Pick Your Poison #10 - Your favourite Gimmick Match

gerrybbadd

For this episode of Pick your Poison, its gimmick matches. These kinds of matches have been around for ages, and traditionally have been used to blow of feuds, or help sell PPVS - all before WWE started PPVs themed on gimmicks, such as TLC, or Hell in a Cell. So, whats your favourite from the below list?

Ladder Match:



First introduced to the WWF by Bret Hart, this match reached great fame at Wrestlemania 10, when Razor Ramon & HBK faced off to decide who was the Undisputed Intercontinental Champ. There have been many memorable Ladder Matches down through the ages.

Cage Match:



Traditionally used as a blow off for major feuds, Cage Matches were seen as a brutal & major event. Designed to prevent outside interference, great tension could be built throughout as each wrestler tried to make it to the outside. The proverbial "Crimson Mask" would be worn by most wrestlers at match end!

Hell In A Cell:



The Hell in A Cell is an extension of the original cage match idea. The very first HIAC featured HBK & Undertaker. However, it was Taker that also made this match infamous, when he threw Mankind from (and through) the top. A great match where used sparingly, this gimmick is in danger of becoming oversaturated, and less important feeling, due to the annual PPV that has spawned from it.

TLC Match:



Basically a Ladder Match with Tables & Chairs thrown in, this came to promenance in the awesome tag triple threats featuring Edge / Christian, The Hardys & The Dudleys. Again, in danger of oversaturation, as has also become a PPV.

Battle Royale:



The Battle Royale match has long been used in the wrestling industry, and is one of the more exciting events. Andre the Giant was a specialist in this match type. Some may argue that Vince perfected this match type with the Royal Rumble, which differs somewhat from traditional Battle Royales, as wrestlers enter separately, rather than all starting in the ring at the same time.

War Games:



Many people would love to see this match make a return in WWE. Used mainly in WCW, this match feautured 2 rings, surrounded by a massive steel cage. There were different variations of this match, but mainly had 2 teams of 4 wrestlers each, competing.

Other:

I've bound to have missed many favourites, death match, table match. What else could be considered? Vote above!

Alfred Borden

cage match for me, i know its not as epic as the HIAC, but always got the big match feel from them especially going back a few years now. Also liked the way the match could be won in multiple ways so the cage match for me.

Moneymaker

Gotta be the ladder match.

The most traditional gimmick match, and has rarely disappointed.

From Razor/HBK, to HHH/Rock, to spawning the TLC matches the Hardyz/Dudleyz/E&C made famous.

The MITB match, the ladder match has had the most impact in the Wrestling business and often produced its most memorable moments.

chopperbyrne

The Royal Rumble by far.

Easily the best gimmick match of all time.

Like Survivor Series style elimination tag matches too when done right.

da_shee

Battle Royales with Royal Rumble top of the list definitely for me.

Ladder matches a close second.

Omackeral

Great thread, tough question.

I think the ladder match is king. Whether it's a one on one, a Money in the Bank or a tag team variant, this gets my vote. The thing about a TLC is that it's actually no different from a ladder match rules wise. You don't have to put your opponent through a table or hot them with a chair, it's just encouraged. I reckon to be eligible to retrieve the belt, you should first have to use a chair and smash someone through a table.

Also enjoyed Lumberjack matches. They used to have the wrestlers in flannel shirts back in the day which was cool.

Honorable Mentions : Casket Match, Buried Alive, Falls Count Anywhere and Iron Man match.

LOTD

I'd go for the TLC match, when it was first announced it was so crazy (I know ECW did it first), it upped the ante for from your basic ladder match, the Summerslam 2000 and Wrestlemania 17 matches were great, also the four way tag match on Smackdown. Also Omackeral, I think if you were to introduce the rules you said, it would kill the flow of the match.

GTR63

Love the Rumble match despite its hit/miss nature its something you always look forward to. Chamber match is underrated too. Bit jaded by the MITB/Multi Man Ladder matches at this stage, same thing happened with the Ultimate X match.

chopperbyrne

Just remembered the Championship Scramble match. That was good fun.

beakerjoe

Royal Rumble for me. The surprises, the spots, the unpredictability (in some years) and the main prize. Rumble all day for me

SimonQuinlank

Elimination Chamber is my favourite of all time,but off that list I'd say the classic ladder match,especially tag team ladder matches.Just seemed a lot less convoluted then the current stunt heavy TLC matches,and as Shawn/Razor and Hardy's/Edge+Christian proved they can be phenomenal if you can get the psychology right.

I want to vote for battle royal but it has to be the royal rumble format with countdown and music etc.

A normal battle royal on the other hand where everybody is in the ring from the start is pretty ****.

Moneymaker

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Just remembered the Championship Scramble match. That was good fun.

Cluster**** imo.

SimonQuinlank

Thought it was good craic and something a bit different,plus where else would we have gotten this?!

GTR63

Moneymaker wrote: »

Cluster**** imo.

SimonQuinlank wrote: »

Thought it was good craic and something a bit different,plus where else would we have gotten this?!

Actually when I read Moneymalers post the image that came into my head was your pic

CSF

It has to be between Battle Royale and Ladder matches for me, mostly because of the excitement of Royal Rumble (usually my favourite PPV) and the impact of the MITB briefcases (the matches arent half bad too).

Battle Royale for me.