These Controversial WWE Gimmick Matches Would Never Happen Today

Gimmick matches have always been a staple of WWE, a way for the company to add a little extra spice to a rivalry or to entertain fans in a unique way. They allow wrestlers to provide a different type of story, and many have become iconic over the years. Whether it’s a Hell in a Cell match or TLC, these gimmicks are popular and will last a lifetime.

However, that’s not necessarily the case for every gimmick match the company has created. That’s because several have ended up being quite controversial, whether due to changing mindsets or simply because the original concept was flawed. While WWE might bring back many gimmick matches annually, some would never see the light of day in this era.

Hardcore Evening Gown Match

This Gimmick Would Be Seen As Insensitive In Today’s Age

• WWE would treat these matches as comedy.
• Female hygiene products were previously used as a weapon.
• Men dressed up as women and their opponents undressed them.

The Hardcore Evening Gown gimmick​​​​ match is one that WWE doesn’t book nowadays because it would be deemed controversial and upsetting to certain people. The idea is that male wrestlers would be dressed as women, with the opponent having to undress them.

While there was a hardcore element to the match that opened it up to weapons and other chaos, often the weapons themselves ended up being inappropriate, which didn’t help matters. The idea behind this was for it to be comedic, but the fact is that it’s offensive, which is why it wouldn’t happen now. These matches didn’t help advance anyone’s career, nor are they remembered in a positive manner, so they didn’t serve much purpose in the grand scheme of things.

Kiss My Ass Match

This Idea Wouldn’t Be Seen As Funny By The Current Audience

• The stipulation is supposed to embarrass the loser.
• It’s an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved.
• It’s not appropriate in the modern age of PG wrestling.

This Kiss My Ass stipulation has always been rather strange. The idea behind it is that the loser will be embarrassed in this situation as they have to kiss the ass of their opponent. It’s an odd dynamic because it’s not something that fans ever really wanted to see, but WWE would book them now and then.

However, nowadays, in a PG environment, it’s hard to believe that WWE would ever consider booking a Kiss My Ass match as it would be seen as inappropriate. There’s a level of sexual abuse that would fall in line with this gimmick, which is why the creative team would avoid it.

There are many better ways to embarrass a wrestler than making someone show private areas of their body and having someone kiss them. It’s not an appropriate thing to teach young audiences, and that’s why it’s never going to be brought back.

Kennel From Hell Match

Nothing Needs To Be Added To A Cage Match

• The dogs didn’t add anything to the match.
• There would be questions of animal cruelty nowadays.
• It’s not a positive thing to showcase animals as aggressive in this way.

Whether it’s a classic​​​​​​​ Steel Cage or a Hell in a Cell, this is one gimmick match that needs nothing added. However, that didn’t stop WWE from trying to do it by creating the Kennel From Hell match, which saw the ringside area surrounded by dogs, with the idea that they would bite someone if they went near them. It portrayed animals in a hostile and aggressive light, which is something that wouldn’t be allowed today due to the potential cruelty that they would be put through by being placed in that environment.

Showing dogs potentially biting wrestlers wouldn’t be acceptable as it would instantly have people questioning whether those breeds were dangerous, and that’s not a good thing. A Hell in a Cell match doesn’t need to be enhanced or made to seem any more dangerous than it already is, which is why there’s only ever been one of these matches.

Bra & Panties Match

Women’s Wrestling Is No Longer Viewed As Just Eye Candy

• This would be a backward step for women’s wrestling.
• Many of the women are now among the biggest stars in WWE.
• Fans wouldn’t accept this kind of sexualization in modern wrestling.

Out of all the controversial gimmick matches WWE has created over the years, the Bra and Panties match will never return. It might have seemed appropriate during the Attitude Era due to pop culture at that time, but society has thankfully moved on in a far more positive way regarding how women are shown in sports.

WWE would have two women compete against each other, with the aim being to undress the other and expose their bra and panties. It made the women involved look ridiculous, and it was demeaning to them as WWE attempted to sexualize them for their own profit.

Fortunately, the company has moved on from that at this stage. The women are taken just as seriously as the men, and they get tons of time to showcase themselves inside the ring and put on fantastic matches, which is why this gimmick match will never return.