Death Match wrestling has gone from a feud-ending violent spectacle to something you'll see in your local bingo hall venue in front of 12 people... but how did the craze start?
Death Match wrestling, known for its violence, weapons (light tubes, pizza cutters, etc.), and blood, originated in Puerto Rico and became popularized in Japan's FMW in 1990. It gained further recognition through ECW in the 90s. While it has occasionally appeared in mainstream promotions like AEW, it now often occurs in smaller venues, sometimes for viral attention. Despite the extreme nature of death matches, no wrestlers have died in one.
