# "I Quit" match
In an "I Quit" match, a professional wrestling contest, victory can be achieved only by forcing one's opponent to utter the phrase "I quit", typically spoken into a microphone that the referee or the opponent holds.[1](https://ewrestling.fandom.com/wiki/%22I_Quit%22_match) Pinfall, submission, disqualification, and count-out do not apply; the match ends only when one wrestler utters the surrender.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Win condition | The opponent must say "I quit" into a microphone; no pinfall, submission, disqualification, or count-out victory exists[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) |
| Format | Exclusively contested 1 vs 1; classified as a hardcore variant of the singles and submission match[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) |
| Famous match | NWA/JCP Starrcade, November 28, 1985; Magnum T.A. defeated Tully Blanchard[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) • [10](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/information/iquit-match/) |
| Earlier roots | Terry Funk first wrestled an "I Quit" match in 1975[3](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/) |
| WWE specialist | John Cena is considered the stipulation's WWE specialty act and remains undefeated in it[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) |
| Notable title matches | WWF Championship (Royal Rumble 1999), WWE Championship (Judgment Day 2005, Breaking Point 2009, Over the Limit 2010 and 2011), Undisputed WWE Championship (Clash at the Castle: Scotland 2024)[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) |
## Rules and conduct
During the match a referee holds a microphone and, if requested by one wrestler, brings it to the opponent and asks whether they want to surrender; a wrestler may also take the microphone and ask directly. The opponent can either say "I quit" or state an intention to continue.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) Victory can be achieved by several methods, including applying a submission hold or threatening with weapons; what matters is getting the opponent to utter the words into the microphone.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match)
The stipulation is regarded as one of the more intense and violent match formats in wrestling, since beating the opponent down, by any means, is the core path to victory.[4](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1162218/the-most-memorable-i-quit-matches-in-wrestling-history/)
## History
The first "I Quit" match took place at NWA/JCP Starrcade 1985 on November 28, 1985, where Magnum T.A. defeated [Tully Blanchard](https://www.edgepedia.org/tully-blanchard).[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) Terry Funk had wrestled under the stipulation as early as 1975 and took part in the next two matches after that first bout.[3](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/)
In the WWF, the first "I Quit" match came at [WrestleMania XI](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-xi) on April 2, 1995, between two of the company's most successful submission wrestlers, [Bret Hart](https://www.edgepedia.org/bret-hart) and [Bob Backlund](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-backlund), with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as guest referee. Hart trapped Backlund in the Crossface Chicken Wing, and Piper, hearing an unintelligible scream with the microphone at Backlund's mouth, judged it a submission and awarded Hart the victory.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) • [5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2013/10-superstars-who-said-i-quit)
[Extreme Championship Wrestling](https://www.edgepedia.org/extreme-championship-wrestling) also used the stipulation; [Tommy Dreamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-dreamer) made The Sandman give up in October 1994, and the last ECW "I Quit" match came at ECW Guilt As Charged in 2001, where Dreamer defeated C.W. Anderson.[6](https://www.thesportmatrix.com/2015/04/history-of-i-quit-match-photo-courtesy.html) A variant, the "I Respect You" match, was created by [Brian Pillman](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-pillman), formerly of World Championship Wrestling, as a challenge to WCW booker Kevin Sullivan.[1](https://ewrestling.fandom.com/wiki/%22I_Quit%22_match)
## Notable matches
**Royal Rumble 1999.** Mankind defended the WWF Championship against The Rock in an "I Quit" match that ended under disputed circumstances: after roughly ten chair strikes rendered Mankind unconscious, a pre-recorded surrender played over the arena speakers cost him the bout.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2013/10-superstars-who-said-i-quit)
**John Cena's record.** Cena won his first "I Quit" match at Judgment Day 2005, retaining the [WWE Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-championship) against John "Bradshaw" Layfield, who quit only when Cena threatened him with a steel pipe.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2013/10-superstars-who-said-i-quit) He later won the stipulation against [Randy Orton](https://www.edgepedia.org/randy-orton) at Breaking Point 2009, Batista at Over the Limit 2010, and [The Miz](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-miz) at Over the Limit 2011, and against Rusev for the United States Championship at Payback 2015.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) JBL is one of four Superstars recorded as quitting against Cena.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2013/10-superstars-who-said-i-quit)
**Other bouts.** [Jeff Hardy](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-hardy) defeated [Matt Hardy](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-hardy) at Backlash 2009 after taping his brother to a table and climbing a ladder, prompting Matt to quit to avoid the fall.[7](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/currentepisode/9921978) [Roman Reigns](https://www.edgepedia.org/roman-reigns) retained the Universal Championship against Jey Uso in a Hell in a Cell "I Quit" match at WWE Hell in a Cell 2020, and Jon Moxley defended the AEW World Championship against Eddie Kingston in one at AEW Full Gear 2020.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match)
**Clash at the Castle: Scotland 2024.** Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes demanded an "I Quit" match against [AJ Styles](https://www.edgepedia.org/aj-styles) after Styles suckered him with a fake retirement and a Phenomenal Styles Clash from the ring steps. Neither Superstar had competed in an "I Quit" match inside a WWE ring before, and Rhodes retained.[8](https://www.wwe.com/shows/clash-at-the-castle/2024/cody-rhodes-aj-styles-i-quit) • [2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match)
## In other media
The stipulation has appeared in the [WWE 2K](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-2k) video game series, including WWE '13, WWE 2K14, and WWE 2K26, where the player must beat the opponent with submission holds or weapons until they announce that they quit.[2](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match) • [9](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/wwe-2k26-releases-a-new-gameplay-overview-trailer-new-match-types-start-of-match-actions-and-more)
## References
1. ["I Quit" match, The eWrestling Encyclopedia](https://ewrestling.fandom.com/wiki/%22I_Quit%22_match)
2. [I Quit Match: Stipulation Rules, List of Matches & Stats, The SmackDown Hotel](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/match-types/i-quit-match)
3. [History of the "I Quit" Match Ahead of Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles at WWE Clash at the Castle: Scotland, Last Word On Pro Wrestling](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/)
4. [The 10 Most Memorable I Quit Matches In Wrestling History, Wrestling Inc.](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1162218/the-most-memorable-i-quit-matches-in-wrestling-history/)
5. [10 Superstars who said 'I Quit!', WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2013/10-superstars-who-said-i-quit)
6. [History of WWE's "I Quit" Match, The Sport Matrix](https://www.thesportmatrix.com/2015/04/history-of-i-quit-match-photo-courtesy.html)
7. [Jeff Hardy def. Matt Hardy ("I Quit" Match), WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/currentepisode/9921978)
8. [Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles ("I Quit" Match), WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/clash-at-the-castle/2024/cody-rhodes-aj-styles-i-quit)
9. [WWE 2K26 releases a new gameplay overview trailer, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/wwe-2k26-releases-a-new-gameplay-overview-trailer-new-match-types-start-of-match-actions-and-more)
10. [onlineworldofwrestling.com](https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/information/iquit-match/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling moves and terminology*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license