*List is in no particular order*
1. Brings in new fans.
Contrary to popular belief, deathmatch fans do exist, and they’re probably the most passionate of them all. Deathmatch wrestling sees the emergence of big stars (see point 10) and thus comes a large fan base. Fans watch wrestling through other fans. Through videos and tweets and stories fans get introduced to wrestlers all the time. The crazy media that comes out of deathmatches ushers in a whole slew of new fans.
2. Promotes more creativity
Nothing let’s a wrestler’s creativity run wild more than a deathmatch. And what’s more entertaining than a creative wrestler? Deathmatches are constantly evolving, new weapons are introduced and old, familiar weapons get used in ways one could never imagine. Wrestling is supposed to be entertaining. You’re supposed to jump out of your seat and yell “holy shit!” Deathmatches bring a new level of “holy shit,” to the game.
3. The wrestlers who do it, love it
Wrestlers sacrifice their bodies and their lives for our entertainment. Who are we to care how they choose to do it? I don’t think anyone in their right mind would partake in a deathmatch if they didn’t love it. For wrestlers like Jon Moxley, Nick Gage, and quite frankly, any wrestler that consistently wrestles deathmatches, their passion for wrestling flourishes in a deathmatch setting. If the wrestlers are happy who are we to judge?
4. Adds excitement to the card
On a card full of standard matches, you need something to break it up. It doesn’t matter how many “dream matches” are on the card, something needs spiced up. Adding a deathmatch to a card 1.) brings in a different audience and 2.) adds an extra level of anticipation and excitement. Gone are the days of a card with straight, basic one-on-one or tag team contests. We want chairs! We want tables! We want thumbtacks and kendo sticks and out-of-this-world structures! Man, deathmatches are fun.
5. Helps the independent scene
This is probably one of the biggest points on this list. The biggest deathmatches happen on the independent scene for a reason. Take a company like GCW for example. Their speciality is customized, insane deathmatches, and they’re one of, if not the, biggest independent company out there right now. They’ve built an incredible following sold out shows all over the place. The addition of their deathmatches helped in growing their promotion to wrestlers and fans alike.
6. Fans enjoy it
If you’ve never watched a deathmatch stop reading and go watch one right now. Have you found one? Good. Now watch the match and listen to the crowd. Feel the energy through the screen. It’s off the charts right? Just like no match can compare to a deathmatch, no audience can compare to a deathmatch audience. It’s evident that they’re having the time of their lives, and isn’t that the whole point?
7. It draws. Every. Single. Time.
This point builds off point 4. If you add a deathmatch to the card, the excitement for the show increases, and so do the views and sales. Even old deathmatches from the likes of Mike Foley and others still draw an audience to this day. People want the chaos and the violence.
8. Builds bigger feuds.
Good guy vs bad guy. Face vs heel. It’s the classic tales of wrestling. Although many secrets of the business have been uncovered, and fans no longer believe the Undertaker sleeps in a coffin, it’s still a big part of the business to believe that the two feuding wrestlers genuinely hate each other. What says, “I hate you,” more than a deathmatch? A feud that culminates in a deathmatch is automatically a top tier feud, there’s no bigger payoff.
9. Wrestlers can make it their own.
As mentioned with the creativity point, deathmatches give wrestlers the freedom to let their imaginations get the best of them. One point made in the argument against deathmatches is the fact that they’re all the same. This isn’t true. Unlike a regular match where moves and structure are repeated, a deathmatch allows for more opportunities to do something different. While many of the weapons remain constant, the way they are used is all left up to the wrestler. Tired of seeing regular old thumbtacks? Let’s use thumbtacks that are already in a guys shoe from a previous deathmatch. Boom. Bingo. Right on the money. Deathmatches are unique.
10. Deathmatch Superstars
Above all else, deathmatches create stars. Deathmatches give up and coming wrestlers the chance to showcase different sides of themselves, a chance to show they’ll do whatever it takes. The crowd that deathmatches garner and the attention they get is a sure-fire way to put new eyes on new superstars. Deathmatches give career defining moments to almost everyone who has the guts to compete.
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