WWE: 10 Match Types That Need to Make a Comeback

The gimmick match is one of the greatest aspects of pro wrestling.

While I enjoy a standard match just as much as the next guy, the different stipulations that come along with gimmick matches make them some of the most entertaining bouts we'll see.

These can, of course, be overdone, and in fact, have been at certain points in WWE history.

But when the time is right and a certain feud or storyline calls for a certain gimmick match, they can often work perfectly.

Unfortunately, the WWE has--for whatever reason--shied away from a number of great match types in recent years.

It's time to bring them back.

Here are 10 match types that should make a comeback in the WWE.

10. Elimination Chase

Stipulations: This is a series of one-fall matches featuring multiple competitors, with the wrestler who gets pinned being eliminated from future matches until the final wrestler remains. For example, you would start with a Fatal 4-Way, one wrestler gets pinned and then the next match is a Triple Threat match.

The Elimination Chase is probably a concept that doesn't ring a bell for too many WWE fans, but it's actually a concept that I really like.

Basically, you start with a certain number of wrestlers who all compete in one match that's one fall to the finish. Let's say, for example, that you start with six wrestlers in a Six-Pack Challenge:

Whoever gets pinned first is eliminated from the series, and the following match will feature the remaining five competitors until you get down to a singles match as the "finals" of the tournament.

It was last used on the extinct ECW brand in 2007 and concluded when Christian defeated Finlay in the finals of the tournament.

I was a big fan of the Chase because it featured a number of superstars (but only one guy had to get pinned), and as a result, it gave us that "anything can happen" feeling.

It also gave us a number of different match types in one series, from a Six-Pack challenge to a Fatal 4-Way to a Triple Threat. 

Though I generally favor traditional singles matches, the Elimination Chase makes sense if four or more superstars are all gunning for one specific title and there's no easy way to settle the dispute.

If you can outlast five other superstars in five different matches, then that's a lot more impressive than winning one match to become the No. 1 contender or the next World Champion.

9. Championship Scramble

Stipulations: Two wrestlers begin the match in the ring, and every five minutes, another wrestler enters until all five competitors are in the ring. After the final wrestler enters the match, there is a five-minute time limit. No wrestlers can be eliminated from the match, and the final wrestler to score a submission or pinfall is deemed the winner and new champion.

The biggest problem with this match is that--especially for the younger fans--it can be a bit confusing and complicated, but personally, I'm a fan.

It's a very different and unique match type, with a format that's sort of like a Royal Rumble combined with a standard 6-way match. A wrestler enters at certain timed intervals (every 5 minutes), and the last wrestler who gets a pin or submission wins the match (and likely, the World title that's on the line).

Like the Elimination Chase, this match works if there are a number of stars gunning for one championship, and it also helps hide the weaknesses of certain competitors. If, for instance, you have a guy like The Great Khali in the match, then you can have him enter last in order to limit his ring time.

Also, the fact that these wrestlers only have a certain amount of time in this match adds an interesting twist that sees these guys go crazy trying to get a pin or submission, which can result in some entertaining spots.

The Championship Scramble could be a total disaster if the rights guys aren't in it, but if booked correctly, then it could be an action-packed bout that features a combination of a singles match, Triple Threat and so on and so forth.

It's only been used a couple of times in WWE history, but should we ever get five or six guys gunning for one title anytime soon, I wouldn't mind seeing it used again. 

8. Tornado Tag Team Match

Stipulations: Like a standard tag team match, except all competitors are allowed in the ring at the same time.

I love tornado tag team matches, largely because they're a nice change from the standard tag match that relies on a very predictable format.

In the typical tag team bout, the heels beat the crap out of one of the babyfaces, the face gets the hot tag and then the other babyface comes back to either win the match or somehow get screwed out of the victory.

It's too formulaic, too simple and too easy. But there's an easy way to fix this problem: Use tornado tag team matches more often.

Tornado tag matches are more like Fatal 4-Way matches and generally see more action as opposed to typical tag matches in which one team spends a majority of the match working over a specific body part.

