5 WWE Superstars who created popular gimmick matches: Who invented the Elimination Chamber and MITB matches?

One of the most interesting aspects of WWE, or pro wrestling in general, is the idea of gimmick matches. A good WWE pay-per-view match card will always feature a bunch of gimmick matches in addition to traditional singles and multi-man contests.

WWE's storied history is chock full of some of the greatest gimmick matches that fans have witnessed on their TV screens and inside arenas. The Ladder match, Hell In A Cell, Iron Man match, and Buried Alive match are just a few of the most popular gimmick matches the WWE Universe has seen over the past several decades.

In the following list, we will take a look at some of the biggest and most popular gimmick matches in WWE history. We will also focus on WWE Superstars who actually came up with these matches behind the scenes.

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#5 Pat Patterson created the Royal Rumble match

Pat Patterson

WWE legend Pat Patterson recently passed away at the age of 79. He was the very first WWE Intercontinental Champion, but the fans will also remember him for being the one to create the Royal Rumble match. Back in 2016, Pat Patterson sat down with WWE and opened up on creating the concept of the Royal Rumble match.

I felt it: every instinct in my body told me it would work. So I finally brought the idea to Vince. He laughed at the concept at first, saying that an hour was way too long to keep fans interested.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon wasn't impressed at first

Vince McMahon wasn't thrilled with the concept at first, but later discussed the idea with USA Network in a meeting. The idea was accepted immediately and McMahon told Patterson to start working on the same. Patterson produced the first Royal Rumble match, and the rest is history. The free-for-all is now a yearly staple in WWE and is regarded as one of the most entertaining matches in pro wrestling.

#4 Dusty Rhodes created the WarGames match

Dusty Rhodes

WarGames is currently one of NXT's biggest attractions, and the recent NXT TakeOver: WarGames event didn't disappoint one bit. WarGames is one of the craziest match gimmicks out there and was first conceived by WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes, however, wasn't affiliated with WWE when he came up with the match. While watching Mad Max: Beyond the Thunder Dome, The American Dream came up with the idea of a WarGames match, back when he was in WCW. The first-ever WarGames match took place at The Great American Bash 1987 pay-per-view. The match saw Dusty Rhodes and his band of babyfaces defeating The Four Horsemen.

WWE NXT presents a WarGames event every year

The match concept became a big hit among the audience, and fans got to witness some of the biggest multi-man feuds culminate in WarGames outings. WCW was bought off by Vince McMahon in 2001, but WWE didn't use the match concept for years on end. At TakeOver: WarGames 2017, the match made its much-awaited return and is now an annual event under the NXT umbrella. The latest NXT TakeOver: WarGames event featured two WarGames bouts, with The Undisputed Era defeating Team McAfee in the main event of the show.

#3 Triple H created the Elimination Chamber match

Triple H

At Survivor Series 2002, WWE presented an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight title. This match was created by Eric Bischoff in kayfabe, but it was WWE EVP Triple H who came up with the idea behind the scenes. Triple H revealed the same in an interview with WWE's official website.

I'm the one who invented it. I drew a square cage and put four other squares in the corners, and I said, 'It's six guys. Two start and every few minutes, another cage opens and one more guy enters the fight, and everyone fights until there's one guy left.' I thought it could be interesting because, if the Superstars involved have issues, then there's intrigue.

The first Elimination Chamber match at WWE Survivor Series 2002 was a big hit

The very-first Elimination Chamber match saw Triple H defending his World title against Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Kane, and Booker T. Shawn Michaels won the first Elimination Chamber match to become the World Heavyweight Champion. The WWE Universe loved the concept, and the match would go on to become a mainstay in the company.

#2 Bray Wyatt created the Firefly Fun House match

The Fiend

At WrestleMania 36, we witnessed one of the most unique matches in WWE history, when John Cena faced off against Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Fun House match. The outing was more of a movie than an actual match, but it certainly did its job of entertaining the WWE Universe. It was later revealed that Bray Wyatt himself came up with the match, and he was heavily involved in the production.

The Firefly Fun House match was executed by WWE to perfection

Bruce Prichard and John Cena were also involved in the production of the match, and the final product came out way better than anyone must have expected. The match was essentially Bray Wyatt getting into Cena's head and the WWE legend witnessing the characters that he donned in the past, including the character he donned during his first appearance on SmackDown in 2002. Cena eventually lost the match, and Wyatt thus exacted revenge for the loss he had suffered against the 16-time World Champion at WrestleMania XXX, six years ago.

#1 Chris Jericho came up with the Money In The Bank Ladder match

Chris Jericho

On the road to WWE WrestleMania 21 in 2005, Chris Jericho came up with the Money In The Bank Ladder match and suggested the idea to Eric Bischoff, who green-lit it. Behind the scenes, Chris Jericho was responsible for the invention of the gimmick as well.

“So I came up with the idea to do a match, like a ladder match. A six-way ladder match. And Brian Gewirtz, who was a good writer at the time said, ‘well what’s at stake?’ So I said, ‘well why don’t you have a contract where the winner gets a title shot the next night?’ Then Brian said, ‘Well, why don’t you make it you can use it any time over the following year and you can cash it in at any time?’

Chris Jericho then took the idea to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon loved the concept but added the briefcase to the match so that the winner would have something to carry around with him and use it on occasions. The first Money In The Bank match was won by Edge, who went on to cash it in on John Cena to win his first WWE title. Edge later won several World titles and became one of the biggest heels of the 21st century. The Money In The Bank match got its own WWE pay-per-view in 2010.