“I Quit!” – Wrestling’s Greatest Blow-offs

In light of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, this week we are revisiting some of our favorite “I Quit” matches in wrestling history.

On a side note, we here at The Wrestling Estate wholeheartedly support the writers. Also, a special shout out to Dan R., if you happen to be reading this.

Russ Good’s Favorite I Quit Matches

For context, these days I mostly keep up with Raw, SmackDown, NXT and AEW. As such, I have a weird relationship with I Quit matches. I think part of that is because of the more recent WWE/NXT habit of trying to keep the loser strong while having the bad guy almost always win. 

Edge quit his I Quit match at Extreme Rules last year because the Judgment Day was basically threatening to murder his wife. Jey Uso had an amazing match against Roman Reigns inside Hell in a Cell, but had to quit because his brother got involved and Reigns locked a guillotine choke onto Jimmy. Toni Storm and Charlotte Flair had to submit in their championship matches against Kay Lee Ray and Ronda Rousey, respectively, but both only did so after having chairs wrapped around them. 

My problem with them is that, in theory, an I Quit match would show that the face is the tougher competitor, able to withstand even the greatest punishment and dig deep to prevail. In practice, they often become another showcase for heels to score a win by using villainous tactics, and we have more than enough of those. I mean, MMA has shown us that there’s no shame in quitting rather than having one’s limbs removed or literally dying. Maybe pro wrestling can take that lesson and apply it to some future matches, rather than the predictable finishes we’ve gotten in the last few I Quit matches.

It’s not a ‘stip that’s busted out terribly frequently – between WWE, NXT, and AEW there have been ten in total in the last ten years. Even so, with the way most of the recent examples have ended, I Quit matches just aren’t my cup of tea. As a blow-off match for a feud, they would work if there was a definitive ending. The problem is that so few of them end with one. Still, as with all things, there are exceptions, and I have enjoyed a few of these battles. My favorites?

The Rock vs. Mankind (Royal Rumble 1999)

The first I Quit match that comes to mind, for me, is also one of the most barbaric in hindsight. Sure, it doesn’t have the barbed wire insanity of Flair/Foley at 2006’s SummerSlam. What it does have is some of the most vicious and unflinching chair shots to the head I’ve ever seen – and so many of them. 

Mankind got Rocky to agree to the stipulation by way of some quality verbal back-and-forth. Rock wanted a title shot and Mankind wasn’t giving the Corporate Champ an easy road to victory. So the I Quit stipulation was granted, and after some Rock-level The Rock promo work, we got into it. The brutality of the first three-quarters of the match was only increased when Rocky produced a pair of handcuffs and got Mankind’s hands behind his back. Foley continued to fight, and for a while it looked like Mankind might pull the victory out. Then Rock grabbed a chair from ringside.

People’s Elbow with the chair on Mankind’s face. “Go to hell, Rock.” Two headshots with the chair. “You’ll have to kill me.” Three more, all to the head. Foley rolls out of the ring, only to eat another three before collapsing on the entrance ramp. Foley gets up only to have Rock rain another three down on his skull. Rock asks a prone Mankind if he quits, and he does – although Foley doesn’t react, almost as though it’s a recording. Rock wins. Somehow, Mankind stood and walked out of the arena under his own power, maskless and covered in blood. 

Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston (Full Gear 2020)

AEW is quickly becoming known as the bloody alternative to WWE (GCW notwithstanding) and this nasty match at 2020’s Full Gear show is one of the best. Even the lack of a full crowd didn’t take away from the visceral reaction the small crowd of wrestlers had to some of the violence between these longtime friends, and they sold the hell out of each others’ attacks. While it didn’t really seem like we had a clear face and heel in this match, the story they told about their long relationship fueled the narrative that led to this I Quit match, the first and (so far) only one in AEW’s brief history.

It didn’t hurt that the participants were Jon Moxley, one of the best in the business, and Eddie Kingston, a man fans can’t help but root for. Their pre-match promo on the Dynamite before the pay-per-view was an incredibly intense and passionate back-and-forth that set the stage for a fantastic battle between these two.

