Wrestling Rules That Are Completely Ignored

Completely Ignored Wrestling Rules

If you’ve sat in front of your TV set watching the weekly spectacle that is sports entertainment for the better part of a quarter of the last century, you’d probably think you’ve got a pretty solid grasp of the rules right? Legal men, tag ropes, the Shawn Michaels rule, all that good stuff! However, if then following rules have slipped past your radar over the years then fret not, the all mighty World Wrestling Entertainment seemingly doesn’t know about them either. The following are the most completely ignored wrestling rules of all time.

No Choke Holds

We’re kicking it off with a duzy! You’re probably thinking to yourself, I’ve seen hundreds of choke holds! There are choke hold finishers! The Sleeper, Hell’s Gate, The Million Dollar Dream! The WWE officially banned choke holds due to the extreme risk involved with the legitimacy of the litany of choke hold varieties. However, the WWE later defined what exactly they consider a choke hold as, “a hand around the throat for a prolonged period of time”(sportskeeda.com) in order to preserve the use of widely known and famous move such as previously discussed.

30 Day Defense Rule

We’re looking at you 2013 Dean Ambrose US title reign. According to the official WWE rule book, a title must be defended at least once every 30 days, failure to do so may result in the championship in question being vacated. A rule seemingly forgotten about in recent years, oddly enough it began to become a talking point during the 2013 United States Championship run of Dean Ambrose. During his 351 day title reign, the internet wrestling community began to grow aggravated at the lack of title defenses by one Dean Ambrose. Citing the 30 day title defense rule, the community’s general consensus even became a throw away gag in WWE weekly programing as Dean’s fellow shield members as well as on screen authority figures began speculating when he would next defend the belt. Since then it would seem this rule has been once again quietly pushed under the rug.

The Outlaw Rule

Originating on a June 8th 1998 episode of Monday Night Raw, The New Age Outlaws found themselves defending the WWE World Tag Team Championships in a three way tag match against LOD 2000 and the D.O.A. During the match both Road Dogg and Mr. Ass found themselves as the respective legal man. Taking advantage of a newly found loophole in the match, Road Dogg laid down to Billy fo the 1-2-3 to retain the tag straps. In light of this, the following week WWE rolled out “The Outlaw Rule” stating that in the instance of two members of the same team being tagged in, a pin could not decide a victory. (Ironically enough, technically there is still a loophole about submission based victories.) Once again, WWE’s hazy memory has bested them as now seemingly a regular spot in any high profile three way tag match is the obligatory partner pin attempt.

The Power of Attorney Rule

Only ever mentioned once on an episode of WCW Nitro, The power of attorney rule grants a title holder the ability to transfer their championship to a fellow superstar upon a lengthy injury rather than be forced to vacate their belt. DO NOT BE MISTAKEN, THIS IS A TERRIBLE RULE. The grandest prize in the game should never be treated like a hand me down, and quite literally, be given to a competitor without properly earning it. Over in the WWE however, we have only ever seen one instance that vaguely resembles this. Upon the injury of WWE Tag Team Champion,Edge in the summer of 2009, tag team partner Chris Jericho claimed he would defend and hold the belts by himself. Unfortunately for Y2J, WWE on screen authority ruled he would either have to find a new tag partner to fill the spot of The Rated R Superstar, or be forced to vacate the belts. Enter The Big Show.

The Mask Rule

You’ve heard it time and time again, typically during any Rey Mysterio match of the past two decades. “A Luchador’s mask is a symbol of his heritage and honor.” It would appear the WWE’s research of the art of Lucha Libre stops there however. In lucha culture, not only is the mask the previously mentioned symbol, it is HEAVILY protected. While in public, luchadors remain under the mask and some even go as far as to be buried in them. In order to showcase this importance, it is highly illegal to remove the mask of another fighter if not previously agreed upon in a match stipulation. The removal of a mask not only results in the disqualification of the match but typically is followed by a hefty fine, suspension, or termination. While WWE is no stranger to the mask vs. mask or mask vs. hair stipulation, they are also no stranger to the random shock removal of a mask just for cheap heat.

Those were just a handful of commonly ignored rules in the WWE, did you know about them? Let me know if you think these rules should be enforced, or any other rules that should have made the list below! Be sure to check out more blogs just like this one right here as well!

-Style

Morrell, Jack. “10 Oddest Rules In Wrestling.” WhatCulture.com, WhatCulture.com, 4 Oct. 2018, whatculture.com/wwe/10-oddest-rules-in-wrestling.