{"id":124915,"date":"2024-06-14T07:00:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T11:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=124915"},"modified":"2024-06-13T21:02:14","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T01:02:14","slug":"history-of-the-i-quit-match-ahead-of-cody-rhodes-vs-aj-styles-at-wwe-clash-at-the-castle-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/14\/history-of-the-i-quit-match-ahead-of-cody-rhodes-vs-aj-styles-at-wwe-clash-at-the-castle-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"History of the “I Quit” Match Ahead of Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles at WWE Clash at the Castle: Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"

C<\/span><\/strong>ody Rhodes <\/span><\/strong>and <\/span>AJ Styles<\/span><\/strong> will go to war in a rare WWE Championship “I Quit” match at <\/span>Clash at the Castle. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

It will be just the eighth “I Quit” match for the WWE’s top prize.<\/span><\/p>\n

AJ Styles is undefeated in “I Quit” matches, having won three in three years in <\/span>TNA<\/span><\/strong>. Cody Rhodes has never wrestled an “I Quit” match, but his brother <\/span>Dustin Rhodes <\/span><\/strong>defeated I Quit match king<\/span> Terry Funk<\/span><\/strong> in one in WCW.<\/span><\/p>\n

Styles has the first-hand experience to make him a favorite at <\/span>Clash at the Castle<\/a>. <\/span><\/em>But Rhodes has insider knowledge from his brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, we take a look at the history of one of pro wrestling’s rarest match types the “I Quit” match.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I Quit”: The First Matches <\/span><\/h3>\n

In 1970, Paul Jones <\/strong>and Nelson Royal<\/strong> defeated Ole<\/strong> and Gene Anderson<\/strong> in an “I Quit” match for the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship. <\/span><\/p>\n

The “I Quit” stipulation was common in 70s NWA. Everyone from Dusty Rhodes<\/strong> and Terry Funk<\/strong> to Kevin von Erich, Barry Windham,<\/strong> and Terry Gordy <\/strong>competed in them.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was <\/span>Tully Blanchard<\/span><\/strong> vs. <\/span>Magnum TA <\/span><\/strong>that put the match on the map. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1985, Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA<\/a> were embroiled in such a heated rivalry that a cage match was set for <\/span>Starrcade 85<\/span><\/em>. But it was deemed an extra stipulation was needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The “I Quit” stipulation was assigned to the match for the NWA US Championship.<\/span> Earl Hebner<\/span><\/strong> was the referee. With no pinfalls or submissions, Hebnar’s sole job was to recoil the microphone cable and blow into the mic to test it still worked after Blanchard had pounded it into Magnum’s bloody forehead. <\/span><\/p>\n

The key learning from this early “I Quit” match was not to hold the microphone at crotch level before forcing it down your opponent’s throat and demanding he quits. <\/span><\/p>\n

Magnum won the <\/span>match<\/span> when he forced remnants from a broken wooden chair into Blanchard’s gapping head wound. Obviously, Blanchard screamed yes when asked if he wanted to quit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Terry Funk Becomes Synonymous With “I Quit” Match<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Terry Funk<\/span><\/strong> – who first wrestled an “I Quit” match in 1975 – would take part in the next two “I Quit” matches. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1989 Funk and Ric Flair<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 clashed at <\/span>Clash of Champions<\/span><\/em> for the World Heavyweight Championship. This match is worth watching just to see the\u00a0Coors<\/em> Light <\/em>ring post advertising. Booze ads aside, the match is hard-hitting and very fun. <\/span><\/p>\n

Funk<\/a> at one point is knocked so silly he swings for punters in the front row and knocks out a cameraman.<\/span><\/p>\n

This match is also the first to feature a wireless microphone.<\/p>\n

ECW added the stipulation to Funk’s Texas Death match against Eddie Gilbert in 1993. <\/span><\/p>\n

Funk would lose his final two “I Quit” matches in WCW<\/a> against <\/span>Dustin Rhodes <\/span><\/strong>and <\/span>David Flair<\/span><\/strong> in 2000. He competed in two of the five “I Quit” matches in WCW history. <\/span><\/p>\n

Funk is the only person to compete in “I Quit” matches for three <\/span>different<\/span> companies – the NWA, ECW, and WCW.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ric Flair x Terry Funk. I Quit Match. Watching this Clash I immediately felt like it was the best match I had ever seen. 34 years later, it\u2019s absolutely still in the conversation. Few feuds have ever reached this level of emotion\/intensity. (11.15.1989) \ud83c\udf1f pic.twitter.com\/9jJTL8umQa<\/a><\/p>\n

— Vintage Puroresu \u30d7\u30ed\u30ec\u30b9 (@vintagepuro) July 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n