‘Yeeting a steel chair will never not elicit a yelp from me, I’ve loved that spot ever since the N64 wrestling games, and this match had several memorable throws. The introduction of rubbing alcohol was a level of implied injury that made me cringe even more than several of the more explicitly dangerous attacks, just because I hadn’t seen that before. And even though the finish wasn’t perfect – the referee called for the bell when Kingston was unresponsive, and Eddie would confront him about that later – this is an example of two guys willing to put themselves through hell to entertain us.

Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum T.A. (Starrcade 1985)

I’ll openly admit to not having seen this match until semi-recently, but it’s worth seeking out – it’s available via WWE on Peacock. A lil’ baby Tony Schiavone calls the action, and it’s some grade-A old school wrestling between champ Tully and challenger Magnum. The presentation is pure nostalgia when viewed with today’s eyes. Tully’s valet, Baby Doll, plays her part perfectly in the sequined dress and long gloves that so many of the ‘80s ladies made popular. The match takes place in a steel cage, and while the chain-link is reminiscent of some of the more recent cages and Hell in a Cells, it’s noticeably shorter than modern audiences are used to. Even the wired, thin microphone is used to great effect.

Blanchard and T.A. use the cage in a number of spots, tossing each other into it constantly. Both competitors open up pretty early into the match, and the crimson flows freely for the rest of the contest. Blanchard bludgeoning Magnum with the microphone in between animalistic screams is a fantastic visual, and when Tully gets desperate later and tries to turn Starrcade into a Fulci film (NSFW eye stuff) by way of a broken wooden chair leg, you can feel the tension in the arena. Magnum is able to overcome that terrifying situation, only to do the same thing to Tully with an even bigger wooden shard and force Blanchard to quit. 

For me, this is the pinnacle of the I Quit stipulation. The feud was wrapped up, the good guy walked away with the championship, and both men left everything they had in the ring.

Steven Jackson’s Favorite I Quit Matches

I Quit matches are an odd stipulation with me. In my mind and on paper I imagine great things. However, when it comes to I Quit matches, they never live up to what I expect.

There are exceptions (as I’ll highlight imminently) but something about the majority of I Quit matches fails to draw me in, like other gimmick matches, not to mention the very similar, and I believe far superior, submission match.

You can easily make an I Quit match the final encounter in a long, personal feud. The trouble is being able to convey the true level of violence the stipulation requires.

It is possible, but due to a lot of factors from outside parties, you’ll rarely see an I Quit match going “as far” as it should. So, with that mindset I now put I Quit matches as penultimate matches in heated feuds, to then be followed by another stipulation to end things proper.

John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Breaking Point 2009)

Let’s be frank, Randy Orton and John Cena had way too many matches against one another. Oversaturation took and has taken a lot of the polish off their feud. But, there is one match that stands out, mainly because it is totally different than the rest.

The two’s I Quit match from Breaking Point 2009 was heated, violent and utterly scary. The image of John Cena, suspended from the turnbuckle and caned by Randy Orton was true old school psychology.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t nice. But it got across the true reason this match stipulation can work beautifully. Not to mention this is the greatest match the two ever had, more than enough reason to add it to my choices.

Ric Flair vs Terry Funk (Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout)

Pride. That’s what this was all about. The NWA title didn’t matter. Winning didn’t matter. But making Ric Flair say “I Quit” to Terry Funk did matter.

I love the Flair vs Funk feud and this match to finish their rivalry is sensational. This is true Southern Wrasslin’ violence.

The crowd were red hot and the fact that Ric Flair was able to get into the frame of mind of the Funker, to then get him to utter the words “I Quit” was a thing of beauty.

One thing I must note though is watching this match in silo, while a great roller coaster, doesn’t get across the same level of emotion as it does watching it following the rest of the Flair vs Funk feud that preceded it in 1989.

So, do your research and see this as the true culmination of a landmark feud.

Tully Blanchard vs. Magnum T.A. (Starrcade 1985)

To end this list of my three favourite I Quit matches, there could not be another choice to go with than Magnum TA vs Tully Blanchard at Starrcade 1985.

I’ve seen a lot of wrestling. Too much wrestling in fact. But never will I witness a match so honestly violent as this. My teeth often clench during this match and you’ll hear various outbursts of “My God” from me too. It’s outstanding on so many levels. 

