Monster's Ball match
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In professional wrestling, a Monster's Ball match is a multi-competitor hardcore match staged by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. The name is derived from the 2001 film Monster's Ball.
The key premise of the match is that all contenders are sequestered alone in a locked room without light, food or water for twenty-four hours before the match. This stipulation is intended to induce extreme feelings of aggression in the competitors. Once released, the wrestlers fight one another in a no disqualification match, with the usage of weapons encouraged. Victory can be achieved by pinfall or submission, with the match ending as soon as one wrestler is pinned or submits (there is no elimination format).
Due to the hardcore nature of the match, the Monster's Ball typically features numerous high spots.
Contents |
[edit] Monster's Ball matches
[edit] Monster's Ball
The first Monster's Ball took place on November 7, 2004 at Victory Road 2004. It took a triple threat match format and included Monty Brown, Raven and Abyss.
The events leading to the Monster's Ball began on the September 29, 2004 episode of TNA iMPACT!, when then-TNA Director of Authority Vince Russo announced that a four man tournament would be held to determine the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, with the winner receiving a title shot against then-champion Jeff Jarrett at Victory Road. On the October 8 episode of iMPACT!, Jeff Hardy defeated Abyss and Monty Brown defeated Raven to advance to the tournament finals. On October 15, Hardy pinned Brown to win the tournament in a match that saw both Abyss and Raven interfere.
On October 22, both Raven and Abyss attacked Brown after he defeated a jobber in a squash match. This led to the Monster's Ball match being scheduled for Victory Road. On November 5, two days before the match, Abyss revealed to Brown that the sack which he had carried with him for the past several weeks was full of thumbtacks.
The Monster's Ball saw Brown pin Raven after Pouncing him through a table. In the course of the match, Abyss attempted to superplex Brown onto a pile of thumbtacks, but was instead powerbombed onto the thumbacks himself by Raven. The match was observed by a hooded figure, later revealed to be the returning James Mitchell.
[edit] Monster's Ball II
Monster's Ball II took place on October 23, 2005 at Bound for Glory 2005. It was a four way match that featured Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Rhino and Sabu.
The second Monster's Ball was scheduled after both Abyss and Sabu interfered in a match between Jeff Hardy and Rhino on the October 1, 2005 episode of iMPACT!. In the weeks prior to the match, Rhino defeated Sabu on October 15, while Abyss teamed with Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown to defeat Hardy, A.J. Styles and Lance Hoyt on October 22.
There were some breaches of kayfabe in the hours leading up to the match, as Jeff Hardy appeared on iMPACT! the night before Bound for Glory (when he was supposed to have been locked up), while Rhino confronted Raven earlier that night when he too was supposed to have been locked up.
Rhino pinned Hardy to win the match following a Rhino-Driver from the second-rope. During the course of the match, Hardy delivered a Swanton Bomb on Abyss from a height of approximately seventeen feet.
[edit] Monster's Ball III
Monster's Ball III took place on June 10, 2006 at a TNA house show in Wayne, New Jersey. It was a three way match featuring Abyss, Rhino and Samoa Joe. The match was won by Samoa Joe, who forced Rhino to submit with the Coquina Clutch.
[edit] Monster's Ball IV
Monster's Ball IV took place on August 24, 2006 at a house show in Ottawa, Ontario. It was a one-on-one match between Abyss and Rhino. The match was won by Rhino following a gore through a table.
[edit] Monster's Ball V
Monster's Ball V took place on October 22, 2006 at Bound for Glory 2006 in Plymouth Township, Michigan and featured Abyss, Brother Runt, Raven and Samoa Joe with special guest referee Jake "The Snake" Roberts. This match was very brutal with in the opening minutes saw Abyss throw Brother Runt into the crowd where they threw him back over the guard rail, also it saw Abyss and Runt going up to the balcony where Abyss Chokeslammed Runt off it then jumped down with him. but Abyss took some pain when he took out the tacks and it backfired when Samoa Joe back splashed him onto the tacks. Joe pinned Raven after a Muscle Buster.
