"I quit" match
{{short description|Professional wrestling match type}}
An "I quit" match is a type of professional wrestling submission match in which the only way to win is to make the opponent verbally concede to the referee (usually into a microphone).{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/136 136]|publisher=DK|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/136}} It is a variation of the submission match as it can only be won by submission, but it is special in that the submission has to take the form of the forfeiting opponent conceding verbally. Generally, whenever a wrestler knocks down their opponent with a move or inflicts a submission move, the opponent will be asked—either by the referee or the opponent—to say the concession into a microphone. "I quit" matches are commonly used to settle (kayfabe) grudges and embarrass rivals since saying "I quit" is usually a sign of admitted inferiority.
History
The first "I quit" match was in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)/Jim Crockett Promotions at Starrcade on November 28, 1985. Magnum T. A. defeated Tully Blanchard in a match (with a cage around the ring) for Blanchard's NWA United States Heavyweight Championship.{{Cite web |last=Andy |title=I Quit Match {{!}} Stipulation Rules, List of Matches & Stats |url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=The SmackDown Hotel |language=en-gb}} Near the end of that match, Magnum used a piece of wood with a nail in it to pierce Blanchard's forehead. At that point, Blanchard screamed "Yes! Yes!" into the microphone, indicating that he was conceding the match, awarding Magnum the championship.
One of the most famous "I quit" matches took place on January 24, 1999, at the Royal Rumble between The Rock and Mick Foley (as Mankind) in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) for the WWF Championship. The match lasted just over 20 minutes, ending after Foley took eleven unprotected chair shots to the head while his hands were handcuffed behind his back. The Rock eventually won the match, but it was later revealed that Foley was completely unconscious and The Rock had played a tape of Foley's concession announcement over the public address system. The following night on Raw, The Rock's "I quit!" match against Triple H ended when Triple H was extorted into a verbal concession because Kane was about to chokeslam Chyna. John Cena retained his WWE Championship by defeating John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) in an "I quit" match at Judgment Day on May 22, 2005. At Breaking Point on September 13, 2009, Cena defeated his long time rival Randy Orton in an "I quit" match to win the WWE Championship, forcing Orton to verbally concede while he was handcuffed and Cena simultaneously had applied his submission hold, the STF.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwebreakingpoint/2009|title=WWE Breaking Point 2009|publisher=WWE|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2018}}
"I quit" matches involving women have been rare. At No Mercy on October 19, 2003, there was an intergender match between WWE chairman Vince McMahon and his daughter Stephanie partly under "I quit" rules. However, the match was decided when Stephanie's mother Linda threw in the towel for her daughter, giving Vince the victory. The first "I quit" match between WWE Divas was contested at One Night Stand on June 1, 2008, when Beth Phoenix defeated Melina.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=WWE / ECW One Night Stand Results |url=https://thehistoryofwwe.com/ecw-one-night-stand-results/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com |language=en-US}}
On the May 14, 2009 episode of Impact, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) put on its first "I quit" match, where Booker T defeated Jethro Holiday after an axe kick.{{Cite web |last=Nemer |first=Paul |date=2009-05-15 |title=Impact Results - 5/14/09 |url=https://www.wrestleview.com/tna-wrestling-results/tna-impact-results/9365-impact-results-5-14-09/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=WWE News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW Results |language=en-US}}
On the May 4, 2016 episode of Lucha Underground, Sexy Star defeated Mariposa in the promotion's first "I quit" match, known in Spanish as a "no mas" ("no more") match.
An "I respect you" match is a variation of the "I quit" match where the winning concession was "I respect you". The first "I respect you" match was held in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) at SuperBrawl VI on February 11, 1996, and pitted Brian Pillman and Kevin Sullivan. At the end of the match, Pillman conceded by saying "I respect you, bookerman!". In doing so, Pillman broke kayfabe as Sullivan was also WCW booker at the time.
One January 17, 2017 episode of WWE 205 Live, Jack Gallagher defeated Ariya Daivari in an "I forfeit" match where that phrase was the conceding phrase.
