In 2016, The Hardy Brothers worked in collaboration with Jeremy Borash and the TNA Production team to develop a match called "Final Deletion." This match took place at the Hardy compound and combined interesting visuals, background music, drama, unique camera angles and lighting. Final Deletion was a hit with the Impact audience at the time and would kickstart the modern era of a new style of match.
Final Deletion was followed by two similar style matches. We visited the Hardy Compound twice more in "Delete or Decay" and then in a two-hour event called "Total Nonstop Deletion." Both matches were in a similar style to Final Deletion with Total Nonstop Deletion having different match rules altogether.
These matches were a spark to what I call the "Battleground Match" genre. Again, these matches take place away from traditional wrestling venues and usually have differing levels of cinematic elements, special effects, camera angles etc.
These matches were a spark to what I call the "Battleground Match" genre. Again, these matches take place away from traditional wrestling venues and usually have differing levels of cinematic elements, special effects, camera angles etc.
In 2018-2019, Impact continued to develop the battleground matches. We saw Sami Callihan fight it out with Eddie Edwards in some undisclosed location in the woods. We saw Allie and Rosemary head to the Undead Realm to ward off Su Yung and Havok. We saw LAX and the OGz fight in the Streets in gang warfare. Impact was still forging their own path with the battleground genre of match.
Fast-forward to 2020 and the battleground genre is popular across the wrestling world. In AEW, the Inner Circle fought the Elite inside a Jacksonville Football stadium in a "Stadium Stampede" match. In WWE, Undertaker fought AJ Styles in a Boneyard Match in the main event at WrestleMania. A plethora of WWE talent would later head to WWE's headquarters for the "Climb the Corporate Ladder Match." Impact has continued doing their own thing with The North facing the Deaners at the Deaner Compound.
In the empty arena era where crowds are not allowed, the battleground match has emerged due to its pre-produced nature and interesting set pieces. Where else would you see someone thrown from the top of a roof, being chased by a horse, tombstoned on the top of a truck or shot with fireworks. As a fan of this style of match, I hope it continues to grow and evolve.