The beauty of it as well is that the I Quit stipulation is heightened by taking place in a steel cage. It’s a breeding ground for blood and carnage, where the only way out is to surrender to your opponent. In a way it’s a singles match precursor to Wargames.

I don’t want to spoil finer details as I want people who’ve not seen this match to go and watch it for themselves. But all I will say is that it’s the pinnacle of the I Quit match type. All other I Quit matches that followed (including the other two I’ve listed as choices) used this encounter as the benchmark. Simply put; it’s a masterpiece that’ll never be topped.

Juan Batista’s Favorite I Quit Matches

The match stipulation can be great as long as you live up to the hype. It’s not just another match type like TLC. It’s supposed to be a fight where one participant can no longer go and must utter the words, “I Quit.”

I’d say it’s a top-five stipulation for me.

Deciding a top three is a tough question. Looking past 1998, some that come to mind would be John Cena and JBL in 2005, Mankind vs. The Rock and Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio because of the emotion involved with all three.

In these respective matches the participants were trying to kill each other or at the very least break a body part, which is what the match is all about.

Jack Goodwillie’s Favorite I Quit Matches

I believe the I Quit match to be the optimal end to a feud. I think Steven gave a really sound answer, noting how in modern times, this type of match is usually filled with some sort of external interference or gimmick that causes it to be the match that leads to the ultimate blow-off. Still, there are no pinfalls in these types of matches. There aren’t even submissions, at least not in the conventional sense. The match can only end when one competitor tells the other he has had too much, and to me, it doesn’t get anymore emphatic than that.

In regards to what Steven wrote, I actually more think that of cage matches, which used to be the optimal blowoff before Hell in a Cell, TLC and I Quit matches came about.

John Cena vs. JBL (Judgment Day 2005)

The John Cena–JBL feud was peak childhood wrestling memories for me… or at least that’s what I thought until Cena moved to Raw and feuded with Edge. The Cena-JBL feud did have a lot going for it, however. It is the feud that launched Cena to the top of WWE, a throne he would not vacate until more than a decade later. By positioning JBL as “class” and Cena as “trash,” WWE succeeded in making Cena even more sympathetic and relatable in the eyes of fans. Think Flair vs. Dusty, though certainly not a 1:1.

The match had all the brutality a fan could want out of this type of stipulation. In hindsight, I felt like the WrestleMania match the two had didn’t quite have enough of this considering how personal the feud had gotten to that point. In that way, their match at Judgment Day almost two months later seemingly overdelivered. Both wrestlers found themselves covered in crimson stands out as one of the bloodiest encounters in WWE ring, at least since JBL’s last match at Judgment Day against Eddie Guerrero in 2004. Cena and JBL, individually, never claimed to have the work rate fans seem to glorify in a lot of modern matches, but as far as “fights” are concerned, I really enjoyed looking back on this match.

This really should have been Cena’s coronating moment in WWE. In some ways, I think it always was.

Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso (Hell in a Cell 2020)

The Bloodline storyline has evolved significantly since Roman Reigns fought his cousin at Hell in a Cell 2020, but it’s still amazing to me this match took place almost three years ago. In a way, it might be a forgotten point in the storyline, as Jey Uso has since gone on yet another epic tag title run with his brother, Jimmy Uso, punctuating it with main event billing on the first night of WrestleMania 39. Still, this match had a ton of theatrics in a match type that encourages them, and this might be the best match of its kind this decade. It’s also notable for taking place inside the Hell in a Cell structure.

What could hurt the match (besides taking place in the Thunderdome) was its predictability, as I don’t think there was any doubt there would be any outcome other than Roman Reigns walking out as champion. However, if you are one to enjoy the ride, then you will appreciate just how much of a wild ride this match was. Uso had his moments to be sure, at one point whipping his own flesh and blood with a leather strap, but it’s perhaps more notable the lengths Reigns reaches to keep his spot at “the head of the table.” It was only when Jey saw his brother, Jimmy, about to be choked unconscious that he was willing to give up the fight.

The Rock vs. Mankind (Royal Rumble 1999)

There’s not much I can add to this match that hasn’t or won’t be said. This was actually the third I Quit match in WWE history, but arguably the best for its brutality. As a fan, one couldn’t help but feel for Mankind given the amount of punishment he took. Everyone still talks about the chair shots he took, but also worth noting that his sacrifice was not in vain as it helped make The Rock into the wrestling star he became.

