8 Wrestling Offences You Didn't Know Could Be A Disqualification
7. Closed Fist Punches
While one closed fist strike has probably never resulted in a disqualification, a string of them should. Like refusing to release a submission hold, a competitor is supposed to receive a five-count. If they fail to relent on the punches, they are to be disqualified. This is why wrestlers used to often rely on chops, elbow strikes, clotheslines, and clubbing forearm blows. The closed fist rule has been a part of wrestling for a number of decades. Go back and watch a late 80s or early 90s World Wrestling Federation event and you will see the referee repeatedly tell superstars to open the fist up -- he may even administer a five-count. Somewhere along the way, this rule was seemingly done away with and is now blatantly ignored. This once-enforced regulation began to vanish during the Attitude Era, as everyone one from the Rock and Stone Cold to the Road Dogg and Shane McMahon were using fisticuffs as primary parts of their offense. Its gotten worse as the years have gone on. Nowadays, certain competitors use closed fist strikes as a signature or finishing maneuver. Roman Reigns Superman Punch is technically an illegal maneuver, as is the Big Shows WMD.
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
