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Post by Hulkshi Tanahashi on Dec 10, 2022 23:31:06 GMT -5
It's one of the best known rules of pro wrestling: you can get disqualified for throwing your opponent over the top rope. This was big in the territory days. Many of them had it. In fact, I tried to think of all the territories that didn't have the rule; and the only one I could get was WWE. Were they the only territory that didn't use the rule?
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Post by jason1980s on Dec 10, 2022 23:37:55 GMT -5
My knowledge of wrestling was pretty much WWF and WCW (which pre Watts had no rule) so I was super confused when I first heard of the rule in 1992 WCW.
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tafkaga
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Post by tafkaga on Dec 11, 2022 0:27:02 GMT -5
My knowledge of wrestling was pretty much WWF and WCW (which pre Watts had no rule) so I was super confused when I first heard of the rule in 1992 WCW. It kind of worked in Watts era WCW, but it was even more confusing in the Nitro era when I don't remember them ever DQ'ing anyone for this, which resulted in a lot of awkward hand waving explanations from announcers when it was done blatantly without repercussion. |
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Post by Hulkshi Tanahashi on Dec 11, 2022 9:32:47 GMT -5
My knowledge of wrestling was pretty much WWF and WCW (which pre Watts had no rule) so I was super confused when I first heard of the rule in 1992 WCW. It kind of worked in Watts era WCW, but it was even more confusing in the Nitro era when I don't remember them ever DQ'ing anyone for this, which resulted in a lot of awkward hand waving explanations from announcers when it was done blatantly without repercussion. They still had that rule into the Nitro era? I figured that they did away with it by then. |
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Post by chronocross on Dec 11, 2022 9:51:15 GMT -5
It kind of worked in Watts era WCW, but it was even more confusing in the Nitro era when I don't remember them ever DQ'ing anyone for this, which resulted in a lot of awkward hand waving explanations from announcers when it was done blatantly without repercussion. They still had that rule into the Nitro era? I figured that they did away with it by then. Yeah I remember an episode of Nitro where Ultimo Dragon beat Dean Malenko by DQ by getting thrown over the top rope, I think it was the episode where Bischoff joins the NWO. They got rid of the rule in early 1998. |
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cjh
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Post by cjh on Dec 11, 2022 9:57:43 GMT -5
They still had that rule into the Nitro era? I figured that they did away with it by then. Yeah I remember an episode of Nitro where Ultimo Dragon beat Dean Malenko by DQ by getting thrown over the top rope, I think it was the episode where Bischoff joins the NWO. They got rid of the rule in early 1998. On the Nitro where Bret Hart debuted, Buff Bagwell beat Lex Luger because of that rule, so they were still enforcing it in December 1997. |
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Post by Feyrhausen on Dec 11, 2022 10:06:17 GMT -5
It's one of the best known rules of pro wrestling: you can get disqualified for throwing your opponent over the top rope. This was big in the territory days. Many of them had it. In fact, I tried to think of all the territories that didn't have the rule; and the only one I could get was WWE. Were they the only territory that didn't use the rule? It was a thing in the NWA territories so they could keep the local face strong while the champ still left with the title. Never needed in the WWF as their champ didnt tour. |
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Post by MrElijah on Dec 11, 2022 11:15:56 GMT -5
They still had that rule into the Nitro era? I figured that they did away with it by then. Yeah I remember an episode of Nitro where Ultimo Dragon beat Dean Malenko by DQ by getting thrown over the top rope, I think it was the episode where Bischoff joins the NWO. They got rid of the rule in early 1998. Jesus. I thought they git rid of it in late 95. I know Johnny B. Badd beat Masa Saito by that rule at Starrcade '95. |
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Dec 11, 2022 23:19:41 GMT -5
Yeah, WCW kept the rule quite a while post-Watts. Invariably, Schiavone and Heenan or Zybyzsco or whoever was on commentary would be confused and scramble to call it referee discretion, because many matches would still have people sent over the top rope without a DQ occurring. This is the same company that had zero consistency with other DQs, though, so this was no exception.
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XIII
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Post by XIII on Dec 11, 2022 23:22:27 GMT -5
Did World Class enforce this? I’m thinking not, but honestly can’t remember.
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Dec 11, 2022 23:32:40 GMT -5
Did World Class enforce this? I’m thinking not, but honestly can’t remember. I think so... I saw a collection of Freebirds vs. Von Erich matches and I think one or two matches had someone thrown over the top rope while the ref was distracted and the commentary was "that's illegal" or such. In fact, the only place I can think of where it may not have been a rule is in Mexico. I do remember the Bill Watts rule of "no moves off the top rope" being a thing for a short while in WCW. |
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Post by jimmyjackezekiel on Dec 11, 2022 23:38:36 GMT -5
I remember some VHS tapes of some WCW PPVs and I think they still had that rule as of '95.
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chazraps
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Post by chazraps on Dec 12, 2022 16:54:48 GMT -5
It kind of worked in Watts era WCW, but it was even more confusing in the Nitro era when I don't remember them ever DQ'ing anyone for this, which resulted in a lot of awkward hand waving explanations from announcers when it was done blatantly without repercussion. They still had that rule into the Nitro era? I figured that they did away with it by then. I did a rewatch of 1996 last year and a top-rope DQ finish happens as late as November/December. (it was a taped show, so I can't pinpoint exactly when/if an edict came down but it was definitely through the end of that year) EDIT: Ahh, should have read ahead in the thread that it went through early 98. |
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
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Post by chazraps on Dec 12, 2022 16:57:39 GMT -5
I will say this, while we're on the subject, I kind of grew to like that rule upon doing a rewatch of 1996 WCW. Going back to the old Stravinsky "it's when walls are put up that creativity thrives" theory, it lead to more inventive ways to leave the ring with the opponent, gave the heels a canvass to cheat with, and added an additional dangerous allure to over-the-top-rope battle royals.
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