Gauntlet for the Gold
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The Gauntlet Match as defined by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a battle royal-style match. When it involves title implications, such as a title on the line or contendership for a title, it is called a Gauntlet for the Gold. This is different from the other type of Gauntlet Match popularized by WCW and WWF in the 1990s.
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[edit] Match Format
Not to be confused with another Gauntlet match in which one competitor faces several others, the Gauntlet for the Gold match is very similar to the WWE Royal Rumble match. It consists of two competitors entering the ring and fighting for a set amount of time (usually 3 minutes, but the time varies), following which competitors enter the ring at 90-second intervals.
Elimination is in the standard battle royal format in which a competitor must go over the top rope and hit the floor in order to be eliminated. This can occur both by a competitor being thrown by an opponent out of the ring or by a competitor voluntarily eliminating himself. If a wrestler falls to the floor without going over the top rope or is thrown over the top but does not fall to the floor, the competitor may re-enter the ring and continue the match.
The final portion of the match consists of the last two competitors squaring off in a regular singles match in which victory must be attained by pinfall or submission. No official ruling has been declared on interference or disqualification, but due to the booking of such matches and the brevity of the actual final portion of the match, neither potential outcome has ever been an issue.
[edit] Modifications
The Gauntlet for the Gold can be held in many formats and for many purposes. The most basic format involves an undetermined number of competitors (usually between 10 and 25) compete for either a title or title shot. (Note: Each title within TNA has been up for grabs during at least one Gauntlet for the Gold.
A variation of the Gauntlet for the Gold involves tag teams competing for supremacy. In the event of a tag team Gauntlet, the partners of the final two competitors return to the ring and the teams square off in a regular tag team match for the victory.
At TNA Bound for Glory 2005, the Gauntlet Match was fought as completely elimination-only, since the winner (ultimately Rhino) had to immediately face Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
[edit] History
[edit] 2002
TNA PPV #1 (June 19, 2002): Ken Shamrock defeated Malice to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Other particiapnts were: Jeff Jarrett, Buff Bagwell, Lash Leroux, Norman Smiley, Apolo, Ron Killings, Slash, Harry Del Rios, Justice, Konnan, Bruce, Rick Steiner, Scott Hall, Vampire Warrior, Devon Storm , Brian Christopher, Chris Harris, and country music superstar Toby Keith.
TNA PPV #13 (September 18, 2002): America's Most Wanted defeated Brian Lee and Ron Harris for the NWA World Tag Team Titles. AMW's Chris Harris and Lee were the last survivors of a match that included: Derek Wylde, Joel Maximo, James Storm, Kobain, Ace Steele, Jorge Estrada, CM Punk, Jimmy Rave, Buff Bagwell, Brian Lawler, Jose Maximo, Sean Waltman, Ron Harris, Slash, Sonny Siaki, Disco Inferno, Scott Hall and B.G. James
[edit] 2003
TNA PPV # (August 20, 2003): Raven defeated Shane Douglas to become the #1 Contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title.Other participants were: Sonny Siaki, Ron Killings, Konnan, BG James, Abyss, Kid Kash, Mad Mikey, The Sandman, Joe E. Legend, D'Lo Brown, and Christopher Daniels.
TNA PPV # (November 12, 2003): 3Live Kru defeated America's Most Wanted to become the #1 Contenders to the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Competitors included: James Storm and Chris Harris, Ron Killings and BG James, CM Punk and Julio Dinero, David Young and Glen Gilberti, Ekmo and Sonny Siaki.
[edit] 2004
TNA PPV # (March 17, 2004): Ron Killings pinned Michael Shane to become the #1 Contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Other participants were: Glen Gilbertti, David Young Johnny Swinger, Sonny Siaki, Simon Diamond, Konnan, D'Lo Brown, and Kid Kash.
TNA PPV # (May 26, 2004): Hector Garza pinned Elix Skipper to win the "Gauntlet for the Gold" match and earn points for Team Mexico in the TNA 2004 World X Cup. Other participants were: Team Canada (Captain Petey Williams, Johnny Devine, Eric Young, Bobby Rude), Team NWA (Captain Jerry Lynn, Elix Skipper, Chris Sabin, Christopher Daniels), Team All-Japan (Captain Nosawa, Mitsu Hirai Jr., Taichi Ishikara, Hirai Nobukazu), and Team AAA Mexico (Captain Hector Garza, Abismo Negro, Mr. Aguila, Heavy Metal).
