Loophole Abuse/Professional Wrestling

• In order for the championship to be exchange, the match must in won in a “clean finish” meaning a disqualification won’t count. This mean if a wrestler who the champion can keep the title if DQ, even if in a lost in that way. However, this rule is discarded if the match on only be won by pin-fall or submission, such as an extreme rules match.
  • This is how Dean Ambrose was able keep his United States Championship from giving it to Mark Henry since other Shield members intervene, resulted in Ambrose losing via DQ.
    • Cameron was also screwed by this clause during her match AJ at the 2014 Elimination Chamber, thanks to Tamina Snuka interfering. Considering, Tamina is the daughter of Jimmy Snuka, so she know about this rule to ensure AJ keeps her title.
  • This also applies for a count out rule. Naomi got screwed out of this one on the March 24, 2014 episode of RAW when AJ got herself a loss in this way but kept her title… on purpose. Of course, Vickie had enough and ordered a match at Wrestle Mania for the Divas Championship... Who's Laughing Now?
• Speaking of Championship, while Divas are pretty limited to WWE Diva Championship, there are actually no rules against any of them from going for WWE Intercontinental Championship, which Chyna got away with. The same goes with WWE United States and WWE World Heavyweight championship. Thus, while the WWE and possibly TNA may have a No Hitting Women Rule in recent years, there actually nothing against a Diva accepting or issuing a challenge for a title match other than the Diva Championship.
• When comes to the Royal Rumble, the only way for an elimination to count is for a wrestler to be thrown over the top rope and both feet must hit the floor.
  • However, there are no rules about hand-walking, landing on chairs, landing of the barricades, and landing on other fallen wrestlers.
  • Top Rope Only, through the ropes... you're safe.
  • The DQ is going before your number, but how you enter isn't stated.
  • When it comes to weapons, chairs and trash cans... no rule against them, but chainsaw... there is a rule about that. Since 2008, this loophole has been spotted and dealt with.
  • Though it’s advertised to have Superstars, i.e. male wrestlers, but there are no rules that it has to be men, hence why three WWE Divas entered the matches.
  • Midget wrestlers are also allowed, which it’s how Hornswoggle joined in 2011 and El Tortio in 2014.
  • While dressing up as an animal is allowed, there were once no rules on having a real animal in the match. Jake "The Snake" Roberts took advantage of this in 1989 and 1996 by bring a real snake.
  • There were two cases where the Royal Rumble either in a draw or a redo of the last two wrestlers if their eliminated at the same time. In 1994, Lex Luger and Bret Hart ended up being co-winners when it happened, while Vince McMahon ordered a redo just on Batista and John Cena in 2005. However, there’s another way that a wrestler that was eliminated could get a second chance and that’s for the WHOLE MATCH to start all over again if McMahon orders it.
  • Since it's open to pretty much everyone, for a brief moment there wouldn't be anyone to do commentary which was the case in 2012. Despite being earlier, Jerry Lawler and Booker T were able to get Michael Cole, thanks to Kharma, since the Rumble was a no DQ match.
• For the Ring of Fire, the fire is suppose to keep for outside interference though the match is to be won by pin-fall and/or submission. However, Harper and Rowan were able to find a loophole… just put a fire-resistant blanket since there wasn't a rule against it.
• While the "rule once unmask must stay like that", there isn't a rule against for Masked Luchador to have a back-up mask, which Sin Cara happen to have.
  • However, the rule about the removal of mask has to be in official match known as Luchas de Apuestas, or wager match. If Luchador has their mask remove in other circumstances, then the victim of the unmasking wins by disqualification in Lucha Libre. This is due to a long history masks have in Lucha Libre, which unmasking is seen as an insult. The same rules apply for a female luchador, or la luchadora. It pays to never make fun of the concept of the masks under any situations since doing so is a known Berserk Button as the masks are Serious Business.
• While outside interference will result in a DQ if the rules applies and seen by a referee, but there seems no rules about any distraction. Many wrestlers, mostly Heels, have used this method.
• Speaking of outside interference, apparently there wasn't a rule against that at an Elimination Chamber since one can only win by pinfall or submission, how else did Bray Wyatt helped out Randy Orton keep his titles, much to the dismay of John Cena.
• Foreign objects are usually illegal unless they’re part of the outfit or in certain matches, which is how El Tortio gets away with this... since he’s dressed as a bull with includes the horns. This was even pointed out an episode of RAW that was on Veteran’s Day 2013, though the event was held in England. Naturally, let it to the announcers to go for animal jokes.

 Jerry Lawler: Can’t believe the referee doesn’t consider those horns foreign objects.
JBL: We are foreign.