When you have all four competitors in a tag team match in the ring at the same time, it's going to be a quicker-paced bout and a more unpredictable one, too.

Sure, this eliminates the "tag" elements of tag teams, but it also prevents one guy from sitting on the apron, watching the majority of the match and doing next to nothing over the course of the match.

7. First Blood Match

Stipulations: This is essentially a match contested under "No Disqualification" rules, in which the first wrestler to make his opponent bleed is declared the winner.

The First Blood match probably isn't coming back anytime soon.

Once a staple of the WWE, it has become a thing of the past, and we all know why: Because of the PG era.

Blood (well, at least blading) has disappeared from the WWE since the company went PG, and while this is understandable, it has also deprived the company and the fans of a great gimmick match.

A First Blood Match is perfect as the blow-off match to a long-running rivalry in which there has been tremendous animosity and hatred between the two wrestlers involved. Holding a match in which the only way to win is to make your opponent bleed is one of the best ways imaginable to end a rivalry that is so intense.

Obviously, there are big risks involved with adding color to a match, though, and intentional bleeding isn't exactly in line with the WWE's PG direction.

But after witnessing the minor bloodbath that was John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules, we have to think that we could see more blood in the WWE in the future.

And who knows? We just may see the return of the First Blood Match.

6. WarGames

Stipulations: Two rings are surrounded by a steel cage (with a roof), with two or three teams facing one another. One wrestler from each team starts the match against a wrestler from another team, and at specifically-timed intervals, another wrestler (from one, but not both teams) enters the cage. The match ended when one wrestler from either team submitted or was knocked out. 

War Games is easily one of my favorite gimmick matches of all time, but unfortunately, it's also one that I don't think we'll ever see in the WWE.

Though a fantastically unique concept, War Games was created and used solely by WCW, and since it wasn't "Vince McMahon's creation," I just can't see him ever using it because he's notorious for not wanting to use match concepts that the WWE didn't design.

But I really wish Vinny Mac would swallow his pride and just use it.

War Games is much like the 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches, only it adds a few interesting twists: The steel cage, the double ring, the tornado style and the non-pin finish.

Being that stables don't really exist in the WWE anymore, however, this match might not fit in with the times. But if the WWE ever has some sort of major angle between two factions again, then War Games would be a great way to settle the score between the two sides.

It's one of the most awe-inspiring structures and match types that pro wrestling has ever seen, but unlike some of those from the past, it's also one that the fans would still love to see.

5. 'I Quit' Match

Stipulations: Basically, this is a match that is contested under No DQ and No Countout rules in which the only way to win is to make your opponent say "I quit."

The "I Quit" match has actually happened four times since 2009, and I don't want to see this concept get overused.

But it would be nice to see someone other than John Cena (he's been involved in each of the last three "I Quit" matches) get a chance to end a feud with such a fantastic blow-off match.

Of all the ways to lose a wrestling match, there is not a single more humiliating way to do so than by saying "I quit" and essentially admitting that your bitter rival is better than you.

Yet, for the most part, the "I Quit" Match has been forgotten about when it comes to intense rivalries.

It was last used in 2011 when Cena faced The Miz for the WWE title at Over the Limit, but I'm not sure that feud really needed to end with that type of match because the feud wasn't intense enough.

That being said, should the WWE put on a lengthy rivalry that has a ton of heat to it, I honestly can't think of a better way to end it than by making someone utter the words "I quit."

The "I Quit" Match usually results in an awesome brawl, but it's lost a lot of its luster since the early 2000s.

Maybe the WWE can bring it back.

4. Two-out-of-Three Falls or Three Stages of Hell Match

Stipulations: The match consists of three separate, consecutive matches between the two same individuals. Each bout is usually contested under different rules--one may be a standard match and the next may be a Stretcher match--and the first person to win two falls is declared the winner.

The Three Stages of Hell, a.k.a. Two Out of Three Falls, match typically provides us fans with some great action.

Being that the bout combines three separate match types into one and usually features great competitors who are involved in a very heated feud, these matches are about as entertaining as they come.

