Professional wrestling battle royal
From Iwe
In professional wrestling, a battle royal (sometimes battle royale; plural battles royal or battle royals) is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner. Typical battle royals begin with a number of participants in the ring, who are then eliminated by being thrown over the top rope and having both feet touch the venue floor.
Variations
World War 3
- Main article: WCW World War 3
Created by World Championship Wrestling in 1995, the World War 3 battle royal involved a three-ring setup and 60 competitors. 20 wrestlers started in each of the 3 rings in which they would wrestle under regular battle royal rules. Once there were only 30 competitors left (except 1997, where the number was 20), all competitors would enter the central and continue in that ring under regular rules until 1 man was left standing.
Bunkhouse Stampede
The National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Bunkhouse Stampede involved wrestlers wearing what was described as "bunkhouse gear"—cowboy boots, jeans, t-shirts—instead of their normal wrestling tights and not only allowed but encouraged the bringing of weapons. In 1988 the NWA named a pay-per-view after the Bunkhouse Stampede, headlined by a Bunkhouse Stampede match held inside a cage.
Gauntlet for the Gold
- Main article: Gauntlet for the Gold
Gauntlet for the Gold is a variation on the battle royal used by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. In this version two wrestlers begin in the ring, with additional wrestlers entering on a set time period. Wrestlers are eliminated by being thrown over the top rope and to the floor until two wrestlers are left, at which point a standard singles match begins.
Last Blood battle royal
A Last Blood battle royal is essentially a multi-competitor First Blood match. The winner is the last wrestler in the match not bleeding.
Reverse battle royal
Generally used in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, a reverse battle royal begins with wrestlers surrounding the ring instead of inside it. At the start of the match they battle for half of them to get into the ring, at which point a standard last person standing wins the battle royal.
Diva battle royal
A diva battle royal is one which features female competitors. However, in this variant divas can be thrown through or under the ropes as well as over the top rope.
Fulfill Your Fantasy battle royal
A IWE diva battle royal with the addition of fetish outfits, such as french maid, nurse, schoolgirl, etc. Often the type of outfit is chosen by an audience poll.
Royal Rumble
- Main article: Royal Rumble
IWE's Royal Rumble is a battle royal that begins with two wrestlers in the ring, with the remaining participants introduced one by one at a set time period. Elimination occurs in the normal way with the last person standing as the winner, after all participants have entered the ring. As a result the winner qualifies for a IWE Championship shot at Wrestlemania.
Battlebowl
A two-ring variation on a battle royal, the wrestlers start in one ring and try to throw wrestlers into the second ring, after which they can be eliminated by being thrown out of that ring. The last remaining wrestler in the first ring can rest until only one wrestler was left in the second ring, after which they fight in both rings until one is eliminated and a winner is declared, in similar fashion to a double elimination tournament. This was held by World Championship Wrestling at the 1991 Starrcade event, but future Battlebowl matches were contested under normal battle royal rules.
Championship Scramble
This is a format where the championship can change hands multiple times within a time limit in a (often) falls-count-anywhere match. The final person to pin or submit the title holder in the time limit will be the eventual champion.
WSX Rumble
Exclusively used in WSX; The WSX Rumble match is a hybrid Royal Rumble/Ladder deathmatch during which 10 competitors compete in 1 ring surrounded by tables, live electrical wires, and the 18-foot section of exploding steel cage. The match begins with two contestants in the ring. Every 45 seconds, another competitor enters the match according to the number that they drew. This continues until all 10 competitors have been entered. The only way to be eliminated is to be thrown over the top rope and land with both feet touching through tables, live electrical wires, and/or the 18-foot section of exploding steel cage, while using all weapons. The winner of the match is the 1st and last 2 remaining superstars must climb the ladders and grab 2 contract papers before and after all others had been eliminated by throw over the top rope and both feet touching through tables, live electrical wires, and/or the 18-foot section of exploding steel cage for next week episode of Wrestling Society X and will become the first ever WSX Championship.
Bunkhouse Battle Royal
Any number of men—One ring:Over the top rope elimination. Each participant brings all weapons with them as they enter the match.
Extreme Battle Royal
This match is similar to a classic battle royal. It can have up to 40 wrestlers competing. Elimination occurs when a wrestler hits an opponent with a weapon and sends him out of the ring in any way. When 10 wrestlers remain, the weapons are increased and the eliminations are changed to pinfall or over the top rope. The final wrestler left wins the match and earns a title shot at any PPV he wants.
As 40 wrestlers (or less) compete in the match, it can last over 30 minutes. Interference is legal as there is no referee to watch the action. When a face wrestler is eliminated, he goes back to the locker room. When a heel wrestler is eliminated, he can sneak back into the ring and continue.
Battle Zone
Any number of men: One ring- Over the top rope elimination. Typical battle royal, except this one features tables covered with barbed wire, thumbtacks, and light bulbs on the outside of the ring, which may catch wrestlers as they are pinned, forced to submit, and/or thrown out of the ring.
King of the Mountain
The King of the Mountain match is described as a "reverse hybrid ladder/battle royal match". Instead of retrieving an object hanging above the ring, the winner is the first person to use a ladder to hang a championship belt above the ring—after having scored a pinfall or submission (pinfalls and submissions count anywhere) to earn the right to try. A wrestler who has been pinned or forced to submit must spend two minutes in a penalty box.
Team variations
Team variations of battle royals consist of two or more teams of wrestlers, with the number of wrestlers on each team usually being equal. There are different types of such matches:
- A team is eliminated when only one wrestler for that team is eliminated.
- Matches end when there are wrestlers for only one team (the winners), who have not been eliminated.
- A team is eliminated when all wrestlers for that team is eliminated, as mentioned above.