Mick Foley has since shown remorse for “going overboard” in the match, but I don’t think Mick has anything to apologize for. This was a different time, to be sure, so you can’t grade it against the same curve and standards that today’s matches are. Obviously, knowing what is known now, I’m sure Mick would like to take some of those chair shots back, but as the saying goes, “you can’t put the glue back in the glue gun.”

Like Russ, this is the first I Quit match that comes to mind for me personally, and I am not willing to file this under “matches we need to forget.” Quite the contrary, and I would also argue that the baseball bat Eddie Edwards took to the face from Sami Callihan in 2018 was arguably a worse look. The difference is, one of these feuds is still talked about, and the other is not. The point is, those chair shots should not take away from a match that was an essential pivot point for the way fans saw both The Rock and Mankind, two of the biggest stars of the late ’90s.

To be clear, I don’t think this match flies today, but context is everything, and the context is that this match took place nearly 25 years ago. It can and should be appreciated for what it is.

This match will have its 25th anniversary next January. Feel old yet?

Curt Lemon’s Favorite I Quit Matches

When built properly, I Quit matches can be really effective. The best case scenario is when two wrestlers are known for a devastating submission finish when you can’t picture either person giving up.

This ‘stip is one that is not too high on my list because there are so few major submission finishes in wrestling today on the level of Bret Hart’s Sharpshooter, or Ric Flair‘s Figure-Four… even though he never really won anything with that particular move.

My personal favorite blow-off matches are Steel Cage matches, but those have since been eclipsed by Hell in a Cell or the Elimination Chamber.

Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund (WrestleMania XI)

No one expected Backlund to win the title from Bret, especially with Bret’s mother being convinced to throw in the towel by her other son Owen. It set up this rematch perfectly.

Ric Flair vs Terry Funk (Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout)

It feels like Terry Funk must’ve been in a hundred of these matches during his career because of the execution of this one.

The setup didn’t really build up WHY they were doing this match too well, but the match more than made up for that shortcoming.

The Rock vs. Mankind (Royal Rumble 1999)

I know everyone will say this one, but it’s for good reason. WWE was at a time where they didn’t have their biggest star, Steve Austin. Mick Foley and The Rock found themselves main-eventing back-to-back big events for WWE.

With each match they took it a step further and upon reflection many people would say this is the one they took too far. 

John Corrigan’s Favorite I Quit Matches

 I Quit matches blend brutality with humor, particularly when the wrestlers hold the microphone and talk trash during the beatdown. I enjoy these types of matches as much as any gimmick match. 

With so many gimmick matches having lost their luster over the years, the I Quit match is one of the few that has maintained its aura. Considering that the traditional blow-off – cage matches – no longer ends rivalries, the I Quit match is an effective alternative.

Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley (SummerSlam 2006)

It’s always fascinating to see the “Nature Boy” in a hardcore environment, and with the real-life animosity between Naitch and the “glorified stuntman,” you knew this would be a war. Although WWE dropped the ball with the storyline, the ending was well-intended with Foley only quitting after Flair threatened to attack Melina, someone the “Hardcore Legend” held near and dear to his heart. (She’d kick him in the balls the next night.)

And, in a nod to the humor I previously mentioned, Flair cracked me up with “it’s not a lay on your ass match!”

The Rock vs. Mankind (Royal Rumble 1999)

Considering what we now know about CTE, the last few minutes of the match are disturbing and admittedly tough to stomach. But the rest of the match is highly entertaining, and an innovative Attitude Era brawl.

Naturally, The Rock‘s comedic chops are perfect for an I Quit match. 

Ric Flair vs Terry Funk (Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout)

Nobody can ever top the incredible performances of Flair and Funk in this hellacious encounter. You can never take your eyes off “The Funker,” who’s unpredictability knows no bounds in this type of environment.

Then again, the “Nature Boy” is also a loose cannon, and he was willing to go to any extreme to inflict punishment upon the legendary middle-aged and crazy madman. 

About Author

Jack Goodwillie

See author's posts