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Monster's Ball match

Professional wrestling match type

Professional wrestling match type

A Monster's Ball match is a professional wrestling, hardcore match type that originated in and is primarily staged by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA - known as Impact Wrestling from 2017–2023).

The key premise of the match is that all contenders are (in storyline) sequestered alone in a locked room without light, food, or water for 24 hours before the match, 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).

There have been 60 Monster's Ball matches conducted by TNA, with several unaffiliated independent promotions hosting the match type as well. It was the signature match stipulation of Abyss. Before his retirement in 2019, he had appeared in 48 of the 50 Monster's Ball matches held by TNA to that point and managed in another.

Match history (TNA)

#MatchEventDateLocationNotesRef
1Monty Brown defeated Raven and AbyssVictory RoadNovember 7, 2004Orlando, Florida
2Rhino defeated Abyss, Sabu, and Jeff HardyBound for GloryOctober 23, 2005Orlando, Florida
3Samoa Joe defeated Abyss and RhinoHouse showJune 10, 2006Wayne, New Jersey
4Rhino defeated AbyssHouse showSeptember 29, 2006Richmond, Virginia
5Samoa Joe defeated Brother Runt, Raven, and AbyssBound for GloryOctober 22, 2006Plymouth Township, MichiganJake "The Snake" Roberts was the special guest referee
6Abyss defeated Raven, Black Reign and RhinoBound for GloryOctober 14, 2007Duluth, Georgia
7Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode & James Storm) (w/Jacqueline) (c) defeated Abyss & Matt Morgan, Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon), and The Latin American Xchange (Homicide & Hernandez) to retain the TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipBound for Glory IVOctober 12, 2008Hoffman Estates, IllinoisSteve "Mongo" McMichael was the special guest referee
8Taylor Wilde defeated Daffney (w/Abyss & Dr. Stevie)SacrificeMay 24, 2009Orlando, FloridaFirst ever Knockouts Monster's Ball match
9Abyss & Taylor Wilde defeated Raven & Daffney (w/Dr. Stevie)SlammiversaryJune 21, 2009Auburn Hills, MichiganFirst ever mixed tag team Monster's Ball match
10Abyss defeated Mick FoleyBound for GloryOctober 18, 2009Irvine, CaliforniaDr. Stevie was the special guest referee for the match
11Abyss defeated RhinoHouse showNovember 9, 2009Nashville, Tennessee
12A.J. Styles defeated AbyssTNA Impact!May 3, 2010Orlando, Florida
13Abyss defeated Desmond WolfeSlammiversary VIIIJune 13, 2010Orlando, Florida
14Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showJuly 2, 2010Brooklyn, New York
15Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showJuly 23, 2010Bloomington, Illinois
16Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showJuly 24, 2010LaPorte, Indiana
17Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showAugust 13, 2010Baton Rouge, Louisiana
18Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showAugust 14, 2010Thibodaux, LouisianaMick Foley was the special guest referee
19Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showSeptember 16, 2010York, Pennsylvania
20Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssHouse showSeptember 17, 2010Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
21Tommy Dreamer defeated AbyssHouse showSeptember 23, 2010New York City, New YorkMick Foley was the special guest referee
22Abyss defeated Tommy DreamerHouse showSeptember 25, 2010Rahway, New Jersey
23Rob Van Dam defeated AbyssBound for GloryOctober 10, 2010Daytona Beach, Florida
24Tommy Dreamer defeated AbyssHouse showOctober 15, 2010Racine, Wisconsin
25Tommy Dreamer defeated AbyssHouse showOctober 16, 2010Dubuque, Iowa
26Tommy Dreamer defeated AbyssHouse showOctober 17, 2010Hoffman Estates, IllinoisMick Foley was the special guest referee
27Abyss defeated SabuHouse showOctober 21, 2010Grand Rapids, Michigan
28Abyss defeated SabuHouse showOctober 22, 2010Cadillac, Michigan
29Abyss defeated SabuHouse showOctober 23, 2010Saginaw, Michigan
30Abyss defeated SabuHouse showOctober 24, 2010Port Huron, Michigan
31Abyss defeated Tommy DreamerHouse showApril 9, 2011Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
32Abyss defeated Bully RayGenesisJanuary 8, 2012Orlando, FloridaAs per stipulation of the match, had Abyss lost, he would have had to rejoin Immortal
33Joseph Park defeated Judas Mesias (w/James Mitchell)One Night Only: Hardcore Justice 2July 5, 2013Orlando, Florida
34Joseph Park defeated Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Kazarian)Impact WrestlingDecember 26, 2013Orlando, Florida
35Abyss defeated Eric YoungImpact WrestlingFebruary 6, 2014Glasgow, Scotland
36Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssOne Night Only: #OldSchoolFebruary 7, 2014Poughkeepsie, New York
37Eric Young (c) defeated AbyssImpact WrestlingApril 17, 2014Orlando, FloridaMatch for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
38Magnus & Bram defeated Abyss & WillowImpact WrestlingJune 26, 2014Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
39Bram defeated AbyssImpact WrestlingAugust 7, 2014New York, New York
40Bram defeated AbyssOne Night Only: Turning PointJanuary 9, 2015Charlottesville, Virginia
41Jeff Hardy defeated AbyssImpact WrestlingJanuary 30, 2015New York, New York
42Eric Young defeated AbyssOne Night Only: RivalsFebruary 6, 2015Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
43Matt Hardy defeated AbyssOne Night Only: Hardcore Justice 2015February 13, 2015Orlando, Florida
44Abyss defeated GradoOne Night Only: Live!January 8, 2016Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
45The Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) (c) defeated Decay (Crazzy Steve & Abyss) (w/Rosemary)Impact WrestlingFebruary 16, 2016Manchester, EnglandMatch for the TNA World Tag Team Championship
46Decay (Abyss & Crazzy Steve) (c) (w/Rosemary) defeated The BroMans (Robbie E & Jessie Godderz) (w/Raquel)Impact WrestlingJuly 28, 2016Orlando, FloridaMatch for the TNA World Tag Team Championship
47Rosemary (c) defeated JadeImpact Wrestling: GenesisJanuary 26, 2017Orlando, FloridaMatch for the Impact Knockouts Championship
48Abyss (w/James Mitchell) defeated GradoBound for GloryNovember 5, 2017Ottawa, CanadaAs part of the story line, since Grado lost, his work visa is terminated and must leave the U.S.
49Kongo Kong defeated AbyssImpact!March 22, 2018Orlando, Florida
50Eli Drake defeated AbyssHomecomingJanuary 6, 2019Nashville, Tennessee
51Taya Valkyrie (c) defeated Jessicka Havok, Rosemary, and Su YungSlammiversary XVIIJuly 7, 2019Dallas, TexasMatch for the Impact Knockouts Championship
52Savannah Evans defeated Alisha Edwards, Jordynne Grace, and Kimber LeeKnockouts KnockdownOctober 9, 2021Nashville, TennesseeShannon "Daffney" Spruill Memorial match
53PCO defeated JonahImpact!May 5, 2022Poughkeepsie, New YorkStarting with this match, the original premise of Monster's Ball returns where the participants are locked away for 24 hours beforehand.
54Sami Callihan defeated MooseSlammiversaryJune 19, 2022Nashville, TennesseeEvent also serves as Impact Wrestling's 20th Anniversary Show
55Masha Slamovich defeated Allie KatchImpact!September 29, 2022Nashville, Tennessee
56Trey Miguel (c) defeated Crazzy SteveImpact!February 4, 2023
(aired February 23)Kissimmee, FloridaMatch for the Impact X Division Championship
57PCO defeated Steve Maclin, Rhino and MooseBound for GloryOctober 21, 2023Cicero, Illinois
58PCO defeated KonImpact!March 23, 2024
(aired April 11)Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
59PCO (c) defeated Matt CardonaBound for GloryOctober 26, 2024Detroit, MichiganMatch for the TNA Digital Media Championship and Canadian International Heavyweight Championship
60Xia Brookside defeated RosemaryImpact!May 24, 2025
(aired June 5)Brampton, Ontario

