In a recent exhilarating spectacle for WSW Wrestling Australia, former WWE Superstars Matt Cardona and Eric Young gave the audience a match to remember. However, what ensued on social media afterward has become a pulsating topic of discussion amongst wrestling aficionados, and has also pierced through the regulatory norms upheld in wrestling circuits, particularly those instituted by Vince McMahon in WWE.
McMahon's Protective Rules
Vince McMahon, a name that is synonomous with global professional wrestling, has been recognized not only for his business acumen in steering WWE towards international acclaim but also for his meticulous and sometimes controversial rules enforced within the wrestling arena.
Some of these rules, albeit deemed by some as outrageous, were implemented with an underlying motive to protect wrestlers from taking excessive risks, ensuring that the spectacle of wrestling does not become a hazardous pursuit for the athletes involved.
One such rule, which strictly prohibited the execution of the piledriver move, has been fiercely thrust into the spotlight following a match involving Matt Cardona and Eric Young. Young, during a moment of high-octane action, delivered a piledriver to Cardona, a move that not only breached the unspoken rule of wrestling ethics but also aroused considerable objection from Cardona himself.
Rapidly taking to Twitter in the aftermath of being on the receiving end of the contentious move, Cardona adamantly demanded Eric Young's termination. He cited the violation of McMahon’s long-standing prohibition of the piledriver as the explicit rationale behind his stern call for punitive action.
Cardona, having carved a significant niche for himself in the indie wrestling scene since departing from WWE, has persistently referenced McMahon and WWE rules, albeit often in a light, humorous vein. His public manifestations, sometimes encapsulating whimsical expressions of frustration with the indie scene and playful desires to return to WWE, have now taken a sudden, stern turn with his public outcry against Young.
In an industry where the lines between athletic competition and entertaining performance are often blurred, maintaining an adherence to certain established safety norms is pivotal. This incident now looms as a reminder, perhaps even a warning, to wrestlers everywhere about respecting certain boundaries and ensuring that the spirit of entertainment does not compromise the well-being and professional respect of the athletes involved.