10 OTHER Gimmick Matches WWE Needs To Revisit

1. War Games

Punjabi Prison 2006 Great American Bash
WWE.com

Vince McMahon has resisted overtures to promote WarGames, that classic and brutal NWA staple, because he did not conceive it. It's a damn shame; those matches were so awesome in format that they afforded even the limited likes of Sid Vicious and Lex Luger undisputed classics.

That format was convoluted, incorporating seven separate periods, but the underpinning psychology was as gloriously simplistic as pro wrestling gets. The advantage was almost invariably geared towards the heels, allowing them to batter and bloody the babyfaces and generate searing heat and even hotter drama.

The format died with the organisation that presented it - but as ratings continue to dwindle, and WWE (albeit reluctantly) grows ever more accepting of life outside of its bubble, the possibility becomes that little bit more realistic. If WWE is now willing to acknowledge the IWGP Heavyweight Title to put a performer over, dusting off WarGames to drive crucial Network subscriptions isn't all that remote.

Production head honcho Kevin Dunn would pitch a conniption fit at the sight of an unused second ring ruining his precious set-up - but f*ck Kevin Dunn. Besides which, the current, ultra-athletic roster would mine the thing for all it's worth in assembling awesome intra-ring sequences.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!