7 Wrestling Rules That WWE Forgets Exist
2. Banning Certain Moves
Certain holds and types of behavior which are inherently unsportsmanlike or for other reasons not in the best interests of professional wrestling will not be allowed. Wrestlers failing to adhere to these restrictions will be subject to disqualification and/or subsequent disciplinary action.
What's The "Wrestling Reason" For This Rule Existing?
Certain moves are too dangerous to be allowed in professional wrestling and can seriously injure competitors. Moves such as the piledriver and powerbomb have been banned at various times due to their dangerous nature and cause of injury. The piledriver, in particular, was banned because it caused severe neck injuries to the recipient and was deemed unnecessary in a professional wrestling match.
What's The Real Reason?
When a move is banned because it's too dangerous and the workers sell the move like it's death itself, then you have yourself a deadly move. When the piledriver was banned in Memphis, it instantly became one of the hottest moves in the company.
When Jerry Lawler hit you with a piledriver in Memphis, you were D-E-A-D. In his famous match with Andy Kaufman, he nailed the Hollywood celebrity with the move, losing the match by disqualification. Kaufman left the ring on a stretcher and wore a neck brace for the next several months, leading to Lawler and Kaufman's infamous appearance on David Letterman's talk show. However, the disqualification of Lawler actually gave Kaufman the victory, so the cowardly heel could claim he had beaten Lawler when the entire world knew the wrestler would destroy him. As a result, people were more than willing to lay down their hard-earned money for a ticket when they met in the ring again.
Today, the piledriver is banned in WWE because it is actually a dangerous move that can cause severe neck injuries and isn't necessary to have a good match. But again, it doesn't matter what the move is so long as the people believe it's a deadly maneuver. If the people believe that you're finished when the move hits, then you have yourself a winner. Banning a move because the name is too violent, on the other hand, makes no sort of sense. This is wrestling, not Bake Off.