Gauntlet for the Gold

The **Gauntlet for the Gold ladder match** is a multi-person ladder match held by the backyard wrestling promotion Hybrid Wrestling Federation. First contested at HWF's annual Anarchy event beginning in 2019 and resuming in 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic halted progress. The prize in the match is a briefcase containing a contract for either a HWF World Heavyweight Championship, HWF Intercontinental Championship or a HWF United States Championship match at any time, within one year of winning the briefcase.

The first ever match was contested in 2019 at Anarchy Night 2, won by Davey Monty.

## Concept

The Gauntlet for the Gold ladder match can involve anywhere from 3-8 participants, with the objective being to retrieve a briefcase that is suspended 20 feet above the ring. The briefcase contains a contract that guarantees a match for either a HWF World Heavyweight Championship, HWF Intercontinental Championship or a HWF United States Championship match at any time, within one year of winning the briefcase. This concept, introduced in 2024, is a slight rework of the original concept, in 2019, was the winner would get 1 year with the briefcase, to cash in at the champion's expense, but only for the HWF World Heavyweight Championship.

The second concept, used from 2021 to 2023, was that the winner would receive a HWF World Heavyweight Championship match at that year's Rebellion.

The primary gimmick of the Gauntlet for the Gold briefcase is to ensure the winner gets a championship opportunity at any time within one year, without notice to the champion. Throughout the many concepts for the match, only one person has successfully "cashed in" that opportunity.

## History

### 2019

With the HWF World Heavyweight Champion Jonny, not being present for a scheduled title defense at Rebellion, the first Gauntlet for the Gold match happened with the original challengers for the championship; Aiden Brice, JC McNamara and eventual winner Davey Monty. Davey Monty would unsuccessfully cash in his title opportunity at Christmas Chaos on December 23, against Aiden Brice.

### 2020

The match was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### 2021

A new concept was introduced where the challenger would get a guaranteed title match at Rebellion. At Anarchy, Davey Monty would defeat Landon Polk, Joey Esteban and Ty Scott, to capture the Gold for a second time. At Rebellion, Davey Monty would unsuccessfully challenge Breakaway for the HWF World Heavyweight Championship.

### 2022

The third annual Gauntlet for the Gold match was held at Anarchy. Davey Monty would defeat The Punisher, Joey Esteban, Landon Polk and Aiden Brice, to win the Gold for a third time. At Rebellion, Monty would unsuccesfully challenge Kool Kidd and Jonny for the HWF World Heavyweight Championship. This was the first time a Gauntlet for the Gold cash-in was in a triple threat match.

### 2023

The fourth annual Gauntlet for the Gold match was held at Anarchy. Esteban, Breakaway and Davey Monty automatically qualified to represent their own respective faction. Three wrestlers debuted during this match: Phantom, Andrew Thorn and Andrei Eric. These three automatically qualified as they currently don't have an alliance to any faction. Two qualifying matches occurred when first Bronco defeated Daddy T to represent Faceless, and when Jonny defeated Ryan Parker to represent Future Shock.

At the event, Phantom would defeat Esteban, Breakaway, Davey Monty, Andrew Thorn, Andrei Eric, Bronco and Jonny. At Rebellion, Phantom successfully challenged Andrew Thorn for the HWF World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first person to successfully cash-in.

### 2024

A new concept was introduced for the fifth annual Gauntlet for the Gold match. A rework of the original, the winner will receive one championship match for either a HWF World Heavyweight, HWF Intercontinental, or a HWF United States Championship match at any time, within one year of winning the briefcase. This concept was introduced to provide variety for the winner.

## Cash-in matches

 2021
 2022
 2023
 2024