WWE Weapons That Were Gimmicked (And Real)

Hardcore and extreme matches are not for the faint of heart wrestling fans. Sometimes things can get so extreme inside the ring that it can be difficult to watch these types of death-defying matchups. Thankfully, wrestling promotions have taken the necessary precautions to keep their performers safe, even in dangerous situations.

With all the options of weaponry in a wrestling match, there is no denying how violent everything can look inside the ring. However, not every weapon that is used is one that can cause mayhem. In fact, some have been gimmicked to protect the wrestlers involved from getting even more hurt than they already do.

10 Gimmicked - Table

The table quickly became one of WWE's most popular weapons even earlier than fans think it did. Dating back to when announce and technical tables were at ringside, it became common practice in the early nineties for wrestlers to be launched from the ring and through the wood.

In the modern era, crowd chants of "We want tables!" can be heard even during non-hardcore matches. For the safety of the wrestlers, there are no real tables used in WWE matches as broken wood can be unpredictable.

9 Real - Bowling Ball

Wrestling matches can feature devastating moves and death-defying tactics, but they can be performed safely by the trained wrestlers in the ring. However, some things that occur in the wrestling ring are the type of things that just need to be taken through clenched teeth.

Bowling balls are not a common wrestling tool but have been visible during hardcore matches. Normally, the ball is used to be launched across the ring at a spread-legged opponent in the corner, which is not done with a fake ball - the wrestler just needs to make sure they get their hands in the way of any private parts.

8 Gimmicked - Sledgehammer

Since 1999, Triple H has used a sledgehammer as his weapon of choice to attack his opponents, even going as far as to strike opponents from behind with the dangerous demolition tool. However, this is something far too lethal to be used as a real weapon during a match.

If a real sledgehammer was used to strike opponents in the head or body during a match, there would be legitimate damage done each time. In order to keep their wrestlers healthy, this would be one of the first weapons to be gimmicked.

7 Real - Thumbtacks

In the world of extreme wrestling, sprinkling metal thumbtacks on the ring mat is commonplace and has increased in popularity. Both WWE and AEW have experimented with thumbtacks in mainstream matches, but they are still one hundred percent real.

By using multiple thumbtacks during a match, the pain is absorbed across a large area of the wrestler's body, which makes it look devastating. If only a single thumbtack was used as a weapon, it would not look as good, but it would surely be even more painful.

6 Gimmicked - Steel Chair

Bayley v Sasha Banks Hell In A Cell 2020 Cropped

There is no denying that wrestlers are incredibly tough, but there are some things that would not be practical for them to do on a regular basis. The steel chair is the most well-known wrestling weapon, but the term steel should be taken with a grain of salt.

While the strikes of the chair onto the wrestler's body are real, the chairs are not made entirely of hard steel. Instead, softer metals like aluminum are used which are not as dangerous to the wrestler taking the shot.

5 Real - Kendo Sticks

Even if a weapon looks lethal, sometimes it is used more for its acoustics and looks instead of how much it hurts those involved. While kendo sticks are real, they thankfully do not hurt like some other options under the ring.

However, the sound that kendo sticks make when they are used in the ring makes it sound worse than it is. The loud slap it makes when it comes into contact with a wrestler can make a crowd pop even louder.

4 Gimmicked - Guitars

If there is a wrestler who is a musician outside the ring, fans can rest assured that their instruments will likely be used at some point as a weapon in the ring. However, a real guitar is not something that a wrestler wants to be hit in the ring.

Wrestlers like Jeff Jarrett and Elias made hitting opponents with guitars part of their gimmick, but WWE learned their lesson about using real guitars. In 1987, The Honky Tonk Man used a real guitar to hit Jake Roberts, and it caused him a legitimate injury that halted his career.

3 Real - Barbed Wire

Triple H v Cactus Jack Royal Rumble 2000 Cropped

Not every wrestler is built for hardcore matches, particularly when weapons like barbed wire are involved. Only extreme matches incorporate violent weapons like this, particularly when they are actually capable of causing damage.

Real barbed wire is used in wrestling matches, which is why it sticks to the wrestler's skin and clothing when they are hit with it. Given how dangerous it is, that is why it is used so sparingly.

2 Gimmicked - Garbage Cans

A metal garbage can is not only very heavy but does not have much give to it. WWE must have learned this early on in their hardcore division because they quickly switched to a much more forgiving material.

Garbage cans in modern wrestling are made of aluminum, which allows it to crumble when a wrestler is hit with it or lands on it. Not only is this safer for the wrestlers, but it is also much more satisfying to the crowd watching the match.

1 Real - Leather Strap

When a wrestler has red welts on their body after being hit with a Ric Flair-like chop to the chest, it can show just how real wrestling can be. A wrestler will also experience the same type of welt if they are involved in a strap match, showing just how real that weapon is as well.

Being hit with a leather strap or belt is no picnic and surely causes a lot of pain for those involved. However, there would not be an easy way to gimmick that type of weapon without taking away the desired effect and sound that the audience is craving.