The Three Stages of Hell Match that immediately comes to mind is Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels at Armageddon in 2002 because it was arguably the best match of its kind, and the most recent 2/3 Falls Match took place at Extreme Rules earlier this year when Sheamus and Daniel Bryan put on a "Match of the Year" contender.

Like the First Blood match, the Three Stages of Hell match is a great way to end a lengthy rivalry between two stars, especially if it involves a World title.

We don't want to see too many of these matches because it will ruin the uniqueness of it, but given how awesome these 2/3 Falls matches have traditionally been, it wouldn't upset me if we see them more often.

After all, watching some of the WWE's best technicians (like CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler) compete in three matches in a row is not something I'm going to complain about.

3. Submission or Ultimate Submission Match

Stipulations: In a standard submission match, the only way to win is by making your opponent tap out via submission. In an ultimate submission match, there is a set time limit, and the objective is to make your opponent tap out as many times as possible within that time limit. The wrestler who makes his opponent tap out the most is declared the winner.

Submissions matches, in any shape or form, have gone bye bye.

The last time I can recall watching a submission match happened way back in 2009 in the video above, but since then, the WWE has largely shied away from holding any type of submission match whatsoever.

I don't get it, either.

When you look at the WWE's current roster, many of its top stars use submission moves fairly often or at least have them as part of their arsenal: you've got Daniel Bryan with the Yes Lock, Alberto Del Rio with the Cross Armbreaker, John Cena with the STF, CM Punk with the Anaconda Vise, Dolph Ziggler with the Sleeper Hold, etc.

The WWE could and should put all of these guys in submissions matches. Yet, we almost never see these happen.

That's a shame because submission matches have traditionally played a huge role in major rivalries. Not to mention the fact that they tend to be incredibly entertaining matches, especially if you've got two great technicians involved.

Like with the other matches on this list, I'm not asking for submission matches to happen 10 times a year.

But when you've got a group of top-tier stars who thrive when it comes to submission-based wrestling, perhaps you should capitalize on that every once in a while.

2. Steel Cage Match

Stipulations: The ring is surrounded by a steel cage.

I know what you're thinking: Steel cage matches happen all the time. Heck, we just had one last month.

But I'm not asking for the return of the steel cage match. I'm asking for the steel cage match to change its current format.

One of the dumbest things about pro wrestling today is that someone can win a steel cage match by escaping through the door, escaping over the top, pinfall or submission.

There should be one way to win a steel cage match and one way only: Escaping over the top.

I don't care if this means that we have to go back to the classic blue cage or if the WWE has to develop a new cage entirely. But the fact that a steel cage match can be won in four different ways completely defeats the purpose of the match.

When you're "trapped" inside a cage, you shouldn't be able to just walk out of a door or pin someone to get the win. You should have to beat the crap out of your opponent so badly that you have enough time to climb up the cage and escape.

I really don't think this is too much to ask, is it?

1. Iron Man Match

Stipulations: A match, usually with a 30 or 60-minute time limit, in which the person with the most decisions (pinfalls, submissions, disqualifications or count outs) within that limit is declared the winner.

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart atWrestleMania XII for the WWF Championship.

The Rock vs. Triple H for the WWF Championship at Judgment Day in 2000.

Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship on Smackdown in 2003.

Iron matches are rare. Very rare. But they're also good. Very good.

Most TV matches don't even get 10 minutes, and most pay-per-view matches rarely get more than 25-30 minutes. The Iron Match, however, features two superstars going balls to the wall for an entire hour.

If you want to see what real wrestling is all about, then watch HBK vs. Hart tear the house down at WrestleMania XII. It's an amazing sight to see two wrestlers battle it out for a whopping 60 minutes, one that'll make you truly appreciate everything that they do.

But there have only been seven Iron Man matches in WWE history, and only two since 2005.

The match is so special that it should happen very rarely, but being that the last one took place in 2009, I think it's about time for another one.

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan anyone?

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions on Formspring.