#3 – “I Quit” Match
This idea may be a little too intense for the first match in a feud that I’m assuming will last the next three months, at the very least. It’s totally possible WWE just went with the Lumberjack Match for SummerSlam because they needed a gimmick, but didn’t want to over-expose the program by getting too violent, too quickly. To that end, I say – in classic Dean Ambrose fashion – NOPE! Let them fight! Did Mankind and Triple H need a buffer prior to their bloodbaths?
The “I Quit” stipulation is perfect for these guys. You don’t actually need it to be a “loser leaves town” type of match, just one where the loser has to be physically coerced into quitting the fight. I’ve seen my fair share of stinkers with this gimmick, but much like every other match type on this list, Dean and Seth could figure it out.
#2 – First Blood Match
There is nothing more personal in wrestling than two guys trying to actively make their opponent bleed his own blood. Back in the Attitude Era it got to a point where there was so much blood in most big matches – and in a lot of not big matches – that the gimmick didn’t really matter anymore. But think about today’s product. A lot of people popped big for Money in the Bank when Randy Orton got split open, and they had no choice but to show him in the crimson mask, live on PPV.
In an age where blood is a taboo subject, and wrestlers are commanded to stay as far away from it as possible, image the hype a First Blood match would garner. And it’s not really that ridiculous of a concept today. Blood is frowned upon, and they have medics now to patch them up mid-match, but that’s more for safety than anything. In a controlled environment, where the loser is going to blade once, in a pre-determined spot, the risk is extremely minimal. God, go back and watch some of Dean’s matches from before he came to WWE. Actually…don’t. They’re insane.
#1 – Steel Cage Match
I feel like I keep repeating myself, and that’s because there are so many better ways to keep Seth Rollins inside a wrestling ring, than to surround it with 20 other people. Guys, I don’t know if you got the message yet – the Lumberjack Match is a terrible idea!
The Steel Cage has to be the most appropriate stipulation for Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins to brawl around in for 20 minutes. It’s violent enough for where they are in their program, but not too violent that there’s not room to grow in a PG atmosphere. There’s still a Hell in a Cell PPV in two months to consider, which would be a natural progression from the Steel Cage, with maybe an “I Quit” or a Falls Count Anywhere in between to bridge the gap. Plus, with very little exception, cage matches tend to do good ratings on TV, and produce some decent PPV buyrates on big cards.
So there you have it – 10 match types that are better than a Lumberjack Match. What kind of match do you think Rollins and Ambrose should have this Sunday at WWE SummerSlam? Share your thoughts on Twitter using #Wrestlezone, and in the comments section below.
