7 Wrestling Rules That WWE Forgets Exist

3. Chokes

Choke holds are prohibited as is any use of the ring ropes for the purpose of impairing an opponent's breathing.

What's The "Wrestling Reason" For This Rule Existing?

For the same reason that choking is illegal in amateur wrestling: Choking is dangerous and does not test wrestling ability. Choking cuts off the air supply to the brain and renders someone unconscious and that is not the purpose of wrestling. The purpose of wrestling is to pin your opponent, not to knock him out. Choking can also cause brain damage and permanent injury.

What's The Real Reason?

Choking is illegal for the same reason that eye gouging, biting, and low blows are illegal: They are seen as cheap tactics that real wrestlers wouldn't need to use to win. It's a great way for a cowardly heel to gain the advantage on his opponent, especially when the crowd knows he would be instantly disqualified if the referee saw it. When your live crowd knows that a heel will lose the match immediately if their underhanded tactics are discovered, they will be much more invested when a heel cheats.

You honestly can't blame WWE too much for moving away from this rule, due mostly to MMA fights ending with chokes, but they have a weird way of enforcing it. For example, Samoa Joe's Coquina Clutch is clearly a choke. In theory, the opponent is being choked out so he can't verbally submit and therefore has to tap the mat to signal his submission. However, WWE still chooses to say that a "blatant choke", meaning hand around the throat, is illegal.