Are there any set rules to beating a guy when he's down?

[mrbananagrabber]

There's a lot of this in wrestling, where the ref is pulling the other guy (usually the heel) away from the downed opponent on the floor.

So what are the rules here?

So if a guy is down, why is it OK to climb to the top rope and pretty much kill him with a big splash? Or jump off the ropes and hit him with a legdrop? What's the difference? You're still hitting an opponent that can't get up.

Has there ever been a set rule when it comes to that sort of thing or is is just poetic license?

[segaz]

Jun 22, 2016 7:18:38 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

There's a lot of this in wrestling, where the ref is pulling the other guy (usually the heel) away from the downed opponent on the floor.

So what are the rules here?

So if a guy is down, why is it OK to climb to the top rope and pretty much kill him with a big splash? Or jump off the ropes and hit him with a legdrop? What's the difference? You're still hitting an opponent that can't get up.

Has there ever been a set rule when it comes to that sort of thing or is is just poetic license?

You bring up an interesting point. But I can't add anything to it. It just 'is'. Kayfabe I guess because it does allow for a counter of some sort whereas continously punching doesn't.
Or maybe it's due to damage, where a methodical big move keeps a man down and is seen as finishing the guy as opposed to continually punching the head doesn't. Remember, referees will step in if even if a big move is repeated too many times.

One big move to ko the opponent for the pin is ok but excessive beatings past the point where the guy is taking heavy damage with no ability to defend himself can result in match stoppages.

I've seen referees warn wrestlers when the intentionally break a pin fall up to deliver more punishment.

[Goldash #BLM]

The bell rings 20,000 times during beatdowns so I guess there must be some unwritten kayfabe rule to beating a wrestler down after the bell.

But in most cases the timekeeper gives in and lets the beatdown happen. If there is a "rule" to keep these in check, it's not very effective. Plus unruly beatdowns are usually better TV than those the referees or ringside staff break up (unless it devolves into even more chaos).

I kinda wish there were more on-screen consequences for beatdowns. Like if staff or authority figures fined a character a sum of money for "overstepping" after a match. Almost like something JJ Dillon or Absentee President Jack Tunney would do. Plus it could actually help an angle if a babyface trying to get revenge is unjustly screwed over by red tape.

[Deleted]

I guess it's put in effect if the person can't easily (or at all) escape the attack.

If you're kicking a dude on the mat, or just punching a guy a lot, it's fine because he can probably roll away or fight back. But if he's stuck in the corner, or tied up in the ropes, or if the attacker is pinning him down and punching him, it becomes something the ref gets involved in and ends the match for if the attack doesn't let up.

[Bo Rida]

It's an odd one, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be at the refs discretion with the only set rules relating to rope breaks and knocked out opponents. The trouble is there's rarely any punishment if an attack carries on when the ref says stop, hell New Day somehow get away with the unicorn stampede.

The recent trend of blood stoppages has made a minor issue into more of a problem so I think it's time that there was some sort of set rule (eg. ref can call an official timeout) as it's a bit of a mess at the moment.

Of course the real problem is when such a rule applies, for example targeting a body part seems to be fine but if the same body part is hurt in an accident like a bad landing then the ref tends to stop things.

[Vice honcho room temperature]

I think sometimes its the refs wanting to check if the opponent can continue and you can't do that if someone is kicking the shit out of them. Otherwise its legal unless its in the ropes.

[Blindkarevik]

There's a lot of poetic license in wrestling. Technically, four-way brawls in tag matches can't happen. If there's no tag and the partners are in the ring for longer than five seconds, they're disqualified. However... if you do that, you have a lot of missed double-team spots that can pop the crowd.

However, the overarching thing is, the ref is supposed to check a guy to see if they're unconscious and if they can continue. Technically, the action isn't ever supposed to spill to the floor.. so it makes sense for the ref to wave a guy off when he's out there because if someone got tossed to the outside or willingly rolled out something may be wrong. Whereas, if a legal move knocked the guy unconscious in the ring while the other guy ascends the top rope, it's fair.

Also, you do see refs pulling a guy off someone else in the corner if they don't break a five count.... storyline-wise, it serves to either show how dominant one guy is to have his opponent defenseless, or to set up a counter from the guy in the corner. Kayfabe-wise, you always want to make sure both guys have a fighting chance. If a guy is being overwhelmed in the corner, you want to get his opponent to step back so they both are on equal ground. If one guy is tied up in the ropes, you back the guy off to get them both on equal ground. However, if a guy is laying on the mat and the other is on the top rope.. there's nothing stopping the downed guy from simply moving out of the way, besides himself. And if he doesn't move at all, the ref can figure this will probably be the end of the match, count to three, then get medical in the ring. But, as always "1....2...kickout" Okay, he's fine... continue the match.

[Gremlin]

"Kick a man when he's down, he's easier to reach." - Scott Hall

["Gentleman" AJ Powell]

Jun 22, 2016 10:41:36 GMT -5 Vice honcho room temperature said:

I think sometimes its the refs wanting to check if the opponent can continue and you can't do that if someone is kicking the shit out of them. Otherwise its legal unless its in the ropes.

This. I always figured it was like a TKO in boxing or MMA, the ref's seeing if they're still able to fight, if not, it ends.

[thecrusherwi]

Maybe it's as simple as a rope break. He's touching the ropes so the aggressor must return to a neutral position.

And maybe he breaks it up on the outside, because it's technically illegal to be on the outside, hence count outs

[Squirrel Master]

Yo, I'll bust em in the eye
And then I'll take the punks ho

[Deleted]

If the script says a guy gets DQed for kicking too much ass, it's against the rules. If it doesn't it's not.

[Tiger Millionaire]

Bring a towel.

[Professor Chaos]

I'm so sick of all this inconsistent officiating. They need to get all these guys on the same page or kick em all out and bring in a new regime. With all the people that complain about the officiating of football and basketball you'd think there'd be more people up in arms about it in wrestling. It'd be a welcome change and bring some integrity to have an NFL or NBA officiating crew in wrestling I'm sure.

[canal]

The "keep the match exciting" clause in Section 3.A of the Unwritten Book Of The Ring covers this.

[Reflecto]

Jun 22, 2016 7:18:38 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

There's a lot of this in wrestling, where the ref is pulling the other guy (usually the heel) away from the downed opponent on the floor.

So what are the rules here?

So if a guy is down, why is it OK to climb to the top rope and pretty much kill him with a big splash? Or jump off the ropes and hit him with a legdrop? What's the difference? You're still hitting an opponent that can't get up.

From the other ones- if they're pulling them away from the downed opponent, it's to protect them...and that goes with those two examples.

Whether you're going to the top rope to get more height for your splash, or running the ropes for some speed to do more damage...in both cases, you're leaving the downed wrestler alone and giving him, in theory, time to get back up again (and if they can't for the attack, it'd be clear they're done for.)

[-Lithium-]

It's annoying when they do the "STOP BEATING HIM UP" in the corner stuff when its convenient but stomping a guy in the corner (which would cause much more damage than punches) is usually okay.

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Jun 27, 2016 1:00:14 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

It's annoying when they do the "STOP BEATING HIM UP" in the corner stuff when its convenient but stomping a guy in the corner (which would cause much more damage than punches) is usually okay.

No its not that's a rope break

[MrElijah]

Yes. It's called finish the job.

[SCCB Was Told To Do Steroids]

Don't actually hit them for real.