Matches
= All Elite Wrestling =
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Jon Moxley (c) defeated Eddie Kingston
|November 7, 2020 | |{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/moxley-kingston-i-quit-world-title-match-set-aew-full-gear-323201|title=Moxley-Kingston I Quit World title match set for AEW Full Gear|work=Figure Four Online|first=Bryan|last=Rose|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=October 21, 2020}} |
| Adam Copeland defeated Christian Cage (c)
|March 20, 2024 | | |
= Extreme Championship Wrestling =
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Terry Funk defeated Eddie Gilbert
|none |ECW Show |January 23, 1993 |Billed as a I Quit Texas Death match |
| Tommy Dreamer defeated The Sandman
|none |ECW Show |October 1, 1994 | |
| Tommy Dreamer defeated C. W. Anderson
|none |January 7, 2001 | |
= Lucha Underground =
In the promotion, "I quit" matches are billed as a "No Más Match," with the submission phrase was made in Spanish ("No más").
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Sexy Star defeated Mariposa
|Aztec Medallions |Lucha Underground |December 13, 2015 (taped) | | |
| XO Lishus defeated Jack Evans
| |Lucha Underground |March 2018 (taped) |Union Central Cold Storage Warehouse | |
= Ring of Honor =
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Alex Shelley defeated Jimmy Jacobs
|none |Joe vs. Punk II |October 16, 2004 | |
| Jimmy Rave defeated Nigel McGuinness
|none |Battle of the Icons |January 27, 2007 |The referee stopped the match after McGuinness refused to say "I quit" and Rave attempted to break his leg. |
| Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Jacobs
|none |November 22, 2008 | |
| Colt Cabana defeated Steve Corino
|none |Richards vs. Daniels |October 16, 2010 | |
| Ethan Page defeated Tony Nese
|none |December 15, 2023 | |
= Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Impact Wrestling =
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Booker T defeated Jethro Holliday
|none |May 14, 2009 (aired) | |
| A.J. Styles (c) defeated Booker T
|May 24, 2009 | |
| Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love ended in a no contest
|none |April 6, 2010 (taped) |Match was the result of an open contract won by Sky and was changed from a Leather and Lace match immediately before it started. Love was handcuffed during this match. Match was thrown out after The Beautiful People and Tara interfered. |
| Brian Kendrick defeated Douglas Williams
|none |July 15, 2010 (aired) | |
| A.J. Styles defeated Tommy Dreamer
|none |September 5, 2010 | |
| A.J. Styles defeated Christopher Daniels
|none |October 16, 2011 | |
| Kurt Angle defeated D'Lo Brown
|none |April 25, 2013 (taped) | |
| Gunner defeated James Storm
|none |April 27, 2014 | |
| Mr. Anderson defeated Samuel Shaw
|none |Impact Wrestling: Hardcore Justice |August 5, 2014 (taped) | |
| Kurt Angle (c) defeated Eric Young
|TNA World Heavyweight Championship |May 29, 2015 (aired) | |
| Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy ended in a no contest
|none |April 19, 2016 (aired) |Match ended after neither man could continue |
| Willie Mack defeated Moose
|none |January 9, 2021 | |
| Mike Santana defeated Josh Alexander
|none |January 19, 2025 | |
= World Championship Wrestling =
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| The Taskmaster defeated Brian Pillman
|none |February 11, 1996 |This was a "I Respect You" Strap match. |
| Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious
|none |November 21, 1999 | |
| Roddy Piper defeated Creative Control (Gerald and Patrick)
|none |December 6, 1999 |This was a Handicap "I quit" match. |
| David Flair defeated Terry Funk
|none |February 7, 2000 | |
| Dustin Rhodes defeated Terry Funk
|none |March 19, 2000 |This was a Bullrope Match. |
| Norman Smiley (c) defeated M.I. Smooth
|August 22, 2000 (taped) | |
= World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment=
| class="wikitable"
!width=25% |Participants !width=19% |Title on the line/ !width=10% |Event !width=10% |Date !width=10% |Location !width=25% |Notes !width=1% |Ref |
