10 Best Exceptions To WWE Rules

8. Count Outs Are Lame

Zack Sabre Jr NJPW
NJPW

Most of the audience either fire up their phones for a quick whinge on Twitter or feel deeply unsatisfied whenever WWE matches end via count out. The age-old finish lacks drama whenever the company deploy it, but things don't need to be that way at all.

Watch 2019's G1 Climax tournament in New Japan for proof.

There, following a short six-minute bout, Zack Sabre Jr and Bad Luck Fale brawled their way up into the stands amongst fans. Just as it looked like Zack might take the big guy down with a picture-perfect submission, he noticed that the referee was already up to a 15 count (it's 20, not 10, in NJPW). Panicked, he released the hold and sprinted back towards the ring.

Sabre Jr got there just in the nick of time. Fale didn't, and was counted out as the crowd popped big and admired Zack's smarts. This easy drama is something WWE regularly miss out on by overlooking the beauty of a count out finish.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.