A Monster's Ball match is a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

, hardcore match type that originated in and is primarily staged by

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (abbreviated as TNA Wrestling or TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by busines ...

(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

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, or

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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 Abyss may refer to: Religion * Abyss (religion), a bottomless pit, or a passage to the underworld * Abyss (Thelema), a spiritual principle within the system of Thelema Film and television * ''The Abyss'' (1910 film), a Danish silent film s ...

. 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)

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. *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 John Felix Anthony Cena ( ; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he is the current WWE Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion in his record 14th reign, which is ...

), 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

External links

''Victory Road'' review''Bound For Glory'' reviewTNA press release: ''Monster's Ball 2: Coming To "Bound For Glory"''MWF XtraApril 2008 (during which John Cena Sr. announces Monster's Ball VII)
{{Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Professional wrestling match types Total Nonstop Action Wrestling match types 2004 in professional wrestling