What is a Texas Death Match?

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

It sound like something Bradshaw would challenge another Hoss to or something, but what is a Texas Death Match? Just wanted to know. Thanks.

[Guest J*ingus]

It's a gimmick match. To win, you have to pin the person, but then they have a ten count to get back to their feet. Think of it as a last man standing match where you have to pin the guy before the count starts.

[Guest dreamer420]

does anyone know why it is called a TEXAS death match?

[Guest HBK16]

I have always wondered that too. Maybe it was first dont there.

[Guest dreamer420]

that would be my guess.

[Guest teke184]

I think that either Iron Mike Dibiase or Dory Funk Jr. invented it down in Texas, hence Texas Death Match.

[Guest ArkhamGlobe]

I think on one of the discs in the Wrestling Gold series Jim Cornette claimed that it was Dory Funk Sr. who originated the Texas Death match, Dory Funk Sr was a texan I believe, and probably originated it in the Amarillo territory (I'm wildly speculating here), which I guess would explain it, though, as previously stated, it is pure speculation on my side.

[Guest HBK16]

I knew it!!

[Guest dreamer420]

I didn't know that it was a Funk family invention. That is pretty sweet.

[Guest HBK16]

I think I did. I don't remember. I do remember about reading about it somewhere. I guess I just forgot

[Guest Frankie Williams]

Another version of TDM used to be a no dq, no count out, no time limit match. It was one fall to a finish. Not to exctitng by todays standards but back in 1983, the first show I went to was a TDM between Bob Backlund and Magnificent Muraco, and from what I remember of it, it was pretty brutal.

[Guest dreamer420]

sounds like texas death match is just another way of saying no hold barred.

[Guest ArkhamGlobe]

An interesting tidbit: on the disc Cornette claims that a lot of the early Texas Death Matches ran upwards of two hours (according to Meltzer this was the case with many of the matches between Mike DiBiase and Dory Funk Sr.). I mean, two fucking hours?! Holy jesus.

[Guest razazteca]

Cactus Jack vs Vader at Halloween Havoc is the last one I can remember watching, good match

 

If I remember it right it was very similiar to Last Man Standing as after every pinfall there was short break period, and the 10 count was used to finish the match.

[Guest J*ingus]

I remember seeing one between Eddile Gilbert and Jeff Jarrett, in which Jeff pinned Eddie a billion times but he kept getting back up.

[Guest Incandenza]

What purpose is being served by having to pin the guy and THEN wait for the ten count?

[Guest J*ingus]

Well, they're also usually No DQ, and sometimes Falls Count Anywhere. It's just a gimmick.

[Guest Sassquatch]

The first recorded Texas Death Match is the 1/72 match between Dory Funk Sr. and Ciclon Negro which lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes with 27 falls.

 

Buckets of blood.

[Guest Tod deKindes]

It's where the loser gets seated on the chair, to which George W. throws the switch.

[Guest JHawk]

What purpose is being served by having to pin the guy and THEN wait for the ten count?

Because at the time, nobody had thought of simply making the wrestler with the advantage ask the referee for the ten count. But realistically, if you can't pin your opponent, he's not staying down for 10 anyway.

[Guest bob_barron]

I use it in EWR a lot for title matches if I want the champion to win

[Guest dreamer420]

what was the match that savage and crush had at wrestlemania 10? didn't they have to make it back to the ring by the count of 60? what kind of match was that?

[Guest bob_barron]

It was offically called Falls Count Anywhere but it was different

[Guest gwf0704]

What purpose is being served by having to pin the guy and THEN wait for the ten count?

Because at the time, nobody had thought of simply making the wrestler with the advantage ask the referee for the ten count. But realistically, if you can't pin your opponent, he's not staying down for 10 anyway.

Actually, it was supposed to add more humiliation to the loser as not only was he pinned but counted out as well. Sort of a double-loss. And the wrestler with the most Texas Death Match matches on record is Dusty Rhodes.

[Guest dreamer420]

Gee, do you think he booked himself to win more than a few of those matches?

[Guest kingkamala]

The last Texas Death Match I saw was on Superbrawl 2000 between Terry Funk and Ric Flair, I remember it actually being pretty good since both guys were busting there asses off. It had a stupid finish from what I can remember I'd rate this match at ***-***1/2

[Guest dreamer420]

That was actually a pretty decent little match. I remember when I watched it I was pretty impressed with the efforts given but Funk and Flair.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

ah, but lets not forget Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psicosis in ECW. That was a Mexican Death Match, but under the same rules.