| Bret Hart defeated Bob Backlund
|none |April 2, 1995 |Guest referee Roddy Piper ended the match though Backlund uttered the words "I quit" only incompletely |
| Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Ken Shamrock
|none |October 26, 1998 | Austin used the unconscious Shamrock's hands to signal a tap out submission. | |
| The Rock defeated Mankind (c)
|January 24, 1999 |Mankind did not say "I quit", instead an earlier recording of Mankind saying the phrase was played over the PA system while Mankind laid unconscious in the entrance. The Rock was still awarded the victory. |
| The Rock (c) defeated Triple H
|January 25, 1999 | |
| Mr. McMahon defeated Stephanie McMahon
|Loser had to leave their position
|October 19, 2003 |Stephanie did not say the words "I quit"; Linda McMahon threw a towel into the ring. Stephanie was also able to win this match via pinfall. |
| John Cena (c) defeated John Bradshaw Layfield
|May 22, 2005 | |
| Ric Flair defeated Mick Foley
|none |August 20, 2006 | |
| Chavo Guerrero defeated Rey Mysterio
|none |October 15, 2006 (taped) | | |
| Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero
|none |September 1, 2007 (taped) | |
| Beth Phoenix defeated Melina
|none |June 1, 2008 | |
| Big Show defeated Ryan Taylor
|none |October 14, 2008 (taped) | |
| Jeff Hardy defeated Matt Hardy
|none |April 26, 2009 | |
| John Cena defeated Randy Orton (c)
|September 13, 2009 |If anyone had interfered on Orton's behalf, he would have immediately lost the title. |
| John Cena (c) defeated Batista
|May 23, 2010 | |
| John Cena (c) defeated The Miz
|May 22, 2011 | |
| Alberto Del Rio defeated Jack Swagger
|#1 contendership to the World Heavyweight Championship |May 19, 2013 | |
| John Cena (c) defeated Rusev
|WWE United States Championship |May 17, 2015 |Instead of Rusev, his manager Lana conceded the match, saying "He quits". |
| Jack Gallagher defeated Ariya Daivari
|none |January 17, 2017 |Billed as an "I forfeit" match. |
| Cedric Alexander defeated Noam Dar
|none |July 11, 2017 | |
| Kay Lee Ray (c) defeated Toni Storm
|January 18, 2020 (taped) |This was a Last Chance "I quit" match. Since Storm lost, she could no longer challenge for the NXT UK Women's Championship as long as Ray held it. |{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2020-02-27/article/kay-lee-ray-vs-toni-storm|title=Kay Lee Ray def. Toni Storm in an "I Quit" Match for the NXT UK Women's Championship|date=February 27, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2018|work=WWE}} |
| Roman Reigns (c) defeated Jey Uso
|October 25, 2020 |This was the first ever Hell in a Cell match contested under an "I quit" stipulation and therefore the first "I quit" match contested inside the Hell in a Cell structure. |{{cite web|last=Zak|first=Brad|title=Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso (Hell in a Cell "I Quit" Match)|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/hellinacell/roman-reigns-vs-jey-uso|work=WWE|date=October 3, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2020}} |
| Ronda Rousey defeated Charlotte Flair in an "I quit" Beat the Clock Special Challenge Rousey defeated Shotzi in 1:41 Charlotte Flair lost when she couldn't beat Aliyah within that time. |Since Rousey won, she earned a match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania Backlash |April 22, 2022 (taped) |This was a Beat the Clock challenge contested under an "I quit" stipulation. There were two matches, both contested under the stipulation. Rousey set the time of 1:41, but Flair couldn't beat Aliyah within the time limit, giving Rousey the win. |{{cite web|title=SmackDown results, April 29, 2022: Ronda Rousey humiliates Charlotte Flair in the Beat the Clock “I Quit” Challenge|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2022-04-29|work=WWE|date=April 29, 2022|access-date=May 1, 2022}} |
| Ronda Rousey defeated Charlotte Flair (c)
|WWE SmackDown Women's Championship |May 8, 2022 | |
| Finn Bálor defeated Edge
|none |October 8, 2022 | |
| Cody Rhodes (c) defeated AJ Styles
|Clash at the Castle: Scotland |June 15, 2024 | |