Iron Man Match - Match Examples

Match Examples

The first series of Iron Man Matches(advertised as Marathon Matches) in the World Wrestling Federation took place in the fall of 1989 between The Rockers and The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers at house shows. In the next five years Bret Hart wrestled both Ric Flair and Owen Hart in Iron Man matches at untaped house shows (examples exist as 'fancam' handheld footage, though none were pro-shot). The first televised sixty minute iron man match was at WrestleMania XII, between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship. Neither man scored a fall in the first 60 minutes. Gorilla Monsoon ordered the match into overtime and Shawn Michaels scored a fall 2 minutes in to win the WWF title.

Judgment Day (2000), The Rock vs. Triple H in an Iron Man match for the WWF Championship; 60 minutes. Shawn Michaels is the Special Guest Referee. With the scores tied at 5–5 with only a minute or so remaining, the McMahon family interferes, but due to Shawn Michaels being with Triple H, Triple H does not get disqualified. The Undertaker makes his in ring return after an eight month absence. He went on to attack the McMahon family,Triple H, X-Pac and Road Dogg but was spotted by Michaels who disqualified The Rock, making the score 6–5 in Triple H's favor. Thus making Triple H the new WWF Champion.

Backlash (2001), Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle in an Ultimate Submission Match; 30 minutes. This was a 30-minute Iron Man bout where each fall could only be won by submission. Benoit defeated Angle in overtime winning 4-3.

WWE SmackDown!, September 18, 2003, Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship; 60 minutes. First of three Iron Man Matches on broadcast TV. Brock Lesnar had a huge lead 5–2 with 15 minutes remaining but Angle fights back with 2 more falls. Angle applied an Ankle Lock with 20 seconds remaining, but Brock Lesnar didn't tap. Brock Lesnar won the WWE title.

Raw, July 26, 2004, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit beat Triple H 4–3 in the first 60-minute Iron Man match on RAW after gaining help from Eugene Dinsmore in the final minute of the match.

Against All Odds (2005), A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels; 30 minutes. The time limit expired with each wrestler having one fall. Daniels, who knew that a draw would result in A.J. keeping the TNA X Division Championship, demanded sudden death from Dusty Rhodes. A.J. won the sudden death fall to retain the X-division title. A rematch was held at Bound for Glory (2005).

Final Resolution (2007), Samoa Joe vs Kurt Angle; 30 minutes. Kurt Angle was up 3–2 near the end. Samoa Joe locked in Kurt's Ankle lock, but could not get Kurt Angle to tap out before the time ran out. As a result, Kurt Angle won the match and became the number one contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE Bragging Rights (2009), Randy Orton faces John Cena for the WWE Championship; 60 minutes. The match was 5-5 but cena locked in the STF at the last minute and orton tapped out. This marked the first time an Iron Man match was contested under anything goes rules.

Final Resolution (2011), Bobby Roode vs A.J. Styles; 30 minutes After securing the draw with under a minute to go on the clock to retain the title, Bobby Roode ran around the ring to avoid AJ Styles until the clock ran down. The following week in TNA Impact, Sting had arranged a 5 minute Overtime period to try break the deadlock, which once again Roode ran down, leaving Sting to order a Result with Sudden Death, which Roode forced a submission on Styles in a Leg lock on Styles' injured Right leg to retain the title.