Monster's Ball match


A Monster's Ball match is a professional wrestling, hardcore match staged by Impact Wrestling. The key premise of the match was 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. The locked away stipulation was simply forgotten about, however, and not mentioned since the sixth one. It is now simply a Street Fight, as the match has to end inside the Ring.
Due to the hardcore nature of the match, the Monster's Ball typically features numerous high spots. There have been 51 matches taking place under TNA, as well as several unaffiliated independent promotions hosting the match. The match has almost always featured Abyss in some capacity, wrestling in 46 of 48 and managing in one, it is his signature match. There are various weapons frequently used in the match, including Thumb tacks, "Janice" and a bed of barbed wires.

Match history

Participant List

35 wrestlers took part in a Monster's Ball matches, and two knockouts competed in a monster ball match.
Abyss holds the record for most participation in a monster ball match having competed in 47 matches, and holds the record for most victories 19.
SuperstarVictoriesAppearances
Abyss / Joseph Park*1949
Jeff Hardy / Willow*911
Tommy Dreamer46
Bram33
Samoa Joe22
Taylor Wilde22
Eric Young23
Rhino25
Monty Brown11
Robert Roode11
James Storm11
A.J. Styles11
Rob Van Dam11
Magnus11
Matt Hardy11
Davey Richards11
Eddie Edwards11
Kongo Kong11
Eli Drake11
Taya Valkyrie11
Crazzy Steve12
Rosemary12
Brother Runt01
Black Reign01
Mick Foley01
Hernandez01
Homicide01
Matt Morgan01
Brother Devon01
Desmond Wolfe01
Judas Mesias01
Jade01
Kazarian01
Christopher Daniels01
Robbie E01
Jessie Godderz01
Havok01
Su Yung01
Daffney02
Brother Ray / Bully Ray*02
Grado02
Raven04
Sabu04

The twelfth Monster's Ball match was announced by John Cena Sr., president of the Massachusetts-based Millennium Wrestling Federation on its MWF Xtra online show to take place at their Night of Champions show on June 21, 2008 at Good Time Emporium in Somerville, Massachusetts. Todd Hanson, who replaced Makua in the match, defeated Abyss, Rick Fuller and Brian Milonas to win the match and retain his MWF Heavyweight Championship. Through TNA's working relationship with Mexican promotion AAA, Verano de Escándalo on July 31, 2011, hosted a Monster's Ball match, where Chessman defeated Abyss, Extreme Tiger and Joe Líder. On June 7, 2014 at House of Hardcore V, Abyss defeated Tommy Dreamer in a Monster's Ball match. On November 14, 2015, Abyss would face off against Sabu in a Monster's Ball match at House of Hardcore 11 in a losing effort. Abyss has brought the Monster's Ball match to several other independent promotions throughout the world.
In June 2018 Abyss is scheduled to face Jimmy Havock in Melbourne, Australia in a Monsters Ball match at World Series Wrestling.