• For a mixed tag-team, a guy can only be in the ring if another guy in there since it can result in a DQ for hitting a woman, and the same goes the other way around. However, if you catch someone of your sex from the other team about to attack your tag team partner of the opposite sex, it apparently won’t count as a DQ if you’re going after someone of your sex to keep them from attacking your partner. Santino Marella was able to get away with this when he catches Fandango about to attack Emma in order to save Summer Rae and resorts to his “cobra” to handle the situation.
• On May 19, 2014 edition of Raw, when Triple H forced Seth Rollins into a match with Batista, he made a clause only allowing officials like the guest ring announcer and time keeper. When Rollins discovered that Triple H made himself guest ring announcer and Randy Orton time keeper because he can, Rollins quickly got Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns on the commentary since it they’re considers “officials”.
• On the May 26, 2014; Stephanie McMahon informs Daniel she has legal grounds to have his wife, Brie, removed for attacking her since McMahon is their boss. On the other hand, Daniel didn’t face this at Wrestlemania XXX when Stephanie’s husband was in a match with Daniel, thanks the YES Movement. Why… since both Stephanie and Hunter are the bosses and pretty much got a Screw the Rules, I Make Them conduct? It’s simple and Daniel knows this. If someone in a higher authority is in an “official” match, their opponent can’t face further consequences regardless of outcome. Because Brie attacked Stephanie two weeks prior and it wasn't sanctioned match, the former got in trouble with the latter since it wasn't in a match, unlike what happened to their husbands.
• Brie also got away with slapping Stephanie at Payback when she was part of the company, just after quitting. However, when Brie came back as fan (civilian) in later that July, Stephanie failed to realize Brie has some extra help… after slapping Brie. There’s one problem, attacking a fan is illegal, and Brie finally got the police involved. Kayfabe or not, the reactions from the audience was a clear sign that, attacking a fellow wrestler is one thing, but attacking fans is a sure-fire way get arrested. Brie knows this one!
• With except if a specific match, such as an extreme match, using an object in any match will result in a DQ. However, if a wrestler catches someone with their opponent about to interfere and is forced to use the object to prevent much occurrence, it won’t count as a DQ. During Wrestlemania XXX, Bray Wyatt tried to trick John Cena into getting a DQ by giving him a steel chair, but the latter went after Eric Rowan instead. Because Rowan wasn't supposed to interfere or it would’ve been a DQ for Wyatt, Cena took out Rowan and continue on Wyatt. The referee informed Cena not to use the chair on Wyatt, but he didn’t say anything about Eric Rowan.
• After Chris Jericho had beaten both Eric Rowan and Luke Harper to ensure they couldn’t interference with his match against Bray Wyatt, Jericho agreed the men are to be banned from the match to ensure it. The request was granted. However, Rowan and Harper weren’t banned from Summer Slam of 2014; they were just barred from helping Wyatt. The stipulation only kept them from helping Bray Wyatt, not joining along Wyatt’s real-life brother, Bo Dallas, and join among other wrestlers in a lumberjack match between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
• Back in 1999, during his match against Big Boss Man and Prince Albert on Raw, The Rock was given his choice on who’ll be his tag-team partner. He decided on “the people”, meaning there wasn’t a rule against recruiting an audience member to be his partner for the match. However, it also meant any other wrestler can join to help him… someone did.
  • Braun Strowman used this loophole at WrestleMania 34 since there wasn't a rule against a child joining.
• On the October 6, 2014, Seth Rollins was ordered to start a match involving him, Kane, and Randy Orton against John Cena under the orders of Triple H. However, Triple H didn't explain to Cena that Rollins couldn't tag someone just as soon the match started, allowing Kane and Orton to go after Cena first.
• When it comes to pin-falls, it’s usually have to be in the ring unless in certain matches, like falls count anywhere. In 2001, The Big Show was able defeat Chris Jericho by pinning him up against a wall as a result of this.
• If a wrestler felt a match wasn't done cleanly even if it ends in a victory for that person, the wrestler could a redo on the spot. All the wreslter simply has to do is ask an official. After a title match at the 2013 Royal Rumble ended in a DQ, Vince McMahon was about to strip CM Punk of the WWE Championship as part of the stipulation if Punk tries any form of foul play and learned about it when The Rock stopped McMahon, requesting the match to be started over. Since a victory via pin-falls or submission would result in a title exchange, McMahon granted the request which ended with the Rock winning the match. The Arena went dark for a few moments while the Rock was about to deliver the People's Elbow. The commentators blamed the Shield for it, whom Punk wasn't suppose to have in the match. When the lights went back on, the Rock had already been driven through the English announce table before Punk dragged him back to the ring.
  • This ended up being subverted for CM Punk, who thought McMahon couldn't take action if he didn't see anything. However, this was blown when The commentators DIDN'T STOP TALKING, and McMahon heard that, prompting him on taking action.
• When a wrestler an "open challenge", it's pretty much because it means that any other wrestler, including a diva even if the person offering it is a guy, could easily accept, which happened in 2012 when a a diva accepted an Extreme Rule Match against Heath Slater. In 1999, The Big Show did this for his title, Somebody accepted it.
• Whenever someone is banned from ringside for a match, it's usually complied. However, the second the match is over, the banishment no longer applies, even if the match ends in a DQ. Many wrestlers got around this rule when a match did end in this matter.
• When it comes to ‘Money in the Bank’, the winner is given a contact that entitled them to have a title shot within a year. The ‘cash in’ can happened at any time the wrestler feels it the right away. However, as Seth Rollins discovers, there wasn’t a rule against during a title match in process, much to the dismay or both Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, which happened at Wrestlemania 31. This turned the match into a Triple Threat, where one doesn't have go after the current champion in order to win the title.