Monster's Ball match

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 58 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. Due to the hardcore nature of the match, the Monster's Ball typically features numerous high spots. Frequently used weapons include thumb tacks, "Janice" (a board filled with nails, Abyss's signature weapon), and barbed wire.

Participant list
In Impact Wrestling, 51 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.

Monster's Ball matches outside of Impact
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.