7 Rules WWE Should Bring Back

Whenever Samoa Joe slaps the Coquina Clutch on his opponents, it usually means lights-out. The other superstar struggles to escape before succumbing to the lack of oxygen, and the referee soon lifts the arm of the incapacitated wrestler once to call a knockout.

But the referee used to perform a slightly different task during such situations, and it once added more drama to bouts.

Today’s representation of a K.O. in WWE does lean on more traditional combat sports, and in some situations, such as the Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker's SummerSlam 2015 match, the current rule can make the loser look like a B.M.F., as Steve Austin did at WrestleMania 13.

Further back, the referee often elected to raise and drop the debilitated opponent’s hand three times to certify they were out cold. As The Rock often did during the Attitude Era, superstars who found that second wind shot their arm up in the air right before it slapped the mat for the third time, lifting the crowd to their feet. The three-count K.O. was also reinstated for 'The Great One's' match against John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII.

While in many cases, WWE benefits when they present their product in more realistic ways, the name of the game is entertainment after all, and it should be considered whether the added suspense from a three count is worth trading with a bit of verisimilitude from the current presentation.