Unscripted Matches Explained

[Viola Moonlight]

Hello WZCW Universe,

Friday is here and it is time for the final piece of Unscripted right here on WZCW.com! A few people have been sending me e-mails and tweets asking to clarify some of the match stipulations on offer for Unscripted. So, I thought it would be an excellent idea to use this Friday slot to detail each of the more confusing matches. Let's go!

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"CODE OF HONOUR"

Otherwise known as the "gentleman's grapple," the participants in the match must adhere to the traditional professional wrestling rules as outlined by the official calling the match. If one participant fails to follow these rules, an automatic disqualification will be called and the match will end.

Prior to match start, both competitors MUST shake hands with each other and wait until the official calls for the bell, beginning the match with a traditional collar-elbow tie-up. The match has to remain in the ring and competitors aren't allowed to use the ropes, turnbuckles or apron to their advantage. Should a situation arise where competitors are near/on these areas, the referee will call for the break and both competitors must release immediately. Any accidental failure to break will cause a warning (i.e. both competitors trip through the ropes by accident) but any blatant failure to break will cause an automatic disqualification.

Should competitors follow the rules, the match will end once a pinfall or submission has been declared. Any and all fighting ceases immediately. The winner must not antagonise the loser or display any bad sportsmanship after the match otherwise the referee has the ability to nullify the match result. Once competitors are standing and recovered, they must shake hands. After this hand shake, the "Code of Honour" stipulations are finished.

LUCHA LIBRE RULES

An ancient Lucha tradition where the greatest of foes do battle against one another in a test of endurance & passion. The rules of this match are very similar to a regular North American professional wrestling match but with a few simple twists.

Prior to the match, each participant is allowed to select a "second" to accompany them to the ring and watch from ringside. The second can be another competitor, manager, valet or family member they feel is necessary to witness the fight. Depending on the match rules, competitors can pick the second for their opponent as a way to mentally psyche out their opponent. This isn't mandatory but it is tradition to pick a second.

There are only two other noteworthy rules that are applied to this match with the first being a 20-count for competitors wrestling outside the ring as opposed to the regular 10. The 20 count was implemented to allow competitors who have sustained injuries throughout the contest the chance to recover before entering the ring. Due to many competitors abusing this 20-count to attack their opponent, North American wrestling reduced it to a 10-count... but for one match only, the traditional 20-count makes its return.

The other major rule is the Two out of Three falls stipulation, fulfilling the "testing each other's endurance and passion" quote. This rule was implemented to create an definite distinction between winner and loser without having to rely on a re-match later down the road. Should one competitor lose via controversial means, they still had the chance to prove their claim by defeating their opponent twice over.

ALTERNATE FINISHERS

Finishers aren't just a fancy word for an opponent's move they do really well compared to most, it's a word that describes a move so devastating that when a competitor delivers it to their opponent, the match is over. Some people may use another's finisher in their matches but only the man or woman who has perfected the move can truly call it their own finisher. It is a rarity that someone survives a finisher and continues the match... but what happens when the rules mess with your finisher?

In a "No Finishers" match, opponents are barred from using any move they have used as a finisher, past and present. They also cannot use a finisher used by their opponent (past or present) as they too are restricted by this stipulation. The participants must find another way to defeat their opponent via pinfall or submission... or potentially disqualifcation or count-out. Whilst there are no rules prohibiting competitors from using finishers used by other wrestlers not involved in the match, this contest is designed to push themselves to the limits and rely on their wrestling acumen rather than using their killswitch.

A complete turn of events with the "Must use Opponent's Finisher" rule sees participants utilising their opponents current finisher only before attempting to win the match with a pinfall (or a submission should their finisher be a submission). In the earlier incarnations of the match, competitors were only required to deliver their opponents finisher to their opponent before the match ended. However, after some controversial endings, a rule was implemented stating that the opponent must pin the opponent (or make them submit if the finisher is a submission) after using their opponents finisher.

MULTI-MAN MADNESS

Fatal Four Ways are always tough but when the rules have been changed, they get even tougher and grow more fatal for each competitor.

A variation on the Fatal Four Way match is known as the Four Way Dance, which is the exact same as a Fatal Four Way except there are Eliminations instead of the regular Sudden-Death rules. When an opponent is pinned or submitted, they are eliminated from the match and the remaining competitors continue to fight. The match only ends when the final competitor is left standing.

Championship Scramble is a bit similar. Whilst Sudden-Death rules do not apply, there aren't any eliminations either. Scrambles have a pinfall-limit (decided upon prior to the match) where competitors must accrue enough successful pinfalls throughout the match to reach the limit and be declared the winner. Outside of WZCW, Scrambles have time limits where the latest pinfall is the winner of the match but to eliminate doubt, WZCW has changed it to a pinfall limit.

However, Gauntlet's are a different beast altogether. Participants are randomly assigned a number. Competitors who drew #1 & #2 must start the match first as a singles match. Match rules are standard. When a winner emerges, the loser leaves and the competitor who drew #3 faces the winner in a singles match almost immediately. The pattern continues until all competitors have entered the match and only survives at the end.

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I hope these explanations are enough to satisfy your queries and allow you to pick the stipulation which is right for you... and for those competing in these matches.

Until next time,

Website Manager
David Kerms

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