TNA PPV # (July 7, 2004): Jeff Jarrett won a Gauntlet for the Gold match to retain his NWA World Heavyweight Title. Other competitors included: Ken Shamrock, Onyx, Hotstuff Hernandez, Chad Collyer, BG James, Ron Killings, and Konnan.
TNA PPV # (August 11, 2004): Petey Williams (entrant #11) pinned Amazing Red to win the TNA X Division Title. Other participants were: Frankie Kazarian, Sonjay Dutt, Jerry Lynn, Chad Collyer, Chris Vaughn, D-Ray 3000, Joey Matthews, Mikey Batts, Jarelle Clark, Kid Kash, La Parka, Psychosis, Nosawa, Miyamoto, AJ Styles, Michael Shane, and Shark Boy.
TNA Victory Road 2004 (November 7 2004): Hector Garza won the TNA 2004 Super X Cup Tournament by winning a "20-Man X-Division Gauntlet Battle Royal" match. Other participants were: Frankie Kazarian, Sonjay Dutt, Puma, L.A. Park(a), Jerelle Clark, Miyamoto, Hector Garza, Nosawa, Mikey Batts, Michael Shane, Alex Shelley, Shark Boy, D-Ray 3000, Brian "Spanky" Kendrick. Chris Sabin, Amazing Red, Jason Cross, Psichosis, and Sonny Siaki.
[edit] 2005
TNA iMPACT! (May 13, 2005): Abyss pinned Lance Hoyt to become the 20th entrant into the Gauntlet for the Gold (at Hard Justice to determine the #1 Contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Other competitors included Trytan, Monty Brown, Matt Bentley, Chris Sabin, Sonny Siaki, and others.
TNA Hard Justice 2005 (May 15, 2005): Abyss (entry #20) pinned Ron Killings to become the #1 Contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title at TNA Slammiversary 2005. Other Participants were: Bobby Roode, Zach Gowan, Eric Young, Cassidy O'Reilly, Elix Skipper, Shark Boy, A-1, Chris Sabin, Petey Williams, Sonny Siaki, Lance Hoyt, Jarelle Clark, Mikey Batts, The Outlaw (Billy Gunn), Trytan, Ron Killings, Apolo, and BG James.
TNA Bound for Glory 2005 (October 23, 2005): Rhino won a 10-Man Gauntlet for the Gold to become the #1 Contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title later that night. Other participants included: Samoa Joe, Ron Killings, Sabu, Lance Hoyt, Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Monty Brown, Kip James, and AJ Styles.
[edit] 2006
TNA Sacrifice 2006 (May 14, 2006): Petey Williams (entrant #3) pinned Puma to pull Team Canada into a first place tie with Team USA in the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament. Competitors included: Team Canada (Petey Williams, Johnny Devine, Tyson Dux, and Eric Young) defeated Team Mexico (Shocker, Puma, Incognito, and Magno), Team USA (Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal, Alex Shelley, and Sonjay Dutt), and Team Japan (Black Tiger, Jushin Thunder Liger, Minuro Tanka, and Hiroko Goto).
TNA Bound for Glory 2006 (October 22, 2006): Austin Starr (entrant #1) pinned Jay Lethal to win the "Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal". Other competitors included: Sonjay Dutt, Maverick Matt, A-1, Zach Gowen, Kazarian, Sirelda, Shark Boy, Alex Shelley, D-Ray 3000, Johnny Devine, Elix Skipper, Short Sleeve Sampson, Norman Smiley, and Petey Williams.
[edit] 2007
TNA iMPACT! (February 12, 2007): Samoa Joe (entrant #10) pinned Tomko to become the #1 contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title for TNA Destination X Other partcipants in the match incuded: Abyss, AJ Styles, BG James, Chris Sabin, Eric Young, James Storm, Kurt Angle, Rhino, Robert Roode , Samoa Joe, Scott Steiner and Tomko
