Wrestling has evolved over and over again over the years. It started off as a match between two wrestlers ending with pinfall. Then came the submissions, DQ’s and count outs. Following this weapons were used and blood was shed. This evolution went on as the years went by and wrestling kept on changing to offer a fresh product.
More extreme and reckless match types popped up in the minds of promoters, especially during the Attitude Era. Although WWE would never do balls-out-insanity of the original ECW due to the PG-era, WWE could definitely bring back some select hardcore matches as special attractions.
This article looks at matches that WWE used to do in the past, but have been mostly sidelined due to the PG nature of the current product, which could refresh the product and help with dwindling ratings.
5: First Blood
In the current PG-era of WWE blood is as uncommon as decent main roster commentary. Fans have been complaining about the lack of blood on WWE programming since the advent of the current era. Blood acts as a visual signal to fans that a feud had become violent and it adds to the story. One type of match WWE could bring back is the First Blood Match.
First Blood matches, as the names suggests, ends when one of the wrestlers bleed. Although this traditionally happens when one of the wrestler blades, there’s no place for blading in the modern era and the WWE could easily use blood packs.
4: Casket Match
The casket match is the first of two match types associated with The Undertaker that have made their way to this list. The first casket match took place between The Undertaker and Kamala all the way back in 1992. Casket matches are really dangerous, especially owing to the sharp unprotected edge of said casket. Just ask Shawn Michaels, who suffered an almost career ending back injury during a casket match with The Undertaker.
Although casket matches have taken place in recent years in WWE, they just haven’t had the same level of brutality as the previous matches. Lucha Underground’s casket match between Fenix and Mil Muertes on the other hand was a thing of brutal beauty. To people who haven’t seen that match, I highly recommend it. It shows how WWE should do casket matches.
3: Inferno Match
Inferno matches are really really dangerous for the competitors. The object is literally to set your opponent on fire. The ring is surrounded by fire that is carefully controlled by technicians. WWE.com calls the inferno match “the sickest match of all time”. Since its introduction in 1998, there have only been 4 inferno matches in WWE history.
With ratings dwindling and WWE unable to offer genuinely new ideas, going back to use something as rarely used as an inferno match could help WWE bring back interest as well as create new stars. Obviously, the match can’t be a regular occurrence and should just be a one off bout for one of the big PPV’s.
With the gimmick being associated with Kane, it could be used to elevate a younger star who could destroy Kane utterly and claim the match type to be his own.
2: Buried Alive
The buried alive match started in WWE all the way back in 1996 in a showdown between The Undertaker and Mankind. As the name suggests, the point of the match is to bury your opponent under six feet of dirt. The match was designed to be a vehicle to progress The Undertaker’s gimmick to make fans think he buries people. In fact, The Undertaker has been involved in all 5 Buried Alive matches that have taken place on WWE programming with the last one taking place in 2010.
With The Undertaker’s career winding down there’s a chance now for WWE to bring back the Buried Alive match. It would be a good way to retire The Undertaker while getting over younger talent who could possibly be associated with the gimmick match for when The Undertaker won’t be around. Someone like Bray Wyatt or Finn Balor could fit that bill.
1: WarGames
WarGames is a legendary gimmick match. The gimmick originated in the old NWA and more famously, later in WCW. The match is fought inside a steel cage that surrounds TWO wrestling rings that are placed next to each other. The match is fought between two teams of four or five members each. The match begins with one member of each team entering the cage. Every five minutes another wrestler entered the cage, the order of which was decided by coin toss.
WarGames has never taken place in the WWE but recently rumours have been swirling around that WWE are planning to bring it back for a big angle this summer possibly involving The Club and The Shield.
