WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2011: 10 Gimmick Matches WWE Should Bring Back

At least on paper, WWE TLC has the potential to be one of the company's best pay-per-views of the year.

Though it may not quite live up to my expectations, the show features two of the most exciting match types, the Ladder match and the TLC match, in WWE history, and it certainly has the chance to give us a couple of great bouts this year.

Sure, I'm not exactly begging to see a Tables match or a Chairs match, but the WWE TLC pay-per-view has also reminded me why I love some gimmick matches so much.

Unfortunately, it seems like the WWE has shied away from a number of gimmick matches in recent years. As long as we don't get gimmick match overkill, though, I'd love to see some of these bouts come back.

Here are 10 gimmick matches we don't see too often that the WWE should bring back. 

Note: My main criteria for this list is that the match has not taken place in the last two years (2010 and 2011), or that it happens so rarely that I think it should occur more often. There will be exceptions, obviously, so don't freak out if you think the match "never went anywhere."

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 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.

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 of the next World Champion.

The Chase can help establish new stars and show that they're ready and willing to go through anything to get to the title they covet.

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.

Each time during the match that a wrestler scores a pin or submission, he is deemed the unofficial champion at the time. However, that championship "reign" is not recorded in the history books.

Many wrestling fans don't like this match because they think it can be confusing or too complicated, but personally, I'm a fan.

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 Mark Henry in this bout, 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.

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 the fans really enjoy.

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.

In the typical tag team bout, the heels beat the crap out of one of the faces, the face gets the hot tag and then the other baby face comes back to win the match.

It's too formulaic, too simple and too easy.

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

For some reason, though, we hardly ever see tornado tag team matches on WWE TV, and that's something that needs to change.

7. Bra and Panties Match

Stipulations: A match between two female competitors, in which the first wrestler to strip her opponent down to her bra and panties is declared the winner.

Come on, guys, you know you miss Bra and Panties matches. 

A staple of the Attitude Era, these bouts were usually pretty bad wrestling-wise, but that obviously wasn't the purpose of them. They were there strictly for entertainment for the male viewing audience.

Some people are glad that we don't see these matches anymore because they objectify women and serve little to no storyline purpose, but I'm fine with Bra and Panties matches if it means we get to see Trish Stratus and Stacy Keibler stripping each other down to their undergarments.

Hey, at least it's better than watching Eve and Kelly Kelly vs. the Bella Twins for the thousandth time.

6. First Blood Match

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

Won't happen in the PG era. Nah-ah. No way.

The WWE doesn't like to see color added to any matches these days--no matter how much they need them--and blading has become a thing of the past. So, I think we can all kiss First Blood matches goodbye.

What a shame.

While I don't think blading is necessarily the smartest thing someone can do, blood can really add to a match, and a First Blood match is a great gimmick match for the blowoff to a lengthy rivalry.

If two superstars have had beef with each other for several months and traded wins in the process, then a good way to settle things once and for all is to have them beat the crap out of each other and see who can be the first one to make the other man bleed.

5. Inferno Match

Stipulations: The ring is surrounded by flames, and the only way to pick up the victory is to set your opponent on fire.

Obviously, the Inferno match can be extremely dangerous.

When you've got two guys actually trying to light each other on fire, you never really know what's going to happen.

But the spectacle of the match itself is so exhilarating and entertaining for everyone involved that I wouldn't mind seeing Inferno matches more often.

We've only seen a few of these throughout WWE history, and the last one took place all the way back at Armageddon in 2006 when Kane faced off with MVP.

The Inferno match should be relegated to guys like Kane and The Undertaker because it fits their gimmick better than anyone else's, but it would be fun to see either of these guys in one more Inferno match before they call it a career. 

4. Two out of Three Falls/Three Stages of Hell

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, these matches are about as entertaining as they come.

The one that immediately comes to mind is Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels at Armageddon in 2002 because it was a phenomenal bout, and the most recent one took place in 2009 when Randy Orton faced Triple H at The Bash.

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 being that we haven't seen one in well over two years, I think 2012 would be a great time for us to enter Three Stages of Hell.

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.

Whatever happened to good old submissions, huh?

CM Punk has brought back his Anaconda Vise as of late, Alberto Del Rio uses the cross arm breaker as his finisher, Daniel Bryan thrives with the LeBell Lock, Natalya destroys her opponents with the Pinup strong submission and John Cena uses the STF every once in a while.

But that's about it.

For the most part, submissions have become largely forgotten in the WWE, which is pretty disappointing if you ask me.

I personally love a good submission match because it sometimes forces wrestlers to use moves they don't traditionally use, and it can be really fun to watch if it features two submission-based superstars.

I'm really just asking to see some standard submission matches more frequently, but if the WWE decides to hold an Ultimate Submission match anytime soon, I'll be jumping for joy. 

2. War Games

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 a specifically-timed interval, another wrestler (from one, but not both teams) enters the cage.

After all members of both teams are in the cage, the objective is to make one wrestler from the opposing team tap out. The team that does that first is declared the winner.

One of my favorite match concepts of all time, but unfortunately, one I don't think we'll ever see in the WWE.

Since this match was made famous in WCW and wasn't "Vince McMahon's creation," I just can't see him ever using it.

I wish he would, though.

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 submission 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.

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 at WrestleMania 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.

And, if we had to pick two WWE stars to put on an Iron Man match today, give me CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan, and I'd be one happy WWE fan.