Participant list

In TNA, 56 wrestlers have taken part in Monster's Ball matches. Abyss holds the record for most participations, having competed in 48 such matches, and the record for most victories with 19.

SuperstarVictoriesAppearances
Abyss/Joseph Park*1948
Jeff Hardy/Willow*911
PCO44
Tommy Dreamer46
Bram33
Samoa Joe22
Taylor Wilde22
Eric Young23
Rhino25
A.J. Styles11
Davey Richards11
Eddie Edwards11
Eli Drake11
James Storm11
Kongo Kong11
Magnus11
Masha Slamovich11
Matt Hardy11
Monty Brown11
Robert Roode11
Savannah Evans11
Taya Valkyrie11
Trey Miguel11
Xia Brookside11
Crazzy Steve13
Rosemary13
Allie Katch01
Alisha Edwards01
Black Reign01
Brother Devon01
Brother Runt01
Christopher Daniels01
Desmond Wolfe01
Havok01
Hernandez01
Homicide01
Jade01
Jessie Godderz01
Jonah01
Jordynne Grace01
Judas Mesias01
Kazarian01
Kimber Lee01
Kon01
Matt Cardona01
Matt Morgan01
Mick Foley01
Steve Maclin01
Robbie E01
Su Yung01
Brother Ray/Bully Ray*02
Daffney02
Grado02
Moose02
Raven04
Sabu04
  • Abyss competed as Joseph Park in two Monster's Ball matches, the rest as Abyss.
  • Jeff Hardy competed as Willow in one Monster's Ball match, the rest as Jeff Hardy.
  • Bully Ray competed as Brother Ray in one Monster's Ball match, the other as Bully Ray.

Non TNA Monster's Ball matches

A Monster's Ball match was announced by John Cena Sr. (father of John Cena), 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. Todd Hanson 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. For example, in June 2018, Abyss was scheduled to face Jimmy Havoc in Melbourne, Australia in a Monster's Ball match at a World Series Wrestling event.

References

References

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