5 Gimmick Matches WWE Needs To Bring Back

The twelfth annual Extreme Rules is upon us, and no doubt, the event will come equipped with its usual heaps of gimmick matches. A run-through of the prior eleven incarnations turns up the usual suspects ad nauseum: steel cage clashes, Last Man Standing brawls, limb-twisting submission matches, and, of course, the titular "Extreme Rules" match - which is not to be confused with street fights and "No Holds Barred" battles, because they are completely different than Extreme Rules matches. For reasons.

But yes, Extreme Rules is generally a card loaded up with gimmick match after gimmick match, because that's what Extreme Rules calls for. While there's nothing wrong with the concept (it's WCW Uncensored but, you know, not awful), I do feel that WWE is neglecting some very valuable match types, especially as the cages and Last Man Standing deals get overdone.

Bouts like hair matches, strap matches, and chain matches have been dusted off for the event in years past, but there are a few more out there, presently trapped inside the mythological box-o-gimmicks. And it doesn't even *have* to be Extreme Rules for these bad boys to deservedly see the light of day once more.

The twelfth annual Extreme Rules is upon us, and no doubt, the event will come equipped with its usual heaps of gimmick matches. A run-through of the prior eleven incarnations turns up the usual suspects ad nauseum: steel cage clashes, Last Man Standing brawls, limb-twisting submission matches, and, of course, the titular "Extreme Rules" match - which is not to be confused with street fights and "No Holds Barred" battles, because they are completely different than Extreme Rules matches. For reasons.

But yes, Extreme Rules is generally a card loaded up with gimmick match after gimmick match, because that's what Extreme Rules calls for. While there's nothing wrong with the concept (it's WCW Uncensored but, you know, not awful), I do feel that WWE is neglecting some very valuable match types, especially as the cages and Last Man Standing deals get overdone.

Bouts like hair matches, strap matches, and chain matches have been dusted off for the event in years past, but there are a few more out there, presently trapped inside the mythological box-o-gimmicks. And it doesn't even *have* to be Extreme Rules for these bad boys to deservedly see the light of day once more.

5. First Blood Matches

WWE may have drastically cut back on the letting of blood over the past 12 years, but come on - ever since Lesnar nicked his forehead at WrestleMania 31, we've gradually seen more and more bloodshed at major WWE events. That it's more sparing now is a good thing, though.

Having a First Blood match in an era where there isn't crimson spilled on every show would aid the gimmick. In 2020, guaranteeing blood from one of two enemies inside the combat zone wields just a little more intrigue. Even then, image-conscious WWE may be skittish about doing this.

4. Scaffold Matches

The risk here is inherent, as plummeting from a considerable height down to the canvas is no picnic. However, you could argue that Hell in a Cell and ladder matches (as well as whatever Shane McMahon's doing) already go the stuntman route, so why *not* erect that old scaffold?

In this era of cinematic wrestling, you could put production around it, filming the finish so that the inevitable descent is done with camera tricks. If you can minimize that risk, and you have a story worthy of the gimmick, then scaffold matches may as well see new life.

4. Scaffold Matches

The risk here is inherent, as plummeting from a considerable height down to the canvas is no picnic. However, you could argue that Hell in a Cell and ladder matches (as well as whatever Shane McMahon's doing) already go the stuntman route, so why *not* erect that old scaffold?

In this era of cinematic wrestling, you could put production around it, filming the finish so that the inevitable descent is done with camera tricks. If you can minimize that risk, and you have a story worthy of the gimmick, then scaffold matches may as well see new life.

3. Dog Collar Matches

Late last year, rumors had it that the Roman Reigns-King Corbin rivalry (with the insipid "Big Dog" jokes) was going to culminate with WWE's grand canine shutting Corbin up in a match where both men wore studded collars, and were tethered together with a chain.

Sadly, it never came to be, and it's a shame because wrestling's seen some wonderfully brutal dog collar bouts. Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper had an absolute war at Starrcade 1983, which would admittedly be tough for a safer, sanitized WWE to replicate.

3. Dog Collar Matches

Late last year, rumors had it that the Roman Reigns-King Corbin rivalry (with the insipid "Big Dog" jokes) was going to culminate with WWE's grand canine shutting Corbin up in a match where both men wore studded collars, and were tethered together with a chain.

Sadly, it never came to be, and it's a shame because wrestling's seen some wonderfully brutal dog collar bouts. Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper had an absolute war at Starrcade 1983, which would admittedly be tough for a safer, sanitized WWE to replicate.

2. Towel Matches

It's a more dramatic rendition of a submission match. At the 1994 Survivor Series, Bret Hart defended the WWF title against Bob Backlund in a match that could only end when your cornerman (in this case, Davey Boy Smith or Owen Hart) throws in a towel to signal surrender.

What followed was a brilliant ploy on behalf of Owen (using his parents) to screw Bret out of the championship. And that's where a towel match comes in handy - the drama you can wring out of the cornerperson's emotions is a nice switch from submission bouts as usual.

1. Inferno Matches

The "Ring of Fire" match from the 2013 SummerSlam was a lame take on the original bout, as well as a paled use of a Johnny Cash standard. Ring of Fire was just walls of flames used to trap the wrestlers, but Inferno matches? Those were human flambe done well (or well done?)

With Undertaker and Kane long past their days as anything but nostalgia acts, perhaps it's time for somebody else to inherit the the "immolation creation". Bray Wyatt, Aleister Black, and Karrion Kross seem like just the guys to send their foes down in flames.