002. And it was that first one, that set the stage for what is now over a decade of destruction, violence and career changing moments. Even in this new era of WWE, the Elimination Chamber is still a violent, career defining structure and match type that captivates the WWE Universe.

Notable Match: Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Booker T vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane at Survivor Series 2002

Next: No. 1

1. TLC Match

Clocking in at number one is perhaps the match the defined an era and an entire division. The tag team division was stacked with teams like Edge & Christian, The Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz, presenting us with classic match after classic match. Then they introduced tables, ladders and chairs to the equation. Left in it’s place is a legacy of matches that are what the era was about: absolutely destroying your opponents in whatever way you could and potentially hurting yourself in the process.

Edge and Christian brought the chair element. The Hardy’s were known for their high-flying, high spot abilities and the Dudley’s always brought the tables to the party. Put all three of those together and you have the greatest gimmick match in WWE history. These six men were risk takers, willing to put themselves in harm’s way in order to create some of the bigger pops the WWE has seen.

This match combined violence with incredible spots and storytelling in a way that WWE hasn’t been able to repeat. It helps that these three tag teams revolutionized these concepts with how good they could perform their craft in the ring, but still the TLC match is the greatest gimmick match we have seen in the WWE.

Which match types did we miss? What other notable matches could have made this list? We would love to hear what you have to say in the comments below.

Notable Match: Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz at SummerSlam 2000

Next: WrestleMania Card Projections 3.0

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Chris Schubert

Chris is a journalism student at Arizona State University, where sports run his life. A lifelong Mets fan, the journey has been long for this recently turned 21-year-old. He enjoys turning his passion for a sport into a career.