10 WWE Gimmick Matches you may not remember

Throughout the history of WWE, there have been some masterpieces when it comes to gimmick matches.

From the edge-of-your-seat Royal Rumble match to the barbaric and unforgiving Elimination Chamber, WWE has introduced us to some of the most incredible match types that we've ever seen.

There have, on occasion, been some questionable gimmick matches that have been swept under the ring fairly swiftly.

We all have our favorite gimmick matches that we love to watch, and WWE has even turned some of those into standalone monthly pay-per-views such as Hell in a Cell and Money in the Bank.

Gimmick matches can often be the end game for many rivalries in WWE, whether short-term or long-term. It can also be used throughout the course of a feud, to enhance it even further.

That being said, let's take a look at 10 WWE gimmick matches that you may not remember.

#10 Biker Chain Match - A gimmick match introduced at No Mercy 2003

2003 is regarded as one of the best years in SmackDown history.

The main event scene consisted of elite superstars such as Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, The Big Show, and The Undertaker.

Following his incredible 60-minute Ironman match with Kurt Angle on an episode of SmackDown, Brock Lesnar moved on to defend his WWE Championship at No Mercy 2003.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and then SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon were embroiled in a father-daughter feud at the same time.

Vince, who had Brock on his side, was seething when it was revealed the Undertaker would face Brock in the first-ever Biker Chain match on pay-per-view.

The match rules are fairly simple: The Biker Chain itself would be hanging on a pole in one corner of the ring, and the first person to retrieve it could use it on their opponent.

The match itself was filled with shenanigans, with the Full Blooded Italians (Nunzio, Johnny Stamboli, and Chuck Palumbo) and Vince McMahon getting involved, costing The Undertaker the match.

Vince McMahon and The Undertaker went on to face each other in a Buried Alive match at the upcoming Survivor Series event.

The Biker Chain match, however, has not been seen since this infamous night in Baltimore.

There have been similarities to the Biker Chain match happening, with other objects being placed on the pole such as guitars and kendo sticks.

#9 Last Ride Match - A gimmick match introduced at No Mercy 2004

During the agonizing reign of JBL as WWE Champion, a new gimmick match was brought to the table during his feud with The Undertaker.

At No Mercy 2004, the Last Ride match was introduced by then SmackDown general manager, Teddy Long.

The match itself, saw a hearse be brought stage-side, and the only way to win the match was by placing your incapacitated opponent into the back of the hearse.

JBL ultimately won the match after Heidenreich attacked The Undertaker, thus helping JBL finish off the deadman to retain his WWE Championship.

The Last Ride gimmick match was used once more at Armageddon in a match between Mr. Kennedy and the Phenom.

#8 Tuxedo Match - A gimmick match introduced at Starrcade 1984

Santino before his Tuxedo Match with Ricardo Rodriguez

You're probably thinking, 'What on earth is a Tuxedo Match?', so let us explain.

The rules are fairly straightforward, the first person to remove a tuxedo from their opponent wins the match.

Surprisingly, this gimmick match happened numerous times in WWE, with the last being in 2012 between Santino Marella and Ricardo Rodriguez.

The late, legendary Howard Finkel has competed in two of these matches and lost on both occasions to fellow ring announcers Tony Chimel and Lilian Garcia.

The Tuxedo Match hasn't been seen on WWE television in nearly ten years, and it may be for the best that it stays that way.

#7 Hog Pen Match - A gimmick match introduced at In Your House 1995

Imagine a gimmick match where to win, you must throw your opponent into a hog pen filled with mud and excrement. Not us either, but it has happened to Vickie Guerrero and Henry O. Godwinn in WWE.

A match simply to embarrass the opponent, is won by throwing your opponent into the hog pen.

The first of its kind happened in 1995 at In Your House 5, between now WWE Executive Triple H and Henry O. Godwinn.

The second happened between Vickie Guerrero and Santina Marella (Santino Marella's twin sister and Miss WrestleMania) at Extreme Rules in 2009.

The gimmick match hasn't been used since, but variations have happened with Stephanie McMahon facing Vickie Guerrero in a Mud Match on an episode of Monday Night Raw.

