Sort of became interested in Wrestling again after a 10 year hiatus and was curious on peoples thoughts on Stipulation matches and what the audience likes or doesn't... what's overused or under utilized.

My views:

3 way matches- makes it hard for the product to shine as all high spots first need 1 wrestler out of the picture and can make for some awkward moments.

LumberJack Matches- Serve no real purpose... except remind the lumberjacks where they are on the card and general embarrassment.

Ladder Matches- Can work terrific if both wrestlers are willing to take the falls and are agile.

Cage matches/Hell in the Cell- Have historically provided some of the best highlights and can make great performances but should be used sparingly to keep the anticipation and excitement at high levels.

Handicap matches/Special Refs- Seemed to be used in an attempt to build interest for PPV's and were way overused in the early 2000's and generally didn't capture the audience as it became too redundant.

If I missed any types please insert and don't be shy on the opinions etc. on why or what performers could excel or ruin a stipulation match.

Last Man Standing-- May as well be a countout only match. Takes away an excitement leading in to the finish of the match.

I personally feel that Judy Bagwell ruined x-on-a-pole matches for all time.

Following up on this, WWE needs to axe the HiaC PPV. You need great long-term planning to be able to time this PPV perfectly, and, you know, lol writing team and all that. Last year was an embarrassment.

TLC matches with the right people are some of my fav gimmick matches to watch.

Triple threat matches are the worst bc it makes no sense when one wrestler prevents the pin of another wrestler

I really hate title matches where the champion doesn't have to get pinned to lose the title. If you really need multiple competitors (and this should be used rarely), then make it so the match ends when either the champion gets pinned or the champion pins someone else. I believe they did a variant of this at Backlash 2000 with Crash Holly.

.....They don't want to lose the match?

I mean when wrestler a prevents wrestler b from pinning wrestler c where the first pin doesn't end the match, like elimination chamber

cage matches really need to eliminate the possibility of winning by walking out the door. it just leads to everything the participants do seeming nonsensical.

wow im a massive fan of triple threat and four way matches. they just add another element and make it so much more exciting.

tornado tag matches are pretty awesome

as are battle royals/royal rumbles... as long as they arent overused

hardcore matches were great pre-pg, nowadays they can go either way

Just a thought: Having PPV's with names of gimmick matches (Hell in a cell, Elimination Chamber), kind of ruined those matches for me.

+1

ffs this

so this! Never understood why there's even a door. They should just climb in and then climb out.

This! I also used to love MITB at Wrestlemania, but making it a PPV ruined it for me. Thinking about it: keeping two titles after the brand separation pretty much ruined WWE for me.

As said, triple threat matches are awful because of not having to pin the champ (which is why they're so popular with bookers) but also because of the confused fan element, it becomes far less clear who we're supposed to be rooting for.

Any gimmick match that should be reserved for a heated rivalry (HITC, TLC, Extreme Rules) that happens because it's 'that time of year'.

RR and MITB work because those matches have never been based around heated rivalries, the prize is worth the gimmick.

I hate gimmicks that restrict movement like dog collar, strap and chain matches and I DETEST Lumberjack matches.

I echo Lumberjack matches being awful.

A lot of gimmick matches are as good (or bad) as the wrestlers who have to execute them.

The worst stipulation imo are I QUIT matches. I cant remember ever seeing a good one.

rock/mankind?

i always just think thats the only 'i quit' match. i think there has only been one in the last few years (admittedly it was the worst ppv match without the rock over that time)

Try and find Ric Flair/Terry Funk from Clash of the Champions IX and Tully Blanchard/Magnum TA from Starrcade 85. Either of those will change your mind.

don't forget Screamin Norman Smiley vs M.I. Smooth (Ice Train) for the WCW hardcore title

Thanks! I'll look them up

Just to add: Cena / JBL was pretty good if I don't recall as well

The sledgehammer match with hhh vs nash was stupid. Whoever climbed the ladder and released the sledgehammer could use it? Or you could just bring a sledgehammer with you or have one under the ring as it was no dq.

Ambulance matches are stupid, as are stretcher matches.

Inferno matches don't work.

Chairs matches. Are they not just no dq matches?

Any match where the competitors don't do what you would logically do in that type of match for example the Punk vs Axel/Heyman no dq elimination match was stupid, when Axel was eliminated, why would he leave? Its no dq.

But the worst type of matches are mixed tag team matches.