10 Bizarre Backstage Rules WWE Forced On Wrestlers
1. No Consuming Alcohol 12 Hours Before A Match
It is common for wrestlers to relax after a busy day by having a drink or two; however, they are not allowed to enter the ring while intoxicated. Even Stone Cold Steve Austin opens his many cans of beer only after he opens a can of whoop-ass on his opponents in the ring.
An article published on WWE.com in 2012 discussed the rule and stated that the company policy dictates that active wrestlers cannot consume alcohol within 12 hours of competing at an event. The rule might sound bizarre, but violating it will have catastrophic effects on both the offender and their opponents, as being in an inebriated state during a match would spell disaster on any occasion.
The 2011 TNA Victory Road PPV is a prime example, as Jeff Hardy entered the ring intoxicated and was in no shape to perform, leading his opponent Sting to forcibly end the match and shoot pinned Hardy within 88 seconds. WWE even used the rule in a storyline when CM Punk was forced to do field sobriety on the 23 April 2012 episode of Raw.