#6 Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match - A gimmick match introduced at No Way Out 2005

Barbed Wire Steel Cage match? Nope, this is not Extreme Championship Wrestling.

The first-ever Barbed Wire Steel Cage match took place at No Way Out in 2005, during the tail end of JBL's reign as WWE Champion.

To stop JBL's Cabinet from interfering, then SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long announced this gimmick match against The Big Show.

The odds were stacked against JBL, but he ultimately came out victorious after The Big Show choke-slammed the champion through the ring, only for JBL to crawl out underneath with his two feet touching the floor first.

The unique gimmick match, only used once by WWE, set off a wave of 'extreme' matches that would come within the next 12 months.

#5 Bar Room Brawl - A gimmick introduced at Vengeance 2003

Usually, you'd see these kinds of gimmick matches on the weekends at many bars around the world.

JBL and Ron Simmons, then known as the APA, declared an APA Bar Room Invitational for Vengeance in 2003.

The rules were fairly straightforward, the last man standing in the bar was declared the winner.

To be eliminated, you would need to be pinned, submitted, or just too drunk to continue to compete.

The match saw a whole host of talent appear, including legendary talents such as Doink the Clown and Brother Love. As you would expect, JBL, as Bradshaw, ultimately won the match, last eliminating Brother Love.

Another Bar Brawl took place more recently with a match between Jeff Hardy and Sheamus on SmackDown in 2020.

#4 Championship Scramble Match - A gimmick match introduced at Unforgiven 2008

The Championship Scramble match was something unique that we hadn't seen on WWE television before.

To this day, many fans around the world hope that this particular gimmick match will one day return.

The rules of the match: two superstars start, with new superstars entering the match every five minutes. Whoever scores a pinfall or submission during the match becomes interim champion.

The only way to win is to be the interim champion when the match ends, which is five minutes after the final superstar has entered. A great concept right?

The interim champion during the match would not be recorded as an official reign.

Three Championship Scramble matches took place at Unforgiven 2008, and the gimmick match has not been used since.

We will always remember The Brian Kendrick's short reign as interim WWE Champion.

#3 Kennel From Hell Match - A gimmick match introduced at Unforgiven 1999

The infamous Kennel from Hell match took place during the midst of the Attitude Era at Unforgiven 1999.

It featured Al Snow as he battled Big Boss Man in the gimmick match.

The set-up itself featured a steel cage surrounding the ring, with a Hell in a Cell structure on top of it.

Guard dogs were placed in between the Steel Cage and Hell in a Cell structure on the floor, and the only way to win was to escape both structures, avoiding the dogs.

On paper, it sounds like a fairly alright concept, but in reality it didn't quite come off and has been labeled as one of the worst gimmick matches in WWE history.

Al Snow won the match to retain his Hardcore Championship, but the gimmick match hasn't returned since 1999.

#2 Parking Lot Brawl Match - A gimmick match introduced 2003

The Parking Lot Brawl is quite simple. One wrestler challenged another to step outside into the car park for an all-out brawl.

The only way to win this gimmick match is to pin, submit or knockout your opponent, with all three permitted anywhere in the parking lot.

John Cena has appeared in two Parking Lot Brawl matches in WWE. Once against Eddie Guerrero and second against JBL.

There have been a number of these matches over the years, with the most recent being between Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream, known as the 'Backlot Brawl' for the NXT Championship.

#1 Lion's Den - A gimmich match PPV introduced in 1998

During the height of the Attitude Era, WWE brought in a new gimmick match called the Lion's Den.

The Lion's Den is a small octagonal cage which was a play on Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The only way to win the match is by knocking your opponent unconscious or making them submit.

It was brought in as Ken Shamrock's specialty match, similar to that of The Undertaker with his Buried Alive match, Casket Match and so on.

Shamrock faced Owen Hart and Steve Blackman inside the Lions' Den, and won both of those matches.

The match hasn't been used since in WWE, as there hasn't really been a character similar to that of Ken Shamrock to be able to promote it.

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